The Waterfront
Swansea University’s Official Student Newspaper FREE
SU ELECTIONS RESULTS
MARCH 2020 CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
ISSUE 290 SWANSEA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH
SWANSEA UNIVERSITY CLOSES AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC
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n Tuesday 17th, the University ceased face-to-face teaching. In a move following Government guidelines to encourage social distancing, to minimise spreading the virus.
as Taliesin, Sports Facilities, the Great Hall, Libraries, and the Egypt Centre are closed until further notice.
The University has had its first confirmed case, and is encouraging all students and This meant that for the remainder of the staff to be vigilant and follow Public Health academic year, teaching will take place Guidelines. These can be found on phw.nhs. online, while Postgraduate Research students wales. will receive supervision remotely also. Halls of Residence remain open but venues such
CORONAVIRUS STAY AT HOME SAVE LIVES Anyone can spread Coronavirus. The only reasons to leave home are: To shop for basic necessities or pick up medicine To travel to work when you absolutely cannot work from home To exercise once a day, alone or with members of your household Do not meet others, even friends or family
CONTENTS
MARCH 2020
SU Elections Results News and Current Affairs Let’s Work Together and Stay Safe Coronavirus - To Care or Not to Care? Strange Days & Negative Capability Swansea University Dementia Research Seagrass Restoration Features Benefits of Doing a DACE Class Mental Health Tips During the “c-word” Microvolunteering SAS Accomodation Advice Food One-pot Puttanesca Nasi Lemak Conrnel Cymraeg Y Gym Gym
Music DMAs Review and Interview Puzzles True Crime Doping. Relationships Surviving a Breakup Film Onward - Review Creative Writing & Literature Castle Gardens The Purge (An Allegory) Is My Life YOURS? Make a Room Colour The Road of to Grantchester - Review Dylan Thomas Prize Longlist
Deputy Editor Will Bailhache waterfrontsubeditor@ swanseastudentmedia.com
Creative Writing Bethan Bates waterfrontcreativewriting@ swanseastudentmedia.com
Proofreading Alex Baker proofreader@swanseastudentmedia.com
Culture Cora-Jane Jordon waterfrontculture@ swanseastudentmedia.com
News Eleanor Maunder waterfrontnews@swanseastudentmedia. com Food Bethan Bates waterfrontfood@swanseastudentmedia. com Music Erin O'Connor & Fin Hardie waterfrontmusic@swanseastudentmedia. com
Relationships Lizzie Watt waterfrontrelationships@ swanseastudentmedia.com True Crime Tabea Pawar waterfronttruecrime@ swanseastudentmedia.com Student Media Coordinator Lewis Israel lewis.israel@swansea-union.co.uk
This month's contributors
Eleanor Maunder • Inês Teixeira-Dias • Kevin Child • Lizzie Watt • Thomas Weller Bethan Bates • Malaysian Society • Fin Hardie • Geri Smits • Tabea Pawar Perry Wyatt • Ikeke Azeke • Ashish Dwivedi • Sabina Phamová • Sioned Howells Waterfront is a free print and online publication from Swansea Student Media and your Students’ Union. swanseastudentmedia.com
We Want YOU!
Seen a section you'd like to write for? Or want to start a new section? Get in touch now! Email: lewis.israel@swansea-union.co.uk
HELLO FROM WATERFRONT! We’re living in uncertain times. We all have to stay in our homes to protect the lives of others, and hope that life will return to normal sooner rather than later. During these tough few weeks and months, we’ve all seen such positive news in the world. Whether that be Venice’s Canals clearing and animals returning to them, or distilleries begin production of much needed hand sanitzers, or the thousands of retired medical professionals return to work to offer their skills in the fight against coronavirus. Being at home a lot means our writers have had plenty of time to pen some articles. We hope that this online-only edition of The Waterfront finds you well, and hope you’ll read our publication again when it returns to print in September (hopefully).
The Waterfront Team
Elections 2020 Results T
he results are in! For the secondconsecutive year, the Students’ Union will have an all-female Full-Time Officer team! A total of 3,142 voters cast over 35,000 votes to appoint the new Officer Team that will be in charge of the SU for the next year. In addition to the Full-Time Officers, also elected were the new Part-Time Officer Team which are made up of students volunteering in addition to their studies. These are a diverse range of individuals that aims to represent different aspects of the student body. Turn over to meet your new Full-Time Officers!
Your New Full-Time Officer Team... President - Ffion Davies As your current Sports Officer, I’ve delivered on numerous projects impacting positively on our University community. I’ve launched Mental Health in Sport workshops, as well as created a joint well-being project with the School of Sport & Exercise Science. I fought for equality and for the first time, the Women’s rugby team will compete in the Liberty during Varsity. Additionally, I secured £11,000 for new sporting equipment and funding to ensure Sports Scholarships continue. I coordinated charity events raising over £25,800 and introduced GWA
bucket hats. I understand the importance of good governance, and as an SU Trustee have carried out my legal and financial duties. I’ve established vital relations within the University and gained the knowledge and insight needed to ensure the Students’ Union continues to thrive. I graduated with a Sports Science degree, and whilst studying was Club Captain for the Netball Club and a Sports Exec. Your time at university is of utmost importance to me, and I believe with my experience I can deal with the issues facing our diverse body of students.
Welfare Officer – Liza Leibowitz Hello, my name is Liza Leibowitz and I am a 3rd Year Law student who is committed to ensuring the wellbeing and welfare of the student body. I’m the current Black and Minority Ethnic Officer and provide pro-bono legal advice services under the Swansea University Law Clinic. These roles required me to do considerable work under the student
body and from this, I am familiar with how student operations are conducted and believe I can effectively implement changes and provide effective student support. Consequently, I have higher insight to student needs and have acquired skills to assist students greatly in areas such as employment, housing, discrimination and so much more.
Welsh Affairs Officer – Katie Phillips Anyone who knows me knows that I give 100% in everything that I do, and I like to keep busy. I’m currently a third-year Geography student and I have engaged in every opportunity available to me at university. I’ve worked for the Student’s Union for three years, in JC’s, events, and most recently as a receptionist. I was the Welsh Coordinator for the Geography society and ambassador for the Coleg Cymraeg
Cenedlaethol in 2019. During the summer I worked closely with the Welsh Language Policy Officer in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council where I gained a wide range of knowledge and expertise. I’m currently a Project Coordinator for Share Necessities in Discovery and a Welsh Medium Representative for Geography. I’m a student ambassador for the university where I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with the Academi Hywel Teifi and Go Global team due to my volunteering experience in Fiji.
Societies and Services Officer – Georgia-Rose Gleeson I have the passion to get your voices heard and to make a difference to your overall student experience at Swansea University, across both Singleton and Bay Campus. In addition to the determination I have, I’ve had lots of first-hand, relevant experience within the Students’ Union and its Societies during my time as a Geography undergraduate, including: - SUSU Environment Officer 19/20.
- SU Geography Society 18/19 Charity Rep and 2019 Vice President. - I play for SU Basketball Women’s First Team. - I’m an active mental health campaigner for the charity Mind.
Education Officer - Theresa Ogbekhiulu As the current Education officer, I work with the Student Reps, Full Time officers and Part Time officers to ensure that the student voice is made paramount. This year, I have fulfilled numerous manifesto points, such as the successful implementation of microwaves in the library, which has encouraged healthier eating amongst the student body. Following from that, I worked with the library to ensure the reduction in the cost of renewing student ID cards.
I have also run very successful campaigns such as; Black History Month, where we had a range of events, and most especially persuaded the University to fly African flags for the first time on its grounds. In addition to that, during StudyAid, over 2000 cups of FREE hot drinks and snacks were served, alongside de-stress sessions to support students during exams. My year as Education officer has availed me the opportunity to gain relevant experience, skills and knowledge to ensure that the Education zone carries out its purpose of representing the voice of students in their education.
Sports Officer – Georgia Smith Sport is central to my life. I study Sport and Exercise Science and am currently captain of the Swimming Team, having previously been the social secretary. I have helped facilitate major improvements within the Swimming Club including its expansion from one squad to four. This transition has required strong leadership to negotiate logistical challenges whilst ensuring we engage all members from scholars
to recreational swimmers. Joining the Waterpolo Team in my 2nd year has given me insight into athletes participating in individual and team sports. As a Sports Executive for Sport Swansea, working closely with the current Sports Officer, I have gained a strong understanding for the demands of the role. I am approachable, hardworking and keen to make positive changes for all students, meaning I would be able to hit the ground running as your Sports Officer.
Balancing being a part time officer, committee member and a sportswoman alongside my third year at university has helped me perfect my time management skills and my flexibility, meaning I will always give 100%.
News & Current Affairs Information in this section correct as of date of publication 26.03.2020. Consult NHS resources for up to date facts and advice.
