Bangor Students’ Union’s English Language Newspaper

ISSN 1755-7585 Issue No. 224 May Issue 2012 INSIDE: Summer Ball A FREE SOCIETY Line-up!

Holla for Hollaback!

Gwynedd

Picture by Eddy Reynolds Brand new Motors Page! Gwynedd • University Increases Students’ Union Funding • Societies and Clubs BeneŽ t from Free Memberships Gwynedd LJ Taylor extra money would be pumped back matter to students and directly ben- ment.” into student facing areas. One way to e€ t students... From the academic year Bangor University’s agreement to rom the start of the next aca- ensure this was to have the University 2012/13, student clubs and societies this is just the start of an overall shi demic year, all Bangor Univer- increase Students’ Union funding to will be completely free for all students. in the way the University makes its sity students will be able to join cover the costs of membership fees.  is means no membership fees and decisions. With their new Student Ex- FS.U. societies and A.U. clubs for free. We have been given assurances that no additional personal insurance costs. perience Enhancement Strategy, the Gwynedd  is development comes a er lobbying free membership for any student to Whilst we are pleased with this com- University will guarantee that students from the team at Bangor Students’ Un- any club or society will not mean that mitment, it is simply a starting point, will be at the heart of its decision mak- ion to get students more value for mon- the club or society in question will lose and we will be continuing the pressure ing process.  is strategy was written in ey in light of the University’s increase of money.  e increase to the Union’s on our institution to make signi€ cant collaboration with the Students’ Union We say bye to budget will be used to cover the money improvements in areas that directly and covers areas such as student em- tuition fees to £9,000 per year which be- that students themselves would have bene€ t students. We are also calling on ployability, the services the University the Sabbs! ings this September. Clubs and societies previously invested through member- the University to be transparent about o“ ers, developing its education strategy charge anywhere from a few pounds to ship fees.  e amount that each indi- where students’ money is being spent. and committing to a more inclusive over a hundred for membership so this vidual club and society will receive is Bangor Students’ Union campaigned and diverse student community.  e could potentially save students hun- yet to be € nalised, but will be worked hard against fee increases and we view strategy also commits the University to dreds of pounds each year. out with the current year’s membership any additional cost to students as un- “sketching out plans for transport links  e Students’ Union has been € rmly in mind. palatable, unwelcome and a risk to the between our campus sites in Bangor, to against any rise in tuition fees since the When the University initially an- adage that higher education should be make it easier for you to get around”, idea was € rst proposed back in 2010 nounced its intention to support the available to those with ability, not those which we think those who live in Bryn and refused to stand down when the Students’ Union’s initiative, President with the ability to pay. Eithin halls will be particularly pleased decision was made to increase students’ Jo Caul€ eld, who had been at the centre We will continue to be at the fore- by. An online version of the strategy can fees to £9,000.  e union wanted to en- of negotiations, released this statement: front of discussions to ensure that Ban- be found on the SU website: sure that students wouldn’t be losing “We have been € ercely lobbying for gor students receive additional bene€ ts www.bangorstudents.com out from this fee increase and that the Bangor University to invest in areas that in line with their additional invest- 2 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk May Issue 2012 Sean Talbot Editorial Toby Raynsford The Seren Team Hello! Editor: Aaron Wiles Welcome to [email protected] what I can’t be- lieve is already Deputy Editor: LJ Taylor my last issue of [email protected] Seren! Just a News: Steven Freeman few months ago [email protected] we were creat- Politics: Anna Hatfi eld ing our Freshers’ [email protected] Issue, now in the midst of disser- Features: Rosie McLeod tation deadlines, [email protected] essay stress and Creative Corner: Tom Haynes exam trauma, [email protected] we’re getting Contributors ready to wave Food & Drink: Joe Russell Nicola Hoban Sean Talbot [email protected] you off for the Summer, and un- Samantha Austin Toby Raynsford Film & TV: fortunately, some Alex Thomson Adam Pazdor Amy Westlake & Heather Boyles of you for good. Georgia Mannion Charlotte Summers fi [email protected] Congratulations Jennifer Krase Jonathon Howard Music: Joey McNally on getting yourself a degree, and for passing your year. Jez Harvey Ryan Iddon Here at Seren we like to go out with a bang, which is why Dhan Panesar Matt Jackson [email protected] Emily Taylor Matt Coombs Fashion: Kaden Wild this issue is once again a massive 48 pages. This obviously means we have new features, and for the fi rst time ever James Gudgeon Liam Connolly [email protected] we have a Motors section, you should be aware that it’s my Regan Jamieson Sophie Smith Health & Beauty: favourite page this issue, and not just because I made it. The Emily Tearle & Sara Royle issue also sees the return of the business page, and this time News 3-5 [email protected] we’re giving you tips on how to make some extra cash using Politics 6-7 Advice: Ashleigh Garnett eBay. You may have heard about Hollaback, it’s a street Comment 8-10 [email protected] harassment campaign and we’ve heavily covered it in this Environment 11 issue because we think it’s important that you’re kept safe! Travel: Rowena Nathan Also inside this month’s issue, we’re saying goodbye to the Features 12-13 [email protected] current Sabb team who have all done excellent jobs whilst Hollaback 14-15 Sport: Tom Knott in offi ce, we have all your standard music and fi lm reviews Business 16 [email protected] including a bit of an Avengers special simply because we Societies 18-19 Secretary: Luke Dobson loved it. Most excitingly though, this Seren profi les the acts Union 20-21 [email protected] playing your Summer Ball, and what a ball it is going to Creative Corner 22-23 be! We’re seriously impressed with the line-up. I’m going Design: Dan Turner to sign off now simply by saying that it’s been a pleasure Summer Ball 24-25 [email protected] editing Seren this year, and I’m thankful for the experience Fashion 26-27 I’ve gotten from it. I hope that you’ve enjoyed reading the Health & Beauty 28 paper as much as we’ve enjoyed putting it together, Seren Ashleigh Answers 29 The Sabbs has got a good team of people behind it and without them Music Jo Caulfi eld 30-31 it wouldn’t look as good as it does today. For those gradu- Classics 32 jo.caulfi [email protected] ating and heading off into something new, good luck, and Film & TV 33-35 Danielle Buckley for those who are returning, we’ll see you next year! Games & Gadgets 36-37 [email protected] Food & Drink Danielle Giles Ps. R.I.P. Graham

n appeal is being made by the knowing what has happened to him. on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 ebecca Earnshaw, a German lan- Rebecca being the proud winner this family of an A-level student We are just praying and hoping he will 555 111. “We also want to hear from guage student from the School year commented: who went missing Wednes- come home, we can’t give up hope.” anyone who may know of Matthew’s of Modern Languages has been “I decided to become a peer guide as Aday 25th April 2012. Beloved brother His parents, devastated by his dis- whereabouts. I would also appeal to namedR Peer Guide of the Year 2012 for I really like helping people, and it was and son Matthew Williams, 18, from appearance, have explained how they Matthew himself to contact police and her committment and excellent work in a way of giving something back to the Bangor, was last seen by his parents have had to tell Matthew’s 6-year old his family to let them know that he is the award winning mentoring initiative. University.  ere were many nominees, Dennis and Susan Williams as he le sister Tiana that her big brother was safe and well.” Every year Bangor University de- all of whom have done lots of good their home on Caernarfon Road on missing. “We didn’t tell her for a few Matthew, 18, was last seen in the ploys hundreds of peer guides to help things, so it’s really amazing that I have the Wednesday to get a McDonalds days but then felt we had to because Caernarfon Road area of Bangor at € rst years settle into their new univer- won this honour. I’ve made three really from the nearby outlet, and later told of all the posters around of Matthew about 5.00pm on Wednesday 25th sity life, in ways such as helping them good friends, and we’ve kept in close them he was going to visit a friend’s asking for help. He is my best friend April 2012. He is described as being move into their new accommodation to contact over the last year. I’ve found house nearby. Matthew’s mum Susan, and he is Tiana’s best friend as well. 5’11”, slim build and muscular. He is matters regarding their studies at Ban- peer guiding really enjoyable and re- 42, became concerned when she dis- Telling her has been one of the hard- clean shaven with brown short hair. gor, not forgetting introducing them to ally rewarding and I’d recommend it to covered that Matthew, who volunteers est things.” Susan continues, “His sister He was wearing a green long sleeved their fellow students on their course. anyone.” at an old people’s home, was not in his misses him, he is a very loving brother. hoody top and blue jeans. At the end of every academic year, room  ursday morning when she His older brother Daniel is desperately the Central Peer Guiding Unit opens went in there, despite his assurances worried as well and has been nominations for € rst years to nominate that he would be back by 11pm on back from Telford, where their peer guides if they feel they are the Wednesday night. “I knew straight he lives, to search for him.” worthy of winning the Peer Guide of away something was wrong. He is not It has been more than two the Year Award and nominations from the type of lad to stay out or go club- weeks now without any news across the schools ¬ ood in. bing with friends so I knew something about Matthew. Dad, Dennis Rebecca’s nominators said : had happened.” Susan told the Daily said: “We just want to him “She is very approachable and willing Post. Dad, Dennis, 52, then alerted to come home. If he can’t do to give advice whenever needed and has police, instigating a massive search for this we just want him to let always been there for the students, even Matthew that has seen friends and po- us know he is safe and well.” when needed on one particular occa- lice join the hunt. He adds, “We want to thank sion in the middle of the night.” Matthew Williams, a student at Co- the police and all those who Another of the nominators men- leg Menai, was due to sit his A-levels have supported us to search tioned that, without Rebecca, they this month, hoping to become a doc- for Matthew.” would have found it really di® cult to tor. Susan revealed: “It is with us every North Wales Police are make friends and that Rebecca had second, we can’t understand why he appealing to anyone with made their € rst year at Bangor easy and would go away.  e worst part is not information to contact them fun. Honorary Fellowships Bangor Societies Announced Showcase in Jubilee By Steven Freeman angor University has an- Jones – plant collector and cultivator, Professor Catherine McKenna - Weekend Festivities nounced the names of the ven- Crug Farm Nurseries [for services to Professor of Celtic Languages & Litera- erable individuals who they are Botany and Horticulture] tures, Harvard University [for services By Steven Freeman Bawarding Honorary Fellowships in Professor Tony Jones CBE, FRCA to the study of Celtic languages & lit- angor University Medieval Re- of view, we now have more authentic 2012 in graduation ceremonies which – internationally-known arts adminis- eratures] enactment Society and B.E.D.S living history kit and lots of shiny new take place this year between 14 – 20th trator; an Anglesey man who is Chan- š e Rt Hon Lord Barry Jones - are working together to put on armour which will make our battles July. cellor of the School of Art Institute of former MP for Alyn & Deeside, and Ba show in Beaumaris Castle scheduled and show € ghting look ever more im-  e names of this year’s Honorary Chicago [for services to the Arts] government minister, and graduate of for the Jubilee weekend following the pressive and we hope to bring much Fellows are: John Gibb Marshall (also known Coleg Normal [for services to Welsh success of last year’s “Medieval Day excitement to the days proceedings.” Professor Malcolm David Evans as John Sessions) – actor and writer, public life] Out”. Beaumaris on the Jubilee weekend OBE - Professor of International Law, and Bangor graduate, who has enjoyed University Registrar Dr. David Rob-  e bank holiday weekend is set to will also be home to a ferris wheel University of Bristol [for services to a distinguished acting career – star- erts said: be a busy weekend for the Anglesey which has been nicknamed the ‘Beau- Law] ring most recently as Edward Heath in “Bangor University has a strong tra- tourist hotspot and visitors can expect maris Eye’ which will sit near the sea Professor Steve Jones - Professor the € lm  e Iron Lady [for services to dition of recognising the achievements stunning show € ghts and battles along front and o“ er panoramic views over of Genetics, University College Lon- drama] of various men and women in di“ er- with mini plays which will take place the North Wales coast. don (UCL), prize- ent walks of life.  is year throughout the day. winning author and is no exception, and we Bangor Uni- broadcaster [for look forward to award- versity Medieval services to Science] ing Honorary Fellow- Re-enactment So- Terence David ships. Our Fellows will ciety Captain, Dan Hands CBE - Di- add great distinction and Goodall said: rector of Clwyd glamour to the ceremo- “We are delight-  eatr Cymru; who nies at which we also rec- ed to be able to also ran the Royal ognise the achievements gig at Beaumaris Shakespeare Com- of our students.” again as last year’s pany for 20 years Medieval Day Out [for services to the proved highly suc- theatre] cessful. From a re- Bleddyn Wynn- Actor John Sessions enactment point 4 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk May Issue 2012 UK News Special Needs First Charges Made in Children to Receive Phone-Hacking Scandal Tailored Education By Steven Freeman By Steven Freeman

