thewaterfront t h e o f f i c i a l s t u d e n t n e w s p a p e r o f s w a n s e a u n i ve r s i t y
Free Issue 252 20 April 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk
INSIDE
HERE COMES SUMMER!
SPORT
your countdown to #SSB15 begins Summer Ball is back and it’s better than ever with a new nautical theme to celebrate 10 years at the Abbey Field. We’ve got some amazing acts lined up for you at the ball on 15 June. Intrigued? Read all about it on pages 12 and 13.
CAMPUS LIBRARIES TO STAY OPEN 24/7 by a Waterfront reporter
Wednesday, 22 April 2015 Inside - your eight page pullout guide to Varsity with map and match previews
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk THE university has announced that from September 2015 the libraries on the Bay and Singleton Campus will be open 24 hours, 7 days per week 362 days a year. Kevin Daniel, Director of Information Systems and Services, who manages the library said: “I am very pleased that we have been able to make this extension to our opening hours. We have been working with students and colleagues across the institution to ensure that we can deliver this in a way which ensures a safe and welcoming building for students.” Ilana Cohen, Students’ Union Education Officer, said: “Students will really welcome this development. A lot of students come to me saying that they want to access the library for longer throughout the year and not just around exams. We are very
NEWS
The Bay Campus library under construction. excited that working with the library we have been able to deliver this.” In addition to being open 24 hours the Bay Library will provide books and journals for the relevant subject areas as well access to online journals, e-books and datasets. Students wishing to use items held at the Singleton Library (or Bay Library for Singleton students) will be able to
use the same day delivery service for items ordered before noon and next day for items ordered afterwards. The Bay library will also house study space for up to 650 students with postgraduate study and computer rooms, teaching and group study spaces, interview rooms and a café. The library helpdesk will replicate the services provided at the
Singleton library covering library and academic support, employability and computing. Lori Havard, Head of Academic Support in the Library, said: “The building has lots of natural daylight which we know is better to study in than artificial light. It also has excellent views looking out over the sea and the sand dunes”.
Sam is new societies and services officer page 5
02 I NEWS
thewaterfront 20. 04. 15
thewaterfront Third floor, Students’Union Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP (01792) 295 988 web: waterfrontonline.co.uk twitter: thewaterfrontSU facebook: the waterfront swansea Editor Kay Byrne editor@swansea-union.co.uk News
Laura Fiteni waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk Features
Hilary Webb waterfrontfeatures@swansea-union.co.uk Sport
Ned Bristow waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk Welsh
Lewys Aron welsheditor@swansea-union.co.uk Music
Liam Turner waterfrontmusic@swansea-union.co.uk Film
Joshua Vaughan waterfrontfilm@swansea-union.co.uk Culture
Emma James waterfrontculture@swansea-union.co.uk What’s On
Ben Rees waterfrontfrontrow@swansea-union.co.uk Societies
Sophie Wiggins waterfrontsocieties@swansea-union.co.uk Fashion
Nanette Turkson & Crystal Rose waterfrontfashion@swansea-union.co.uk Food
Sophie Berman
waterfrontfood@swansea-union.co.uk Games
Declan Murphy
waterfrontgames@swansea-union.co.uk Relationships
Sophie Wiggins waterfrontrelationships@swansea-union. co.uk Website
Andy Pover waterfrontweb@swansea-union.co.uk Advertising
Bleddyn Carter (01792) 602496
More students are turning to sex industry for cash – and pleasure by a Waterfront reporter
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk THE Student Sex Work Project, the largest study on student attitudes to student participation in the sex industry, has released its findings. The report by Swansea University academics found that nearly 5% of UK students have worked in the sex industry, more male students than female students are likely to be involved, while nearly 22% of students have considered working in the sex industry. The academic research with more than 6,750 students across the UK was carried out by Dr Tracey Sagar and Debbie Jones of Swansea University’s Centre for Criminal Justice and Criminology and funded by the Big Lottery Fund. The research reveals that students take up a range of occupations in the sex industry. Occupations included direct sex work, where there is direct contact with a client such as prostitution, escorting and selling sex from off street establishments, and independently through the internet. It also includes indirect sex work which does not involve direct contact with
a client such as phone chat sex, web cam work, erotic dancing, stripping and glamour modelling. Some students are also engaged in auxiliary and organisational occupations such as drivers and escort managers. Motivations The researchers found that some students were motivated by economic factors:•64% were motivated in order to earn money to fund a lifestyle •56% wanted to pay basic living expenses •45% wanted to avoid debt •39% were motivated to reduce debt at the end of the course. Students also showed other motivations:•59% thought they would enjoy the work •54% were curious about working in the sex industry, •45% wanted to work in the industry •44% were motivated by sexual pleasure. Starting and leaving sex work The research also focused on the length of time students worked in the industry and how difficult they found leaving the industry. Over half reported that they had worked in the
industry for less than six months with over half again reporting that they worked only a few hours a week (less than five). The survey also showed that leaving the sex industry is hard or very hard for a quarter or less of students (25% for those involved in direct sex work and 7% for those involved in indirect sex work). Safety Some 76% of students engaged in the sex industry reported that they felt safe in their work ‘always’ or ‘very often’, but 1 in 4 did not feel safe. The fear of violence was noted twice as often among those engaged in direct sex work as compared to those engaged in indirect sex work (49% and 25% respectively). Positive and negative aspects Good money was identified by 83% as a positive aspect of sex work, 77% mentioned flexible hours and 46% cited sexual pleasure. When the study asked students what the negative aspects of working in the industry were, 51% reported having to keep sex work a secret as a negative of the job, 50% identified unpredictable earnings, 50% unpleasant customers, 36% cited fear of violence and 35% reported negative judgements from
A £50 thank you for staying put! by a Waterfront reporter
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk STUDENTS who decided to stay on in the same house this year with SAS Lettings got a nice surprise. The campus based accommodation service decided this year to reward students who all stayed on in the same property for next academic year. Said manager Steve Daniels: “From an operational side it means that we do not need to do much in those properties during the summer and it is a nice reward for students who were happy to stay on anyway. “We are aware that a lot of letting agents offer incentives up front for students to go with them but we didn’t want to be seen to be influencing students in that way – we wanted them to make up their own mind where they wanted to live and with whom. “No student was aware we were going to be doing this. We only notified them a couple of weeks ago that we would be giving them these vouchers as a thank you for staying on with us – this was over three months after they had committed to stay with us in the same house.” Each student has been given a £50 Amazon voucher. The winners were: Hafan Plentyn - Chloe Wakeham and Jessica Mclean. King Edward Road - David Watkins, Peyman Mollaei and Aled Evans.; Beach Street - Nathan Morris and Lewis Gale; Fleet Street - Daniella Woodward.
Some of the winners of the Amazon vouchers given by SAS.
family and friends. Student sex workers’ fears of stigmatisation and consequently having to keep their occupation a secret is the most important negative aspect of undertaking sex work for them. Not all harm caused by sex work is related to the work itself but also through societal responses to it. As a female sex worker who took part in the study explained: “For my whole life now…it’s turned into a giant secret…I have to be careful what I say, I have to be careful where I am. I have been recognised by guys I have been with and they have walked past me and even innocently have said “hello Sharon” … one of my best friends said “why do people call you Sharon all the time?” (…) When this happens three or four times people are like “what is that girl doing?” Support Dr Tracey Sagar and Debbie Jones who led the study emphasise that the research shows that engagement in the sex industry may not be an issue or problem for the majority of student workers but some have negative experiences that can impact on their health, safety and general well-being. •Read more on our website at waterfrontonline.co.uk.
Varsity comes to Swansea
STUDENTS from Swansea and Cardiff Universities will be returning to Swansea on Wednesday (22 April) for the annual battle for the 2015 Welsh Varsity Shield. Currently in its 19th year, the Welsh Varsity clash is the biggest student event in Wales, and the second largest varsity games in Britain behind Oxford v Cambridge. Swansea and Cardiff university students will compete in 35 different sports, including: basketball, rowing, golf, hockey and swimming, fencing, squash, and Ultimate Frisbee. The competition culminates in a showpiece rugby match which will be held for the first time in the Liberty Stadium, with an expected crowd close to its capacity, kick-off 7pm. The events held over five days, starting with the boat race, take place over 20 venues with 500 competitors from each university with 430 volunteers assisting. Supporters and competitors from Cardiff and Swansea will be travelling in 213 buses to the Liberty Stadium. Over 8,000 green t-shirts have been printed and 15,000 foam fingers produced for the Green and White Army! •See inside for your 8-page pullout guide to Varsity.
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NEWS I 03
Students launch new campaign for more lights in Singleton Park by Sophie Wiggins
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk A GROUP of students have set up a campaign to get more lights in Singleton Park, to safeguard people crossing the park at night. Organisers of the Simon the Squirrel Campaign have carried out an online survey of student opinion and also questioned students in person around campus and in the park on 17 March. The students have put their findings into a video letter being released today (April 20) which they are planning to present to the council and Swansea University. At present many students feel unsafe crossing the park as they cannot see where they are going and feel vulnerable to crime. The students are hoping the statistics from the online survey and the video letter will be enough to get something done about the lights. The part-time environment officer Alice Mercer said: “We feel that this is crucial for students to feel safe walking home at night. If you can walk
through the park at night, go jogging or cycle home along lit pathways, it promotes a healthy lifestyle, and ultimately means that all students can attend evening lectures and events at the university even in the darkest days of winter. “It is unfortunate that at the moment people are having to rely on the small light of their mobile phones in order to see their way through the dark park.” Students dressed up as squirrels to carry out their survey and in the evening lit up the park with different coloured glow-sticks. Students showed their support for the campaign by putting their own glow sticks down. The only issue students seemed to have with the campaign was the welfare of any bats living in Singleton Park. The campaigners have been meeting with various people in the Swansea in order to make the lights as bat friendly as possible. Sensors are currently in progress in the park counting the number of students who use the dimly lit pathway on a regular basis.
Above, Campaigners spell out ‘LIGHT UP SINGLETON PARK’ in glow sticks.
On the run: Swansea to London
Joe Street and Evan Phillips are running from Swansea to London. by a Waterfront reporter
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk SWANSEA alumni Joe Street and Evan Phillips are making a 235 mile charity run across the UK to raise money for Cardiac Risk in the Young. The boys, who are both international Australian Rules Footballers, set off from Swansea on April 11 and will reach London in time to complete the London marathon on 26 April. Joe explained why the pair were undertaking the extraordinary feat: “Last year, a close friend of mine, former Swansea University Triathlon vice-captain and semi-professional cyclist Tim Butt, suffered a near-fatal cardiac arrest. “Since then our friendship group, including Tim, have started doing assorted fundraising
events for Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY.” The challenge, which will see the pair run an average of 15 miles each day throughout, will see them cross the Severn Bridge, and navigate past assorted sporting landmarks such as The Millenium Stadium, Chepstow Racecourse, Bath Recreation Ground and Twickenham Stadium. Backed by the charity, and with funding from Swansea Tennis Centre, the boys are also making a short Youtube documentary which will follow their trip, whilst also explaining how the charity can help to prevent sudden cardiac death in young people. You can track the pair’s progress by following their official twitter page @SwanseaToLondon, & if you wish to donate to their cause, you may do so by visiting uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ ontheroadagain, or by texting JOEV88 £10 to 70070. For more on CRY: www.c-r-y.org.uk.
Uni slips in the rankings by a Waterfront reporter
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk SWANSEA University has slipped 25 places in a Times Higher Education table ranking what are claimed to be the best institutions for student experience. The university went from 27th in the list to 52nd. The survey contradicts the WhatUni survey which last year placed Swansea University at no 1 in the UK for student satisfaction. More than 14,700 undergraduate students from across the UK answered questions based around 21 different ‘experience’ measures. Measures include: high quality staff/ lectures, helpful interested staff, wellstructured courses, good social life, good community atmosphere, good environment on campus; and high quality facilities. Institutions with more than 50 responses were included in the final rankings, with a total of 113 institutions meeting the minimum sample threshold this year. According to the figures, the University of Bath offers the best student experience in the country. The University of Sheffield dropped to third place from the number one spot last year, while Loughborough University leapt from 11th to second.
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NEWS I 05
Campus catering revamp is on the menu as canteen set to close by Sophie Wiggins waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk
THE main refectory in Fulton House will close at the end of this academic year, it’s been revealed. Catering services are being reorganised in light of the new Bay Campus opening in September. Les Carmichael, the catering manager for the university, said: “As the campus redevelopment continues at the Singleton Park campus, we have exciting plans to develop and improve the catering services ahead of the next academic year. “It was felt that the offer at The Venue was replicated at Fusion Cafe, and so the decision has been made to close The Venue at the end of the current academic year. “There are plans to install a new Starbucks on-the-go concept in Fusion Cafe, and a pop-up unit in the dining area in The Venue. There are also numerous plans to collaborate with the Students’ Union to further develop the catering provision at JC’s, and to utilise the seating area of The Venue for student and society events.” Students have voiced concerns
Campus catering is set for a revamp. that closing the venue will result in less healthy options being available. But Mr Carmichael said: “We will still be offering healthy eating options such as fresh fruit, salads and fresh vegetables as part of our nutritional strategy.” Staff working in the Venue will be offered redeployment. The Waterfront asked Swansea University students what they think needs to be improved in campus catering. A variety of issues were highlighted
by students, first year computer science student Andy Pover said: “I think there should be franchises opening on both campuses, things like a real Costa coffee and Subway. I think catering needs competition, where I work I can get a good sized baguette with a lot of filling for £2. Yet on campus I get overpriced with small filling for almost £4. It’s crazy.” Final year business student Peter agreed with Andy: “I think student enterprises should be provided with pop up stalls with a platform to sell
Students work with Vinnie
The cast and crew of Kill Kane, with Sophie Wiggins, second from left. by a Waterfront reporter
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk TWO Swansea University students have been involved in making a feature length film with Vinnie Jones this month. Kill Kane, a British crime thriller, was filmed in Swansea, and tells the story of a family man who is driven to revenge following the murder of his family. Final year geography student Alice Edwards and final year English Literature and Media Studies student Sophie Wiggins were part of the crew. Sophie said: “It was an amazing opportunity to work on a film here in Swansea. The crew and cast were fantastic to work with and I learnt so much whilst filming behind the scenes for the DVD.
