FREE
OCTOBER 2020
ISSUE 291
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Contents
October 2020 News
Societies
Features
Creative Writing and Literature
No Longer Sick of It
How COVID Disrupted My Uni Planning Meet Your Full-Time Officers Life as a Mature Student Volunteering with Discovery
Introduction to Societies
Advice for Freshers
A Passion for Podcasts Eve of the Election: September Haikus from Central USA The Stranglers Ssshh, Wait In Her Eyes Bethan’s Book of the Month
Science and Research
Cymraeg
Advice
Postgraduate Research: What to Expect Swansea Prof Wins Prestigious Award
Fashion
How Clothes Can Create a First Impression Dressing for Socials
Hiliaeth yn Gymru Racism in Wales
Culture
Protests and Allyship
Sport
Three That Fit for Freshers
Editorial Team Editor-in-Chief Bethan Bates
Creative Writing Sali Earls
waterfronteditor @swanseastudentmedia.com
waterfrontcreativewriting@ swanseastudentmedia.com
Deputy Editor Alex Baker
Literature Ashish Dwivedi
waterfrontdeputyeditor@ swanseastudentmedia.com
Proofreading Angie Bosher and Brooke Lucas proofreader @swanseastudentmedia.com
News & Current Affairs Alex Speed
waterfrontnews @swanseastudentmedia.com
Culture & Arts Cora-Jane Jordon
waterfrontculture @swanseastudentmedia.com
Science & Research Sophie Sadler
waterfrontscience @swanseastudentmedia.com
waterfrontliterature@ swanseastudentmedia.com
Advice Bethan Collins
waterfrontadvice@ swanseastudentmedia.com
Societies Rachel Hart
waterfrontsocieties@ swanseastudentmedia.com
Fashion Rhianydd Sword
waterfrontfashion@ swanseastudentmedia.com
Sports Efan Willis
waterfrontsport@swanseastudentmedia.com
Waterfront is a free print and online publication from Swansea Student Media and our Students’ Union. swanseastudentmedia.com
We Want YOU!
Seen a section you'd like to write for? Or want to start a new section? Get in touch now! Email: lewis.israel@swansea-union.co.uk
Welcome to Waterfront!
Hello everyone!
Hello and welcome to a new year with the Waterfront!
I am the new Editor-in-Chief for the Waterfront and I’m very excited to be able to start the new academic year with you all! I have been with the Waterfront since the end of my first year and now will be finishing my time at Swansea as editor. I am passionate about writing and publishing so I’m honoured to be able to take on this role.
I’m the new Deputy Editor of the paper and can’t wait to get started with you all this September, whether it’s your first or last year. I’ve worked on the paper before and I’m looking forward to the challenge of this position. Like Bethan, I am enthusiastic about the world of writing and publishing, though I must confess that my interests fall more in consumption than composition.
This year we are aiming to release lots of content across all of our platforms including print editions, our website, and our social media platforms. My main priority is to create a paper that represents the student body here at Swansea University and to integrate ourselves into the student experience. I am enthusiastic to work with societies and sports clubs of all sizes. We will be attending all types of events and promoting a variety of socials so we can tell you all about what is happening throughout the year.
You can find us and your fellow students’ work both online and in print and we’d love to hear your feedback, since after all, this is a paper written by students for students! I want to try and make our paper more accessible so we’ll be regularly updating our social media (@waterfrontswansea) with recent articles our writers have created or events they’ve covered for the university. We also have quite a nice balance of societies at the university and will be working with as many of them as possible to help you all discover something new.
And of course, a great big welcome to all incoming Freshers! Congratulations on getting your place at Swansea, and for having great taste in universities. We are so delighted to have you and for you to start some of the most exciting years of your life!
I know that this September is looking a little different to what our incoming Freshers were expecting but I can assure you that you will have a fantastic time and after all, student life is all about making a lot out of a little! I look forward to interacting with you all across the coming year.
Bethan x
Alex
Meet the Waterfront Team Rhianydd Sword is a second year student studying media and communication. She is new to Waterfront this year but is enjoying it thoroughly. Chiara Cimmino is a second year student studying media and communication. In her spare time she plays hockey, where she is a part of the university team. Rachel Hart is a third year English literature student. She is the new Societies Editor for Waterfront this year and can’t wait to get started! Mathurin Aron is 18, from France and has lived in Germany for 7 years. He chose Swansea because of the excellent student life and the course he chose (Media and Communications) is one of the best in the UK in the category. Benjamin Nichols is an American graduate student who attended Swansea University from 20182020. He is a biology researcher specializing in ecology, plant science, honeybee management, and conservation. During his spare time, he enjoys the outdoors, researching history, studying Japanese culture, playing video games, and taking care of his aquariums and beehives. His future goals include returning to Wales to teach, and teaching in Japan.
Bethan Collins is a third year English Literature student. This is her first time contributing to The Waterfront paper, along with this being her first year as the Advice and Relationships Section Editor. If ever you want to write a piece for this section, feel free to contact her! Ashish Dwivedi is an M.Phil. candidate in his final year, here at Swansea University and our current “Literature & Nonfiction Editor”. He calls himself a herpetology and mythology aficionado; a traveller who travels for food; a lax swimmer; and a hide-and-seek genius. However, one of his serious sides include his delightful interest in Utopian & Cartoon Studies and experimental and tragic poetry. Bethan Bates is a third year English Literature and History student who is working towards a career in the publishing industry. She is a book fanatic, with a collection of just over 400 books, who enjoys telling everyone about what she is currently reading. She is also the current editor-in-chief of the Waterfront and has been involved with the paper since her first year. Sophie Apps is an English Literature student at Swansea University. Future best-selling poet and journalist, she is ‘Emily Dickinson meets Quintin Tarantino at dinner with Shakespeare’. Currently, Sophie writes sad poems, listens to obscure indie music and pets her cat Salem whilst re-watching old episodes of Gilmore Girls. Sophie Sadler is a postgraduate researcher in Mathematics and Computer Science, and is new to Swansea. As well as being the Science & Research Editor for the Waterfront, Sophie enjoys hiking & wild camping, riding her horse Bounce, and watching horror movies. Efan Willis is a third year media student with a love for journalism and sports. He holds the sports editor position at the Waterfront, so if you’re an athlete with a story to tell, feel free to contact him through the Waterfront’s facebook group. Katie Phillips is the current Welsh Affairs Officer. She studied Geography at Swansea uni, as well as being the Welsh Coordinator for the Geography society in her second year, and the Welsh Medium Geography rep in her third year. She has been an ambassador for the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol as well as the university, and has worked for the Student’s Union for three years in several roles. Cora-Jane Jordon is the current Arts and Culture editor. THis is ehr second year in the position and she cannot wait to share more about all the exciting events in Swansea and the diverse population that creates such a beautiful city. Alex Speed is the Waterfront news editor. He’s 20 years old, studies electrical engineering, and lives in Carmarthenshire. His passions are watching sport and keeping up with current affairs. Alex aims to bring a more wholesome approach to reporting the news in the Waterfront, focussing on the stories students care about. Sali Earls is the Creative Writing Editor. She’s a mature student, in the second year of her part time MA in Creative Writing. When not avidly reading, or trying to write a bestseller, she can be found watching strange YouTube videos with her two children. She describes herself as an easily excitable nerd, and is a massive fan of podcasts.