ormer Chief Executive of News est to the phone-hacking investigation favour, given the massive losses in the he government plans to ad- saying that the shake up should not International Rebekah Brooks between 6th and 9th July. recent local elections. vance with proposals made last be a cost cutting exercise and that its has been charged along with her A third charge was given to all but As the world awaits the outcome of year regarding giving parents primary objective should be bettering Fhusband and four other high rank- Twith special needs children more con- Mrs Carter, for allegations relating to the recent charges, it is sure that many the education of those who most need ing sta“ at News International, all of the concealing of computers and elec- will be praising the decision to charge trol over their child’s education. a tailored education. whom face charges of conspiracy to tronic devices from police o® cers be- the alleged six as for a long time, it has  e recent plans come a er Chil-  e “personal budget” is designed pervert the course of justice. tween 15th and 19th July. seemed that those who are responsible dren’s Minister Sarah Tether said the to allow such instances where parents  e charges are for o“ ences relat-  e charges come at a time when for allowing such malpractices regard- current system of special needs edu- could choose to buy in more special- ing back to July 2011, when it is al- Mrs Brooks recently revealed that ing phone-hacking have escaped being cation is “outdated and un€ t for pur- ised external services if they feel ap- leged that the individuals charged are Prime Minister and friend David held responsible for their actions and pose.” propriate, but it has also been stated thought to have concealed documents Cameron had messaged her saying managed to avoid criminal prosecu- It is thought that parents would be that if parents are happy with the edu- and computers from police in an at- “keep your head up” a er she resigned tion. given a “personal budget” in which cation their children receive, the local tempt to mislead the phone-hacking as Chief Executive of News Interna- However, although the charges may they could direct the education of education authority will carry on plan- investigation. tional in July 2011. seem welcomed by those disgusted by their children in speci€ c ways, thus ning the education of those children  e charges are the € rst charges  e situation has created much the events of the phone-hacking scan- addressing the needs of each individu- whose parents seem happy with the to be made in an inquiry lasting 18 embarrassment for the Prime Minis- dal, it seems that the inquiry and its al child in special needs education. current system. months and resulting in many arrests, ter and the recent charges are sure to investigations are far from conclusive If successful, the plans could ad-  e plans come at a time when of which 40 people still remain on po- create further embarrassment at a time and there would appear to be a long dress the issues highlighted in last it has recently been announced that lice bail. when the Tories are not particularly path ahead for all those involved in the year’s Green Papers which reported schools are having to battle more than QC Alison Levitt said in a statement relishing in an atmosphere of good scandal to be brought to justice. that many parents with special needs ever for € nances, but the plans which “ ere is su® cient evidence for there children had to “battle” the system. promote personalisation in special to be a realistic prospect of conviction.”  e changes are also thought to see needs education show some promise Mrs Brooks and her husband Char- less children being regarded as special atleast. lie Brooks have retaliated against the needs, to which some have struck out charges saying “We deplore this weak and unjust decision”.  e six charged who include Mrs Brooks’ personal assistant Cheryl Carter, chau“ eur Paul Edwards, Secu- rity worker Daryl Jorsling and News May Faces International Head of Security Mr Hanna all face the charge of trying to conceal materials between 6th and 19th July. Mrs Brooks and Mrs Carter also Criticism Over face second charges, where it is al- leged that they removed seven boxes from the News International archive in order to try and hide incriminating Police Cuts evidence that may have been of inter- By Steven Freeman heresa May faces yet more criti- tered model of British policing.” cism in her plans to radically He further commented: reform the police service as she “You cannot expect o® cers, those Tis set to address the Police Federation who understood the € scal situation Olympics Defence conference in Bournemouth. and accepted that some cuts were nec-  e reforms will see cuts of up to essary, to take an unfair share of the 20% across police forces nationwide cuts and just sit there and be content and many top ranking o® cers have with their lot.” Measures Revealed said that she is destroying the integrity Mrs May is however expected to By Steven Freeman and reputation of one of the world’s reiterate and tell the Police Federation most admirable police forces. that the cuts are necessary and that the s the Olympic ¬ ame begins its nounced and in latest developments place over the coming weeks involving  e Police Federation are expected government will stand strong on this relay around Britain security the MoD have announced that there all of the military departments which to tell  eresa May that along with the issue. o® cials have announced vari- will be placed around London sonic will form part of a multi-operational 20% cuts, they are also ousA plans for security measures for the devices known as LRAD, or Long e“ ort to try and protect London whilst unhappy with the pro- Olympics some of which have caused Range Acoustic Devices, which are it is the focus of the world. posed changes to pay somewhat of a stir. designed to emit “pain inducing tones” It is thought that overall, 13,500 and contractual con- Earlier this month it was announced to try and peacefully resolve potential military personnel will be involved in ditions, aswell as the by the MoD that they were planning to crisis situations. protecting London and the games. increasing interest and place surface-to- air missiles on top of  e MoD have however announced slant towards privatis- residential apartment blocks in Tower that the device is more like- ing sections of the po- Hamlets and Waltham Forest. ly to be used as a long range lice force. Concerned residents appeared ob- communication device for Paul McKeever, the viously less than happy about the plans issues such as crowd con- federation’s chairman, and criticizers have questioned the trol rather than being used will tell her: devastation that would prevail if the to deploy an ear wrenching “ is is a bad deal military were to launch missiles over tone which can cause peo- for the police service. London at a time when it is bursting ple pain when situations We have less resilience, at the seams as the debris would surely become volatile. fewer warranted o® c- shower the capital. Plans have also been ers, a weakened front  ese plans are not however the unveiled detailing security line and a radically al- only security measures to be an- exercises which will take May Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 5 World News Palestinian Hunger Strike Blasts in Syria Kill to End Aœ er Deal Struck 55 and Injure 370 By Nicola Hoban By Luke Dobon

deal has been struck with the by the IRA hunger strike in 1981 that Bet security agency and Palestinian wo huge blasts, exploding with- with uprising movements, who they Palestinians a er the Israeli lasted 66 days, was set in motion a er militant groups.  e terms of the deal, in minutes of each other, went have ruthlessly put down wherever authorities promised to im- anger grew in response to the Israeli proposed by Israeli prison authorities o“ in Damascus last week kill- possible. Over recent months, certain proveA their conditions, aiming to end policy of ‘administrative detention’ amid fears of triggering anger and vio- Ting 55 people and injuring 370.  is is groups have taken to using terroristic around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners where prisoners could be held for lence in the Palestinian chairs, states the most recent in a spate of bombing means to further their cause, though hunger strikes, a er the International months or sometimes years without that € rstly, prisoners in both the West attacks that have hit the Syrian capital the main group linked with previous Red Cross warned that several of the being charged or facing trial. At the Bank and Gaza are to be allowed more over the last few months. attacks (Al Nusra Front) have denied prisoners were on the verge of dying. moment, there are 308 administrative family visits; secondly prisoners cur-  e € rst bomb went o“ on a key any links with these bombings.  ey With several prisoners having been on detainees in Israeli prisons. Another rently in long periods of solitary con- road during morning rush hour, out- argue that the government staged the hunger strike for the past 77 days, most demand of the inmates was to have € nement will be allowed back amongst side of a government building.  e se- attacks themselves in order to discredit joined the strike on April 17.  e deal, more access for relatives to visit them, the general population; and thirdly, curity wall of the building was knocked the rebelling movements in the eyes of brokered by Egyptian mediators, was ending the lengthy solitary con€ ne- those hunger strikers who are admin- down by the blast and people rushed to the Syrian public and world media. struck a er it emerged how serious ment periods. istrative detainees are to be released at help. Soon a er, however, the second Foreign diplomats have all de- the conditions of some of the inmates According to the Palestinian pris- the end of their original terms. blast shook the area, setting dozens of nounced the attacks and have repeated were and Israeli authorities were urged oner a“ airs minister, Issa Qaraqe, Pal- Palestinian legislator Dr. Mustafa cars alight and sending a large cloud of calls for talks between the separatists to transfer them to hospital for emer- estinian prison leaders signed the deal Barghouti said that if the deal held debris up into the air which was vis- and the al-Assad regime.  e Free Syr- gency treatment. in an Ashkelon Israeli jail.  e deal then it would provide proof of the ible across the city. Both blasts caused ian Army, a collection of anti-regime  e hunger strike protest, inspired was then con€ rmed by Israel’s Shin power of “non-violent resistance”. tragic scenes of carnage, with body militias, has denounced the attacks parts strewn across the street and rub- whilst the government has declared ble of buildings a“ ected by the blasts; that they believe that the opposition where the devices had gone o“ , there groups are in some way linked to al remained craters in the tarmac. Qaeda. Syria has been in a constant state More information is di® cult to of turmoil since the popular uprising come by as the Syrian government has against the ruling al-Assad regime highly restricted access for interna- started last March. Over the past year tional journalists. the Syrian government have fought

