Waterfront 274 by Waterfront

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NOVEMBER 2017

ISSUE 274

Editor

Film

Rachel Sanders waterfronteditor@swanseastudentmedia.com

Becky Elms waterfrontfilm@swanseastudentmedia.com

Deputy editor

Food

Open position waterfrontdeputy@swanseastudentmedia.com

Kassy Fox & Hannah Fenlon waterfrontfilm@swanseastudentmedia.com

DESIGN & ARTWORK

Liberation

Iain Fisher & Emily Fothergill waterfrontdesign@swanseastudentmedia.com

Zoya Chisti waterfrontliberation@swanseastudentmedia.com

Prooing

Music

Maddy Young proofreader@swanseastudentmedia.com

Sarah Harris waterfrontmusic@swanseastudentmedia.com

News

Relationships

Megan Thomas waterfrontnews@swanseastudentmedia.com

Heather Harvey & Emily Jane Griffiths waterfrontrelationships@swanseastudentmedia.com

Sport

Societies

Greg Stone & Lulu Thornton waterfrontsport@swanseastudentmedia.com

Heather Dimmer waterfrontsocieties@swanseastudentmedia.com

Creative writing

Technology

Emily Maybanks waterfrontcreativewriting@swanseastudentmedia.com

Open position waterfronttech@swanseastudentmedia.com

Culture

Online coordinator

Carys Svendsen waterfrontculture@swanseastudentmedia.com

Tia Williams waterfrontonline@swanseastudentmedia.com

CYMRAEG

Student Media Coordinator

Alex Nethell waterfrontcymraeg@swanseastudentmedia.com

Iain Fisher iain.fisher@swansea-union.co.uk

Fashion

Waterfront is a free print and online publication from Swansea Student Media and the Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Union.

Gwen Miles waterfrontfashion@swanseastudentmedia.com

Features Emily Williams waterfrontfeatures@swanseastudentmedia.com

HELLO FROM THE EDITOR Rachel Sanders

Winter is upon us…almost. As we all start to wrap up warm and pop into Costa for that feel-good hot chocolate, the looming pressure of deadlines is also beginning to settle. Just remember - it may be cold and wet, but Scotland is colder and wetter; you may be stressed by work levels, but not as stressed as the UK’s Brexit negotiators; and if the proverbial poo really does hit the fan, just remember, a good long walk and the sound of the sea is one of the best ways to de-stress known to man (any Swansea resident will corroborate this fact if you throw in a Joe’s icecream). For those of you relishing the pressure, enjoy the season! Autumn is my favourite time of year (not least because my dog Marble goes absolutely crazy for the fallen leaves). There are some things which simply have to be done if the season is to be enjoyed to the max.

My Autumn hotlist includes: • Wrap up warm and go for a walk in the biting cold (no mobiles or headphones, listen to the sound of the dry leaves rustling in the wind) • Eat a fresh, hot, sugary donut on bonfire night – again, in the biting cold while wrapped up warm (and I mean a PROPER donut, not one of those tiny dinky things or those iced abominations) • Drink hot squash out of a flask (blackcurrant is my favourite) – you’ll never go back • Go for a walk in the rain (with an umbrella), stand under a tree, close your eyes, and listen to the music • Read the next issue of Waterfront! Ok, I cheated a little with that last one, but I do believe we have one of our best issues yet with something to interest everyone. So why not curl up in Costa and take a break with us and that steaming mug of hot chocolate? Enjoy!

CONTENTS 06

NEWS

Societies

Hillary Clinton comes to Swansea Plaid/Labour deal breaks down Mental health rates on the rise

Quidditch: What is it? Swansea Uni Soapbox society Women Graduates Swansea University Society

Review: It Netflix binge: Bates Motel Review: American Made

features Surviving the money storm In our nature, in our cities

CULTURE A written tour of Glynn Vivian art gallery

Liberation Myanmar's silent genocide

relationships

film

cymraeg

Agony Aunts Blind Date

Adre, adre, am y cynta Hwch Ddu Gwta gipioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;r ola Cymru ac Arswyd

Science isn't scary What are you working on?

Review: Turtle Bay Swansea Market

Listen to your daughter Synonym of fear

Rugby, a wealth of opportunity PRO14 South African Teams

Brain Bytes

Creative writing

food

SPORT

SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM

ISSUE 274 // NOVEMBER 2017

Hillary Clinton receives honorary Plaid backs out doctorate from Swansea University of deal with gave Hillary’s introduction. Placing Welsh Labour

Photo: Inês Teixeiria-Dias

by Megan Thomas

On Saturday 14th October 2017, Hillary Clinton visited the Great Hall at Swansea University's Bay Campus to receive an honorary doctorate and to unveil a commemorative stone to mark the renaming of the University's College of Law and Criminology to the Hillary Rodham Clinton school of Law. The ceremony itself was held inside the Great Hall, graduates and our own Full-Time Officers Shona Johnson, Chris Freestone, Chisomo Phiri and Emily Rees lead the procession before Clinton herself came through the hall. The introductory speech began, detailing Hillary Clinton’s proud Welsh ancestry (she is a third Welsh!) and in what would become a recurring theme throughout the night, her fantastic work supporting the rights of children. Vice Chancellor Richard B. Davies gave both a fantastic speech and our first Trump mention of the night before Clinton was presented with a book outlining her rich Welsh ancestry. A book researched by Swansea University staff members! Professor Elwen Evans QC, head of Swansea’s School of Law

emphasis on human rights and the importance of fighting for them while practicing law. Alongside the new observatory that will be within Swansea’s Law School. “To have this come, almost full circle, is a personal delight”, Hilary began her speech talking about her Welsh heritage and the surprising places that they come out, including the suspicious similarities between Hillary’s campaign slogan “stronger together” and the Welsh football teams “together stronger”, her Welsh roots clearly cannot contain themselves. Clinton revealed that this will not be a one-off event, she is proud of her Welsh heritage and Swansea University, she will even be coming back to Bay Campus in the future! However the heart of this event isn’t Clinton, it isn’t the new law school or even strong Welsh roots. The heart of this event is the suffering children who do not get access to the basic human rights that they need. It is the quarter of children living in poverty, the widespread problem of human trafficking, racial bias in the courts, ever-increasing divisions within the international community (Clinton is definitely a remainer) and the desperate need for empathy. “When we fail children, we fail ourselves and we fail as a society” it is these powerful words that really contain what this honour means. We are not inviting Clinton here just for a nice new building or a prestigious name. She is here to create longlasting change in our society, both within the UK and globally.

by Megan Thomas Mere days after ensuring that Welsh Labour’s budget would pass through the Assembly, Plaid Cymru has ended their “compact” co-operation deal with Labour. The news was broken to Welsh Labour through a private phone call between Plaid leader Leanne Wood and First Minister Carwyn Jones. Plaid Cymru has blamed Labour’s “managerialism and centralist thinking” for the split. The compact was agreed upon after last year’s Assembly elections, in which Welsh Labour managed to retain 29 seats and upheld their majority through agreements with other parties and politicians, such as Lib Dem AM (Assembly Member) Kirsty Williams, later joined by Plaid Cymru defect Independent AM Dafydd Elis-Thomas. According to the compact, some of Plaid’s policy programmes would be included in the Welsh Government. In a tweet, Plaid Cymru AM Adam Price revealed that the decision had been made before summer. Carwyn Jones has said “Our conversation was amicable and we agreed that it was important to keep open lines of communication”, adding that

NEWS // MEGAN THOMAS

“from our viewpoint the compact gave Wales some welcome stability at a time of great uncertainty”. Welsh Conservative Leader Andrew RT Davies has looked unfavourably upon the decision, saying “People across Wales will see straight through this duplicity”, claiming that “continuing to support Welsh Labour’s budget in the absence of an agreement shows Plaid’s support has never been cheaper.” In a letter, Leanne Wood has given reasons for backing out of the compact, including “Plaid Cymru want to stop the increase of tuition fees and stop the loss of so many of our graduates” (referring to the Diamond Review which sacrifices low tuition fees for higher maintenance grants). Alongside “[scrapping] the public sector pay gap in the NHS. We are intent on stopping the M4 Black Route (a proposal to build a new stretch of road to ease congestion around Newport), to make sure that infrastructure spending is more equally allocated throughout our country.” “The budget deal represents a natural conclusion to the Compact. The two-year deal takes us to the position where we can provide a clear alternative in advance of the next Assembly election. The commitments we have secured represent the green shoots of our programme for government. We must all work towards a goal of government if we are to see these foundations built upon”. As the Welsh Government still holds 31 seats they still retain a majority in the Assembly (although by only one seat). This means there’s no Assembly election due until 2021.