News & Current Affairs No Longer Sick of It By Alex Speed
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n March 23rd, Prime Minister Boris Johnson sat down to address the nation. In his short speech, he squarely announced that we would all be subject to a national lockdown in an unprecedented effort to ‘flatten the curve’. Following that announcement we found out that despite having to work or study from home (or if not, on furlough), we could, in fact, make an effort to speak to friends and family more regularly, we could exercise more and we could learn how to improve our cooking, gardening and DIY skills. In this regard, April was a rather novel month but as per most things of novel quality, it was never to last. Whilst the truth may be that we missed our regular interactions with friends, neighbors and colleagues, what we really wanted was freedom and normality. We dreamt of days pre-Covid-19. I apologise for having taken you on that seemingly needless trip down memory lane, but there is a reason. Seven months on, we are still enduring this pandemic and despite the fact that we can now eat and drink out again, and members of the public can return to work, there is still great level of uncertainty
regarding the future. Way back in March, nobody could’ve predicted the level of social and economic damage that coronavirus would go on to inflict on us and as we approach the end of 2020, politicians and economists are still clueless as to what future state the United Kingdom will be in. As things currently stand, counties are under constant review with the threat of a second lockdown always looming; we can go out to bars and restaurants, so long as the group size does not exceed six and everyone dons a face mask; outdoor sport is allowed as long as guidelines are followed; and Swansea University lecturing will be a mix of both face to face teaching and online sessions. The point is that whilst we are yet to achieve pre-Covid-19 normality, we are making a slow recovery and student life will become more and more recognizable. The safety of students and staff is naturally a priority for Swansea, and we should rejoice in the fact that we will receive face to face teaching, as many universities have opted for practically 100% online tuition. Nights out? Wind Street bars and clubs have been completely overhauled so as to meet coronavirus safety standards and our Student Union has and will continue to make concerted efforts to ensure that students can enjoy their time in Swansea, just as they have done in years past whilst ensuring safety. Societies will continue to run, the libraries remain accessible, tuition will be seamless. Swansea will continue to be as vibrant and lively as ever before, and whilst we may have to wait a little while longer for our pre-coronavirus dream, we will certainly enjoy the rest of 2020. Coronavirus, for the time being, is here to stay but that’s okay for we have three months left to make new memories, try new things and meet new people. Just remember: Be safe, wash your hands and here’s to a great 2020/2021 Academic Year!! Note: Information correct as of time of writing: 19.09.2020
Features Features
How COVID Disrupted My Uni Planning By Mathurin Aron
T
his September, I joined Swansea University. In could this be happening? the admissions process, I had many difficulties The IB got a lot of complaints from students, parents due to the COVID outbreak. and teachers worldwide in terms of results which Back in January, I was set to go. I was predicted good were considered “undergraded”. The IB decided to grades from my school’s mock exams and I expected recalculate the results. a smooth entry into university. I received 32 points - the points I needed initially I was neutral about that because I already had a THEN … confirmed place. COVID started to turn my life upside down. The next thing that was worrying were the restraints In March, my school closed, all lessons were online, in the UK. I live in Germany, so studying abroad is a and IB (the international baccalaureate / equivalent big deal. to A-levels) cancelled all exams. I was lucky enough Initially, it was okay to travel by car from Germany to have coursework, which would later be marked. to Wales if one didn’t get out of the car but it was With the IB exams cancelled, I had a lot of free time. I changed. I now had to travel by plane. I was fortunate researched to get ready for university courses online. not to have to quarantine. When I received my results, I was disappointed to see With 2 luggages in the baggage hold and one that I was 2 points under from getting accepted. I handbag, packing my stuff was hard. I was in a stressed mindset and couldn’t find anything positive was very disappointed. about moving abroad. I received motivation from my I later realised that I could persuade Swansea to parents and began to see the good side of things. accept me. After a series of emails and phone calls, UCAS contacted me in Track and told me I had a These past months have been an emotional rollercoaster from excitement to disappointment confirmed place at Swansea. to anger to uncertainty. It was like an expectations I was very happy and celebrated with my family. Yet, vs reality meme. I am very curious about how my university experience is going to start. one thing still was crossing my mind -
YOUR FULL TIME OFFICERS 20/21
Your Full-Time Officers represent you at the Students’ Union and to the University. They reflect different aspects of student life at Swansea, make your views heard and to make your time at Swansea the best it can be!
Your team of Full-Time Officers would like to say a big hello to you and to introduce themselves, their roles, and their manifestos for the year ahead!
Meet the Full-Time Officers! Ffion Davies - President Meet Ffion! Ffion studied Sports and Exercise Science here at Swansea University, and graduated in the summer of 2019. Throughout her time studying she was elected as Vice Club Captain and Club Captain of Swansea University Netball Club. She then went on to run in the SU elections and was fortunate enough to be elected as Sports Officer for the year 19/20.
ffion.davies@swansea-union.co.uk Facebook.com/ffion.davies.161446
Katie Phillips - Welsh Affairs Meet Katie! The newest role in our FullTime Officer team but an important one! Katie will be vital in ensuring that all Welsh speaking students are given equal opportunities to study in Welsh if they choose to. She will also promote the Welsh language, culture and history to our students, and work with the University to ensure we are as bilingual as possible!
Katie’s Manifesto • Increase the number of modules taught through the medium of Welsh • Introduce Welsh coordinators for societies and sports clubs • Host Welsh cultural evens and trips throughout the year • Introduce weekly support groups for Welsh learners to practice • Introduce free Welsh language courses
katie.phillips@swansea-union.co.uk Facebook.com/SUWelshAffairs2020
Ffion’s Manifesto • Strengthen links between both campuses • Refurbish Tooters toilets • Introduce Disability Sports within Sport Swansea • Improve student safety on nights out • Increase parking on Bay Campus • Lobby the University to reinstate Refreshers Week • Strengthen the presence of the Advice & Support Centre on all campuses
Georgia Smith - Sports Meet Georgia! Georgia will be kept busy in her role as she oversees the running of all the sports clubs at Swansea. She sits on the Sports Exec Committee and makes sure that every club is fairly represented. She also promotes a sport and exercise to our students, as well as being a key liaison between the Union and Sport Swansea.
Georgia’s Manifesto • Promote support to student athletes • Increase communications between Sports Swansea and Academic Colleges • Ensure Wednesday afternoons remain for sport • Improve opportunities for female participation in sports on Bay Campus • Improve University gym facilities • Increase publicity for sporting achievements
georgia.smith@swansea-union.co.uk Facebook.com/georgia.smithsu.5
Theresa Ogbekhiulu - Education Meet Theresa! Theresa provides support and representation to all students at an academic level. She works with all the Colleges and Departments, alongside over 350 Subject and College Reps to make sure all students have a say on the way they are educated at Swansea. She’s also a key figure in our Study Aid campaigns during exam time, and leads the Education Zone.
Theresa’s Manifesto • Ensure adequate training for personal tutors so they can deliver pastoral support • Work with the University to reduce the black attainment gap • Increase support for Student Reps • Push for keeping Wednesday afternoons free • Ensure the completion of the microwave space in the Library
theresa.o@swansea-union.co.uk Facebook.com/SUSUEducation19
Georgia-Rose Gleeson - Societies & Services Meet Georgia-Rose! The Societies and Services Officer is a broad role, that supports all of the societies the Union has, and oversees the many services we run (such as the bars, venues, shops, Advice and Support, and the nursery). GeorgiaRose also sits on the Society Exec Committee to make sure all of our societies are fairly represented.