Weird and Wonderful: Massacre in US Town Prepares to Hand Mexico Out Fines to Text Walkers By Nicola Hoban orty-nine decapitated bodies – ty-eight hours before being wrapped By Steven Freeman forty-three men and six women in plastic bags and dumped from a ew Jersey police o® cials have - have been found dumped on a truck. Before this grim discovery po- Froad from Monterrey to Reynosa in lice earlier found eighteen decapitated announced that people in the U.S. town of Fort Lee could be northern Mexico on the US border. and dismembered bodies in two aban- hitN with an $85 € ne if they text whilst Security o® cials also revealed that the doned vehicles in western Mexico on walking down the street. victims hands had also been removed May 9th. Twenty-three more bodies  e € nes come a er an increase in which made identifying them much – fourteen of which were decapitated jaywalking incidents, where people more di® cult, though it is believed – were found in the border city of cross the road recklessly or without that they were Central American mi- Nuevo Laredo found on May 4th. paying due care, to which the police grants. Approximately 50,000 people have have said mobile phone distractions  ese murders seem to be the latest been killed in drug-related violence are a big contributing factor with re- in a string of brutal killings and have in Mexico since 2006, when President gards to the rise in incidents in the been blamed by o® cials on a con¬ ict Felipe Calderon deployed the army in town. between rival drug gangs. A note that an e“ ort to combat the cartels. Police o® cers have been handing was le with the mutilated out lea¬ ets informing residents and bodies, found at 09:00 GMT, visitors about the crackdown and the saying that the Zetas cartel reasons for the initiative and police pa- was responsible, who have trols are being stepped up to try and been € ghting for control of deal with the problem. smugglings routes into the US Fort Lee Police chief  omas Ripoli against the Gulf and Sinaloa said ““It’s a big distraction. Pedestrians cartels. aren’t watching where they’re going.  e bodies, according to  ey’re not aware.” security o® cials, were killed in another location up to for- 6 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk May Issue 2012 Politics Scotland Wants Greece’s Political Minimum Price

Di culties he ScottishFor government Alcohol has a 50p minimum price immediately. con€ rmed that it wants to set  e culture of drinking in the UK is a minimum price for alcohol something that also must be dealt with; Tat 50p per unit.  e € gure - 5p higher although this cannot be changed by than previously proposed- comes as a Government policy, it can be a“ ected 40p price is planned for England and by policy made by government.  e Wales. It is hoped that the measure next step is to set a drinking charter to will reduce health problems caused by which all schools and youth clubs are excessive drinking which is supposed to sign up to and send out booklets to to be symptomatic of Scottish culture. teach young people in particular, but Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon made also every adult how to responsibly he two big parties of Greek them, such as the smaller Democratic  is situation has the potential to cause the announcement during a visit to drink.  e money for this responsible politics, Pasok and New Le , they too could su“ er at the ballot another world recession but then we Glasgow Royal In€ rmary.  is will put drinking campaign should come from Democracy (ND), have been box.  e le -wing parties are unlikely will have to tax the rich. It could have pressure on the UK government to get the industry because it has a much Tpunished, a vital detail to the a ermath to € nd a solution by themselves: one the potential to unite the world under on with its minimum pricing of alcohol bigger in¬ uence on people’s drinking of this election.  e voters opposed of the two big political parties has to one banner of anti-tax avoidance; it plans. habits than the Government. At the more austerity and any party associated be part of the game. One of the many may sound rather far-fetched but a It is hoped the move - which would moment it may not be advisable to ban with being austerity driven. Voters problems with these fringe groups world recession may just achieve this. make the cheapest bottle of wine £4.69 alcohol adverts because of the sheer in France, the UK and now Germany that have gained votes because of the  e Drachma is a very dangerous and a four-pack of lager at least £3.52 lack of money in advertising which all seem to have rejected austerity to anti-austerity factions is that they alternative to the euro and the - will lead to a reduction in hospital supports many television channels. some degree, but I have yet to hear a also have very bad attitudes, some of decision could have more enduring admissions and deaths through alcohol When we get back into proper growth proper alternative; do we spend our which are morally wrong; for instance consequences than staying within abuse. Alcohol abuse puts a lot of strain then there should be a banning of way out or do we just keep putting Golden Dawn has been described as the euro. One solution for Greece on the NHS and could improve people’s alcohol adverts because they do glorify more public money into the economy? Neo-Nazi and doesn’t take too well to is to negotiate in a tougher way health in general.  e law will be ditched and make drinking seem acceptable,  ese economies will grow but it will be transparency. with the eurozone and then focus a er six years if the policy does not which is wrong. It’s about time drinking false growth. Countries will gain more While it may not be necessary to have on development on a national and work a er a “sunset clause” was inserted was cracked down on, as cigarettes are. debt and whilst eventually there will be either Pasok or ND in government, it European level. From 2009-11 Greece as part of a deal to secure Conservative We will see the impact in the next few a need to put public money back into may not be avoidable.  e party leaders, had the potential of 20bn euros in EU support for the SNP proposals. Both the years in Scotland and then in Britain the economy when governments’ have having felt the anger of the people, will structural funds but used just 5bn of it. Scottish Conservatives and Lib Dems as a whole and hopefully we shall a better grip on the € nances, I believe be more rational in the future. In fact It was the Greek government that was supported this measure and voted with see some improvement.  e Scottish the main crux to be unequal austerity. all Greek leaders will have to think in responsible for not using the money the Scottish Government to eventually Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) also  ere has been a tax cut for the rich in a more thoughtful and strategic way or appropriately. Fi een billion euros make the Alcohol Minimum Pricing welcomed the Scottish government’s Britain which was undeniably wrong; otherwise they will become consigned were le waiting for Greek proposals or Bill a law. Scottish Labour refused to announcement and believes that the it felt so out of place in a budget that to history.  e € nancial situation for action.  e political leaders should do support such a law, arguing that it would 50p per unit minimum price is an should have been about taking more o“ Greece is critical. It will have to € nd their utmost to avoid a repeat election fall unfairly on occasional drinkers and appropriate starting point which is fair the rich. 450m euros on 15 May when a euro - because if they are unable to € nd a those who knew how to control their and ‘proportionate’ to help combat the Syriza (an already existing coalition bond expires. It may not be a signi€ cant compromise, Greece could experience drinking. I personally think that this bill low cost sales of alcohol that is so visible of le -wing parties) could be punished amount of money but if no payment an even more painful economic process is the right way forward and Scotland in Scotland. if they do not seek a compromise. And is received then it will have drastic than if they stayed in the euro. is setting the benchmark for the UK if the other le -wing parties do not join rami€ cations for Europe and the world. Alex  omson government, who must follow and set Alex  omson

T¡¢ L¢£¢¤¥¦unearth wrong doings are the ones I¦§¨©ª«News Corp advisers from June 2010 using illegal and wrong methods of onwards giving valuable information gaining information. about the department and its potential  ere has been a lot of attention paid judgement on the takeover bid. Hunt to ‘Huntsgate’ but I feel that there needs denies any wrong doing and Adam to be attention put on Andy Coulson. Smith has resigned from his position Coulson has told the Leveson Inquiry so is it that Hunt was ignorant of the he held shares in News Corporation leaks from his department to BskyB worth £40,000 while working as the or was it that Hunt was biased and prime minister’s press chief.  ere helping BskyB in its takeover bid? Well, urely the biggest thing that has look at the original police investigation was no “grand conspiracy” between a special advisor is a Minister’s right happened in politics recently is into phone hacking and judge whether the government and the media, he hand man and as such it would take the Leveson inquiry. Every week the investigation was € t and proper. said. He was asked if he had seen any serious bad management to let them Sit seems to reveal details about the  e second part of the inquiry is all contact between Prime Minister David go astray and disobey the instructions Jeremy Hunt ‘unhealthy’ relationship politicians have to do with phone hacking, Newspapers Cameron and the media he regarded laid down but there is no actual link Leveson granting eight government with the media in the UK. Before we go will be ordered to reveal to the Leveson as too close, he said: “I look at it from between Jeremy Hunt, Adam Smith ministers “core participant” status at his into the details about Jeremy Hunt and Inquiry if they are using anybody’s the perspective of whether or not there and NI and Hunt did take independent inquiry - allowing them advance sight whether he broke the Ministerial code personal data bought in the past by its was improper conversations or a deal advice on every single decision so of witness statements.  e ministers in his ‘quasi-judicial’ role in judging the journalists.  is issues does have far- done, which I think is all part of this the jury is still out on that particular are David Cameron, Nick Clegg, bid by News International to completely reaching potential impact into whether sort of grand conspiracy that sort of decision. Ed Miliband and the Labour Vince Cable, Jeremy Hunt, Michael takeover BskyB or should resign or newspapers have committed various sits over this idea” So here is the murky party believes that Hunt is guilty, they Gove,  eresa May, Ken Clarke and stay on as Secretary of State for Culture, illegal acts in order to get a ‘scoop’ relationship between politicians and are ‘shocked’ that Hunt is still in his job George Osborne. Essentially what the Media and Sports we need to set the and € nd out information not to help the media, Andy Coulson was indebted and that there has been no independent Government is trying to do here is scene and explain a few basics. any police inquiry but to make the to NI through the shares and was still review into Hunt’s behaviour by the be aware of any potential damaging  e judicial inquiry, led by Lord front pages. One example of this is the far too close to the company whilst Prime Minister’s independent advisor information being released, not Justice Leveson, is in two parts.  e Milly Dowler case where in July 2011, working for the Prime Minister and on the ministerial code and whether censoring it but being aware so that € rst is focusing on “the culture, the Guardian said News of the World this shouldn’t have been allowed by the he broke the aforementioned code. any damage control can be prepared (if practices and ethics” of the UK media. reporters deleted messages, giving her Prime Minister. It is too easy for people It’s almost certain that something bad necessary).  ere will be much more It is looking at relationships between family false hope she was alive and to paint the incumbent Prime Minister went on whilst the bid was assessed but information that will emerge out of the newspapers, broadcasters, social-media prompting the inquiry.  is type of as being the worst o“ ender, but every what exactly went on is still a mystery. Leveson inquiry and we haven’t heard networks, politicians and the police journalism is unacceptable and even politician to some extent has gotten too I think that Hunt needs to explain the last from either part of the inquiry, as well as media regulation.  e panel the accusation raises questions about close to the media.  ere needs to be far himself completely and soon, and for instance Jeremy Hunt has yet to give includes journalists, police o® cers and how the media gets its information more transparency in our Government. right or wrong he should resign for the his evidence to the inquiry and that will a civil-rights campaigner.  e second from in order to publish. Maybe no  e € rst part of the inquiry is where damage done to him is far too much for prove interesting when he does. part of the inquiry focuses on the paper did hack phones and voicemails, the information arose about Jeremy him to carry on as Secretary of State; a extent of unlawful or improper conduct the evidence has yet to be presented that Hunt’s potential wrongdoing in the new fresh face can resume the work the within News International (which will any have done this terrible deed but it’s takeover bid. A string of emails suggests department faces. be referred to as NI from now on) and a bad day when the organisations which there was a steady ¬ ow of information  ere has been a new development other newspaper groups. It will also are supposed to € nd out the truth and from the culture secretary’s o® ce to in the Leveson inquiry with Lord Justice Alex  omson May Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 7 Politics The Queen's Speech

