Waterfront 270 by Waterfront

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FASHION

MARCH 2017

TECH

RELATIONSHIPS

WELSH TWIST

FILM

ISSUE 270

MUSIC

CULTURE

FOOD

ELECTIONS 2017, Tasty Jackfruit THE NOMINEES Cawl recipe

ELECTIONS Who will get your vote?

SWITCH IT UP We look at Nintendoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest offering.

For Full Time & Part-Time Officer manifestos p.17 go to:

p.26

p.52

www.swansea-union.co.uk/elections

VOTE NOW! 13.03.17 - 17.03.17

MARCH 2017

from the editor Declan Murphy

SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM

Welsh. As an Englishman, I can’t say I’m celebrating too hard, but even I have to admit the Welsh know how to throw a celebration. It’s also St. Patrick’s Day this month, falling on the 17th, the same day as the election results. March is the month. Well… The month for Union elections. So, if you’re a student and care even remotely about your wellbeing, education, sports, society, Union, rights or anything else covered by our lovely FTOs and PTOs then this is your chance to demonstrate your democratic ability. Just please, no voting for walls between us and Swansea Met…

Overall March tends to be a relatively busy time of year for not only the union but student life as a whole. Module pre-selection for next year should be just around the corner, assignment deadlines start to pick up and the ever-looming dred of exams are just around the corner. Like I’ve said before, you can always find support at

It isn’t just electing officers; the votes also give students an opportunity to vote about other issues such as affiliation to other organisations including the NUS. The Union’s constitution also has proposals which need to be voted on by students. I personally urge you all to have a read through, even if brief, of these referendums. They may not seem it but these same affiliations and constitutions affect your University life quite directly. Without enough support these votes do not go through regardless if they’re a yes or no vote. Voting on them is the only way you can get your voice across . March is also St. David’s Day, a day close to the heart of any Welsh man, woman or child. A celebration not only of St. David, but all things

Speaking of needing support, we need writers and editors for the next academic year! So, if you’re a keen bean with a knack for writing we’ve got a spot with your name on it. If you’re interested contact myself at:

advice@swansea-union.co.uk.

waterfronteditor @swanseastudentmedia.com or Hilary at: waterfrontdeputy @swanseastudentmedia.com.

Editor Declan Murphy waterfronteditor@swanseastudentmedia.com Deputy editor Hilary Webb waterfrontdeputy@swanseastudentmedia.com Design Hazel Stabler waterfrontdesign@swanseastudentmedia.com News Waterfront Team waterfrontnews@swanseastudentmedia.com Sport Waterfront Team waterfrontsport@swanseastudentmedia.com Creative writing Zoe Stabler waterfrontcreativewriting@swanseastudentmedia.com Culture Sarah Harris waterfrontculture@swanseastudentmedia.com Fashion Ellie Thompson waterfrontfashion@swanseastudentmedia.com Features Hilary Webb waterfrontfeatures@swanseastudentmedia.com

Film Rachel Sanders waterfrontfilm@swanseastudentmedia.com Food Heather Wood & Nathan Lloyd waterfrontfood@swanseastudentmedia.com Liberation Akosua Darko waterfrontliberation@swanseastudentmedia.com Music Harry Ballmann waterfrontmusic@swanseastudentmedia.com Relationships Shannon Jones & Faye Vlietstra waterfrontrelationships@swanseastudentmedia.com Societies Zoe Stabler waterfrontsocieties@swanseastudentmedia.com Tech Declan Murphy waterfronttech@swanseastudentmedia.com Student Media Coordinator Iain Fisher iain.fisher@swansea-union.co.uk

waterfront is a free print and online

publication from swansea student media and the studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; union.

features

fashion

food

societies

culture

cymraeg

relationships

music

film

tech

sport

lectures // seagulls // reaching wider // recycling

internet fashionistas

freezy meals // jackfruit cawl // cooking competition

cinderella // debating & feminist society

brendan sheerin

mis mawrth unwaith eto

agony aunts // blind dates

reviews // laura marling // bonobo

twin town // y gwyll // submarine // the raid

nintendo switch // battle for the mountain 3 // women & tech

news // sport trips // varsity

ISSUE 270

Lectures:

picture: Arto TerĂ¤s/Debcon 5

An avoidable burden or a breeding ground for passion?

MARCH 2017

by Sarah Harris

University without lectures is like a gin and tonic without ice – the content is the same, but it’s served disconcertingly differently. It is what many think of as the basis of a degree (lectures, not gin). Before we flock to university in first year, we fantasise about lectures being a mystical experience, the holy grail of learning, poles apart from school and the learning we had come to know. We imagine ourselves in a Hogwartsesque environment, soaking up the knowledge and the wit of the best minds in our fields, a fanciful Dalai Lama/Russell Howard hybrid, perhaps. However, once sat in our first lecture it becomes bitterly apparent that our fantasies were really just that, fantasies. So with our hopes and dreams lying in tatters, who can forgive us for contemplating what exactly is the value of lectures, and are they even necessary to our degrees? Perhaps we should consider our lecturer’s feelings before failing to attend our 9AMs, think of your poor lecturer who will have been pouring over his slides and practicing his projection all week, only for it to be heard by a handful of undergrads filling up no further than the front row. He might as well have sat back in his office and talked monotonously into a recording device while enjoying a cuppa. Indeed, he could have, but wouldn’t we all have attended the Open University if this is what we really wanted? It is not what we pay £27,000 for and would surely cause an outcry among students.

HILARY WEBB // FEATURES

Then why isn’t this reflected in lecture attendance? Doubtless, pity for the lecturer can’t be a reason for attending; pity should not be an emotion a lecturer evokes, nor will it facilitate learning. We should be inspired by them, which many students claimed they aren’t. Digitised attendance monitoring systems, like Scan and Sit implemented in our university last semester are helping to provide more insight into students’ attendance. In a recently conducted survey, a staggering 40% of people admitted to not attending the majority of their lectures. Yet only 13% said that lectures are unnecessary. Clearly, we like to have the option of a lecture so that we can politely decline. Thanks but no thanks, Uni. 75% of students said they were more likely to attend a lecture if they like the lecturer. The things which make us like our lecturers are also likely to be those which make their lectures more fulfilling. It’s essential for a good lecturer to be authentic, have charisma and an infectious enthusiasm for their subject. You should feel like there is nowhere else they would rather be other than standing in the lecture theatre with you, sharing their knowledge and experience. The value of a lecture depends to a large extent on the ability of the lecturer to engage us; we’re not expecting Oscar award winners, but they are called lecture theatres for a reason! It is unrealistic to expect to learn all we need to know from lectures, so the main purpose should be to ignite a passion for the subject and enlighten us to different ways of thinking. One recurring debate is the recording of lectures with the majority of

surveyed students found to be in favour. One Engineering student said that it means you can actually listen in the lecture and enjoy the experience of going without having to worry about taking too many notes. If the ability to record lectures is there, as it is in Bay Campus, then there is no reason not to record them as an extra resource to students as it should even encourage lecturers to give a better performance in the knowledge they will be referred back to at later dates. In Bruce Charton’s 2006 article on the issue, he states that physically sitting in a lecture theatre is the best way to learn; “[it] creates a here-andnow social situation which unfolds in real time. Humans are social animals, who are naturally more alert and vigilant in social situations”. Interestingly, Charlton also asserts that “lectures should aim to be enjoyable, but should not strive to be entertaining as the major goal; because lectures should be memorable rather than diverting”. However, in an age where many 18 year olds hurry to university without necessarily having a passion for their subject, I believe that the lecture’s main value is creating this passion, in order to do that it is essential to create a desire to attend. Lectures can and should be entertaining, as humour is often engaging and a useful tool in maintaining a hungover student’s attention. It seems that our dream of a Dalai Lamacome-Russell Howard combo is not so far off the mark, and that lectures are necessary to our degrees. Perhaps it is the lecturers who need to up their game, don their cloaks and canes and give us the magical experience we so desire.

ISSUE 270

Plight of the Seagulls

Greedy gulls cause a flap outside Fulton by Claire Cuddihy

Many of us (including myself) will happily confess to having boasted to friends attending inland universities that Swansea has “the closest campus to a beach in the world”. Even if we rarely paddle in the murky blue waters, unsure of its content from upstream in Port Talbot, we emphasise the beauty of being able to watch the fireworks on the beach on Guy Fawkes night, runs along the promenade, water sports, and at the end of our university

days, having graduation photos with the beautiful sandy stretches of Swansea bay as a backdrop. Yet there are downfalls to being this close to the sea. Like any British seaside, Swansea is synonymous with seagulls. Whether it’s a sausage roll, a pack of chips, or an ice cream these opportunistic omnivores are not fussy, and as pests go, they have proven an increasing problem for Swansea City Council over the years as their numbers have risen. A number of deterrents have already been introduced in Swansea city centre, including nets and spikes on

public buildings, the launch of an education campaign to reduce litter, and more drastically, the introduction of specially trained hawks on the roof of Swansea’s Market. In mid-January this year, the university distributed an email, issuing a warning to staff and students of the prevalence of incidents where these sky rats have scavenged from people outside Fulton House on Singleton Campus. This seemingly tongue-in-cheek email offered a number of handy tips on what you should do to prevent being ‘mugged’ by a gull including: being alert and protecting/hiding

MARCH 2017

HILARY WEBB // FEATURES

food, taking your food to a sheltered wooded area to eat, such as in the Botanic Gardens at Singleton Park; and ‘eating with your back against a wall’, to prevent them from swooping in undetected from behind! People were also implored not to feed them. President of the Student’s Union, Lloyd Harris emphasised the importance of this, claiming that the “gulls have found a convenient food source and are exploiting it to the full.” “By encouraging them to approach people by some giving them food or dropping litter is only making this problem worse, and it could soon cause an injury” It seems that these strategicallypositioned birds have come to learn of our student psyche during peak deadline and exam season - where many of us over the past month have broken up our day at the library to pop to Costcutter to stock up on sandwiches, sweets, or hot food from Blas café – and taken advantage of the easy food supply. Staff and students alike have been targeted, with scenes ensuing reminiscent of that nightmarish scene in the Alfred Hitchcock horror film, ‘The Birds’. Third year Mechanical Engineering student, Will Tyson, recalls his experience as a victim of one such incident. “Me and a mate went to get some food from Costcutter between volleyball games and two seagulls stalked me and my BLT sandwich from

Fulton up to the hospital before they actually dived in and tried to poach it.”

their scavenging has even been known to lead to fatal attacks.

Final year student Tasnim Uddin was attached by a seagull in 2013 as she reminisces how she had ‘just picked up a lovely protein cookie from Blas and started my stroll over to the uni gym for a midday workout... suddenly a seagull lands on my shoulders and won’t let go! (I’m screaming because I think I’m getting mugged) the seagull takes the cookie and jumps off my shoulder onto the pavement, looks straight at me whilst munching my cookie!”

In July 2015, a seagull was reported to have attacked and killed a Yorkshire Terrier in Newquay, and in a nearby seaside town, pecked a tortoise to death.

Having researched reports of incidents involving seagulls elsewhere in the UK, there are horrific stories of people almost being ‘scalped’ by the birds; bloodied split lips, where the seagulls had ripped food straight from people’s mouths, and one case where a pensioner subsequently suffered from a heart attack after being harassed by a gull in his back garden. When food is involved, it seems that these ordinarily placid creatures can turn nasty, and

Their destructive capability is hardly surprising when we consider the features of the average British herring gull (the most common type of seagull in Britain). Weighing over a kilogram, with a sizeable wingspan of 1.3-1.6m, razorsharp beak and talons, and able to reach speeds of over 40km/h, you do not want to be the chosen victim of this feathered frenzy. Lloyd Harris appeals to the student community to respond positively to this advice. “All jokes aside, all I can say is that by teaching gulls to associate people with food, we are simply leading them to become aggressive, and so I’d encourage all students to take measures to not feed them.”