Georgia-Rose’s Manifesto • Improve sustainability at the University • Include a bus ticket home with pre-bought Tooters tickets • Set up a Transgender/ Non-binary support group • Increase relaxation space on both campuses • Introduce consent training in Freshers • Hold an end of year Societies Ball.
georgia-rose.gleeson@swansea-union.co.uk Facebook.com/SocServSUSU20
Liza Leibowitz - Welfare Meet Liza! Liza will be taking a leading role on the Union’s many welfare campaigns we run, she also provides student support with housing issues and works with the Advice and Support Centre to make sure our Mental Health support stays to the high quality we already have! She also promotes a healthy lifestyle and wellbeing through her role.
liza.leibowitz@swansea-union.co.uk Facebook.com/WelfareSUSU18
Liza’s Manifesto • Provide more Safe Spaces for students to destress • Introduce a University-wide confidential helpline • Provide sexual health selftest kits • Work to reduce the BME attainment gap • Create an online forum for reviewing student accommodation and landlords • Introduce the Ask For Angela initiative
Life as a Mature Student By Sali Earls
how to study is a discipline in itself, and mature students often find themselves having to relearn how to do just that. here are many reasons why someone returns to • The other major issue faced by many mature students, and one that I know only education later in life, as an undergraduate or too well, is the balance between study and family postgraduate student. I started here in 2019, commitments. Juggling the demands of family life, following my recovery from a long term illness which partners, and often work commitments, with classes had left me virtually housebound, bringing an end to a and studying leaves some students struggling to find successful career. Once I had decided that I was ready to time for writing assignments. I try to get as much do something with my life again, I felt very fortunate that work done as I can during the school day, when my my chosen field of study was offered at an exceptional children are otherwise occupied, as I know I will have level by Swansea University, just down the road from my no time to myself between 3pm and 9pm. But for home, meaning that I could contemplate juggling my life those working in addition to studying, this is not an as a single parent, with my health, and part-time study. option. I’d recommend being open and honest with I’m now entering my second year of my part-time MA in your tutors and lecturers regarding your situation, as Creative Writing and have no regrets whatsoever. most will be sympathetic to your need to balance life and learning. But what’s it like being a mature student? And how do our needs and overall student experience differ from those We’re fortunate that the university does offer a range of continuing their education directly from school? services to tackle these cons. The Centre for Academic Success supports students in developing appropriate The Pros academic study skills, bridging the gap between where • As a mature student, the choice to study (and what they are and where they need to be to succeed. CAS, to study) is less likely to be influenced by family based in the Singleton campus library, offers a range members. Older learners are often independent with of courses, workshops and one to one tutorials to help a clear understanding of their personal strengths and students develop confidence and achieve their potential. weaknesses, meaning that they have clear motivations The Wellbeing Service can offer additional support and for studying and so often choose degrees and learning guidance if you’re struggling including self help resources and mental health support. formats that best suit them and their lives.
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• Many mature students come back to the world of study after a considerable time away, and so studying offers them a break from their normal life and a chance to try something new. This often brings with it a sense of enthusiasm and a fresh perspective to education. • Life experience can enhance the student experience. Whether it’s discipline and organisation from the world of work, or money management from stretching a budget at home, everything learned outside of education can help put your learning experience into a wider context. • While you may feel like the oldest person in the university, mature students aren’t as rare as you may think. According to data published by HESA (Higher Education Statistics Agency) as part of the Higher Education Student Statistics: UK, 2018/19 statistical bulletin, some 59% of all UK University students were mature students.
In addition, Student Plus is a new society, launched at the end of 2019 to support both mature students, and those with any other responsibility or commitment outside of study, including parenting and caring. Given that many mature students find their evenings taken up with family obligations, Student Plus aim to meet during the day for coffee and chat. The group have also supported each other through the COVID-19 pandemic, with regular online check ins, which has been tremendously uplifting. Thinking back to this time last year, I know I was terrified. I spent the first fortnight being terrified and having the worst case of imposter syndrome. This year, unfortunately, brings with it a new set of challenges, but the university has put a wide range of health and safety measures in place to ensure that we all have the safest possible experience.
Don’t be daunted. Enjoy your time at Swansea University, fully engage with your studies and fellow students, and make the most of Student Plus and the university based • Picking up a textbook or attending a lecture after an services designed with mature students in mind. educational gap that can be several decades long is extremely daunting. There is no doubt that knowing
The Cons
Volunteering with Discovery
I
By Owain Brooks
started volunteering with Discovery during my second year in order to expand my CV and my employability. The first projects I volunteered on were Orientation Buddies and Age Exchange. Orientation Buddies is a project that supports new Swansea University students with autism to adjust to the university environment. Age Exchange involved planning and hosting activities for older adults such as craft sessions and quizzes.
One of my favourite memories was working on Orientation Buddies. The student I was buddied up with became involved in Discovery and ended up volunteering on Orientation Buddies the following year. It was great being a part of their journey and seeing them develop and grow as an individual. So what is Discovery? Discovery SVS is a student-led charity that helps enrich the lives of the community through a wide variety of volunteering opportunities. Some projects specifically involve working with adults such as Active 18; an online social group run by Discovery that allows disabled adults to develop their skills. Other projects work with children, an example being Surfability, where you can help disabled young people to boost their self-confidence through surfing. Discovery also offers a range of practical projects such as the Vetch, where you can help maintain allotments and community gardens and one-off volunteering opportunities such as through litter picks.
Pretty soon Discovery wasn’t just a place where I could improve my skills, it was a place where I made friends, could go for a coffee and it became a second home to me. For me, Discovery has had a massive boost on my self-confidence and well-being, allowing me to make lifelong friends and make a difference to the community. Through being a project coordinator and trustee for Discovery I have improved both my public speaking and team working skills as well as gaining leadership experience. Not many 23 year olds can say that they have helped to run a charity! Nor can they say that they trained for and ran a half marathon in six weeks to raise money for a local Discovery isn’t just a place where you can give back Swansea charity! to the community, make a difference and make friends. It is also a way that you can really improve your CV and can participate in things like the Higher Education Achievement Record and be able to have a great reference for future employers. I would urge all students to sign up and check out what Discovery has to offer here: www.discoverysvs.org. If you would like to know more and ask some questions you can also come meet the Discovery team including current volunteers by checking out the Discovery Virtual Sofa every Wednesday at 1pm on Facebook @DiscoverySVS.
Advice
Some Advice to Incoming Freshers! instantly have something to start off a conversation easily. For example, a friend of mine left a box of chocolates along with a friendly note in the kitchen on move-in day, and he said he felt as though this was a good way to start chatting with minimal awkwardness. espite now going into my third year at Just try not to be scared to make the first move, Swansea, it really doesn’t feel like freshers was because chances are that someone wants to make so long ago. Between meeting new people, friends and meet new people just as much as you! moving to a new place, and learning to look after myself, the last two years have been a blur! For the Stay true to yourself most part, I’ve loved being at university. However, there are a few things I wish I had known during the Although you might want to make yourself seem first few months. That’s why I decided to write this approachable and easy to be friends with, you should article. I asked around a few friends and reminisced never compromise your values or boundaries in order on the last couple of years to come up with these to fit in. It is very tempting in the first few weeks to pieces of advice that some second and third year push yourself to your limits to seem easy-going and students wish they had known at the beginning. always up for a laugh, but this may get draining and you’ll burn yourself out. If everyone else is going Leave your door open on a night out for example, but you really want to stay in and have a chill night to yourself – do that! Moving to university can feel daunting, but one No one will think less of you for this, it’s important great thing about moving into a new place with to prioritise your physical and mental health over strangers is that you’re all in exactly the same boat. doing something just because you’re worried about Nobody knows each other and most people want missing out or seeming boring. Everybody is different, to make friends and get comfortable living at their some people need more time alone and others feel new accommodation. A good way to show people energised when they’re with other people a lot – and you want to socialise is by getting a doorstop and that’s okay! You should always honour your own needs. keeping your door open. That way whenever people are walking past it’s easier to pop their heads in and Join a society! have a chat. Knocking on the closed door of a total stranger may seem a bit more nerve-wracking than Joining a society is the best thing I could’ve done. a casual conversation and this may make people feel I gained experience in a topic different to my more comfortable to chat to you in future run-ins! degree, met lots of new people, and overall had a great time. By joining a society, you will meet lots Conversation Starters of people who are interested in doing similar things to you, and it is a good way to find friends outside Another good way to make yourself seem more of your accommodation and lectures. There is a approachable is to leave something in the kitchen society to suit everyone, whether you’re interested on the first day everyone moves in. This way, people in sports, performing arts, volunteering or something
By Bethan Collins
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that could help you improve on your course, you’re guaranteed to find a society to fit. A lot of societies will offer taster sessions, so you’ll have the opportunity to try out different ones before investing anything.