What is Being Done to Counteract Rising Mental Health Rates? Poor mental health is rife amongst young people, yet resources are stretched, leaving young people to deal with an illness that is overwhelmingly hard. Although, the situation does seem to be improving with Education Secretary Kirsty Williams and Health Secretary Vaughan Gething launching a pilot scheme to improve the quality of student mental health in Welsh schools. They have promised an investment of £14m to strengthen CAMHS. Within Swansea University, the Wellbeing centre is struggling with the demand of students needing counselling and appointments. Counselling services offered by Wellbeing have been outsourced by Lauren Kent to The Exchange. If you are on Bay Campus these services are YouGov has revealed that 27% of only available from Monday to students have reported having problems Thursday (unless you wish to with their mental health. The report contact them by phone or email). (from 2016) states that 47% of these Any mental health issue is a students have difficulty with some daily complex illness to treat but it is tasks, with 4% saying that they cannot apparent that funding is not being fulfill simple needs. If we look wider spent wisely to benefit those in a into Welsh statistics from Mental Health vulnerable stage in life. This affects in Wales 2016, the lack of resources adolescents in Wales and students for young people and adolescents is at our university. It is important that apparent. The service CAMHS (Child we keep increasing the awareness and Adolescent Mental Health Service of the suffering that students and in Wales) has seen a 100% increase young people endure whilst tackling in demand in the last four years. their mental illness, as they often A 2016 study by the Mental Health struggle alone due to the already Foundation has claimed that £200.87pp stretched system of support was spent by the Welsh Assembly on available. Whilst support is improving, mental health from 2012-2013. Only Wales still has a long way to go. £13.94 of this was spent on young people, resulting in the formation of the The Wellbeing service Mental Health Delivery Plan in 2016swansea.ac.uk/wellbeing 2019 which aims to improve mental Swansea MIND: health services in Wales over ten years. swanseamind.org.uk/

SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM

ISSUE 274 // NOVEMBER 2017

SURVIVING THE MONEY STORM So, you’re just a couple of weeks into your new ocean of liberty, and already there’s a lot of month left at the end of your money. Fresher’s Week has smashed a threatening dent into that first loan payment, looking through statements of unfamiliar transactions fills you with dread and confusion – Fiction & Myu must be where I bought my books, right? Riiiiight????? - and you’re left with what feels like pitiful pennies to last you through until Christmas. Now that the Diva’s glitter has settled, it’s time to kick in to money survival mode. Control your Cash Yup, just a more interesting way of saying “budget” *cringe*. But seriously, it can make all the difference in ensuring you get your priority bills paid and leave some over for yourself. Many 2nd & 3rd year students have come to us saying they wish they’d taken control of their cash early on rather than panicking month to month. There are heaps of apps you can use to help, which also identify peaks in your spending. Or you can use the cash technique

by Jodie Loaring

of only withdrawing what you need for the week and leaving the debit card at home or in a locked up safe, in a vault, under the sea. Or why not make use of the budget sheet we have kindly and conveniently made for you and is downloadable at www.swansea.ac.uk/moneycampuslife. You’re welcome.

Eat yourself richer I dare you to count how much you have spent on takeaway food in the last month. I’ll give you a minute…Frightening isn’t it? And worst of all, how many of those were actually good? Very few I’m guessing. There’s a lot to be said for adulting when it comes to food. You can save so much money, and, if you live with others, getting your heads together with sharing food costs and cooking can make such a difference to your wellbeing as well as your wallet. Cooking together truly does go a long way in cementing relationships through simply being together and taking time out from the chaos of academic pressures. And just think, if you live with six housemates and you cook on Monday, you get to put your feet up for the rest of the week! And cooking needn’t be an

inconvenience. For example, slow cookers may remind you of your Granny, but can you really groan about a pot that you can throw a load of stuff in and by the time you get home has cooked you a chilli that will last you a few days? It’s like magic! Head over to Taste of Home from Money@CampusLife. It’s an initiative set-up specifically to help students with all things foodie-related. We have simple but delicious recipes, Youtube videos, cooking demos and competitions to win things such as…..a slow cooker! Follow us on Insta @ money.campuslife or check out the website tasteofhomeswansea. co.uk for details.

A pick up that won’t let the world down Ditch the takeaway coffee. It hurts I know but a takeaway coffee of £3 a day equates to £1095 a year. That’s a holiday. Not only is that a lot of cash down the drain but also a lot of plastic damaging the planet (did you know takeaway coffee cups are not recyclable?). So, think of it this way - if you make your own coffee, you are literally saving the world. On Insta @money.campuslife, we are giving away a fancy coffee maker, so no need for boring instant either!

FEATURES // EMILY REES

Don’t fret, we are here Of course, sometimes these hints and tips do not cut it in the short term and you simply need a helping hand financially. That’s where we come in. Money@CampusLife are available to assist with any financial queries or woes, from budgeting to help with Student Finance. We also operate a fund called the Swansea University Opportunity Award, which is available to those who are experiencing financial difficulty. UK/EU students who are enrolled are eligible to apply and only their individual circumstances are assessed. And if you’re an International student, come speak to us about the International Crisis Fund. Awards are not guaranteed but if you are granted an award, you do not need to pay it back. Applications are on intranet. swan.ac.uk/StudentHardship. Any questions, you can email us on money.campuslife@swansea.ac.uk or call on 01792 606699. But if you prefer a chat with someone face to face, we offer drop-in appointments on both campuses: Park Campus: (Keir Hardie Building, opposite the Library) Monday: 9.30am 12.30pm Tuesday: 1.00pm - 4.00pm Thursday: 9.30am - 12.30pm Bay Campus: (Tower Information Centre) Monday: 1.00pm - 4.00pm Tuesday: 9.30am - 12.30pm Thursday: 1.00pm - 4.00pm. Phew, that got a bit serious then! Talking about money can be a real drag if you aren’t winning it, amirite? But university can be the greatest time of your life and you’ll sail through the calmer seas if you are kind to yourself and your bank balance!

IN OUR NATURE, IN OUR CITIES I have never really been a fan of tall buildings, huge crowds and New York-styled lights. Not a great start for a Londoner! My dislike of anthropocentric behaviours and eagerness to conserve wildlife has previously left me to neglect the conservation of wildlife in urban areas and to stray away to the countryside. by Kareemah Malik Only recently have I opened my eyes and really started appreciating the variety of wildlife in cities. Urban areas may appear to be solely home to flocks of pigeons but they are also a stop off for many migratory species and many botanical gardens, parks, reserves and our own gardens. Wildlife is everywhere. Why not offer some butterflies, bees or birds in your garden some nectar, seeds or water along their migratory routes? A bit of buddleia would mean the world to a Painted Lady. I feel honoured to study in such a picturesque city, and we are extremely lucky to have the Gower and other habitats nearby. I soon discovered after starting university, however, that Bay campus has been built neighbouring a Special Site of

Scientific Interest (SSSI), Crymlyn Burrows. This does not deem the area a lost cause for wildlife, but it should encourage the urgency to conserve it. This site is home to various species such as Sea Stock and sweet Sanderlings. We need to monitor this beauty on our doorstep. You can help by not collecting driftwood, not lighting fires and clearing up litter. I encourage dogs to enjoy the area but please clean up after them, as having to clear up the site can damage strandlines which are home to rare beetles. I am on the committee this year for Swansea University Conservation and Ecology Society (SUCES). Please join for a splash of fresh air, to socialise and importantly for some conservation work in Crymlyn Burrows, with our Biodiversity Officer, or elsewhere. It is in our nature to connect with wildlife and nature is in our cities.

FEATURES // EMILY REES

SWANSEA’S STUDENT LIFE-SAVING REVOLUTION Swansea adds to the more than 50 universities who have set up their own ‘Marrow’ society since 1997. For some people, receiving stem cells from a stranger is their only chance at life so the work done by Swansea Marrow and Anthony Nolan is invaluable. Zack Balaban, Swansea Marrow President, said “It's humbling to know that the work our volunteers do is really making quite a profound difference to people's lives. It's even easier to sign up now, as we've recently changed from saliva samples to cheek swabs!” Since 1997, Marrow groups have recruited over 100,000 potential donors and over 1000 of these people have gone on to donate. Typically, around 1 in 1200 people on the register go on to donate, so Marrow donors are over 10 times more likely to save a life than average. Young people are the most likely to be chosen to donate their stem cells as they are less likely to have long-term health problems which might delay or prevent donation. Charlotte Cunliffe, Marrow

Students from Swansea University have recruited a remarkable 308 students to the Anthony Nolan stem cell register in the last two years. Swansea University is one of over 50 universities with ‘Marrow’ society, the name given to the Anthony Nolan blood cancer charity network of student volunteer groups.