ISSUE 270

Reaching Wider Swansea Student Media (Waterfront, Xtreme Radio and SUTV) recently collaborated with The South and West Wales Reaching Wider partnership to deliver a hands on media workshop to promote higher education to secondary age students growing up in a care environment. In this feature, a former graduate gives us their experience of entering higher education after leaving care and we look at how you can get involved with the Reaching Wider program. So I’ve been asked to write this article for the Waterfront, Swansea University’s Newspaper. Disclaimer: I am keeping it anonymous. Not because I’m afraid of people knowing who I am, but more to do with the fact that the message I’m trying to get across feels more important than ‘owning’ the message, or naming the person behind it. I’m currently employed as an assistant psychologist; this involves working therapeutically with children and young people who are in foster or residential care, And I adore my job. But less about what I do, and more about how I got there. I’ve not finished my journey yet (not by a long shot if it’s up to me), but to get to where I have has required qualifications, higher education qualifications. It sounds so simple and straightforward but that couldn’t be further from the truth. University. For anyone, this is an equally terrifying and exciting prospect, but for someone who is care experienced (and I use this term because no-one should be categorised as a “looked-after child” - I mean, you’re not exclusively known as an adult single university graduate are you?!), this brings a whole new level of anxiety. Where do

I live in the holidays when everyone else goes how to their families? Who will help me move into my halls? Will everyone know that that person moving me in is my foster carer or social worker? How do I explain that I got onto my course with less UCAS points than was needed because it’s accepted that my experiences made it harder to get my A-levels? Where do I go if I have money struggles, or any struggles? What if I fail? (If you aren’t care-experienced you are unlikely to know how the expectation that you are going to fail at everything you try hard at, creeps into every plan wish and dream that you have). The list went on… And as I’m sure you can imagine, the idea of not going to University was fast becoming my preferred choice. So, when I was pretty much determined to find as many excuses not to go, what was it that changed my mind? To me personally, getting my degree was a way to rise above the perception that all care-experienced children become a statistic, and a statistic that fails at life. My degree was my platform to a professional job, career and a path for me to follow to stop me from becoming another ‘poor child, had such a bad start in life there was no hope for her’. There is always hope. You just need to dig deep and find

the determination to get you to exactly where you want to be. My foster carers. Also known as my mum and dad (I honestly believe that you have to earn the title of mum and dad. Anyone can become a biological parent). They knew me pretty well. Well enough to know that I wanted to bail. And well enough to know that if they didn’t give me a big giant metaphorical push, there was no way I would ever get to University. With the support of my mum and dad I managed to get there. To Swansea. To halls. And I am so very lucky that I had their continued support and encouragement throughout the whole thing - I know that there are so many others who don’t have this, and it sucks. The experience of applying to Swansea University as someone who is care-experienced. As soon as I applied through UCAS and ticked the ‘looked-after child’ box (I flipping hated ticking that box!), the University contacted me to offer additional emotional and practical support. This is not what helped me get to University, although on reflection, I am so impressed with the level of support. No, what really helped was that they listened to what I wanted. I am someone who does not do help. Or support. Or

MARCH 2017

HILARY WEBB // FEATURES

‘talking things through’. So the offer of support was not well appreciated at the time, And I told them that. I told them to leave me alone. And to be fair to them, they really really did, whilst also letting me know that they were always there if ever I decided that I did need them. Feeling accepted, not judging and listened to made me trust that the University would not tell everyone that I was in care, and would not treat me differently to everyone else. So, all of the above factors helped me to get to University (as well as a million other little things that I can’t remember right now - it was 8 years since I started Uni - and I feel old right now!). These things helped helped me to stay in Uni, to succeed at Uni and graduated in 2012 with a BSc in Psychology. Don’t get me wrong, it was tough and there were times where I felt really low, and under pressure and like I wanted to walk (or run) away from it all but for me personally, the biggest challenge was getting there in the first place. And do you know what, I think I would have been proud of myself even if I left, or quit, or took time out, or didn’t get as good of a grade as I wanted. Because for the first time in my life I took a risk. And it paid off. I guess what I’m trying to get at is if University is part of your life plan, don’t let your early experiences hold you back. Don’t let them define you and never let anyone (even yourself) make you feel that you are not good enough. There is extra support from the Union’s Advice & support Centre (advice@swansea-union.co.uk). And if not needed, just know that it is there (kind of like a safety buffer). One thing that I learned from being

at University is that everyone has a past. You don’t stick out like a sore thumb and scream “child in care!” - that is more about your own perception of yourself that anyone else’s perception of you. And the good thing is that noone’s parents/family are really around. Not that much. Your friends become your family. And that way you can choose your family and those around you. And that’s a really nice feeling to have.

Get involved with Reaching Wider

Reaching Wider has been working in collaboration with Swansea Union Student Media to deliver a ‘Student Media Event’ to care experienced young people from South West Wales. The young people spent a day working with Swansea Student Media staff and volunteers to create and edit their own TV and radio news broadcasts and newspaper articles. They also had

a tour of the Singleton Campus and talked with current students about their own paths to university and the subjects they had chosen to study. All of the young people taking part stated that they wished to go to university more as a result of the experience. One young person described the day as “amazing”. The South and West Wales Reaching Wider partnership offers a range of learning and aspiration raising activities to those living in Communities First areas and care experienced young people from across South West Wales. Reaching Wider offers casual work opportunities for university students who wish to gain experience of working with young people. Our opportunities can fit around your timetable, boost your CV, count towards your HEAR award and also offer generous rates of pay. If you are interested in working for us we would love to hear from you. Contact us at www.swansea.ac.uk/reaching-wider/ and reachingwider@swansea.ac.uk

MARCH 2017

HILARY WEBB // FEATURES

Waste & Recycling

Students from Swansea University conducted a roadshow, being a part of SWELL (Sustainability and Wellbeing) at Fulton House on Friday the 17th of February. This was carried out in order to learn about people’s recycling habits and raise awareness of common mistakes and contaminants of recycling.

Importance of Recycling

Recycling is one of the best ways for you to have a positive impact on the world in which we live. Recycling is important to both the natural environment and us but what is of great importance is to keep in mind that it begins at home. When you think of recycling you should really think about the whole idea; reduce, reuse and recycle. We’ve been careless up to this point with the way we’ve treated the Earth and it is time to change; not just the way we do things but the way we think. Recycling is Important because: T• o Make Environment Clean • Conservation of Materials • To Save Energy • Reduce Garbage in Landfills

Some recycling facts

Studies have shown that: • More than 60% of the rubbish that

ends up in trash bins can be recycled. • Around 16% of the cost of a product is spent on its packaging which is completely wasted if not disposed of properly. • 80% of a vehicle can be recycled. • Aluminum cans can be recycled completely and put to use in a short time. • Thousands of glass jars and bottles are thrown away every day. • Glass can be recycled 100% and reused. • Glass products which end up in landfills do not decompose at all. • It has been observed that 24 trees are cut down to make one ton of paper. • On the contrary, recycled paper is proved to create 70% less pollution compared to normal non-recycled material paper production. • Plastics, which can often be recycled, take around 500 years to decompose. • One recycled tin can save enough energy to power a television for 3 hours. • 70% less energy is utilized to recycle paper compared to making it from raw materials. • Similarly, when you recycle one glass bottle, it can save enough energy to power a personal computer for 25 minutes

Non Recyclable and Recyclable items

Of course, waste has to be assorted into particular categories – namely paper and cardboard waste; cans; compost; non-recyclable waste, and plastic waste among others. With all those categories, it would be easily

for someone to incorrectly assume that some genuinely non-recyclable waste is constituted as recyclable.

For instance…

• Crisp packets • Styrofoam packaging (in takeaway boxes etc.) • Soiled aluminum foil/cans (don’t confuse with tins) • Light bulbs and ceramics • Pizza boxes and other soiled cardboard

What about plastics?

Well…it depends on plastic type and local authority. Each plastic type should have a resin code numbered 1-7, and plastics numbered 1 or 2 are generally widely recycled. Irrespective of this, since plastic contamination renders the entire recyclable waste pile unrecyclable, either Swansea University residences, local authority responsible (i.e. Swansea Council) should be consulted, for which plastic resin types are recyclable.

Examples of recyclable waste • All organic waste, including food waste • Glass bottles and jars • Paper – including colored papers and newspapers • Some bottles, carrier bags and conventional plastic bags • Box board and brown paper bags (just remember to separate out some components of recyclable material, to prevent contamination)

The Three R’s of Sustainability – Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle

ISSUE 270

Get inspired by the internet’s favourite fashionistas by Ellie Thompson

Forget magazines for fashion inspiration, fashion blogs and YouTube tutorials are where it’s at. According to social media surveyor Netbase, 64% of shoppers turn to blogs for inspiration before making a fashion-related purchase decision, with 300 hours of video being uploaded to video-sharing platform YouTube every minute, proving that if you want your fashion content to be seen then blogs and YouTube are among the best ways to do it. Here are some popular fashionistas that I follow, and many others follow too…

Kallie Kaiser Youtube: KallieKaiser Instagram: kalliekaiser Snapchat: kallieann

Currently a student at the University of Arizona, Kallie is the it-girl when it comes for perfect hair, makeup and

most importantly fashion in which she holds an eclectic taste. Nevertheless, she has over 200,000 subscribers who cling onto her every word and it’s not hard to see why. Because she lives in Arizona, her channel is mainly aimed at summer style such as bikini hauls and summer clothing but she does offer interesting videos such as her DIY vintage t-shirts and “how to style” videos. Her style is laid-back university cool and she has a look to suit every girl out there, making her videos are a must-watch.

Fleur De Force Youtube: FleurDeForce & FleurDeVlog Blog: fleurdeforce.com Instagram: fleurdeforce Snapchat: fleurdeforce

Fleur De Force is one of the biggest and most successful fashion (and beauty) bloggers in the UK attracting 4-6 million views per month, proving that every girl can find something they like on her channel. Fleur is friendly and grounded and offers advice on everything from beauty to fashion to lifestyle and makes you feel at home in the meantime with her girl-next-door personality and effortless style. Her vlogging channel, FleurDeVlog featuring her husband and adorable pets is also enjoyable to watch if you want something other than fashion and more everyday life.

Katherine Elizabeth Youtube: Katherine Elizabeth Instagram: _katherinelizabeth Snapchat: Katherine.eliz

One of my favourite fashion YouTubers for laid-back casual style, Katherine offers advice on

MARCH 2017

everything from DIY fashion hacks to clothing hauls and look books. Her DIY videos are by far the most popular, especially if you’re looking to save a bit of money or just want to try something inventive and a bit different. If you’re looking to spruce up your uni room, Katherine regularly uploads updated room tours and room decor tips which are affordable, achievable and look amazing.

ELLIE THOMPSON // FASHION

Amy Lee Youtube: VAGABOND YOUTH Blog: vagabondyouth.blogspot.co.uk Instagram: amyvagabondd Snapchat: amy_vagabond

Amanda Castillo

Jordan O.Brien

Youtube: ItsMandarin Blog: itsmandarin.net Instagram: itsmandarin Snapchat: Amanda0597 No doubt the most seriously stylish of the lot, 22 year- old Korean born Amy Lee creates fashion envy everywhere she goes with her high-fashion, luxe style. Not only does she create amazing videos on how to style your wardrobe, daily outfits and “how to find your personal style” (which is particularly interesting), Amy also talks about personal aspects of life which makes her relatable and easy to watch.

More commonly known by her YouTube name ItsMandarin, beauty and lifestyle guru Amanda Castillo focuses on veganism, pretty fashion and holds some captivating discussion videos on her YouTube channel in-between. Although she rarely uses her blog, Amanda’s YouTube channel is updated regularly with her most popular videos being ‘get-ready-with-me’s and what she eats in a day as a vegan which has encouraged me, and probably many others, to try out different healthy meals which are also easy to make.

Steve Booker is a “photo taker, video maker” who is “travelling the world in search of great coffee, style and friends.” Take a look at his Instagram and you’ll find everything from motorbikes to scenery to cool outfit posts – there’s something for every man. On his YouTube channel, Steve posts about fashion during his travels around the world so it’s safe to say that he has a lot of variety in what he posts.

Youtube: TheGentlemansCove Instagram: thejobrien Tumbr: thejobrien Snapchat: thejobrien

Steve Booker Youtube: Steve Booker Blog: stevebooker.co.uk Instagram: stevebooker Tumblr: stevebooker

One for the men, Jordan is known for his great style and videos on how to dress stylishly in everyday life. His bio states that he is “just a guy who likes to dress nicely and wants to share how to do it.” He posts about once a week on his YouTube channel TheGentlemansCove and has a down-to-earth vibe which promotes good quality, affordable products.

by Harry McKenna

Potato and stilton soup

FREEZY MEALS

Recipe

I bought:

Knob of butter 2 onions, chopped 2 cellery sticks, chopped 1kg potatoes, peeled and diced 2 litres chicken or veg stock 200g stilton 150ml double cream A good wedge of bread

Tesco British buttter Two Loose onions Whole cellery Tesco Potatoes 12 OXO cubes 220g Blue Stilton 150ml Double cream Tesco Tiger loaf

£1 32p 49p £1 £1.25 £1.70 60p 70p

Total:

£7.06

Melt the knob of butter in a large pot or wok. Warning! This recipe makes a vast quantity of soup so you will need a big pot or wok. I had to use a large wok and 2 large pots.