Visit The DockYard
seem like the easy option to eat lots of junk food and drink more alcohol than you’re used to, but it’s good to keep up your health wherever you can. There are shops on campus that offer cheap and healthy food options. It’s worth noting that this may not be the most economical option for some low income students since healthier options can sometimes be more expensive. It could be a good idea to team up with some friends or flatmates to cook together. This way, you’re splitting the cost, building friendships, and looking after yourself.
The DockYard is a new facility introduced by the student’s union. It consists of two outdoor spaces that have been created in order for people to have a space to get to know new house/flatmates in a safe and socially distanced way. The Yard is the space on Singleton and The Dock is on Bay Campus. Both of Take advantage of group chats these offer food and drinks along with a great chance to build bonds with new friends or spend time with Using subject and accommodation group chats can friends from previous years after this six-month gap. be a great way to get talking to people and find out each other’s interests before meeting, giving you a good starting point for when you do meet! Set a budget (and stick to it) This one can be especially useful to students who A great way to do this is work out how much money are living at home and won’t have the opportunity you have after paying for rent and any other financial to meet friends through shared accommodation. commitments, and divide this by the number of weeks You can use the group chats to find out what events the money needs to last you to find a weekly spending people are going to, and from there you can arrange limit. It can be tempting to spend lots of money meeting points. It’s a good way to minimise the during freshers week, but it’s important to think long nerves of meeting up with new people, and helps term too. Of course, go out and have fun as much as you contact people you might not have otherwise. you can! However, remember that you don’t want to be stuck with low funds towards the end of the term. So those are my tips to incoming freshers. I hope they’ve been somewhat helpful. Just remember, everyone is probably feeling the same nerves as Eat well whenever you are able to you. Take it day by day, and don’t push yourself! Moving away to uni for a lot of people means looking after themselves for the first time. It might
Science & Research
Postgraduate Research: What To Expect organised in advance! You will find that there are lots of meetings and events for academics in your department. It’s always good to get involved and share your research with others. Talking to other postgraduate students in your department is a good way to find out about other developments in your field. However, you should avoid falling into a trap of comparing yourself to other students. Every postgraduate degree is completely different! The number of papers another student writes, or the number of conferences they attend is completely independent from your own experience.
By Sophie Sadler
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re you a new PhD or Masters student this year? Or perhaps a third year considering research in the future? Either way, we’ve got you covered in our handy guide for what to expect from postgraduate research. Whether it’s the thought of proposing your own research; socialising and making new friends now that all your undergrad friends have scattered to the winds; or budgeting as a grown adult without a real 9-5 job, we’ve got the tips to turn the daunting into the doable. DAILY LIFE AS A POSTGRAD Unlike undergraduate students, it’s most likely you’ll have your own desk to work at in your department. The benefit of this is that you can treat your work a bit like a 9-5 job if you want to. You’ll be able to get more work done and feel more productive as you’re spending the day in an office surrounded by like-minded people. This means you can also keep your weekends free, if you manage your work well! Ideally, you should aim to meet your supervisor at least every other week. How often exactly depends on what you and your supervisor think is best – meeting every week can be very useful if you need deadlines to keep you on track, but if you prefer more time to get on with things then once every other week could be what’s best for you. Just make sure you discuss this early on with your supervisor, so you know what to expect and have meetings
SOCIAL LIFE First things first: get to know the other postgraduate students in your department! In the time of COVID, this may not be particularly easy, but some departments will have discord channels, for example, which you can join to communicate with your fellow students. There will also be a student representative for your
department, who you can contact if you have suggestions for things like social events. One of the great things about being a postgraduate student is that you have the benefits of both adult life and student life. Once you get a job, many activities which are cheap and easily accessible as a student become expensive and harder to get involved with. Now is a really good time to take your last opportunities to get involved with student societies. Most sports are significantly cheaper as a student and may not require you to have your own transportation, for example. Of course, the added benefit is that this is a great way to meet people! CONSIDERING THE FUTURE One of the best things about doing postgraduate research compared to having a job is that your time belongs to you. Take the time to learn new skills relevant to your field just because you want to or are interested in trying something new; there should be time to fit this around your main research, and it only makes you more employable. For example, if you’ve always wanted to learn a certain coding language, your postgraduate degree is a great time to do this! You may not know what you want to do after your degree when you begin, and this is okay, but at some point you need to decide so it’s good to start thinking about it. The two major paths after postgraduate research are academia and industry (i.e. just getting a regular job). If it’s industry you’re more interested in, it might be good to get internships during a PhD, depending on your subject.
If you want to stay in academia, focusing on the best research outputs possible is probably the way to go. Another good thing you can do if you’re interested in academia is get some teaching experience. This brings us onto the next thing… FINANCES As a postgraduate student, you will have the opportunity to apply to be a student demonstrator. This is completely optional, but as mentioned above, it can be a useful experience. And importantly for this section, it earns you a bit of extra money. For some subjects, e.g. mathematics, you can get involved with marking as well as demonstrating in classes. This is also good for making money as the more hours you spend marking, the more you can earn!
earlier, you have all the usual student benefits. This means student discounts; take advantage of these! FINALLY As with anything, you’ll get out what you put in. The more you interact with the other postgraduate students, the more you’ll find others who are experiencing the same things as you and who have advice for succeeding. Though, if you’ve been accepted to do a postgraduate degree, the chances are you’ve already done a great job of succeeding as an undergraduate student. That means you have all the skills and experience to succeed at this new endeavour, and most likely this time you’ll be doing it with less frequent hangovers!
Generally, postgraduate students earn a stipend to live on if their research is funded. This is unfortunately not as much as a normal 9-5 job, but as mentioned
Swansea Professor Wins Prestigious Award By Sophie Sadler
T
he St David Awards are the annual national awards of Wales, recognising exceptional contributions to areas from culture and sport to business to bravery. This year Swansea University’s Professor Dave Worsley was awarded for his achievements in Innovation, Science and Technology, as decided by the First Minister of the Welsh Government, Mark Drakeford MS, and his advisers.
Both the Active Classroom and Active Office buildings on Bay Campus have won various awards.