he Queen’s speech is the start want to provide retail banking services carbon generation and clean energy but Children and Families Bill courtrooms for the € rst time "in limited of the new Parliament session, will only be able to do so if these serv- doesn’t actually go anyway near helping  is covers Changes to the rules on circumstances". Driving under the in- when the Queen will read a ices are divided from the investment customers with their bills and doesn’t adoption will make race considerations ¬ uence of drugs will be made a speci€ c Tprepared speech to her Parliament, activities of the bank. It reduces the risk put any new competition into the sec- less important than € nding a child a o“ ence. outlining the government's agenda for to the taxpayer it will try to stop any tor. Puts restrictions on the emissions permanent home quickly. Families will Defamation Bill the coming session.  is event is o en repeat of Northern Rock) of a bank go- of new coal plants and creates a new in- get more choice on education for pupils Will introduce changes to defama- held annually but this is only the second ing bust by making sure those who have dependent regulator, the O® ce for Nu- with special educational needs. Parents tion law which will rebalance freedom speech, last year the speech was can- money deposited in bank accounts are clear Regulation which will be funded will be given access to ¬ exible leave to of expression with a person's ability celled giving more time to ministers to given primacy over other creditors. by the industry itself. allowing greater sharing of caring re- to protect their reputation. Defama- get major pieces of legislation through. Draœ Water Bill sponsibilities. tion will only have occurred if "serious  is year’s speech was seen as part of This year’s speech was Allows for greater freedom of public Draœ Care and Support Bill harm" has been cause. Rules will also be the ‘€ ght back’ from the Conservatives seen as part of the ‘ ght bodies and business to choose their wa- An England-only Bill that aims to tightened to avoid libel tourism and try and the Lib Dems a er bad election re- ter supplier and will make water com- modernise adult care and make ac- to stop people exploiting the system. sults and a catalogue of errors and mis- back’ from the Conserva- panies more responsive to the needs of cess to support clearer and more equal. Justice and Security Bill takes in the past couple of months. tives and the Lib Dems customers.  is will include giving people greater Strengthens oversight of MI5 and Enterprise and Regulatory Reform after bad election results Pensions Bill choice and making councils adapt the MI6 and allows courts to consider sen- Bill  is brings forward the state pen- services they o“ er to people's needs and sitive information with national securi-  is is one of the bills that is sup- “and a catalogue of errors sion age to 67 between 2026 and 2028 experiences. ty implications through the limited use posed to help the economy and pick and mistakes in the past and reforms the state pension system to Electoral Registration and Admin- of closed proceedings. it up from recession. Competition make it simpler and more sustainable istration Bill Draœ Communications Bill enforcement will be strengthened by couple of months. as people live longer which is problem Introduces individual voter registra-  is will allow the police and intel- merging the Competition Commission Groceries Adjudicator Bill that many pensions will face. tion and makes it easier for people to ligence agencies to collect data on com- and parts of the O® ce of Fair Trad-  is will establish a Groceries Code Public Service Pensions Bill register to vote but is very controversial munications, like texts and emails, ¬ ex- ing. A Green Investment Bank will be Adjudicator to enforce the Groceries Moves public sector pensions over and some critics have claimed that it ible to changes in technology, such as established to promote private sector Code.  is makes sure the largest retail- to a career average scheme and extends will reduce the number of people actu- the internet. investment in a greener economy in ers, such as the big name supermarkets, the age at which members can draw ally eligible to vote. European Union (Approval of which companies will bid for money, treat their suppliers fairly. their pensions.  e Government says House of Lords Reform Bill Treaty Amendment Decision) Bill its unclear how this will be funded. It Small Donations Bill this will make them sustainable (with  is will potentially bring democ-  is approves the creation of the Eu- will reform the employment tribunal Providing a new system of top-up people living longer) with costs shared racy to the House of Lords and will ropean Stability Mechanism, a perma- system by providing more options for payments similar to Gi Aid for small between employers, workers and tax- ensure that majority of its members are nent means to support Eurozone coun- the early resolution of disputes through cash donations to charities. For dona- payers 'more fairly'. elected.  e size of the chamber will be tries in trouble. It will exempt the UK Acas. On Director's pay, shareholders tions of less than £20, charities will be Draœ Local Audit Bill substantially cut.  e reforms are ex- from a new European bailout agree- will be allowed a binding vote on the re- able to claim back 25p for every £1 col- Aims to save money and increase pected to be controversial and debate ment between Eurozone countries and muneration of directors but doesn’t go lected in the UK, up to a limit of £5,000. local accountability and transparency on the plans has already begun. then € nally Croatia Accession Bill further than that and disregards a few Its aim will be to stop the backlash in England. Abolishes the Audit Com- Crime and Courts Bill of the options given to the government against the cap on donating to charities. mission and sets out new arrangements Establishes a National Crime Agency Alex  omson in trying to limit executive pay. Energy Bill for the audit of local public bodies but to take the lead on organised crime, en- Banking Reform Bill A small reform the electricity market doesn’t actually explain how the audits hance border security and € ght cyber-  is will ensure that banks which to encourage more investment in low will be done. crime. It will allow TV cameras into The Assassination of Local Electionlot of ground to the Labour party, the Resultscils, Birmingham, She® eld, Notting- Spencer Perceval same goes with the Liberal Democrats ham, Manchester, Bradford, Coventry, pencer Perceval was Prime Min- been imprisoned in Russia and failed in but they lost a lot of votes and in some Wake€ eld, Leeds and Newcastle-Upon- ister of Britain between 4th Oc- his attempts to get compensation oŒ places came fourth or €  h in elections. Tyne did vote against having a directly Stober 1809 until 11th May 1812. the British government, and therefore It was de€ nitely Labour’s elections but elected mayor. Bristol voted to have an You may notice that the date of his decided to take drastic action against not a general election winning result, elected Mayor with a turnout of 24.1% departure from the Premiership was the people he felt had wronged him. they only achieved what opposition which suggests that there may have two hundred years ago (at the time of Bellingham’s own words on the inci- leaders have won in mid-term elections, been electoral joy for an elected mayor writing) last week. The anniversary of dent were that “Recollect that my fam- for instance Neil Kinnock and Michael or just apathy with the political system. this is relevant because Spencer Per- ily was ruined and myself destroyed, ceval is the only British Prime Minister merely because it was Mr Perceval's Howard both achieved this result in the  is apathy is a growing problem and ever to have been assassinated. There pleasure that justice should not be mid-terms elections for them. will continue to be a problem until the have been various attempts, such as granted; sheltering himself behind the Government takes action to give peo- the Brighton hotel bomb which nearly imagined security of his station”. onservative Boris Johnson has In Wales Labour ple a good reason to go out and vote. killed Thatcher. Every Prime Minister Spencer Perceval is not famously or been re-elected as Mayor of In London, to no one’s surprise Boris in modern times lives in fear of some fondly remembered in the annals of London. Labour make big gains have had their best Johnson won the Mayoral election but form of attack or protest group at- British politics, and his assassination is inC English local elections, with the 38% only won through second preferences tempting to get to them, but assassina- not a historical event widely remem- vote share ahead of the Tories' 31% and “results since 1996 which are surprising, Johnson couldn’t tion? It seems very strange in a country bered to this day. However, there are Lib Dems' 16%. Nine cities reject the In Wales Labour have had their best win outright with € rst preference votes. where protests tend to either be witty some important lessons that we can idea of an elected mayor, but Bristol results since 1996, retaking control of Lib Dem candidate Brian Paddick came or poignant. learn from the assassination of Spen- says "yes". Doncaster also votes to keep On the evening of May 11th, Spen- cer Perceval. It took place back in the former strongholds that they lost in fourth behind the Green Party's Jenny cer Perceval entered the lobby of the days where politics was even more its mayor.  e SNP pulls ahead as the 2008, the Welsh Conservatives lost their Jones, with less than half the votes he House of Commons where he was accessible than it is now. The world of largest party in the Scottish council majority in Monmouthshire and lost received in 2008In London generally, confronted by a disgruntled male. politics is shocked when things like the elections, while the Lib Dem vote col- control of the Vale of Glamorgan, los- Labour saw a big increase in support This male then proceeded to draw a ‘Prescott punch’ happen, or when Tony lapses in several areas. Labour leader ing 61 seats overall. Plaid Cymru had in the London Assembly elections and pistol and shoot the Prime Minister in Blair was pelted with condoms ‰ lled Ed Miliband says the election shows hoped to gain overall control in Gwyn- gained two € rst-past-the-post seats. the chest. Perceval was taken away to with purple — our. The politicians of to- his party are "regaining ground"; David edd, one of its heartland areas, but fell It was a bad night for the BNP with an ante-room where he died minutes day who go to such lengths to repre- Cameron says the elections took place one seat short (there is a by-election in every seat they contested, they lost.  e later. As a result of the assassination sent their friends in big business, and against a "di® cult national backdrop" Gwynedd and Plaid will hopefully win Green Party of England and Wales cel- of the Prime Minister, there were fears not the common man on the street, for the Conservatives with some of the control with this seat) and lost 41 seats ebrated a night of steady progress a er that the population could rise up and should be relieved that we don’t like Party saying that they should turn far overthrow the government, but these in the same times as John Bellingham overall with the Lib Dems lost 66 seats they added to their number of council- turned out to be groundless. The assas- and Spencer Perceval. As the 200th an- more right-wing and reject the liberal overall. lors and successfully defended seats in sination was not the result of a co-ordi- niversary of that shocking even passes, in¬ uence in the government. Also at the same in 10 cities there existing strongholds.  e Greens won nated plan by a group, but rather the it’s something that they should bear in It was a di® cult election for both were mayoral referendums on decid- 34 seats - a net increase of 11. coalition parties, with the Conservative ing whether they have should directly actions of one dissatis‰ ed, disenfran- mind. Alex  omson chised man. John Bellingham, who had vote not exactly destroyed but losing a elected mayors to control the coun- 8 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk May Issue 2012 Comment Life Sentence Going to University is one of the most important decisions we make yet we’re forced to make it as teenagers