“It has definitely has enhanced my understanding of film and production and I am hoping this will help me progress in my media career when I graduate later this year.” Alice Edwards, who was a runner for one day of the shoot, told us: “I had an amazing time, it was great to be working with such a professional hard-working crew.” The acting cast included Shaun Cronin, who has just finished filming the newest Mission Impossible with Tom Cruise, along with Nicole Faraday (Bad Girls) and Sarah Alexandra Marks (Bonded By Blood 2) Some scenes were shot in the Aneurin Bevan Medical Practice Ward at Swansea University and other scenes were also filmed in Sin City night club. Kill Kane is set to premier at the end of this year and will be distributed in the UK and America.
food they think students want.” Many students raised concerns over the lack of vegetarian and vegan options available. Emily Jones a final year History and Politics student said: “There definitely needs to be more vegetarian options.” Darcie Whitfield, a third year Civil Engineering student, agreed and thinks there should be more gluten free options available. Many students think there needs to be better quality and healthier options available. The main issue that arose was the prices of the food, out of the 30 students who responded about 80% felt the prices need to be changed as they are not student friendly. Thomas Bungard said: “I often have to go home and eat because the prices for campus catering on the campus are so extravagant. Decent food that doesn’t cost the earth would be nice.” Masters Media and Communications student Nathan Woodford-Rott added: “Nobody minds paying for quality but it is not good quality and is expensive.” Another student said: “For a multicultural, diverse university there is a severe lack of multicultural food.”
New societies officer elected
by Kay Byrne
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk SAM Wonder Uche has been elected as the new societies and services officer for 2015/2016 in a by election that took place on March 26-27. He beat 10 other candidates to win the role, with a majority total vote of 414. The post is one of five full-time elected positions in the students’ union. The by election was forced by the resignation of Alys Chapman. She was elected in the full-time officer elections on 27 February but resigned the following day, citing personal reasons. A total of 1242 students voted in the by-election.
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Spotlight on LGBT+ students
LIBERATION
Welcome to the NEW Liberation column! A platform for upcoming events, success stories and to discuss important issues relating to BME (Black and Minority Ethnic), LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender), disabled, women and international students, particularly but not exclusively. This week we focus on LGBT+ students.
by Dharani VIjayakumar waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk
‘FRIENDLY, ‘welcoming’ and ‘inclusive’: all words that spring to mind when describing the LGBT+ society. A safe place for all those who identify as LGBT+, as it’s important to remember that we ARE a ‘+’ society, as we don’t discriminate against ANY sexuality and/or gender (many of us having been discriminated against in our lives). Labels are not a necessity in this society as; we understand the constraints of them and would not want anyone to feel unnecessarily pressured. We empathise that society in general already places too much emphasis on labels; we’re more concerned with WHOM you are; rather than WHAT you are. Though identifying as LGBT+ can have a huge impact on people’s lives, depending on how lucky or unlucky someone is; for some the society is the only place they feel they can go and be themselves, without fear or judgement. And that’s something I’m really proud of. The fact I can go there regularly and feel proud of being myself. Likewise, I’ve also found this
society to be accepting of other things; including various disabilities, whether physical and/or mental, as everyone is only concerned about your personality. Although having said that, if you were in need of special measurements for disabilities, they would happily be made. For instance, I personally struggle with anxiety, so carry around a toy panda to help me. However, instead of the judgement and/or teasing I initially feared, fellow members just adopted it into the fold and treated it like another member, rather than an aid for me, and that was so touching!
Never a dull moment Unlike most other societies, I feel our society in particular has reached the all-important RANGE of activities and fun events needed to include members who don’t drink, as well as those who do. Especially considering that a drinking culture has become increasingly common amongst most university societies. I feel comfortable that our society has a mixture of coffee socials, karaoke, quizzes, musical bingo and the like, in which there is no actual
pressure or requirement to drink, but members can if they wish. Never let it be said there’s a dull moment though! As our events are always regular and, everyone on committee is always extra aware of making new members feel included and keep an eye out for anyone who may be a little shy and, or feel intimidated. Also credit where credit is due, as it’s not just the committee members that make this society fantastic. The members themselves contribute to the amazing atmosphere, as everyone brightens up my day personally and, I always leave a social feeling fulfilled and content with life. Members’ appreciation of the society is also clear, in the recent AGM for the society, every person who ran for a position made it clear how much the society meant to them, and how much it had helped them grow as a person, so they were determined to ‘give something back’. Also we are very protective of one another at times. We aren’t just friends, we’re family. That’s the stability that student life sometimes lacks. Genuine unconditional love and warmth are found in this society.
Katie Hopkins: low-culture bully we all love to hate OPINION by Ina Pace
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk I don’t hate Katie Hopkins. Katie Hopkins is a curt loud-mouth I think people can take a little too seriously. The Sun columnist and TV ‘personality’ has earned the title of ‘Britain’s Biggest Bitch’ and the status of ‘celebrity’; she claims to be a ‘conduit for truth,’ to be voicing the silent majority; it would seem she uses any excuse to justify her ill-informed and frankly, quite stupid, comments. But as we all know, she revels in the hatred she spawns from her readers and viewers (I wouldn’t say fans exactly), rather like a pig rolls in mud: it was reported in The Daily Telegraph that she explained “I welcome [the hate] because I’ve had my opinion and it’s only right that people have theirs.” Fair enough Katie, unfortunately for many of us, you have freedom of speech like any human being should, but you are causing a lot of hurt, and maybe you should take this into account. For example, be a little more openminded. In her ‘My Fat Story,’ a documentary for which she gained and lost three stone just to prove that eating less and moving more is the key to losing weight, Katie made no acknowledgement of the medical and psychological problems overweight people may encounter, hence the challenge in losing weight. Her recent ‘tweets’ on the social network Twitter about dementia patients being ‘bedblockers’ and depression being only ‘sadness
at a social situation’ not only sparked the usual controversy and internet trolling, but a series of open letters chastising her and informing her of her ignorance concerning the issues, implying she has perhaps now gone too far. Joshua Barlow wrote an open letter concerning her ignorance on depression, but unlike Rafferty, was exceedingly rude in his response “…like a bad smell you return to fill the nose of society with your stench.” I get it, he’s angry, but in my view, Barlow is merely stooping to Katie’s level and provoking/encouraging her further. Fruitless. Katie’s response was simple and typical, yet another dig at society, not aimed at particular individuals necessarily, but with the knowledge that individuals certainly will get hurt: “Will you stop writing me open letters. Either blog like a normal unemployed individual, or buy a sodding envelope.” See Katie’s not scared, and she’s not going to stop, but I think she might stop if we all stop taking her so seriously. If you don’t want her status of ‘celebrity’ to increase, then don’t share articles about her in your Facebook newsfeed accompanied by a derogatory comment, and do not retweet her. This is what she wants: publicity, whether it’s bad or not. Certainly, it is what keeps her as our British pantomime villain. I think this is essentially what she is; she may be someone you might love to hate, but at the end of the day she’s a joke in my eyes. You know, if her comments actually made logical sense or were better informed they’d be a little more hurtful because they would at least be credible. But they are ludicrous.
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New teaching facilities unveiled by a Waterfront reporter
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk THE Bay Campus will open its doors students in September and will offer state of the art teaching spaces fitted with the latest equipment to enable students get the most out of their studies, says the university. Teaching spaces range from engineering labs housing a mix of academic research and commercial activities to offices in the School of Management which replicate the ambience and design of a FTSE 100 company. Each teaching space is designed to fully enhance the learning experience whilst ensuring students become experts in their chosen field. The Great Hall offers nine teaching area varying from 300 seated tiered lecture theatres to 20 seated seminar rooms, total number of seats 1300. Engineering labs within the engineering quarter will be a commercial research activity hub, with both Rolls Royce and TATA steel conducting research and giving students the opportunity to work alongside market leaders in engineering research. A Marine Lab has also been installed that includes a 38m flume for research, testing and development of products including
Basketball tournament by Akosua Darko
waterfrontnews@swansea-union.co.uk
BAY CAMPUS: Top left, the Great Hall, top right Atrium in the School of Management, bottom left, new engineering lab, bottom right, tiered lecture theatre. wave powered electricity generators. A large atrium boasting a glass roof and under floor heating will welcome
School of Management students. The school will replicate a FTSE 100 organisation and will offer students
an office style work environment with spectacular views across Swansea Bay; making it an ideal place to study.
IN the light of Varsity and a celebration of a love sport, one student has taken his love for basketball and is organizing a tournament for all students to enjoy. Jordon Blake is organizing a tournament on 26 April from1-4pm at the sports hall in the sports village, with an after party at Peppermint later. The deadline for applications to participate in the tournament is today. The cost for entering the tournament is £5. Males and females welcome, a minimum of 5 members and a maximum of 10 on each team. There will also be a dunk contest, the tournament is sponsored by Spotfy, so the winners will win a month’s free premium Spotfy. There will also be a photographer and, an article in the Waterfront of the game. D J Dubbs is coming all the way from Luton, to bring the latest Rnb, Hip hop, House and many more. There will be prizes for contest winners as well. Spectators are welcome to watch for free.
Guess jeans
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GUESS which fashion trend is back? >> p 18
careers 28
societies 27
food 26
eurovision 25
culture 24
music 22-23
film 21
fashion 18-19
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features 14-15
20 April 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk
#SB15 12-13
L i f e s t y l e f o r S wa n s e a students
20 April 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk
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yo u r g u i d e t o # S S B 1 5 w i t h B e n R e e s
summer ball Shiver me timbers! #SSB15 gets nautical T
HIS year the Summer Ball celebrates 10 years of the eventtaking place on campus at the Abbey Meadow. Before 2005, the event was held in a few different venues across the city, with varied success. When the ball arrived on campus a decade ago, it was clear that its long term home had been found. It’s easy to see why – what is usually an empty field and university car park throughout the year, transforms into the grounds of a mini festival, packed with Swansea students celebrating the end of the exam period and the end of term (for most!). In ten years the Meadow has played host to so many artists that have both been already established, and those that have gone on to huge success. Five years ago, student-shows were a novel thing – ask anyone their expectations and the likes of Chesney Hawkes would always come to mind. But in 2010, the Summer Ball broke the trend in arguably its biggest way – with Florence and the Machine and Two Door Cinema Club among many more
taking to the stage. It just goes to show, that the Summer Ball done well, can attract British talent with huge potential. Of course some artists fade away and don’t reach their once promised heights, but when they come off, they do in a huge way. In 2011 the Abbey Meadow was lucky enough to play host to one of the Streets very last shows. 2012’s Great British Garden Party theme was another biggie – students witnessed performances from comedian Tim Minchin, Pixie Lott, and then small-timers Rudimental. In 2013 the Main Stage moved from the Big Top to the Open Air Main Stage – a risky move given Swansea’s famous wet weather. The gamble paid off – the arena was drenched in sunshine throughout, not the rain you would associate with the area! That day was big for a both big artists and the students performing. Choral Society brought in a huge crowd to the field, as hundreds of students looked on at their classmates performing on the biggest stage. Sink
hosted the Ghetto Blaster for the first time, highlighting student DJs as well as Maribou State and BBC Radio 1’s B.Traits. Then the main stage, in its new place, saw big performances from Newport’s own Goldie Lookin’ Chain, Nina Nesbitt, Wretch 32, and closed with a heavy hitting Sub Focus DJ set. Last year as most of you will remember the new layout continued to prosper, with big sets from My Nu Leng at the Ghetto Blaster, then Scouting for Girls and DJ Fresh at the main stage.
The Event & Arenas This year’s Summer Ball takes on a new theme – fitting with the university’s proximity to the Swansea Bay and the Docks. It’s nautical themed all around! When you look out from the windows of the top computer rooms of the library, it’s hard to imagine that the field in front of you is where you’ll be celebrating the end of the year’s work with your fellow students. This year, the area takes on even more changes – as the Meadow is transformed into three arenas of nautical nature.
The Docks play host to this year’s main stage, as well as many of the free funfair rides provided year in, year out. There’ll also be two bars fully stocked with soft and alcoholic drinks to see you through the day. The Promenade – this area takes you down to the field in a way that should take you back to summers at the seaside. There’ll be even more amusements, fish & chips, and it’ll end with the Pier 10 stage – a stage that’ll celebrate 10 years of the Ball at the Abbey Meadow, with plenty of artists from the student body. Shipwreck Cove is where things get a bit more alternative, and is hosted by Sink. In recent months the team have brought you the likes of Sigma, Wilkinson, DJ EZ and My Nu Leng. It’s also where you’ll find a brand new bar for this year and a special take on one of our stalwarts. Captain Jack’s Tavern will serve up a load of Tomos Watkin’s Brewery’s finest ales, and the Bomb Bar as usual bring their list of exclusive bombs to the arena, tailored this year to their pirate theme.
#SSB15 Line-up 15 June 2015
THIS year’s line-up is a showcase of some of the UK’s finest talent – with a big representation for the burgeoning artists coming through this year. Representing new talent has always been a big thing for the Summer Ball, as we’ve seen in previous years. This year is no exception, with three key new artists coming to perform at the Abbey Meadow before they head off for a busy festival season and the hopes of success at the end of the year. Rae Morris, Saint Raymond and Sunset Sons all feature on the day – all have been tipped for huge things this year, with all of them on key festival line-ups like T in the Park and many more. Representing the nostalgic side to this year’s Summer Ball are the Hoosiers, whose first album featured hits like ‘Goodbye Mr A’, ‘Worried About Ray’ among many more. On the bassier side of things, Sink Swansea will move to a bigger stage this year. These is the team that has brought the likes of Sigma, Wilkinson, DJ EZ, My Nu Leng and B.Traits to the city. Their stage will feature performances from non other than Lethal Bizzle, the legend that is David Rodigan MBE, and newcomer Fono – whose debut track entitled ‘Real Joy’, is set to be one of 2015’s biggest tracks. We’ll also have an exclusive performance from Horse Meat Disco, kings of disco, funk and soul from the capitol, their Boiler Room sets are well worth checking out! •You can get more information on all things #SSB15 at the official website – www.swanseasummerball.com
Get your Pass The idea with this year’s pass scheme is to offer a number of ways to celebrate the end of year. We all know that sweet feeling of finishing exams and having the last few days to celebrate the freedom of living in Swansea with no added coursework or revision! The standard pass gets you entrance to the Summer Ball, all the entertainment within the arenas and the after party. 5 Day All Star Cruise passes will make the last week of term even more special – it’ll get you the last Sin Savers, Tooters, Sink and more included with your pass to this year’s Summer Ball. Finally, for those of you graduating this year, there’s the Retirement Cruise option. This one gets you the Summer Ball pass, the 5 Day Cruise, and the Graduation Ball as well, definitely one to get before the end of term rush!