Let’s work together to stay safe! By Eleanor Maunder
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e couldn’t have the news section without mentioning the elephant in the room, Covid-19. I know that I discussed it in the previous news section and that there is a lot of media attention, but it is important that we all take precautions… if not for ourselves but for the elderly or those who are immunocompromised. The university has officially suspended face to face seminars and lectures from the 17/3/20. In order to help protect yourself and others, please make sure you wash your hands with soap for the same amount of time as it takes for you to sing happy birthday! It is also recommended to use tissues for coughs and sneezes; if you don’t have any tissues use the crook of your elbow. Finally, try to avoid touching your face as much as possible. The symptoms to keep an eye out for are fever and a new continuous cough. Scientific advice suggests not to use ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs). It is instead recommended that you use Paracetamol. However, if you are on prescription antiinflammatory drugs, ask your doctors for advice.
However, vaccine trials are now onto animal testing stages which may progress to human trials by the end of the year. Stay safe, keep watching the news and look after each other.
Coronavirus – to care or not to care, that is the question By Inês Teixeira-Dias
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oronavirus – that dreaded word you’re probably sick of hearing about by now. But why is it relevant to you, even though you’re very likely to survive it? You’ll all have heard about the spread of this new virus by now – covid-19 is part of a large family of viruses (called coronaviruses, CoV) that cause a range of illnesses such as the common cold to more severe diseases like SARS-CoV. Covid-19 is a novel strain that had not yet been previously identified in humans, meaning we have no preexisting vaccinations for it or any cures. This means that prevention is a top priority. “Aw but it doesn’t really matter, I’ll be fine if I get it. It only really kills the elderly, natural selection isn’t it!” That’s not quite the point… It is true that covid-19 is more likely to (fatally) affect the elderly, the disabled, the chronicallyill and the immunocompromised – however, adopting the mentality that it’s ‘not a big deal’ because it only affects certain groups of people that you might not fall into implies that these groups of people are expendable. Their lives are just as valuable as the next person’s and are deserving of protection and care just like everyone else. No one is really concerned about whether the healthy 20-year-olds of the population contract the illness, because you’re likely to survive unscathed. People aren’t worried about you getting it – they’re worried about you spreading it. You are an active vector of the illness, however it’s not all doom and gloom! There are things you can do to minimise the risks for yourself as well as those around you. To prevent the infection from spreading:
1) Wash your hands regularly (more regularly than normal if you have access). Wash for 20 seconds: palms, in between fingers, backs of hands, right to the edge of your wrists! Sing the tune of ‘Happy birthday’ twice if you need help keeping track of time. 2) If you need to sneeze or cough, don’t do it into your hands: catch it in a tissue or if you don’t have one to hand, your elbow. Think ‘dab’ but just much closer to your face and covering your mouth. 3) Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illnesses. If you think you’re showing signs, do that for other people and don’t allow yourself to have contact with them (also known as self-isolation). 4) Avoid touching your face – the virus enters through your mouth, nose and/or eyes. 5) Don’t visit a hospital or a GP surgery – call 111 from the safety of your own room at home and they will talk you through any suspicions of symptoms you might have, guiding you appropriately. 6) Coronavirus is not an excuse to be racist – it is no longer a ‘Chinese’ disease, it’s global. The international student in your lecture is no more likely to have gone to Asia recently than your white counterpart to Europe. Neither should be on the receiving end of any verbal abuse. It’s now more important than ever to assume strong principles of good civility, citizenship and solidarity. Health isn’t private; we impact each other’s health and your ability to help protect others from this disease is in your hands: literally.
Strange Days & Negative Capability: COVID19 & Hopes for a Brighter Future?
By Kevin Child, Director of Student Services at Swansea University “Negative Capability, that is, when a man is capable of being in uncertainties, mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact and reason.” (John Keats: 22 December 1817 ) “Strange days have found us Strange days have tracked us down They’re going to destroy Our casual joys We shall go on playing Or find a new town” (Jim Morrison, The Doors, 1967)
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am feeling really emotional today! The whole situation has just hit me, I think, up until recently I’ve been so focussed and busy with the planning and decision making along with colleagues across the University and our amazing Students’ Union, that I haven’t had chance to reflect on the impact on all of us. I’m still in work (and will continue to be as long as I have Student Services colleagues working on the ground here) and seeing the campus emptying and saying goodbye to so many colleagues and students, that I really care about, as they go off to start living, studying and working in completely new and unknown ways, has really impacted on me.
My references to two great poets (Keats and Morrison), above, perfectly sum up, for me, the world we now find ourselves in, a crazy time of planning and preparing for something that not a single person in this institution has ever had the experience of before. Only just on three weeks ago we were studying, working, and living a completely different life, then at the drop of a hat we had to envisage a different world. The whole University came together to attempt to tackle something that we didn’t understand but we knew we had to work our way through! Today, we have developed and rolled out methods & systems to enhance significant online delivery of teaching and learning, support, remote working from home and community engagements that were simply ideas for future planning a very short while ago! Our policies and practices have changed in the blink of an eye, we have worked together
as real partners in ways that we were only attempting or talking about previously. In many ways we have jumped ahead of ourselves by about 5 years had we had the opportunity to take the decisions through multiple committees for endless discussions, sub- working groups, rewrites and ultimate approval. Throughout the process at every level of discussion, right up to engagement with the University’s Senior Management Team & VC, you, our students, have been superbly represented by your awesome SUSU FTO’s and colleagues and all of us have had you and our staff community at the very centre of our thinking.
cities that have been shut down is breathable again and communities across the World and locally are engaging and supporting neighbours and strangers in ways they haven’t for too long.
I cannot express how truly grateful I am to us, how inspired I am by us and how proud What comes next is really unknown but as I am of us by the way we have taken on the Morrison says “We shall go on playing many challenges we have all had to meet Or find a new town.” I really have hopes to get us to this point. that the “new town” that we emerge into, from this situation, will be a much more Please take care of yourselves and those human organisation here in the University, you care for, as the priority focus, over the a much more human focussed and better coming period. It is not going to be easy world. We are already seeing Mother but we will recover, we will be different Nature taking back control e.g. the Canals and I really believe we will be better than in Venice have fish and dolphins for the we were before. first time in decades, the air pollution in
Swansea University Playing Key Role in Dementia Research
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ealth records from over 80% of the Welsh population have been used to create the UK’s first national-scale health database for dementia research, which is housed at Swansea University. Researchers have used Welsh NHS records to create the new resource – which is kept in the SAIL Databank - allowing doctors and scientists to investigate fundamental questions about dementia with greater confidence, paving the way for new treatments. Every three seconds someone in the world develops dementia, and the number of people living with the condition is projected to increase. With 850,000 people estimated to be living with dementia in the UK, it is one of the biggest public health crises of our time. Due to the complex nature of dementia, the need for quality long-term data is high and the diseases that cause it can take hold decades before symptoms show. Through their data and the state-of-the art research capability in Dementias Platform UK, Welsh people are making an unrivalled contribution to research and treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers have used the SAIL Databank to develop the dementia-specific resource, known as the SAIL dementia e-Cohort (SDeC). The scope of the new database is 1.2 million people’s records over 20 years and it allows researchers to
explore the impact and progression of dementia on a population scale. Researchers will be able to see whether circumstances such as access to social care or household income impact on dementia. The SAIL Databank, from which the new dementia database is created, contains anonymised GP and hospital records from the 3.1 million people in Wales, including information on prescriptions and diagnoses. GP records are particularly valuable in dementia research because the vast majority of people living with dementia are at home, or under the care of their GP. The size of the Welsh data makes the potential insights into the disease and treatments particularly important. Unlike most other countries which collect health data, Wales is one of very few countries in the world where researchers have access to primary care data for nearly everyone. This makes Welsh people’s data extremely valuable.
750,000 Seeds Planted in Wales in UK’s Biggest Seagrass Restoration Scheme
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ky Ocean Rescue, WWF and Swansea University have marked a major milestone in the biggest seagrass restoration project ever undertaken in the UK – planting over 750,000 seagrass seeds in Dale Bay in Pembrokeshire.
Once it matures, the seagrass meadow could support 160,000 fish and 200 million invertebrates. There is between 30 and 40 times more sea life found in seagrass, than a patch of seafloor that doesn’t have vegetation when ecosystems are protected and restored, they can ensure biodiversity, continue to Seagrass Ocean Rescue aims to restore support human life, while also lessening the 20,000m2 of the marine plant, following the climate risks. Seagrass can be our hero in the disappearance of up to 92% of the UK’s seagrass fight against the climate and nature crisis. in the last century. The huge decline has been Not only does it directly absorb carbon but caused by pollution, coastal development it creates a valuable underwater ecosystem and damage from boat propellers and chain of marine life. This ecosystem will in turn moorings. provide valuable services from providing food to helping regulate climate. Seagrass is a flowering marine plant that captures carbon from the environment up The planting, which follows the collection to 35 times faster than tropical rainforests, of seeds from existing meadows around the making it a key weapon in the battle against British Isles last summer, will continue later climate change. It often grows in large this year - with over a million seeds due to be underwater meadows, which absorb carbon planted in total in 2020. and release oxygen. Globally, it is estimated that it accounts for 10% of annual ocean carbon storage, despite occupying only 0.2% of the seafloor.