Put the chopped onions and celery into the pan and cook until soft and slightly browned. This should take about 10 minutes.

Add the potatoes and stock and bring it to the boil for about 30 minutes or when the potatoes should be fully cooked at this point, so check that they are soft.

Once the potatoes are cooked, blend the mixture together until it has a smooth consistency. (NOTE: I had to fill the blender several times to get the whole batch done).

Season to taste with salt and black pepper and serve with a chunk of bread. Don’f forget to give yourself a pat on the back. Student life isn’t so hard, is it?

Once blended pour back in the pot and add the stilton and double cream, then heat gently until the cheese has melted and is mixed in thoroughly.

his recipe is great for lunches as the potato adds extra weight to the soup, filling you up for longer. I bought the 500g of stilton from Tesco (as listed above) as I knew I would have leftover celery sticks which, alongside the stilton, makes a tasty little snack. What makes this soup so hassle free is once the batch is made, it is very easy to freeze, which is extremely convenient, if like me, you have limited fridge space. To freeze, just wait for the soup to go stone cold, then ladle single potions into Ziploc/ freezer bags. To save freezer space, make sure you squeeze as much of the air out of the bags before

zipping them up before laying the bags down flat in the freezer. To defrost the soup, simply break the soup up by hand to make small pieces (while it is still in the bag). Put the frozen, broken up soup in a source pan and heat it up gently. I often put a splash of boiling water in the pan as well. This helps the soup cook a bit quicker and ensures you don’t burn it.

MARCH 2017

HEATHER WOOD & NATHAN LLOYD // FOOD

JACKFRUIT ‘LAMB’ CAWL Ingredients: 1 2 3

The base of the cawl couldn’t be simpler. Peel and chop all of the vegetables - the parsnip, leek and carrots into coins and dice the rest into cubes. Soften the leek and onion in a little oil and then add the rest of the vegetables. Cover with hot water from the kettle and bring to a gently boil. Season with lots of black pepper and the stock cube. Stir, cover and reduce to a simmer for half an hour or so or until the veggies have cooked. The natural flavours of the vegetables, especially the parsnip and the swede really come through and don’t need any other herbs to be added for authenticity. While the vegetables are simmering you can prepare the jackfruit. Drain and de-core the jack fruits then cut the pieces into chunks. Heat the gravy and the soy sauce on the hob in a splash of hot water to make a rich marinating sauce. Place the jack fruit in a baking tray and cover liberally with the sauce. Bake in the oven at 140°C (fan) or until the sauce has thickened. Remove from the oven and wipe away any excess sauce. The sauce will have permeated the fruit so don’t worry about wiping away your hard work. When ready to serve, ladle the vegetables into a bowl with enough of the broth then place the pieces of jackfruit into the bowl, sharing evenly between guests. Serve with crusty bread and mature cheese with a hearty pint of ale for the full experience. by Nathan Lloyd

1 tin jackfruit 1 tsp Light Soy Sauce 1 tbsp gravy

granules 1 large parsnip 1 large swede 3 medium

potatoes 2 carrots 1 large leek 1 onion 1 veg stock pot

Cawl is an institution in Wales, the cornerstone of hearty home cooking that dates back to time immemorial. It’s traditionally a simple, peasant dish and is similar to vegetable soups from around Europe and the British Isles.

MARCH 2017

HEATHER WOOD & NATHAN LLOYD // FOOD

Swansea amateur cook makes the finale of LoSalt’s food competition by Heather Wood Representing Wales, Jordan Brice, a Swansea Maths undergraduate made the finale of a national cooking competition in early February. Jordan and four other students were picked out of thousands of entries to be placed in the finale and given the opportunity to cook for the judges of the show. Judges including big names such as Sam Stern and Laura James tasted a lasagne cooked by each of the contestants. The prize for becoming the champion of this competition was £1,000 worth of food vouchers. Jordan lost against some great talents, but walked away with £250 in food vouchers, his own apron and a great experience. After seeing the competition advertised in the student newsletter, Jordan was inspired to submit his version of a healthy spaghetti carbonara via Instagram using only three ingredients. Jordan states how he “didn’t expect to anything to come back” and when receiving a comment on his Instagram post from the competition Jordan stated how he assumed it was spam. Eventually a month later, the competition asked for an additional recipe which led Jordan to his place in the final. His second recipe

guidelines asked for a meal serving four that was under £15 and healthy. Jordan served a ‘Steak Ragu’ which was inspired by a Jamie Oliver recipe that came under the budget. His final recipe was to present a healthy and low value lasagne from scratch using the ingredients provided. Jordan commented on how the judges were impressed by his use of cumin and nutmeg in the white sauce. Jordan adds how he was surprised by this due it being a normal occurrence when cooking at home.

he met one of his favourite authors whilst at the competition, Charlotte Pike who was serving as a judge to the competition. Looking away whilst looking slightly embarrassed Jordan admits how it wasn’t until he was at home and looking at her cooking book that he realised who she was. The competition was held at Michael Roux Jr. Cooking school and Jordan gleefully adds how he managed to get gain entry to the set of Saturday Morning Kitchen that was situated at the cooking school.

During his visit Jordan reminisces how

One final question I asked Jordan was: did he learn any new techniques from the competition. He mentioned how it altered his use of salt whilst cooking, and how salt can help blend the seasoning together. Ultimately how salt doesn’t necessarily mean salty. He also learnt the value of using higher priced rather than basic ingredients, the stark difference of Tesco basic and a high end brand. We finished the interview discussing the next steps for Jordan and what he may try next and mentions how he applied to Gordon Ramsay’s new show that morning. Jordan Brice reminds us all of you never know what might happen if you go for those opportunities.

ISSUE 270

Cinderella by Zoe Stabler

All of the performing arts societies collaborated together for a performance of the much loved ‘Cinderella’ performed in February in the Taliesin. The play was put on in a gloriously cheesy musical fashion and brought together the arts of

singing, dancing and, of course, acting. I had the chance to sit down with Charlotte West, our beloved Societies and Activities Co-ordinator as well as the Queen in this performance...

As we all know, you played the Queen. How did you get into character for rehearsals? We know one of her (many) names was in fact Charlotte but was this enough to actually be the Queen? A few cups of English Breakfast? Maybe a cuddle with some Corgis?

just want to watch it again, but Chris Wilson and Will Windridge both persuaded me and I’m so glad they did because I’ve had the most wonderful time!

I started off getting into character by just putting on a posh accent, but really what brought it all together was when I got my costume. I was so lucky that the Dylan Thomas Theatre just happened to have the absolute perfect dress that fitted me so well and made me feel like a real Queen! After I put it on, it was easy to slip into my regal character. This performance was a collaboration between several societies. Which societies got involved, and do they do this often? People from all sorts of different Societies got involved - Dance, Shoreline, Choral, Musicians - it was really great to see them collaborating. Funnily enough, Show Choir, Choral and Musicians are working together on a Performing Arts Showcase in the Great Hall on the 25th March - you should check that out too! You’re usually the Societies and Activities Coordinator, overlooking and assisting in the events societies put on. What made you decide to get even more involved this time and actually be in a performance? I wasn’t going to audition because I loved watching Sweeney Todd so much last year I thought I would

Did anyone’s character truly highlight their personality? Who, and why? Yes. Ulysses Jones. He played my husband, the King, and the character suited him perfectly. It was a really loud and funny character, it really captured his personality. If students want to get involved next time, how do they go about it? All they need to do is join a Performing Arts Society and audition! I would definitely recommend it, it was so much fun. Any backstage (or on stage) hiccoughs that we might like to hear about? No, to be honest it all went really smoothly I thought! I suppose apart from the time a clock fell on my head... And of course, would you do it again? I would 100% do it again. It was some of the most fun I’ve ever had in this job! A well deserved shout out also to everyone who wasn’t on stage but played an integral part in the production, and were every bit as wonderful as the cast.

MARCH 2017

ZOE STABLER // SOCIETIES

Debating and Feminist Society Collide! by Hazel Stabler

he 8th of March marks International Women’s Day. This day commemorates a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. International Women’s Day (IWD) has been celebrated for over 100 years. This year in celebration of women the Debating and Feminist Society are holding a debate on the 8th of March. This will be in support of Swansea Women’s Aid with donations from the audience.

compulsory seats for women?

The debate will take place at 2pm In Faraday, Room L on the 8th of March. The three topics that the teams will be discussing are:

As the title states, it involves women from all over the globe. So you may not see every day inequality, but that does not mean it is not still occurring every day somewhere else.

• Should the International Men’s Day be celebrated? • Discussion of the Women’s March and the intersectional value of the march. • Women Quota’s in the Workplace – should there be

Why should you care or attend this event? The President of the Feminist society explains: “The aim of International Women’s Day is to achieve full gender equality. However in 2017 this still isn’t the case, women are still disadvantage because of their gender resulting is loss of rights, violence and education. International Women’s Day is also about given women a voice and recognizing achievements of women from all over the world.

Why you should attend our event? It’ll be an interesting opportunity to hear a rounded view of both sides of the arguments and you may learn something? It’ll also be great fun”

ISSUE 270

Traveling in Style with Brendan Sheerin The red cards are poised, the Segways are on standby and our favourite tour guide is back in business. Brendan Sheerin is pinning on his name tag for Coach Trip: Road to Marbs. The new series is following in the fake-tanned footsteps of Coach Trip: Road to Ibiza, whisking a coach-load of 18-30 lads and lasses to the Mediterranean sunshine for sea, Sangria and, ahem, well you can guess the rest. I was lucky to ask Brendan a couple of questions this winter whilst he was treading the boards of our very own Grand Theatre.

by Sarah Harris

Since moving to E4, the ages of the contestants have dropped significantly. What’s it like working with the younger generation? To tell you the truth, I find it easier. The young ones aren’t interested in cathedrals, the population of Brussels, or the paintings in the Sistine chapel, they just aren’t bothered. But we still have a lot of fun. They probably teach me more than I teach them. I’ve been learning all these new-fangled words, blurred and wonga, I even now know how to dab. It’s a massive generation gap for me but they love me. They’re very respectful but they can be a bit naughty, especially where alcohol is concerned. I’m like their dad. The majority of the year you live out in Spain, what quintessentially British things do you miss whilst you’re not here? I live in Torremolinos in Malaga, in a Spanish block where everyone else is Spanish, Argentinian or Mexican, I’m the only English person there so I really am distanced from British culture. So on the odd occasion when I do fly back here, I indulge in Yorkshire puddings, fish and chips, steak and kidney pie and jam roly polies to my heart’s content.

MARCH 2017

Hand on heart it’s the food really. Living in Spain, I do have tapas and paella and such, but once I come back it’s like a treat, a big party. I’m never out of Marks and Spencers. I can spend hours just wandering around spotting what’s new since the last time I was here. Now, being the internationally acclaimed tour-guide that you are, I’m sure you’ve done some pretty intense research on Swansea before coming here. What sights and activities are you most hoping to enjoy whilst here? I’ve been down to Mumbles and I was in Castle Gardens the other day having my lunch and that was lovely. I’ve seen the castle but I’ve yet to look around it fully yet. I know Swansea was a Viking trading port and was incredibly important for the copper industry. It was called ‘Copperopolis’ from the 1720s onwards if I’m not mistaken. Oh, I’ve done all my research. I’d like to see the Glynn Vivian art gallery and of course the museum. However, I must say Dylan Thomas’ house is a must see for me, he was a beautiful poet, one of Wales’ national treasures. On my day off I’m planning on getting out and about in the car, driving down the Gower and I might even treat myself to a cheeky Joe’s ice cream. So what will everybody’s favourite tour guide be doing once he eventually hangs up his pin badge and puts down his clipboard? Well, don’t be shocked if you see him gracing our TV screens once more on Strictly Come Dancing. “You never know,” he says coyly. “I used to be an Irish dancer so I might be able to do a jig around the floor”.