From the top, The Hoosiers, Lethal Bizzle, Rae Morris and The Sunset Sons.
careers 28
societies 27
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eurovision 25
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music 22-23
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fashion 18-19
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20 April 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk
20 April 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk
14
with hilary webb
features
Gretchen hits the Swansea LC gym
I
Waterfront reporter Gretchen Kessler was invited to try out Swansea’s LC gym
will be the first to admit that I don’t jump at the idea of going to the gym. And aside from the occasional treadmill, I’ve never touched the wide array of workout equipment that gyms, such as Swansea’s own Leisure Complex, are bursting with, writes Gretchen. Many seem surprisingly complex, composed of way too many moving parts, or just downright intimidating. Nevertheless, I was feeling optimistic as I was led through the lobby of the LC. The staff showed me the changing rooms, provided me with a pound coin for the lockers, (I’d forgotten to bring change of my own) and then they introduced me to my trainer for the evening. Only then did I feel the tickle of nerves, as I was cheerfully informed that I’d be “put through the paces” by a gentleman whose jawline looked like it might have actually been chiseled from stone. But Dean Owens, 30, gym manager at the LC, is friendly and professional, and soon I am less nervous for the session to come. The gym itself still holds an air of mystery for me…I don’t know where to begin! But as it turns out, this is exactly where most people start out. “We get a lot of people coming here
with no idea what they actually want to do at the gym,” Dean tells me. “They’ve just bought a gym membership, but where do they go from there?” Dean leads me to a computer, where we spend a few moments discussing my statistics (weight, height, age), previous workout habits (which are negligible), and finally ending in a series of questions rating my interest level in categories like flexibility, strength, weight loss, body image, etc. “This is for us to determine what kind of work out is best suited for you,” Dean explains. Essentially, this computer takes in all your information, and spits out a personalized workout regime. For me, we start at the treadmill. Once again, I am confident. I identify myself as a runner, so this should be something I am good at. I set the machine to a comfortable run, but by the end of five minutes, Dean has me pushing myself in strength and speed and endurance. We are doing a “highintensity” training, he tells me, which involves running—hard and fast—for short spurts, with short lulls to catch my breath, and then cranking up the speed once more. “How do you feel?” he asks me as I finally wobble off, sweating,
my legs burning, and taking a big gulp from my water bottle. I understand how “high-intensity” got its name. We venture, next, to equipment I’ve never tried before. By the end of the 45-minute session, I’ve rowed 500 metres, worked out my upper body on a cross-trainer (which resembles a sort of bicycle for one’s arms), and faced the “TRX,” a suspension training device which allows you to work against your own body weight to develop muscle. Throughout the workout, Dean provides more than just guidance around the machines and equipment. He urges me on when I feel my muscles protesting, demonstrates proper techniques, even explains how each exercise is changing my body and where I should expect to see improvement in the future. He is the hard-driving personal trainer in every aspect, but he gives me praise and encouragement at the end of our session. He remembers I am a runner, so as we do a cool-down stretch together, he gives me some quick tips on how to improve my performance in the every-day. Dean gives me a high-five as he pronounces our session come to an end. I don’t feel exhausted like I imagined I
would when I came in—instead, I am rejuvenated. So, what about you? Feeling a bit gooey this holiday season? Maybe it’s time to put your reluctance and fear at bay, and see what hitting the gym is all about! The LC is located just off Oystermouth Road and across from the Tesco, and is open seven days a week. Memberships start at a cost of £26/month, which includes free group classes, access to all workout equipment, and visits to the spa (yes, they have a spa!).
LC facts Mon-Fri: 6.30am-10pm Sat-Sun: 8am-9pm All classes included with gym membership. Non-members are £5.20/class. Gym and spa for non members: £8.50/visit Tel: 01792 466500 Visit online: thelcswansea.com
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societies 27
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eurovision 25
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music 22-23
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fashion 18-19
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20 April 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk
Public breastfeeding: Acceptable or a No No? D
R Amy Brown of Swansea University’s Department of Public Health, Policy and Social Sciences, made headlines in local news recently when she bemoaned the “sexualisation of breasts” in calling for society to be more supportive of breastfeeding, writes Ina Pace. Dr Brown made her remarks in the scientific journal Trends in Molecular Medicine after a photograph depicting women breastfeeding their children was taken down from Facebook because the social networking site received a “barrage” of complaints from men. Dr Brown described how the UK’s attitude towards breastfeeding was poor and consequently levels of breastfeeding, as opposed to babies being fed with formula, was low. She described how derogatory comments made towards mothers breastfeeding in public, for example in a café or a shop, suggested they were mere exhibitionists, doing what should be a private, intimate act in public. Such comments, Dr Brown remarks, make many women ashamed of breastfeeding in public, feeling like they have “failed” when they resort to formula feeding. It seems that Dr Brown views breastfeeding as a natural, innocent act of feeding a hungry baby, implying that there is no need to be discreet. Sophie Wiggins, a third year English literature and Media Studies student argues that “[public breastfeeding] is natural and I don’t see why people have a problem with it. “People are happy with seeing half naked girls and nudity in the media but raise concerns when women do something that is natural, what else
are they supposed to do?” There is a possibility that banning public breastfeeding would confine women to the home. Babies need feeding every couple of hours and make noise no matter where they are when they are hungry. Indeed, resorting to formula feeding might have an effect on the bond with its mother. Interestingly, also like Sophie, Dr Brown, targets what she implies to be a common hypocrisy: people accept, even idolise, the media’s encouragement in sexualising the female body, say in adverts or music videos, yet the same people chastise nudity or near nudity in real life, sexual or not, in this case breastfeeding, a very non-sexual act. Third year student Olly Saunders agrees with Sophie that public breastfeeding is “a natural healthy process!” A final year student who wishes to remain anonymous argues however that “[It isn’t] fine based on it being natural and healthy, as urinating and defecating is perfectly natural and healthy, and I’d not want that to be acceptable in public!”
‘Men can get their breasts out’ Another final year student (again wishing to remain anonymous) however justifies breastfeeding as healthy in the sense that “It’s not unhygienic in any way (like urinating and defecating in public would be),” adding that “Men can get their breasts out and it is not be seen as offensive but because a women’s chest contains milk ducts to feed her child it’s seen as ‘not okay’.” On the other side of the issue however is another anonymous third year student. She
argues that “breastfeeding should be private: nudity in public comes at the expense of making others feel uncomfortable. Find a backroom or some kind of screen to put around your breasts! If I was eating at a high-end restaurant for example, I certainly wouldn’t want to be put off my food.”
‘Makes me uncomfortable’ In this student’s view, breastfeeding is indeed an innocent act, but regardless of it being nonsexual, it is still intimate. Natasha Marsh, a third year Media Studies student, likewise argues that “although natural, [public breastfeeding] makes me uncomfortable. I understand a woman’s right is to feed her baby, and obviously for the baby to be fed is essential but I would prefer it if they hid it with a blanket or coat covering it so I don’t have to see it.” An anonymous third year Psychology student reinforces the need apparent need for discretion, arguing that covering the nipples with a blanket is “more for the protection of the mother and child rather than for the sake of embarrassment and to make sure certain eyes don’t see it.”
It seems therefore that some students are accepting of public breastfeeding but only if it is done discreetly. It’s possible that society may not ever perceive breasts in entirely separate ways: sexually or functionally until we totally appropriate public nudity for both sexes, (afterall your reproductive areas aren’t just used for sex!) We may have to utterly rethink what it is to be “civilised.” Are we “civilised” in retaining boundaries, or are we more “civilised” in allowing nudity (the nipple) to roam freely, regardless of its function. This issue is clearly currently inconclusive, so until it isn’t, let’s respect each other’s sensitivities, yet be open to debate in order to enable social progression.
Ina Pace (right) tackles a thorny issue.
Jobseeking blues by Emily Maybanks Unemployment and depression go hand in hand in young people, and the effect of being unable to find work can be devastating. I know that from my own personal experience, but if you need convincing, just look at some of these statistics from the Princes Trust: •Almost half of unemployed young people feel down or depressed, often or always •46% avoid meeting new people •43% often feel isolated I had to sign on at my local job centre during my gap year while I struggled and failed to find a job and I suffered from both depression and anxiety. According to government figures there were 208,100 people aged 18-24 claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) in November 2014. As a young person with 8 Bs and 4 Cs at GCSE level as well as a B, C and a D at A Level, claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) often made me feel very down and upset, and highly anxious about how other people thought of me. I didn’t like going to the job centre each week, it was extremely demoralising and demotivating, and the staff there were actually quite unhelpful and didn’t seem to actually want to help me to find a job. Even when I inquired about interview practice, they said they were unable to help. Unfortunately, our generation is being described as a “lost generation” because of the large numbers of unemployed young people. Apart from the obvious causes like a lack of jobs and young people not having the right skills and qualifications, there are other reasons for youth unemployment: •Young people’s expectations;
•Employers prefer to employ experienced workers; •Employers’ perceptions of young people. Wouldn’t it be a good idea to teach in schools about applying for jobs, writing CVs and job interview techniques? I know that I, personally, would have found such education extremely useful when I was at school. In sixth form, as far as I know, the only focus was on helping students to write personal statements and to complete the UCAS application for University, there wasn’t really any support for those who didn’t want to go to university but who wanted to go out and look for work after completing their A Level studies. Obviously, this might be different for other people from other parts of the UK, or even from different countries. It would be interesting to have others share their thoughts and experiences on this matter. ‘More than three quarters of a million young
people believe they have nothing to live for’
The pressures of finding a job can be extremely stressful for young people and may lead to mental health illnesses We live in an age where media is a major influence in everyday life, especially in the lives of young people. Young people are pressurised to feel the need to have expensive material items and when they cannot afford such items (for example, because they are unable to find a job) and this can lead to them feeling depressed and anxious that the rest of society are judging them. The Young Minds website states that “More than three quarters of a million young people believe they have nothing to live for… Long-tern unemployed young people are twice as likely as their peers to believe they have nothing to live for.”
I spoke to a 21-year-old student who has A Levels and is currently studying towards an accountancy qualification after deciding not to go to university. She has been a volunteer, has had a parttime job and is due to start a full-time job, but she was claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance for around eight months which made her feel totally isolated and that she had lost all of her self-confidence. She also told me that she was taught the bare minimum at school about how to write a CV, and that she was not taught anything about mental health illnesses. She believes that learning more about her options (such as apprenticeships and other courses aside from university courses) would have been useful to her. At school, we were not taught much if anything about mental health illnesses which would have been useful knowledge to have in order to be able to understand the symptoms of mental health illnesses in ourselves or in others so that we know how to help ourselves or others. Not having a job can cause a young person to feel extremely depressed and anxious, especially with the stigma associated with mental health in young people. When I was claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance, I was feeling very upset for quite a while before I started volunteering in a local Sue Ryder charity shop in order to boost my confidence and selfesteem and to help me gain valuable work experience.
Emily Maybanks
2 I VARSITY 2015
thewaterfront 20.04.15
Football
Football
SUMFC bidding to salvage season Bishop wants perfect end to incredible year by Ryan O’Leary
waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
SWANSEA are aiming to end the season on a high against fierce rivals Cardiff after a somewhat frustrating season, which captain Jack McKenna admits has been disappointing overall. “We’ve had some good results and performances this year but ultimately it was a disappointing season. We finished mid-table in the league, however, with a talented group of players our aim was promotion to the BUCS Premier Division.” SUMFC will be looking to emulate last year’s victory over Cardiff at Sketty Lane. The match last year was a close encounter, which saw Swansea score a late winner to make it a 2-1 victory. “We’re expecting a similarly tight contest this year,” admits McKenna. “Cardiff look to be strong, having won their league and gained promotion into ours for next season.” McKenna recognises the magnitude of this game and says that the team’s preparation will reflect it. “It’s the biggest game of the year. We’ll be cutting short the boys’
Easter break to start our training camp and ready ourselves for the big day. “Training, recovery, team bonding - all these aspects are vital in giving us the best chance of a positive result.” With Varsity being held in Swansea this year, McKenna believes home advantage will be vital. “Home advantage will be huge. We expect an intense atmosphere and we’re hoping that will play into our hands, as we know we’ll have great support down at Sketty Lane.”
Due to the rivalry and atmosphere the Varsity Football match can be a daunting experience for some players. The match is one of the most popular spectacles on the big day, however McKenna is adamant his players can handle the pressure. “Our boys won’t be fazed by the occasion and we hope the crowd can act as our 12th man.” The match kicks off at 12.00pm at Sketty Lane and a big crowd is expected. McKenna urges the fans to “get down to support us!” in hope of back-to-back Varsity victories.
Swansea celebrate last year’s late Varsity winner in front of the travelling fans.