Features
The benefits of doing a DACE language class By Lizzie Watt
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ACE – Swansea University’s Department of Adult Continuing Education – allows both students and members of the public to carry on with, or start, an area of study that may not be covered by their degree. DACE classes weren’t something I really knew about until last year, although I had heard of them before. But, as I’ve been taking Spanish courses with DACE since last year and I’m not sure how many people know about the opportunities, I wanted to talk about why it’s worth considering. As well as short language courses, the department also offers a part time BA in Humanities, so DACE is well worth knowing about. In terms of the language courses, you can start at the very beginning, with the very basics of the language you choose. And there are a wide range to pick from as well; from Arabic to Italian, German to Mandarin. Starting a brand new language is always a great idea as it’s a skill you can hone and you’ll get the chance to learn a language that probably wasn’t offered at your school. The Stage One, Level One classes allow you not only to learn the first words of a new language but to then carry on from there. The classes go up to Level Six so you’ll have the opportunity to go from absolute beginner to near-fluency. DACE also offers classes in the cultures of these various countries, allowing students to learn more about these places without focussing on the linguistic side of things. For people who already have some knowledge of a particular language and wish to carry this on, DACE is a great option. I had done Spanish for A Level before giving it up for several years. When I
realised I wanted to start learning it again, I wasn’t sure how to go about it until I saw an advert for DACE classes on campus. One reason I hadn’t really considered DACE before was the cost – classes can cost up to £200. However, I later realised that there’s a great discount for students, and groups of people eligible for concessions, which lowers the course fee to £80. As each class consists of ten weeks of two hour sessions, the lower price seemed to be great value for money, and of course, much more affordable. And I’m so glad I signed up for the class. I met some great people, my teacher is really friendly and approachable and the lessons have a really chilled atmosphere, especially in comparison to my busy final year. The benefits of learning a language – even if it’s just the basics or just for fun – are endless. Travel is probably the most exciting as learning how to speak the language of the place you’re going to allows you to chat with natives (who will greatly appreciate you making the effort), but it will also make your travels easier as you’ll be able to consult maps or signposts. Traveling abroad is also a great way to improve language skills, so it works both ways. Jobs are another great reason to learn a language; even if you’re not fluent, it’s something great to put on your CV, and lots of employers are looking for specific language skills. You’ll also have the chance to learn new languages – which will be made easier by the basics you already have – and of course, meet new people and have fun.
Top Tips To Help Your Mental Health During the “c-word” By Eleanor Maunder
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e are currently part of an unprecedented event in our lifetimes, and it can feel very overwhelming. The uncertainty of when we can see our family next, some of us may be stuck in swans in isolation, others can’t fly home, and some are under the weather. In these uncertain times, mental health can really start to struggle. So here are some handy tips on how to best help our mental health in these uncertain times! Get off social media! It’s harder said than done, trust me. This week I am deleting my social media apps as there is so much negativity being spread which is infiltrating my head and feeding into all of my negative thoughts. A lot of the stuff online is also not necessarily true and is scaremongering, so it’s creating completely unnecessary stress. I would recommend deleting these apps but keeping the online chat versions of it i.e. deleting the facebook app but keeping messenger.
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Meditation and Yoga are both inside exercises which we can use to just pause your brain for 10 minutes. Amazingly, in this day and age Youtube has so many different channels dedicated to yoga and meditation, many of them are a course of 30 days, which at the end of you will be a certified yogi. Yoga and meditation have been proven to just help shut out the world for a little while, and if you don’t believe in this it is still a great muscle work out! (which in turn releases endorphins!)
This leads me onto my next top tipexercise. Doing exercise everyday will help you feel like you are filling the days, it is also a great stress reliever and kicks off a lot of endorphins which will make you feel warm and happy(ier). There are so many apps which exist which provide work outs that are indoors, for example, I use one called “Workouts for Women”, which I recommend as someone who is not very fit, however, there are thousands of apps like these and it’s worth having a search! Food and water. KEEP HYDRATED, and eat your 5-a day, I know I sound like your mum but keeping a normal, healthy diet and keeping your water intake up is so vital to keeping your brain happy, and no, 14 coffees do not count. Continued on next page.
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Schedule . Try to organise your days, so you don’t feel yourself slipping. For example, with deadline season approaching, you could set yourself the daily goal of 500 words, or read a chapter of that book you *have* to read for your course. This can be worked into a schedule with a shower, cooking time, exercise and meditation.
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Connect. We live in the time of facetime and instant messages- use them! I have had the difficulty of trying to set my gran up with her facetime- which will help all of us Hobbies. Nurture your hobbies, read books, with social distancing! Try to keep chatting learn to crochet or knit! We have a lot of to people online, or ring people. Humans are free time, we may as well thrive in it! sociable people and we need to keep up with each other, so try as much as you can! If you are struggling the university has a listening service which we have all Keep Busy. The busier you keep, the less been emailed about. These can be found on time your brain has to wander off into dark Blackboard. areas. Clean the stairs, or the windows that you haven’t cleaned, tackle that pile of letters I hope this has been useful! Look after you have on your desk. Try to keep as busy as yourselves and share love and kindness to all possible! you meet!
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Microvolunteering By Thomas Weller
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’m sorry that I have to start the article this way, but yes, this article does mention the effects of Covid-19. However, the content is a fine thing to keep in your mind even after the virus goes away. With the thoughts of self-isolation in our minds, many of us are wondering how on earth we’ll keep ourselves occupied at home for 14 days without frying our brains into a homogeneous grey mush by watching every episode of Friends, The Office or Ru Paul’s Drag Race. A potential outlet for all this built up angst and boredom can be volunteering from your very own home. Microvolunteering
takes the simple idea that people are more likely to volunteer their time in short and convenient chunks. It offers volunteers a series of easy tasks that can be done anytime, anywhere and on your own terms. So, without further ado, here are some examples!
Translating, Transcribing and Recording If you’re a keen reader, why not share your love of books by reading a book to others? LibriVox is a free public domain of audiobooks that anyone can contribute to. You can read a whole book yourself or submit chapters in a collaborative effort, in English or a language of your choice. Another multilingual option is translating through Translators Without Borders, volunteers translate for nonprofit organisations, focusing on information related to advocacy, development projects and crisis response, eliminating language barriers that can impede vital relief efforts. Games Probably the most enjoyable form of volunteering – playing games! Some scientists and researchers have come up with a way to enable mass contribution to their research projects in more engaging and fun ways such as games. How they use the game data to turn it into something useful is beyond me, but some of these games are really fun and unique. Sea Hero Quest is a mobile game that takes how our brain navigates space to aid in dementia research, whereas Cerberus is an online game that helps map the geographical surface features of Mars. Other games found on the Games For Change website raise awareness and tackle social issues such as
addiction and challenges of LGBT+ youth.
Each activity has its own tutorial and could range from identifying species from Share Idle PC Power camera boxes and drones So this option isn’t very active to classifying signals from or fun, but maybe that’s what complicated experiments. you’re after – totally non- You’re sure to learn something committal volunteering. By new - I can now distinguish downloading and installing seals from sea lions from an a free piece of software you aerial view. can use your idle PC power to reduce research time on global Swansea Student Media projects that could potentially Believe it or not, I’m no save lives. Once downloaded, journalist. I too have there is usually nothing else volunteered my time to write to do on your part. If you want this article so that you, yes to play League of Legends you, have something lovely and need your full GPU to read. If you’re a passionate focused on gaming, there’s writer, photographer, blogger, always the option to put the list-maker, creator, storyteller, software on hold. BOINC is or if you just like your voice a huge platform for scientific and others’ voices to be computing tasks for your heard, then why not volunteer computer, from investigating your time as part of Swansea diseases to studying global Student Media. Get in touch warming, there’s a whole and start creating content for range of projects, you’ll feel The Waterfront. It’s a huge like you have a supercomputer. benefit to the paper to have SuperDonate is a similar more writers with different software which alongside the backgrounds, experience research projects also donates and views, whilst it’s a huge some money to charity in benefit to volunteers to return for your idle PC power. gain experience as part of a committed team, publishing Zooniverse and editing. A more active way form of microvolunteering that There are tons of options allows anyone to take part out there to help people and in real cutting-edge research projects around the world in a wide array of fields is whilst still in your pyjamas and Zooniverse. Zooniverse is a I hope this has enlightened collection of research projects you to the interesting world requiring mass public input of microvolunteering. to perform task that it’d take one researcher far too long to do alone. Each research project has a volunteer activity associated with it.
Thinking about your accommodation for next academic year?