SARAH HARRIS // CULTURE

Brendan’s Travel Tips Passport You must be very, very careful with your passport. The amount of young people who lose their passport you would not believe. It’s so important! What I’d recommend is taking several copies and if you’re going backpacking, carry them all in separate places, your bag, coat, shoes even, so then if something does go wrong and you lose your bag then you’ll still have a backup and a way to get home. Research the country and customs It’s just common sense really but people never think. Especially religious sights like cathedrals, they can be beautiful places and it horrifies me to see people walking around them in shorts that are really, really, eye wateringly short. These places are houses of God, and I know he probably doesn’t mind but

I just think it’s nice to be respectful. You’re a visitor to these countries, enjoy yourself but remember you’re representing your country. Don’t overpack You may think you need 16 tops but you don’t. You’ll never wear them. All these countries have laundry facilities. You can get clothes washed for a tuppence, ironed and pressed and sent back to your room. A top tip and one that I share with all my friends is to lie everything you want to pack out on your bed and then half it. Budget airlines All countries have their budget airlines, not just ourselves. Buses are a lovely way to travel and get about but they aren’t the fastest mode of transport if you have time restraints. Languages Even if it’s just please or thank you. Just a couple of basics. You don’t have to be fluent but people respect you a bit more if you show you’ve made an effort.

MARCH 2017

MEG MCNAB // CYMRAEG

Mis Mawrth Unwaith Eto by Megan McNab

Chwifiwch hwyl fawr i Chwefror, mae’r gwanwyn wedi dod. Byddwn yn gweld y diwedd o’r gaeaf a’i thywydd erchyll. Fe fydd hi o hyd yn glawio – rydym yn Abertawe, wedi’r cyfan – ond gobeithio ni fydd y glaw yn pigo ein hwynebau gan ei bod hi’n mor oer, heb sôn am y gwynt sy’n ein taro gyda digon o nerth i’n fwrw ym mhob cyfeiriad. Mawrth y cyntaf yw Dydd Gwŷl Dewi, lle mae bywyd ein Nawdd Sant yn cael ei ddathlu. Fel arfer, fe fydd ysgolion dros y wlad i gyd yn ddathlu trwy dawnsio a chanu, gwisgo i fyny yn nillad traddodiadol Gymreig gyda daffodil neu cenhinen ar flaen y wisg a llond fowlen o gawl poeth. Yn enwedig mewn ysgolion cyfrwng Gymraeg, rydym yn tyfu i fyny gyda hanes Dewi Sant. Ond erbyn hyn, ar ôl gadael ysgol a’r traddodiad yn y gorffennol, mae’n haws anghofio am ei hanes. Byw bywyd syml iawn fel mynach wnaeth Dewi Sant, heb ddim eiddo heblaw am y dillad ar ei gefn.

ei hailadrodd i blant ysgol tro ar ôl dro. “Byddwch lawen a gwnewch y pethau bychain”, dyma oedd ei neges i’w gyd-mynachod cyn iddo farw. Mae’r neges yma yn berthnasol i ni gyd heddiw. Dylwn estyn llaw i’r bobl sydd angen cymorth, a byw heb chwant am eiddo materol.

Merch ifanc yn wisg draddodiadol Gymreig

Cafodd y llysenw Dewi Ddyfrwr gan ei fod yn bwyta ac yn yfed dim byd mwy na llysiau a dŵr. Am bobl eraill oedd ef yn byw ei fywyd dros, yn dysgu ac yn helpu lle bynnag oedd ef yn gallu. Os ydych yn Gristion neu beidio, roedd rhai o eiriau olaf Dewi yn rhai a chafodd

Rydym ni mor brysur yn astudio neu’n joio, rydym yn anghofio i gymryd yr amser i dreulio amser gydag ein teulu a ffrindiau. Ond hyd yn oed mwy pwysig na hyn – rydym yn anghofio treulio amser ar ben ein hun. Wrth gwrs, dylem gymryd yr amser i wneud y pethau bychain dros eraill, ond dylwn wneud y pethau bychain drosom ni ein hunain yn gyntaf weithiau hefyd. Dyw hyn ddim yn hunanol, mae’n angenrheidiol am ein hiechyd ffisegol a meddyliol. Os nad ydych yn cofio Dewi ar Fawrth y cyntaf, cofiwch wneud y pethau bychain amdanoch chi. Dymunaf Ddydd Gŵyl Dewi hapus i chi gyd!

Swansea Swansea University University Students’ Students’ Union Union is is a democratic a democratic organisation organisation led led byby students. students. Only Only Students Students can can stand stand forfor the the leadership leadership roles roles and and only only Students Students can can vote vote forfor them. them.

Union Union Officers Officers make make decisions decisions that that seriously seriously impact impact your your life life atat University. University. SoSo if if you you care care about about anything anything from from your your internet internet connection connection inin halls halls toto who’s who’s headlining headlining the the Summer Summer Ball Ball then then you you should should vote! vote!

To check To check out out who’s who’s nominated nominated themselves themselves andand what what they’re they’re standing standing for go forto go to SWANSEA-UNION.CO.UK/ SWANSEA-UNION.CO.UK/ ELECTIONS ELECTIONS thenthen simply simply log log in tointhe to the website website to caste to caste youryour vote! vote!

If If you you want want toto see see change change onon campus campus then then ‘Make ‘Make Your Your Mark’ Mark’ byby voting voting inin the the elections elections now. now.

There’s There’scurrently currently16 16positions positionsthat thatneed needtotobe beelected electedand andititisisup uptotoyou youtoto elect electthose thosecandidates. candidates.The Thepositions positionsare: are:

FULL-TIME FULL-TIMEOFFICER OFFICER

PRESIDENT PRESIDENT

EDUCATION EDUCATION OFFICER OFFICER

SOCIETIES SOCIETIES && SERVICES SERVICES OFFICER OFFICER

WELFARE WELFARE OFFICER OFFICER

SPORTS SPORTS OFFICER OFFICER

PART-TIME PART-TIMEOFFICER OFFICER BLACK BLACK MINORITY MINORITY &&ETHNIC ETHNIC OFFICER OFFICER

LGBT LGBT+ + OPEN OPEN OFFICER OFFICER

ENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENT OFFICER OFFICER

MATURE MATURE STUDENTS STUDENTS OFFICER OFFICER

MENTAL MENTAL HEALTH HEALTH AWARENESSS AWARENESSS OFFICER OFFICER

HOW HOWTO TOVOTE VOTE

22 11

ETHNICS ETHNICS OFFICER OFFICER

STUDENTS STUDENTS WITH WITH DISABILITIES DISABILITIES OFFICER OFFICER

INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL OFFICER OFFICER

WELSH WELSH LANGUAGE LANGUAGE OFFICER OFFICER

WOMENS WOMENS OFFICER OFFICER

Having Havinga aproblem problemvoting? voting?Email Emailweb@swansea-union.co.uk web@swansea-union.co.uk

Click Click onon thethe elections elections banner banner onon thethe front front page page

Log Log in in to to thethe Students’ Students’ Union Union webiste webiste at at swansea-union.co.uk swansea-union.co.uk from from 11am 11am onon Monday Monday thethe 13th 13th to to 1pm 1pm onon Friday Friday thethe 17th 17th of of March March

GENERAL GENERAL SECRETARY SECRETARY

Click Click VOTE VOTE NOW NOW

Log Log in in

Follow Follow thethe instructions instructions onon thethe webpage! webpage!

VOTING FAQ’S HOW DOES VOTING WORK? WHAT IS A MANIFESTO?

Voting takes place online on the Students’ Union website (swansea-union.co.uk). At Swansea University Students’ Union we use alternative or transferable voting. This means that when voting you can rank your vote in order of preference and if your 1st preference doesn’t win your vote can be transferred to your second preference. Using this method your vote has the strongest say and when combined, is most representative of the student body who vote in the elections.

A manifesto tells people why you want to represent them and why they should vote for you; it sets out your ideas and plans. Essentially your manifesto needs to say WHY you think you would be a good elected representative and WHAT you would do if you were elected.

WHAT IS RON AND NFP?

RON Stands for Re-Open Nominations and all elections in the Union have this option for votes. If you do not like any of the candidates in the election you can choose to vote RON. If RON wins an election the post won’t be filled or an election would be held at another time. Selecting No Further Preferences (N.F.P) is an expression of indifference towards all remaining options.

WHEN DO ELECTIONS HAPPEN?

The main Swansea SU elections take place from February to March, electing Full-time Officers and Part-time Officers with smaller Rep, Part-Time Officer and Delegate elections taking place at various times throughout the year. Please get in touch via student. voice@swansea-union.co.uk if you are interested in more information about any event or elected position.

WHO OVERSEES THE ELECTIONS?

All Swansea SU elections are overseen by a Returning Officer (a staff member or external expert) who makes sure that they are fair, transparent and successful. This year the Returning Officer is Pro-Vice Chancellor Iwan Davies and the Deputy Returning Officer is the SU’s Chief Executive Dr Minkesh Sood. You can email student.voice@swansea-union.co.uk at any time to ask the Returning Officer a question, voice a concern or report an unfair situation.

Do you have any questions? Please email them to: student.voice@swansea-union.co.uk

ELECTIONS 2017, THE NOMINEES For Full Time & Part-Time Officer manifestos go to: www.swansea-union.co.uk/elections

VOTE NOW! 13.03.17 - 17.03.17 I am currently a third year Health and Social Care student and one of the Undergraduate College Reps for Human and Health Sciences. Over the past two years, I have been regularly involved within the Education Zone, which has allowed me to gain knowledge and understanding into the roles and responsibilities of an Education Officer, along with attending university level meetings and representing my college. Representation has always been an inclusive part of my life and I have had many opportunities to gain experiences and skills which will be relevant to the role of the Education Officer, some of which include:

Catherine Jones Education Officer

Emily Rees Education Officer

* A member of Funky Dragon (The Children and Young People’s Assembly for Wales) * Elected as the UK Young Ambassador for Wales * Youth Mayor of Bridgend and a member of my local youth council for five years

Hi, my name is Emily and I’m campaigning to become your next Education Officer. As a college representative, I know how important communication is between students and staff. My manifesto aims to build a stronger bridge between them, focussing on improved educational services and study aids. I’m a 4th year master’s student studying Management, a student ambassador, and have previously been Vice Captain of a sports club. I am also a recipient of the Canadian Challenge; so understand the benefits of introducing more career building opportunities such as this for all students. My experience at Swansea has helped me gain a wider understanding of the University as a whole, and where continuing developments can and should be made. #em4education “every student by name & need”

Hi, my name’s Dylan and I’m running to be your Education Officer at the Student Union. My three years at Swansea have been the best of my life, but I never truly felt engaged by the education side of my time here. This has made me passionate about changing the way we do things, to ensure YOUR education is best for you. So HOP WITH HOPKINS & VOTE DYLAN #1 EDUCATION.

Dylan Hopkins Education Officer

Naib Rahman Education Officer

Hi, I’m Naib and here’s why you’ll want me as your next Education Officer. I am passionate about this university and improving the education experience for all students. I have been an active part of the student body, by being elected President of one of the most prominent societies, ISOC, for two consecutive years. My role included integrating and helping freshers’ settle into university life. I helped raise over £20,000 for charity, collecting the most money in Wales in 2014. We developed a mentorship scheme for senior students to tutor younger students. Interacted with a diverse range of students and societies, organising joint events/initiatives.I’ve made real changes during my time actively rallying students and lobbying senior staff members to establish a multifaith room on Bay. I believe my passion, pro-active style and my clear seven-point plan to improve the education experience, makes me a perfect candidate for Education Officer.

How can life in Swansea be better for you?

Gandhi (Richard Shah)

President

This is a question that I have been asking people for almost a year now. Starting my time here in 2013, I have seen the student’s union continue to grow, putting you – the students – at the heart of their work. This has been a great direction for our university, but it is not enough. Swansea University’s Student Union needs to cement itself as the voice of every member in every corner of our growing student body, taking action to strengthen every part. Swansea University has given me a valuable Economics degree and a growing import business (Diamond Stag Importers Ltd.) from my placement year. Now, I want to use my time and skills to pay it forward to you. My name is Gandhi (Richard Shah), and I have heard your answers.

