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FEBRUARY MARCH 2019 2019

Elections cover VOTE NOW

11.03.19 - 15.03.19 SWANSEA-UNION.CO.UK/ELECTIONS

ISSUE 286 285

The Students’ Union is a democratic organisation led by you, the students. Only students can stand in our elections and only students can vote in them.

Our Officers make decisions that seriously impact your time at uni - from your internet connection on campus to who’s headlining Summer Ball. If these things affect you, you should vote now.

To check out who’s standing in the elections, go to

swansea-union. co.uk /elections

and cast your vote!

There are currently 18 positions that are up for grabs and it’s up to you to decide who gets elected:

FULL-TIME OFFICERS

PRESIDENT PRESIDENT

SOCIETIESSOCIETIES EDUCATION EDUCATION SPORTS & SERVICES & SERVICES OFFICEROFFICER OFFICER OFFICER OFFICER

WELFARE SPORTS OFFICER OFFICER

WELSH WELFARE AFFAIRS OFFICER OFFICER

PART-TIME OFFICERS BLACK BLACK MINORITY MINORITY ETHNIC &&ETHNICITY OFFICER OFFICER

ENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENT OFFICER

ETHICS OFFICER

GENERAL SECRETARY

LGBT++ LGBT OPEN OFFICER

MATURE STUDENTS OFFICER

MENTAL MENTAL HEALTH HEALTH AWARENESSS AWARENESS OFFICER OFFICER

STUDENTS STUDENTS WITH WITH DISABILITIES DISABILITIES OFFICER OFFICER

HOW TO VOTE

2 1

Log in to swansea-union.co.uk Log in to swansea-union.co.uk between 11am Monday between 11am onon Monday 11th12th March 1pm Friday March --1pm onon Friday 15th16th March March

INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS’ STUDENTS’ OFFICER OFFICER

WELSH WELSH LANGUAGE LANGUAGE OFFICER OFFICER

LGBT LGBT++ WOMEN’S OFFICER

WOMEN’S WOMEN’S OFFICER OFFICER

Having a problem? Email web@swansea-union.co.uk

Click on the elections banner

Follow the instructions

Make your Mark on Swansea Uni

ELECTIONS FAQS WHAT ARE THEY?

The SU elections are your chance to have your say on what happens in the Uni. Full-time and Parttime Officers are voted in (by you) and they make important decisions and changes based on their manifestos. That’s why it’s important for you to read their manifestos and vote for who you think can represent you and make the best changes in the Union and the Uni (just like the General Election).

HOW DOES VOTING WORK?

To cast your votes, go to swansea-union.co.uk/elections. We use alternative or transferable voting so you can rank your preference order, and if your first preference doesn’t win, your vote will be transferred to your second choice, and so on. This means your vote gives you a stronger say.

WHAT IS A MANIFESTO?

It’s a list of ideas that each candidate will make happen if they’re voted in (again, like the General Election). If you agree that someone’s ideas need to happen - vote for them. Easy as pie.

WHAT IS RON AND NFP?

Do you have any questions? student.voice@swansea-union.co.uk

RON stands for Re-Open Nominations. If you don’t want any of the candidates for one of the roles to be elected, vote RON. If RON wins, either another election will be held, or nobody will be elected for that role. NFP stands for No Further Preferences, so after voting for your first and second choice, if you’re undecided about the rest of the candidates, select NFP.

Â£70 Studio Tour Taith Stiwdio

24.03.19

Transport & Entry Trafnidiaeth a mynediad 01792 203235

travelshop@swansea-union.co.uk

features

Wellbeing

film

17 My Maintenance Mantra

26 It's Normal Not to be OK

37 Roma: The Truest Form of a Cinematic Experience 38 Birdman: The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance

photography

Travel

food

18 Mastering a DSLR Camera

28 The Great Unknown: How Traveling Changed Me

40 What Should You Give Into for Lent? 42 Verve 37: For the Love of Tapas

Culture

Liberation

MUsic

20 Ohmigod You Guys: The Taliesin goes Blonde 22 Behind the Curtain of Legally Blonde

30 Let's Talk About Polyamory

44 Bikini Kill:Modern Day Rebel Girls 45 Mac's Hats

puzzles

creative writing MUsic

24 Animal Crossword, Courses Wordsearch & more...

33 Period.

47 Club in Focus: Swansea University Karate

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

FILM

Joshua O'Mahoney

Alex Udraufski-Osborne

waterfronteditor@swanseastudentmedia.com

waterfrontfilm@swanseastudentmedia.com

SUB EDITOR

Jacob Fleming

FOOD

Caitlin Jones

waterfrontfood@swanseastudentmedia.com

waterfrontsubeditor@swanseastudentmedia.com

PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

LIBERATION Zoya Chisti

Charlotte Husbands

waterfrontliberation@swanseastudentmedia.com

waterfrontphoto@swanseastudentmedia.com

MUSIC

DESIGN & ARTWORK

Fin Hardie & Joshua O'Mahoney

Iain Fisher

waterfrontmusic@swanseastudentmedia.com

waterfrontdesign@swanseastudentmedia.com

SPORT

PROOFREADING

Jessica Hayden

Caitlin Jones & Kathryn Hayne

waterfrontsport@swanseastudentmedia.com

proofreader@swanseastudentmedia.com

STUDY ABROAD

CULTURE

Lauren Lewis

Kathryn Hayne

waterfrontstudyabroad@swanseastudentmedia.com

waterfrontculture@swanseastudentmedia.com

TRAVEL

FASHION

Open position (contact our editor to apply for this role) waterfrontfashion@swanseastudentmedia.com

Meryl Hanmer waterfronttravel@swanseastudentmedia.com

STUDENT MEDIA COORDINATOR

FEATURES

Iain Fisher

Canisha Chakadya waterfrontfeatures@swanseastudentmedia.com

iain.fisher@swansea-union.co.uk

THIS MONTH'S CONTRIBUTORS Joshua Harrigan • Shannon McDonald • Charlotte Husbands • Caitlin Jones • Laurence Brown Zoya Chishti • Lizzy Brown • Carlos Tseng • Ilyan Garnev • Eleanor Maunder • Jacob Fleming Erin Allwood • Alex McDougall • Josh Dobbins • Megan Warren-Davies

WATERFRONT IS A FREE PRINT AND ONLINE PUBLICATION FROM SWANSEA STUDENT MEDIA AND YOUR STUDENTS’ UNION. SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM

Joshua O'Mahoney Editor-in-chief

Well, hello everyone. I’d like to introduce myself as the new Editor of the Waterfront! I’ll be succeeding the wonderful Carys and continuing her awesome work! I thought it would be nice just to say that it was an absolute pleasure working with Carys on the Waterfront this year, and I wish her all the best with the rest of her semester. I cannot believe that we are in March already! It’s been a wild ride at the beginning of 2019, but it’s about to get even crazier as we come to the halfway point of the second semester of the year. This month, the whole university will be turning their heads towards the SU Elections. The anticipation for the brilliant campaigns from the brilliant candidates is sure to create an electric atmosphere around campus. Best of luck to everyone running, and may the best candidates win! February was unusually hot, let’s hope for a sunny March as well! Josh

Elections '19 Nominations for the 2019 elections are now closed, so here are the candidates hoping to win your votes and become next years full-time and part-time Union officers.

President

Photography by Joshua Harrigan during LGBT+ History Month. During my undergrad, I studied Geography, held the position of Secretary for the Geography Society and was an active member of the Netball Club. I was also President of the Uni Boob Team where we raised over £4500 for ‘CoppaFeel!’. Within my position as an SU Trustee, I’ve carried out my legal and financial duties and strengthened our relationship

with University Management. My year in office has enabled me to gain the knowledge and skills required to ensure that our SU continues to grow.

President

As your current Welfare Officer, I’ve delivered on numerous manifesto points. This year I produced the student housing guide and launched the Good Night Out training for every Students’ Union venue. In addition, I’ve secured funding for free sanitary products on both campuses, helped make Swansea the first ReFill University in Wales and successfully persuaded the University to fly the rainbow flag

Brittany Murphy

Theresa Ogbekhiulu

Konstantinos 'Sam' Samouilidis Education

Rory James

Education

Hello, I’m Brittany, a third year English Literature student and a COAH College Rep, with two years’ experience in the Education Zone. In my time at Swansea University I have tried to be as involved as possible with the student voice, helping to improve the student experience. As a College Rep this year, to improve your educational experience I've helped to arrange events such as the Big COAH Survey Day, the Dissertation Symposium and the Employability Fair. After working alongside 2 previous Education Officers, I believe I have what it takes to represent YOU and fight for YOUR Education rights and needs.

Hello, my name is Theresa, running for the post of Education officer. I am currently a postgraduate student of Communications, Media Practice and Public Relations. My journey in Swansea University started in 2015, through The College (formerly ICWS). After that, I proceeded to the University for my undergraduate degree in Media and PR, where I achieved a first class, now pursuing a master’s degree. During this time, I have worked as a student ambassador at The College, and a subject representative, from my first year at the university until date. This has availed me the opportunity to support and build relationships with the students, as well as staff of the university. I would not have achieved these and more without the immense support from previous officers. On the basis thereof, I am looking to take this further by reinforcing current services, especially education wise, and introducing much more.

Hello, my name is Konstantinos but everyone calls me Sam! I am an International student from Greece and Final Year Computer Science student. In the past I have been a Subject Rep for my 1st and 2nd years and now I'm a College of Science Rep working together with the other College Rep to promote best practices on feedback gathering and publication within the Science departments. By the end of the academic year my hope is that there will be a more robust system in place and if not, there will be plans for the implementation of one in the near future.

Hey there, my name is Rory. I am an MA student studying English literature, and as I’m sure you’ve noticed, I’m running for Education Officer. Throughout my 4 years at Swansea, I’ve fought to improve the standards of education throughout the university, and last year was given the opportunity to do so as both the 3rd year Student Rep and the president of the English Society. In these roles, I helped in the creation of student events both academic (the Employability fair) and social (COAH ball) and brought student issues to the attention of the university. Now, I want to take this one step further, and improve the educational experience on a systemic level. I would like to take a moment to discuss my plans for change, and how I intend to make the student experience at the best university in Wales even better.

Grace Hannaford

Education

Societies & Services

Inês Teixeira-Dias

Ellie Mahoney

Lewis Israel

Ruth Wilkins

Societies & Services

Hello! My name is Inês (pronounced In-ish), I’m a thirdyear psychology student and I’m running to be YOUR next Societies & Services Officer. I’ve been involved in the Union since my first week at university. I’ve been on the committee for the Photography Society and won a volunteering award at the Student Union Awards 1st year; this year I’ve been on committee for the biggest sports club on campus (Social Media and PR Officer for the Swansea Snowriders) and have worked in Fulton Outfitters for nearly three years. Being so integrated in the Union has allowed me to see things from a student’s, and staff ‘s, perspective, meaning I can understand student needs and often be in a position to do something about it.