The majority of Swansea Marrow’s work is signing up people onto the Anthony Nolan stem cell register. Programme Lead at Anthony Nolan, said “It’s hard to put into words just how amazing our Marrow volunteers are – they are responsible for saving the lives of countless people, and they are truly the unsung heroes helping to cure blood cancer and blood disorders. We are so pleased that Swansea Marrow have decided to join the student life-saving revolution taking place at universities across

the UK, and we are completely behind them to help recruit the next generation of potential lifesavers to the Anthony Nolan stem cell register.” You can find out more about Marrow at www.anthonynolan.org/ marrow or follow them on Twitter @Swansea_Marrow or like them on facebook.com/SwanseaMarrow

SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM

A WRITTEN TOUR OF GLYNN VIVIAN ART GALLERY by Carys Svendsen Now go up the stairs on your right. Behold! You have entered the gallery. In front of you lies a rather majestic hallway (if you look up, you can see the whole building) as well as an almost Titanic-esque stairway to the second floor. Feel free to check out rooms 1 and 2; room 1 currently hosts a room of lino prints (including several prints in Warhol-like colours) but my personal highlights were up the stairs in rooms 3-9. Ascend the stairs like royalty (waving is optional) and you’ll notice the glass cabinets full of various ornaments. Feel free to take a photo of the sight before you, I won’t judge. From there, I entered room 4, a room which is part of the ‘Journeys between Art & Life: Richard Glynn Vivian (1835-

ISSUE 274 // NOVEMBER 2017

Picture the scene: it’s a typical Swansea day and you’re walking into town whilst horizontal rain is striking your already soaked and freezing body. You suddenly see a building with crisp, white tables and red chairs. You notice the little coffee side through the glass panel and the inviting reception. You find yourself walking through the glass doors and as you drip on the polished floor, you see stairs to your right and the promised land of caffeine on your left. If you can see all this, you’re in the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery.

CULTURE // CARYS SVENDSEN

1910)’ exhibition, running until October 2019. In here you see an Arcadian view of Swansea in 1840 which views Swansea untouched by industry. When you walk into the next room, you enter a room of ornaments: if you ever want to take a picture of varying depths for Instagram, the entrance of room 4 looking into room 5 and 6 is perfect for your profile. Room 4 is possibly the most anxiety-inducing room due to the sheer amount of fragile objects surrounding you, and yet the most mesmerizing due to the vast array of objects and their origins. However, my personal favourite was in room 7 with the artist’s timepieces in a cabinet in the lefthand corner. Not only were the timepieces beautiful, but reading time, a seemingly mundane yet essential task, is created in multiple ways by artists who enhance the pocket watch faces to help develop a creative outlook within time itself. If that’s not a metaphor for the artist’s lives, I don’t know what is. Moving on to room 8, you enter a unique exhibition which is a part of the ‘Journeys and Visions’ exhibit. It’s important to note that you can take photos of any room, apart from room 8. In here you’ll find a painting called ‘The Painter’s Family’ which provides an abstract view of 2 parents holding a baby

with the world bursting from their chests. It’s an awe-inspiring image and worth a look as well as a debate over its meaning with your friends in days to come. In the penultimate room (room 9), you enter a dark room with a screen placed diagonally across the left-hand corner with a projector opposite. It’s an immersive experience due to the sounds used and the nostalgic images in front of you. Some images provide a perspective of looking through the ‘cigarette burn’ effect usually found in old films (and in a more modern context: Fight Club) and into old photos. The whole exhibition by Bob Gelsthorpe is inspired by his grandfather’s toolbox as well as exploring themes of labour and memory. Finally, you enter my favourite room: room number 3. Home to Helen Sear’s ‘The rest is smoke’, once again the use of projectors is evidently clear, but it’s the use of the projectors which intrigue me most. In one part of the room, there is an image of a woman with a red dress circling trees in a sparse forest. The colour red is the dominant colour of the images and the movement of the woman is a key focal point. Having seen the

new It, the woman’s movements reminded me of Pennywise due to her erratic movements. Be warned: this part of the room has a lot of flashing images. After walking past the first projection, you see a projected image on the floor with a reflective ripple effect. It looks like you’re looking into a supernatural lake and yet simultaneously looking up from the forest floor, which is an effect I personally love. However, this exhibit ends on the 19th November so make sure to go and see it whilst you can!

Do you want me to review any plays or check out any exhibitions? Maybe you’d like to join the culture team yourself? Feel free to email waterfrontculture@ swanseastudentmedia.com for more details!

SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM

ISSUE 274 // NOVEMBER 2017

THE SILENT GENOCIDE WE DON’T SEEM TO CARE ABOUT Myanmar, also known as Burma, is home to over a hundred different ethnic groups. Myanmar is a Buddhist majority nation, with Buddhists making up 87.9% of the population. The Southeastern Asian nation, that borders India, China, Thailand and Laos, is home to approximately fifty-one million people, including “The world’s most persecuted minority: "The Rohingya". Who are the Rohingya? The Rohingya are an ethnic group, a majority of whom are Muslim, who have lived in Myanmar since as early as the 12th century, according to many historians and Rohingya groups. There are 1.1 million Rohingya in Myanmar, all of whom have been denied citizenship as of

1982 by the government and are not recognized as a part of the 135 ethnic groups that populate Myanmar - effectively rendering them stateless. Almost all of the Rohingya live along the western coast, in the state of Rakhine, and are not allowed to leave without government permission. Rakhine is one of the

by Zoya Chishti

poorest states in the country with shanty town camps and a lack of basic services and opportunities for the residents. For more than 100 years, the British ruled over India (1824-1948). During this time, Britain claimed Myanmar as a province of India. There was a mass migration of labourers from India and Bangladesh to Myanmar, which was perceived negatively by the local population. Fast forward to 1982, when the new citizenship law was passed, making it incredibly difficult for the Rohingya to obtain citizenship, their rights to study, work, travel, marry, practice their religion and access health services were, and continue to be, restricted. The Rohingya are denied their right to vote, as Rohingya is not a recognised

LIBERATION // ZOYA CHISHTI

ethnicity under the law, and are also unable to go into professions like medicine, law and running for office.

In Recent Years Since the 1970’s, the Rohingya have been fleeing the persecution in Burma. The military crackdown in Rakhine since then has seen immense violence, with some refugees reporting rape, torture, arson and murder by Myanmar security forces, causing hundreds and thousands of refugees to flee to neighbouring countries. Ironically enough, the de-facto leader of Myanmar, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, refuses to discuss or condemn the indiscriminate violence against the Rohingya. Aung San Suu Kyi and her government do not recognise the Rohingya as an ethnic group, and consequently blame the violence on so called terrorist groups. A report published by the United Nations in February 2016 stated that government troops "very likely" committed crimes against humanity since renewed military crackdowns began in October 2016. In late September, Aung San Suu Kyi gave a televised address condemning “all human rights violations in Rakhine”, which was greeted with heavy criticism from refugees and activists, and was seen as a feeble attempt to pacify the global public opinion. International aid on the ground has also been restricted by the government, with one Rohingya activist reporting that “the government has even gone so far as to imply the UN and other international aid agencies are helping what the government called "extremist Bengali terrorists". Stirring up pre-existing allegations puts aid

workers at risk of attacks and risks stopping delivery of life-saving aid to vulnerable people, including tens of thousands of children.

International Pressure The Rohingya have no hope of a brighter future without tremendous international pressure from Governments and activists. However, this is truly impossible until people start to talk about it; the story of the Rohingya is massively under-reported. The Myanmar government restrict access to Rakhine and its people, with some activists reporting that they were only allowed access to government approved Rohingya. Despite the UN establishing an investigation into possible crimes against humanity, no pressure has been put on the military in Myanmar. China and Russia continue to support the Myanmar government, with their latest meeting in September. A current embargo on weapon sales has been in place within the EU and

USA, but the continued support and arms sales from other nations around the globe has further enabled the ethnic cleansing of the Myanmar Muslims. As we go about our daily lives, enjoying the liberties and freedoms we have, the Myanmar military are systematically looting and burning down villages, indiscriminately shooting at men, women, children and the elderly. They are destroying everything, leaving nothing behind for the Rohingya to come back to. The cycle of violence can only be resolved by the international community. Tun Khin, the current president of the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK has recently and rightly said that, “The only alternative to action is letting us be killed. Letting Rohingya be killed has been the approach of the international community so far. There is no sign of that changing”. For more information on Burma and how you can get involved, visit brouk.org.uk

SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM

ISSUE 274 // NOVEMBER 2017

I first joined the Swansea Swans Quidditch Team after noticing the stall at Freshers Fayre. I knew quidditch as the sport played in the Harry Potter books and was intrigued as to how it could be played in real life - and as a full contact mixed gender sport too. As soon as I joined, I found myself among a great group of people who I would later call my teammates. The game itself is divided into four positions - chaser, keeper, beater and seeker, with four balls - three dodgeballs (the bludgers), and a volleyball (the quaffle). The chasers pass the quaffle between themselves with the aim to score by putting the quaffle through one of the opposing team’s hoops while defending their own hoops, with a scored hoop counting for ten points. The keeper plays a similar role but with extra privileges such as being immune to tackles and beats in their zone (the area a few metres either side of the hoops). The beaters can throw their bludgers at opposing players and if hit, a player is considered ‘beat’ and must dismount their broom (take their broom from between their legs), run back and touch their own hoops before they can remount and continue playing. The snitch is represented by a neutral player dressed in yellow with a tennis ball in a sock stuck to the back of their shorts. To end the game a seeker must pull the snitch tail from the shorts of the snitch runner, scoring thirty points in the process. Quidditch began as a sport at Middlebury College in Vermont, USA, in 2005. In 2016, 21 teams