Ultimate Frisbee
by Ned Bristow waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
OVER the course of the 2014/15 season, it is difficult to look beyond the women’s football club as standout performers. From the first ball kicked back in October, Swansea have dominated almost every encounter, wrapping up the title in emphatic style with some titanic victories and unstoppable performances. Leaving Cardiff in their wake despite a Varsity loss in the capital 12 months ago, Ellie Bishop’s Swans stormed to an undefeated title, dropping just two points all season. And despite losing the Western Conference Cup semi-final to eventual winners Gloucestershire, there is no doubt in captain Bishop’s mind that they have exceeded expectations. “It’s been a great season and a fantastic experience for the girls. When we started the year we always thought promotion was possible, however to go undefeated in the league is just an incredible bonus.” With the memorable BUCS
campaign out of the way, attention turns to Wednesday’s clash and spirits are certainly high. “We have a good plan in place leading up to Varsity, but with it being so close to Easter it is a challenge. Having such a high team spirit from the season, the squad is fully committed which is great. “Obviously last year preparation was easier, but we have to work around Easter and we’ve known about that for a while. “We want to complete the season with a Varsity win and push on ready for next year.” If this season’s form is anything to go by, the hosts are a shoe-in to avenge last year’s 2-0 Varsity defeat after overcoming their rivals as recently as five weeks ago. “Having beaten Cardiff three times out of three this season, we now want to top it off with a fourth. “The team has advanced a lot this year and we believe we can do it. Having lost last year will push the girls on and winning would top off a fantastic year. “It is such an iconic event and means a lot to the girls.”
Taekwondo
Success the Ultimate aim Taekwondo prepared after by Sophie Wiggins waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
Men’s captain, James Kent: How has your season been? JK: Our season has been good. We’re achieving the highest ranks the club has seen down to having a good core of seasoned fit players and some talented new people. What are your hopes for Varsity? JK: We’re hoping for the best performance we’ve ever had, and stand a real chance at winning. What will the impact of playing so soon after Easter break be? JK: We have infrastructure in place for training over the break in order to give us the best chance possible. What will the impact of playing in Swansea rather than Cardiff be? JK: It should give us a big morale boost and some home advantage. Are you doing anything specific in training in order to prepare? JK: We have a few things planned. A training camp over Easter helped with plays and tactics. Other than that we gave Cardiff a good game at regionals so we’re almost there!
Women’s captain, Madeleine Agnew: How has your season been? MA: It has been a great season as we have had a huge influx of girls. We entered regionals in Cardiff and began gelling really well. A very young team with a bright future! What are your hopes for Varsity? MA: We hope to score lots of points! Cardiff have a very strong team with lots of experienced players but we hope to give them a good run around and improve in the process. What will the impact of playing so soon after Easter break be? MA: Many people wont have had the chance to play over Easter so it’s likely to impact a lot. What will the impact of playing in Swansea rather than Cardiff be? MA: Our team will be calmer and the wind conditions might be more suited to us so slightly advantageous. However we havent played on the astro before. Are you doing anything specific in training in order to prepare? MA: We worked on general tactics throughout the year, working towards improvement in all areas.
refreshing year of change by Laura Fiteni waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
Swansea University Tae Kwon Do are looking forward to settling the score against Cardiff University after switching organisation and enjoying a successful year of competition. “Last year Cardiff won quite convincingly and so this year I was keen to take dramatic changes”, said captain Laura Fiteni. “This year we became a part of the International Taekwon Do Federation and we’ve worked closely with some of the best instructors in the Taekwon Do community.” The competition will see an alteration to the format this year, as the meet will focus on team performances as much as individual prowess. The two divisions, patterns and sparring, will showcase the best practitioners from both sides competing in team fights and performing sets of traditional patterns. “Considering we are quite a small
club, trying to find equal belt and weight match ups is quite difficult which is why we’re keen to try this new team format”, said Fiteni. The club have been focused on increasing technical ability, discipline and etiquette on the mats, as well as dramatically boosting fitness levels. Lessons have seen team members creating rings and critiquing their team members in order to raise awareness of rules and tactics. Competitions have yielded great results for the team as often multiple medals return home per competitor.
With Varsity being held in Swansea for the first time in a generation of graduates this year, Fiteni said: “We’ve been holding intense camps over the holidays but it’s unfortunate timing as everyone goes home to see their families and revise at this time. “Hopefully the home advantage will help us close this gap this year so that next year we can really thinking about smashing Cardiff the year after. “The team has been amazing this year and I can’t wait to see them impress at Varsity ad wipe the smiles off Cardiff’s faces.”
waterfrontonline.co.uk Volleyball
Focused build up is key to volleyball club’s Varsity success by Claire Cuddihy waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
Volleyball will be competed at the LC2 HAVING never lost to Cardiff at Varsity, Swansea University’s women’s volleyball team are determined not to blemish their track record on the big day. This year the girls have had a strong season, finishing 2nd in the BUCS Western 1A League, coming closely behind the winners, Bristol 1sts, and defeating Varsity rivals Cardiff. This was an improvement on their overall position of 3rd last year, and club president Ella Greeven sees potential for even further advancement up to the top of the league. She said: “I don’t see any reason why we would not be able to step it up even more next season and become the league champions.” However, although the girls beat Cardiff overall in the BUCS League, putting them in a seemingly favourable position going into Varsity, Cardiff actually defeated them in the most recent match, recording a narrow victory with a tight result of 3-2. The closely matched ability of the rival teams is bound to make for an exciting and enjoyable spectacle on Wednesday. Greeven acknowledges this, claiming: “Cardiff has a good team, and we are aware of that, but since our team has a fighting spirit, motivated, talented players and an amazing atmosphere, I know this is going to result in a very good game!” Their most recent meet with Cardiff has spurred them on even more to train hard in order to minimize the risk of another disappointing loss. “We have been taking every training session we have very seriously, maintaining both a high intensity and focus,” said Greeven of the recent preparations. “We have also put more effort into team bonding to make sure that on the big day we will stand there united as a team. “What I hope for the team is to show Cardiff who they are really up against, and where the capital for Welsh volleyball lies!”
VARSITY 2015 I 3 Basketball
Basketball
Grosber: we expect win Confidence rife in close-knit squad by Alex van Goethem
waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
“ONE of the strongest teams of the past few years,” is how team captain Nora Grosber describes this year’s squad, and it is easy to see why. The side finished second in Western 2B league by winning an impressive eight out of 10 games, coupled with a quarterfinal appearance in the Western Conference Cup. Ending the season with a strong 63-42 win against USW Pontybridd & Cardiff 1sts has added to the confidence that has been quietly building up within the team as they look to overcome last year’s demoralising Varsity loss. When asked what the main reason behind the team’s improvement from last season was, chemistry and communication were the factors that stood out most. “Our communication is great and we have a good vibe in the team. “Generally we are all just really close on and off court, much closer than last year’s team, and that really helps our game,” said Grosber. This, combined with the addition of confident and experienced
players based in Swansea on exchange programmes from various universities from across the world, has provided the team with a spark since the first ball of the season was kicked. “We are very confident that we will be winning the Varsity game this year. We are expecting a Cardiff team that is very strong and fast but we know that we are just as strong and fast as they are. “The preparation for the game has been our training sessions that we have twice a week, so we can really build our chemistry and game. “Many players have been hitting the gym much more this year and some players ran the marina 5k together.” This year will be the first time since 2010 that Varsity is being held in Swansea, and having home court advantage means a lot to Grosber and her team. “Having home court advantage is just amazing, as we have all the Swansea supporters who are standing behind us and giving us the energy and confidence we need to bring the win home for Swansea Uni!” Swansea supporters will truly be an extension of the team as they cheer on at this year’s Varsity.
by Will Humphrey waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
DESPITE Cardiff finishing top of their BUCS league, Swansea were close behind in second and will be looking to provide an upset, preventing Cardiff doing the league and Varsity double. Swansea have had an enjoyable and successful season after only losing two games and are looking to cement this impressive season with a win over their rivals. After already beating Cardiff once this year in the BUCS league along with the home court advantage, captain Emanuil Zashev is confident that Swansea will come out on top as Varsity winners. In preparation for this intense encounter the Swansea team have taken a week out of their Easter holidays to partake in a week long training camp to ensure that their fitness, skills and fundamentals are in top condition, but more importantly to guarantee the team chemistry is free flowing ahead of the game. When asked how the overall season had gone Zashev stated:
Fencing
Fencing club out for revenge by Laura Fiteni waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
AFTER exceptional performances throughout the year from both the men’s and women’s teams, Swansea University Fencing Club is excited to show Cardiff exactly how much they’ve improved this year.
Both teams finished second in their respective leagues, while the men also won the cup. They have been training hard to work their way up the league and hosted the Welsh University Challenge, which they won hands down, stealing the overall shield. In the lead up to Varsity, the club have headed up even more
training, and sessions have been more structured making it easier to track progress and to spot new areas to develop. Last year’s Varsity was a close match which finally swung in Cardiff’s favour, but it’s fighting talk from captain Teresa Norejko as they look towards settling the score. “All I can say is that we have
“Even though we did not win the league, I would consider it pretty successful. We’ve bonded very well; we all play for each other and trust each other, and this is not an easy thing to achieve especially considering the fact that most guys play together for the first time.” Zashev went on to say that the way in which Swansea plan to beat Cardiff is by playing “our game” and sticking to their strengths which have continued to develop all season. In terms of star performers and players to look out for, Zashev replied: “Our best games this year have been games where everyone touches and shares the ball. So I guess, the audience should keep their eye out for everyone on the team. “As our coach put it, we are already thinking about next season and this week of training is more of a focus on how we do things, as opposed to what things we do. Our goal is to always get better and Varsity is a good chance for us to do this, to use it as kind of a final practice before next season.”
trained hard; second place is not good enough for us this year.” Six total matches will be competed on the day. Each team will fence to 45 in a relay format in each weapon: foil, epee and sabre. The overall combined scores will decide the victor. “Having a home crowd full of support can only help us to achieve our goal. All of us are very excited about it being at home this year! “I think it will be close. It’s going to be a very tense match but I would say that we will win.”
waterfrontonline.co.uk
VARSITY 2015 I 7
Lacrosse
Badminton
Lacrosse look to right Badminton swans have “spread their last year’s double loss wings” ahead of Swansea showdown WOMEN WILL STEP UP AFTER NARROW DEFEAT by Akosua Darko waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
Women’s lacrosse is well established within BUCS, with teams competing in a league programme throughout the season from October to February. Their league positions determine whether they take part in the Championship, Trophy or Conference cup. The Swansea women’s team are currently in the Western 1A Conference Cup. They are fourth in their table, just below Cardiff. After a close finish between the two teams earlier in the season, Varsity looks to be an exciting match after Cardiff edged last year’s encounter 5-4. Women’s captain Laura Swanson’s said: “We did well this season to stay in the middle of our league with wins against Bath and Plymouth Marjon. “At Varsity we will see all the girls
giving it their all and pulling out all the stops as it was so close last year. “We’ve been training multiple times a week and will be coming back during Easter to train too. We’ve also had two or three fitness sessions a week to make sure we’re all fit and strong to take Cardiff.” With that said, women’s lacrosse looks set to be an exciting game.
MOMENTUM THE KEY AFTER TOUGH SEASON THE men’s firsts, meanwhile, are also looking to bounce back from last year’s 11-3 defeat in the Welsh capital. They have endured a difficult BUCS season, finishing fifth in their Western division 1A league and bowing out of the cup at the first stage after winning two of their opening four clashes. Despite this, the team did record an emphatic 15-4 victory over bottom club Gloucestershire on the final day of the season and will be hoping to carry this momentum into Wednesday’s showdown.
by Ned Bristow waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
BOTH the men’s and women’s first teams from Swansea badminton club have excelled in league and cup this season, and will looking to cap it off in style with victory this week. The teams meet Cardiff at the LC2 in the first event of Wednesday’s packed schedule, and hope that a season of success will inspire a winning start to Swansea’s big day. The men’s team breezed to the Western division 2B title undefeated, and only narrowly missed out on a league and cup double after losing to Cardiff Met in the Western Conference Cup final. Similar success was enjoyed by the women’s firsts, who finished as
runners up in their Western division 2B league but went one better than the men by beating Bournemouth in the Western Conference Cup final. With such success rife within the club, men’s captain David Richardson admits that it’s a great time to be a badminton player. “It feels fantastic to have achieved everything we have this season. I am extremely privileged to have supported, led and payed with the men’s firsts this year. “Being athletes we always strive to win and hate to lose. We have exceeded our pre-season expectation by winning the league so comfortably.” Like many of Swansea’s Varsity competitors, the badminton club members headed back to
South West Wales early in order to thoroughly prepare for the occasion. Richardson says that, despite having enjoyed such success, his players are still striving to improve. “All players have realised what they would like to improve on and set themselves goals to achieve over Easter. “We know the Cardiff side are much stronger than anything we have faced this year, so fitness and training sessions each day will help us peform and exceed our high standards for the day. “The team are fit and have been training, but if anything we can hope that Cardiff have indulged too much and haven’t been training themselves!” The captain has identified what he perceives as weaknesses in the Cardiff side, and believes that their higher BUCS standing means all the pressure is on the visitors. ““I have seen my bevy of cygnets spread their wings into primitive swans. The men are undefeated at home this year, so with enough support we can keep it that way.”
Cricket
American Football
Titans seek Varsity three-peat Narrow defeat will
spur cricket club on
by Liam Ransom waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
THE match-up in American football is possibly the hardest hitting match up of Varsity day – this is if the first encounter of the season between these two teams is anything to go by. Swansea escaped with the narrow 14-7 victory, thanks to a late touchdown in a gruelling encounter that saw both teams rely heavily on their running backs in a ground and pound style of game. The Cardiff Cobras will certainly not be licking their wounds, and will be out to even the score this time around. This much anticipated end-ofseason match draws down the curtain on a season that will be filled with ‘what could have been’ for the Titans, after their narrow post-season loss to Kingston in the BUAFL playoff semi-finals ended 12-7. “There were a few moments where if a call went our way or communication between ourselves was better, we could’ve got the score to take us over them,” says club president Tristan O’Keefe of the defeat. Despite the loss, positivity is rife within the Titans camp, especially
by John Fanning waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
after an almost undefeated regular season where only loss came against Bristol. O’Keefe believed the season had marked yet another step forward for the Titans. “We sent a message to the rest of our league that we are not a one trick pony. Year in, year out, we will put out a team that can compete at the highest level”. Clearly the team is ambitious and seeking to make waves within the BUAFL, and a Varsity victory would certainly cement the notion that Swansea can compete with the very best heading into next season. The game against the Cobras will come at an awkward time of the year due to its proximity to the Easter break. However, this is especially pertinent to American football, which is a sport that requires hours of preparation and
game planning that is difficult to do when players are scattered around during the holidays. Despite this, the Titans have put into action a preparation plan as O’Keefe explains: “We have an intense training schedule in place, and each player will be working on their personal development whilst home for the holidays”. A large amount of intrigue about how both teams will fare after disrupted preparations combined with Cardiff seeking revenge should make this one of the most exciting Varsity match-ups in years. However, there will also a tinge of sadness as many will be playing their last game for the Titans before moving on from University. O’Keefe adds that those leaving “have been such a massive part in making the Titans known for being winners”.