Not in Nottingham Is Big Society working or should we follow Robin Hood's lead? y favourite € lm as a child was an increase of a little over 5%.  ere are gave over £75 million worth of cows in the Disney version of Robin obvious questions as to how and why aspic and bling-coated skulls, but Dave s I write this, I am 3000 words because I spent all my time working on Hood. If you held a gun to the very richest can remain to get richer buddy, we are alright for modern works away from the end of my de- Seren and not doing any uni work. Year myM head, I’d have to admit that it was and richer, whilst the in¬ ation rate and of art, a bit short on the whole hospi- gree. A degree that I have reluc- 2:  e Revenge I was strictly o“ soci- probably still in the top 5 favourite € lms unemployment cause the rest of us to tals-and-schools front. Atantly struggled through because when eties until I had passed and year 3 has of mine, even a er a recent re-watching squeeze every pound harder, but they So, how is it that the rich can stay so I € lled in my UCAS form 4 years ago, been a slow and painful slog through where I realised just how cheap Disney are not the focus for this article. very well-heeled? Mainly because, year- I barely knew myself let alone what I weeks of lectures on grammar and psy- had been in terms of the production of on-year, they don’t spend anything like wanted to do with my life. cholinguistics. it. It speaks to me across the decades as the amount that they own. Remember, A record year saw the If you could go back, what would As I overhear classmates excitedly a heart-warming tale of love, justice, this wealth is based on things that the you tell yourself? Not to worry about saying “I asked *insert leading academ- and snooty idiots getting their comeup- combined wealth of paper can state they own - the contents missing your old school friends? To ap- ic* for some advice and they said…” pance a er systematically screwing the of their bank accounts isn’t included. the richest 1,000 rise preciate having meals cooked for you it feels like nothing has ever been less people, regardless of how poor, sick or So, if they’re getting rich by staying while you’re still at home? To pick dif- funny. 4 years a er my € rst eagerly an- needy they are. Bet you can guess where to over £414 billion. rich... what’s to stop them sharing a bit ferent halls or to pick a di“ erent univer- ticipated lecture and I just want it to be this article is going? more? Perhaps with incentives from the sity altogether? I would tell myself not over. Graduation will not be a celebra- One of my favourite scenes is set in a What is the focus is the question Government? For instance, if someone to listen to anyone who thought they tion of my time here, but a celebration jail. Most of the city of Nottingham have of the Big Society, charity and auster- who was very, very rich didn’t want to knew what was best for me. of no longer being reduced to tears over been imprisoned by the evil Sheri“ of ity. King John’s vision... sorry... David give a bit more of their wealth, they the constant battering my self-con€ - Nottingham, as they can’t pay the taxes Cameron’s vision before he became PM could go to prison. We could call it a dence has taken. As Einstein said “If demanded by the upper-class mummy’s was to rejuvenate the spirit of giving in tax or something, maybe even a Robin When I lled in my you judge a € sh by its ability to climb boy who is only King on a weak pre- the country. Private charity would re- Hood tax! UCAS form 4 years ago, a tree, it will live its whole life believ- text. Luckily, he never had to enter a place public spending on welfare, a re- David Cameron, who got his mil- ing that it is stupid.”  at is all academia coalition to become King, or this would turn to the old days of rich landowners lions inheriting from his father who I barely knew myself let is and when it comes to the subject of seem like a set-up.  e narrator of the and employers providing housing and was an expert in ensuring that he paid alone what I wanted to linguistics, I am most certainly a € sh. € lm, a wise-cracking cockerel trouba- healthcare for their grateful peons. A very little in tax, probably hasn’t heard do with my life. It’s just a shame that no one adopts this dour, sings a heartfelt, plaintive song vision of the glory days of Britain. You of this idea. But I think it might be a attitude as you’re doing your A-levels. about how there’s no hope, no faith and know, when we had to shit outside and good time.  en, we could perhaps  ere is so much pressure on teenag- Everyone is too busy shoving prospec- no spirit le . “Can’t you see the tears toady to those richer than us. When start rebuilding those schools that are ers to know what they want to do, want tuses and free pens emblazoned with we’re cryin’? Can’t there be some happi- women stayed at home, men stayed falling down. Or get some new nurses to be and to begin their careers. Doesn’t “ e University of Exeter” into your ness for me? Not in Nottingham”. down the mine, and children died in and doctors. Or those fancy € ghter jets it strike you as slightly ridiculous that hands. A few weeks ago, the Sunday Times vast numbers. Better days... that make him feel like a big man when we ask all these questions of (basically) If we didn’t throw teenagers from A- published its list of the richest people Sadly for this vision, though there’s he’s got the boys from the G8 round. We children who haven’t even begun to live levels into university and expect them in Britain. Whilst it may o en feel like been a small increase in kind hearted wouldn’t want him feeling inadequate their lives yet?  ey’ve been in train- to know what they want to do with their there’s no happiness for the majority of giving, the total donated by the top 100 now would we? ing for the world since they were born lives before they’ve even had a chance us, for them, there are no tears being philanthropists on the Rich List doesn’t Time has come for King John and and suddenly they’re ¬ ung into it and to live them, maybe people like me cried. Despite the austere times we live hit the £2 billion mark- this despite Sir Hiss to meet their Robin Hood.  e expected to thrive. Some of us have just wouldn’t end up wasting this opportu- in, for the people of Mayfair and Belgra- the top 100 givers having a combined time has come for the very, very richest been trying to keep our heads above nity that we’re lucky to have in the € rst via these are still boom times. A record wealth of nearly £200 billion. David to dig a little deeper.  ese are austere water. place. year saw the combined wealth of the Hockney, who tops the list, probably times a er all, and we Some lucky people just know what Perhaps I should just be grateful for richest 1,000 rise to over £414 billion, thought he was really helping when he are all in this together. Jez Harvey they want to be. I always thought that what I’ve got. Yes I feel spoilt and yes was ridiculous and laughed at my year plenty of people don’t have the chance 7 classmate for declaring that she to go to university at all, so I should get was going to be a marine biolo- o“ my privileged soapbox and shut up. gist. 10 years later and that laugh But I can’t shake the feeling that some- haunts me as I imagine Heather- thing is terribly wrong with our system Teen Mom 2 Rose on a boat in the Seychelles tag- when we churn out so many graduates Is it promoting domestic abuse? ging lemon sharks. My dream. with useless quali€ cations like mine. In my € rst year I was lucky What is sadder than missing an oppor- was watching Teen Mom 2’s Re- be confronted regarding his behaviour. enough to take modules in phonetics tunity as great as this because you let union Special online whilst avoid-  e second person, Chelsea, needs and phonology. As I discovered later yourself be pushed into it? ing tidying my room and during to see that her relationship with Adam this is the only area of linguistics that Georgia Manion Ithis show they recap the entire season. will never work.  ey constantly € ght. I actually enjoy. I failed my second year ly told Janelle that she could tell Kiefer  ere is one woman on the show, Kai- He calls her stupid, a bitch, and has to ‘Fuck o“ ’ and that he is a loser. Kiefer lyn, who was being verbally abused by cheated. Explain to me how he is some- needs to get his ass into rehab and see her ex and baby’s father. Can somebody body that you would want to be with. what type of negative in¬ uence he is Facts about Domestic Abuse explain to me why men think it’s ok to And it’s not like it happened when they having on those around him, and more 1 in 4 women experience domestic violence in their lifetime be verbally, or physically, abusive to- were broken up, because then it would particularly, how the type of people he wards women? I just don’t get it. Also, not be cheating.  is happened while hangs around with bring him down. Only 35% of domestic violence incidents are reported to the why do some women keep going back she was pregnant.  is doesn’t make I do not know why I watch these to those who have a severely negative sense. shows, nor why more women do not police. in¬ uence on them.  e last person, Janelle, may have step up and say, ‘No, enough is enough.’ There is an estimated 635,000 incidents of domestic How is it that MTV’s € lming crew € nally € gured out that her ex, Kiefer, It does not make sense to me. But then violence in England and Wales did not step in and at least say some- is not who she needs to be with. Yes, again, if things made sense to me, it On average a woman is assaulted times before her fi rst call thing. Who feels that calling a woman Janelle has her issues, but Kiefer seems would make sense to everybody and we 35 a ‘whore’ because you’re upset with her to always bring out the worst. Because would have had this little discussion. to the police. is anything that should be done, EVER. of Kiefer, Janelle ended up getting ar- The police receive a domestic assistance call every minute. I mean seriously, Kailyn’s ex, Jo, should rested. Dr. Drew is a badass. He basical- Kaden Wild *Source: Reguge.org.uk May Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 9 Comment THE RADICAL NOTION OF EQUALITY With the tories dropping support and Obama picking it up, Luke takes a look at gay marriage in the US & UK hen the President of the dependently.  e Defence of Marriage impact? It boils down to what I said ear- ful leadership to date. United States of America Act (DOMA) which was passed into lier; this is the President of the United Cameron’s commitment to have declares their opinion on federal law (meaning that it a“ ects all States. In his country, the o® ce is re- equal marriage legalised by 2015 is no Wan issue, especially an issue which has states as decreed from Congress), says vered second only to the almost sacred longer a de€ nite, as the ever-present proven to be divisive, there is bound that “the word ‘marriage’ means only a Constitution; what that person says is Tory homophobic backbench use the to be uproar of both sorts. A er Presi- legal union between one man and one meant to re¬ ect upon the nation. And defeat to pull the Party and the country dent Obama’s declaration supporting woman as husband and wife, and the elsewhere? Before Bush Jr. the words of backwards, instead of pushing it for- gay marriage last week there was, pre- word ‘spouse’ refers only to a person of the U.S. President were listened to as wards. In the Queen’s Speech last week, dictably, a backlash from conservative the opposite sex who is a husband or the words of the most powerful person there was no mention of this promise groups in America and elsewhere. For a wife.” So, basically, it is enshrined in upon the Earth; now that we have le and, rightly so, those who support the some, this came across as another be- American law that marriage should re- those eight years of foolery behind, the equalisation are worried. trayal from a President who has done main as it is; though there is no federal words of Obama have been consistently If these Tories actually listened to the everything in his power to promote a restriction on same-sex partnerships, listened to just as Clinton, Kennedy or public they would see that it is not gay socialist, liberal agenda; yes, this is how which several states now have. Truman before him. marriage which has made them reviled. the more vocal elements of the Ameri- We all, by now, know the arguments In fact, in a recent Populus poll 65% of can right-wing seemingly see the world. against LGBT people being able to get people agreed that “Gay couples should However, his support has come as a the arguments against married; they always use religion to have an equal right to get married, not surprising, yet joyous, turn of events for LGBT people being cover up the main reason: pure, bla- just to have civil partnerships,” whilst those who are € ghting for equality. Af- LGBT people being tant prejudice. One quite succinct im- only 27% disagreed. ter repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’, this able to get married: age making the rounds of the internet I am of the opinion that civil rights was the only major issue concerning gay at the moment sums up the opinions such as these should never be le up rights that Obama had yet to opt to ful- pure, blatant prejudice. of people against equal marriage.  e to public opinion; they are just too im- ly support.  e base of his supporters top image is of conservative protesters portant. However, those numbers con- had, perhaps, started to lose a little faith Obama saying that he backs gay carrying placards, rallying against the € rm that the British public are with the in him when it came to equal marriage, marriage does nothing at all to change abomination that gay marriage is; below times and know that this is something but they have been vindicated. Yet this this, as laws are passed by Congress, a this is an image which is the same, with which needs to be recti€ ed. does not change much, apart from that body which the President has no con- two exceptions: it is from the 1960s and Of course, there are those within the some votes will probably switch hands trol over. It would be up to the Demo- the placards are denouncing interracial 27% that are fervently € ghting to stop in the upcoming elections; whether it crats, Obama’s Party, to forward a mo- marriage.  e point is clear, that these the Government from implementing will a“ ect his overall approval, and his tion to repeal DOMA, but the House of people are terri€ ed that they’re about to these plans.  e Catholic Church, not chance at a second term in the White Representatives (similar to the House be crushed by the wave of progress and, content with the amount of prejudice House, it remains to be seen. of Commons) is currently held by the in years to come, they will be looked and criminality laid upon its head, have  e American political system Republicans who, more than likely, upon as pitifully ill-informed and big- led the way for people to sign a petition means that, when it comes to issues would put a stop to any such action. oted individuals. against the notion, and several Tory such as same-sex partnerships, individ- So, why is there an implication that As Obama joins the ranks of the new MP’s have ‘voiced their concerns’ that must not forget, though, is that we are ual states hold the right to legislate in- the words of this one man have such an French President Hollande, and our equality may not be a good thing. It but two countries; there are other coun- own David Cameron, on supporting the sounds idiotic when laid out that plain- tries, I’m looking at Scandinavia, where issue of equal marriage, there has been ly, doesn’t it?  ere is never a time when our supposed progressivism is put to a disturbing turn of events. It would ap- essential equality can be argued against shame.  en there are entire nations pear that, a er the recent defeats that by any rational human being. who are, essentially, a hundred years Nicola’s Home Alone they su“ ered during the local elections,  ose for the change have the Equal behind the rest of the world in terms of the Conservative’s are backing down on Love campaign, European law, a major- social policy. the issue. Indeed, they seem to be re- ity of the British public and morality on Equality is right. Prejudice is wrong. treating to their base position of social their side; but when have little things  e most powerful man on the planet conservatism, as they think that it was like that meant anything? knows this; get savvy. their progressive policies which lost Only time will tell with this issue, them their seats not their radically aw- here and in America. One thing we Luke Dobson