Jack Wadge-Stacey President

Chisomo Phiri (Chizi) President

My name is Jack Stacey I am running to be the next President of our University’s Union. I am second year Politics student, the current Ethics Officer of the Students Union and one who is passionate about Swansea providing its students with great experiences during their studies here. I’m a chirpy, organised and focused person, with interests in post-Colonial politics, and hobbies such as current affairs, Everton FC, and Funk & Soul music. As a candidate, I have the skills that are required for this job, holding responsibility in jobs such as the leader of Swansea’s delegation to this year’s NUS demonstration, the anti-NSS boycott movement at our Union, and as a member of Tom Watson’s Deputy leadership campaign in 2015. This, along with being your Ethics Officer, makes me prepared to take on the role of President and one who will help Swansea give you the best university experience possible.

Hey! I’m Chizi, I’m a final year Public Relations and Media student and I’ve worked at the Students’ Union for the past three years. I’ve had an incredible time at university and have been so lucky to meet such a wide range of amazing people. I have also been equipped with a wide range of skills that are invaluable to my future career by working all over the place! In Spar, Fulton Outfitters, freshers and some of the biggest student events in Wales. I really think it’s time I give something back! Every student should have the same opportunity that I have had to excel and thrive whilst earning money at university but I know that the SU leaves some people out. This deeply saddens me. Plus, there’s so much that can be improved on campus and I know I’m the person to deliver this change – with your support.

I’m Ulysses Jones and currently I’m in my second year studying English and American Studies. Outside of my classes I’ve been President of the English & Creative Writing Society, as well as Social Secretary for Marvel/DC and have been involved with Shoreline Theatre.

Ulysses Jones Soc&Serv Officer

Along with these responsibilities I’ve been the Academic Representative for the Union’s Society Executive Committee which has given me a really good insight into how the Societies department interacts with the Students Union. Now, with such a wide range of experiences with so many different types of societies, I want to bring that experience to the table and help the student body as a whole.

Hello! I’m Chris, a postgraduate Geography student running to be your Societies and Services Officer. I came to Swansea four years ago and in my time here I’ve seen just how much our city, societies, and campuses have to offer. I’ve been involved in societies since my first year, and have served on the Geology Society committee for three years, as president twice and now as the postgraduate rep. I know firsthand how important societies are in shaping your university experience and I have the passion and drive to make your uni experience even better.

Chris Freestone Soc&Serv Officer

Bernard Worrall Soc&Serv Officer

Gwyn Aled Sports

I am ideally suited to this post as I have a wide and lengthy experience in Business. This makes me well placed to make a valuable contribution to provide considered and sound commercial decisions. I have experience in dealing with authorities. My technical qualifications ensure my attention to detail. I have the ability to face a challenge and find a solution. I generally have a pleasant and happy disposition and a positive outlook on life. I am Flexible, adaptable and reliable, and I can operate and converse at all levels. I committed myself to hard work and training from an early age. I was apprenticed as an electrician at sixteen and became self employed at nineteen, completing my final year as self employed. I went on to run my own business enterprises for forty years. I then joined Swansea University to pursue a degree in Humanities.

My name is Gwyn Aled and, this year I’m running for Sports Officer for the SU. I am a final year maths student, and throughout my time at University I have represented Sport Swansea both competitively and non-competitively. I have played in various local sports teams and I am the founding and current president of Clwb Rygbi Tawe, the University’s first Welsh Language Sports Club. I am also on the Sport Swansea Executive Committee, a member of the Swansea University Surf Club, and I’ve represented Swansea in both BUCS and Varsity as part of a League winning Swansea Titans team. Due to the wide range of opportunities I have enjoyed and experiences gained, I am aware of the challenges facing the many different members of our sporting community. I feel that I can truly make a positive difference to make sport here at Swansea a more fulfilling experience.

My name is Judit Maynou, I am a physics student and I am running to be the new Swansea University Sports Officer. I have been involved in university sport for two years and playing for the volleyball team has been one of the best experiences in my life. Aside from being responsible and organised, my degree has also taught me to always keep myself motivated and never give up when faced with a problem. I consider myself a strong fighter for things that I am passionate about, sports being one of them.

Judit Maynou Rivas Sports

Shona Johnson Welfare

My name is Shona Johnson and I am in my third and final year of my English Literature degree at Swansea University. I have been the Mental Health Awareness Officer for the least academic year, as well as being involved with many different societies and campaigns throughout my time as a student. I have worked at JC’s since May 2016, and am a musician in my spare time having won battle of the bands in my first year, I currently play gigs across Swansea as a solo act. I have been on the Societies Executive Committee as well as the Live Music Society Committee for two years in a row. I also ran the Swansea Bay 10k in October and raised £230 for the Mental Health Foundation, as well as raising over £260 for Cancer Research when I ran the 5k Race4Life in May.

Hey! I’m Cindy, a third year law student running for Welfare officer. As a candidate for this position, the mental and physical well-being of my fellow student-body is extremely important to me. I feel as though being given the opportunity to prove myself as Welfare officer would not only help me gain experience that will be very valuable in the future, but also give students the support that they may or may not already be receiving.

Cindy Amadi Welfare

Victor Okere Welfare

Amarachi Onuagha Welfare

Alex Evans Welfare

My name is Chibuike Victor Okere. A final year Student of Economics in Swansea university. I am running for the student union Welfare office within the university. I strongly believe my love for the wellbeing of others and the university is what fuels my passion into running for this office. I was once the Event manager of the Nigeria Student Society during 2015/2016 academic session and I currently hold the position of the student representative for the Economics department. I personally enjoy meeting and socialising with people, travelling, playing and watching Football, singing, dancing. I am confident in my ability to run and successfully discharge the responsibilities that this office holds if given the opportunity.

Hello everyone, I’m Amarachi Onuagha, an international postgraduate student, studying Medical Radiation Physics, my friends call me Amara. I would love to be your next Welfare Officer. I believe our main reason for being here is to learn, nurture and advanced to become more relevant in our chosen fields. However and it is also my firm belief that we should have fond memories of our time as students of Swansea University. Its not news that University life can be very demanding and sometimes we have those moments of loneliness and other times when support is crucial. It doesn’t have to be so. I am passionate about making sure you make the most of your academic life in Swansea. This I plan to achieve by ensuring the environment is safe, that students have easy access to available resources for emotional, financial and health support.

I’m Alex Evans and I would really like to be your new welfare officer. My main aim is to help improve the Swansea experience for everyone. I want to ensure that you enjoy university as much as possible. I am well positioned for this role having built up a detailed of how the Student Union operates through working with them. I have been a member of Xtreme radio for two years carrying out the roles of presenter and an engineer. I am the subject rep for Media this year attending all the meetings and helping with as many issues as possible. I have experience with the societies team as I am the founder and president of the Media Studies society. My experience from within the students’ union positions me to make an immediate impact. I strongly believe the union should be focused totally on students’ needs and nothing else.

You can read full manifestos and vote online at: swansea-union.co.uk

Jacob Ofruma Welfare

Ewan High Welfare

Em Ashkanani Welfare

My name is Ewan and I am excited to be your candidate for Welfare Officer! Ever since I arrived at Swansea, I have aimed to improve the experience we all get as students. I was elected as Student Representative for Aerospace Engineering and was lucky enough to have a successful year improving the course. On the back of this I was honoured to be selected as one of the two Undergraduate College Representatives and I hope to receive the Gold Award for dedication in this role. This is my background however, you are more likely interested in what I hope to do for you, the students. I have always felt like I have been limited in my roles by balancing my degree with my passion for the university and by standing for this role I hope to dedicate myself to making meaningful differences for all of us here at Swansea.

Hi there! My name is Em Ashkanani and I’m currently a third year Civil Engineering student. This year happens to be my second year being the Social Secretary for Swansea University Ultimate Frisbee and I work for the ENTs department for our Student Union. Working for the Union has given me great insight into how the Union works behind the student body in improving everyday student life. I also happen to be a proud international student! I grew up in the Middle East and moved here over four years ago. I’ve decided to apply to be your Welfare Officer to give back to the university that has shaped me into being the young adult I am today. I don’t think I could’ve asked for a better university experience and I hope to pay it forward starting with all of you!

PTO NOMINEES Black Minority & Ethics Officer Fardowsa Ali Gabrielle Agyemang Zoya Chishti

Mental Health Awareness Officer Samuel Wesley Sian Louise Slack

Welsh Language Officer

Environment Officer

Tomos Watson

Alyson Price Annie Rudd Omar Mendy

Disabilities Officer

Ethics Officer Joshua Brooks

General Secretary Matthew Pilot

International Officer Andreea Sava Charmaine Yip Daniel Calderon Hussain Khan Rinal Gudhka Stephanie Tackie-Yarboi Suzy Okwuose Thu Ya Win

Mature Officer Bartholomew Eze David Clark Karan Charles Muhammad Oyekan Pauline Gleed Sharon Silvester-Hughes

Chloe Morgan Joseph Earl

Womens Officer Alexandra Alderson Hannah Antwi

MARCH 2017 • WEEKLY EVENTS 01 WED 22.30

GWA Idols & Walkabout Captains Bar

02 THURS 18:30 23:30 til

Curry Club JC’s

03 FRI 19:00 23:30

Karaoke JC’s

22:00 02:00

Tooters Divas

til

10 FRI 19:00 23:30 til

22:00 02:00 til

17:00 23:00 til

Karaoke JC’s Tooters Titty Takeover Coppafeel - breast cancer awareness Divas

til

13:30

16:00

RBS Six Nations (Wales v Ireland) JC’s The Wonky Sheep

20 MON 18:30 23:30

11 SATURDAY

Mexican Mondays JC’s

GWA Idols & Walkabout Captains Bar

til

Mexican Mondays JC’s

17:00 19:30

Swansea Sessions Divas 2

20:00 23:00

Open Mic JC’s

til

19:00

Quiz Night 52 Degrees

17:00 23:00

Quiz Night Wonky Sheep

30 THURS 18:30 23:30 til

Curry Club JC’s

22 WED 22:30

GWA Idols & Walkabout Captains Bar

31 FRI 19:00 23:30

Karaoke JC’s

22:00 02:00

Tooters Divas

til

TBC

Varsity Collection Singleton Campus Digital Technium

Film Night Jurassic World JC’s

14 TUES 17:00 19:30

Swansea Sessions Divas 2

20:00 23:00

Open Mic JC’s

19:00

Quiz Night 52 Degrees

17:00 23:00

Quiz Night Wonky Sheep

til

England v Scotland JC’s Wonky Sheep

21 TUES

til

22:30

18:30 23:30

19:00

til

29 WED

RBS Six Nations Italy v France JC’s Wonky Sheep

13 MON

04 SATURDAY

23 THURS 18:30 23:30 til

Curry Club JC’s

06 MON 18:30 23:30 til

Mexican Mondays JC’s

07 TUES 17:00 19:30

Swansea Sessions Divas 2

20:00 23:00

Open Mic JC’s

til

19:00

Quiz Night 52 Degrees

17:00 23:00

Quiz Night Wonky Sheep

til

15 WED 22:30

GWA Idols & Walkabout Captains Bar

16 THURS 18:30 23:30 til

Curry Club JC’s

08 WED 22:30

GWA On Wednesdays wear pink. Coppafeel - Breast Cancer awareness night Idols & Walkabout Captains Bar

17 FRI 19:00 23:30

Karaoke JC’s

22:00 02:00

Tooters Divas

til

TBC

09 THURS 18:30 23:30 til

Curry Club JC’s

18 SATURDAY 11:00 23:00 til

Elections Results Night Refectory

RBS Six Nations Super Saturday Scotland v Italy [12:30] France v Wales [14:45] Ireland v England [17:00] JC’s Wonky Sheep

24 FRI 19:00 23:30

Karaoke JC’s

22:00 02:00

Tooters Divas

til

25 SATURDAY 19:00

Film Night - The Campaign JC’s

27 MON 18:30 23:30 til

18:00

Mexican Mondays JC’s Students’ Union AGM

JC’s

28 TUES 17:00 19:30

Swansea Sessions Divas 2

20:00 23:00

Open Mic JC’s

19:00

Quiz Night 52 Degrees

17:00 23:00

Quiz Night Wonky Sheep

til

Official Varsity 2017 packages on sale now!