SWANSEA University Cricket Club president Oliver Hills is confident that Swansea can emerge victorious in this year’s Varsity after an agonising defeat last time around. The game was very tight all the way through, says Hills: “Cardiff put on a big score on a slow wicket, but we came out of the blocks quickly and gave ourselves every chance. In the end some late heroics from Callum Herring nearly got us over the line, falling only to a spectacular catch on the boundary with three balls to go which ultimately won Cardiff the game”. One year on, and, unlike all of the other competing teams, this will be the club’s first proper game of the season, due to the season starting in April where they will begin their BUCS campaign against Exeter. Despite this Hills is happy with the preparations for the match, having played in an indoor league during the winter, “with a young team that was new to the concept of indoor cricket, finishing 3rd in our group behind two very strong sides in Bristol and Cardiff Met”.
As well as a strong showing in the indoor league, the club has had a large number joining, which Hills says, “has allowed us to fill gaps in the team left by last year’s leavers. “We feel we have a strong and balanced side”. The ability of Cardiff to call up on the expertise of MCCU cricketers is something of a luxury but, Hills is adamant that they have the “quality to in the team to combat them effectively”. In order to execute that, Swansea’s key players will need to put in some big performances, with ones to watch including Callum Herring, who can “hit the ball as cleanly and as hard as anyone” and the experience of Joe Parkhouse, “who has played for a few years and has seen it all before.” With the ball, the talented leftarmer Ravi Raval will be looking to cause the same problems he did last year, where he was, Hills says, “the only bowler to really trouble Cardiff’s batsmen”. As well as those ones to watch, Hills says that “some areas have been identified where we think we can trouble Cardiff and have set our game plans accordingly”.
8 I VARSITY 2015
thewaterfront 20.04.15
Rugby
Swimming
Women eye first Varsity victory Experience of facilities waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
SWANSEA women’s rugby are looking positively towards Varsity more determined than ever, despite having never won at the event. Undoubtedly as Rugby Union is one of the most valued sports in South Wales, the team will be playing their hardest with the benefit of being on home soil. “Our BUCS league this year was incredibly competitive. At one stage only one point separated promotion and relegation in the
table,” says club captain Amy Boyd. The team have made some incredible achievements this season. Against tight competition, Boyd said: “the girls had to perform under significant pressure to secure their position and had fantastic results against Plymouth both home and away,” the scores being 26-0 away and 32-5 at home. The team finished 4th in BUCS. Cardiff and Swansea have come head to head twice in BUCS this year, which Boyd says, “has made a huge difference with both sides playing their best rugby.” Whilst at home v Cardiff, Boyd tells,
Squash
Brilliant season sets tone for squash club by Niamh Ollerton waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
AT the end of the 2014-15 BUCS season, all three of the squash teams finished in top three positions. The men’s firsts finished in a close 2nd position having won seven out of 10, while the men’s seconds finished in third position and the women’s squad topped their league after an almost clean slate of five wins from their six competitive matches. There are high hopes for Varsity this year within the club. The men’s varsity team have had the opportunity to play Cardiff wice this season, with a 50/50 success
rate. In the cup, the team got to the semi finals but lost to Cardiff. Speaking with captain Sam Rook about the teams capability, he said: “Myself and Pierse Herrod have 90% win rates, while the other players have high win to lose ratios as well.” The women’s team have had an unbelievable season, as they won the BUCS cup against Exeter in the final and also won their league. Rooks told of his personal highlights of the season, saying: “All team players that went to BUCS nationals in Birmingham played exceptionally well, and that was definitely the highlight of the year for me.” Squash’s training regime has been strong, and team spirit has
will help swimming club
“Swansea had the best result that the women’s rugby team has ever produced against our Welsh rivals.” For this year’s Varsity, the team want to continue with the momentum from the BUCS campaign, and they hope to capture the first ever women’s Varsity win. Last year Swansea only put 7 points against Cardiff which did not reflect the squad’s ability or potential, and this year the team are eager to amend this. The team have been training in an additional 10 day long camp, where they will be able to work closely and pool together their efforts as a team, club and for the Swansea Varsity team. Their expectations, Boyd says, “are that every single squad player will put in 110% for GWA15.” Last year’s defeat will be pushing them harder than ever, as Boyd tells that the side were “disappointed with the standard of our set piece as well as some unusual refereeing decisions leading to a lack of discipline on our part.” This time round, however, the optimistic captain only has hope and positivity for the match. The team has done better against Cardiff this season thanever before, and the team are in high spirits.
The swimmers are ready for their second official year at Varsity. This time they are aiming for the title, after Cardiff beat them 12793 last year. They are confident, determined and ready to take the title on home water, because they have had a wonderful season and have secured a place in division one. So the swimming is set to be a exciting race to the finish. Swimming is one of the biggest individual sports within BUCS. The individual programme consists of the Short Course Championships in the first semester with Long Course in the second. The Short Course has recently doubled capacity by having two pools. The Team Championships consist of 3 divisions with qualifiers leading to the National Final in March. These events include events for disabled athletes. Swansea Swimmers are sure to perform at a high level and to their best, with programmes like Swim Wales and University success
been high as Rooks stated that, “the team has a great team ethos, we train hard 3 times a week on and off the court.” The club are aware of the fierce competition that lies ahead. “For Varsity, it’s going to be extremely close, as it always is against Cardiff,” said Rooks. Last year both the men’s and women’s teams narrowly lost to
Cardiff at Varsity, and with the anticipatory training that comes before the biggest day in the sporting calendar, Rooks said: “We are training the hardest we ever have for the event, with ambitions to smash the opposition.” Looking ahead to the match itself, Rooks said: “The team are very up for it and we are anticipating a great match.”
by Akosua Darko waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
programme, as well as an excellent training facility to prepare them for competitions and Varsity. The Swim Wales and University Performance programme has seen a number of its swimmers achieve success on both a national and international level. Swimmers have achieved success at various championships, including the Commonwealth Games. The programme provides a fully structured and integrated training programme, with strong links with Swim Wales and British Swimming. Swansea students have the opportunity to access world-class facilities, coaches, sports and exercise scientists, physiotherapy, and strength and conditioning. It’s all based in the Wales national pool in the University Sports village, which has first class facilities and is at the forefront of the development and enhancement of aquatic sports in Britain.
SWANSEA.AC.UK
by Niamh Ollerton
It’s home to one of only five British Swimming’s Intensive Training Centres, built to world governing body (FINA) standards and it was used to train swimmers for the London 2012 Olympics. The facility, which also has a 25m × 9.5m training pool and 1,200 spectator seats, is used to train Wales’ world class aquatic sports athletes and houses the headquarters of the Wales Amateur Swimming Association. The university swimming club regularly competes in BUCS competitions, and Swim Wales and British Swimming meets with many of the Club’s swimmers representing Wales and Great Britain teams. With all this training behind them and a successful season, getting the title certainly looks possible for the Swansea swimmers.
Canoe Polo
Canoe polo put the hours in ahead of National Pool clash by Sophie Wiggins waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
SWANSEA University Canoe Polo have only attended one tournament this season, but had positive league results with the men’s team finishing 8th.
Captain Edward Kingham said: “I believe it is due our keen freshers intake this year and our increase in our training sessions for the team.” Thea Poysden, the women’s captain, said: “I have high hopes for Varsity this year; we have many freshers that have progressed to a
level I am proud to see.” Having Varsity so soon after Easter has meant it has been difficult to arrange training sessions that all members can attend. The team has shown great dedication by coming back early to get prepared. The club has been training more
than ever, with extra sessions in the national pool and on a flat section of the river Tawe. The team have also added ‘dry sessions’ in which the team are going through tactics by racing about in wheelie chairs to simulate the game. Both captains agreed that playing
in front of a home crowd is going to be great for the team as they can generate more interest in the sport. The captains are sure they have strong teams and feel this, along with the advantage of playing with better facilities, gives them a good advantage for this years Varsity.
20 April 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk
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w it h na ne t t e t u r k s o n & C Rysta l r o se
fashion
Barcelona players - all tucked up
YES or NO?
Kanye West - triple denim
NO
David Beckham
NO NO
NO
YES
Britney Spears & Kevin Federline - too much denim
Surviving the peril of double denim M
R Norris may approve of double denim, but what do Swansea students think about it? With the Fleece Collar Denim Jacket coming out of the closet or in some cases making its way back in, Double Denim seems to be taking campus by storm. But is it a fashio trend we can trust? asks Tom Plumbly. In a survey of 100 people taken around Swansea University campus, 48 of you agreed that with the right combination and the right personality the DD can be pulled off. Surprisingly however, a whopping 36 of you said that double denim was completely okay and that any combination of colours or styles can be worn together. Some would call this madness, I personally prefer bravery. Even more surprisingly only 16 of our students and staff were against Double Denim. Out of the people surveyed, five were indeed wearing Double Denim and on the whole they agreed that it took a certain kind of charm to pull it off. Sadly, for some of them, their charisma seemed to be hidden by the fact they were wearing matching denim, a complete NO, NO! So then, with most people deeming Double Denim to be more than okay, I thought instead of the pre-planned article of persuading those haters to
Tom Plumbly, a fourth year American Studies student, on whether one should double up or double down. put away their hate and bring out their Levis, I would give a rundown of the do’s and don’ts of Double Denim, to prevent this marmite trend from boiling over into a fish stew. 1. Offset - the golden rule: Choose different colour denims. Do you live on a ranch in America? No, you live in Swansea. Do you own a 44 magnum? I hope not! If so, continue what you are doing… It looks great. Is your name John Wayne? NO. You are not cowboy! So no, you can’t wear the same colour denim; Light Jacket, Dark Jeans. Dark Jacket, Light Jeans. The exception: different shades of dark denim may work but this risk is high, so make sure you feel like Usher or David Beckham on the day. But not even the man himself can always pull it off!
2. No cowboy boots. (Combat boots are okay; just make sure to tuck your jeans in). 3. Don’t listen to Eiffel 65. It may be a great hit from the 90’s but never actually be “Blue da ba dee daba dae”. If you’re wearing two dark shades of denim try and spice it up with a colourful shirt. 4. Never Tuck. If you decide that today is the day for a denim shirt and jeans, never tuck in behind your belt...please refer to point 1 and th picture below. 5. Triple Denim. YEEESUS, this is just a mistake in general. If you have run out of clothes, as we students do on a regular occasion, I recommend washing them, staying in, or if you have to go out wear a mask, face paint or a balaclava, but seeing as the triple denim has already brought a lot of attention it probably won’t be soon before the actual police start to ask questions. If Kanye can’t pull it off, then I’d put it back. For me the risk is very high for little reward, personally I would stick to what you know works. If you feel like it works, check the rule book and if it fits then go for it. The Fleece Collar Denim Jacket is certainly something I’d recommend for the spring wardrobe, but maybe with a
pair of chinos or grey slacks. 6. No tracksuit bottoms. A jacket should never be worn with a tracksuit, let alone with a Jean Jacket… and before you say it…I don’t care how comfy it is! Fashion shoe pas! Now for those who don’t know the difference between running shoes and trainers/sneakers, I shall explain. You know who you are! This phenomenon has to stop, it is just wrong. When you bought these shoes whichever sports goods chain you were in, you bought them for one purpose, to get fit! You did not buy these shoes because they would look good with your new carrot top jeans. It is irrelevant whether they give you a hop in your step or if your feet hurt, buy arch supports. Neither is it acceptable if you are going to the gym later, either put them in your gym bag or wear a tracksuit, you are not a 40-year-old man with marital problems, and even if you are this is still no excuse. Additionally, these shoes are not cheap - new Nike running shoes can cost over £100, so take care of these babies. Go do some exercise, look good in the gym with your sweet running shoes, then go and change into your £40 trainers and keep looking and feeling good, problem sorted!
The 70’s Revival: Can you be swayed to wear suede? Suede is this season’s most coveted fabric; and was the textile choice of designers all across Spring Summer 15 runways, writes Nanette Turkson. Top fashion houses Chanel, Jason Wu, Gucci, Burberry and Derek Lam all featured suede
in their SS15 collections and proved why this seventies favourite has made a worthy comeback and is a wardrobe essential for SS15! The suede trend is already hitting the high street so, swap those traditional tough leather winter
items, for softer suede. As with any fashion trend, the secret to wearing suede well is to not overdo it, as there is a fine line between chic and overkill. So check out the guide below on how to wear the SS15 suede trend.
If the thought of wearing suede clothing fills you with fear, why not ease yourself into the trend by incorporating little touches of suede into your outfit with some outfit accessories. TOPSHOP LILITH Suede Chunky Sandals, £55
The suede A-line skirt is the easiest way to wear the suede trend this season. Pair it with neutrals pastel colours for the perfect casual day time summer look, or opt for a co-ord set like the one pictured, for a more dramatic and stylish evening time look.
ASOS co-ord Suede A-Line Skirt With Button Through And Pocket Detail, £65 ASOS Suede Shell Top With D-ring Detail and Open Back, £40
This jacket is perfect for those slightly chilly summer evenings, and would look great on both men and women. ASOS Suede Western Jacket With Borg, £62.50
Suede need not be limited to only tan and brown, inject some colour into this trend with coloured suede pieces, like this ASOS light blue suede T-shirt.