Hello, I’m Ellie and I am running for Societies and Services Officer for the next academic year. I am the current President of the Applied Linguistics society and have upheld the position for the last two years, as well as aiding to initiate the society. I am also a member of the College of Arts and Humanities ball committee, as well as representing the Swansea Sirens in competitions and Varsity in my second year of university. Being a part of these societies highlights my dedication and enthusiasm towards representing and developing both the academic and the extra-curricular side of university life. By gaining an insight into both aspects of university social life I have learnt the different features a society needs in order to be to become successful. I can listen and address issues head on, which is why I believe I will be a great voice for all students.

I’m Lewis, and I’m studying Media and Communications. I’ve been an active member of SUSU for the last four years, and I have had the best time meeting and working with a variety of societies. Personally, I have been a part of Shoreline Theatre, and have held committee positions in Swansea Student Media, for example, being Station Manager of SUTV for two years! This allowed me to work with a vast number of societies and sports teams. It was during these opportunities that I realised that Swansea University has a huge range of interests that students are incredibly enthusiastic about. I want to help grow these passions by supporting you as your Societies and Services Officer. I know what it is like to be new to a society and to be on a committee, so let’s work together to make SUSU better for us all.

Hi! I’m Ruth Wilkins and I’m a master’s clinical psychology student. I have been heavily involved in societies since I started studying here in 2014. I’ve been a member of musicians society, LGBT society, taken part in 3 performing arts societies musicals and this year I am musical director of Choral Society. My continued involvement in societies has helped me to identify specific issues that affect their day-today running and any potential solutions, as well as giving me a chance to develop my social life and leadership skills. I’m running for societies and services FTO because I believe that over my 5 years at Swansea, I’ve had the full Swansea experience, and I want to make sure that you get the most out your time here.

#MayTheForceBeWithLew #ALewHope

Natasha Cornwell

Hello, I’m Natasha and I am running for the position of Societies and Services officer. I am currently a third-year student studying Ancient History. Presently, I am a member of multiple societies and for the past year I have been Secretary in the Ancient Studies Society. This has

given me a good understanding of administrative functions involved with the role, and a knowledge of what things societies are after from the SU. Outside of university life I enjoy taking trips to the Gower and enjoying the scenery there.

Hi, I am Alex but my friends all know me as Thumbs. I’m a physics student and I have been at this University for 5 years. I have 4 years of experience on society committees. I have experience leading a team, from roles such as President and Captain, and working within a

team, as Secretary and Treasurer. I spent 3 consecutive years, 20152018, working on the society’s executive committee, 2 years as Hobbies and Interests rep and 1 year as open place rep. Within these roles I have worked with the past 3 Society and Services FTOs and have developed a

Societies & Services

Alexander 'Thumbs' Sheffield Societies & Services

strong understanding of the role. From my time as a student and committee member at Swansea University I have a strong understanding of the issues the societies and services face, and many potential solutions to them

Societies & Services

Chrystal-Sky Dawson

I’m Chrystal and I’m in my final year studying Spanish and French. Swansea has been my home for the past 3 years and during that time here I’ve relished all it has to offer and couldn’t imagine myself studying anywhere else. Societies are the hub of life at University where life-long

bonds are formed, and memories made. I believe it’s important to actively promote societies whilst providing the best possible services that will allow this. Societies have been a huge part of my University experience, being a member of Show Choir during my time here has helped me make new friends and grow

as a person. This year I’ve also worked to resurrect the French society serving as President on the committee. Collectively, these experiences have given me a greater understanding regarding the needs of students and how it is possible to now further improve what has already been achieved.

Hey, my name is Jack Dunne and I want to be your next Societies and Services Officer. My passion lies in our Students’ Union, its democracy and the services it provides. I have served on many society committees from academic to campaigns. I’ve improved our Union by co-founding the

Swansea Elects service and sitting on the Societies Executive for two years. I have campaigned tirelessly to build relationships with Swansea Council and have worked on campaigns on campus and across the city. We need to provide equal services on both campuses, make sure students are able to afford

a variety of food options, access the jobs they need, and allow students to access Union services on campus and online. Over the last three years at Swansea I have witnessed what our SU delivers and noticed what it doesn’t. I believe we can do better, let’s #GetItDunne!

My name is Milly Price and I am currently running for the Societies and Services position in the Student Union. I am completing a degree in American Studies and English Literature and I am also currently the President of the American Studies Society meaning I have

experience running a committee and have a knowledge in what could be improved in terms of supporting a society and their needs. I have a passion for charity work and giving back to the community, often taking part in voluntary work or cultural events

such as the ‘Pages of the Sea’ project in association with Danny Boyle and Swansea University or working with mental health charities to fight for the support and empowerment for young minds.

I believe I will make a good sports officer because my passion for sport has been ingrained in me throughout my sporting life and I know I can give back to a community that has provided me with opportunities beyond competition. I am committed to making a difference and working within the realms of the union to

improve sporting opportunities for all students through innovative, creative and inspired new ideas, as well as building on the solid foundations created by previous officers. Having played a number of sports, namely water polo and rugby at levels ranging from community amateur clubs, to

GB squads, I understand the importance of adaptability, development and teamwork. This, combined with my drive for change, will leave me in good stead to make my mark on Swansea University as a sporting hub.

Hello all! I am an Aerospace Engineering student graduating during this upcoming summer. I have been playing basketball for the university’s first team since I started my degree and I have also been part of the basketball club committee for the past two years.

Being part of the committee for this long has made me aware of some current issues and things that could be improved within the sport clubs and has also provided me with the experience necessary to address and tackle such issues.

Societies & Services

Jack Dunne

Societies & Services

Milly Price

Sports

Societies & Services

Peter Deutsch Sports

Carlos Melendez Sancho Sports

Ffion Davies

Harry Churchill

Hey, my name is Oliver Van Klaveren (OVK) and I am running to be your sports officer for 2019-2020. I’m a current 3rd year *shudders* aerospace engineering student but more importantly a dedicated member of Swansea Student Sport. In my time here, I have spent two years as a member of the student executive committee helping to organise BUCS Wednesday events and also appearing as Stanley the swan in photos, and at varsity (Uppa Swans). Alongside this I have spent two years on the hockey club committee, first as team captain leading my team to BUCS cup finals and now Umpire Secretary showing my commitment to improving the experience of all Sport Swansea and club members. Outside University I was the head of tennis at an American summer camp of 300+ young people and was invited back this year, which highlights my experience and success in a sporting management role.

Hello, my name is Ffion Davies, and this year I am running for the position of Sports Officer in the SU. As a final year Sports and Exercise Science Student and a keen sports player, sport has based the foundations of my time in Swansea University. Therefore, my aim is to give students an unforgettable sporting experience! I am currently the Club Captain for the Netball Club and was the Vice-Captain last year. As well as this, I have spent the past year as a General Sports Executive for Sport Swansea and I therefore understand the challenges that face our sporting community. Through these experiences I have the insight needed to ensure that the needs of all sports clubs are met. I am an approachable person, as highlighted by my shortlisting for Sports Personality of the Year 2018 and am always ready to listen to new ideas.

Anyone who knows me will know that when I am passionate about something, I will work tirelessly towards making sure it happens! This past year my roles as Men’s football Club Captain & General executive for sport have presented me with a diverse range of challenges such as performing financial restructuring, overseeing the amalgamation of 4 different football factions, marketing & advertising and helping to ensure the smooth running of sport at the university. But these challenges have also provided me with a wealth of skills I feel will help me serve you as your sports officer! If elected I will give all of my effort and passion to ensuring sport here at Swansea is recognised for the amazing opportunities it provides, the lasting friendships it helps to create and most of all the pivotal role it can play within our University!

My name is Elizabeth Ferrar and I am running to be your next Sports Officer. I am a third-year English Literature and Language Student. I have been involved in sport all my life, including Football, Netball and Rowing. As part of Women’s Football, I have been on the committee as Vice

Club Captain and Club Captain. I believe through these roles I have gained invaluable experience in organising and developing Women’s Football, which has been shown through our impressive achievements this year both on and off the field. I believe this will be of great importance if I became

your Sports Officer. Sport has been a huge part of my time at Swansea University and I hope to encourage as many students into sport as possible, whether that’s participating, watching, coaching or officiating.

Hi, my name is Harry Merriman and I am running to be your Students’ Union Sports Officer. I am a third-year War and Society student and currently the President of Swansea Ultimate Frisbee and in my second year I held the position of Treasurer. As President of one of the fastest

growing sports clubs, I appreciate the difficulties and constraints often faced by sports teams who are seeking to grow and develop, from financial difficulties to facilities issues. From my experiences as a first-year student player to progressing onto committee and subsequently to President, I have

gained valuable organisational experience and an understanding of the day-to-day operational side of Student Sport. I intend to use this experience to support up and coming sports teams and increase sports participation across both campuses.

Sports

Elections '19

Oliver Van Klaveren

Elizabeth Ferrar

Sports

Harry Merriman Sports

Harry 'Barry' Bloodworth

Catherine Sanders

Olivia 'Liv' Parsons

Dan De Jongh

My name is Harry (also known as Barry) Bloodworth and I’m in my final year of studying Politics. I am the best fit for your 2019/20 Welfare Officer as I’m a socially conscious, active member of university life. In the last year alone, I have begun working for the SU which gave me a greater insight in to how our Union works, as well as having sat on a sports committee and coached a team in the 2018 varsity. The contribution that I’ve made to the uni which I’m proudest of is coordinating the Movember Foundation charity campaign in Swansea. Amazingly, we raised just over £11,000 in 2018 and spread awareness of men’s health issues. This process really opened my eyes to how much positive change the SU can bring about as well as the improvements that I can bring to the role of Welfare Officer.

My name is Catherine Sanders and I am a first-year student studying BA Welsh Second Language and I am running for the SU Welfare Officer position. Although I haven’t been at the University too long, I am already aware of the issues students face financially, how students mental health can affect their studies, and how much the access to well-being services still needs improving. Students voices need to be heard in regard to feeling safe on a night out, and about student housing. I plan on using my confidence and excellent communication skills to tackle these issues with a head on approach. I am passionate about working with all of you and listening to any concerns. I will have an open-door policy and will always be on hand if you need anything.

Hi, I’m Olivia (Liv) Parsons and I’m running for Welfare officer. I am a third year Mathematics student. For the last two years I have been a member of the Maths Society committee, first as Secretary and then Vice President, and this year I am also part of the Executives committee as the Academic and Employability Rep and Captain of the Women’s Ultimate Frisbee team. When I became a part of the Maths Society committee, it had existed, officially, for less than a year and since then I have helped grow the society to what it is today. I fell in love with Swansea on a very rainy open day, four years ago, and now I want to give back to the university and continue the work of previous officers to make it the best place to study that it can be!