MAre our misfortunes worth any R less because we live a more privileged life? oral relativity is a tricky concept. devalued because of my lifestyle? Does my but similarly, is there hot without cold? Joy It doesn’t really have a set de€ ni- su“ ering carry less weight because I own an without sadness? Big without small? Could tion, other than being forms of Xbox and have a family that love me? My an- we identify anything we experience at all relativityM not involving physics, but it’s still swer is no.  is is obviously a biased answer, without having something to compare it o as everyone is gearing up for the ever, I haven’t actually been away on holiday a very important subject. Our morality af- and I would say that no one can speak truly to? Again, I say no. Our lives are built on summer, running around shops for for the past € ve years!  is is due to the fact fects the way we interact with other humans, objectively on this issue, but I believe that re- comparison. We judge our attractiveness, last minute necessities and jumping that the family didn’t go on holiday for the and even other species, but just how much of garding everything as being relative to what our success, our wealth, and our happiness onS over-packed suitcases trying to zip them € rst year, and then the following year I was that is grounded in relativity and not in ab- could be is to risk losing perspective on what based on those of the people around us. shut, I sit at my desk comtemplating how eighteen and was old enough to go on holi- solutes? I’m only going to ask two questions actually is.  ough I may have many things Please note that ‘around us’ refers to people I’m going to get everything I’ve accumulated days with my friends, so if I wanted to go and then try to answer them. First, is every- that a person living in extreme poverty does that we know of. If someone using bronze this year home; how I’m going to spend my on holiday with the family, I was to pay for thing relative? Second, do we need it to be? not, we still share some commonality. Heart- tools is only aware of people using stone, he summer apart from working (probably try- myself. Fair enough! But my parents never break over the ruination of a relationship is considers himself very advanced. Someone ing to get extra hours and cursing the fact actually told me when they were booking no less impactful in the € rst world than the with running water may consider himself that none of my favourite shows new seasons a holiday, though they talked about it for Could we identify any- third. privileged over his neighbours if he lives in come back until September) and I’m slightly weeks before while I expressed a ton of in- thing we experience at Some people that I know will brush o“ sub-Saharan Africa, but if he knows of the annoyed. Not at the fact that my friends are terest (“I want to go too!”). I have a sneak- their own misfortunes this way, saying that luxuries of, say, England, he may think that giggling excitedly as they prepare to leave for ing suspicion it has something to do with all without having some- it could be worse or they are still relatively he is very poor indeed. the airport in a matter of days for their week’s my parents wanting me to get over my social blessed. To them, and to everyone else that One could argue that good would still holiday. Nor am I complaining that every awkwardness. thing to compare it to? thinks that way, I say stop. Your life is no exist without evil; we just might not call it time I log into Facebook, I see photos from In the past few years they’ve gone to Dis- less important, no less valuable because of good without the comparison. If so, what is family who are travelling abroad, showing neyland, and I was studying for my A-levels  e question of the relativity of every- your privileges. You may not have to expect good? We may regard a world without the , o“ their tans or in some cases a serious case at the time so I couldn’t go, and the same thing is not as daunting as it sounds. All it sympathy from someone without running murder, rape, and abuse as a good one, but of sunburn. I’m not really annoyed at all, just goes with the time they went to Spain.  is means is that everything that happens and water when your internet connection fails, that is only because we can compare it to our everything we experience must be judged – but when it comes to things that we all have own. No, we need reference points because slightly put out at the fact that once again my year they’ve taken the youngest to Egypt not can be judged, but must – in relation to in common, regardless of our means, don’t these are all opinions, even if they are opin- parents have gone on holiday without me. for eleven days.  is time though, they’ve the world around us. I like to call this ques- dismiss your anguish just because it could ions that nearly everyone shares. Now for some of you reading this, you may le two of the siblings at home while they tion the ‘Starving African Children’ discus- be worse. Speaking of opinions, I’ve given only be thinking, what the hell? Why would you study for GCSE/A-Level > insert evil cackle sion. Remember being six and not wanting  e second question is not as related to mine here.  ey are not objective truths be- be complaining!? Drinking time! here <. Next year though, parents, I’m o“ on to eat your peas, only to have your parents the € rst as it may appear.  is deals with the cause there are none in this domain. Your  e thing is, I enjoyed the time I spent holiday so I win! ( ough in all honesty they tell you that there were starving children in idea of moral absolutes and the nature of views may di“ er, and though I will debate with my family when we went on our holi- probably win because I’m going away with Africa that would love them?  at is at the opposition. Once again, I will de€ ne by ex- with you vehemently, I regard them as no days. As one member of an eight-person friends and plan on being social...damn it!) crux of this question. Are my misfortunes, ample: can we have good without evil?  is less valid than mine. Have a good day, what- household, holidays were always extremely as a € rst-world middle-class white male, is obviously the most contentious of cases, ever that means. stressful but always exceptionally fun. How- Nicola Hoban Adam Pazdor 10 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk May Issue 2012 Comment A New Experience Regan recounts her time at Bangor University as an American exchange student ow is a twenty-one year old Biology and campus ministries, Central College o“ ered some- be di“ erent, to hold onto your heritage, your cul- ment of learning second and third languages dur- Secondary Education major from the thing outside its campus in Iowa: a study abroad ture and traditions, yet it is also vital that we each ing schooling in the U.K. and the whole of Europe. Midwest in America studying at Bangor program.  ey o“ ered programs that spanned the become vulnerable and expose ourselves globally.  is skill can take people further in life than they HUniversity in North Wales? It amazes even myself whole globe, from Hangzhou, China to Ghana,  rough doing this, I have realized more than ever realize. at times when pondering on this very question, yet Africa. before that regardless of how drastic our inner and Apart from developing a great liking for a prop- life is more properly planned than we o en expect. My experience living in Ban- outer selves are, everyone ul- er cup of British tea, having a kettle in the kitchen, In the summer of 2006, my brother and his gor, Wales and attending the timately wants and needs the seeing Snowdonia every day from my bedroom team mates travelled through England and Wales University has been everything The greatest gift of same things in life. window, and making new friends in and outside of in order to experience soccer (football) in a com- I anticipated and beyond.  e  is unearthing of becoming my ¬ at and American program, I have developed pletely new light. Along with their kits, each of term “learning” has reached an all: the discovery more empathetic towards the a home. It is important for any study-abroad stu- their families joined the adventure as well. Apart entirely new level as I have been or rediscovery of world and its people has also dent to remember that your destination is not just from the beautiful landscape, friendly people, and so privileged to participate in greatly stemmed from being a a temporary place, but a place you are living in. relaxed lifestyle, the visit itself was momentous, educational program excur- yourself. student at Bangor University. Bangor has become my home. Not because I have for many of my own football coaches from Kansas sions to not only nearby exhibi- Living with seven € rst years on an address here, or because I’ve taken the  eol- City call Wales their homeland. Little did I know tions such as the castles of Beaumaris, Caernarfon, Ffriddoedd Site, all of whom are English, in addi- ogy of John and the History of Ireland, Scotland, that my heart would again have the opportunity to and Conwy, but also to the beautiful capital city of tion to the 17% of students who are internationally and Wales, or because I shop at Morrison’s, but be- fall in love with the Welsh culture and countryside. Cardi“ for a weekend. In addition, our program based, I have been more exposed to cultures of the cause I have learned, changed, and grown from the Upon searching for a college to attend a er my director, Tecwyn Vaughn Jones, guided us through world than I ever have been in America, the “melt- inside out. Bangor has become my home because senior year in high school, studying abroad was experiencing Ireland for about a week during the ing pot” country of the world. Granted, I live in it is where my heart has started to become whole undoubtedly a key element in my choice for an start of Easter Break. We spent time in Dublin, United States suburbia, and diversity is only truly again. Being stripped of family, friends, and the institution. A er several painstaking months of Galway, and did a day trip to the Aran Islands found in Midwest cities such as Chicago, or Kan- comfortable environment you’ve always known analyzing and reanalyzing visits to over ten uni- where we rented bikes and enjoyed surprisingly sas City. I recall being in Main Arts one day and gives one perhaps the greatest gi of all: the dis- versities, Central College in Pella, Iowa became sunny and warm weather. I have discovered that a student to my right was reading Arabic on her covery or rediscovery of yourself.  e e“ ort made an obvious choice. With not only opportunities moments and small memories are more cherished computer screen and the student to my le was to widen your eyes and your heart is the € rst step. to heighten my academic, athletic, musical, and than anything else. If I were to mention one as- speaking Swahili to her mother on the phone. In  at in itself is where every journey begins. spiritual life through a liberal arts education, a pect of what my eyes, ears, and heart have felt over that moment, my pompous ability to speak a lit- women’s soccer team, a community orchestra, and these last four months it is this: it is important to tle Spanish plummeted. I greatly envy the require- Regan Jamieson LJ Loses š e Plot Where is š e Plot? These Four Years What comes after University, are we ready to think the general consensus, in life, is that eve- story (Avatar), or previously built up storylines ryone (or at least the majority of people) are forgotten in the wake of new technology and a take the next step? fans of TV and € lm. I’m one of those people, big, plotless, climax (Pirates of the Carribean: At t the start of this year, I wrote an article times that we should cherish, and that should be Iof course I am a media student. I’ve never really World’s End). about making the best of your time here. I protected. I don’t want to end my time writing for just enjoyed a TV show or a movie though, I’ve al- Video games, somehow, have made their way spoke about how these years at University Seren on an angry note, but have you seen what is ways found myself emotionally involved with the through this rough patch and come o“ better. Awould be expensive, possibly pointless and stress- going on? Higher education, NHS, welfare, social storylines. In fact, ever since I was a kid I’ve been a Amy Hennig, of Naughty Dog, outdid herself and ful, at times, beyond belief. I also wrote though services, VAT rise, bribed police, bribed politi- huge fan of anything with a good storyline. video game writer’s across the world when she about how it would be the time of your life; one cians, a press that was free but now is owned by I would say that the € rst time I got really took the typical action adventure story, combining that you would never forget.  ese years will stand just 5 di“ erent families and a coalition € lled with hooked on a TV show, though, was with Fox’s elements of both Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider, in your memory as the high points. Friends you promise breakers and people who honestly think Prison Break. I was introduced to the show by a to create the hugely successful and critically ac- keep for life are made here, lessons (both in the that the EU is a Godless-facist-commie attempt to friend halfway through the € rst season and was claimed Uncharted series. She even won a Writer’s classroom and in the real world) learned that smash proud John Bull beneath the jackboots of instantly captivated by Michael’s intricate plan to Guild award for the third instalment.  e video stay with you forever, and experiences that you’ll Krauts and Frogs. rescue his brother from death row.  e plan wasn’t game trilogy has some of the best scriptwriting remember with joy in your dotage. I quoted a What the hell are we doing letting these people really Michael’s of course but came from the bril- I have ever seen and combined with the talented document that led the way to University being run the country? And don’t take this as a party po- liant mind of Prison Break’s head writer, Paul voice acting, of the Uncharted team, rivals pretty something everyone has a right to, that said that litical attack, the others are all vile as well. Week Scheuring.  ough my memory isn’t always the much any € lm Hollywood brings out these days. we must, in life, “do justice to the complexity of a er week, sleaze a er sleaze. Taxes for those at the best, I want to say that it was Prison Break that  e same can be said for Haden Blackman’s video things”. It was right in 1963 when it was written, bottom, bailouts for those at the top. inspired my love for TV drama’s and my desire to game Star Wars:  e Force Unleashed, which also and it is still right today, perhaps more so. We are students. Traditionally, we lead the way join the likes of Scheuring as a screenwriter. won a Writer’s Guild award. And the fact that Hol- I hope that in these months and years spent when we see social, political and economic injus-  en of course came the Writer’s Guild strike of lywood is constantly making, unsuccessful, video- here at Bangor you have done that.  ese last four tice becoming the norm in politics. Where are we? 2007-2008, and arguably the death of most good game-adaptation movies proves that the movie years have been incredible and as I start to have to  e far-le student leaders of the 1960’s and 1970’s TV drama writing.  e strike cut short Prison industry (and TV industry for the most part) are think about what’s next, I’ve been thinking more are some of those responsible for these degrada- Break’s third season, which strayed too far from only concerned with making money o“ the back and more about what has been. In part, because tions. Have we lost our faith in them, or have we the line’s of reality with Michael € nding himself of the talent video game writer’s. the next step is a big one, as I’m sure many of you seen them transform into those that threaten and imprisoned once again. It was a terrible season, I have to admit though that despite what I say reading this will be coming to realise. However, as bully their way into power and do anything to keep which lost the show a lot of fan’s, and while I can’t about the lack of decent scripts to be found in Hol- I wrote at the start of the year, we have to grasp the it and realise that we may too go the same way? say for sure that it was the writer’s strike that killed lywood, or TV-Wood, these days there is the oc- opportunity with both hands.  is step only seems First steps are scary things. We have all taken at one of my favourite shows, I know it played a part casional writer that shines through and gives me bigger than the one we took to come here because least one big step in the last few years, in coming in it. back hope for what I fear is becoming a forgotten we have got through it.  at we have succeeded to University, in breaking out of our old lives to Since then I’ve noticed a huge decline in the profession. Most recently is Joss Whedon’s Aveng- is something we need to remember as well.  e start our new ones. But € rst steps are the route to quality of TV shows, sure there are of course the ers (reviewed later in this issue), that reignites that old cliche about regretting the opportunities never ensuring that we get these experiences, and under- exceptions (Ashes to Ashes, Haven and Smallville, ¬ ame with its brilliant, fast paced action writing taken is true. I regretted leaving University when I standing how precious they are. We have loved our to name a few), but, following the writer’s strike, but without the sacri€ ce of emotion and character was 19, and it wasn’t until I graduated last year that time here, but these are not rights and things owed TV didn’t seem the same. It felt as though any development. I felt that regret pass on. University is about learn- to us, these were fought for by people before, and it love for the stories had been thrown aside to be Yes, some of the special e“ ects that the industry ing, and a er a BA and an MA, what I’ve learnt is is our duty to € ght to ensure that they are there for replaced by quickly written, quickly made shows is capable of these days are brilliant, but are they to become afraid of having to add another thing to the people that follow us. Or else, we have already that just, generated revenue for the networks. Its really worth sacri€ cing a good story written by the list of regrets (though snakes are still top of the gone the way of the former radical leaders turned something that didn’t only happen for TV shows someone who actually cares? list of things I am afraid of). Home Secretaries. And that’s heartbreaking. but across the media. Movies became more fo- LJ Taylor My point, in a roundabout way, is that these are Jez Harvey cused on the use of special e“ ects with a borrowed May Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 11 Environment Eco Terrorism: Where do you stand? Super Is arson the only way to get the attention of the government and corporations or is there an alternative? awesome he FBI defi ne eco-terrorism as belief that human beings are just in favour of the ELF is that there protests are kettled and plans for “the use or threatened use of ordinary members of the biological have been no deaths from their more London airports rolled out eco book Tviolence of a criminal nature community (and that we should act actions. They have caused over every day is there another way to against people or property…for accordingly). $50m of damage at one time, but stop or even slow the damage being environmental-political reasons, or done to the environment? With governments backtracking on environmental policy, giveaway! aimed at an audience beyond the Of course these actions should target, often of a symbolic nature.” slashing renewable energy subsidies and threatening to drill oil not be necessary, but Unlike actual terrorists, eco- in all the earth’s most sacred places, is this the only way to be governments of late seem terrorists attack money, not taken seriously? to be spouting a lot of hot air people. They are known for burning about how they care for the down buildings that contribute to The ELF are mostly known for the it is still the rich man who values environment. Politicians know 1. pollution, destroy a natural area, millions of dollars worth of damage industry over nature that is hurt by that to be green is trendy and For the avid recycler: aid the destruction of a natural area caused through arson, but they the actions of the ELF. that to appear so, wins them Reduce, Reuse, or promote urbanisation. The Earth have been known to spike trees with When the facts are laid bare, points. At the moment, a Recycle!: An Easy Liberation Front (ELF), established nails which, although harmless, can propaganda will only stretch so far. point scoring game is all it is. Household Guide in Brighton in 1992, was the fi rst break chainsaws and timber mill The discussion really lies in How can we get governments, (Green Books Guides) organisation to be given the label saws. Although often portrayed whether you think this is the right especially ours to take the by Nicky Scott eco-terrorist when an American in the media as dangerous to the path to take. With governments environment seriously? cell burned down a ski resort in working men who fell the trees, tree backtracking on environmental Colorado costing the owners $12m. spikers mark spiked trees clearly for policy, slashing renewable energy Elf claimed afterwards that “of the safety of workmen. subsidies and threatening to drill clearcuts will ruin the last, best lynx The media enjoys the attack oil in all the earth’s most sacred habitat in the state. Putting profi ts on the “terrorists” because of the places, is this the only way to be 2. ahead of Colorado’s wildlife will not comparisons they can draw between taken seriously? Is the only way to be tolerated”. the guerrilla tactics used by the ELF speak to the mega-corporations, to For the At the heart of the ELF’s radical and the Vietcong, as if they are cut off their production? Georgia Mannion undergraduate environmentalism is the bio centric comparable. One fact which works When peaceful environmental environment enthusists:

How to save the planet on a student budget by Kate Aydin 3.

For the seasonal chef:

The Good Table: Adventures in and Seren’s Top 5 Eco Blogs Around My Kitchen by Valentine Warner Treehugger http://www.treehugger.com/energy/ 4. ince we won’t be back until September, here’s the breakdown of what Well organised, interesting features. Easy to navigate and enough content to food is in season and when. A good website for more information on interest any reader. Sseasonal food is eatseasonably.co.uk For the eco- Melon Life Goggles theorists: On Pollock http://lifegoggles.com/ Extinction: How We Asparagus Life Goggles has lots of di“ erent product reviews. We like this website because it’s Became May June nice to look at and the book reviews are useful. Worth exploring. Estranged from Cucumber Nature by Sardines Melanie Cauliflower Environmenal Gra
ti Challenger Rhubarb http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/ Lamb We can’t say much more about this blog than it is SO INTERESTING. Please go Spinach Courgette and look at it. Lettuce Carrots World Changing Sweetcorn Peas http://www.worldchanging.com/politics/ Cherries Beans Being environmentally aware is trendy these days, but the politics section of this Win! Strawberries Plums blog really gets stuck into the dirty business of being a politically informed eco- Celery Cabbage warrior. It’s about time we moved away from biodegradable toilet brushes and To win one of these books answer the following question: Bramley apples July took a look at sustainability from a political standpoint. August True of false: Blueberries Seren is printed on the 100% recycled paper. Raspberries Rabbit The Daily Green Nectarine Email your answer to editor@ http://www.thedailygreen.com/ seren.bangor.ac.uk Lots of practical information for how to improve the sustainability of your life- Marrow Don’t forget to tell us which book style. you want! 12 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk May Issue 2012 Features Feminine Features The last Features of the year looks at the women of the Art world The Brontës - a sisterhood of gothic writers he daughters of a solemn Irish tively -thus retaining their genuine life experiences; working as gov- to write with an excellent command reverend, the three sisters grew initials- to improve their chances ernesses, living in a rural setting, of French. Emily was shamefully re- up at the family home based of becoming published.  ey took desire not to leave home, heredi- bellious and insolent to her tutors, but Tin Haworth, Yorkshire, although the a measure of moral support for one tary family illnesses, unrequited displayed a natural aptitude for piano. extended family remained on the Em- another in their literary pursuits; love, mindfulness of nature and When the study programme had been erald Isle.  e Brontës wrote in a time not only did they chose pen names tempestuousness in the home to completed, the sisters were invited to before women could vote and many that meant they were still known name but a few.  ese experiences remain at the school, free of charge but worked as scullery maids who would as three siblings, the three sisters formed the Brontë’s minds, selves on the condition that they taught some be fortunate to earn £6 a year.  e edu- also made group submissions to and world outlook that they chan- lessons. Emily’s pupils did not endear cated trio of sisters attended a school publishing houses. By May 1846, a nelled into their works. towards her and Charlotte fell deeply for the children of less wealthy clergy collection entitled Poems by Cur- Wuthering Lives Before Fame in unrequited love, causing her to re- members and their love and ability for rer, Ellis and Acton Bell had been While Anne and Charlotte le for turn home to Haworth. It is rumoured writing began as a childhood game. published. Charlotte’s aim to defeat Belgium to study German and mu- that Emily had an a“ air with to Anne’s Charlotte Brontë, best known for the patriarchal view of women in sic, Emily was determined not to husband and buried the resulting baby her novel Jane Eyre, su“ ered the ter- literature had been realised, but leave home. Documented as an in- on the Yorkshire moors. It was these rible sexism typical of the Brontë’s day this was only the beginning. By tense character with a stubborn na- adventures and misadventures, coupled when she submitted a collection of her 1846, the Brontë sisters had writ- ture, she possessed a tempestuous with those of their upbringing and its poems to the then poet laureate, Robert ten and together submitted their and impulsive humour that we see very era and location that provided the Southey. He vigorously rejected her ef- € rst novels; Emily’s Wuthering re¬ ected in the Wuthering Heights inspiration for the plot, intensity, Ro- forts and shared the popular view that Heights in its original form of two protagonist Cathy Earnshaw. Her manticism and passion we see docu- the literary scene was no place for fe- volumes, Charlotte’s  e Profes- predicament of being a waged spin- mented in their novels. It is impossible male creativity.  e eldest Brontë sister sor and Anne’s Agnes Grey, which ster, unusual for the day, is re¬ ected to imagine the outcry that the gothic refused to be defeated. She discovered was originally intended as the third in Nelly (Ellen) Dean, who narrates nature of (especially) Emily’s writ- that Emily too enjoyed writing poetry volume of Wuthering Heights. In the novel. An intense a“ ection for ing would have caused, had the public and convinced Anne to follow suit. July of this year, a parcel encas- prose to publishers, all three had their her beloved northern England known it came from the pen of not only  e three sisters’ poetry project had ing the manuscripts of these works by € rst novels published. initially thwarted her travelling, but in a woman but also a vicar’s daughter. begun. Struggling against the grain of an assumed literary brotherhood was  eir novels are not only a faith- 1842, Emily did embark on a study visit ful re¬ ection on the di® cult times in the patriarchy and the prejudices of the peripatetically traversing London, be- to Brussels with Charlotte.  e two at- day, Emily, Charlotte and Anne Brontë ing considered in one publishing house which they lived and grew up, but each tended a boarding school where they Rosie MacLeod adopted the male pseudonyms Ellis at a time. 1847 was a landmark year for is also constructed of a highly autobio- were tutored in foreign languages and Bell, Currer Bell and Acton Bell respec- the sisters: A year a er submitting their graphical ‘collage’ of their own personal music. Both women quickly learned Kate Bush- Queen of Art Rock t was Emily Brontë’s gothic novel chapter of Brontë’s novel, when Cathy’s see genuine similarities between Emily Southbank prize, has also Wuthering Heights (‘Wuthering’ is ghost returns to Wuthering Heights Brontë and Ms Bush: Both of Irish an- partaken in duets and was an adjective particular to the north (the name of her childhood house), cestry, each educated in non-secular one of the € rst women to ap- Iof England meaning ‘tempestuous’) that rattling at her beloved Heathcli“ ’s win- establishments and each gi ed pianists pear on the cover of Rolling provided the inspiration for Kate Bush’s dow, longing to be reunited with him. from an early age. More relevantly, they Stone magazine. She has had 1978 hit song of the same name. At the It is the € rst time the reader is made are both famed for their zany and ec- single hits in the 1970s, ‘80s, age of 20, it was her € rst single and went aware of Heathcli“ ’s strong and pas- centric artistic style; Brontë wrote with (the glorious) ‘90s, 2000s straight to number one.  e daughter of sionate a“ ection for this woman. a vivacious, impulsive, sometimes even and the....ones we’re in now. a folk singer and a scientist, this Anglo- It might be because I know more frantic and volatile energy similar to Irish gem was raised in Kent. about the Brontë sisters than is prob- that intense and mesmerising energy Rosie MacLeod.  e lyrics to Kate Bush’s Wuther- ably healthy (if you haven’t fallen asleep with which Bush performs and sings. ing Heights are taken from the third yet, you probably guessed that), but I do She (Bush) was recently awarded  e Janis Joplin- The White Rose of Texas Blues Poly Styrene – Punk