Swansea Swans Quidditch Team

QUIDDITCH: WHAT IS IT? participated in the Frankfurt IQA World Cup, including our own Team UK. The Swansea team started more than three years ago and we have steadily climbed the UK rankings. As we are in the Southern region, we compete at the Southern Cup every November to qualify for the British Quidditch Cup (BQC), traditionally held around March. At BQC this year, we ranked fourteenth out of the thirty-two teams that qualified. Alongside these national tournaments, we also take part in the South West League, which last year comprised of the two Bristol teams, Bath, Falmouth and Exeter, where we managed to take third place. This year, the League has expanded to include fourteen teams and has been split into two divisions. Based on our performance in BQC, Swansea has made Division 1 with our first fixture happening at home

by Charlie McLeod

against Bristol on the 28th October. Being part of Swansea Quidditch has been a huge part of my life during my time at university. One month on from joining the society in 2015, I was competing with the team at Southern Cup against some of the best teams in the South. Two years later, this November, I will be competing in my third Southern Cup as Vice-Captain and Logistics Manager for the team and I am very excited! It has been great for both my physical and mental health as it keeps me occupied and fit, as well as helping me meet new people from across the quidditch community. So, if you are interested in joining us this year, we meet outside Fulton House on Wednesdays at 1pm and Sundays at 2pm to go to training. Also come and find us on our Facebook Page, Swansea Swans, or on Twitter @TheSevenSwans.

SOCIETIES // HEATHER DIMMER

‘WE’LL SEE HOW WE ROLL’

A short guide to Swansea University Soapbox Society

By now you’ve probably seen a cart being wheeled around campus and at least 2 people running behind it while somebody inside the cart holds a maniacal grin on their face. Fear not; we know what we’re doing, we promise. We are the Swansea University Soapbox Society and don’t worry, we don’t bite! We do, however, race and go downhill a lot.

by Carys Svendsen You might be wondering what a soapbox has to do with the cart you’ve seen. Well, back when soapbox racing began in 1934, racers would use soapboxes as an integral part of their design and the term ‘soapbox racing’ was born. Although people have been pushing things downhill since long before 1934 (be it cheese wheels, balls or siblings), it’s the soapbox race that inspired our President, Laurence Brown, to build a cart for his A level and his enthusiasm leaked into university. As a result, that cart you saw was built with his own hands and repairs were done by last year’s members, including parts being initially placed the wrong way round! Of course, our committee doesn’t just consist of a President. We also have a Secretary, Luke Stanley, a Treasurer, Lizzie Findley,

Travelling to Bay Campus a Media Manager, Carys Svendsen - that’s me - as well as our general organiser, Ben Larwood. Now here’s the most interesting part about our committee: only three of us are engineers. Luke is a physics student and I am a media student. That being said, both of us helped reassemble the cart and know how the cart works, even though there were initial hiccups of putting spacers on the wrong way round which resulted in a lot of laughter. If you’re interested in joining the society by the end of this article and you’re saying to yourself “but I’m not an engineer!” then don’t worry;

we just ask a lot of questions during repairs and learn as we go along! So, what are we doing this year and why should you come and check us out? Well, for starters, we’re racing the cart at multiple events around the country. We’re also planning to build a second cart and race both against each other in an almost Grand Tour style (Jeremy Clarkson impressions optional) and would love for you to help us achieve this! If you fancy a go at our Society, check out our Facebook page or follow us on twitter @SwanseaSoapbox

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SOCIETIES // HEATHER DIMMER

WOMEN GRADUATES SWANSEA UNIVERSITY SOCIETY

by Brandi Hill, President WGSUS

In affiliation with the British Federation of Women Graduates

The Women Graduates Swansea University Society promotes and advocates for women in higher education to progress in academia and achieve successful leadership roles. The society works to bring university women together locally, nationally, and internationally to showcase their research and academic achievements. Additionally, the WGSUS creates network environments such as conferences and talks for female students to present their research or area of study. By joining the WGSUS students will gain affiliation with the British Federation of Women Graduates and have the opportunity to be connected to Graduate Women International. Postgraduate female students will be able to apply for scholarship funding

and emergency grants, along with promoting their academic profile by participating in research presentation days. Members will also have the opportunity to attend BFWG national and international meetings and work alongside female postgraduates of multiple disciplines. The WGSUS is proud to present its first public lecture given by Jay Rees, who is a third year PhD student at Swansea University. Her lecture is titled Bob Baker’s Bird of the Week: Perceptions of femininity at Swansea University during the 1960s and will take place on 23 November 2017 in Fulton House Room West at 18:30. Photographed posing alongside a tree, Lynette Asquith made her debut in the student magazine Crefft. Lynette had made the cut for Bob Baker’s

Bird of the Week; a weekly feature that produced a catalogue of ‘sexily’ posed women for the paper throughout the 1960s. The consensus behind Lynette’s selection was that she was unmistakably a ‘delectable bird.’ Such terminology, however, was not restricted just to Lynette. Throughout this period, female students at Swansea were described as, ‘lovelies’, ‘bombshells’ and even ‘husband-hunters.’ Countless exposés about the elected Rag Queen were spread across the student magazine, while reports of men entering the female residency after hours were heavily commented on across campus. A tendency was emerging for female students to be framed only through their sexual attractiveness and supposed promiscuity. Through the uses of archival material and student recollections, it is the purpose of this lecture to explore how far female students embraced and rejected these newly imposed perceptions. It will illustrate that their calls for greater academic acknowledgement, freedom from objectification and student equality had collided with the ‘delectable bird’ imagery. Email: womengraduates@ swansea-societies.co.uk Facebook: Women Graduates Swansea University Society Twitter: @WGSUS2017

RELATIONSHIPS // HEATHER HARVEY & EMILY JANE GRIFFITHS

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

Dear Heather and Emily, I can hear my housemates having sex all the time. How do I tell them to please keep it down? This is a super awkward situation, but not an uncommon one when student houses have paper thin walls! From personal experience wearing headphones and getting the hell out of the house are good but not exactly ideal if you hear them at three in the morning after a night out or when you’re trying to write your first piece of coursework of the year. It also isn’t fair for you to have to leave the house, it is your home too! The easiest thing, although you’ll find they will probably be very embarrassed and it might be a pretty awkward situation for everyone involved, would be talking to your housemate privately and saying ‘dude, I can hear you having sex all the time

please can you keep it down because it’s super awkward for me and I can’t sleep/study.’ Hopefully, that would resolve the issue but if it continues to be a problem feel free to get back in touch!

Dear Heather and Emily, I hate all my housemates and am considering dropping out as I just want to go home. Any advice? We’re sorry to hear that. The first few weeks away from home can be stressful and lonely. It sucks that you don’t get on with your housemates but at the end of the day you only have to sleep there. As we said in our Freshers guide, there are plenty other opportunities to make friends. How about the people on your course? Suggest a study session or a drink in JCs to see them outside of the academic setting. You’re bound to have something in

common with these people as you have committed to 3 or 4 years to studying the same thing. All those societies and sports teams you signed up to have probably bombarded you with emails. GO! They’ll make your Uni experience so much more sociable and you could even run for committee positions in the future. Our advice would be to keep talking to people, they can distract you from missing home but do also Skype, call and text your loved ones and friends back home. If things are so bad that you really don’t want to stay living in your current accommodation, you can always talk to SAS about finding alternative accommodation for the rest of the year and your personal tutor should be able to give further advice and support as well as CampusLife and the Wellbeing team if you find you’re seriously struggling. We hope you start to enjoy your Uni experience soon!

RELATIONSHIPS // HEATHER HARVEY & EMILY JANE GRIFFITHS

BLIND DATE Emily a Masters student studying Professional Translation and Amin a Second Year War and Society student met at JC’s for a free drink. Here’s what they had to say about each other. What was your favourite thing about them? E: Amin’s interest in travelling. A: She’s beautiful, the thing I liked most was her eyes.

Did you fancy them? E: No. A: I’m not sure if I can go as far as fancy. She’s a good-looking woman and I appreciate her personality, but there was no real spark or chemistry.

Were there any turn offs? E: No. A: I don’t like openly criticising people but she wouldn’t stop fidgeting.

Would you like to see them again? E: As friends; sure. A: I would like to see her again. I question how much you can really know about someone after the first date.

Out of ten how would you rate the date? E: 6/10 A: 7/10 How compatible were you with your date? E: Not very compatible. A: Not particularly compatible. We didn’t share music tastes or likes and interests.

Were there any funny moments? E: Yes. A: We laughed a little about a mutual ‘friend’.