Hello, I'm Dan, and I'm running to be your next welfare officer. I’m currently studying for my masters in Abnormal and Clinical psychology, after finishing my Psychology degree here at Swansea last year. Having been at Swansea University for 4 years now, I’ve been a part of several sports teams and societies; I was a badminton committee member last year. In my time at Swansea, I’ve witnessed many positive changes made to the student experience and have made it my goal to tackle issues which haven’t received the attention they need. I feel that this, coupled with the skills and knowledge I’ve gained from my degrees, will help to make real effective changes. I’m determined to continue the work of the current and past officers to make the changes you want to see and ensure that you receive the support you deserve and need from your Students’ Union.

Fy enw i yw Megan a dwi’n rhedeg am Swyddog Materion Cymraeg am y flwyddyn 2019/20. Mae’r Gymraeg yn agos iawn at fy nghalon gyda’r gymuned Gymraeg yn chwarae rôl pwysig yn academaidd a chymdeithasol. Ar hyn o bryd, dwi’n fyfyrwraig Daearyddiaeth trydedd flwyddyn ac yn graddio yn yr haf. Tra yn y brifysgol:

• Dwi’n astudio dros 40% o fy ngradd drwy’r Gymraeg • Dwi’n Lywydd ar Gymdeithas y Gymraeg • Rwyf yn mynychu pwyllgorau Fforwm Myfyrwyr Cymraeg a Phwyllgorau Strategaeth yr Iaith Gymraeg • Dwi wedi sefydlu Clwb Pêl Rwyd Tawe, sef cymdeithas Bêl Rwyd Gymraeg

Rwy’n berson cymdeithasol, bywiog a siaradus gyda diddordeb mewn rygbi, ffermio a teithio’r byd. Credaf y byddaf yn addas ar gyfer y swydd yma gan fy mod yn berson penderfynol iawn; mae hyn yn fantais er mwyn gallu cyflawni fy mhrif fwriad o hyrwyddo’r iaith ar draws y brifysgol gan roi fwy o statws i’r Gymraeg.

My name is Megan and I am running for Welsh Affairs Officer for 2019/20. The Welsh language is very close to my heart, with the Welsh community playing a vital role academically and socially. At present, I’m a third year Geography student, graduating over the summer. While in university:

• I study 40% of my degree in Welsh • I’m the President of the Welsh Society • I attend the Welsh Student Forum and the Welsh Language Strategy Committee • I have established a Welsh netball team, ‘Clwb Pêl Rwyd Tawe’

I’m a sociable, vibrant and chatty person with an interest in rugby, farming and traveling the world. I think I will be the right person for this role because I am a very determined individual; this is an advantage in order to be able to fulfill my main priority of promoting the language across the university giving a higher status to the Welsh.

Welsh Affairs | Materion Cymraeg

Welfare

Megan Fflur Colbourne

Welfare

Welsh Affairs Materion Cymraeg

Danielle Fisher

Zoya Chishti

Hey! I’m Ana Guri, a third-year biology student looking to be your next Welfare Officer!

Hello! My name is Danielle Fisher. I am a third-year law student and I am running to be your Welfare Officer for the next year. I feel that I am suited to the role because the welfare of others is something that is incredibly important! As current President of Swansea University Dance Society, I have sought to ensure that the welfare of our members is given priority, to enable them to enjoy being a member, have the support they need and to not feel excluded in any way. Student welfare is essential, and I am confident that I can continue to build on the fantastic work of previous officers to ensure that every student feels safe and supported!

Student welfare is of the upmost importance. No student should be unable to succeed or access everything university has to offer, due to their welfare needs not being met. Through new policies and campaigning, I aim to make Swansea university a more inclusive and welcoming environment, to ensure every student can reach their full potential. I am a third year Medical Sciences and Humanities student. During my time at university, I have been the welfare officer for the LGBT+ society, the Social secretary of the debating society, the treasurer for the debating society, the president of the LGBT+ society and the editor for the Liberation section of Waterfront. I have volunteered countless hours during my time at Swansea, with the intention of giving back to the student community; if elected, I hope to do more to make Swansea better.

Fy enw i yw Chelsea ac eleni dwi’n rhedeg am rôl Swyddog yr Iaith Gymraeg yn yr Undeb Myfyrwyr. Fel myfyriwr Cymraeg, mae sefyllfa’r Gymraeg yn y brifysgol yn amlwg i mi. Yn ystod fy nghyfnod yn y Brifysgol hyd yma: • Rydw i’n astudio bron 100% o fy nghwrs Hanes a Chymraeg trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg. • Rydw i eisoes wedi gweithio’n agos gydag Academi Hywel

Teifi, Dysgu Cymraeg Ardal Bae Abertawe, a’r Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol mewn amrywiaeth o weithgareddau yn gysyltiedig â’r Gymraeg. • Rydw i wedi bod yn llysgennad i’r Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol am flwyddyn. Yn sgil y profiadau yma rwyf wedi cael yn ystod y tair blynedd diwethaf, teimlaf fy mod i’n ymwybodol o’r heriau sydd yn wynebu’r Gymraeg yn ein

prifysgol. Fy mwriad gyda’r maniffesto yw sicrhau cymuned Cymraeg llewyrchus yn Abertawe. Mae’r iaith Gymraeg yn bwysig i fyfyrwyr Cymraeg y Brifysgol ac mae hi’n hanfodol pwysig bod amlygrwydd y Gymraeg yn cael ei chryfhau.

I’m Chelsea and this year I am running for the role of Welsh Language Officer at the Student Union. As a welsh speaking student, I am aware of the Welsh language’s position within the University. During my three years as a student at Swansea University thus far, I have: • Studied almost 100% of my Welsh and History course through the medium of Welsh.

• I’ve worked closely with Academi Hywel Teifi, Dysgu Cymraeg Ardal Bae Abertawe, and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol on multiple occasions in association with the Welsh Language. • I have been an ambassador for the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. I feel that I understand the issues and challenges facing the Welsh

Language within our university. My aim with the manifesto is to ensure a flourishing Welsh community within Swansea university. The Welsh Language is important to many students at Swansea and it’s essential that visibility is strengthened within the university.

Welfare

Welsh Affairs | Materion Cymraeg

Elections '19

Ana Guri

#GetWithGuri Since September, I’ve been working as the SU Environment Officer! Among other things, I have organised beach cleans and a Go Green Fortnight (coming in March!), attended NUS conferences and been part of SU Exec meetings, bringing me insight on how the union works and ways of improving students’ wellbeing. For the past three years as a student I have been an active member of different sports clubs and societies, which has furthered my passion in ensuring students have a great university experience by having others welfare at heart! I’m also very friendly and approachable, and always open to your suggestions!

Chelsea-Anne Morris-Jones

Welsh Affairs Materion Cymraeg

Welfare

Part-time Officers

Liza Leibowitz

Panashe 'Joy' Matibiri

Nnadi Emmanuel Ebuka

Dubem Bakwenye

Stefanie Octon

Jean-Louis Button Environment

Mustafa Shah

Environment

Ellen Rosier

Environment

Georgia-Rose Williams

Sukhban Sani

Brenna Roberts

Charlie Wells

Yury Nazirov

Yue Lung Fan

BME

Environment

Bruce Williams

BME

Environment

Joe Davern

BME

Ethics

Jessica Moultrie

BME

Ethics

Simon Banks

General Secretary

Mental Health Awareness

Cati Turner

William Price

Lavinia Cramer

Naomi Parry

Mental Health Awareness

Environment

Mature

To find out more about the candidates and ask them your questions, come along to Hustings at 5pm on Wednesday 6th in JCs and Thursday 7th March in Tafarn Tawe.'

Part-time Officers

Adrian Ho

Mostafa Samaha

Shelby Hayes

Sami Matar

Shriya Jaiswal

International

Ntsako Chauke

Maona Manyau

Zoe Sun

Rex Fox O'Loughlin

Jade Easthope

International

Trans & Non-Binary

LGBT+ Bay

Alexandra Hutchin

Courtney Davies

Robyn Parker

Holly Barwick

Scarlett Ross

Quin Davies

Owain Brooks

LGBT+ Singleton

Women's

Kelly Humphreys

Princy Grace Athisayarasa

Miles Singleton

Women's

Disabilities

Women's

Disabilities

Women's

Disabilities

VOTE NOW

11.03.19 - 15.03.19 SWANSEA-UNION.CO.UK/ELECTIONS

FEATURES CANISHA CHAKADYA

image: Wikimedia Commons

My maintenance mantra

Brynmill is one of the most densely populated student areas in Swansea.

Student housing can be complex. The whole process of looking for a suitable house and finding a reliable letting agency can be overwhelming. After the experience of finding a house and having to sign a contract, it is now up to the landlord and letting agency to keep the promises that were stated. Within a housing agency as soon as a contract is signed it should be written within the contract that it is the landlord’s responsibility to deal with any maintenance issues. BY SHANNON MCDONALD

The term “deal with” is used very loosely. The common theme with student housing is that there is a lack of response or urgency towards issues that occur in the houses. Let me tell you about my personal experience. I had mould running down the walls of my flat and when I emailed my landlord to deal with the issue, there was no response for a further two weeks. The following week I had to email the maintenance team again, to which they responded by saying they had already dealt with the problem, having “fixed the door handle already and scraped of the fungal growth in the bathroom”. A week later they responded with an official date that they would deal with the problem, but the date came around and nobody turned up. This problem had been developing for over a month. The mould had grown larger and had begun to crack the paint in the walls. A further phone call was made to our landlord, who came into the house and took pictures of the

problem. Promises were made to fix the issue. The following week was just before Christmas and the maintenance team had still not arrived. The mould had cascaded around the walls of the living room and was seeping into the wardrobe of my housemate’s bedroom. A few days after they had promised that they were going to arrive they turned up at the door without warning, with a huge block of wood. They drilled into the wall and sand papered the mould, took away the door that separated our hallway, formed gaping holes around the entrance, then left. You could imagine our dismay when we came in from our busy lecture to find a red strip where the mould used to be and the huge gaping holes in our once chic living room. But what could we say? We were just students, and there were other houses to look after. We were not a priority and the mould we were complaining about was just “wipeable” - as we were told several

times. The disarray was left for a further two weeks, they came in and painted the red wall back to an off-white colour. After a further two weeks, they came to finally fill in the hole in the doorway. For many of you reading this, this will be a familiar experience. In a survey conducted by Save The Student, 32% of students have said that it takes longer than a week for a housing issue to be resolved. 1 in 3 students are waiting for a month for assistance, and 7% of problems are never fixed. The best way to ensure that this doesn’t happen is to demand more. The rent we pay permits us to live in the house, but landlords also have a responsibility to maintain their end of the contract by ensuring the property remains liveable. The less direct approach is to ask for advice from the university campus life team or MyUnihub. There is no pressure on student housing as students don’t know what to expect. The issue here is that they feel that they can get away with it.