In addition, during his 30-year career at Swansea University Professor Worsley has secured more than £140 million of research funding, driving many partnerships within Wales. As well as SPECIFIC, he has worked on other global projects at the University such as SUNRISE, ABC, SUSTAIN, SAMI, and numerous organisations that exist as a product of these The Innovation, Science and Technology Category is enterprises. “intended for those who have developed techniques or solutions that meet new requirements and who Professor Worsley has previously been awarded have provided effective products, processes, services, another prestigious award, the Hadfield Medal technologies, or ideas that are available to society and Prize, by the Institute of Materials, Minerals at large”. and Mining (IOM3) in 2015, in recognition of his achievements connected with the iron and steel Professor Worsley is responsible for pioneering the industries. concept of “Active Buildings”; these are buildings with the capability to produce and store their own heat We at the Waterfront would like to offer our warmest and electricity through the use of renewable energy. congratulations to Professor Worsley, and look He led the creation of the SPECIFIC Innovation and forward to seeing more of his achievements in the Knowledge Centre (IKC) in 2011, a collaboration future! between more than 50 partners from industry, academia and government to develop this concept.
Fashion
How Clothes Can Create a First Impression By Rhianydd Sword
W
as important as they may seem, like I said opinions often change. When it comes to our outfit choice, we need to remember to dress for ourselves and not for others. The perfect top that we were so worried about isn’t the item that others like but the one that we feel the most ourselves in. Fashion has a different meaning for everybody but ultimately, it’s about being comfortable in yourself, so wear what you feel the best in. By doing this, people will be able to see you for who you are and that’s the best impression you can create.
elcome Freshers! I hope that you’re all settling in and getting used to what will be your new home for the next academic year. As I was only just a fresher myself last year, I’m all too familiar with the utter craziness of freshers week. There’s tons of things to do and different places to go, not to mention getting used to the freedom of being able to drink on Mondays, whilst having to do This year has been a strange one with a lot of uncertainty. Whilst we mustn’t forget our safety, the your own laundry on Wednesdays. beginning of university is a time to start afresh and Freshers week is also about meeting new people and have some fun. I’d like to take the opportunity to say it can be easy to worry about creating a good first well done for making it to Swansea University. I’d also impression. Just don’t worry too much, for opinions like to add that if I was to give one piece of advice and thoughts often change. If you want an example for this year, it would be to bring a jacket with you at of this, I melted a tray on my first night at university all times. When it’s two in the morning, you’re tired and I became known as a bad cook who shouldn’t and you’ve one too many vodka shots in your system, even be close to an oven. In time, this changed, and you’ll be all too glad for that much needed warmth my flat mates altered their opinions after seeing that and comfort a jacket will give you. It might not seem like such a big deal now but trust me it’s a life saver. I did have some cooking skills, albeit limited ones. Nevertheless, this is the fashion section so whilst it’s fun to admit to my cooking mishaps, I want to talk about how an outfit can play into a first impression. Our clothing choices are a way for us to introduce ourselves without having to say anything. It’s a chance for people to initially see who we are and then make a rash judgement. Knowing this, it sometimes becomes easy to overthink our wardrobe choices. Finding the perfect top to wear may become as vital as knowing whether to say ‘hi’ or ‘hello’. Except these things really aren’t
Dressing for Socials By Chiara Cimmino
W
hen it comes to hockey, the sport itself isn’t the only thing, there are also the socials that need to be taken into consideration. When it comes to socials, fashion goes completely out of the window, so here’s my advice on how to dress for them. As a fresher last year, I had no idea how much effort went into the socials themselves, especially the costumes. Each week for the girls there was a new theme. The themes ranged from: carrots, robots, Toga night, trolls, babies, and so much more. As someone who had to prepare for such socials each week there were concerns for how much all these costumes would cost. However, overall, it can be really cheap if you plan it well. My first tip would be to make sure you have cardboard. Lots and
Note: Socials may look different this year due to Covid-19 safety measures and in line with Welsh Government Guidance.
lots of cardboard. You can either keep the boxes and flatten them from things you have ordered, or if you live on Bay campus as I did, in the archway by Tesco they have a mountain of cardboard which we used for our costumes. The aim of these socials was never to look good, in fact, the crazier you looked, the better praise you received. Fashion went completely out of the window and the evening itself was just a laugh. One of the first socials we ever had was carrots, and we had to body paint ourselves entirely in orange and spray paint our hair green! It’s often useful to go costume shopping with members of your team to make things a bit cheaper for yourself and make the experience more fun. I definitely recommend going to Poundland for materials to decorate your costume, it’s located near Primark. One of the more interesting socials we had was anything but clothes, where we had to make our own clothes from scratch. We were not allowed to use bin bags and then tie with a piece of string.
What one of my friends did was use some of her Ikea bags and make a dress and bucket hat out of it, there are many YouTube videos on how to make clothes from Ikea bags. I, however, made my costume from J-cloths and Tesco bags. J-cloths are pretty cheap and you will always have a shopping bag lying around to use. I also made a belt from some string and extra material I had from the J-cloths. It most certainly did not look good, but it did the trick and stayed intact for the whole evening. All in all, dressing up for socials and preparing your costumes can be super fun, and it doesn’t have to be expensive at all! If you are someone who does like to dress up, don’t worry. It’s not all about the costumes and looking crazy, there are also a couple “dress to impress” nights where you can put a dress on and some makeup (and no body paint)!
Societies
An Introduction to Societies at Swansea By Rachel Hart
U
niversity provides the perfect opportunity to meet people, diversify and immerse yourself in new activities. Despite the current climate, the university is working tirelessly to provide a memorable experience for new students. We highly encourage you to step outside of your comfort zone and join a society - whether that be a sports team, music group, charity, or something entirely different! Swansea has a plethora of activities and societies to choose from, so everyone’s tastes are accounted for. Although Freshers’ Fayre unfortunately cannot take place on campus as it usually would, the Union will be hosting Instagram Takeovers on @SwanseaUniSU alongside Q&A sessions to provide a platform for societies to promote themselves. Such sessions which will assist you in discovering an activity right for you! Also, please visit our official Instagram page’s highlights to view past Society Takeovers. On top of this, teams and societies are currently being encouraged to hold online taster sessions which the University will promote on social media – so keep an eye out for updates. Here at Swansea, we support over 150 societies, so it
is highly likely you will find one just right for you. With regards to academia, you may be interested in joining the society which accompanies your chosen degree to assist you in your studies. However, you do not have to study in a particular field to join a group! Societies including Aerospace Engineering, Egyptological and Psychology host a range of exciting socials and trips
open to any student. We support a range of cultural, international and religious societies which are all student-ran and highly welcoming. Although we have a diverse range of groups, the Students’ Union makes it extremely easy to begin your own if you wish to. Please visit https://www.swansea-union.co.uk/activities/ societies/startingasociety/ for more information. If you wish to take up a new hobby or interest during your time at University, there are multiple opportunities open to you. For example, Baking Appreciation, Sport Experience and Cheese and Wine are perfect for those looking to adopt new skills, make friends and elevate their University experience. Please visit https://www.swansea-union.co.uk/get_ involved/societies/ to discover the full list of societies here at Swansea. Here, you can explore the range of activities on offer and read an in-depth description regarding what the society stands for. Our societies have been working hard to prepare for the arrival of both new and returning students, ensuring that their pages provide as much useful information as possible in such testing times. Once you discover a group which takes your interest, you may purchase your membership online or contact the group for further information. We can’t wait to meet you all! If you have any questions or queries regarding societies, please feel free to email me at WaterfrontSocieties@ swanseastudentmedia.com and I will be happy to respond.