Each issue, we send our Blind Date couples to JC's bar and Fulton Coffee on Singelton campus and 52° bar and coffee shop on Bay Campus, all serving a range of alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, speciality coffees, paninis and home-made cakes.

NOVEMBER 2017 • WEEKLY EVENTS 01 WEDS 22:30

GWA Idols (Wind Street) Captains Bar

13:30 15:00

Stress-control course Glyn Dwr – Theatre C

from

til

10 FRI 19:00 23:30

Karaoke JC’s (S)

22:00 03:00

Tooters Divas (S)

til

02 THURS

03 FRI

22:00

Sin Savers Sin City

19:00 23:30

Karaoke JC’s (S)

20:00

Open Mic Wonky Sheep [HSV]

22:00 03:00

Tooters Divas (S)

12 SUN 20:30

Quiz Night 52° (B)

til

13 MON opens

09:00

20:30

20 MON 20:30

Open Mic 52° (B)

21 TUE 20:00 23:00

Open Mic JC’s (S)

20.00

Quiz Night Wonky Sheep [HSV]

til

opens

09:00

28 TUES 20:00 23:00 til

Open Mic JC’s

19:00

Quiz Night 52° (B)

20:00

Quiz Night Wonky Sheep (HSV)

from

Open Mic 52° (B)

22 WEDS from

22:30

GWA Idols (Wind Street) Captains Bar

Voting for NUS Wales and NUS UK Delegates

29 WEDS 22.30

Nominations for NUS Wales and NUS UK Delegates

GWA Idols (Wind Street) Captains Bar

30 THUR

05 SUN 20:30

Quiz Night 52° (B)

14 TUE 20:00 23:00

Open Mic JC’s (S)

20.00

Quiz Night Wonky Sheep [HSV]

til

23 THURS 22.00

Sin Savers Sin City

20.00

Open Mic Wonky Sheep [HSV]

6 MON 20:30

7 TUE

Open Mic 52° (B)

20:00 23:00

Open Mic JC’s (S)

20:00

Quiz Night Wonky Sheep [HSV]

til

8 WEDS from

22:30

18:00

15 WEDS from

22:30

GWA Idols (Wind Street) Captains Bar

16 THUR

GWA – Movember Special Idols (Wind Street) Captains Bar Movember Rugby Match St Helens

17 FRI

22.00

Sin Savers Sin City

19:00 23:30

Karaoke JC’s (S)

20.00

Open Mic Wonky Sheep [HSV]

22:00 03:00

Tooters Divas (S)

til

9 THUR 22.00

Sin Savers Sin City

20.00

Open Mic Wonky Sheep [HSV]

11:00 17:00 til

19 SUN closes

23:59

20:30

24 FRI 19:00 23:30

Karaoke JC’s (S)

22:00 03:00

Tooters Divas (S)

til

closes

15:00

25 SAT 22:00 03:00 til

Matt Jam Lamont Divas Tickets £5

Voting for NUS Wales and NUS UK Delegates

(S) Singleton Campus (B) Bay Campus (HSV) Hendrefoelan Student Village

For further information on our events head to our Official Swansea SU Events Facebook page.

26 SUN 20:30

Quiz Night 52° (B)

Mind Coach Workshop Grove Purnell Lecture Theatre

Nominations for NUS Wales and NUS UK Delegates

Quiz Night 52° (B)

27 MON 20:30

Open Mic 52° (B)

SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM

ISSUE 274 // NOVEMBER 2017

SCIENCE ISN’T SCARY The truth of the matter is that anti-science is becoming more and more popular. You may see this as completely ridiculous, but spend a day on Facebook and YouTube and you soon begin to realise the appeal of it all. Now, some facts are inescapable nobody tried to deny the onset of both hurricanes recently. Yet, the climate processes which govern and drive the weather systems are hotly contested. Why do some facts get immediate acceptance and others get ignored or argued about?

It's hard to ignore a hurricane. It’s easier to ignore melting ice caps and rising sea levels. One is immediate and devastating, the other slower and subtler. Humans are driven by the immediate; our immediate, primal needs for food, water, shelter, and mates. If we as individuals stand to lose any of that, we pre-empt as many negative outcomes as possible and try to prepare. However, ask us to prepare for an event potentially 100 years into the future, and suddenly our foresight fails us. We seem to be notoriously poor at planning for the distant future (Rome, anyone?). Some might argue it’s because we won’t be here to see the repercussions of our actions, but in light of biology

Or so we keep saying. But the reality is more and more people are embracing ‘alternative thought’ movements; whether this be anti-GMO, anti-vaccine, flat-earth conspiracy, or believing that every scientist/doctor/healthcare professional in the world is working with Big Pharma to make you more sick. by Gemma Woodhouse

this makes no sense. Humans shape the land to suit ourselves, we know this. Reproduction enables the continuation of our genepool. We know this too. So it makes no sense to potentially jeopardise our future genepool’s home planet. Perhaps our own knowledge (and awareness of our own knowledge) is a self-limiting factor in our species: our big brains drive us forward industrially, but the arrogance and ego which develop from witnessing our own progress stop us from seeing our behaviour as destructive to the planet we live on. There are many people who acknowledge the devastation our species has caused and collectively work together to salvage what they can before any more is

destroyed, but these people are not just shouting above the voices of climate deniers; they are also shouting above the deafening silence of the apathy, generated by the “not my problem” population. Sometimes it feels like fighting a losing battle, but no battle worth fighting was ever easy pickings. Back to the original question; why do some people choose anti-science over science? It’s like shopping in the library for a diet plan. The science section promises grit, reality, slime, bacteria, equations, monotony, repetition, and far more fails than ‘eureka’ moments. The ending isn’t always what you wanted, 9/10 times it is nothing spectacular and it doesn’t make your soul smile. It’s the 5 a day, regular exercise, frustratingly slow progress that pays off for those who stick with it. The alternative science section promises overnight results and dramatic weight loss it’s pretty and romantic and feelgood, it’s the thing you really want to be true. The endings always work out the way you want them

image: Wikipedia

BRAIN BYTES // GEMMA WOODHOUSE

to because the ones that don’t are edited out of the narrative. The catch? If you deviate from that plan for one second, you break the suspension of disbelief. Reality hits as you see the weight piling back on. The entire marketing of antiscience targets a) those who are willing to suspend their disbelief for something which appears both inescapably beautiful and comforting, and b) those who simply know no other alternative. Admittedly, the latter is easier, which is why young and questioning minds are especially vulnerable to conspiracy theories. The science side are fighting back: making science more accessible is becoming an emergent practice, with notable faces such as Professor Brian Cox

and Dr Neil deGrasse Tyson picking up the batons from forerunners such as Sir David Attenborough and Dr Carl Sagan; teaching children logical thinking and problem solving is becoming recognised as necessary; science cafés, blogs, and interactive museums all aim to encourage an understanding of the scientific method first hand. In addition to all this, we need to be understanding of those who are afraid of science by trying to discover where the fear stems from. Only by targeting the source of the fear itself can we hope to unravel the pseudo-protective web of antiscience which surrounds them. Science isn’t scary. Of all the lessons we can teach, perhaps this is the most important.

BRAIN BYTES // GEMMA WOODHOUSE

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON? by Gemma Woodhouse Tell us about yourself. My name is Anzelika. I was born in Lithuania, where I have spent most of my life. I came to Britain to pursue my BSc in Molecular Biology, and 4 years later I’m still here! I’m currently at the end of my MRes course within the Department of Biosciences. What is your research about? I’m working with the larvae of the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella, which I use as a model to study the invertebrate immune response to infectious stimuli. More specifically, I’m interested in understanding the changes in cellular behaviour and protein expression in response to a viral infection occurring in insects. How long have you been at Swansea University for? Just under a year, since October 2016. What have been the highlights of your Masters? My Masters project was great. Since it was a collaboration with the Medical School of Swansea University, I had an opportunity to work with some great equipment, such as conventional and imaging flow cytometers and the Xf96 analyser. I learned how to handle insects and keep cell cultures happy, which isn’t easy!

What have been the challenges? Some things we cannot control and that can put on a lot of pressure during the project. Sometimes fresh insects wouldn’t arrive on time, the equipment wouldn’t pass quality controls, which required waiting for it to be repaired, etc. Also, it was difficult to effectively manage time in the lab, especially when I had multiple experiments to run in one day. But the more I did it, the better I became. If you could go back and do it all again, what would you do differently and what would you keep doing the same? I wouldn’t change anything in terms of my project. Although it was difficult at times, it helped me to build character and prepared me well for my future in science. The only thing I would change if I could go back, is consider applying for multiple charities and bursaries prior my MRes to secure some funds that would cover my living costs. I didn’t mind working part-time while studying towards my MRes, but it would be nice not to worry about money during such an important time. I encourage everybody to apply to as many sponsors as possible to make your time at the university a little bit easier.