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hether you are looking for a one bedroom pad just for you, or a large house for you and all your mates, we give you the low down on how to find the right property, plus the Top Ten tips you need before you sign anything. There are two really important things to remember when it comes to looking for your student house:Don’t Panic There is a surplus of student housing in Swansea so you don’t need to rush your housing search. Ask for help Housing can be a complicated thing. The Students’ Union Advice Centre can give you free, confidential advice on all matters housing.
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When it comes to looking for housing, you have a few options to choose from, and these are:• • • •
SAS Managed Property SAS Tenant Find Property Studentpad Advertised Property Private Landlord / Letting Agency
• No damage deposit required – you pay a reservation deposit that comes off your last instalment of rent • All inclusive rents including free internet! • You pay what it’s worth – SAS band properties based on their quality • Contents insurance provided free • Individual licence agreement so you are only responsible for your own rent • No agency fees • Cooling off period until the end of January whereby you can cancel your contract without any financial penalty* • Out of hours emergency cover provided including 24/7 access for lost keys • You don’t need to find a replacement if one of your group pulls out – SAS takes care of it . *Must meet specific criteria and conditions
SAS Tenant Find Property Tenant Find properties are managed by the Landlord, not SAS. SAS organise the advertising of the properties, viewings and set Student Accommodation Services (SAS) is a up the contract on behalf of the landlord. They joint venture between Residential Services take the first instalment of rent, typically the and the Students’ Union set up to offer you summer retainer, and then pass on everything good quality houses to live in and help you find to the landlord. From that point onwards the suitable accommodation in the private sector. landlords and students deal directly with each other – SAS is no longer involved. SAS Managed Property All communications are with SAS so you However with these properties SAS have have the security and re-assurance of dealing visited them to ensure they meet a minimum directly with the University on a day to day standard and that all the necessary certificates basis - like in the halls of residence in the first are up to date. Landlords using this service year. Everything works almost exactly the also have to sign up to the SAS Tenant Find same! Charter committing to certain responsibilities. • Pay rent termly by direct debit
Studentpad Advertised Property Many private landlords advertise their properties on the SAS run Studentpad website. To register with Studentpad, landlord properties must adhere to Swansea Council’s Licence Scheme which includes:• A property assessment for fire safety, gas and electrical safety • Meeting certain standards for the amenities, repair and maintenance • Landlord agrees to manage property responsibly
can’t get your money back if you change your mind • Make sure any fees are clearly explained before you sign anything • Speak to the advice centre before you sign anything – double check if that agency have had any complaints made against them recently, or the property itself has had any major issues • The agency should give you at least 24 hours to take away the contract to read through and review before signing
*Please be aware the University do not recommend SAS also requires that using any letting agents. landlords manage these properties directly Things to consider…. themselves – they are unable to place the property with an When to look? agency following advertising With a surplus of housing so students will not be for students in Swansea, you required to pay any agency don’t need to rush into the / administration fees as a process:result. • SAS Managed Properties are advertised *Please be advised that SAS on Studentpad from 1st lettings do not visit or inspect November Studentpad Advertised • Tenant Find Properties properties are advertised on Studentpad from mid-January Letting Agency • Advertised Properties There are many letting are advertised on Studentpad agencies on the same street from beginning of February in Swansea that target the student housing market. If Who to live with? you do decide to go to one of Choosing who you want to live the agencies please consider with can be hard. Think about the following:interests and lifestyles; are • They may charge fees your potential housemate’s for administration and credit smokers, tidy, quiet, late night reference checks people or early risers? • Fees may be expensive Think very carefully about and non-refundable – you living with your partners – it
can put a lot of pressure on you, your partner and your housemates. Rent Amount It’s worth talking to every member of your group about maximum rent budget before you start looking as there’s no point viewing properties outside their means. Bear in mind extra costs such as utility bills, internet, food etc. Deposit A damage deposit is usually paid when signing a tenancy/ contract. The deposit is the landlords insurance against you causing damage to the property, unpaid rent or utilities, missing or damaged items and/or cleaning. A few key points about deposits:• It is only paid back at the end of your tenancy • It is only paid back if all obligations are met • A typical deposit is usually 1 month’s rent • If you are signing an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST), your deposit should be protected with a government authorised protection scheme within 30 days of paying the deposit – this is a legal requirement for landlords to provide the details of the scheme they use. Don’t forget in SAS Managed Properties, SAS do not charge a damage deposit – you pay a reservation deposit that comes off your rent
Location, Location, Location
If you have never really ventured out of your local area in the first year it is worth exploring local areas – some properties and local areas may not be as far away as you think. Plus you may get more for your money and a better quality property. Below is a brief guide to the most popular student areas:-
Brynmill & Uplands These are very popular student areas close to Singleton Campus, typically between 5-15 minutes’ walk with a large selection of local amenities including pubs, shops, supermarkets, restaurants and takeaways. Accommodation is mainly flats and shared houses that have at least 5 bedrooms. Sandfields A popular area for students that is closer to the City Centre and slightly further away from Singleton Campus – about a 20-25 minute walk. Accommodation tends to be slightly smaller with many 3 and 4 bedroom properties.
Marina Accommodation in the Marina tends to be of exceptionally high standard, comprising purpose built luxury flats. There is a choice of 1 and 2 bedroom properties with many 2 bedrooms including en-suite bathrooms. These are approximately 25-30 minute walk to either campus. Average rents are between £750 per month for 1 bedroom flats and £900.00 per month for 2 bedrooms.
St Thomas / Port Tennant With the opening of the Bay Campus in recent years it has meant that the surrounding areas of St Thomas and Port Tennant have started attracting students to live there. As this is a Sketty relatively new student area many of the houses This is a much smaller student area but close have been recently renovated throughout to to the Uplands. You can still walk through convert into student properties. Properties Singleton Park to get to the campus – just tend to be 4, 5 or 6 bedrooms. from a different way in. Good facilities present here with pubs, supermarkets, shops and takeaways. Accommodation is mostly 4 and 5 bedroom properties.
Top 10 tips before signing
realistic budget and stick to it. Remember to factor in utility bills, internet, TV licence, food and other living costs.
1. Be sure Think carefully before signing as once a contract is signed it will be difficult to get out of it if you change your mind. Make sure you 7. Be equipped are 100% clear about the terms of the contract. Take photos to help you remember which house was which. If you’re looking at several properties they can become a bit of a blur. 2. Be nosy Ask the landlord / agent all the questions If you wish to take photos you will need to you can think of about the property and the confirm this when booking the viewing so tenancy. Ask the current tenants how they the landlord / agent can confirm the current have enjoyed living in the house / area and tenants are happy to allow. what the landlord / agent is like regarding 8. Be organised When you start looking, make sure you maintenance / repairs. and all members of your group have got the means to pay the deposit and sign the tenancy 3. Be safe If looking for accommodation by yourself agreement s – as these will be required. You don’t go to viewings alone. This is not only for don’t want to risk losing out on a house that your personal safety, but a second opinion is you love. always useful. If you’re part of a group, make sure everyone attends the viewings and agrees 9. Be informed it is suitable before signing contracts and/or Make sure you know your rights. If you need advice contact the Students’ Union Advice paying deposits/fees. Centre. They can also advise if they have received any complaints about particular 4. Be thorough Take your time, look everywhere. You’ll be less landlords / agents and can review your contract likely to miss important things and be able to before you sign. compare properties more objectively. 10. Be on the ball Keep an eye out for repairs and ask the landlord 5. Be observant Look out for the condition of the property, / agent if they intend on getting them fixed. If fixtures and fittings and furniture. Pay the landlord / agent state any improvements works are going to be carried out in the particular attention to safety features. property i.e. new kitchen or bathroom make sure you get that in writing before you sign 6. Be realistic Don’t take on more than you can afford; set a the contract.
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Food
One-Pot Puttanesca
By Bethan Bates (@bethan_eats)
I
f you want a meal to impress your Mam whilst putting in minimal effort, here is a one pot pasta dish with a little extra va-va voom!
Ingredients - 190g of linguine (or spaghetti if you want a slightly cheaper dish) - 1 tin of chopped tomatoes - 2 cloves of garlic - 1 red onion - 1 vegetable stock cube (or try the vegetable bullion from Root Zero) - 60g of sliced black olives - 30g of green capers - 10g of chives - ½ tsp of dried chilli flakes Method 1. Prepare your olives, onion and garlic. 2. Fry the onion until it starts to brown (if you can find it, use a chilli oil to add some extra kick). Season your onions with salt and pepper. 3. Make 500ml of vegetable stock and add to the pan. 4. Add in your chopped tomatoes, olives, and capers. This is also the time to add chilli flakes if you want them. 5. Add your linguine. TIP: break in half so it fits in the pan and cooks more evenly. 6. Cover the pan for 5-8 minutes. 7. Stir continuously for around 5 minutes or until the sauce starts to thicken. 8. Serve with extra olives, capers, chilli flakes and chives.