Creative Writing and Literature
A Passion for Podcasts: Bingeworthy Audio Drama By Sali Earls
I
love podcasts. I’ve been listening to a wide range for years, from documentaries and news programmes, to fashion and beauty, to comedy. But the one genre I come back to time and time again is drama. Whether it’s a solo narrator telling us a story, or gifted voice actors playing out a tale, I believe that audio drama works so wonderfully as listeners play a vital role in the story. We use our imaginations in order to fill in the gaps and see what can only be described or alluded to with sound effects. But it takes a deft writer of fiction to craft something compelling enough for us to engage with and want to listen to episode after episode. Here are three of my most recent favourite audio drama podcasts that I think are definitely worth a binge listen. On the surface, The Harrowing, written and directed by Mark Healy, is a police procedural crime drama, but it is so much more than that. The story unfolds over eight taut episodes through interview and flashback and predominantly takes place on the remote Scottish island of Toll Mòr. As a huge storm hits, cutting off the island, a terrible crime takes place, bringing about supernatural events which threaten to change the course of history. It’s a gripping and exciting story, performed by a cast of outstanding actors, led by Joanne Froggatt (Downton Abbey). The Antique Shop is the second podcast from independent podcaster Ghostly Thistle. Our narrator and protagonist, the mellifluously voiced “Maya”, is
a Scottish student desperately in need of a part time job to make ends meet. She finds one at the Antique Shop, run by the enigmatic Madam. We soon discover, after some unusual interactions with customers, that nothing is quite as it seems and almost anything is possible. This is an ongoing drama, currently at 19 episodes. My top recommendation for this issue is Borrasca, from audio drama powerhouse QCode. I binged the nine episodes in one day, as I had to know what happened next. The story is told via flashback, as our protagonist Sam recounts terrible and strange events from his childhood and youth following the family’s move to a Missouri town. Disappearances, strange noises from the mountain, and a disturbing forest based ritual make for an intriguing and heart wrenching story. Told by an excellent cast, led by Cole Sprouse (Riverdale), this is one story not to be missed. Do you have any audio drama podcast recommendations? Email waterfrontcreativewriting@ swanseastudentmedia.com
Eve of the Election: September Haikus from Central USA By Benjamin Nichols Blue fish swim in the pond, Late summer leaves turn colours, Midwest signals change Deer forage on herbs, Bees gather last flower blooms, Some people deny Crickets chirp at night, Frogs call before their deep sleep, Will spring bring new hope? As the corn turns colour brown And pumpkins ripen to orange While birds prepare for the snow Have we taught ourselves?
The Stranglers By Sophie Apps These white sheets are my tissues, Blackened with flakes of mascara and Shadows of your ghostly presence. Instead of blowing kisses amongst the Fake flowers and stuffed animals, My nose blows away the past year. They say “time heals” – these people Are liars. The clock only moves forward, Its black numbers blur together like I am Glimpsing them from a different dimension. Little curls are hurling my presence forward Into the front seat of a Maserati. The engine starts a war against timeRaise the white flag!
The city, the cars, the colours all change; What a magnificent mess! Strapped in, I hear untouched hands Grasping for signs of life. Time is like a stretched road. It’s paved with a seatbelt that Has no safety, instead, it strangles Me! My breath is wholly withdrawn. But I took Time by his cold hands Before he could grab my waist. We lay as two unchangeable corpsesWatching the walls cave in. These white sheets are my coffinDampened with my grief. Unravel me into your love.
Ssshh, Wait! By Ashish Dwivedi
I
think the Nobel is the reason.
have been gifted with the very platform it had long awaited to rest over, and bud the most beautiful, the I was reading a savvy introduction to Animation most fiery embers of sand... art. Studies, ed. by Jayne Pilling, and was determined to finish the final two essays before enjoying the meal I emphasize death - maybe it’s the motif of the of my choice: chocolates. Not to assume that I didn’t century, or maybe deprivation is analogous to the want to read, I think I couldn’t countenance my death of the artist? Who to ask? Perhaps, it’s a bizarre personal encounter with the distinguished winners of question to ask, and maybe, it should be speculated the already-mentioned prize. over once you’ve heard me write. Don’t abandon it. Perhaps, it’s funny that I found myself in the position of a flummoxed bull, who doesn’t realize the predicament it is in, but is silently humbled, pieceby-piece, by more than a hundred matadors, all clad in elevated attires. Every matador was distinct, and their fancy attires clearly revealed their personas, that I, the bull, was fascinated to wear, tempted.
Just like not abandoning your art, not abandoning the creative-side, the glorious-side... the side that favors humanity over everything else. It’s about time you initiate your creative revelations as a lotus blooms out... petal-by-petal. Read, and read, but the most important task is to be aware, to be proud (both of yourself and the work), and believe, as says the Irish novelist and playwright, Lucy Caldwell, “that The more poetry I compose, the more rejections I there are stories that only you can tell”. receive, and this is true to the plight of emerging/ budding artists. Indeed, it possesses all the darkness Everybody has seen the sun shining; what I am to consume their light, and it’s discomforting to awaiting is your sun to shine high, glittered with witness the fall of unrisen talents, the death of a rainbow skies and honey birds, and dazzling growing paradise. No doubts, the world is changing, waterfalls, against lofty candy-floss and edible and in the current waves of thoughts, I can see, at green, all crayoned on the canvas you shall call “the close proximity, the dying imagination that could work that changed my life”.
In Her Eyes By Sali Earls
I
groaned as the alarm went off. Five more minutes. Just five more. I knew I had to get up and get on with it, but I’d been dreading the day. It was too important, and I wasn’t ready for it. Turning the alarm off, having snoozed it for the third time, I sat on the edge of the bed and gazed at my toes. The chipped nail polish looked as horrible as I felt, but there was no time to
deal with it now. It’s not like anyone was going to see my toenails today anyway. No matter the weather, today wasn’t going to be a day for sandals.
I pushed myself up off the bed and walked into the bathroom. Christ! I looked so much worse than I felt. How was that possible? My hair could be washed and styled, but my skin looked so sallow, and my eyes were bloodshot with massive I sat for a couple of minutes, focusing bruises for bags beneath them. I lacked on my breathing. My heart was both the skill and make up to put that pumping, and I wanted to be calm right. I threw cold water into my face, and quiet to face it. Or at least in the vain hope it would shock my skin appear to be. back to normal. I looked the same, just dripping.
I hadn’t spoken to the rest of the family properly for a few months. They knew I was back, of course. Dad had been the one to email me, to tell me what had happened. But here I was, in this budget hotel, on my own. I’d never felt so alone. People had always said I had her eyes. She’d said they were her best feature and she had been so beautiful in her youth. I looked into the mirror, squinting at myself. The lighting was pretty good in here, all things considered, and I looked into my eyes. They were so blue that in the right light they looked almost purple. That’s why they’d named me Iris. I washed and brushed my hair, scraping it into a bun, and slipped into my black dress. I hadn’t been to a funeral since my grandfather died, and I was terrified I would be a blubbering wreck. I may not have seen her for years, but we always had an unspoken bond, a connection that was so special.
new to me. She had been much loved by all who knew her, which was clear from the large crowd of mourners and well-wishers. I felt a lump in my throat when, during a moment of prayer, I watched as her coffin was transported away. I had forgotten that they did that. Iris Bowen. Rest in Peace. We left the building to the tune of “Puttin’ on the Ritz”. She had always been a huge fan of Fred and Ginger. I hugged my mother and brother, and walked to my father. “I’m so sorry Dad. I should have been here.” He told me that travelling is exactly what I should have been doing, and that grandma had wanted me to see the world, “I think she was a bit jealous actually,” he told me. I had planned to go straight back to the hotel and figure out what to do next, but here I am in my childhood bedroom at home. They persuaded me to come back. Not that it took that much persuasion after all.