Anzelika in the lab What encouraged you to pursue your chosen subject? I was always interested in immunity and infection. My undergraduate project was also immunology-based; however, the data I collected then was from in vitro stimulation of a cell line. But during this MRes I had an opportunity to work with a model organism and perform all my experiments in vivo, which I find very interesting. What advice would you give to new postgraduate students? Try to do as much planning as you can before you dive into your project, it is a crucial step in research. Although statistical analysis of your results is miles away, it’s always a good idea to know what you need to be collecting in order to avoid any trouble at the end of it all. Any advice for new undergraduate students? Make the most of your time at the university and enjoy yourselves. Stay motivated, patient and remember that there are always people you can talk to if you are unsure about things or need some advice. Don’t be afraid to ask.

SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM

ISSUE 274 // NOVEMBER 2017

LISTEN TO YOUR DAUGHTER by Gemma Woodhouse Humans are weird creatures. Investing years of a child’s life teaching them how to talk, write and draw. Sending them to drama or dance classes, paying too much for those horrible flat black dance shoes and sitting through their mind-numbing performances while the teachers are either dying with embarrassment or performing more than the kids; applauding their art efforts whilst subtly trying to decipher what on earth it’s supposed to be, and suppressing genuine tears of pride when the child actually does something heart-warming – reacting lovingly to another person without judging them, trying to stop another child crying, or standing up for another person. We spend so much time teaching children to express themselves so

they can communicate what they are thinking and feeling, to show genuine emotion, affection and kindness. We spend so much time teaching them they are wonderful and valuable human beings. Then one day, they are told to stop. Stop. Stop being expressive because “you’re a boy”, “that’s not how I want you to express yourself”, “I don’t understand your ways of expression” or “society doesn’t agree with your way of expression”. When my friends have children, these are my words to them: “please, just listen to your daughter”. I have no doubt they will raise strong women with kind hearts and fighting spirits. I have no doubt they will love their daughters unconditionally and be willing to give their own lives for their daughters in a heartbeat.

On behalf of every ‘difficult daughter’ out there, I plead to every single mother. We don’t turn out as expected. We may not be the healthiest child, we might be disabled, we might be neuro-diverse, or maybe it’s just the odd characteristic or quirk here or there. We might be gay, bisexual, genderfluid, gender neutral, or one of the countless other identifications that you are not yet familiar with. We may be a Goth, a punk, or one of the many alternative cultures and subcultures. We may decide atheism is the way for us despite religious upbringing, or you may raise us secular and later catch us praying. We may marry the first person we meet, or never marry at all. We may be with one person for many years, or change partners as regularly as we change our underwear. We may think sex is the most amazing experience of our lives and want to share every detail, or we may think it’s the most boring thing since maths on a Monday afternoon (some prefer maths to sex; that’s okay too). We may want to wear bright colours or we may want to wear all black. We may want to go to university or we may want to leave school as soon as possible. The lesson it took my own mother many years to come to learn is that I’M NOT HER. What seems like an incredibly simple statement is something which is far more common than I realised. My mother knew what made her happy and naturally, she wanted me to feel that same happiness. Happiness is relative and this is the dilemma every mother faces. They only know one point of happiness – their own. How simple would it be if your daughter was exactly like you? But is that what you would want? My

CREATIVE WRITING // EMILY MAYBANKS

mother raised me to be much gutsier than she was when she was young. Why? Because she recognised it was needed. She is uncomfortable with some of my choices but admires my courage for following my own path. It has taken her years to come to terms with my fashion sense and she is proud that I have the courage to do what makes me happy. She rolls her eyes and harrumphs loudly when talking about me and how I am at university, how much I love science, how I just ‘do what I do’ and ‘she doesn’t understand it’, but she cannot hide the gush in her voice. She is learning to appreciate the vast differences between us. My quirks and choices; my likes and dislikes; my general ‘wiring’. Please, whatever your daughter comes to you with – just listen to her. There will be times when she will horrify you with things she has done or said. Her latest life choice - you don’t have to like it. I’m asking that you listen - without losing your temper or making her regret telling you. Because you only have to make her regret telling you once, and that tight bond between mother and daughter is gone. She’ll still love you but she won’t be able to wholly trust you again, for fear of whatever she thinks or feels being magnified negatively. In this big, scary world where everyone judges us anyway, we really just need one person who never does.

Synonym of fear by Emily Maybanks

31st October 2011… Halloween Young and sweet, I was seventeen Still a child, full of innocence With a craving for independence So much I didn’t but too much I did see That fateful, terrifying night I think about it all the time; it haunts me Every time I see a blue light I remember the ambulance sirens screaming Taking you away And I hoped that I’d been dreaming I woke up the next day Because it had all been so real, it was so raw All I could do was cry It felt too much to even walk out of the front door I knew you could die 31st October 2011… Halloween Young and sweet, I was seventeen Still a child, full of innocence With a craving for independence But you clung on, for 128 days, to life In that hospital bed In so much pain, suffering through the strife

Wishing you were dead But you finally closed your eyes And my heart broke At the funeral, I said my final goodbyes Trying not to choke I still can’t cry enough tears for you As I advance There’s so much we had left to do You’ll never get the chance 31st October 2011… Halloween Young and sweet, I was seventeen Still a child, full of innocence With a craving for independence From then on, I vowed That I would do all I could To make you so proud Because I think I should And every single day I fight Battles rage inside me But I can’t forget that night Each time I close my eyes, I see I feel, I remember and I hear It drives me absolutely mad Halloween is a synonym of fear And I’ll always miss you so bad 31st October 2011… Halloween Young and sweet, I was seventeen Still a child, full of innocence With a craving for independence

SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM

ISSUE 274 // NOVEMBER 2017

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Flat comprises 4 double bedrooms, large kitchen & living room, bathroom with bath & sep shower, sep WC room, off road parking - there are also 2 communal rooms that each flat has access to. 1 comprises a pool table, plasma tv, seating and the other is bike storage room.

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ST ALBANS ROAD

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Excellent location close to University and local amenities. 6 double bedrooms, good size living room, kitchen, bathroom with bath and WC, separate shower room, sep WC room, rear enclosed patio back garden.

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SWP11046

LANGLAND TERRACE

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UPLANDS CRESCENT

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Right next to Singleton Park and thus very close

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PINEWOOD ROAD

GLANBRYDAN AVENUE

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BED Recently renovated and redecorated completely throughout to a very high standard. Property comprises 6 double bedrooms, large kitchen, living room, 2 shower rooms.

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ISSUE 274 // NOVEMBER 2017

Featured Property

ELBA CRESENT

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YSGOL STREET

BED Excellent location in Port Tennant close to bay campus. Property renovated, redecorated and furnished throughout to a very high standard. 4 double bedrooms, large new kitchen, good size living room, new shower room, patio back garden.

4 bedroom property in superb location directly opposite the Bay Campus

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Property has large open planned kitchen with dining table and chairs, living room, new shower room and all new furniture including all double or 3/4 beds, rear enclosed garden.

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BRYN ROAD

MIERS STREET

Excellent location close to the University. Property comprises all double beds, living room with plasma tv, large kitchen, 2 bathrooms, off road parking for around 4-5 cars.

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Recently renovated, redecorated and furnished throughout to a very high standard. Large open planned kitchen & living room with patio doors out to garden, patio area, 6 double bedrooms (1 ensuite), 2 shower rooms. Off road parking available.

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UPTON TERRACE

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PHILLIPS PARADE

Property comprises 4 double bedrooms, kitchen, living room, bathroom.

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PORT TENNANT ROAD

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throughout to a high standard. Property comprises 6 double bedrooms (1 ensuite), kitchen, living room, 2 shower rooms. Studentpad Ref

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DANYGRAIG ROAD

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Excellent location in Port Tennant close to bay campus. Property will be renovated, redecorated and furnished throughout to a very high standard. 4 double bedrooms, new open planned kitchen-living room, new shower room, patio back garden. Studentpad Ref

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ISSUE 274 // NOVEMBER 2017

NETFLIX BINGE by Guto Griffiths

Bill Skarsgard as Pennywise

REVIEW: IT by Lauren Lewis Thirty-one years have passed since the first publication of Stephen King’s bestseller IT and finally, the newest adaption of the book has arrived. IT is a chilling new adaptation of the book, with all the bloodcurdling scares and psychological consternation that we have come to expect and relish from Stephen King. On its opening weekend, the film made a whopping twenty-three million dollars. Director, Andrés Muschietti, held in high regard for his previous work in spooky feature film ‘Mama’; and, who is known for delivering visual tactics and a steady stream of well-timed jump scares, does not disappoint in his newest production. Pennywise,

“the dancing clown”, returns every twenty-seven years to terrorise the inhabitants of a small town called Derry. The story follows the protagonist, Bill, as he faces the untimely loss of his younger brother Georgie, one of IT’s many casualties. He desperately seeks vengeance against the monster along with his comrades, mockingly dubbed, ‘The Loser’s Club’, by the local bullies. The club is formed of a pubescent gang of boys and one girl, who are otherwise, ostracised by their peers. Mike, who is singled out for being the only coloured kid in town, Ben, an overweight bookworm, Eddie, a hapless hypochondriac, Beverley,

a tomboy lacking in female friends, Stan, a self-doubting skeptic, and Ritchie, a boorish wiseacre. Notably, Ritchie is played convincingly by up and coming star Finn Wolfhard, recognizable from 2016’s hit ‘Stranger Things’. With a 1980s backdrop, IT will remind you of King’s cult film ‘Stand by Me’, but, with a sinister edge. Bill Skarsgard gives a notably frightening performance as Pennywise, the killer clown - not entirely disparate from Heath Ledger’s Joker, with that unhinged, manic quality. It is sure to evoke coulrophobia within viewers everywhere, and I’m not clowning around.

