Februaryserenseren 2001 THE OFFICIAL ENGLISH-LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER OF LOVE http://seren.bangor.ac.uk Inside SU leases Barrels G’day! p4 Yo! p8 Er... p10 BARRELS: It may be up at the far end of the High Street, but it’s now part of your Union. o not adjust your set. The Stu- uary the deal was closed, and the will be operated by Union staff wider market to fund its services. Ddents’ Union has taken con- old pub now joins Time, the Main and all profits will be returned to Like Time, Barrels attracts busi- Um. p13 trol of former nightclub Barrels. It Bar, Jock’s Bar and the George Bar the Union. ness from the whole community, has obtained a twelve-month lease in offering a host of Union enter- Located at the far end of the so students benefit both not only from the current owners, with a tainments and events. High Street from the Union Build- from the entertainments on offer view to possible future purchase, Like these other venues, some ing, and traditionally seen as a but also from the revenue they in a deal that aims to expand the nights at Barrels will be themed; ‘townie’ venue, Barrels might not bring into the Union.” range of entertainments available Wednesdays, for example, are ded- appear to be a major asset to the Though Barrels will be run on to Bangor’s student population. icated to eighties music, while Union. But, explained CCSO Will similar principles to Time, the The Union learnt in November that the first Thursday of every month Kelly, the new venue not only pro- lease is the Union’s first wholly the club would shortly be available is a Clwb Cymru night. Also in vides more choice for students, it public venture. There are high for lease and quietly entered into common with the other venues, also brings money in to the Union. hopes that, in the absence of gov- Mmm... p16 negotiations and investigations to Barrels has a late license until 1am “The government is forcing ernmental support, public money establish the viabil- every Friday and Saturday. Admis- ever-increasing financial demands will enable the Union to maintain ity of taking it sion is free and open to all mem- onto students,” he confirmed, “and and improve upon its present level over. In Jan- bers of the community, but Barrels so the Union must turn to the of services. SUPER-SPECIAL VALENTINE’S DAY ISSUE! Ooh! p16 ¤ 2 SEREN February 2001 WHAT’S GOING ON [email protected] Free phone sir? SCA Week igBlueSpot has struck not-to-be-sniffed-at seven All this, at least, is prom- Ba deal with BT to offer pence per minute to other ised by their press release, SCA Organiser Harriet Steele asks: how free mobiles to students. mobiles unlucky enough but as Seren went to press The offer includes a WAP- to be connected to BT www.bigbluespot.com often do you do it? enabled phone with free Deathnet. You can even didn’t seem to mention connection and delivery, sign up if you already have phones at all, only ome people in Bangor do it entirely by students, and coor- and monthly billing on a a phone—they’re happy (bizarrely) free PCs. Maybe Sup to four nights a week! Of dinated by an elected Sabbatical contract tariff that offers, just to send you a SIM if you’ll have more luck if course we are talking about vol- Officer. The volunteers help out on among other things, a you like. you try again in a bit. untary work. Volunteers are often a wide variety of projects within the stereotyped as fluffy do-gooders local community with people who that help old ladies across the road, are disadvantaged; either socially, and do the jobs that no one else economically, or physically. will do—but in fact voluntary work This year is the United Nations’ Picture perfect is the nation’s second favourite International Year of Volunteers, pastime, with over 16,000 students and as part of that Student Com- re you enchanted by the nat- amounts to over £15,000 and the volunteering across the UK. munity Action groups across the Aural world? If you reckon you winning prints will be published Volunteering is defined as ‘the UK will be promoting and cele- can take a beautiful and evocative in a portfolio accompanying the commitment of time and energy brating volunteering in Community wildlife photo, why not enter the November 2001 issue of BBC Wild- freely given for the benefit of Action Week (19th-25th February). BG Wildlife Photographer of the life Magazine. others, undertaken by choice and At Bangor we are holding taster Year competition? For more information and without concern for personal finan- sessions of all our projects and There are various categories, entry forms visit the website at cial gain.’ Bangor Student Commu- referral projects during the week, including ‘The Underwater World’, www.nhm.ac.uk before 5th April nity Action is a voluntary group as well as promoting our work in ‘Animal Portraits’ and ‘The World 2001. Doing it after that date is no based in the Students’ Union, run Amser/Time. in Our Hands’. The prize money good. SCA Week Planned Timetable Monday 19th February Come and find out more! Tea and 6pm-8.30pm Splodge biscuits provided. Local opportunities Arts and crafts with 5-8 year old 7pm-10pm Bryn Y Neuadd children. Meet SCA Office. Taking adults with learning difficul- 8pm-1am Time Cloakroom ties to the pub. Meet SCA Office. Get into Time free (and get a free 8pm-1am Time Cloakroom drink!) while raising money for Get into Time free (and get a free for local people SCA. drink!) while raising money for 8pm-1am SCA Night in Time SCA. Balloon drop, raffle, giveaways TCV Cymru is looking for Volun- BTCV also offers more general opportunities for etc. Thursday 22nd February Bteer Officers. This is an excel- volunteers to get involved, and is looking for people Follow the Dragon! lent way to develop skills and can with an interest in the countryside or people who Tuesday 20th February Details to be revealed... provide a sound foundation for a would like some hands-on experience of ecological Arfon/Mind (Talk) career in conservation. To become or environmental work. No experience is necessary, 5.45pm-6.45pm Homework Club Friday 23rd February a Volunteer Officers you must be with different schemes running on different days of Give school children help and 3pm-4pm Riding for the Disabled over 21 and have held a clean driv- the week. All you need is a packed lunch, water- support with their homework. Meet SCA Office at 2pm. ing license for at least 2 years. proofs and sturdy boots. They will provide the tools, Meet SCA Office at 5pm. 8pm-1am Time Cloakroom Volunteer Officers can take on a variety of roles free tea, coffee and biscuits! 6pm-8.30pm Splodge Get into Time free (and get a free in addition to practical conservation: these include If you’re interested, contact Agliki Politis on Arts and crafts with 5-8 year old drink!) while raising money for community liaison, woodland site management, (01248) 354050 or write to BTCV Cymru, Bangor children. Meet SCA Office. SCA. publicity—and more! City Council, Fford Gwynedd, Bangor LL57 2DP. Wednesday 21st February Saturday 24th February 1pm-4pm Out and About 8pm-1am Time Cloakroom Taking local older people out for Get into Time free (and get a free the afternoon. Meet SCA Office. drink!) while raising money for 5.30pm SCA Meeting SCA. Designer discounts t is a truth universally But don’t despair! Help tograph (such as the one I acknowledged is at hand from Haburi—a on the left), but should Why be an SCA volunteer? that the gov- ‘Virtual Factory Outlet’ you still somehow manage ernment has whose website promises to inadvertently order a • Because you want to! overlooked just the fillip to repair duffer, you can return it • Because your mates want to, and they drag you along! the necessity of your wardrobe and street within 14 days for a full • Because you want to do something nice for other people! looking good at cred at a stroke. Their refund. • Because you want something to put on your CV! University. The site offers a wide range So, looks like the cata- • Because you want a go on a bouncy castle! meagre loans of gear from to-die-for logue shopping has made • Because you have done it before! they provide us names including Calvin it to the web. Visit • Because you want to make a difference! with barely allow Klein, DKNY, Dolce & Gab- www.haburi.com to order us to raid the local bana, Hanes, Kangol and your cut-price designer Whatever turns you on, I’m sure that Bangor SCA has something that charity shop, let YSL at up to 70% off clobber and your only you would enjoy doing at least once a week! alone splash out the recommended retail problem will be finding “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change on that new pair price. Everything is illus- somewhere in Bangor the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.”—Margaret Mead of Levi’s. trated with a lush pho- worth wearing it! For more information, contact SCA Organiser Harriet Steele RECOMMENDED: Should you happen to be a 32D, Seren rather on the second floor of the Students’ Union, via email at [email protected] or on (01248) 388005 likes this Charnos body—reduced from £40 to £20 at Haburi! [email protected] WHAT’S GOING ON SEREN February 2001 3 Stupid survey reveals Elections blindingly obvious ORI have published the find- domestic activities like cooking ‘watching TV.’ Mings of a ‘comprehensive’ stu- and ironing before they came to The survey was carried out approach dent survey.