So I’m sitting here, at my old desk and dressing table I took a taxi to the crematorium, arriving just behind the reading a note that I’m guessing Dad slipped into my hearse and family car. It was a relief in a way. I didn’t pocket after the funeral. It’s from her. feel up to awkward conversations with distant relatives. I spy with my little eye, something beginning with I! I stood a little distance from the hearse and watched as You always were my little I weren’t you sweetheart? my brother, mother, father and uncle vacated the car. I I’m so proud of you, darling little Iris, of everything caught my father’s eye, and he winked. My mother was you’ve already achieved and all those things that too distracted with my brother to notice me. are yet to happen. I want you to promise me that you will live your life to the full, and always have We took our seats in the crematorium, and the pallbearers fun. And don’t forget, your old grandma is always brought the coffin through the congregation to its resting with you. Just look in the mirror xx place. The family flowers were a beautiful mix of irises, daffodils and roses. My mother turned to look at the mourners and noticed me. She gave a little smile and As I look in the mirror, the light from my desk lamp catches my eyes and makes them burn purple. And she’s there. nodded. Her eyes are looking at me through my own eyes, and The priest had known my grandmother well, and told they’re smiling. a number of very funny anecdotes, some of which were
WICKED
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Bethan’s Book Of The Month By Bethan Bates
describes the towns, market places and even the demolished temples that they visit is so amazing and I truly want to visit!
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
The only part of the story I didn’t enjoy so much was the romance between Inan and Zélie, partially I think because I was unsure of the ages of each character. Although I can be a sucker for the ‘enemies-to-lovers’ trope, this was a little too ‘potential-killer to lover’ for me to be totally onboard. However, this did not- in any way- ruin my reading experience and I definitely still enjoyed the characterisation throughout the book.
Recommended to me by a friend and fellow literature student, I bought both Children of Blood and Bone and the sequel Children of Virtue and Vengeance not entirely sure what to expect. The Legacy of Orïsha series is a YA story of magic and power with a healthy sprinkling of romance and adventure. At first glance this description doesn’t seem overly exciting or revolutionary, but Adeyemi’s beautiful storytelling and writing brings the world of Orïsha to life. And what really grabbed me was the story of race and racism. Many YA dystopian stories are allegories for race, such as The Hunger Games trilogy. However, Adeyemi doesn’t shy away from her intentions in her language, character descriptions, and even her poignant author’s note. *Spoilers Start Here* The story follows the main character Zélie, a young dîviner (a maji without her powers) as she travels to find a way to bring magic back to Orïsha. Her companions are her older brother Tzain and Princess of Orïsha, Amari, and at times Prince of Orïsha, Inan. Zélie must overcome her struggles with impulsivity, mistrust, and friendship. Zélie is truly one of the most powerful female characters I have read in a YA story, and although she has her faults, and makes many mistakes throughout the story, ultimately she is always learning and as readers we still know she has her heart in the right place. Amari is an equally amazing character who develops from being a meek princess to a powerful Lionaire. Her story surrounds how she learns to reject her family’s morals and upbringing to fight for what is right. Even if this isn’t particularly your style of book, I would still recommend giving this a read as the actual writing and world building is truly art. The way she
Overall Star Rating - 5/5
Cymraeg
Hiliaeth yn Gymru Gan Katie Phillips
W
rth dyfu i fyny yn y Cymoedd roeddwn i yn gyfarwydd â gweld dim ond pobl wen 99% o’r amser. Yn fy ysgol i ddim ond llond llaw o fyfyrwyr oedd yn dod o grŵp lleiafrifoedd ethnig. Mae hyn yn gyffredin iawn mewn rhai ardaloedd yng Nghymru, gyda’r mwyafrif o drefi a phentrefi yn bell o fod yn amlddiwylliannol. Er nad oedd hiliaeth yn yr ysgol yn agored, roedd jôcs fel Mwslemiaid yn eithafwyr yn llawer rhy gyffredin. Astudiais gaethwasiaeth, apartheid, a’r symudiadau hawliau sifil yn America mewn Hanes TGAU a Lefel A. Roeddwn wedi dychryn gwnaeth hyn digwydd ond cefais fe arwain i gredu bod hyn yn beth o’r gorffennol. Ni chyffyrddodd y cwricwlwm â hiliaeth fodern, ymddygiadau ymosodol micro, na materion dreisgar iawn, ond yng Nghymru ar y cyfan mae’n sy’n hanfodol i’n dealltwriaeth o hiliaeth. fwy anamlwg, gyda ymddygiadau ymosodol micro a barn anwybodus ddim yn cael eu hystyried yn hiliol Mae angen ailwampio’r cwricwlwm yn llwyr. yn eu hanfod. Soniwyd yn fyr am hanes trefedigaethol Prydain ond nid oedd yn brif ran o’r cwricwlwm. Eleni, rwyf wedi Mae bwlch dealltwriaeth cenhedlaeth yn amlwg, bod yn addysgu fy hunan ar hanes Prydain gyda gyda’r genhedlaeth hŷn yn defnyddio datganiadau chaethwasiaeth a gwladychiaeth ac rwyf wedi fy fel ‘I don’t see colour’, ‘pulling the race card’, ‘political synnu ynghylch pam nad yw hyn ar y cwricwlwm. Mae correctness gone mad’. Mae gan lawer o bobl yn y yna gred nad oes problem yn y wlad hon oherwydd ei cymoedd feddylfryd hen ffasiwn iawn. Mae cael eu bod yn cael ei hystyried yn ‘Broblem Americanaidd’. galw’n hiliol, yn niweidio eu synnwyr o falchder. Nid Ni allant weld hiliaeth gudd yn ein strwythurau a’n oes unrhyw un eisiau cael ei alw’n hiliol, a beth sy’n sefydliadau, a’r angen i’r datgysylltu hyn. waeth yw bod yr unigolion hynny sy’n amlwg yn hiliol yn ei ystyried yn ‘lleferydd rhydd’. Rydw i wastad wedi meddwl am y Cymoedd fel lle croesawgar a derbyniol iawn. Roeddwn i’n gwybod Daw hyn i gyd yn ôl i addysg. Mae angen cwricwlwm bod yna lawer o bobl anwybodus a gredai drofannau ar waith sy’n addysgu myfyrwyr ar ein hanes yn hiliol fel ‘mewnfudwyr yn dod draw yma i ddwyn ein ogystal â materion cyfoes. Mae angen i ni gydnabod swyddi’ a ‘ffoaduriaid yn dod draw yma i dreisio ein a mynd i’r afael â hiliaeth strwythurol yng Nghymru. menywod’, ond wrth dyfu i fyny roeddwn i’n credu mai lleiafrif yn unig oedd hwn. bobl. Mae ailymddangosiad Argymhellion llyfr gwrth-hiliaeth: y mudiad Black Lives Matter eleni wedi dangos bod diwylliant hiliol cryf yma yn y cymoedd o hyd, Queenie - Candice Carty-Williams wrth iddo ddod i’r amlwg y safbwyntiau hiliol mwy How to Be an Antiracist – Ibram X. Kendi agored sydd gan bobl nad ydynt fel arfer yn cael Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About eu lleisio. Mae hiliaeth yn America yn eglur ac yn Race – Reni Eddo-Lodge
Dysgu Cymraeg! Dysgu Cymraeg mewn dim ond 5 munud y dydd, am ddim.
Learn Welsh! Learn Welsh in just 5 minutes a day, for free.