ISSUE 286 MARCH 2019

SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM

Taking a Walk - Shutter Mode, High ISO, Flash Light Setting BY CHARLOTTE HUSBANDS

MASTERING A DSLR CAMERA We are a culture that is technologically dependant: social networking, the internet, mobile phones; we spend the majority of every day consumed by one of these things. You no longer have to talk, but can send a text message; you don’t need to read anything physical because you can read on your phone or tablet; you don’t need to use a camera because you have a perfectly decent one on your phone. I am guilty of being one of those people: I take more photos on my phone than any other device. I own a camera, yet, up until recently (after reading a few ‘dummies guides to’), I didn’t know how to use it effectively. During refreshers week, I learned how to use my camera, and hopefully this will help you to do the same. Here’s how to master the basics of the DSLR camera.

What is a DSLR camera? ‘DSLR’ as an acronym stands for Digital SingleLens Reflex camera. Compared to other digital cameras, the light travels through a lens and interacts with a mirror before sending this image to a viewfinder. Previously, the viewfinder would have to be with its own lens, meaning different ‘bodies’ per lens. The lenses on a DSLR camera are interchangeable. The principles There are settings on a DSLR camera that will affect the image. Aperture affects the sharpness of the photos. The higher the setting or aperture the sharper (albeit slightly darker) the photo. ISO is the sensitivity of the image sensor. Raising the ISO gives you brighter pictures, lowering it darkens the image. Most cameras usually have an

PHOTOGRAPHY CHARLOTTE HUSBANDS

Room with a View - Program Mode, Tungsten Light Setting

auto-ISO mode which means it adjusts to light and is sensitive automatically, which is really useful because with this on, photos are less likely to be blurry. Exposure time or shutter speed is the period of time that the light hits the sensor which helps create the photos. Photographic modes To select the photographic mode you wish to take the image on, you rotate the wheel at the top of the body of the camera. Manual Mode allows you full control over the aperture, ISO and shutter speed. Aperture Mode (Av) is a semi-automatic mode, which sets the shutter speed based on your decisions of aperture and ISO. You can also use this to create macro images. Aperture mode is useful when you want to capture the depth of the scene. Shutter Mode (S) is a semi-automatic mode that makes it easier to capture movement. Using this means you would set a fast shutter speed, measured in thousandths of a second.

Program Mode (P) sets both aperture and shutter speed, and you control the ISO. Through using my camera, I would state it’s better to use anything except the automatic mode. Also, if you want to take photos of fast moving objects avoid the aperture setting. Possibilities of capture are endless when you use the manual modes.

Light setting There are modes on a DSLR camera that can be set depending on the lightness of space in the photo. Daylight and cloudy are pretty self-explanatory; shadow gives the picture a warmer tone, tungsten keeps bright yellows muted, fluorescent also gives more muted tones and flash tints the photos slightly blue for added warmth.

Focusing On DSLR cameras you have two types of focusing: manual and automatic. You switch between them on the lens rather than the body of the camera. Automatic focusing will focus on the image you have set your mode to – for example if the mode was (S) it would focus on the moving image. Most DSLR cameras have 50 different focus points. In manual mode you can select focus points to cater for your specific image. For smaller subjects the recommended amount of focus points is 9, any more and the image may be blurred.

The next step My main piece of advice for anyone who doesn’t know how to use a DSLR is just to experiment! Through that you’ll find out what type of photos you like taking and which settings produce the best results. Getting a feel for the different settings will allow you to pick the perfect one for taking your photograph. IfyouwishtocontributetothePhotography Section, or show us what you produced in experimentation, please contact the editor at waterfrontphotography@ swanseastudentmedia.com

ISSUE 286 MARCH 2019

SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM

Ohmigod you guys:

The Taliesin goes Blonde

BY CAITLIN JONES

On Friday 15th and Saturday 16th February, the Swansea University’s Performing Arts societies came together to put on a collaborative performance of the broadway hit Legally Blonde, starring Summer Jones-Webster as Elle Woods. Based on the novel by Heather Hach and the 2001 film of the same name, Legally Blonde premiered in San Francisco in 2007 and has proved to be a smash hit ever since. The musical tells the story of prettyin-pink sorority sister Elle Woods, who has her heart broken by the man she thought she was going to marry, Warner Huntington III, when he decides to dump her in favour of a career as a lawyer. Elle decides not to give up on love just yet, and follows him to Harvard Law School. Determined to prove Warner that blondes aren’t just more fun, Elle studies hard to become one of the top students in her class, securing a spot as an intern for their professor and esteemed lawyer, Callahan. Throw a supportive hairdresser, a second love interest and a pink bunny outfit into the mix, and you’ve got yourself one hell of a story - and that’s before the introduction of the dramatic court case which Elle and her friends find themselves caught up in. Paired with upbeat music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin, it’s no wonder

why Legally Blonde has become so popular to the modern-day audience. The Performing Arts societies had definitely set themselves a challenge. The show opened with a burst of music from the pit band and a chorus of energetic voices from the Delta Nu girls, who went all out with their American accents and exciting choreography. Elle’s quick change into her signature hot pink was also impressive, and the energy on stage was palpable. ‘Ohmigod You Guys’ ended with the comic introduction of heart-throb Warner, played by Bob Tharme, before the second song started. ‘Serious’ by name but not-so-serious by nature, the two leads managed to stay perfectly in character whilst putting on a great performance of this song. Tharme and Jones-Webster’s voices worked beautifully together. The introduction of Paulette (Emma Price), Emmett (Cameron Goodman) and Callahan (Mike Brown) really got the ball rolling. All three actors had extremely impressive voices, with ‘Blood on the

CULTURE KATHRYN HAYNE

Water’ creating an extremely intense moment on stage, backed by fabulous music from the pit band, and ‘Chip on my Shoulder’ allowing Emmett to steal the heart of everyone in the audience. This song was particularly impressive, with the use of the chorus to show the progression of time as Emmett helped Elle study to become one of the top in her class. The first act ended with a bang before the interval, with huge amounts of energy and enthusiasm not only from the leading roles, but from the entire cast. Bravo! ‘Whipped into Shape’ was a brilliantly dynamic introduction to both the second act and the character of wrongfully accused Brooke Wyndham, played by Dani Fisher. did a really good job of this difficult solo, paired with very energetic choreography that would leave some people gasping for breath. Very well done. The next number was the one that everyone knew and had been waiting for. ‘Bend and Snap’ didn’t fail to please, with comic value but also powerful vocals, especially in the cadenza from Emma Price. The scene was a brilliant way to introduce Kyle, and had everyone cheering for Paulette. This song was closely followed by ‘There! Right There!’, which had everyone

laughing as the group tried to work out whether Wyndham’s pool boy was gay or just European. It was a huge hit with the audience; a massive victory both in the courtroom and on the stage. The show calmed down for a moment with the perfect combination of heartbreak and hope in ‘Legally Blonde’, before girl power won again with Vivian, played by Sophie George, decided to team up with Elle to stick it to the man. Back in her pink dress, and this time with Vivian on her side, Elle took to the courtroom once more for one final victory. She show ended with a last hurrah filled with energy, glitter and sparkly pink boots, and received a standing ovation from the audience. Throughout the performance, the effective use of props and costumes really helped to bring the world of the Delta Nus to life. Despite a few microphone difficulties, the cast really owned the stage. The appropriately pink lighting and consistently wonderful music from the pit band also added to the drama and energy of the performance. Finally, I’d personally like to offer a huge congratulations to the entire cast and crew for putting on such a brilliant performance, and can’t wait to see what else they have in store for us!

ISSUE 286 MARCH 2019

SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM

behind the curtain of Legally blonde BY CAITLIN JONES

Having watched the show, I couldn’t wait to find out a bit more about what had been going on backstage. Here is what Director Caelan Sailes, Assistant Director Emma Price and Choreographer Maribel Esdaile had to say. Why did you decide to choose Legally Blonde for this year’s musical? Caelan: With the cast that we had last year, and with the ever increasing amount of people we have coming to the university, I just really felt a passion for this show. I saw it and had that gut feeling, “I really want to put on that show.” I knew it would be a good choice because we have a female heavy group of people involved in the Shoreline society. It’s so upbeat and modern, and different to things we’ve done in the past two years especially. Maribel: It’s also a good balance between the acting and the dancing, and then the music for the band. It’s interesting music and they enjoy playing it. Emma: We were severely lacking in the dancing side of things in the last musical, which is a shame because we’ve got such a talented dance society… Calean decided this would be a lot more inclusive, and it was! What were some of the biggest challenges that you faced in the lead up to the show?

From L-R: Choreographer Maribel Esdaile, Technical &Production Stage Manager Tom Hunt, Director Caelan Sailes and Assistant Director Emma Price

C: Trying to gather support, because it was a risky choice. People do tend to be scared of taking risks, especially when it involves money and taking up a lot of people’s time. They want to put on something that’s going to be worth it, so

CULTURE KATHRYN HAYNE

it was mainly about convincing people that we could do it! We could put on an upbeat, modern show. That was the main challenge, really. E: I think that the biggest difficulty as a performing arts society is that we have to do everything ourselves. Not everyone knows that we exist, so everything which you have seen today is the product of Caelan and Tom’s hard work. C: Yeah, we’ve had a crew of about 70 people working on this, with months and months of putting things together. M: It’s really nice seeing all of our hard work come together on stage.

The production included performers from the university's many performing arts societies

Can you tell me a little bit more about the casting process and auditions? C: What we do is set a date and tell people how the day is going to run. We open it up to anyone who was a member or associate member. We audition everyone one at a time over the space of a weekend. M: In the auditions, we gave them the choice to do the acting, singing and dancing and they did whatever they felt comfortable with. So if they weren’t a dancer, they didn’t have to, and they’d just be given a less dance-y roll. E: We’d try to find their niche! Was this your first time directing a musical? How did you find the experience? C: No, it’s not my first time directing. I’ve been involved in the directing process of another musical before when I was in sixth form and it was a lot of fun, and that’s where I learned the skills and confidence I needed to pursue this project. I’ve also directed other plays before, including Much Ado About Nothing for Shoreline. But I’d definitely classify myself more as an actor - I’ve just learned from the people that I’ve been working with. E: It’s much the same for me. I’ve written plays before and had them published, but I’d never done a musical, and that was a huge challenge for me! But having such good support from the other departments, and our Musical Director, Andrew, has made up for what we lack.