ASOS Premium Light Blue Suede T- shirt, £40
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with Joshua vaughan
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film
My top five blockbusters of all time
B
lockbusters are now the staple of cinema in the 21st century, writes Joshua Vaughan. Although indie and romance films allow us to mellow out in our seats, alongside a friend or loved one, it is the big-budget action and thriller films which usually grab all the headlines. To find the inspiration for modern cinema, we do not have to look much further than 1975’s Jaws, as Stephen Spielberg birthed the conception of the timeless Blockbuster through an unforgettable soundtrack, heavy advertising and a worldwide theatre release. Jaws, initially the highest-grossing film of all time, was soon beaten by 1977’s Star Wars Episode IV, and has now been succeeded by over 50 other movies on the list of highest-grossing films. Even more surprising than this, 1939’s Gone With the Wind was the highest-grossing movie for a staggering 25 years, and if ticket sales were adjusted for inflation, would have earned more money through ticket sales than any other film in history. However monumental Gone with the Wind may be, the list below will only be looking at those Blockbusters after Jaws’ release in the top 50 in the highest-grossing movie category, so frankly, my dear, we won’t be giving a damn. For this list, I will not be choosing particularly the best movies on the list, but I will be commenting on those which are surprising, those which are classics, and those which simply raked in the most money, including an insight into how they did it. So, without further ado, here are the top 5 modern Blockbusters since 1975.
5 – Frozen, 2013 ($1.257 bn) Some of you may be surprised by the inclusion of this animated, wintry musical on the list, and that is exactly the reason why it belongs here. Not only is Frozen the highest-grossing animated movie of all time, but is also 5th highest-grossing movie ever. Although it may not be particularly the best movie on the list, it is hard to argue against the fact that its marketing was some of the best in recent years. Let It Go (that song which everyone knows from this movie) was released onto Disney’s YouTube channel shortly after the release of the movie, which prompted a longlasting flood of pre-teen girls entering the cinema. The music video has just fewer than 450 million views as it stands. Yikes.
Film Reviews
4 – The Avengers, 2012 ($1.518 bn) When the greatest comic-book movie of all time (which includes The Dark Knight) hit the big screen, it was evident that Marvel and Disney had tapped into something special, as they hit number 3 on the all-time grossing list. As a superhero fan myself, I still remember the shivers going up my spine during the final fight scene, as the now-assembled heroes stood together as the camera panned around them and the theme music began to swell. It is the dream of millions of teenage boys, Chris Hemsworth fan-girls and comic-loving men alike, to see the Avengers together, really, for the first time. Marvel fulfilled that dream, and reaped the financial reward.
3 – Transformers Series, 2007-2014 ($3.767 bn) I get it, so I’m kind of cheating here, but no one knows Blockbuster and bad writing better than Michael Bay. The four movies in the series include Transformers (2007), Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009), Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011) and Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014), each of which have been criticised for a variety of reasons, which will be cherry picked and debated over for years to come. The incredible amount of product placement, the lens filtering, the attractive protagonists, the clunky exposition, bad dialogue, giant plot-holes, confusing narrative, repetitive themes and orgy of Linkin Park songs created a series of films with few fans yet somehow raked in a staggering average of $753 million per instalment. I know some will bite my head off for not placing Tolkien’s Middle-Earth franchise here, or the Harry Potter franchise, or even the James Bond sequels and prequels (in fact, each of these series earned far more money than the Transformers selection). The point is that those were actually critically acclaimed franchises. The money that each of those franchises earned was well-deserved and respected by most or all moviegoers. The Transformers series in comparison left most people scratching their heads, especially with Rotten Tomatoes ratings of 57%, 19%, 36% and 18% respectively.
2 – Avatar, 2009 ($2.787 billion) The highest-grossing movie of all time finds itself second on this list only because of the miraculous
longevity of the film standing at number 1, yet maybe it is harsh to set it down here. The film starred largely no-name actors (except for Sigourney Weaver) who then went on to become stars, such as Zoe Saldana as Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy. James Cameron’s epic Sci-Fi adventure still went on to win three Academy Awards and became the first film to miraculously gross over $2 billion; critics have been unable to pinpoint a particular reason for the film’s success, and have highlighted various contributions which kept dragging people to the cinema. Factors included the astronomical “word-of-mouth” praise and the Oscar buzz surrounding it due to the effective script and brilliant CGI, yet this still fails to point out the fact that the film has earned such an astounding amount of money.
1 – Titanic, 1997 ($2.186 billion) Standing at number 1 on the list is a timeless classic which everyone and their mum have surely seen. 18 years is a long time in the film industry, and during this time, Titanic has only been succeeded on the highestgrossing film list by one movie. Titanic was the 2nd movie to gross over $2 billion, after Avatar, and won an astounding 11 Oscars, tied with Ben-Hur (1959), and would later be tied again by The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2004). The soundtrack also won three Grammys and the 1997 Academy Award for Best Original Song with My Heart Will Go On, which was performed by Celine Dion and was, believe it or not, recorded in one take. The film is timeless, a staple in Hollywood movie history; show me another worthy number 1 on this list and I’ll show you a fraud.
While We’re Young While We’re Young is a quirky, hipster comedy and knows it. Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts star as Josh and Cornelia Srebnick, a couple whose mates have all traded partying for prams. They are so behind the times, they still drink out of normal glasses. Not a jam jar in sight. Enter the young hipster couple Jamie and Darby (Adam Driver and Amanda Seyfried) who introduce them to Trilby’s, Chickens and hallucinogens. They are as cool as their Avocado Ice Cream. This is a film about grabbing a spoon and taking on a big bowl of youth. This could have been the most unbearably hipster film, full of black-and-white scenes, midgets and women staring out of windows. Instead While We’re Young stares in at classic issue of growing up, this time through the eyes of a couple who have already become gentrified. Watching Josh and Cornelia rediscover their youthful side is
By Charlie Trotman heartwarming, while Jamie and Darby ultimately come across as a quirky couple with a little bit of a dark side… This means a lot of the humour comes from thinking about all the stupidly quirky things that now surround our lives from a fresh perspective. Anyone whose ever been served a burger on anything other than a plate will be able to relate. The main story, about Josh’s struggle as a documentary filmmaker is simply an excuse for the characters to come together, with the only criticism being that as a plot, the drama felt quite forced in light of this. This is a film about the journey not the destination and if that includes baby sick and steady jobs, then thank the Celestial Cow for films like While We’re Young which remind us that while we aren’t getting any younger, we can still seize back our Golden Years.
Would you like to review a film? if so, get in touch on waterfrontfilm@swansea-union.co.uk
20 April 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk
22
with LIAM TURNER
music Wolves leave their fans howling for more T HE Waterfront’s Gareth Matson met up with Bristol rockers Turbowolf in advance of their Sin City gig. Here’s what they had to say.
How would you describe Turbowolf in three words? Cloudy…Scrumptious…powerful. Who would you say your influences are? I don’t think we could possibly make it that narrow. Our whole thing is to take influence from a wide spectrum of music in general, so we couldn’t narrow it down to a few acts. Our ethos is make something new and be indescribable. A deep-seated meaning behind the name Turbowolf, or just because it’s awesome? Yeah, it sounds good, we were very drunk at the time. If we could change the name now we would, but you’ve got to stick with it. It becomes bigger than the actual words once people know of you. How would you say the new album Two Hands differs from your self-titled? We’ve got two different players on the album. We learnt a lot of studio tricks from making the first album, so we applied that to make it sound a bit more dynamic. We’ve grown as songwriters and still a bunch of idiots really.
GIG REVIEW: Muse at Newport Centre
Rabbit Foot received ‘Rockiest record of the week’ by BBC Radio 1; how surreal was that, and does it motivate you to reach that level of success again? I wouldn’t call it success really, maybe in a commercial sense. It doesn’t really stoke our fires; it’s more like “oh, that’s nice”. It doesn’t affect our day to day, it’s all a big load of bullshit really. Some weird man at the top deciding what you should listen to. Your videos are quite eccentric; how fun are they to make? They can be fun, others a complete pain. Rabbit Foot was filmed in Swansea actually, in an abandoned Mecca Bingo. There were still half-finished pints and fags scattered everywhere. The real question is did you finish them off? Well, we were there all day. So you’ve toured with some big bands like Royal Blood and Death From Above 1979, but who’s the most fun band you’ve toured with? Death From Above. Royal Blood were great too, but Death From Above was all round Europe so we got to see some great things. Planning any festivals this summer? We’ve got 2000 trees which is awesome, then also
Kendall Calling where Snoop Dogg is playing – that’d be a cool friend to make. Though we’ve got two more major ones that we’re not allowed to announce yet.
GIG REVIEW: Turbowolf Before Turbowolf took to the Sin City stage there was solid support from Hyena and Dolomite Minor. .After their performance, I’m giving Hyena a special recommendation; they put the energy and enthusiasm into their performance of a band that is destined to progress. As soon as Turbowolf took to the stage, it was inevitable that frontman Chris Georgiadis would have no problems controlling the crowd; his vigour and gusto conducted the crowd into running around pillars and joining in chorus to instruct the sound engineer to go louder. New songs ‘Rabbit Foot’ and ‘Solid Gold’ solidified themselves as new crowd favourites alongside the anthemic ‘A Rose for the Crows’. With eyes wide and ears ringing, everybody left satisfied and secure with the knowledge this band are only just beginning.
Wembley Stadium sellers Muse have recently announced their new album, accompanied with a single and a short UK tour to promote. With just a handful of small venues across the country, I was lucky enough to see them in Newport Centre, writes Morgan Davies. The evening began with a single supporting act – Marmozets; the evil twin equivalent to bands like Paramore and Tonight Alive. With lead vocalist Becca Macintyre pumping up the audience with an eight-song setlist, her borderline screamo vocals definitely made an impression. As a whole, the band were filled with energy but unfortunately after a couple of songs, they began to lose the crowd with their repetitive song structure and musical style. To the
somewhat relief of the audience and myself, they left the stage after half an hour. Anticipation rose as the painstaking wait for the acclaimed rockers slowly ticked. Finally, with a grand entrance, the three band members appeared from the black and opened with their new single ‘Psycho’. Muse managed to construct a setlist that appealed to anyone that has heard their music. A little bit of old and new, a few rarities here and there and a brand new unreleased song to boot, the band definitely owned the stage. With a near perfect performance, the band made their hour and a half set seem like a twenty-minute act. Highlights included tracks such as ‘Assassin’ and an unexpected performance of a bonus track from 2001’s Origin of Symmetry ‘Futurism’.
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Is Spotify failing to deliver profits for artists? played on the radio; they might hear a song they like and not know when it will be played next, thus incentivising them to actually go out and buy that artist’s material. With music streaming sites, though, the single, the album, hell, the entire back catalogue of a band can be accessed at a touch of a button; why go out and buy it? Further compounding the case against music streaming sites is the fact that individual track downloads have been decreasing since 2013, around the time that streaming services such as Spotify began picking up steam. It seems to be more than just a mere coincidence.
SPOT OF BOTHER: Music streaming service Spotify is facing a backlash from established artists.
W
ITH a near exodus of big-name artists like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé leaving the massively popular music streaming service Spotify, it’s not hard to wonder if there might be a good reason why, writes Liam Turner.
$0.008 will end up in the artist’s pocket. Putting that into perspective, a song would have need to be played 1,250 times to equate the cost of a typical album. To quote former Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke: ‘artists get paid fuck all with this model.’
On the surface, streaming services such as Spotify appear to be benevolent and beneficial, not only to its users, but also to artists: the consumer can listen to myriad songs – free of charge, if they wish, with only occasional advertisements – and the artist can promote their music on new type of platform whilst also getting paid. It seems like a win-win.
Good Exposure?
However, the amount of money the average artist receives per play of one of their songs appears to be infinitesimally small; just
Now, some might argue that it’s exposure; that it doesn’t matter how little the artist gets paid on Spotify because listeners will be encouraged to go out and buy the album, see the show, get the T-shirt. After all, it’s no different to radio play, right? Well, there does appear to be a veritable difference. For one, the amount of money the artist receives per play on the radio is significantly higher on online streaming sites. Second, listeners have little control over what is
ALBUM REVIEWS
Modest Mouse – Strangers to Ourselves
Eight years, multiple producers and cancelled tours later, the indie cult heroes Modest Mouse are back with their sixth studio album Strangers to Ourselves. With such a lengthy gap,, the reception of the album will be important to the band whose fans have demonstrated a mixture of anticipation and frustration throughout its creation. From the get go, frontman Isaac Brook’s signature vocals are easily identifiable, though starting on a reflectioninducing title track, it’s not long before Brook’s howling his way through the chopping lead single ‘Lampshades of Fire’, which succeeds in combining all of the band’s staple sounds. As the album progresses, it’s clear the band haven’t changed their formula. Though why fix something that isn’t broken, right? The real standout moments stand testament to this: the experimental “Pistol (A. Cunanan, Miami, FL. 1996)” and the bouncing “The Ground Walks, with Time in a Box” are a perfect showcase for the variety of song writing capabilities that this band can produce. Brook is famed for his near philosophical lyrical ability, and this album doesn’t tarnish that reputation. ‘Strangers to Ourselves’ sits comfortably in the Modest Mouse discography.
Gareth Matson
Artists Fight Back But what happens if an artist decided to withhold their material from these music streaming websites? To answer this, we need look no further than radio staple Taylor Swift. The singer decided against allowing Spotify to stream her latest album,1989, saying that she didn’t think the service valued her art. The result? Only that this album has already become her most successful release since 2008’s Fearless – which just happened to be released at a time when Spotify was a largely unheard of service – having sold over eight million copies worldwide. The latest Beyoncé album, too, has had great success, despite the album being unavailable to stream on Spotify. Of course, it doesn’t hurt having constant and ubiquitous airplay and an enormous global fanbase, but the numbers certainly do tell an interesting story.
Lesser Of Two Evils? What about those lesser-known artists, though? What about those acts who aren’t able to sell millions of albums in the space of a few months; those who aren’t able to sell out worldwide tours? Should they also leave the streaming service? Well, although the pill Spotify subscribes may be bitter, it’s one that they might just have to swallow. For artists such as these, music streaming sites do offer them exposure that they might not otherwise get. The money they make from streaming is close to negligible, but they are able to get there music out to a bigger audience. The cold, hard truth is, though, that artists such as these don’t have the luxury of eschewing websites such as Spotify; but it does offer them a lifeline – even if one has to strain hard to see it. Spotify and all its emulators will undoubtedly continue their inexorable ascension to mainstream culture, which shouldn’t really be a bad thing. But when you take into consideration those artists who have left and denounced the site – as well as the malnourished sums of money that the majority of musicians make off of it – it’s easy to wonder if it is such a good thing after all. Arguably, though, it is a better alternative to those sites which allow and even promote the pirating of music; but if all it comes down to is a lesser or two evils, then it may be time for the system to change.