FILM // BECKY ELMS

To keep in line with this frightful time of year, why not watch a prequel to Alfred Hitchcock’s thrilling, Psycho? Psycho is still considered to be one of the best horror films ever. So, a Netflix series which explains the roots of the Bates Motel and its inhabitants is sure to grab any horror fan’s interest. Bates Motel is a modernised prequel to the 60s horror film and can feel a little out of place at points. Especially when watching Norman Bates text his crush. However, this is something you can quickly overcome when you are absorbed in Norman’s evolution from innocent 17-yearold to schizophrenic killer. Although the series has other plot lines that sometimes feel a little meaningless; it’s the unhealthy relationship between Norman and Norma that keeps us compelled. Both Freddie Highmore and Vera Farmiga give standout performances; shedding light on how Norma’s oppressive but caring attitude towards her son sets him on the path to becoming the infamous killer, Norman Bates. Freddie Highmore always had big boots to fill after Anthony Perkins’ portrayal of Bates in the film Psycho, and he does not disappoint. Highmore’s sweet and sympathetic portrayal, has us hoping for Norman to have a different life. But, as the show goes on, his interests darken (taxidermy, anyone?); perfectly foreshadowing the killer he will become. Although we already know the end from Hitchcock’s Psycho, the show does an amazing job at keeping us hoping for a happy ending.

Tom Cruise as Barry Seal

AMERICAN MADE by W. B. Kriescher “What a film!” The most recent masterpiece in Tom Cruise’s arsenal of outstanding films, American Made, is about the struggle between greed and morality. What makes this even more impactful is that it is based on a true story. Barry Seal quits his job as a commercial aeroplane pilot and becomes a delivery man for the CIA; to make a better life for himself and his family. Barry acts outside the boundaries of the law, slowly drowning in his own decisions. The line between good and bad is blurred; there are no good guys and, equally, there are no villains. The film questions what it is to be a good person; we like and dislike every single character at various stages of the film. Barry is a criminal and we love him for it and each character has their own complex situations which motivate them.

This is a film that is able to entertain an audience with funny and comedic scenes whilst grabbing their attention with dramatic moments that delve the audience deeper into the story. Viewers are left wanting Barry to succeed, retire, and grow old with his family, leaving the criminal world behind. Yet, paradoxically, it is what makes his character so interesting and so likeable. We are shown how painfully average his life is as a commercial airline pilot in the early scenes of the film. This is then juxtaposed with the interesting character that he develops into, through his life of crime. It is the classic case of being attracted to the destructive, something every human being can relate to on some level, and why viewers can easily empathise with his situation. American Made is a fantastic film. It is funny, whilst discussing serious topics. It is uplifting, whilst depicting harsh realities. And, above all, it is brutally honest.

CYMRAEG // ALEX NETHELL

"ADRE, ADRE, AM Y CYNTA HWCH DDU GWTA GIPIO’R OLA" by Keziah O’Hare

Er bod Noson Calan Gaeaf yn draddodiad sy’n mynd yn ôl i’r oed Celtiaid, yn ddiweddar, mae rhan fwyaf o bobl yng Nghymru yn dathlu hi fel yr Americanaidd a’r gweddill o Brydain. Gwisgo dillad a cholur i edrych fel cymeriadau ofnus i ddychryn pobl. Am blant, i fynd o ddrws i ddrws am losin ac am oedolion (wel, myfyrwyr yn benodol) mae’n esgus i gael parti. Serch hynny, os i chi’n edrych at y traddodiadau gwreiddiol o Noson Calan Gaeaf, byddwch chi’n falch am unwaith bod ni’n ymuno efo pawb arall a’r ‘Halloween’ modern. Noson Tân Gwyllt yw’r dathliad mae pobl yn cysylltu efo coelcerthi ond roedd y traddodiad yma wedi dechrau efo Noson Calan Gaeaf. Roedd teuluoedd yn adeiladu un tu allan yn yr

ardd a bydden nhw’n ysgrifennu eu henwau ar garreg am bob unigolyn ac yn osod nhw ar ymyl y goelcerth. Wrth iddyn nhw ddeffro yn y bore, bydden nhw’n chwilio am y garreg efo’i henwau. Os bydd carreg wedi’i golli, bydd y person efo’r enw ar y garreg goll yn marw

gallwch chi gredu bod hynny’n iawn, beth gall mochyn gwneud? Yn anffodus, roedd y person olaf i adael y goelcerth neu unigolyn sy’n cerdded o gwmpas yr ardal trwy’r noson, yn dod ar draws yr Hwch Ddu Gwta, a bydd hi’n cipio, lladd neu fwyta'r druan oedd yn ddigon twp i anwybyddu mam-gu a’i straeon. Mae yna rigwm i rybuddio pobl am weithradau sinistr y mochyn: “Adre, adre, am y cynta Hwch Ddu Gwta gipio’r ola.”

cyn i’r flwyddyn benni. Byddai’n hapus i ddim gwybod, diolch! Roedd y goelcerth yn gyfrifol am fwy na rhagfynegi’r farwolaeth yn y pentrefi. Dwedwyd bod yr Hwch Ddu Gwta (ceisio i ddweud hynny 5 gwaith yn gyflym), mochyn ysbrydol efo cynffon byr, yn ymrithio o’r gwreichion olaf y goelcerth. Wrth ddarllen,

Mae hynny’n ddigon i greu ofn mewn unrhyw un. Bydd hi’n draed moch os bydd yr Hwch Ddu Gwta yn eich cael. Mae’r traddodiadau yma yn dystiolaeth o’r obsesiwn mae’r Cymry gydag efo’r goruwchnaturiol a’r ofergoelion sy’n mynd gyda nhw. Maent yn bwysig i gofio, ond, mae’n wir i ddweud bod nhw’n eithaf gwallgof ac anesmwyth.

CYMRAEG // ALEX NETHELL

CYMRU AC ARSWYD by Lois Williams Mae llawer o waith gwych o lenyddiaeth Gymraeg, o'r Mabinogi i waith mwy modern Roald Dahl a Dylan Thomas. Ond, genre mwy dan dô yw’r genre arswyd Cymru. Mae gymaint o awduron Gymraeg yn berchen ar y genre yma, a gan ein bod yn agosáu at Galan Gaeaf, mae’n amser edrych ar rhai ohonynt.

Un o'r awduron mwyaf poblogaidd yn y genre yw Arthur Machen. Cyhoeddwyd ei darn fwyaf poblogaidd o'r enw The Great God Pan ym 1894, gyda'i gyfeiriadau at baganiaeth yn dychryn nifer o bobl, gan gynnwys Richard Henry Stoddard, a elwodd ef yn "Too morbid to be the production of a healthy mind". Ond mewn cyferbyniad, mae’r math yma o lenyddiaeth goruchafiaethol

Chwith, Arthur Machen ac are y dde, ei lyfr The Great God Pan yn genre sy'n cael ei edmygu gan lawer o awduron eraill, gan gynnwys Stephen King (enwog am straeon arswyd fel ‘IT’ sydd wedi dod yn boblogaidd yn ddiweddar) a elwodd nofel Machen, “Maybe the best horror story in the English language”. Mae llawer o ysgrifenwyr mwy modern wedi cymryd ysbrydoliaeth gan Arthur Machen oherwydd ei ddefnydd meistrolig o arswyd. Mae Stephen Volk hefyd yn awdur arswydus llwyddiannus yng Nghymru. Enillodd ei genre arswyd mwy modern lle iddo fel sgriptwr ar y BBC Drama, Ghostwatch. Denodd Ghostwatch llawer o’r gwynion gan aelodau'r cyhoedd, gan arwain at oddeutu 30,000 o alwadau cwyn i'r BBC oherwydd bod llawer gyda’r farn ei fod yn 'rhy aflonyddus ar gyfer teledu'. Oherwydd hyn, ni chafodd Ghostwatch ei ailddarlledu erioed ar deledu Prydain ers ei sgrinio gyntaf ym 1992. Aeth Volk ymlaen i ysgrifennu mwy o arswyd, gan gynnwys cyfres ITV1 o'r enw Afterlife, a nifer o straeon byrion.