What’s it been like working with the other PA societies? Are you all members of Shoreline? M: I’m actually with the dance society. I was the Advanced Musical Theatre teacher for the past two years but I couldn’t commit to it this year. I’m working at the uni now. C: It started off as a bit of a challenge because when you come from something which doesn’t really have a title, it’s just the ‘performing arts’ musical’, it’s hard to compete with people who are in charge of the other societies. Working around that took quite a lot of time, convincing the other societies to get on board with the show, but once we actually did it was pretty smooth sailing.

the stage with Callaghan’s big entrance. M: As cliche as it is, I have to say Bend and Snap. You can see how much fun the cast are having and it puts such a massive smile on my face. E: I would say, roll the credits, Legally Blonde. There’s such intensity and emotion in that song, and we were lucky to have two amazing leads who can do it so well. That one poignant moment really changes the atmosphere. If you’re interested in seeing more of what the Performing Arts societies have to offer, why not follow their Facebook pages for news on upcoming events, such as Shoreline’s production of The Effect in The Volcano on February 29th and March 1st, or the Performing Arts Showcase on April 6th?

Finally, what’s your favourite song? C: I can answer this straight away! I love Blood on the Water because of the music from the pit band and the intensity on

Finally, if you’re interested in joining one of the PA societies, get in touch with their committees - they’re always happy to have new members!

ISSUE 286 MARCH 2019

SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM

PUZZLES

BY LAURENCE BROWN

7 8

ANIMAL CROSSWORD

Down

1 Large, heavily built cat that has a yellowish-

brown coat with black spots, found mainly in the forests of Central and South America (6)

2 Limbless cold-blooded vertebrate animal with

gills and fins, living wholly in water (4)

3 Long-tailed American songbird with greyish

plumage, noted for mimicking the calls of other birds (11)

4 Large African mammal with a very long neck and forelegs, the tallest living animal (7) 5 Carnivorous mammal of the dog family with a

pointed muzzle, bushy tail, and typically a reddish coat (3)

6 Mainly tropical bird, typically brightly coloured, some kinds of which are able to mimic human

Across

speech (6)

3 Long-tailed bird of the crow family, typically

13 Nocturnal bird of prey with large eyes, a

9 Marine echinoderm with five or more radiating

with pied plumage and a raucous voice (6)

hooked beak, and typically a loud hooting call (3)

arms (8)

5 Tall wading bird with mainly pink or scarlet

18 Hardy domesticated ruminant mammal that

10 Large gregarious waterbird with a long bill

plumage, long legs and neck (8)

has backward-curving horns and (in the male) a

and an extensible throat pouch for scooping up

7 Large waterbird, typically all white, with a long

beard (4)

fish (7)

flexible neck, short legs, and webbed feet (4)

19 Young deer in its first year (4)

14 Parrot with an erectile crest, found in Australia,

8 Fast-flying bird of prey with broad rounded

20 Deep-bodied freshwater fish, often kept in

eastern Indonesia, and neighbouring islands (8)

wings and a long tail (4)

ponds and sometimes farmed for food (4)

15 Gregarious songbird typically with dark

9 Small edible crustacean with ten legs, mainly

22 Waterbird with a broad blunt bill, short legs,

lustrous or iridescent plumage (8)

marine (6)

webbed feet, and a waddling gait (4)

16 Small flatfish that typically occurs in shallow

11 Fast-flying bird of prey with long pointed

23 Large edible fish that matures in the sea and

coastal water (8)

wings (6)

migrates to freshwater streams to spawn (6)

17 Migratory swift-flying insectivorous songbird

12 Large bird of prey with a massive hooked bill

24 Dog of a breed used for hunting, especially

with a forked tail (7)

and long broad wings, renowned for its keen sight

one able to track by scent (5)

21 Young dog (5)

and powerful soaring flight (5)

25 North American term for puma (6)

6 11 11 11 55 55 1313 1212 1212 1212 41313 1144 1144

122

111

21111

14 1

22111

3311

7111

511

11111

2211

14 1 1

2212

3312

NUMBER PICTURE

Ahoy Matey!! Colour in the grid cells, using the values listed in the rows and columns. To help, we've started you off with one of each.

4111 18 22 3111112 22 12

Clue: Each separate value has at least one empty cell next to it.

PUZZLES LAURENCE BROWN

COURSES WORD SEARCH Swansea Uni offers a number of different courses. How many can you find in the grid opposite?

G Q S L U G G E O G R A P H Y G G C Y E

I E B

E N C A B N G B Z N S P O P N N N A T N

R M I W M I E I O I O S P R B I I R E G

U A T R S R R O O R C A U E Y T R D C L

T T A M E E M L L E I C L S C I E I N I

A E M E G E A O O E A T A E O R E A E S

R R R D A N N G G N L U T I M W N C I H

E I O I U I C I Y I S A I D P E I P C L

T A F E G G I C G G C R O U U V G H S A

I L N V N N E A O N I I N T T I N Y C N

L S I A A E N L L E E A H S E T E S I G

C D I G F C H A B H G F H F E A I I D A G B B E F

H S O L L E T S O L N L E N R A L I D U

S C E S N C H C C A C S A A S E I O E A

I I G T R A I I A C E C L C C R V L M G

L E E U E P S E M I S I T I I C I O A E

G N N D D S T N R D V E H R E M C G R A

N C D I O O O C A E W N K E N O E Y A R

E E E E M R R E H M R C U M C E H H P M

U U R S S E Y S P V Z E N A E K Y G C Y

E R A C L A I C O S D N A H T L A E H C

LETTER SUDOKU This puzzle is similar to a Sudoku. The numbers 1-9 are replaced with the letters A-I. Each letter can only be in each row and Column once and each marked 3x3 box once.

MAGIC SQUARE Fill in the spaces in the boxes with the numbers 1-9. Each number can only be used once. The equations along the rows and columns should be equal to the number at the end of each .

+ +

x +

+ +

/ +

+ /

1 11

ISSUE 286 MARCH 2019

SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM

It's normal not to be okay

BY ANONYMOUS

Mental health has become an increasingly prevalent part of our society. The unrelenting pace of modern life is enough to drive the most organized and motivated person to exhaustion at times. Without sounding like a cynic, I think the problem is becoming a pandemic. The generation financially handcuffed by a love for avocado on toast is experiencing this in large swathes. Nowhere is this more evident than in universities. By this, I mean issues with mental health, not masses of Instagramworthy breakfasts. These words are the culmination of what have been a perplexing three years of my life. An unrelenting mix of highs and lows, tears and laughter, love and loss, rest and work. My short three years in my twenties feel as if it has made me age at five times the rate of normal time. I have been at war with myself. A war that has forced me to confront my inner demons. While this makes me appreciate the complexity of our brains, it has taken me to the very edge of existence. Quite simply, I have had a breakdown on more than one occasion. I’m 23. How messed up is that?

It feels a bit ridiculous talking about my problems. I am a white heterosexual British man, my exposure to discrimination in any sense is astoundingly little. But those things do not discredit the pain I lived in for so long, just as anyone going through the same pain should not feel discredited or unworthy of help in any way, at all. Everybody deserves to feel happy, or at least somewhat balanced. I spent a lot of time hiding from these problems, finding solace in things that merely accelerated the mess I was in. Only retrospectively do I realise how absurd it was for me to continue with an unhealthy lifestyle involving binge drinking, laziness and unhealthy relationships. But there will be people reading this right now who are in the same predicament. More likely than not, they will wholeheartedly disagree with what I’m saying. They will be currently telling themselves that everything is fine and that their lifestyles are great. I’ve been there. I spent three years there. I wasted away days, weeks, months, years, numbing a problem that eventually exploded and took over my life. It has only been very recently that I have returned to normality. By normality I mean

WELLBEING EMILY WILLIAMS & OLIVIA ROGERS

"It's easy to seclude yourself in your own world; Only by engaging with what is going on in your mind can you begin to start the process of healing."

stability, the ability to apply myself to the things in life that interest and inspire me. But it has been an unbelievably challenging time. I guess the point of me writing this is to show people that there is an end to the pain, to the sleepless nights, to the feeling of worthlessness. It's easy to seclude yourself in your own world, despite our world being a significantly smaller place with things like social media. As soon as this starts happening, things can really multiply and snowball and lead to even worse circumstances. As difficult as it is to assess your own lifestyle when things are not going well, I believe it's important to have frank conversations with yourself about what it is that is bothering you. Why it is bothering you? Are you happy? Are you fulfilled with the path you are taking? Only by engaging with what is going on in your mind can you begin to start the process of healing. The best advice I have for anyone going through deep-rooted difficulty is to stop and admit that there is something wrong. Surprisingly that is one of the hardest parts. Saying it aloud to someone you trust, or

even just saying it to yourself. Something that sounds so simple is actually incredibly profound. Now you can address the problem, you can stop running, you can get the guidance that so many of us desperately need. Use the help that is available at university. It doesn’t necessarily have to be seeing a counsellor, as anyone who has tried will realise that they are overwhelmed with students in need. Obviously, that would be ideal, but there are other ways. University is full of not only incredibly friendly people but people who have gone through the same, if not worse, experiences than you are going through right now. Talk to people. This doesn’t mean you have to stop a stranger and pour your heart out to them on the way to the library, but be open to a conversation. Don’t shun people’s attempts at having a chat. A five-minute exchange of pleasantries could make someone’s day, it could give them the energy they need to finish an assignment, it could even disperse the cloud of dark thoughts that are building in their mind. Don’t be afraid to talk.

ISSUE 286 MARCH 2019

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the great unknown How travelling changed me

Sometimes it is the answer to the necessity of fleeing, to set oneself free from the psychological and physical pressure of a particular place. Sometimes, however, it is just to visit family who are living abroad, or even just for pleasure. Whatever the reason for it, travelling is always travelling. I was only sixteen when I first visited

Germany. Talks were given in my high school regarding international excursions with groups from around Europe and we decided to give it a try. I was a little scared at the beginning as I was very young, and my German knowledge extended no further than merely giving greetings. What I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t realise was that this trip would change my life.