For further information on our events head to our Official Swansea University Refreshers’ 2017 Facebook event

MARCH 2017

SHANNON JONES & FAYE VLIETSTRA // RELATIONSHIPS

Agony Aunts

Shannon and Faye are Waterfront’s very own agony aunts and matchmakers. If you’re interested in going on a Blind Date or have a question you want to put to the aunts, contact them at waterfrontrelationships @ swanseastudentmedia.com

Dear Shannon and Faye, I’ve known for a while that I am gay, and I have already come out to my friends and family at home however, I’m a little unsure about coming out to my friends at uni. We’re all really close, but most of the guys are” lads” and I’m worried that they’ll treat me differently. Any suggestions on how to go about it?

Dear Shannon and Faye, I am pissed off! I understand that this may be petty, but my boyfriend of a year did nothing with me on Valentine’s Day. No card, no date, and no gift. My friend who has only been talking to some guy for a few months got a whole romantic day, and there I was with nothing. Do you think I should end things with him?

Tom, second year

Emily, first year

Hi Tom, first of all no matter what, you’ve already got the support from your friends and family at home, and we can only imagine how hard it must have been to have come out. We understand how important friendships are, but nobody should make you feel like you have to hide who you really are, if they can’t accept you for that, then maybe they aren’t as great of friends as you thought. Although we have no personal experience in this, the best advice we can give is to be strong, and brave, and embrace who you really are. The right people will stay by you and love you for that, any ignorance should not be tolerated or welcomed.

Woah there Emily, you’ve gotta calm down a notch or two. We understand that Valentine’s Day can be a big deal for some people, but you have to remember that not everyone goes all out for it. It’s clear that your boyfriend loves you (or at least likes you enough) as he’s stuck with you for a year, but rather than blowing up, maybe talk to him and see why he didn’t give you the day you wanted. Yes, we feel it would be extremely petty to end things over a day, yes he could have gotten you a card, but at the same time, you’re in the relationship too right? You could have organised something, after all it takes two to tango. It’s not always down to the guy, this isn’t the 16th century. Chill out, call your boyfriend, and have the day you wanted, any day can be Valentine’s Day if you care enough.

While very knowledgeable, Shannon and Faye are not qualified to give out expert advice so Waterfront suggests that you take their advice with a pinch of salt and use the Students’ Union’s support services for serious guidance.

MARCH 2017

SHANNON JONES & FAYE VLIETSTRA T // RELATIONSHIPS

Blind Date

Chris (22), a fourth year Geography student and Beth (18), a first year history student, met for a free drink in JCs. Here’s what they had to say afterwards. We send our blind date couples to JC’s bar and coffee shop, which serves a range of alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, speciality coffees, pub meals, panini and homemade cakes.

All of our blind date couples receive a complimentary drink courtesy of JC’s.

Why did you agree to go on a blind date? C: I thought it would be a bit of fun and I can’t turn down a free drink B: Because my friends forced me What’s your favourite feature of a guy/girl? And did they have it? C: I look for them to be a happy person who is easy to get along with. She did seem to have it. B: A nice smile, yeah.

a half. It would have been nice for it to last a bit longer. B: An hour and half, would have been nice if had lasted longer. Did you kiss? Or was there any potential for a kiss…or more? C: No kissing took place B: No Were there any turnoffs? C: She was Welsh, which is never good around the 6 nations. B: He is English - the feeling’s mutual. Out of ten, how would you rate the date?

Were you attracted to the person?

C: 9/10 B: 8/10

C: Yeah B: Yeah

Any chance of seeing each other again?

How long did the date last? Did you want it to last longer or end sooner? C: It latest about an hour and

C: I guess so. B: Maybe, we’ve added each other on Facebook.

ISSUE 270

Music Reviews The XX I See You An album with such high levels of anticipation is always in danger of leaving us unsatisfied. Sitting with this album for a number of weeks now, I am yet to put a hold on what I like, and what I do not. Indeed, it boasts remnants of The XX of old which we grew to love, with songs such as Replica sharing the same spatial, minimalistic sound of their previous albums. However, overall, there seems too much influence from Jamie XX’s solo ventures for me to characterise it as ‘The XX’. This is not to say it isn’t good. In places, it is utterly phenomenal; the album holds a sense of growth within it – over time, it will be one which I’ll become extremely fond of. Rating: 7/10 Standout Track: Replicas

Ed Sheeran Shape of You / Castle on the Hill Ed Sheeran continues to bewilder me, and his new singles are no exception. What is bewildering is his ability (or lack of…) to hold onto a single genre, and continue to be successful. Undoubtedly, he has shifted into the realm of pop extremely successfully. From a musical quality perspective however, his previous work was far more convincing and generally better, with a firmer grip on his intricate and talented guitar playing. Rating: 4/10

London Grammar Rooting For You The haunting, pervasive and bellowing tone of lead singer Hannah Reid’s voice characterises their new single. It is a tease, there remains very little sign of a new album despite the single and a number of various live shows. We can share a continued optimism however, that London Grammar’s sound will continue to be minimalistic: a haunting voice, palm muted, echoing guitars, serene piano and appropriate percussion, the combination of which will continue to define their sound. Rating: 6/10

MARCH 2017

HARRY BALLMANN // MUSIC

Trainspotting T2

Aquilo Silhouettes Very rarely does an album’s artwork capture the music depicted throughout the entire album. The dark electronic groove, mixed with the sensual downtempo adds an air of mystery to Silhouettes; the purple and black perfectly reflect the tempo of the album. Aquilo have created a sounds which could easily be put into R&B, slow and invasive basslines, subtle percussion and empowering, Sam Smith-esque vocals – elements which help to create an interesting, relatively unknown album. Rating: 7/10 Standout Track: Never Hurt Again

Glass Mountain Glacial (EP) Combining acoustic twang with piano, roaring into a distorted guitar sound with a heavy beat is somewhat characteristic of 90s Grunge. Glass Mountain’s latest EP seems to be a revival of that dirty and melancholic drone reminiscent of Pearl Jam and the occasional Nirvana track. The title-track is certainly noteworthy, where Glass Mountain’s lead singer, Harry Hanson is in full flow, bringing back a much loved dynamic to rock music. Rating: 6/10 Standout Track: Glacial

‘Choose life. Choose Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and hope that someone, somewhere, cares.’ The same but different. The only way to describe The Trainspotting T2 Soundtrack: featuring the likes of Bowie, Iggy Pop once again making an appearance and of course, Born Slippy by Underworld, perhaps the only song to fully characterise the high tempo, anarchistic yet soul searching nature of Trainspotting. I repeat, ‘choose life’. I feel the best song on the reinvigorated sequel soundtrack is Joy Division’s Atmosphere. Indeed, Born Slippy denotes the nature of Trainspotting, and helped make it a cult classic when it was released, but there is something about the ambiguous, almost poetic nature which contributes to its aura of nostalgia, a perfect track for an extremely nostalgic film. Rating: 8/10 Standout Track: Atmosphere, Joy Division

MARCH 2017

HARRY BALLMANN // MUSIC

Semper Femina by Nathan Lloyd

It’s hard not to be bewitched by the soulful timbre of Laura Marling’s voice which swells to fill every corner of the boxy room of the student union with its haunting, melodious tone. Greeted by ‘Wildfire’, the second single of her new album Sempa Femina and surrounded by Kånken backpacks I knew I was in good company as we settled down to listen to her play. Whereas her previous album, ‘Short Movie’ was based on the landscape of her travels in America, the new album was born on the road and sets out to explore, what Marling describes as a more English nostalgia and deeper questions of womanhood. Literally translated as ‘always woman’, Sempa Femina is a catalogue of observations, thoughts and stories from the female perspective that spins out of a ‘particularly masculine time in her life’. Like many in the audience I was curious as to the approach to the new record and she said that she started to look at it through a very male gaze before concluding that looking at it through a woman’s eyes was, ultimately, more powerful. I found it curious that there was a natural default to the male gaze even from such an established and thoughtful artist as Marling, but such is the insidious nature of the patriarchy’s

Laura Marling hold on our everyday assumptions that even our strongest female voices sometimes catch themselves out. Never judging nor providing the whole story, the lyrics of Sempa Femina are there to challenge the audience with a thought and leave it there to be mulled over. When looking for inspiration, she turned to literature, in particular poetry. The title, for example, comes from a poem by Virgil. But she also drew on gothic literature and the life of Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke, who was curiously confined to girls’ clothes until the age of six. Gothic literature, famed for its stifling depiction of women - from the madwoman in the attic of Jane Eyre to Kathy, consumed by her love of Heathcliff - provides the lens whereby Marling explores various definitions of womanhood. Each track presented during the afternoon posed the issue from the perspective of a particular voice, with Marling painting a picture of a single woman’s personal struggle per song, contextualising her story by placing them side by side for consideration. Typically, Marling finds discussing the more technical matters easier than the subtext and nebulous meaning of her work. On the subject of her directorial debut with ‘Soothing’ she admitted that she found the process

stressful but enjoyed the creativity. It’s clear from the intertwining bodies in the video, both male and female, that this idea of the positions of women in society is at the heart of her current work. Her “Reversal of the Muse” podcast further explores feminine creativity and why aren’t there more women in music and other industries. In her writing she is trying to explore a more balanced understanding of the world. In just shy of a decade Marling has produced six studio albums and is still very aware of her personal need to continue growing and challenging herself as an artist. After switching guitars and playing ‘Nothing Not Nearly’ she spoke of a love hate relationship over working in America, keenly aware of the dangers of self indulgence. Shy and a bit awkward under the spotlight, it’s clear that Marling’s popularity has been carefully earned by her honesty and self critical nature. There’s nothing pretentious about her and it’s when she closes her eyes and sings that her inner confidence and natural ability to communicate fundamental human truths really comes out. Ending, perhaps aptly, with ‘Next Time’, Marling left the audience in no doubt that the journey is far from over. The joyous part comes from the fact that we are all, implicitly, invited along for the ride.

MARCH 2017

HARRY BALLMANN // MUSIC

Bonobo: Migration talented perception of music composition and music production. Immensely high quality recordings, in addition to a gentle equilibrium between orchestra and electronica helped position Green as a somewhat king of the downtempo electronic genre. First and foremost, he was a DJ, a passion for mixing, placing songs in a precise order to create a musical journey through an hour or so certainly helped Bonobo craft his albums. Migration, n.: The action of passing from place to place, of passing into a new condition or form. Of a person or people, or of creatures, or of the soul…. by Harry Ballmann

Migration is not merely an album, but a work; something far more than something you tune your ears to. It’s an experience but goes beyond that, it is a narrative. The 180g double vinyl is testament to this; it includes various works of art, and a booklet formed of short excerpts depicting the album through the eyes of Bonobo himself, Mr Simon Green. Before this review embarks on illustrating Bonobo’s true creative works beyond his music, we must first start with his music, a foundation for observing his brilliance. Even though Bonobo can be traced back to 2000 with Animal Magic, Green’s most recent albums, Black Sands (2010) and The North Borders (2013) demonstrated his immensely

If anything, Migration is a perfect combination of Black Sands and The North Borders. It shows Bonobo’s musical progression, thus rightly earning the apt name, Migration, it is an album which passes into a new condition. Formed from the eloquence and multi-cultural influences of Black Sands, Migration in this respect is an album of influence and intricacy, a display of orchestral composition stemming from Green’s aptitude and understanding of music as a narrative; each song specifically placed in an order creating a beautiful album-long harmony. Similarly, the more percussion and bass heavy North Boarders is reflected in Migration in so far to create unforgettable rhythms and beats. Together, these elements combined are what make up Green’s best work yet; an album of intricacy and harmony, whilst at the same time, not failing to encompass the depth and mesmeric qualities seen in the Bonobo of the past. Featuring the delicate vocals of Rhye and the immersive depth of Nick Murphy (previously known as Chet

Faker), Bonobo’s ability to combine an array of vocals with interesting musical alignment helps create a similarly immersive artistic experience. The colours used on the album cover and inside the booklet included in the double vinyl seem to reflect the nature of the album generally; a serene yet immersive experience – an array of landscapes shown within the booklet, accompanied by poignant commentary regarding how the music reflects emotion and perspectives: Memories will swell around your ankles, regardless of how much you consider the current: there’ll always be them days there and there’ll always be wherever is here and now, fixed points with time moving like a tide between them’ Ultimately, what Green has managed to show which many producers are not quite able to achieve, is that music is far more than an audible experience. Rather, it encompasses an array of senses; sound, vision and touch. Green keeps a poignancy allowing one to escape reality into the realm of his music and the artistic narrative of his accompanying booklet. We as listeners transcend into the mesmeric world of Migration, it is an album with unique immersive qualities, truly reflecting a musical journey, a passing from a place, to another place when there is only silence again. Rating: 10/10 Standout Track: No Reason (Ft. Nick Murphy)