This recipe is inspired by Gusto Cooking but can be altered for student budgets by removing the capers or chives and sticking to the method to create a simple tomato pasta sauce. You can also head to Root Zero for the pasta and the stock!
Nasi Lemak
By the Malaysian Society Ingredients: - Ÿ tsp salt - 1 lemongrass stalk - pandan leaves - 75ml coconut milk - 1 ½ cups water - 1 cup rice - peanuts - 4 tbsp oil - anchovies - cucumber
2. Bring it to boil then lower heat to minimum. Cover the pot and allow the rice to cook for 15 to 20 minutes until it dries up. Leave the lid on the pot for another 10 minutes before serving the rice.
Steps to prepare: 1. Wash the rice and put into a pot. Then add coconut milk, water, a pinch of salt, pandan leaves (knotted) and lemongrass.
4. Serve the rice with side dishes like boiled or fried egg, fried peanuts, fried anchovies, sambal, cucumber slices and chicken rendang. To make the dish more fragrant, serve it on top of a banana leaf.
3. Make sure the oil is hot before frying the peanuts, including the skin, at a medium heat until they are brown. Remove the peanuts and add the anchovies and fry them until they turn golden brown/crispy.
Conrnel Cymraeg
Y Gym Gym Gan Sioned Howells
S
hwmae bawb! Ers y rhifyn diwethaf, rydym bellach wedi dychwelyd o’n taith i Ddulyn – roedd hi’n benwythnos a hanner. Er mai siomedig oedd canlyniad y gêm, mae’n sicr fe gafon ni gyd benwythnos i’w chofio yng nghwmni’n gilydd. Gyda diolch i storm Ciara fe wnaethon ni aros yno’n hirach na’r disgwyl i gael cyfle i grwydro’r ddinas – ond mae’n sicr ein bod ni’n gyd yn falch o weld ein gwelyau ein hunain fore Llun! Rydym fel cymdeithas hefyd wedi bod yng nghlwm gyda gweithgareddau Tŷ Tawe dros y misoedd diwethaf, boed hynny’n mynychu gig Gymraeg, neu cael llond bol o fwyd ar brynhawn ddydd Sul. Buom hefyd yn dathlu Dydd Gwyl Dewi ar ddechrau mis Mawrth gydag wythnos gyfan o ddigwyddiadau wedi’i drefnu gan Megan Colbourne, Swyddog Cymraeg y Brifysgol, megis Cawl a Chân a chwis Gymreig. Hefyd, gydag arweniad Megan, cynhaliwyd ‘Parth Iaith’ lle roedd cyfle i
fyfyrwyr di-Gymraeg neu ddysgwyr i ddysgu ychydig o Gymraeg dros baned a sgwrs. Hoffwn fel cymdeithas ddiolch o waelod calon i Megan am ei gwaith ddi-flino yn ystod y flwyddyn diwethaf, gan ddymuno pob lwc iddi yn y dyfodol. Hefyd ym mis Mawrth fe aeth criw ohonom i’r Eisteddfod Rhyngolegol yn Aberystwyth, lle cafwyd diwrnod llawn sbort. Bu’r cythrel cystadlu’n gryf, a braf oedd hefyd cymdeithasu gyda myfyrwyr o Brifysgolion ar hyd a lled Cymru. Llongyfarchiadau i bawb fuodd wrthi’n cystadlu, a dwi’n siwr y gwnaeth bawb fwynhau gig nos Sadwrn yng nghwmni’r bandiau Wigwam, Eädyth, Gwilym a Bwncath. Hoffwn gymryd y cyfle hwn i longyfarch dwy aelod o’r Gymdeithas ar gael eu hethol yn swyddogion rhan amser Undeb Myfyrwyr Prifysgol Abertawe yn ystod 2020-2021. Fe gafodd Alpha Evans ei hethol yn Ysgrifennydd Cyffredinol a Carys Jones fydd ein Swyddog Menywod newydd! Buodd y ddwy yn ymgyrchu’n ddiwyd er mwyn cyrraedd eu rôlau, felly hoffwn ar ran y gymdeithas ddymuno pob hwyl iddynt am y flwyddyn sydd i ddod.
Music
DMA’s Gig Review by Fin Haridie
U
pon entering the front doors of Cardiff’s sold-out Motorpoint Arena from the chilly night air, the temperature change is tangible. There is a real buzz in the venue, as over seven thousand eager fans are clearly already several pints in, with the lifelong Oasis followers swaggering around sporting their mod-cuts and parkas in support of their idol Liam Gallagher. The stage is set for the DMA’s, the three-piece Australian rock band described by Liam as “biblical”, to blitz the opening set before the man himself takes over. The band take to the stage to raucous cheers from the faithful, and kick off the set with their heavy-hitting ‘Play It Out’, the final song from their 2016 album ‘Hills End’. The opening song draws to an end and it is clear there are a lot of DMA’s fans in attendance, with the band’s Brit-Pop influenced sounds certainly being comparable to early Oasis
works. The band follows up with ‘Dawning’ from their 2018 release ‘For Now’, lead singer Tommy O’Dell’s unique vocals bouncing off the walls of the arena into the ears of an increasingly energetic crowd. The band’s stage presence is confident without being arrogant, and they appear a perfect fit to open for the Oasis frontman’s oncoming bravado; there is no doubt they could command a crowd this size if they were to one day come back for their own tour. The chemistry between the boys, guitarists Johnny Took and Matthew Mason alongside lead singer Tommy, is obvious. New single ‘Silver’ then gets its live debut, and it goes down a storm. The song’s dreamy lyrics drift around the arena and it’s clear that the band are enjoying this moment, blasting out their new material. Two songs off their newest album ‘For Now’ follow, with ‘Time & Money’ and ‘In the Air’, my personal favourite, seeing the crowd singing along. The boys finish with two of the band’s old classics, the hazy love melody of ‘Delete’ coupled up with the heavier, romping ‘Lay Down’ from ‘Hills End’ to see out a perfect ending to the set. Liam could scarcely have asked for a better opening band to his UK tour, and it is clear the DMA’s rapid rise will continue to come in droves with the release of new material.
Interview with the DMA’s
Do you tend to write your music based on past and personal experiences?
One of my favourite songs of yours is ‘In the Air’; what was the inspiration behind Past, present and even other people’s experiences. Mason particularly likes to write that song? about other people’s stories. Most of our songs It’s a love song about moving on from someone are written with the melody first then followed by the lyrics, and some tunes are written over or something that you’ve held on a pedestal. time. Like half of ‘Silver’ was written years ago What processes did you go through when but the chorus part was done in album prewriting songs for your third album The production.
Glow? And how much has the process changed for you as a band since writing Do you still get nervous playing in front of the first two albums ‘Hills End’ and ‘For some of the big audiences you attract now or has it become second nature? Now’? We constantly try to write and demo when we can, particularly Took and Mason. So, when it’s time to do an album we choose the tunes that are most suited to where we are at. We usually have about 20 songs to choose from. This process has stayed the same since the first EP, like there are some songs on this album that were written before ‘Hills End’ came out, and others that were written just days before we went into the studio.
The size of the crowd doesn’t really affect me. I get a bit nervy singing to twenty people or twenty thousand. How was it supporting Liam Gallagher? It was great. We got to play in some great rooms and also got to watch Liam play a few times. His voice and stage presence is better than ever.
What are the ambitions for DMA’S? Take And, finally, what are some of your favourite albums that you’d personally over the world? recommend? To keep making good music, to expand our fan Julia Jacklin – Crushing base, and to try to enjoy ourselves. Bob Dylan – Blood on the Tracks Do you have a favourite song to play live? Orbital – Orbital 2 Daft Punk – Discovery The Laurels – Plains ‘Lay Down’, ‘In the Air’, ‘Time and Money’. Oasis – Heathen Chemistry How do your UK tours compare to those in My Bloody Valentine – Loveless Roy Orbison – Mystery Girl Australia? Sam Cooke – Best Of UK fans are a little more vocal. A bit wilder too. What’s your favourite city or country that you’ve played in? Madrid.
That’s just what comes to mind I could go on and on …
Puzzles
Devised by Geri Smits
True Crime DOPING. by Tabea Pawar
T
owards the end of last year, the World Anti-Doping Agency slapped a four-year ban on Russia from participating in all major sporting events. Although you might still spot a Russian athlete participating as an Authorized Neutral Athlete, you won’t be hearing the Russian anthem at the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, nor will you be seeing their flag at the 2022 World Cup.
WHY? Allegedly, a decision made due to the lack of remorse expressed by the Russian governing body of athletics, RusAF, in respect to a case that sparked suspicion in 2018. It was investigated and later confirmed that RusAF had been involved in forging medical documents in order to provide an alibi for the whereabouts of track and field athlete Danil Lysenko. Lysenko, who won silver at the World Championships in Athletics the year before the scandal, namely failed to show up to not one, but three, mandatory doping screenings. WHAT IS DOPING? Doping refers to the use of banned performance enhancing substances in competitive sport. Some examples of these include: amphetamine, a stimulant used to treat ADHD; somatotropin, a growth hormone promoting cell regeneration; testosterone, a naturally occurring steroid, and erythropoietin, a hormone promoting the production of red blood cells.