TRAVEL MERYL HANMER

There was a group of us from different places: Germany, Austria and Spain, all scholars travelling around the south of Germany, North Austria and Slovakia for three weeks. The English language saved our lives, since it was the lingua franca not just to communicate with each other but also all the people who surrounded us. I had the valuable opportunity to learn a lot about history, culture and music whilst in all of these places. The trip also allowed me to get to know my Spanish friends better, as we were together 24/7. I was also blessed with getting to know two German students, who would become two incredible friends later on in my life. Many fond memories resulted from this trip and as soon as I got back home to Spain, I felt a part of my heart was missing. This feeling was so strong that one year later, having finished my A-Levels, I decided to move to the South of Germany to volunteer for one year. I was tired of studying and wanted to flee from books and the pressure that identifies academic success with general success in life. I did not want to memorise or write anymore, but instead to give free reign to my hands to show all the love in my heart through volunteering. Here, once again, the English language saved me. However, within a few weeks I found myself being demanded to speak only German and I had to work very hard each day to learn the language. It was very difficult, but now that I look back at this time, I know it was the best thing that could have happened to me. It was a very challenging year with many new experiences. What was only expected to be a voluntary service paved the way for my first paid job, first own house and first driving experiences. It was independence for the very first time. Moreover, I learnt that it does not really matter whether you truly master a language or not, the key factor is to have a strong personality, not to be afraid and to have a very clear idea of what

"I learnt that it does not really matter whether you

truly

master

language or not, the key factor is to have a strong personality, not to be afraid and to have a very clear idea of what you want – that is actually the key to travelling"

you want – that is actually the key to travelling. Furthermore, I also learnt to appreciate the love of my family, my city, my language, my culture – that is, I learnt to appreciate my origins. At the end of the year, I went back home and started university, but it took me only two weeks to walk away from my degree in Tourism and return to Germany. There was a really strong longing for the German culture inside of me which I could not stifle any longer. It was then that I realised there was no going back; I wanted to spend the rest of my life there. Therefore, I went back and learned German, striving to pass the ‘TestDaf’ exam so that I could get into a Germanspeaking university. I got accepted into all the universities where I had applied; among them there was Innsbruck, in Austria. I remember having the acceptance letter in my bag as my very first German friend drove across the massive German and Austrian Alps with me, on a lovely sunny and warm day. The nature and beauty of the city encapsulated me and here I am now, in the last year of my degree, an official student of Innsbruck University. Another country, a new culture, different dialects and another mentality and way of living. If I had known back at that time that this talk about international excursions would change my life so much, perhaps I would not have taken the step. However, there was the magic and richness behind the idea of the great unknown, behind the will to get to know this magnificent world that we share. Every travel experience, whether it be for one day or for one year, is a great opportunity to get to know something new: a culture, language, different social behaviours, music or history. Nevertheless, it is also an open door to get to know yourself; your own boundaries, your will, your patience and your habits. If life offers you a moment to travel, do not miss it! It will definitely be a worthwhile experience.

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Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s talk about Polyamory Is it possible to love more than one person? Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face it: love is a weird thing. It comes in so many shapes and forms, and nobody quite understands it. Some say it is purely chemical, and can be explained by science; supported by fact. Others put it down to fate. In our modern day mainstream society, monogamy has become the expected norm. BY ZOYA CHISHTI

A nice house, cute kids, a white picket fence - the whole lot. However, this has not always been the case. The existence of polyamorous relationships can be traced back as far as ancient Egypt, where at one point, women were allowed to go into the temple of Amun and have sex with as many people as

they desired. In fact, it has even been argued that monogamy only came as a resulting need, arising from industrial capitalism and isolated suburban living. Polyamorous people find emotional fulfilment by not limiting themselves or their partners to one significant other.

LIBERATION ZOYA CHISHTI

Morning Glory Ravenheart Zell, who coined the term Polyamarous in 1990

What is polyamory? A polyamorous person has open sexual or romantic relationships with more than one other person at a time. Polyamory comes from the Greek word ‘poly’ and the Latin word ‘amor’, which mean, ‘many’ and ‘love’ respectively. The word polyamory was first coined by a pagan priestess called Morning Glory Ravenheart Zell. In 1990, she wrote an article entitled, ‘A Bouquet of Lovers’, which appeared in Green Egg Magazine, referring to the new term as ‘Polyamorous’. The words “Polyamorous” and “Polyamory” were only added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2006. Polyamory is different to polygamy, as polygamy refers to having multiple spouses. Polyamory can be described as ethical, consensual non-monogamy (CNM). Relationships of this nature rely on trust and openness. It is not the same as cheating, as all parties involved consent to the participation of others. Polyamory falls under the LGBT+ umbrella. The polyamory flag consists of blue stripes to represent openness; red stripes to signify love and passion, and a black stripe to show solidarity with those who are forced to hide their

A version of the Polyamory flag featuring an infinity sign within a heart.

relationships. Sometimes the symbol for pi is used, or the infinity sign within a heart.

Polyamory and the Law In 2017, Colombia legally recognised the union between three men. As it currently stands, there is no legal method of marriage for people in polyamorous relationships. In theory, this would be different from one person having multiple spouses (Polygamous marriage), as in that situation, there is no legal agreement between each of the partners. In the case of polyamorous marriage, all the people involved would have to have a contractual agreement with each of the other people involved. While

marriages between more than two people are not yet legal, the UK will recognise a union or this sort if that marriage was legal in the country it took place. In 2013, two Brazilian women and a man were allowed to enter a three-way civil union, which allowed them to secure their equal rights and contributions to their family life. This is the ultimate goal of legal recognition of any union. Not only does it protect the people in the relationship, but also allows rights to be established, such as access property and pensions. Ultimately, our concept and understanding of love and marriage is constantly evolving. It can be difficult to understand or comprehend how you could possibly love, or be in a relationship with more than one person. Nevertheless, that is just how some people are. Polyamory essentially follows the belief that we are not possessions to be owned by each other, that love is greater than just two people and their union. For more information on polyamory, practical guides and FAQ, visit www.polyamory.org.uk

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ISSUE 286 MARCH 2019

CREATIVE WRITING RHYS SWAINSTON

Period. by Lizzy Brown

I am a woman, 21. I once had a friend say to me that they wanted to be girl, a woman. There are many great things about being a woman… and I guess those reasons are why he said what he said. However, the one thing I think he and everyone else without a uterus is forgetting is periods, and I’m not talking about the kind that go at the end of sentences. You’ve heard it all before I know, but until everyone understands how much of a nightmare periods can be, you get me explaining periods to you, through song… just kidding. I will spare your ears from my musical talents, but I will explain periods to you. So, your week starts off as usual. You might feel a bit drained and have a bit of a headache but that’s just because you haven’t had enough sleep. You get on with it. A few days go by and spots start to appear out of nowhere and you get this horrible feeling that your period is due, very, very soon. It’s like in zombie films when you can see the mist slowly start to come over the hill, and with the mist comes zombies. But in this film, you’re the one standing there gawping at the danger, hoping it isn’t what you think it is. Spoilers; it is. Later that day you’ll start to feel a dull ache in your lower stomach. It’s fine, just uncomfortable. You’ve snapped a few times at friends but you’re good this time. Everything is all under control. Throughout the day the pain from your stomach will spread to your legs, and usually ride up along your back. You’ll stretch here and there. It’s fine. Everything’s fine. I mean, it’s not like it’s the first time you’ve had a period, unfortunately. By around 8pm you’re already in your pyjamas, and are sitting in bed with a rom-com on and hot water bottle. Any plans of going to Spoons are long gone by now. By 9, Zac Efron and the ice cream you’ve now somehow managed to acquire won’t be enough to distract you from the small demon that is now inside of you. You take a moment to ready yourself and you walk over to your drawer to get some pain relief. You settle for ibuprofen, take two, and get back into bed. You turn off your laptop, re-heat the hot water bottle, and snuggle down. Trying to sleep when your body feels like it’s falling apart is easier said than done. You toss and turn, and try all sorts of positions to try and get comfy.

You should have seen the pose I pulled last time. See, this is why women are so good at yoga, we get intense monthly practice. Anyway, by 1am you’re a bit fed up of all this nonsense and so you turn to one of your most trusted, loyal, and honest sources, Google. You type into the search bar, as you do every time you get your period, recite it with me: “how to get rid of period pain”. Another spoiler: no matter how many articles you read, they will never tell you someathing you don’t already know. Suddenly it’s 4am and you’re hunched over your chair rocking back and forth trying to focus your energy on your breathing and not the pain, which is hard because you have no energy because it’s 4 in the bloody morning and you have to be up by 8 latest for a 9am. So, whilst you start thinking about how many hours you have left to sleep, the pain just gets worse and worse and all of a sudden, your curtains seem to be talking to you, because you’re that tired. You start to feel a bit hot and your head starts to hurt and you wonder whether you’ll be in the local paper tomorrow for giving birth despite not knowing you’re pregnant because these cramps could bloody well be contractions at this point. This goes on for a while and eventually you start to question the idea that you’re still an independent woman who don’t need no man. All you really want right now is cheese and then before you know it you’re back in bed and getting all emotional about that one time you dropped a bag of Maltesers on the floor, or the time when you were like six, and you didn’t get that pony you wanted for Christmas, or the time earlier today when that girl held the door open for you, or the fact that you’ll never see that cute guy you made eye contact with today in library ever again. Your inner Bridget Jones tends to come out during periods. These feelings eventually pass. Either that or you just come to accept the fact that you’ll be a mess for the next few days. It’s usually the latter. You’ll curl up in a ball, make a mental note to yourself to go and get the implant or look into going on the pill, and just wait. Wait for the pain to pass. Of course, these plans become non-existent once this period ends. And then, my friends, we go all the way back to the beginning. I love being a woman. Period.

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Swansea Student Media provides real opportunities for you to develop your skills and passions though our three media channels of Waterfront, Xtreme Radio and SUTV. Whether you've already got experience and want to take it further or you've never done anything like this before, but fancy giving it a go, SSM is here for YOU! We are a free to join group brought to you by the Student's Union, run by students, for students. You can try your hand at: writing, producing online content, designing the pages of Waterfront, hosting and presenting your own radio show, creating and recording podcasts, filming and editing your own video content and lots, lots more. In addition to this, our teams get exclusive access to major Students' Union and University events such as Summer Ball and Varsity. To find out more, please email: iain.fisher@swansea-union.co.uk

Join our Facebook group 'Swansea Student Media 2018/19' to find out about our activities and opportunities

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Award-winning Theatre Company Vamos Theatre and British Army Veterans collaborate on a compelling production (A Brave Face) about Post Traumatic Stress.

T STUDEN S TICKET FROM £5 ONLY

What's up at Taliesin in March? BY TALIESIN ARTS CENTRE

LIVE EVENTS

£5

Thursday 14/03 @7.30pm: MODERN POETRY IN TRANSLATION - WOMEN OF BRITAIN. An evening of words, performance and cutting-edge literature featuring Clare Pollard, Sabrina Mahfouz, Menna Elfyn and Liz Berry. Part of Swansea University Cultural Institute’s celebration of International Women’s Day. Friday 15/03 @7.30pm: A BRAVE FACE. Highly visual and performed entirely without words using compelling, physical storytelling and emotional insight, 'A Brave Face' tells the story of Ryan, serving in Afghanistan in 2009. Keep your eyes peeled for a free mask workshop in Taliesin Create.