Swyddog Materion Cymraeg | Welsh Affairs Officer: katie.phillips@swansea-union.co.uk
Welsh
Racism in Wales By Katie Phillips
G
rowing up in the Valleys I was accustomed to seeing only white people 99% of the time. In my school there were only a handful of students who were from an ethnic minority group. This is very common in some areas of Wales, with most towns and villages being far from multicultural. Although racism in school wasn’t overt, jokes such as Muslims being extremists were far too common. I studied slavery, apartheid, and the civil rights movements in America in History GCSE and A Levels. I was horrified that this had happened but was led to believe that this was a thing of the past. The curriculum did not touch on modern day racism, microaggressions, or issues vital to our understanding of racism. The curriculum needs a complete overhaul. Britain’s colonial history was briefly mentioned but it was not a main part of the curriculum. This year I have been educating myself on Britain’s history with slavery and colonialism and am baffled as to why this is not on the curriculum. There is a belief that there isn’t a problem in this country because it is seen as an ‘American Problem’. They cannot see the covert racism within our structures and institutions, and the need for these to be dismantled. I have always thought of the Valleys as being a very welcoming and accepting place. I knew that there was a lot of ignorant people who believed racist tropes such as ‘immigrants coming over here to steal our jobs’ and ‘refugees coming over here to rape our women’, but growing up I believed that this was only a minority of people. The re-emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement this year has shown that there still is a strong racist culture here in the valleys, as it brought to the forefront the more overt racist opinions people have that are not usually voiced. Racism in America is very explicit and violent, whilst in Wales it is generally more inconspicuous, with microaggressions and ignorant opinions not being seen as inherently racist.
A generational gap of understanding is apparent, with the older generation using tropes such as ‘I don’t see colour’, ‘pulling the race card’, ‘political correctness gone mad’. A lot of people in the valleys have a very old-fashioned mindset. To be called a racist, damages their sense of pride. No one wants to be known as a racist, and what’s worse is that those individuals who are blatantly racist see it as ‘free speech’. This all comes back to education. We need a curriculum in place that educates students on our history as well as current issues. We need to acknowledge and address structural racism in Wales. Anti-racism book recommendations: Queenie - Candice Carty-Williams How to Be an Antiracist – Ibram X. Kendi Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race – Reni Eddo-Lodge
Culture
Photos by Diki Dolma
2020: THE YEAR OF PROTESTS, ALLYSHIP AND CALLS FOR CHANGE unfairly targeted minorities. We all hoped that the movement would bring a change for society, make us more equal and accepting but instead, 7 years later we are still discussing the effects of racism on our lives.
By Cora-Jane Jordon
2020
has been a year for the books. The new decade promised rebirth and positivity. Yet in three months, that was all thrown out the window as society was brought to a standstill. From a worldwide pandemic to a global demand for change, this year has been one that proved that society needs to be flexible.
One key event this year has been the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement. The Black Lives Movement was originally founded in 2013 in response to a rise in police brutality in America. It proved to be a worldwide issue, highlighting how systemic racism
show support. Protests were held across the country and the world, but it was not only in large cities. Our very own Swansea was a city that went on to embrace the movement. Many students took to the streets to advocate and promote the Black Lives Matter movement. In addition to that, numerous student organisations raised money to help those affected by police brutality and systemic racism here in the UK, emphasising the support many had for the movement. The university too, took a powerful stance with the Student Union emphasising the need for change and the beauty that resulted from a diverse society.
The murders of people in America, such as George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, emphasised the problems societies across the world still had. Racism was an overt issue that plagued all levels of society. Many of the issues that minorities faced were brought back to the surface and could no longer be ignored. There was a lot of work that needed to be done in order to make the world more equal. It can then be argued that this whole year was not as terrible as It was the youth from around the we all believed. This is because it world who chose to take matters was in 2020, that we were able into their own hands. We would to push for police reform here and no longer stay silent about the abroad, force large companies problems that affected different and businesses to appreciate their minorities in our society. Instead, diverse staff and ally together to we chose to show solidarity with support one another. the Black Lives Matter movement in order to try and bring about Is the movement over? No, not yet change. as there is still a lot more that can be done to make society an equal In spite of the global pandemic, place. However, the progress we many chose to risk their lives to were able to make in a short period will be felt for years to come.
First Saturday of every month Please email Georgia-Rose Gleeson for further information georgia-rose.gleeson @swansea-union.co.uk
Sport
Note: Sports may look different this year due to Covid-19 safety measures and in line with Welsh Government Guidance.
Swansea’s Sports: 3 That Fit for Freshers across the country, to share their love of the sport with fellow windsurfers nationwide. The SWA organise a bunch of socials that allow its members to experience different parts of the UK for both their nightlife and niversity sports enables students, both old their waters! and new, to enjoy the full benefits of student living; to make friends, be physically active, Unfortunately, the cross-country trips are dependent and, most importantly, to have fun doing so. We at on COVID-19 restrictions, meaning they are not the Waterfront have picked three sports that allow guaranteed to take place in the 2020-21 academic freshers to fully experience what the area has to year, but as freshers, you’ll still have plenty of time to offer, from the far-reaching coastline, to the sheer experience them fully in the future! cliffs of the Gower! For more information, please contact windsurfing@ swansea-sports.co.uk Windsurfing
By Efan Willis
U
The first sport, like the other aquatic sports clubs at university, lets members take advantage of the campus’ close proximity to the water. Max Graham, a representative of the club, described the SUWC as being as “beginner friendly” as possible, so even if you’re a novice windsurfer, you won’t be out of your depth! As a member of the Student Windsurfing Association, the SUWC takes regular trips to other universities
Mountaineering Mountaineering is another sport that blends perfectly with Swansea’s lush landscape. The club is located near the stunning cliffs of Gower, which they frequently use to train and explore. While the idea of mountaineering may intimidate novice climbers, the club can assure that all newcomers will be properly trained, in a way which ensures both fun and safety!
The SUMC hosts “beginner friendly club trips” catered to the inexperienced, but if you’re already comfortable with mountaineering, you’ll revel in the opportunity to tackle the rich terrain. Better still, all current members are trained to teach first-time mountaineers, so you’re in great hands -- they were all in your shoes at one point! If signing up immediately is too big a commitment, the club would love to have you attend a taster session, where they’ll begin to demonstrate exactly what it means to be a mountaineer at SUMC. If you want to know more, don’t hesitate to email their committee at sumc@sumc.org.uk
Ultimate Frisbee Ultimate Frisbee is quickly becoming a staple of the university sports circuit, with most major universities in the UK being represented in the BUCS league. The league allows both men and women to compete on the same teams, which makes ultimate frisbee one of the few all-inclusive sports currently available to play at Swansea University. The SUUC also happens to be a very good Ultimate club, most recently placing in the top 20 in the nation through the BUCS league! The club is well known for being one of the most social sports clubs on campus, regularly planning nights out to town or trips to other Universities, where they compete in the national league. According to one club member, “some of our members join primarily because they hear how good our socials are!” Despite being a very good Ultimate club, they’re extremely beginner friendly. Boasting around 60 members, many of whom have represented their countries at an international level, you’re sure to learn from the best. While a large portion of training is centred indoors, the club also finds themselves training on the beach from time-to-time, meaning, much like the sports mentioned above, you’ll be able to take advantage of the university’s close proximity to the Welsh coastline. If you’d like any more information about joining Swansea University’s Ultimate Club, please email ultimatefrisbee@swansea-sports.co.uk Have a great year!