Drenge – Undertow
How about twisting the knife after you stick it in?” howls Drenge’s frontman Eoin Loveless on one of Undertow’s many indelible tracks. It’s a line which perfectly denotes the tone of this album, which, like its predecessor, is a hybrid of post-teenage nihilism and rural ennui. Unlike the band’s self-titled debut, though, Undertow is vastly more diverse and calculated; there are nods to pre-millennial punk, nineties garage and even mainstream singalongs. Even more impressive is that, despite this diversity, every iota of every track is unequivocally Drenge. The fact that the entire album is drenched in downtuned, distorted guitar and apposite rock drums doesn’t hurt either. What’s more, the band have recruited a third member: a bassist. Arguably, the lack of one was part of the band’s initial charm (just as it was for minimalist legends The White Stripes), and promoted the Loveless brothers’ tacit mantra of less being more. The addition of a bassist is shown to be justified, though, as the album does feel more solid, and just more powerful overall. The album’s closer asks, ‘Have you forgotten my name?’, an answer which manifests itself after just one listen to this nearperfect record: no, we haven’t forgotten the name Drenge, and if future releases are just as good we never will.
Liam Turner
Imagine Dragons – Smoke and Mirrors
Living up to the success of a debut album can be a difficult task, but it is clear that Imagine Dragons breezed through it easily with Smoke and Mirrors going to number one in the UK charts. One way of defining this album would be that it is versatile, each song has a different sound which could appeal to anyone, unless of course you’re a fan of heavy metal then maybe this isn’t for you. Tracks on the record range between dance, folk, techno, pop, heavy bass and catchy guitar riffs; it draws you in and keeps you listening until the very last song. A handful of other bands come to mind when listening to the album, for example, ‘Friction’ has the heavy base feel of a ‘Limp bizkit’ record, ‘I’m So Sorry’ has a ‘Black Keys’ vibe, and ‘I Bet My Life’ had a ‘Lumineers’ style. Percussion runs throughout the album, and the use of drums can be heard within each song. An example of this is the second track ‘Gold’; there is use of organic sounds such as clapping, whistling and tambourines which come together to create a energetic sound, energy is something which is definitely presented throughout. Imagine Dragons have truly shown how much they have musically grown in this latest release. Their debut Night Visions had a more friendly sound, lyrically and musically, but Smoke and Mirrors lets us know as a listener what kind of band they are aiming to become - to be different, versatile and all round innovative musicians. Becky Peters
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w it h EM MA JAM ES
culture
Macbeth: a review M
acbeth was performed at the Taliesin from 12th - 14th March, put on by Tara Arts, writes Francesca Hobson. It was directed by Jatinder Verma and designed by Claudia Mayer who created an extremely engaging interpretation of Shakespeare’s darkest play. The play had a complete makeover and was turned into a Bollywood production. This inspiring transformation of the play saw the three witches dressed as drag queens in saris, all of whom broke out into song and dance in their scenes. The three men who played the witches need a lot of credit to add humour to this very sinister play. The coveted part of Macbeth was given to Robert Mountford, who was extremely deserving of the part. Macbeth’s descent into madness was captivating to watch; Mountford
Robert Mountford as Macbeth.
However, I felt a little let down by Lady Macbeth. I feel like Shaheen Khan did not quite capture the sinister woman pushing her husband for the throne and to murder, meaning her acting did not quite live up to what it could have been. One of the cast members I want to commend is the one that was on stage from beginning to end; the musician Rax Timyr who created the atmosphere from the instruments he had set out in front of him. He knew everyone’s lines and when he needed a sound effect for movements, whilst also aiding the background music of the scene on top. He was a fantastic addition to the play and well noted.
performed it perfectly, so disturbingly portrayed it was hard to look away, precisely how the play should make you feel.
To find out more information regarding events and performances in the Taliesin visit www.taliesinartscentre.co.uk
Check out Dylan Thomas’s old Swansea Experience the wonderful scenes of Swansea with the Dylan Thomas guided tour, writes Emma James. The tour begins at 10:30 am on Sunday the 24th of June and will continue for two hours. Last year, the tour was a huge success. Dylan Thomas, born in the Uplands, is known as Wales’ greatest poet. Swansea commemorated a 100 years since the birth of Mr Thomas last October. Swansea hopes to continue celebrating his work with various events. This guided tour will begins at the Dylan Thomas Centre and will continue around all the famous landmarks, including the Dylan Thomas Square, the Three Lamps, Castle Square and finishes in the No Sign Wine Bar. Examples of what visitors will experience includes; Mr Thomas’ birth place, home and his place of work. Students would enjoy this tour, especially as they have probably walked past all the wonderful scenes, without actually knowing what they represent. It is always good to learn about the history of the city we live in, and this tour is an event that will most certainly be of interest to both students and lecturers. The tour cost £10 per person. Visit www.dylanthomas.com/events for more details.
Terror of the French Revolution brought to life Best -selling author Andrew Taylor’s new novel The Silent Boy, is a fantastic read with a great plot, writes Emma James. This book is full of suspense and will have you gripped until the very end. The story is set in Paris, 1792, during the French Revolution. The main character, Charles, a 10 year old boy, remembers the terrors of the event in great detail after witnessing his mother’s death among other terrible incidences. As a result of these terrors we discover that Charles is mute. He cannot communicate his thoughts after witnessing the devastating and gruesome results of the revolution. As readers we learn how much the death of his mother as well as the horrible things he has seen in his life from a young age have impacted on him, as a person. This book is a sequel to ‘The Scent of Death’ however; readers do not necessarily have to read the first book to understand the second. They have different plots within different periods. The character of Edward Savill is present in both books. Savill is requested to look after the boy after his mothers’ death. History students, in particular, may enjoy reading this novel. However, although Taylor touches upon and educates the reader on past events in history, his main plot, including Charles’ story, is completely fictional.
Statue of Dylan Thomas.
Take a break from your studies for a laugh Fancy having a laugh? Take a break from your revision and de-stress with a couple of drinks, writes Emma James. Swansea’s Grand Theatre is inviting you to be entertained by a night jam packed with comedy. Over the past 10 years, comedians such as Russell Kane, Jason Manford and Sarah
Millican (pictured right), to name a few, have entertained in the Grand Theatre. This event will certainly have you laughing until you cry, starting at 8pm until late on the 29th of April. Tickets are available to purchase online at www. swansea.gov.uk at a price of £11.
Writers wanted Are you interested in writing? The culture page is looking for all sorts of writers, whether you want to review a book or performance, or even advertise an upcoming event. To send work or to find out more contact: waterfrontculture@swanseaunion.co.uk
careers 28
societies 27
food 26
eurovision 25
culture 24
music 22-23
film 21
fashion 18-19
features 14-15
with MO COMFORT
25
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20 April 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk
eurovision
Waiting with bated breath for May 23 A
ND so we come to the very odd time of year for the Eurovision fan; all of the competing entries have been announced but the competition is still over a month away (May 23) and a lot of fans don’t really know what to do in this time. There are of course the couple of preview parties that are hosted across the continent, the biggest of which being Eurovision In Concert in The Netherlands but not all of us fans can afford to do this. We also had the luxury of this year being the 60th anniversary which meant that a broadcaster had the chance to put on a special anniversary concert. This was given to the BBC and they hosted a Greatest Hits show from the Apollo Theatre in London presented by Graham Norton, the BBC’s Eurovision Commentator, and Petra Mede, who hosted Eurovision in 2013 for Sweden (pictured above). But after such events what is a fan to do? All we can really do is listen to the entries announced and form our opinions and speculate on who is going to qualify from each semi-final, but this is always just that speculation; and it is much easier to guess after all the songs have been performed live which hasn’t happened as of yet. So rather than give my personal prediction for the contest this year I am going to present a variety of people’s opinions in my next article in the style of the scoreboard of the show, so make sure you keep an eye out for it. In this article I am going to look back at the gems from this year’s national final season; it becomes such a big part of the fan’s life that it is very strange when it is over. A friend of mine that I have introduced Melodifestivalen to this year said she didn’t quite know what to do with her Saturday evenings after the sixweek Swedish spectacular was over. I will start with a couple of standout performances from that; the opening entry in week one blew everyone away, people had very big hopes for it and it was impressive from the very first listen, this being
Mo Comfort has the lowdown on Eurovision 2015. “I’ll Be Fine” by 19-year-old Molly Pettersson Hammar. Unfortunately due to what has been classed as AppGate she finished 6th in her heat which meant she didn’t progress any further in the contest, but she did end up number one in Sweden in the space of 24 hours so it was all fine in the end. However badly the national final is put together in Ireland there was without doubt a performance that stood head and shoulders above the rest in my eyes and this was the amazing vocal talents of Nikki Kavanagh, who belted out her uplifting pop ballad “Memories (In Melody)”. However she lost out to the subtle charm of Molly Sterling’s “Playing With Numbers”, which has honestly grown on me the more I’ve listened to it. Another national final I got people into this season was A Dal of Hungary, a four week programme broadcast between February and March. We only caught parts of this but we made sure to catch the end of the final purely just to see whether the fantastically jazzy “That’s How It Goes” by Gájer Bálint had any chance at victory; he didn’t make the top four so the win ended up in the hands of Boggie with the delicate and meaningful ballad “Wars For Nothing” which if anything is an incredibly worthy choice. I must leave it there, but make sure you give at least one of these songs mentioned a listen as there is something out there for everyone.
Above, Irish winner Molly Sterling. Below, Swedish contestant Molly Pettersson Hammar.
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with Sophie Berman
food
Five top foods to eat during exam time With the exam period rapidly approaching, we need all the energy we can get to make it through the long study sessions, writes Sophie Berman.
T
HE exam period can be draining, both emotionally and physically. Late-night revision sessions and pre-exam nerves can all take their toll, but it’s important to stay in tip-top condition if you want to perform your best. Remember to stay hydrated and limit your caffeine intake as although it will give you a short burst of energy, it will soon wear off. Avoid snacking and try some of these high-energy foods instead to give you a quick boost.
Eggs As one of the best sources of protein and absolutely loaded with vitamins and minerals, you couldn’t ask for a better breakfast to keep you going through a difficult day of revision. Try a spinach and feta omelette as eggs and spinach is one of the best combinations, with spinach improving concentration levels. Alternatively, mash egg with banana and flour or oats to make delicious pancakes.
essential nutrients so stick to brown and extend this further to include pasta and rice. Just as tasty and sure to provide a steady release of energy throughout the day.
Salmon
Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, salmon helps our brains to function better and as a result, we can deal with stress more effectively. Bake in the oven with a spoonful of pesto on top or go Asiatic with ginger, garlic and soy.
Dark chocolate
Treating ourselves when we are studying couldn’t be more essential and dark chocolate is certainly the way to do it. Dark chocolate is very rich, meaning that you need less of it to feel satisfied and will hopefully avoid gaining the dreaded exam weight. Supposedly, dark chocolate increases blood flow to the brain and has a positive effect on our mood.
Nuts
ENERGY FOODS: Try baked salmon fillets (above) or a healthy pancake (below) for a quick boost without the added calories.
Ensuring that you have suitable revision snacks is essential to the progress you will make in the library. Almonds and walnuts are packed with good fats and will help you stay fuller and more focused for longer.
Whole grains
My best friend recently complained that she was feeling sluggish after switching to white bread which is hardly surprising. White bread is low in
Restaurant Review Nishimura 83 Brynymor Road, Tel. 01792 653222 If you are looking for a break from revision or don’t feel like cooking, Nishimura is the place to go for delicious and fresh Japanese food. The extensive menu includes many popular dishes, made famous by Wagamama, including katsu curry and yaki soba. Welcoming staff, quick service and the most fabulous sushi contributes to my opinion that Nishimura is one of Swansea’s best eateries. Evening delivery is available and ordering gyoza is a must.
STRESS BUSTER: Nishimura (left) is the perfect place for a break from revision, offering a wide range of sushi and noodle dishes (above).
Have you got a recipe you’d like to share? Email editor@swansea-union.co.uk
careers 28
societies 27
food 26
eurovision 25
culture 24
music 22-23
film 21
fashion 18-19
with sophie Wiggins
features 14-15
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#SB15 12-13
20 April 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk
societies
From dance show to Dance Varsity ! S
wansea University Dance Society have stolen the show again with their annaul dance show ‘imagine, love, dance,’ It was an emotional end to last term for the Dance Society with the culmination of lots of time and hard work ending in their annual showcase. The show ran over two nights and the dancers performed to a packed house with the Saturday night being sold out. It was a wonderful demonstration of all the diversity, energy and talent that Swansea has to offer. With 28 different dances encompassing a variety of styles from Hip-hop to Bollywood and Jazz to Irish there was really something for everyone. Each year the society chooses a new charity to donate the proceeds of the show to and this year the chosen
charity was MIND. MIND is a charity that dedicates its time to helping people with mental illness, providing advice and support as well as campaigning for better services and working to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. This year through ticket sales of the two nights of the show (one of which was completely sold out), a donation bucket and a raffle, the society managed to raise £1612.58, all going directly to the charity. The society are hoping that the show alongside the leaflets and promotion will hopefully do great work in helping people to cope with and understand mental illness. The president of the Dance Society Stephanie Dalton said: “We are so proud of all our dancers. They have amazed
Dance Society Annual Dance Show. Photos by Dan Craggs
us with how hard they have worked in order to bring this show together and the results have been wonderful. “We really wanted to choose a charity this year that was relevant to both us and the students of Swansea. Coming to university is a stressful experience and there is a stigma surrounding mental illnesses that can really inhibit people from talking about it and sometimes even prevent them from going to get help that they may desperately need. “So more than just raising money we really wanted to increase the awareness of mental illnesses as a serious problem and make it one that students don’t feel quite so afraid to talk about.” This is not all that the society has achieved this year, their Strictly Come Dancing event raised over £600 for Parkinson’s UK. There have been many other small events the Dance Society have held collecting money for many different charities . From wearing pyjamas to classes for children in need to a full scale social dance evening for an Alzheimer’s charity. The society have hosted workshops from renowned UK dancers in Hiphop, Ballet and Commercial allowing our dancers to benefit for some highly experienced professionals. The societiy also has maintained running 30hrs of classes every week for all abilities so absolutely anyone can learn to dance in a fun and inclusive environment. However, it is not all over yet, as the Dance Society are holding their own dance varsity against Cardiff on the 25th April extending the excitement brought on by the sports varsity.