Thursday 21/03 @7.30pm: BUTTERFLY'S WING. Grammy-Awardnominated singer Jacqui Dankworth is joined by an all-star line-up: awardwinning composer and jazz pianist David Gordon; Ben Davis, whose group Basquiat Strings have been Mercury nominated; and Christian Garrick, widely recognised as the UK’s leading jazz violinist. Friday 22/03 @7.30pm: SWANSEA CITY OPERA: COSI FAN TUTTE. Swansea City Opera make a welcome return with a production of Mozart’s popular and uproarious comic opera, Così fan tutte. With a pre-performance talk by SCO's Artistic Director, Brendan Wheatley at 6.15pm.

FILMS

Tuesday 12/03 @7.30pm: ALL IS TRUE (12A). Wednesday 13/03 @4.30pm 7.30pm: MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS (15).

Monday 18/03 @7.30pm: IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK (15).

Wednesday 20/03 @7.30pm: GREEN BOOK (12A). Stay tuned for more information about the upcoming WALES ONE WORLD (WOW) FILM FESTIVAL from 8 to 10 April! AGA by Milko Lazarov

£6 An eclectic, intriguing, and moving selection of films from around the globe. more on www.taliesinartscentre.co.uk

Monday 11/03 7.30pm:

DONKEYOTE (15).

FILM ALEX UDRAUFSKI-OSBORNE

Roma: The truest form of a cinematic experience

Credit: Netflix

There are a million ways to begin describing a film, but one can only begin describing Roma by calling it one of, if not THE best film of the year. Following the huge critical and commercial success of 2013’s Gravity, Alfonso Cuarón returns with a love letter to Mexico that pays homage to the everyday, ordinary citizens from his childhood. Glazed with gorgeous black and white cinematography, Roma is an astounding achievement from one of the most talented directors of our generation. BY CARLOS TSENG

At the core of Roma is Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), a maid of mixed race heritage who serves a middle class family in the Roma district of Mexico City. She is soon acquainted with the vainglorious Fermin (Jorge Antonio Guerrero), and they begin a troubled affair. As a martial arts enthusiast, Fermin is keen to show off his skills but he reacts furiously when Cleo reveals to him that she is pregnant with his child. The dynamic between Cleo and other characters are also explored with much depth but she is clearly loved by the children she helps raise, as well as by her employer Sofia (Marina de Tavira). Sofia is also an important character as she navigates a separation from her husband whilst trying to remain a good mother to her four children. Cuarón invites us to explore intimate moments with the film’s characters and the results are devastatingly cathartic. It was a shock when Netflix announced that they intended to allow cinemas to screen the film, but after a huge success at Venice Film Festival, it would have been a bigger surprise if the streaming service chose to ostracise Cuarón’s masterpiece.

Indeed, the film deserves to be seen in a cinema on a large screen so that audiences can further appreciate those fine details and panoramic shots of suburban Mexico City. All the characters in the film are given the chance to express themselves interiorly and it is the deafening silence of certain scenes which provide the most meaningful commentary. There are clever juxtapositions throughout the film, such as when New Year’s Eve revellers go from celebrating the festivities to battling a forest fire. We are brought back to feeling a sense of harmony when our attention is turned to a man lamenting the last seconds of 1970 in a Brechtian manner whilst quietly singing a Mexican song. Many popular films today generate hype from multi-million dollar budget effects, but Roma builds itself from a foundation of bitterly raw honesty and a deep sense of humility. Cuarón steers his audience around the memory and we see through the omniscient author’s eyes a feeling of guilt that he is carried through adulthood. The stoic centricity of Yalitza Aparicio’s performance makes her a key breakout star of 2018. As an untrained actress with no prior acting experience,

Aparicio is extraordinary, displaying an immeasurable amount of vigour in her portrayal of Cleo. Cuarón dedicated his film to Libo, his real life childhood nanny, who today recalls the Oscar-winning director as a mischievous boy who “just didn’t behave”. Whilst the director never makes it explicitly clear that Roma is an autobiographical piece, he has not denied that the making of the film involved reflecting upon the tribulations of his childhood and a yearning for forgiveness for the past. After winning the Golden Lion at Venice and the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film, it should not be a surprise that the film went on to collect 10 Academy Award nominations including Best Picture. There had been much speculation over whether or not the Academy would take this moment to award Roma with its top prize, making history as the first foreign language film to do so. Sadly, this was not to be but Roma still received the BAFTA and Critics Choice for Best Picture so it would be a safe assumption that the vote was close and we can be certain that Roma will continue to strike a unique chord with audiences.

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Credit: Fox Searchlight

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birdman (the unexpected

BY ILIYAN GARNEV

virtue of ignorance) If somehow Alejandro González Iñárritu's excellent movie Birdman slipped under your radar, do yourself a favour and go see it. The writing is off the charts, the cinematography is brilliant and each one of the actors pulled off the best performance of their career by far. The movie is very hard to be put under a specific genre, but ‘human’ is an appropriate choice, since it mixes tragedy and comedy into one so well. The movie tells the story of the failing movie star Riggan Thomson. He is a washed-up actor that used to play the superhero ‘Birdman’. Which is a bit ironic since he is played by Michael Keaton,who was Batman three decades ago. So, Riggan is looking for a fresh-start hoping to find artistic integrity and relevancy by directing and starring in a Broadway play based on Raymond Carver’s book - What We Talk About When We Talk About Love. Throughout the movie, he is on the verge of a mental breakdown. He struggles to accept that he loved being the celebrity he was, that he still needs to feel relevant and he doesn’t want to accept the fact that for this to happen he’d have to use modern

technology. During the whole movie, Birdman takes the role as Riggan’s inner demon, resulting in a constant dialogue between the two and his telekinetic/flying powers. This ongoing conflict makes it difficult for the audience to understand what’s real and what’s not. Perhaps the writers are even giving the viewers the option to choose. We also get to meet Sam (Emma Stone) Riggan’s daughter, who is struggling with drug addiction. He has hired her as his assistant, trying to spend more time with her, to compensate for the fact that he was a bad father. We are introduced to Mike Shiner (Edward Norton). He comes in as a replacement of one of the actors and is portrayed as a very narcissistic and entitled method actor, struggling with sexual problems. Because of his issues, he is also not an easy person to work with, making it harder for Riggan’s Broadway play to succeed. We are also introduced to Riggan’s co-star Lesley (Naomi Watts) who is struggling with her self-realization; his overly sexual girlfriend Laura (Andrea Riseborough) who wants a baby; and his

FILM ALEX UDRAUFSKI-OSBORNE

Credit: Fox Searchlight

manager and best friend Jake (Zach Galifianakis). Even though they don’t take up that much screentime, these characters still have a great impact on the movie. The night before the play’s opening night, Riggan meets with a Times theatre critic named Tabitha (Lindsay Duncan). She despises him and everything he stands for, and as a result critic vs actor becomes the movie’s second central conflict. Ironically, even though this scene portrays critics as cowardly, talentless and shallow, the critics of the movie itself praised it highly. It’s filmed beautifully – it gives you the impression that it’s been shot in one take. This makes the audience feel like they are part of every scene, in turn making the final product much more engaging and intense. Whenever Riggan is walking between his dressing room and the stage, we’re walking right behind him in the claustrophobic corridors; whenever he is on stage acting, we’re on stage acting with him; whenever he is feeling anxious, we’re feeling anxious with him. All of this is accompanied by a syncopated jazz beat as a

soundtrack (composed by Antonio Sanchez) which is so good that it makes your body feel every drum beat, contributing to the intensity. Combining the realistic style of filming with the soundtrack results in an unforgettable experience. Despite the fact that a lot of people dislike the movie - they find it pretentious since it suggests that overly commercialized art is not “true” art - it’s still a movie everyone can relate to. Not because we are all Broadway actors, but because we all struggle with something in our lives. Also, the conflict between Riggan and Birdman can be seen as a very good analogy for the conflict between a person and their ego, and well… we can all learn something from that. Finally, Birdman tells a heartbreaking story, filled with self-deprecating jokes (the main one being that the three main characters are played by actors that have all starred in major superhero movies) and many tragic moments. And when it ends it will make you want to believe that a man can fly. And you’ll surely want to watch it again, just to see the little details that you’ve missed.

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What should you give into for Lent? This time of year is possibly the least stressful in the life of a student - exams are not yet with us and the days are starting to get a tiny bit longer. And what makes it all the better is Pancake Day! Alternatively known as Shrove Tuesday, is on the 5th March, so it’s very important to prepare for what may be one of my favourite public holidays! BY ELEANOR MAUNDER

When it comes to pancakes, simplicity is key

There’s something uniquely special about the unity of Pancake Day. In my experience, it’s about bringing people together to make the batter, as well as cooking and failing to flip the pancakes. As Shrove Tuesday was the day in which Anglo Saxons would go to church to confess before Lent, the tradition stems from the fact that it was the last time to use up fatty foods and eggs before the fasting started. With Lent around the corner, you may be asking yourself what to give up. Should it be chocolate? Crisps? Meat? Last year I gave up chocolate, and the sense of reward after having done 40 days without it was phenomenal. The idea is associated with Christianity, as many Christians fast during this time in order to represent the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert without food. Lent this year spans from the 6th of March to the 18th of April.