Gallech hefyd gyfeirio at Peter Luther, Rhoda Broughton, Rhys Hughes, Neil Spring i enwi ond ychydig yn y genre poblogaidd yma. Felly, fel y gwelwch, mae Cymru'n berchen i lawer o ysgrifenwyr arswydus gwych (ac ofnus!). Gwnewch yn siŵr eich bod yn darllen rhai ohonynt mewn pryd ar gyfer Calan Gaeaf!

Ghostwatch, drama arswy ar gyder y teledu.

SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM

ISSUE 274 // NOVEMBER 2017

FOODS YOU'LL FALL FOR: The best places to visit this Autumn

by Annie Harte

Turtle Bay is located just off Castle Square Turtle Bay is a funky Caribbean themed restaurant which has just opened on Castle Street. It brings chilled vibes, mouth-watering street food and 2-4-1 cocktails to a previously deserted corner of Swansea, and boy am I glad! Turtle Bay boasts a unique interior, complete with a central bar, rustic furniture and more fairy lights than you could ever imagine. The menu is a concoction of BBQ jerk pits, delicious one-pots, and Caribbean style burgers, which are accompanied by a generous pot of sweet potato fries – sweet,

potatoey goodness. What more could you want?! I had the two-way chicken burger (£8.50) which was sandwiched between two sweet buns and was all it cracked up to be – two types of chicken, pulled and panko-crumb, with crisp gem lettuce and the most delicious pineapple salsa draped on top. I could’ve eaten 10 more, it was that good. Turtle Bay also has a vast vegetarian menu. It ranges from spiced okra (similar to green peppers) and mango guacamole to spicy chickpea wraps and jerk roasted mushrooms. I was lucky

enough to also try the mushroom and goat’s cheese burger (£8.00); a mammoth Portobello mushroom marinated in jerk sauce covered in creamy goat’s cheese finished with a coconut glaze. The burger was delicious and had my vegetarian friends raving for more! Finally, the main event: the cocktails! It’s always happy hour before 7 pm and after 10 pm which means there is little reason not to get one! All are rum based, which sometimes proves for a different but welcome taste. My favourite is the vanilla and passion fruit mojito (£7.15), which is topped with fresh lime and mint, resulting in a refreshing drink. The Caribbean Pimms is similarly a tropical treat. This drink just shouts summer at me – and whilst I recognise it’s not summer anymore, with this cocktail, we can pretend! Don’t worry if you don’t fancy a cocktail, they have a brilliant range of non-alcoholic Caribbean soft drinks. Peanut butter smoothies, watermelon crush and genuine coconut water (when they say genuine, they’re not joking they bring out a whole coconut). Turtle Bay’s constant lively atmosphere will give you vacation feelings, so if you’re looking for somewhere to eat tasty, nononsense Caribbean food for cheap, then Turtle Bay is the place for you.

FOOD // KASSY FOX & HANNAH FENLON

Swansea Market has a number of cafés and hot food stalls as well

MARKET DEALS by Kassy Fox Though the common practice with most students is to just hop to town and jump into the wonderful chaos that is Tesco shopping, I have found that the Market in town holds far more savings for the frugal student than any Tesco deals. From Student offers to the lowest prices on fresh produce/meat products, you can find just about everything you need on any student budget in the Swansea Market. The Market itself is not advertised enough to students. Tesco may be convenient

as far as location, but the market offers a rich culture and wealth of Welsh cuisine that I find enriching and well worth the slight detour and the occasional market crowds. For those interested in cooking their own meals as opposed to the regular intervals of take-out and ready meals, the market offers a wide variety of ingredients that cater to the pickiest of chefs or least experienced novice. Most commonly you will find the Student offers at the butcher’s the best option. At only £10 per student deal, they give a wide selection offering packages including a halfdozen eggs or rashers of bacon along with chicken, pork sausages, and even lamb. Though most may be intimidated by the idea of cooking at home, it’s far cheaper in the long run and could save you a pretty penny at the end of the week! If you are not a fan of red meats,

seafood is one of the best sources of protein that is low in fat and a very health conscious choice if you’re looking to maintain a good diet or slim down for the upcoming sports seasons. Swansea market offers a wide selection of fish stalls. The freshest catches at the lowest prices, easily one of the best parts of a shopping trip is being able to grab a couple of salmon or tuna steaks for a date night dinner. The veg stalls are by far the best and freshest deals within the market, locally sourced veg that is crisp, healthy, and won’t break your bank (some stalls offer student discount, be sure to ask)! I love to go in the mornings and get the best selections before the mid-day rush steals them away. Whether you are a vegetarian, a vegan, or just looking for a healthy side to go with that student meat deal, be sure to check them all out.

SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM

What was it like to play in the Millenium Stadium earlier this year for the Varsity Competition against Cardiff? Playing in the principality was an experience like I've never had before. The whole run up to it including the travelling there, the match day lunch, getting to experience having our kit hung up in the changing rooms and performing a top class warm up really set the stage for the history making match! There was something special about being on the pitch and knowing that your fellow teammates were all giving 100%. The professionalism throughout the day and the fact that we smashed Cardiff made it a match like no other and one I will cherish forever! How did the Opportunity to go To China come about? Having never played 7's before, I was overjoyed to be given the opportunity to play in a 7's tournament in Leeds prior to China. We played amazingly and made it to the semi-finals. Having all gelled and performed so well, the same team was selected for China! I would recommend everyone to grab any opportunity they are given at uni with both hands and give it your best shot because you never know what it may lead to!

RUGBY, A WEALTH OF OPPORTUNITY

by Lulu Thornton

image: Swansea University/Flickr

Both the men’s and women’s teams played in the millennium stadium last year and went on an international trip to China for a sevens competition. We caught up with Abbey Smith, one of the Women’s rugby players, who gave us the inside on all these great opportunities.

ISSUE 274 // NOVEMBER 2017

What was the best thing about going to China, was it a good learning experience? The best thing about going to China for me was getting to experience the culture and the food! We were overwhelmed with the opening ceremony and the welcome dinner where we got a taste of Chinese customs and various dishes! Tremendous amounts of time and care were put into making and delivering our schedule and activities to ensure we had a time we'd never forget. We were treated like royalty and got to experience all the same things as the Chinese teams. I learnt a lot about the game of 7's while I was out there from the Chinese women's side we were playing and from our dedicated coaches and as a team we improved more than we could have imagined!

Siwan, your coach, recently starred in the Welsh Rugby Union Squad do you appreciate her experience in the game? Having Siwan as our head coach has benefitted the team hugely in a number of ways. Siwan has many years of experience playing rugby and has impeccable knowledge of the game which makes her coaching sessions always valuable and specific. Having played for her country, we get a taste of the professionalism required which I believe motivates the girls to succeed in training and in matches. Finally, her passion and love for the game has inspired and rubbed off on every single one of us which in turn has helped Swansea Women's rugby club grow from a small club that could barely field a team to one with two successful BUCS teams!

SPORT // GREG STONE & LULU THORNTON

PRO14 SOUTH AFRICAN TEAMS by Greg Stone The Pro14 will be the first domestic Northern Hemisphere Rugby competition in which South African teams will compete. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect from the two newbies.

Toyota Cheetahs The Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, where they will play at home, has a capacity of 48,000 but don’t expect them to fill it unless they get to the finals. Also, the stadium is at an altitude of 1,400m, so expect visiting teams to suffer in the second half due to the thin air. The Cheetahs are the better of the two teams and have a unique style. They don’t rely on a strong defence to win games unlike many of their competitors, rather focusing on exhilarating attack - because of this, their games will be high scoring affairs. On their day they are unstoppable, unfortunately this has happened very rarely in Super Rugby. They’ll be hoping to change this situation in the

Pro14 and if they do, expect them near the top towards the end of the season. Players to watch out for: Francois Venter, Centre: The captain of the Cheetahs may not be the flashiest but his immense work rate and consistency earned him a Springbok cap in 2016 and has been part of the national squad in 2017. Rosko Specman, Wing: Some people are born to play rugby, Rosko is one of them. As a former Blitzbokke (South Africa’s sevens team) he is an explosive runner with a mean step on him. He may not be the biggest but he doesn’t shy away from contact.

Southern Kings They play their home games at the Nelson Mandela Bay

Stadium, which has a capacity of 46,000. As with the Cheetahs don’t expect it to be anywhere near filled, rugby isn’t the main sport in Port Elizabeth. Sadly, don’t be expecting big things from the Kings this year; 30 players have recently left the squad and Deon Davids, the coach, only signed his contract 2 weeks before the season started.

Players to watch out for: Andisa Ntsila, No.8 With some calling for his inclusion in the Springboks, Ntsila is arguably the Kings’ best player. Named in the SA A squad this year, he’s a powerful defender, coming second in the Super Rugby tackle count Yaw Penxe, Wing A ridiculously quick winger with an incredible step. He made his debut this year in Super Rugby and impressed to go on to play for the Baby Boks at the junior world cup winning a bronze medal.

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