The concept of specialized diets and pre-sport rituals with aims to increase an athletes’ ability have existed since competitive sport has. Cases from the 1870s address the rising issue of the use of narcotics such as opiates to fuel long distance walkers, which understandably came with some serious side effects. In 1980, an Olympic runner was transfused with two
pints worth of blood before going on to win medals in the 5000m and 10,000m sprint, sparking debate over whether this was fair game‌ With the impressive growth of the billion-dollar industry that is sport, the pressure athletes face to succeed is unimaginable. On top of that, it is only getting more difficult. If you compare the standard of skill expected from athletes a few decades ago to today, the difference is noticeable to even the most unenthusiastic individual (look up gymnastics for example, crazy). AN INFAMOUS CASE: LANCE ARMSTRONG Lance Armstrong has been a big name in sport, specifically cycling, for years. An impressive career under his belt transitioning from successful triathlete to road cyclist, following a brief interlude caused by testicular cancer, Armstrong notably went on to win seven consecutive titles at Tour de France races from 1999 to 2005. Seven titles of many which have, however, been stripped
from him following a ban from the sport in 2012. Investigations by the US Anti-Doping Agency revealed consistent use of doping procedures over the course of his career. Claiming innocence despite allegations from as early as 1999, Armstrong’s case made headlines as one of the most professional, sophisticated and, therefore, successful doping programs in the world. Admitting to the offence on Oprah in 2013, Armstrong ultimately reached a $5m settlement on what would have been a $100m case. Why was this such a big deal? WHY CRIMINALISE? Interestingly, no legislation directly pertaining to doping in sport exists in the UK. Rather a network of international organisations and governing bodies of individual sports have participatory rules in place, regularly subjecting athletes to doping tests which, if they fail to adhere to, the organisations retain the right to ban athletes from performing.
in a form of cheating defeats the purpose of a fair game. TWO: The methods implemented to enhance the performance of athletes have come a long way in sophistication since the Ancient Greeks use of natural stimulants. Athletes are often subjecting themselves to a reduced lifespan following the health implications that accompany the substance abuse that is doping. Depending on the drug, addiction is on the horizon. Other health risks include stress, fatigue or exhaustion all linked to cardiovascular collapse and premature death. The pressure forcing athletes to take part in extreme measures to win is not only putting their lives in danger, but on a large scale arguably reduces the quality of athletes that the industry supports. Doping essentially enables quantity over quality.
If you have any thoughts regarding this article, and maybe have an opinion Doping is arguably wrong on on doping in sport to two major levels: share, send us an email at waterfrontcrime@ ONE: The use of performance swanseastudentmedia.com enhancers in sport threatens and we’ll get back to you! the integrity of the sport itself. Having access to such substances gives certain athletes an unfair advantage over others which means players are no longer on a level playing field. Indulging
Relationships How to Survive a Breakup By Lizzie Watt
B
reakups are one of the toughest things you can go through and unfortunately they are something most people experience. Everyone feels differently about breaking up with someone, or being broken up with. It might be the best thing that’s ever happened to you and you might be singing from the rooftops. Or you might never want to get out of bed again. If you’re not OK, it’s important to remember that this will pass eventually and that you will feel better. But for now, even if you don’t want to leave the house, there are a few things you could try and do to make yourself feel a little bit better, and hopefully forget all about whatstheirname. But please remember: if you feel your mental health really beginning to deteriorate, please consider seeking medical help.
natural reaction and it’s your right to be able to stay in and take some time for yourself. But doing this for too long will probably add to your misery and it’s not good for anyone to be constantly shut in. So this is a great time to get in touch with friends and family and ask them to meet up somewhere, or to come to you. Spending time with people you love will really help you to feel better, as will talking about what you’ve been through. Your friends and family will probably be worried about you as well, so this will be important for them as well as you, and they can also help you with small tasks, such as cleaning or doing laundry, which you may not feel up to. If you’re with the right people, you can do anything, including getting over the person who broke your heart. And if you don’t have many people in your life right now, you How to cope: could try talking to someone at 1) Surround yourself with The Lighthouse or Wellbeing friends and family. I think when – even just discussing what most people are upset over a happened and what you should break up, they probably won’t do moving forward could lift a want to do anything other than huge weight off your shoulders. stay in, eat junk food and watch Netflix. This is an absolutely
2) Do things that you like – and get away from Swansea. The first one is something you can do both in and out of the house. Pursuing a hobby will help you focus on something else, and doing something you love will make you happy. The same is true of visiting an attraction or going shopping – being out of the house will help and you’ll feel like you’ve really achieved something by the end of the day. Getting a friend to join you is a great idea too. However, if your former partner also lived in Swansea, you might find that the city reminds you of your relationship and there are places with too many memories that you can’t visit right now. This is actually a great chance to get out of Swansea and do something completely different. You could try day trips to Bristol, Bath or Cardiff, or a weekend in London. But this is also a great chance to go home and see your family. They will be able to look after you and help you through this difficult time, and even if it’s just for a few days, you’ll be able to relax with a completely different set of people.
3) Give yourself time. Everyone heals at different rates, but everyone will get there eventually. Think how many songs there are about recovering from broken hearts. Try not to be hard on yourself; you’ve been through something very difficult and getting over it won’t happen overnight. But it will happen. 4) Focus on the good parts about being single. Because, believe it or not, there are some. No more compromises, no more arguments. You get to decide what to watch on TV and what food to make or order. You get to spend time doing the things that you enjoy and to focus on you, and you don’t have to worry about how your partner will perceive you. You also get the whole bed to yourself. But if you loved being in a relationship and want to be someone’s partner again, don’t worry. Someone else will be there, whenever you’re ready for them. 5) Know that it’s going to be OK. As tough and horrible as breakups are, they pass eventually and you’ll be able to move forward. The pain really won’t last forever and when you get through it, you can be so proud of yourself for all you have achieved. Got a question for the Relationships Section or need advice? We’d like to bring back the Agony Aunt feature of the magazine and would love to hear from you. Please send any questions to waterfrontrelationships@swanseastudentmedia. com with the subject “Agony Aunt.”
Film
Onward Review By Perry Wyatt
P
ixar’s Onward follows the journey of two brothers, Ian and Barley, as they race against time to find the magic to restore their deceased father for one final day together. I was lucky enough to see a preview of this before it was released in the UK on the 28th of February. I was expecting for the cinema to be teeming with avid Disney fans yet I was one of four in the theatre. One being my companion. Despite this, Onward proved to be one of the best Pixar movies I have ever seen. Charming, witty, and full of heart; this film tugged on my heartstrings without pandering. It is sure to become one of Pixar’s most memorable films. Yet despite the star-studded cast of Spiderman’s Tom Holland as Ian and Starlord Christ Pratt as Barley with Academy Award winner Octavia Spencer as the Manticore, it seems like this Disney film has been snubbed with critics brushing it aside in favour of Pixar’s older movies . The suburban-fantasy society that they live in fits into the fantasy genre like Dungeons and Dragons with creatures and spells not unfamiliar to nerds across the globe. It definitely has a target audience in mind
but even the unfamiliar will be able to grasp this world quickly. The setting is niche and clever with a whole lot of love dedicated to building this mystical and fantasy world. The elf brothers are written with a wonderful dynamic that will stick with you long after you have left the cinema. Their mother and the Manticore are also wonderfully funny characters with some brilliant moments of their own. The spell initially fails and comically they are only left with the bottom half of their father – a pair of trousers and a pair of shoes. To help him blend in, the brothers add a makeshift top to him made of a pillowcase, gloves and a stuffed head topped off with a hat. The pair of legs provides great moments of comedy for the film and contributes to the easy-tofollow plot. After the spell went sideways, the pair of brothers aim to find a Phoenix Stone to restore the top half of him. This includes a deadly, magical quest which the pair of brothers, much to Barley’s delight and Ian’s
dismay, embark on in order for Ian to meet his father. The length of the movie may work against the film as the only downside is that it is quite a long movie with the trailers added to it. Really young children would not be able to sit there for the length of the film. Also, despite the easy to grasp plot in searching for a Phoenix Stone, the film touches on some deep, difficult topics which I am not sure a younger audience would appreciate or understand. However, the older audience can appreciate the deep, heartfelt moments that stitch together this wonderful movie. If you love fantasy and adore Pixar, then let this charming movie Onward cast its spell on you.