However, I would like to propose an alternative to giving up these luxuries. As students, it is no secret that we are all, on some level, a total mess. I know there never seems to be enough hours in a day to balance working, eating and relaxing, but upon witnessing one of my flatmates cook up chicken 6 days out of date on more than one occasion, I had to intervene. So, in this article, I offer to you the idea that instead of giving up something food related, you could try and adopt something that improves your diet as well as improving your overall health. A new food resolution of sorts! One way in which you can make a pact to yourself to improve your health could be to eat your ‘five-a-day’ throughout lent. This can then build the foundations for a healthier lifestyle. In reality, this is not as difficult as it may seem, and can be a lot cheaper than

FOOD JACOB FLEMING

Lentil Ragu, a quick and easy way to get your five-a-day

ready meals and takeaways. We all know why we should eat our five-a-day, however it seems like an impossible task for me sometimes! Nonetheless, there are small changes that can be made to meals cooked every day, for example, with a pasta sauce you can add loads of veggies! My go to recipe is a lentil ragù: this is a cheap and easy tomato sauce which includes enough vegetables to achieve all of your five-a-day! Here’s how you make it: • mushrooms (if you don’t like them that’s okay, it will only be 4 out of 5) • an onion (sliced) • 1 tsp of minced garlic, • mixed Italian herbs • stock cube dissolved in 1 litre of water • frozen spinach • a tin of tomatoes • 60g of lentils per person

As for the method: Fry the onion and garlic in oil. Add in the mushrooms once the onion has browned, followed by the lentils and give it a quick stir so the lentils are covered. Stir in the tinned tomatoes, spinach and stock, herbs (the amount you put in is up to you) and a dash of pepper. Leave for 45 minutes so the lentils soften. I think a splash of red wine in the sauce always makes it taste nicer but I know that it’s not exactly common to have cooking wine in a student house. And there you have it! If vegetables aren’t for you, another alternative to giving something up for Lent could be to drink the recommended amount of water every day - an easier and cheaper option. I for sure don’t do this, but the goal is 2 litres (3.5 pints) per day. Water is essential for all life; the human body is roughly 60% water and it is therefore a necessity for

survival as it is quite literally us, and is important for us to function correctly. Water also cleanses the body of toxins, and helps in the protection of spinal cord, joints and tissues. By drinking 2 litres every day you’ll be doing your body a massive favour and reaching a great sense of fulfilment. Lent does not have to be done in line with religion, you can approach it as a challenge to yourself to help restrict unhealthy habits and test yourself. Want to know how to make THE BEST pancakes for Shrove Tuesday? Simplicity is key. Whisking together 2 eggs and 100g of plain flour with 300ml of milk and a dash of oil makes an amazing batter. Pour into a frying pan and flip, then cover in whichever topping you want; my favourite is always banana and chocolate!

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BY ELEANOR MAUNDER & JACOB FLEMING

VERVE 37

FOR THE LOVE OF TAPAS Verve 37, “an award-winning wine bar and restaurant” reached out to us here at Waterfront in the hope of receiving some coverage, not only to tell you about their fabulous food but also regarding the special offers they have on for the student body of Swansea! In order to appeal to people with different diets, two of us decided to go together. One is a lover of meat and fish, whilst the other is a coeliac vegetarian, allowing us to cover the menus entire spectrum. Upon arriving, we were greeted by the bar staff and directed from the bar downstairs to a really lovely restaurant, with candles on the table and soft music in the background. After being sat down with a menu each, we were directed to the tapas section as they are at the heart of their special offers, with the weekday lunch time special offering any 3 tapas for £11.95, or 5 for £22.95 available at both lunch and dinner time.

FOOD JACOB FLEMING

Jacob It’s not often that I eat tapas, but when I do, I am sure to eat my fair share! Despite the extensive menu, covering a strong variety of flavours, my eyes were immediately drawn to the minted lamb chops, chicken & chorizo and the king prawns. With some generous portions, I thoroughly enjoyed each dish. My favourite had to be the chicken & chorizo, served with peppers, onions and a smoked paprika white wine sauce. The creamy texture was delectable and was made all the more tasty with the unique spice of the chorizo. The lamb and king prawns were both fantastic, with the mint and garlic of each respective dish being perfectly balanced with the other flavours in play.

Eleanor I am an example of a very tricky customer. I am a vegetarian and coeliac, and am very aware of how much of a pain I can be. However, when I explained this there was no issue at all and was pointed in the direction of the food I could eat I was spoiled for choice! I opted for the

halloumi and roasted red pepper, and the Spanish roasted potatoes as Tapas dishes. The fried halloumi was the perfect mix of squeaky, salty and moreish. When combined with the roasted red pepper it was as if I were in the Mediterranean on holiday! The Spanish potatoes were equally great; just spicy enough to help me temporarily recover from my (re) Fresher’s flu. The potatoes arrived in a garlic, tomato, onion and chili sauce, topped with cheddar which worked incredibly well. I also combined the halloumi dish with sauce from the potatoes and onto one fork - yum! I was stuffed after the two tapas dishes, leaving me completely satisfied... But there’s always room for dessert. After we finished, I was informed that there was a gluten free chocolate fudge cake which I couldn’t say no to, even though I was filled to the brim with Spanish goodness (eyes bigger than my stomach is my hubris!). I was given a huge slice of warm fudge cake with some ice cream - which admittedly I couldn’t finish. Tragic, I know. All in all, it was a very lovely evening in a place with a great atmosphere and staff who were very attentive to my dietary needs. I was told that 50 – 60% of

the menu is gluten free, but if you make them aware of your need they will try to be as accommodating as possible. There are also many other deals tailored for students! For example, if you show your student card then you get 15% off the bill, all day every day! This is of course alongside the 2-4-1 cocktails on Mondays to Friday, meaning you get two cocktails for £5.95! Verve 37 also offer a special deal for societies and any dinner socials they might have in mind, such as a two course meal for £15. If you were looking to really indulge yourself with a group of friends, their “Bottomless Banquet” allows you to have unlimited drinks and tapas for 2 and a half hours for £37.95 per person. Also, if you follow their Facebook they run competitions and other seasonal promotions! Adding to the atmosphere, you can expect live music on the last Friday of every month. If you have any enquiries about this restaurant and the food they offer, you can find them on Facebook, so feel free to drop them a message about anything! I really recommend Verve 37 - their use of flavours was refreshing and delicious, and the atmosphere was lovely.

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BY ERIN ALLWOOD

Modern day rebel girls

The Riot Grrrl of the 1990’s is still considered to be one of the most prominent movements in music. No group pioneered this underground feminist music scene like Bikini Kill, who inspired bands with raucous and rebellious tendencies. These bands would go on to be remembered as outspoken and openly sexual, changing society for the women of today. Upon announcing their reunion, Bikini Kill reinspired a whole generation of rebel girls. They were a band who addressed sensitive themes such as rape, sexual exploitation and abuse, which helped to shape how women were perceived within society. The establishment of Bikini Kill was completely revolutionary for women in all genres of music. They were a group of women who fearlessly addressed the dangers of society to women; the constant gender-based challenges which lead to them speaking out against the dominating, patriarchal forces that held them back for so long. Although they are only reuniting for three shows across New York and Los Angeles, that doesn’t make the reformation any less revolutionary now as it was back then.

In 1991, Bikini Kill self-released their demo album Revolution Girl Style Now! This timelessly radical title immediately conveyed the message they wanted to send out to the world. Asserting that the revolution would be femalefronted drew criticism for its almost ‘threatening’ approach. But the public loved how they were not afraid to revolutionise this new genre of feminist punk and, if anything, the backlash they received only drove them to further push the boundaries. However, times have changed and the meaning of feminism has evolved with it, so it will be interesting to see how Bikini Kill adapt to the modern day. It’s no secret that female musicians are continuously sexualised by the media for their appearance and personal life, and being constantly criticised for self-expressing yourself through your art is unspeakably difficult. I personally feel the genre of punk has been labelled as ‘rebellious’, and to some extent this is correct. But really, any genre can be radicalised, and that is exactly the message Bikini Kill give out. Being yourself and taking a stand is encouraged by whatever genre of music you adhere to and, in our modern age with feminism meaning equality for everyone, whatever gender you identify with.

MUSIC FIN HARDIE & JOSHUA O'MAHONEY

MAC'S HATS BY ALEX MCDOUGALL & JOSH DOBBINS

Mac Demarco is undeniably a great artist. A multi-instrumentalist and producer whose 3 albums have been met with critical acclaim. Since the release of his first self-produced album in 2012, his profile has skyrocketed, becoming one of the best young alternative musicians gracing many a playlist on Spotify today. However, one key aspect of his appeal has been painfully overlooked by the mainstream media: His hats. Let's face it - we all love Mac Demarco– singer, song writer, and man of many hats. As fans of his music you would most likely be aware of his trademark style. The loose-fitting shirts and dungarees are a common sight, finding himself at the centre of inspiration to vans and checkered shirt wearing young stoners everywhere. The pioneer of “Jizz Jazz” has been able to cultivate his characteristic look over years, with his hats being a single constant. The popularity of his look has garnered a strong cult following. A quick Google of Mac Demarco hats will reveal a plethora of subreddits, where many enquire over the availability and location of similarly styled headwear. Now known as the ‘dad hat’ it marks the crown piece of an ever-changing ensemble of baggy flannels and corduroy. His constantly evolving style almost

perfectly chronicles the rise in the ‘indie-hipster’ look that is now commonplace. He wears his clothes with an aura of confidence, knowing his clothes are (secretly) really great. He probably wears what he wants because he is comfortable and effortlessly looks cool. Not only has his influence and rise been a clear-cut causation, but his raised profile and subsequent influence has led to a clear increase in hats in the United States. Mac Demarco's influence can be tracked not only by sales and streams, but also through the revenue of fashion labels. According to Statista, between 2012 - the release of the Rock and Roll Night Club LP - and 2017, sales of hats and Caps in the United States grew 23% to $7,062 million. This is surely a direct influence of the indie darling. Mac, we love your hats and your music, never change.

ISSUE 286 MARCH 2019

SWANSEASTUDENTMEDIA.COM

SWANSEA

FRIDAY 10TH MAY 2019 TICKET PRICE - Â£15.00 WWW.SINCITYCLUB.CO.UK

SPORT JESSICA HAYDEN

Club in Focus: Swansea University Karate BY MEGAN WARREN-DAVIS

This year, Swansea University Karate Club has had some wonderful achievements. Just before the Christmas break, the club had their first grading for the new academic year and everyone passed the first time around! They are delighted to boast a 100% pass rate for grading, and it was also great for everyone to see the newbies, some of whom had never taken part in martial arts before October, going in for their grading and coming out as red belts. In November, three members took part in a competition in WestonSuper-Mare. Megan Warren-Davies, Ben Thomas and Feri Torabi, all of whom achieved bronze medals, very much enjoyed the event. This was a particularly proud moment for the trio, especially considering all of the obstacles against them, including a stomach bug and the changing of the class categories at the last minute. The Karate Club has 11 members who have entered for competition in BUCS, which involves a lot of highintensity training. They are currently training for a major competition where they will be up against their biggest rivals: Cardiff and Bath. The club enters competitions all year round and are hoping to be as

successful in all of them as they were at Weston-Super-Mare. However, it’s not all about competitions: there is also a social side to the club and members often get together for social and fundraising events. They recently raised £98 for Movember, a charity focused around men’s health and wellbeing. Club members Ebony and Matt came up with a great pub quiz to bring people together, and everyone had a great time and even learned a few new things... Did you know, for instance, that the pig shares most of its DNA with the hippopotamus? The club hosts a lot of all-inclusive socials, with one of the most memorable events being laser tag – it turns out they are pretty good at aiming! Their fitness training on Sunday mornings definitely paid off. When it comes to socials, they often come together with the other martial arts clubs at the university. There are six martial arts clubs at the university, so this means that socials are always well attended and packed full of fun! It is always fun to try something new, and Karate has just the right balance of training and fun. If you would like to join the club, email karate@swansea-sports.co.uk.