There are many options available to me to introduce you to a true part of Welsh heritage, some you will know (you can’t avoid Dylan Thomas, Sheep, and Rain) but for you, who have decided to make Swansea your home during your University years, it is the less well known but oh so important parts of our heritage which I would like to entertain you with today. In 1997, when I was just 14 years old (cough**20 years ago**) and most of you were still in nappies, I and my fellow ‘Jacks’ were awoken from our 90’s haze of Gameboys and Personal Walkmans by the onslaught that was ‘Twin Town’. Already, as teenagers, we were beginning to drift away from the frivolous teen bop of ‘Barbie Girl’ (Aquarium) and ‘Spice up your life’ (Spice Girls) in favour of more ‘urban’ pop such as ‘Song 2’ (Blur) and ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’ (Urban Hymns) – yes, we did have SOME good music in the 90s. But still, nothing could prepare us for the dirty, violent, truthful, nasty, beautiful reality of ‘Twin Town’. Directed by Kevin Allen, himself a Swansea lad, the film follows two brothers known as ‘the twins’ (real life brothers Rhys Ifans and Llyr Ifans) on their drug fuelled contemplation of life, death and all the mess in between. The film’s supporting characters border on the stereotypical but are played with such skill by the amazingly packed cast of Welsh talent that all you can do is laugh at the insanity of it all because you (well, us Jacks at least) know it’s all true, every single last inch of it. From

ISSUE 270

Twin Town the dodgy construction jobs to the karaoke nights in Barons (a great club in its heyday, whose cat-pee smelling carpets you guys will never have the pleasure of treading over). Twin Town shows a side of Swansea most visitors will never see. This is not to say that we are all crack head, nut jobs with a ‘Godfather’ obsession, but that is undeniably a strong part of some of the city and therefore a small part (at least) of all of us born and raised here.

What Kev Allen has tried to do is take characters such as those portrayed in Dylan Thomas’ famous ‘Under Milk Wood’ and mix them a little with the likes of ‘Trainspotting’ (in which he, incidentally, played a role). It is Swansea through a dirty cracked lens. But make no mistake, these are not woeful, put upon, tragic humans bemoaning their fate – no. Every single last character in this film is loving life in this ‘pretty shitty city’, every last dirty minute of it. The film is a joy to behold. It is funny – ‘This glue is for sticking my model Submarines together, not for sticking up your fucking noses! Buy your own fucking glue!’, shocking – ‘You burned my mam and dad... And my sister! All for ewe’r fucking... Poodle’, and poignant - ‘Why is it that a 2 litre

by Rachel Sanders

bottle of coke costs 27 pence, but a 1 litre bottle costs 37 pence?’. The male voice choir singing on Mumbles Pier at the end while the brothers bury their father, Fatty, at sea from a stolen boat with their father’s panicked killer tied to the coffin, is incredibly moving – it gives me goose bumps every time I watch it. Ultimately, it is us. Every one of us. Whether you be Welsh, English or Martian, this film connects with a dirty part of our humanity which we all know is there playing in the background. Watch it, enjoy it, laugh at it, then go out and walk round Swansea. You won’t regret it. If you really enjoy Kev Allen’s view of our ‘pretty shitty city’, you will be happy to hear he has just announced a sequel is in the works. I wonder what delights the twins have in store for us; do you think they made it to Morocco? P.S.. Keep an eye out for all the Swansea landmarks!

MARCH 2017

RACHEL SANDERS // FILM

Netflix binge ‘Y Gwyll’ by Becky Elms

Celebrate Wales this March by watching an original Welsh production. Y Gwyll, or Hinterland as it is known on Netflix, is a crime drama series. The four ninety minute episodes follow separate mysteries investigated by DCI Tom Mathias (Richard Harrington). Harrington plays a brooding and maverick cop that is struggling with the loss of his wife and children. This tortured cop routine may be all too common in this genre but it works well here to create an interesting storyline which links the episodes together. Although his stoney exterior is overdone, Harrington is strong as the lead and the mysteries are just as dark and compelling. The best part of the show, for me, is the picturesque beauty of West Wales; it is the perfect mixture of bleak and beautiful and it embodies a character all of its own. Welsh culture also shines through when the actors speak Welsh. The original filming of the show was entirely in Welsh and I, personally, would be happy to sit through this version with subtitles. The language is beautiful to listen to and this leaves me questioning why Britain does not do more bilingual shows. Overall, Y Gwyll is an impressive crime drama. Its stories draw you into the narrative and the acting it strong throughout. All this is perfected by the Welsh culture that permeates through it and is what makes Y Gwyll truly unique.

Wonderfully Welsh and Weird

by Hilary Webb

About as weird and Welsh as it gets, Submarine (2010) is based on a book by the same name written by Swansea native Joe Dunthorne. While the film fails to keep close to the book in specific Swansea references, including Singleton Park and our very own Taliesin, it deserves a watch. Director Richard Ayoade (who you probably know best as Maurice Moss in The IT Crowd) does the book justice as we follow the twisted world of 15-year old Oliver Tate, played by rising star Craig Roberts. With extreme close-ups and babbling monologues, Oliver manages to make everyone he knows, and the audience, uncomfortable. We follow Oliver’s attempts to get the girl - the enigmatic Jordana Bevan (Yasmin Paige), to lose his virginity and to

keep his parents together as his mystic neighbour (a suspected ninja) disrupts his family life. As well as cracking one-liners like ‘my mum gave a handjob to a mystic’, the film is accompanied by an immense original soundtrack by Alex Turner, which helps make the film a joy to watch. While Oliver’s eccentric parents aren’t played by Welsh actors, they are fantastically portrayed by the wonderful Sally Hawkins (HappyGo-Lucky) and Noah Taylor. Apart from that, Submarine is packed full of wonderful Welsh talent including Melanie Walters (Gavin and Stacey) and Steffan Rhodri (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1). The book is definitely worth a read, but Submarine is one of the rare examples which works even better as a film thanks to its incredible direction, soundtrack and cast.

MARCH 2017

RACHEL SANDERS // FILM

The Raid 1&2 by Joshua Price

Given that March 1st is St. David’s Day, it seemed fitting to have some kind of Welsh theme running through this month’s movie selection. Sadly, though, there are only so many things one can say about How Green Was My Valley and most of those are related to why it did not deserve to win Best Picture against Citizen Kane. But, as far as modern Welsh filmmakers go, there is one name that springs to mind - one who has introduced the world to an entire sub-genre of films and has brought forward two of the finest action films in recent memory. In 2011, Gareth Evans burst onto the mainstream scene with his Indonesian action film, The Raid. I can safely say that if you want deep characters or a complex story then The Raid will not deliver on that front - but that is one of the films strengths. It cuts past the standard, formulaic clichés in favour of the action, which is superbly done. In fact, it is difficult to emphasise in words how amazing Evans’ direction is - how he shoots and how he composes his action scenes. Instead of numbing the scene with shaky cams and fast edits, Evans

employs long, sweeping shots, wide angles and real martial artists often performing in a single take. Not only does it give the action a grounded and visceral sense but it injects an air of unspoken tension to the scene and the movie as a whole. Nothing about the action is suggestive, either. Evans displays a mastery of visual storytelling as he conveys every detail of the action seamlessly in a violent but breathtaking display. With all his actors fully trained, the choreography behind every fight scene is stunning to behold. The lack of characterisation actually ends up playing to the films strengths (when it comes to the immediacy of each fight scene). For the majority of the film, you don’t know whether or not the character you are watching is expendable. It is an action film where the viewer can not only become invested within each burst of excitement, but feel a genuine sense of ongoing tension because the characters in question have a good chance of not making it out alive. The sequel, with the higher budget and bigger scope, is even better. Once again, Evans directs and though The Raid 2 is not quite as grounded or contained as the first, it is infinitely more ambitious. The fact that Evans is able to handle such a wide array of action scenes set in such a wild variety of environments while still maintaining

that excellent directorial skill is truly impressive. As with the first, the action scene choreography is brilliantly executed. The vast improvement comes from the camera movement in the sequel, which is on an entirely different level. The shots are all composed with precision, scope and stunning clarity. Each moment of action has a striking impact but is never difficult to follow; it has a pulsating rhythm which is constantly on the move, due to the frantic energy of the camera. The sequel does attempt to inject a bit of drama into proceedings. It is for this reason that The Raid 2 is less of an adrenaline rush than the first and more of a carefully constructed piece of filmmaking - at least until the action kicks in. From that point on, The Raid 2 is filled with all of the adrenaline fuelled mayhem of the first. The main difference? With a bigger budget and higher ambitions Evans let his imagination run wild, spawning inventive scenarios and memorable characters. If you are tired of tensionless action and films that have little or no edge, then The Raid series may be the perfect cure. They are visceral, masterful and quite simply exhilarating on every level.

ISSUE 270

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the

Nintendo SITCH?

Pictures: Nintendo

Have Nintendo cracked it? Or are we looking at the next gimmick from the Japanese giants.

MARCH 2017

In January Nintendo released more details about the Switch, its games and its hardware. Now the time is almost upon us, with March 3rd nearly here (or gone, depending on when you’re reading!) we look at the pros, cons and unknowns about the new console. First of all, the games. Zelda, Mario and Splatoon will all feature on the console, but not necessarily on release. Breathe of the Wild will be out on release, along with 1-2 Switch (deemed the Switch’s Wii Sports, without being on the console at release), Super Bomberman R, a Tetris remake as well as a host of Japanese made games including Dragon Quest Heroes 1 & 2. With only Zelda and new IP 1-2 Switch, the Switch’s homegrown line-up on release isn’t looking like anything ground breaking, anything but. Most of the bigger releases as looking like late 2017 releases, including Mario Odyssey, a 3D Mario RPG reminiscent of the days of Mario 64 and Sunshine. Splatoon 2, or Spla2n as the community as nicknamed it, is also a little way of. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is scheduled for release April 28th but still isn’t on release which has led to a bit of criticism from the fan base and media alike. Third party developers however have been brought back to the Switch it would seem, with EA announcing FIFA (Note: not FIFA 18 it seems) and Bethesda bringing Skyrim to the platform. Although given the way Bethesda seem to want to bring the game to every platform known to man, I wouldn’t be surprised if soon I can play Skyrim on my calculator or fridge… Among other releases from third parties are Sonic Mania and,

DECLAN MURPHY // TECH

by Declan Murphy

hold your hats, Farming Simulator 18. What is interesting is why so many developers and publishers have decided to come back and take a gamble on the Switch. Given the abysmal record of the Wii U with thirdparty developers it seems strange for the Switch back to Nintendo.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Rumours are that it is to do with the architecture of the console. Nvidia is developing the chipset for the Switch, a change up from the console norm of using AMD which we have seen in the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. The Nvidia change isn’t the only thing that the Switch is leading the market on. The portability of the console has also been widely well received. Eight-way LAN connectivity promises to also bring some great local multiplayer to the console especially on titles like Mario Kart and 1-2 Switch, as well as Sm4sh if it is ported to the new console (I can dream). All that connectivity would be great… If you also have an eight-way power brick on you.

The battery life of the new console is questionable, with a 2.5-6 hour life depending on game. Games like Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Skyrim will most likely be on the lower end of that timeframe whilst more lightweight games such as Tetris will hopefully be looking more in the region of 6 hours. The only saving grace of this otherwise lacklustre life is that the console charges through USB Type-C. You see those portable batteries? Yeah, you can use them. The move to a universal format is the most un-Nintendo thing I have ever heard however they still stick to classic Nintendo with not only the number of accessories the console offers but also the price tag. The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller retails at £64.99 and when compared to competing controller (at around £45) it seems flimsy and not worth the price tag Nintendo are asking. It seems like Nintendo’s latest addition will have to be given some time before it becomes clear or not if it will be a success. With a lacklustre line-up and new tech that many will be sceptical about, Nintendo will have to let the initial market do the talking.