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Creative Writing and Literature Castle Gardens … … … Hi, I overheard at a climate crisis rally What is the point? Stopped yoga, stretching classes but it is in the head. Look, okay, at least in engaging with injustices, we must not be complicit. Act within your conscience. We will. I love you. DISCOVERY with Michael Jenkins Telling a Story to Our Tribes “Mum, mum …weird. I guess you’re sleeping. This will be something to laugh about when you and dad wake up trust me. Love you.” You looked out, fingers over your face. The slamming door noise of wind and screeching, yelling rain. You saw gullies become streams over valley-side terraced houses. “Wish I could talk to you. Roland’s parking the Jeep. He should be at work. There’s a torrent of water gurgling tropical blossoms. Odd that, they must be from the rainforest but the coalmine and the dam are between us. The smell is fetid. There’s undergrowth and birds, I mean a flamingo and it’s alive, mum…” “Carolina, pack, five minutes, no joking. I love you.” “What?” “Clothes. You drive. I must email London.” “Where to?” Roland’s the liaison engineer. ***** owns the mine but we Brazilians operate the dam. “Get us up to high ground. Go! That’s the wrong way. I know, your parents, no, get us up...” The dam obliterated and toxic sludge swooped down the valley. Evidence emerged it was preventable. No one went to prison. Three hundred deaths. Steaming: Appalled five minutes. Did nothing. Fake news: We need jobs. We need to irrigate the grass for feed for
cattle and beef-burgers. SOLIDARITY In the rich Northern hemisphere. Caroline relayed the Corporate name of this week’s Saturday job as a compulsorily black clad, high heeled, zero-hour no-contract waitress. Stare into the soul. Years earlier in Aberfan a colliery tip on a mountain slope slid downhill as slurry. Evidence emerged it was preventable. Blamed the mining conglomerate *****. No-one went to prison. 128 dead in a Junior School. Teeming: Appalled for five minutes. Did nothing Profit in muck Think the preventable Grenfell Tower fire burnt cinders. No-one went to prison. Stack-up high to the sky the illegals and the uncared-for, they won’t complain, we need maids and restaurant staff. ‘Carolina, the checklist.’ ‘Anonymous Masks, gas canisters, camera phones, vials of blood.’ [Plus branding iron] ‘Come. This is An Act of Necessary Propaganda, justice too.’ Yes “Raise your glasses to zillions profit, my son’s graduation and upcoming internship in ReElect Trump … dear?” ‘Sir, an urgent phone call, please follow me.’ As long as you’re not the taxman ‘Babe, you’ve discovered the right man… ’In more than one way Hostile Moron. ‘I am going to cut your ***** off.’ Did something… There is a dream that appeals to those who struggle in real time in real life to be heard. This is a template not a fantasy. There is an outside to us. Create. Get up in the morning, get on. Modern Slavery, mass migration, homelessness, mental health, drug related deaths. Add yours. We love. We are the Sixth Extinction… … …
The Purge (An Allegory) by Ikeke Azeke
ACT I SCENE 1 The following scenes are set in a traditional African village. (enter King angry, Ejiofor, his guard and wife behind him begging and weeping) Queen: I’m sorry my king, I’m sorry my king, I don’t know what came over me..I’m sorry.. King: Woman! 30 years I have been with you. 30. All you asked I gave you. You lacked nothing with me. Queen: (sobbing and crying) I’m sorry my king. My king, I apologize.. I’m sorry. King: You have lied to me and you have stolen from me, I said nothing. But now, your body? Your body I paid for with the blood of 850 wild animals? That body I have cared for and nourished, you share it with another man. Queen: (bows, weeping vehemently) I’m sorry my king… King: Do not call me your king! You play on my intelligence! If I was your king you would have honoured me enough to save your body for me alone! Queen: I am ashamed of myself, my king, I would that the very ground I walk on would swallow me alive. Though I may burn in the heat of the earth’s crust, at least, I would be hidden from your anger and not see the shame I have caused you. King: Ejiofor! Ejiofor: My king! King: (looking away from his wife) Take that woman away and lock her up! Because she has defiled our land, on the day after tomorrow, she must be judged! And send for the wise men! Tell them to come here urgently! Ejiofor: Yes my king. (bows and bundles the queen) King: My own wife. My wife. After all I have done for her. After all I gave her? No. No. (Sits down disconsolately with his head bowed
between his hands) (Enter Ohaneze and Okadigbo) Ohaneze: My king! I greet you. King: You may be seated. Okadigbo: Thank you my king. What bothers the king? Why does our beloved king, custodian of all wisdom, the epitome of justice and righteousness look so downcast? Ohaneze: I was about to ask the same thing my king but fear put a knife to my throat so that the words could not find their way out. I sought to know what ails the king but for fear of the king’s wrath, I kept silent because the king’s anger is like the roaring of a lion. And if the lion roars who does not fear? King: Ohaneze! Okadigbo! There is fire on the mountain. I have judged others but now that I have to judge my own, the burden is too much for me to bear. Okadigbo: My king, you speak in parables. King: My dearly beloved wife. My Queen, the one I betroth to myself with the beards of 450 lions and the furs of 400 bears. She has graced the bed of another! (Ohaneze puts his hands on his head with his mouth open as Okadigbo crosses his hands and raises his shoulder. Ohaneze recollects himself after a long pause) Ohaneze: My king! I know your love for the queen, ever since she was but a misguided teenager. I know how you brought her up from the gutter, cleaned her up, paid for her education till she became the most beautiful woman in the kingdom. I know that although everything she was worth was my king’s, my king still went into the jungle alone and hunted 450 lions and 400 bears for her bride price. I know how you went into the land of Nzim, killed all their firstborn and drowned their king when she was held hostage for 430 days.
Okadigbo: That is true! (Guard returns and whispers to the king, who nods. Guard assumes position behind the throne) Ohaneze: My king, I know how you have warned her to be different from other women and not bring shame to you and to the kingdom. We are all witnesses to all these things, Okadigbo, am I lying? Okadigbo: No! Not at all! Ohaneze: But king, this is the time to forget all of that and do justice. You know the laws of the land. We are all under a curse because of the transgression of the queen. Everybody is in trouble. The only way to purge this land of the curse my king, is to kill her. (Okadigbo shocked). She must be killed in three days, my king.. Okadigbo: Ah ah ah ah…no no no…this is where for the first time ever, I disagree with Ohaneze. My king, mercy rejoices over judgement. After all the love my king has showered on the queen. Why ruin everything now? My king, even the elders say that the right hand of the father may beat the child but the left hand draws the child back to him. My king, please in wrath remember mercy. Deal mercifully with the queen. Ohaneze: My king, you know my friend here (playfully taps Okadigbo on the shoulder and smiles at him) is a very emotional man..but (becomes serious again) my king, if you let mercy come into the
picture, the whole kingdom will continue to be cursed. Will the lives of 5,000 be ruined for the transgression of one? What is the justice in that? Let the queen and the queen alone perish in her folly but let the kingdom be free. Okadigbo: My king, my friend talks like there is no value in one. He says it is better for one to perish than many. Ask the man with one child let him tell you the value of one. Ask the man with one sibling. Ask the man with one good eye or one good ear. Let them tell my king the value of one. Ask nine hundred and ninety nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety nine why it is not one million and let it tell you the value of one, put it this way my king.. Ohaneze: No, the issue now is… Okadigbo: (raises one finger) Ohaneze, let me finish…I didn’t disturb you when you were talking…put it this way, my king used to be a shepherd. If you had a hundred sheep and one got lost, what would my king do? King: I would go after that one and would not rest till I find it Okadigbo: My king in saying so has confirmed that there is value in one. If one eye can make the difference between sight and blindness for the one eyed man, if one ear can make the difference between hearing and deafness for he that literally has an ear, if one child can separate a man from childlessness, if one can be the difference between a
number being in hundreds of thousands or in millions, if one sheep is enough to stir up restlessness in my king, how much more if that one is my king’s beloved queen? (King deep in thought) Ohaneze: My king, I must be going now, my wife is a bit sick. But remember my king, it is not good to have respect of persons in judgement . The gods are not respecters of persons. Okadigbo, I am going. Okadigbo: My friend, wait there! My king, I also must leave now, I was in a very important family meeting when my king summoned me but I leave my king with these words, blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. Remember that to the merciful, the gods will show themselves merciful. Ohaneze….let us go, I look forward to your judgement in three days. I trust you’d do the right thing. (Exit Okadigbo and Ohaneze still debating the matter) King: What do I do? What do I do? My kingdom must be purged. The land must be satisfied with the death it seeks. Ejiofor! Ejiofor: My king! King: Get the royal pen and two sheets of the royal paper! I have a message for the executioner. (Both exit) Continued on next page.