The society will be competing against Cardiff in seven different categories with the overall winner getting to take home the newly made dance varsity shield. Dance Society will be competing agaisnt Cardiff’s Broadway Society, FAD Society, Slash Hip Hop Dance Society and Expression Dance Society. The categories are Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Commercial, Irish, Open Category, Solo, and Duet. Each category will be marked on Costumes, Technique, Choreography and Performance. This will be taking place in the refectory on the 25th April from 12-4pm with free entry so everyone can come along to watch and support your university. During this event there will also be a donation bucket collecting money for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research a charity that is very close to the dancers hearts, so even if you can’t stay to support please stop by to donate.
20 April 2015 waterfrontonline.co.uk
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“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Confucius
careers
Student enterprise: a new flavour
I
EUAN Jefferies, BSc Sport and Exercise Science graduate, has launched a successful new business, “Flavour Vapour”; an electronic cigarette shop on Nelson Street in the city centre., writes George Sariak. Since graduating, Ieuan spent half of the summer working at a surf-shop in Cornwall where he is originally from and the other half travelling the infamous Route 66 across the United States on a roadtrip of a lifetime. Now he’s back I was curious to see where the plan had come from to set-up Flavour Vapour Swansea and how it had all been going in the opening week. Ieuan, thanks for talking to me today. Please tell everyone a little bit about yourself. My name’s Ieuan Jefferies, I’m originally from Cornwall in the South West. I came to Swansea University four years ago to study sports science and recently graduated in summer 2014. I’ve come back up here to start work. How would you say your time at Swansea was as a whole? Ieuan: Absolutely awesome, best three years of my life definitely. It’s a great part of the world, really enjoyed my course, really enjoyed all the sport and the social life as well, yeah, pretty much just the best three years ever. When did you get ideas for the shop? Ieuan: Previously my old bosses had a friend who was involved with an electronic cigarette company, which he founded a few years ago, and they are always looking to expand the number of shops selling their brand. When it came to the end of the summer and I was looking for a job they suggested we maybe open a new branch, and I thought what better place to come back to Swansea, it’s a popular market up here, so we
Ieuan Jefferies outside his new shop Flavour Vapour. thought it would be a good place to open a new shop. I’ve had a look round shop today, it looks great, there’s lots of space, are you going to expand? Ieuan: Yeah, we’re really lucky we found a good location in town and we’ve got a lot more room, so the plan for the moment once we’ve become a little bit more established, is to expand in to the storeroom we currently have and turn the place into an internet café and vaping lounge, so people can come in and sample products but then at the same time have a cup of tea or coffee and just relax in the middle of town. That’s a great idea. I’ve noticed today just walking around the town the sheer number of people using electronic cigarettes. What do you think has caused this boom? Ieuan: I think it’s the fact that smoking is so expensive, it’s not sustainable these days, whereas the electronic cigarettes offer a much cheaper alternative. A lot of people are becoming increasingly health conscious
so the health benefits of electronic cigarettes speak for themselves, they’re so much better in the long-run with no tar, carbon monoxide and the risk of cancer is reduced to absolutely minimal levels. I’ve seen a few shops around now, what is it that sets Flavour apart? Ieuan: I think the thing that makes Flavour Vapour unique is that it’s always constantly expanding and we’re always adapting the range. They bring out new flavours on a monthly basis and customers are always spoilt for choice. It’s one of those brands known for quality and reliability as well, so people know what they’re buying from us. How has everything gone so far? Ieuan: We’ve had a really really good reception. It’s massively popular and we’ve had a great mix of people from students, locals, people who are working in the town and those who are retired and are out shopping for the day. It’s really appealing to everyone which we really like to see. Students are especially happy with the10% discount we offer. So for current students graduating from Swansea this summer, what advice would you give to them before setting-up a business? Ieuan: The most important thing is to get involved with people who are equally as passionate about doing something, as a business, as you are. I’m very lucky that I’ve got two partners who are incredibly supportive, and give me all the help I need. Also it’s a lot of paper work, so number one tip, it’s probably similar to academic studies, when you’ve got a job to do just do it as soon as you can, don’t let it settle; otherwise it’ll get on top of you. So no more all-nighters before the deadline anymore? Ieuan: (Laughs) No, no more all-nighters for me.
Week of Work: Step outside your comfort zone THIS January, the work placement team placed 14 students from a wide variety of academic disciplines with Dr Dan Forman, senior lecturer in Zoology, College of Science. Two were from Zoology backgrounds but four weren’t even from scientific backgrounds, e.g. Law and English! writes work placement officer, Nicola Stanton. So, what’s this all about? Dr Forman deliberately sought students from a variety of different academic disciplines to be placed with him under the WoW Programme. Dr Forman is a strong advocate of cross-discipline work placements. He said: “Students should be helping staff to solve problems as much as possible. In Zoology, there are many questions and challenges. Sometimes students from different areas have a different take on issues and can see things that I can’t. “It’s great for students to work in areas not necessarily immediately apparent to them. It demonstrates transferable skills and confidence. Society needs to produce leaders of the future, people who can evidence that they can work together. In working life, people from different areas work together on
Dr Dan Forman. projects so it makes sense to replicate this on a work placement. “All subject disciplines can contribute to solve real economic problems. Zoology is a subject that everyone from all walks of life - can care about.” Victoria Jones, a third year BA English Language with TEFL student, undertook her WoW with Dan and saw it as a challenge. Victoria said: “The main thing I took away from the experience was an increase in my confidence. A lot of skills I already had were able to transfer across easily to this new area of work. I built up a lot of team working skills and I had a chance to push myself whilst having the support of a great mentor (Dr Forman) to guide me along all the way. All in all, my confidence has grown tremendously as a result of the placement. “
Megan Akerman, a second year Geography student, also felt that the cross-discipline placement was a very useful experience. Megan said: “Working among students from other disciplines was a very insightful experience as you all have different skills and can push each other to work outside of the comfort zone of your individual discipline and analyse and explore ideas with a more open view. “I would definitely recommend that others think about getting involved in interdisciplinary work and applying themselves to new challenges, academically and personally. I really enjoyed my work placement and the support and feedback from the department was great.” Lauren Heath, a first year Law student, said: “I loved the idea of a cross departmental WoW placement because it was a new challenge, a new area of Law that I hadn’t explored before. By completing a cross departmental WoW placement I have learnt much more than I had anticipated. I learnt about Law as a wider subject and because of this, I have now developed many key skills needed to become successful in the legal industry. My researching skills
have improved and my analytical skills have developed enormously. I really enjoyed learning how to apply the Law and go beyond the modules taught at university.’” Lauren also believes the experience will impact positively on her employability. “The WoW really stands out on my CV. When looking for further work experience and employment in the future, I now have something very different to talk about during an interview. My experience in Zoology makes me stand out from the crowd as a Law student!” All in all, it would appear that Dr Forman is pioneering a unique and highly successful approach to work placements, alongside the work placement team. Student feedback has been very positive and surely anything that makes you stand out from the graduate crowd, has to be worth a go? After all…life begins at the end of your comfort zone! WoW applications reopen October 2015-2016. Visit http://myuni.swan. ac.uk/work-placements or email workplacements@swansea.ac.uk for more information.
38 I SPORT
Swansea’s BUCS season
thewaterfront 20.04.15
BUCS
information correct as of 15th April 2015 at midday.
O verall win rate , 2014/15:
49%
Final position: 27th (1023.25pts)
508 victories 70 draws 460 losses
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SPORT I 39
Archery
SUAC shoot off raises hundreds Swans excel in BUCS by Ned Bristow waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk
SWANSEA University’s archery club organised and hosted a charity competition before Easter, raising a grand total of £350 for the Alzheimer’s Society. The event, which took place on Sketty Lane on the 22nd March, was held in the hope of raising funds and awareness for Alzheimer’s, and featured a series of knockout rounds before a champion was eventually crowned. Open to university competitors
as well as local archery clubs, a great community feel surrounded the day, which marked the club’s first foray into charity events. Club captain David Jenner, who organised the event, hopes that the fundraiser is something that will set a precedent for future members. “The day went really well. There was a lot of interest from surrounding clubs and I must congratulate the members of our society who gave up their time to help run the competition,” said Jenner when reflecting on the day’s action.
OUR sports clubs have enjoyed a stellar year in their respective British University & College Sports (BUCS) leagues, with the university enjoying a brilliant overall win rate of almost 50%. As things stand, Swansea sit 27th in the overall BUCS rankings for 2014/15, which represents an identical finish to that of 2013/14. Out of a total of over 1000 points, badminton claim the honour of having contributed the most with 102. A number of other teams including squash, fencing, tennis, football and rugby union came close to the 100-point mark, making the university’s overall total a real team effort. There were also strong cup performances, while a few teams face post-season play offs to
“This was the first time the archery club has been involved in something like this, and I do hope that future committees will carry it forward and build on it to help raise even more money for those who need it.” The club also invited Keith Jeavons, an Alzheimer’s Society representative, to attend the event and share some of his personal experiences in helping those with dementia. From Keith, the club gained an insight into precisely how the money raised would help sufferers.
CHAMPIONS
determine where they will ply their trade come September. Eight of our sides ended their seasons as league champions, while a further 10 teams finished as runners up in their divisions. This compares kindly with just four teams topping their tables last year, along with a further three finishing in second place. Excellent BUCS form will hopefully provide momentum to the teams, who have now turned their attentions to Varsity this Wednesday. With many afforded the luxury of a post-BUCS break before the big day, we can expect players to be in top condition for their upcoming grudge matches with Welsh rivals Cardiff.
RUNNERS UP Our 10 runners up
Women’s Badminton 1st Women’s Basketball 1st Men’s Basketball 1st Women’s Fencing 1st Men’s Fencing 1st Women’s Netball 1st Men’s Rugby 3rd Men’s Squash 1st Women’s Volleyball 1st Men’s Water Polo
Our eight league leaders
American Football Men’s Badminton 1st Men’s Badminton 2nd Women’s Football Men’s Hockey 1st Men’s Rugby League Women’s Squash 1st Women’s Tennis 1st Intramural Football
6s crowned league champions on dramatic last day RESULTS Sunday 15th March
FINAL STANDINGS Sunday 22nd March
Ajax Treesdown 3 - 3 Crayola FC
Pitches & Bitches 1 - 5 Ajax Treesdown
Hangover 96 2 - 2 SUMFC 6s
Golden Showers 1 - 5 Team Armadillo
Kents FC 2 - 3 Ladzio FC
SUMFC 6s 3 - 2 SPR
Swansea Medics 4 - 1 Team Armadillo
SUMFC 7s 2 - 0 Photosinthesis Team Sloth 1 - 0 Hangover 96
Monday 16th March
The Avengers 5 - 2 Ladzio FC
Crayola FC 1 - 5 Ladzio FC SUMFC 6s 1 - 4 Team Sloth
Tuesday 24th March Hangover 96 2 - 2 Kents FC
Wednesday 18th March
Wednesday 25th March
Crayola FC 3 - 3 Sully Sports
Photosinthesis 2 - 2 Team Armadillo
Golden Showers 3 - 1 SPR
Kents FC 0 - 3 SPR
History FC 1 - 6 Team Sloth
Ajax Treesdown 1 - 4 Team Sloth
Kents FC 2 - 3 The Avengers
Pitches & Bitches 6 - 5 Sully Sports
St Helens 0 - 4 Team Armadillo
Hangover 96 3 - 0 Ladzio FC Golden Showers 2 - 0 Swansea Medics
ROUND UP
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
PTS
1
SUMFC 6s
17
13
2
2
57
21
36
41
2
Team Sloth AFC
17
13
1
3
69
25
44
40
3
Hangover 96
17
12
4
1
52
17
35
40
4
SUMFC 7s
17
11
0
6
57
29
28
33
5
Team Armadillo
17
9
3
5
42
24
18
30
6
The Avengers FC
17
9
3
5
44
39
5
30
7
Singleton Park Rangers
17
9
2
6
49
42
7
29
8
History FC
17
8
2
7
37
35
2
26
9
Crayola FC
17
7
5
5
36
43
-7
26
10
Ajax Treesdown
17
7
2
8
54
57
-3
23
11
Pitches & Bitches
17
7
1
9
41
43
-2
22
12
Swansea Medics
16
6
2
8
39
41
-2
20
13 PhotoSINthesis Grasshoppers 17
6
2
9
31
47
-16
20
14
Ladzio FC
17
6
0
11
35
50
-15
18
15
Golden Showers
17
5
0
12
23
49
-26
15
16
Sully Sports
17
4
2
11
43
61
-18
14
Wednesday 18th March
SUMFC 6s 6 - 5 SUMFC 7s
Cup Final
History FC 1 - 2 St Helens
17
Kents FC
17
2
3
12
24
55
-31
9
Hangover 96 3 - 0 Pitches & Bitches
Crayola FC 3 - 3 The Avengers
18
St Helens Athletic
16
1
0
15
14
69
-55
3
SUMFC 6s claimed the Intramural title for the first time since 2011 by beating the 7s in a dramatic final day derby. Despite cruising at half-time, the 6s made hard work of their big game as their rivals mounted a second half comeback to give them a scare. They held off, however, to secure the trophy and head into next season as defending champions. Victory also means they will compete September’s annual Charity Shield against cup winners Hangover 96, who were close to snatching a league and cup double before letting their season slip away in the final few fixtures. Few can argue, however, that they have had a blinding debut season and will be back for more. At the other end of the table, bottom side St Helens Athletic finally claimed their first points of the season on the last day, by holding mid-table History FC to an unexpected draw. With many players moving on from Swansea University, it would take a brave man to predict what the next 12 months has in store.