Super Mario Odyssey

SINK RESIDENTS | TOOTERS DJ

MARCH 2017

DECLAN MURPHY // TECH

Battle for the Mountain 3!

by Declan Murphy

This month Battle for the Mountain returns! With eight separate titles being played with competitors from eight universities, it is shaping up to be the best season yet. The format works out as a seven team Round Robin with first going straight to the final

and second and third playing off to face first in said final. The games being played are: DotA 2, League of Legends, Counter Strike: Global Offensive, Age of Empires II: HD Edition, Super Smash Bros. For Wii U, Rocket League, Overwatch and Hearthstone. The universities competing are: Swansea, Cardiff, Cardiff Metropolitan, Trinity Saint Davidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Bangor, Aberystwyth,

Chester and South Wales. Games run from the 25th of February until the 15th of April. Contact Swansea Gaming Society for more information.

ISSUE 270

by Hilary Webb

In October 2015 co-founder of Lastminute.com Martha Lane Fox shared her notes for a speech entitled ‘Women as Digital Warriors’. Fox, who found her career on the Internet, says that when she first began her adventures with the web she expected it to become a ‘democratising and empowering force for men and women’. While women were heavily involved in computing from its earliest development in Bletchley Park right through until the 1960s, since then something seems to have gone wrong. The percentage of women in the digital industry actually fell from 33% in 2008 to 27% in 2015. Fox reports that just 4% of UK programmers and 10% of VCs in the industry are women. All these figures are baffling when one realises that women in the UK make up just under half of the workforce. Despite last month’s research

revealing that girls think boys are more intelligent from the age six, in recent years campaigners for women and girls in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) have doubled their efforts. Here at Swansea our Pro-Vice-Chancellor Hilary Lapin-Scott is a leader in efforts to encourage women to get involved in STEM and last year was awarded the WISE Hero award by Her Royal Highness Anne, Princess Royal. WISE is a campaign to promote women in STEM of which the Princess Royal is the patron. While it will take a little longer to see the results of the efforts of recent women in STEM campaigns, from the small number of women in the industry already we’re finally starting to see what happens when women feel free to create with technology. The rise of social media has given everyone a platform, and while sexist Trolls still lurk in dark corners (and sadly still in very public spaces of the net) women are beginning to show how much of an impact we can have

Picture: twitter.com/lappinscott

When women get their hands on technology

Swansea University Pro-Vice-Chancellor Hilary Lappin-Scott

with just social media alone. The Everyday Sexism Project was founded by Laura Bates in 2012. The website and Twitter feed offer a place for men and women to log everyday experiences of sexism, from catcalling in the street to gender stereotyping at work and school, no matter how major or minor you consider the incident. Bates founded the project to prove that sexism isn’t over and that feminism is still needed. The project has since led to two books and continues to open and extend the conversation on sexism.

MARCH 2017

DECLAN MURPHY // TECH

Picture: helloclue.com

Most notably however, is the rise of so-called Femtech. The likes of Ida Tin, CEO and founder of Clue, a period and ovulation tracking mobile application have found a category of technology that no one saw coming. The Femcare industry, that’s sanitary towels, tampons and

Clue

the likes, is a $30 billion market, but the leaders of the Femtech industry have decided that the technology they’re working on has outgrown the vague Femcare title. There are over 45 Femtech start-ups that have recently emerged, like Clue, Glow and Flex, the likes of which are working on empowering

women through innovative technology and research that should speak plainly to women about their reproductive health and break down social stigmas surrounding it. There are hundreds of period/ fertility trackers, pill reminders, pregnancy and breastfeeding apps available for smartphones and this new market is offering more data and insight than ever before about women’s health. Companies like Clue, who offer users the ability to sync the app with their FitBit for further understanding into their health and to share data with friends or partners in Clue Connect, are using this data to find ways to improve women’s quality of life and their understanding of their own bodies.

rights and therefore health. Femtech is by no means limited to social media and mobile applications, as we can see with the development of Daysy. Daysy is a fertility tracker, that works by taking your temperature daily and tracking your menstrual cycle, not only in a means to help you conceive but to prevent pregnancy and to add to the limited number of non-hormonal contraceptives available. While the futuristic looking device isn’t cheap it, offers to fill a small space in this wide gap in women’s health and this innovative use of technology is welcomed by those unable to use traditional forms of contraception.

It is still a new market, but Clue’s CEO Ida Tin makes a bold statement about Femtech on the company blog in autumn 2016 when she wrote that: “This will be a massive category. It’s growing faster every day. I believe venture capitalists will list Femtech as one of their areas of interest. There will be Femtech conferences. Femtech will not be a term referring to “women in technology” but rather as an expanding category of technology that serves the vast opportunities that exist for female health.” Importantly, the emerging Femtech companies are sharing data, resources, and enthusiasm as they marched together in the Women’s March on Washington earlier this year against President Donald Trump’s rhetoric, which threatens the security of women’s reproductive

picture: eu.daysy.me

Bye Felipe is an Instagram account and now website that offers a space for women to share screenshots of conversations with men they meet online. Bitchy? No, because the conversations are of women politely rejecting men and the explicitly hostile and confrontational responses. It turns potentially frightening messages into something comical and raises awareness of a startling double standard around horrible reactions to a simple ‘sorry, I’m not interested’.

Daysy

Thanks to the examples of Martha Lane Fox, Laura Bates and Ida Tin it is clear that women and technology most certainly do go together, and it’s difficult to imagine what would happen if and when the numbers of women in the digital industry finally begin to rise as they should. As much as it can feel as though the Internet is still a man’s world, women are finally realising the potential we have to use technology to raise each other up and even fight The Patriarchy while we’re at it.

ISSUE 270

News in Sport

Swansea Ultimate

defeat Winchester with 15-0 victory

After suffering a string of losses in their regional matches, Swansea University Ultimate have found their footing with this home game after the holidays. Swansea controlled the match completely, not conceding a single point. Conditions on the pitch were damp, with a mostly crosswise wind throughout the game. Winchester started off strong but it was clear that Swansea simply outclassed Winchester when it came to speed. The home team was consistently able to break free of their marks and this offensive flow proved difficult to stop. Looking to counter and eager for a way into the match, Winchester threw up a zone of their own to start the half. It was highly effective, leading to the longest point of the game. There were several turnovers on both sides and an attack on Swansea’s end zone from

Winchester, but in the end, Swansea was able to put it away. Unable to hold the point, Winchester’s morale collapsed, leading to several unforced errors, which Swansea was quick to capitalize on. Soon after Swansea reached the score cap to end the game after just 38 minutes. The teams ended on good terms, playing 10 minutes of friendlies with players from both sides mixed into two new teams. Next up for Swansea Ultimate are two crucial games versus Bristol and FXU. Like in football, Ultimate teams can promote into higher leagues if

they perform well, or be relegated down a league if they fail to do so. Swansea must win at least one of these two matches to avoid facing relegation. Here’s hoping those lads you sometimes see playing with that strange flat ball can finish the season strong! If you’d like to attend a match to show your support for Ultimate, go to trainings, or just learn more about the sport, please join our Facebook group “Swansea University Ultimate” for more information.

MARCH 2017

SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM

Men’s Hockey Mid-Season Update With the season set to resume after the winter break, now is as good a time as any to review the club’s progress so far this season. The 2016/17 season saw change come to Swansea University Men’s Hockey, as the club grew from three to five teams, thanks to a large intake of freshers. This growth has allowed the club to be competitive at a range of levels, with greater depth benefiting each team. Following promotion last season, the first XI, led by Captain Alex Bourn, are mid table in the GoCre8 Hockey League Premiership. The team had a good run of results before Christmas, including a 4-2 win away from home against rivals Cardiff and the team will be hoping to continue this good form. The team is also sitting in second place in the Western 1A BUCS league, leaving the team in a good position to continue their pursuit of promotion. On eleven

goals apiece, goals from both Luke Pelech and Michael Venn have been invaluable to the team this season, with no doubt more to come in the second half of the season. Tom Judge’s second XI sit at the top of the De Cymru and the Marches 2 league, boasting the meanest defensive record in the division, meaning that back to back promotion is a very real possibility for the 2s.

Back to back promotion is also possible for them in the BUCS league as they currently sit in second place. The third XI are mid table in the De Cymru 1 league and will be looking to push on in the second half of the season, as they push for promotion. The new fourth and fifth teams have started strongly with the 4s unbeaten so far this season and the fifth XI have only been defeated once.

Lifesaving Work Hard at Welsh Nationals The last weekend of January saw the lifesaving team push their skills at Welsh Nationals held in our very own Wales national pool. Teams from all over Wales fought for the top spot, there were even some appearances from a few English teams and members of the GB squad. What makes lifesaving different to other sports is it’s a multi-disciplinary sport in which competitors have to hold a lifesaving qualification to compete.

With rope throws and manikin tows lifesaving competitions are far from boring. The squad who entered the Welsh Champs for the first time worked hard, there were other Swansea Lifesaving members competing in local teams and they did the club proud too! This was an excellent warm up for student champs which are also being hosted in Swansea this year on the 11th and 12th of March is anyone wants to come to check out a new sport!

ISSUE 270

MARCH 2017

SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM

Rocking All Over The World This January Surf, Snowriders and Rowing set out on some epic trips across Europe!

The Surf club have recently returned from Fuerta Ventura after taking over 40 students on a funfilled surfing holiday.

The Surf club have been busy this year. They smashed the European Student Surf competitions this October. The competition was fierce, with over 300 student competitors surfing for the title over 3 day heats. Swansea men’s team came 2nd and Rhys Poulton came 3rd in the individuals. Swansea dominated in the Europeans and have managed to engage over 70 members this year.

The rowers prepare for Varsity in Totnes. After a very successful day racing in Cardiff featuring both the

senior and novice men beating their varsity rivals the rowing club headed south to Totnes in Devon for a 5-day training camp. All squads battled the rain, wind and blistered hands to log hundreds of kilometres on the river Dart. Our high-performance men’s and women’s squads were assisted by professional coaching and video analysis whilst our two novice squads gained invaluable time on the water. The week away formed close friendships and ties between our members accumulating in a celebratory Tooters on Friday evening. The week kickstarts our varsity training campaign with all the squads looking in great shape to impress and bring home silverware from the Welsh Boat Race on April 1st against Cardiff.

Swansea Snowriders smashed their infamous winter trip to Alpe D’Huez in the last week of January. The trip was destined for success, with a launch party gathering huge interest and the trip selling out in a record time of 8 hours, and the

committee were ready to prove their worth. Partying aside, the Swansea Snowriders did not disappoint. All skiing abilities were catered for and everyone on the trip had great time! Aside from organising legendary ski trips around Europe the Snowriders have been performing well in their Kings Regional Races. Both boarding and skiing teams have been racing well this year, beating rivals such as UWE and Cardiff in both categories. ‘We did refreshers differently this year. As soon as exams finished we loaded up coaches and over 200 of us headed to Alpe D’Huez. It was an amazing week with plenty of snow! Particular highlights for many included the away day to the neighbouring resort L2A, the mountain meal and the fancy dress ride day’ said the Snowriders Secretary, Matt Davis. Matt Davis (below) came 2nd in this year’s UK BUCS Snowsports Tournament in Edinburgh.

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MARCH 2017

SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM

What Does Varsity Mean To Our Clubs? Varsity is a day dedicated to celebrating sport at Swansea University, by being a student here you become part of athe Green and White Army. An army that is dedicated, passionate and loyal to Swansea.

‘Varsity is an opportunity. A chance to showcase our talent and our sport to the Swansea faithful, a chance to grow, and most importantly; a chance to keep our noisy neighbours quiet’ claims Volleyball captain Raphel Rososchansky.

It’s the highlight of the sporting calendar for student athletes, coaches and sports fans. You don’t have to step onto the court or pitch to feel the emotion and be a part of the Welsh Varsity.

Aimee Pink, Women’s Hockey Club Captain, explains ‘Varsity to me is all about the build-up as well of the day. The extra training and commitment as a team and then going out on pitch together is just really special. You end up spending everyday together as a squad and when the big day comes you’re closer than ever.’

Our sports clubs revel in the challenge against Cardiff, each aiming to take the win on the day. Preparation begin at the beginning of each academic year, all our committee members do what they do for their clubs with Varsity in mind. It’s at the forefront of every decision, fitness session and training session.

Last year Swansea had the final say on the day. The Men’s Rugby beat the rivals at the Liberty with a convincing performance and took the trophy home with pride. Can we do it again this year?