ACT I SCENE II (Enter Nkechi and Nnochiri) Nkechi: Hmmm, and I used to have so much respect for him. Until I discovered he was cheating on his wife. Nnochiri: It is a lie! You mean Jidenna? Professor Jidenna Emeritus, wanted you to sleep with him? (Claps her hands) Wonders will not end! Nkechi are you sure of what you are saying? Nkechi: Why would I be lying? Let me show you the letter he sent to me. Nnochiri: Leave that matter aside for now. Nkechi, do you think the queen will die today? Nkechi: Hmmm, the queen shamed herself, this is the third day, the king has summoned the whole village to the town square. What other possible conclusion could there be? The queen is dead already! Nnochiri: So sad…and the king loves that woman so much! After all he has done for her, is that how he will just kill her? To be honest I would doubt he ever loved her if he kills her just like that. Nkechi: This is not about love Nkechi, you know our king is very just. He respects the law of the land. Moreover, we are under a curse because of the queen, hop e you know? Nnochiri: Yes, but at the same time… (Enter Ohaneze and Okadigbo, both women kneel to greet, the men acknowledge and take their seats) Nnochiri: (whispering to Nkechi) Let us ask them what the king will do. Nkechi: What is your business? We are already here, let us wait patiently to see what the king will do. Nnochiri: I will ask..let me ask. (struggling with Nkechi who obstructs her…enter Ejiofor) Ejiofor: ALL HAIL THE KING! Long live the king! Hail him! Hail him! (Enter king, queen, and executioner holding a machete and a black sack. The executioner is a huge, vicious looking man, a soulless, bloodthirsty killing machine. He brandishes the machete excitedly, throwing it up in the air, juggling it with the sack and skillfully tossing it from one hand to another. All bow.) King: My good people, I greet you.
All: We greet you too, our king. King: I know you all have heard. Rumours have been flying around and that is understandable because you have the right to comment on whatever affects you or the well being of our kingdom. This woman (points to the queen) is the one at the centre of all the commotion. The one because of whom we stand cursed in the eyes of the gods. (All begin to murmur) Ejiofor: Silence! (All keep quiet as Ejiofor urges the king to continue with a respectful gesture) King: As you all know, we are under a curse and until there is (looks at the queen) a death, the curse cannot be purged. I have fought lions and bears, I have conquered kingdoms, I have gone a month and a half without food in the thick of battle so believe me when I say this is by far the most difficult thing I have ever done in my life, difficult but doable and so it must be done! (To executioner) did you get my message yesterday? (Executioner nods) King: Executioner! At my command…..NOW! (Executioner licks his lips and fixes his gaze steadfastly on the queen. He menacingly approaches the queen, the crowd is breathless, Okadigbo is trying to look away as Ohaneze stands fixated unmoved, the executioner gently pushes the queen aside, covers the king’s head with the black sack and takes him away as all gasp, the screams of the king being butchered are heard, executioner returns with blood all over him and hands letter to Ejiofor.) Ejiofor: These are the final words of the king: “My wife has been mine, even from a maid, all was well, all was fine till the harlot she played. A debt and a fine, her life indeed must fade, but my life I gave for her so that a life for a life, the debt can be paid. I love my wife, come sun, come rain. So let not the kingdom weep because if I could, I’d do it again. The curse has been purged, there is no need to fear. To my wife and my kingdom, I’d miss you my dear.” (All bow and scream, ‘Long live the king! Long live the king!”) Queen: (weeping profusely). My king! My king! My king! My king!
(Ejiofor wipes the queen’s tears and gently shepherds the queen away.) (All quiet, all exit sorrowfully.) (Ohaneze and Okadigbo remove their chieftaincy caps and bow their heads.) Okadigbo: Such love! Ohaneze: Such justice! (They keep repeating this walking away till
exit) “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:7–8)
“Is my life YOURS?” by Ashish Dwivedi
If I wear track pants, none is supposed to swaylet them rattle and let them coil, let them entail themselves in a sordid behavioral approach; none controls their sac, none is poison lack. Tell me if a bird’s flight could be controlled, or a lion’s, or an ogre’s ferocious roar? Sharks do not make friends, nor rats do, each following their own behavioral call. I am I, the road I take, or the discipline I choose, the speed of my bike, or the choices I make, or the calligraphy I perform, the poetry I compose are all mine, mine alone, alone that’s me. In a moment of equality and bias, true or false, who equates track pants with impudence?
Poems by Sabina Phamová MAKE A ROOM
poisonous to our body is love the oxygen we never have enough it is scary to carry but searched by many no protection, risk of danger the only home for affection don´t wanna let in a stranger You can’t go through the walls unless I open the door no open door no love protecting my lonely heart The roof has fallen on my head while sleeping in my bed it is no longer existing but the ghost resisting no control over the outcome loneliness is the daily income do not miss the opportunity by trading it for eternity it is no weakness but birthplace of completeness experiencing deepness name for uniqueness the answer to connection the question of disconnection towards growth direction and intimate perfection.
Colour C ame across your purple O utside my power to square the circle L oving you my purple sea O nly you and I are meant to be U niting your purple and my green R ed is our colour in between
The Road to Grantchester Book Review by Geri Smits
I don’t know how many other people ask themselves this question on a regular basis, but I often find myself wondering which came first. I’m not talking chickens and eggs, but books, movies, and TV shows. No matter the order (though it does matter!) it intrigues me to delve into the lore, the history, the world. In this case, The Road to Grantchester is a story that tells us of what came before the beloved book and TV series telling the adventures of Sidney Chambers. The Road to Grantchester gives us the origins, the re-lived memories of what shaped him, what moulded him, what led to him becoming the religious man he is in the stories. For starters, I loved it! It reads as a biography, a coming of age tale on a rocky road, though still thoughtful, respectful, but not shying away from the difficult topics. Though it was tough-going, emotional, dark, there was also wit, love, friendship, and hope. From the youthful age of eighteen, without a care in the world, to the heavy weight of fighting in World War II, Runcie does a tasteful job of revealing plights overcome, mishaps galore, how finding faith can save lives, but most importantly, that someone having your back, and you having theirs can, quite literally, save your life.
The novel is divided into sections, each detailing a different aspect of the journey towards the mystery solving vicar that any reader or viewer meets in the Grantchester Mysteries, a collection of short stories by James Runcie. In The Road to Grantchester, we learn about Sidney’s family, his friends, his fellow soldiers, his war experiences, his coping mechanisms, his emotional rollercoaster, discover the start of his faith and religious journey, all overshadowed by a weighty secret he keeps, even from his closest friends. His realisation that he has heard a call, the growing persistence of it, is a shock to his loved ones,
but he pursues it nonetheless, aware that he must hear it, must answer it, well, at least try to. The path to the church, to God is not a straight one, and that journey, which he takes towards the end of the novel, offers touching scenes with friends and family, from drinks in the pub with fellow former soldiers, to dinners with sisters of friends, to cricket matches with his father. As far as prequels go, if you at all enjoyed the later in life stories about Sidney Chambers, this is one not to miss!
Dylan Thomas Prize Longlist Announced This year’s Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize longlist combines a rich, international collection of young, experimental writers who are offering platforms for under-represented voices and exploring pressing social and world themes across identity, culture and power. The acclaimed Indian feminist writer and novelist, Meena Kandasamy, Hong Kong born LGBTQ+ poet Mary Jean Chan, Ukrainian-born artist and writer Yelena Moskovich, BrazilianBritish debut novelist Yara Rodrigues Fowler, Vietnamese-American novelist Ocean Vuong, and Belgrade-born Orange Prize winner Téa Obreht are among the 12 authors on the longlist for the £30,000 Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize. The 12 longlisted titles will be judged by a bumper guest panel chaired by Swansea University’s Professor Dai Smith CBE, including annual judge Professor Kurt Heinzelman, the award-winning writer and founder of Jaipur Literature Festival Namita Gokhale, acclaimed writer and 2011 winner of the Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize Lucy Caldwell, the British-Ghanaian writer, poet and critic Bridget Minamore, celebrated writer and presenter of BBC Radio 3: The Verb Ian McMillan and national arts and culture journalist Max Liu.
This year’s longlist comprises seven novels, three poetry collections and two short story collections: Surge - Jay Bernard (Chatto & Windus) Flèche - Mary Jean Chan (Faber & Faber) Exquisite Cadavers - Meena Kandasamy (Atlantic Books) Things we say in the Dark - Kirsty Logan (Harvell Secker, Vintage) Black Car Burning - Helen Mort (Chatto & Windus) Virtuoso- Yelena Moskovich (Serpent’s Tail) Inland - Téa Obreht (Weidenfeld & Nicolson) Stubborn Archivist - Yara Rodrigues Fowler (Fleet) If All the World and Love were Young - Stephen Sexton (Penguin Random House) The Far Field - Madhuri Vijay (Atlantic Books) On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous - Ocean Vuong (Jonathan Cape, Vintage) Lot - Bryan Washington (Atlantic Books) Worth £30,000, it is one of the UK’s most prestigious literary prizes as well as the world’s largest literary prize for young writers. Awarded for the best published literary work in the English language, written by an author aged 39 or under, the Prize celebrates the international world of fiction in all its forms including poetry, novels, short stories and drama.
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THE NHS Published 18.03.20