orn in Texas in 1943, this una- to male. formed with her trademark energetic n April 25th last year, the Lon- bashedly rebellious and noncon- Her best-known individual track is moves- she seldom kept still whilst don punk scene mourned the formist female singer is deemed undoubtedly the a cappella Mercedes singing- literally until the Saturday loss of a most individualistic Bto have the best white blues voice in Benz, one of her last-ever recordings, turned into Sunday. Ogem. Poly Styrene, real name Marianne musical history. made in 1970. In 1969, Janis Joplin re- She is quoted as saying “Don’t com- Joan Elliott-Said, lost a battle to cancer A disruptive pupil, she was a self- corded a song with Welsh singer Tom promise yourself, you’re all you’ve got”, and passed away aged just 53. Luck- confessed mis€ t at school and cited Jones entitled Raise Your Hand. In the but this optimism was likely in part a ily, she was able to give her fans one these experiences as her motivation to same year, she was a headlining act at cover up for the unhappiness and in- last gi before she le us. Less than a become a singer. At times she was very the weekend-long Woodstock music security she still felt in her adulthood. month before her death, her € nal and overweight and her skin su“ ered, at festival in New York. While Jimi Hen- She descended into a very low state of highly critically acclaimed album, Gen- others her size was described as “emaci- drix insisted on being the € nal act to regular drug use and alcohol abuse, reg- eration Indigo, was released. ated”. She certainly channelled her ex- take to the stage, this rose of Texas per- ularly consuming heroin and immodest Raised in Brixton, the half British periences of battling against amounts of Southern Com- and half Somali singer found fame as the grain of a world in which fort, her partiality for which the lead singer of a London punk band, she felt so isolated into her she was famed, and there  e X-Ray Spex.  ey enjoyed success music and lyrics, and this exists an iconic photograph with hits such as Germfree Adolescents in turn was her source of of her holding a bottle (le ). (1978),  e Day  e World Turned strength. She was found dead, Day-Glo (1978) and Oh Bondage U* She enjoyed success with overdosed on what is be- Y**rs (1977), which is Poly’s attack on the albums Cheap  rills lieved to be a concoction of misogyny armed with her higher range (1968), I Got Dem Ol’ Koz- abnormally strong heroin and a saxophone solo.  is vehement mic Blues Again Mama and alcohol in 1970, aged feminist- whose views may well have (1969) and her trademark 27. Although her life was been formed from an upbringing by a and posthumous collection, a troubled one, her dis- single mother- decided to embark on a Pearl (1971). Although her tinctive music and lyrics punk career a er attending a Sex Pis- success was rooted in her spurred her on to produce tols concert. Her fans will always fond- albums, she is also famous some of the tracks that de- ly remember her ability to speak her for her covers of Piece of € ned the 1970s music scene. mind, to sing powerfully yet tunefully my Heart and Me and Bob- Rosie MacLeod. and for her eccentric, theatrical dress by McGee, in which Joplin sense. Rosie MacLeod. changed the gender of the title character from female May Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 13 Features Wuthering Heights: A truly original story? have always been interested in the Brontë had escaped. He was said to be named  omas as the Brontë connection is concerned, sisters since I knew that the original school Anson, “a Negro Man, about € ve feet six inches he had what Kim described as an “enig- that they attended, at Cowan Bridge, is only a high, aged 20 years or upwards”. matic relationship” with Ann. Itwenty minute drive from where I live. However, But how could Heathcli“ be connected with “It would seem,” wrote Lyon, “that much local talk and histories has revealed the link the story of slavery in Dentdale? A er all, Dent- Richard Sutton was taken into the Sill between the Brontë sisters, and my home in the dale is the best part of 50 miles from the famous household and treated little better than Dales, is stronger than I once thought. It appears parsonage at Haworth where Brontë wrote her a servant. Indeed, one might go so far that a local slave was inspiration for Heathcli“ in dramatic love story. as to say little better than a slave.” And Wuthering Heights, and worked only € ve minutes  e answer is that between 1824 and 1825 like Heathcli“ , Sutton also managed to away down the valley. Emily and her sisters Maria, Elizabeth (not all the rise in the world and to dominate his  e author, Emily Brontë, described Heath- sisters were famous writers) and Charlotte were master.  e parallels between fact and cli“ ’s skin colour “as dark as though it came from sent to the Clergy Daughters’ School at Cowan € ction are obvious. the Devil”. Until now, this description somehow Bridge, on the main route from Leeds to Kendal Sutton now lived in the bleak High never registered with € lm producers. Heathcli“ , but, more pertinently, fairly close to Dentdale and Rigg End, while Ann lived the life of a The idea of a dark-skinned Heathcliff was not a wild flight of Brontë’s imagination the greatest romantic character in 19th century a place which had known connections with the lady at West House, just as Heathcli“ English literature – black? Surely not.  e idea Sills family’s social circle. lived in the remote moorland farm- of a dark-skinned Heathcli“ was not a wild ¬ ight  e link between the Sills and Wuthering house of Wuthering Heights and Cath- of Brontë’s imagination. For the € rst time a black Heights has been known to Brontë scholars for erine Earnshaw resided at  rushcross actor has been cast as Heathcli“ . James Howson some time, and in 2002 an edition of the novel, by Grange. played him in the most recent version of Wuther- Christopher Heywood of She® eld University, was Lyon wrote that Sutton’s character ing Heights, in 2011. published showing a black Heathcli“ on its cover. “was not of a very high moral stand-  e idea of a dark-skinned Heathcli“ was Much of what is known has been traced by ing on other people’s eyes. He had so not a wild ¬ ight of Brontë’s imagination though. Dentdale historian Kim Lyon. She began research- displeased Ann that, on one occasion,  ere is evidence that she based the character on ing the rumours of the Sills’ slaves in the 1970s she’d had him ¬ ogged”. Yet her will real events that took place in what used to be one and came across an intriguing story. It related to proved she was fond of Sutton, because of the most isolated parts of northern England. their adoption of a white orphan boy called Ri- she le him High Rigg End, another Dentdale is within half an hour’s drive of the M6, chard Sutton, described as a “foundling” when property and one-tenth of her income. but it was once hard to reach and it is easy to un- brought to Dentdale by Edmund Sill. Rather than In her book, Lyon suggested that derstand how the story of the bringing of enslaved bringing him up with the Sills’ three sons and one Brontë combined another scandal from Africans to the area in the second half of the 18th daughter, however, he was kept with the slaves. Dentdale for the story of Cathy and century took decades to reach the outside world. When she began researching the Sills, Lyon Heathcli“ ’s doomed romance. She ap-  e legend lives on in the Yorkshire Dales, and it found herself on the trail of similarities between pears to have mixed the relationship contrary to local legend – were brutally murdered. is traceable by visiting old houses and seeking out Sutton and Brontë‘s Heathcli“ . Both were orphans between Sutton and Ann with local gossip that Dentdale still retains many secrets. Some of the some graves in the churchyard at Dent containing taken in by well-o“ families, both were badly Ann fell in love with a black coachman. older residents recall their grandparents remem- the remains of Edmund Sill, his wife Elizabeth and treated, and both lived fairly wild lives.  e coachman subsequently disappeared with- bering the slaves “wandering into Dent” a er the other members of the wealthy Sill family.  e Sills In a book called  e Dentdale Brontë Trail, out trace, and it is said that Ann’s brothers had Emancipation in 1833. owned a farmhouse called High Rigg End situated which Lyon self-published in 1985, she wrote that decided such a union would be inappropriate. Dentists in our area are aware that some Dent- on the ¬ anks of Whernside.  eir fortune came by 1805 Edmund and Elizabeth Sill were dead, as A century later, in 1902, a human skeleton was dale residents have a mixed heritage as their teeth not from farming, however, but from the own- were their three sons. Only an unmarried daugh- found beneath ¬ agstones in the cellar of West and the shape of their mouths have an African ge- ership of plantations on the Caribbean island of ter, Ann, survived them and she inherited huge House.  e implication is that this was the re- netic heritage.  e school did a lot of work a few Jamaica. estates, including 20 farms in Dentdale and neigh- mains of Ann’s lover. years ago on this history. It is quite a story, though  at the Sills brought slaves to Dentdale to bouring Deepdale, as well as the family’s € ne resi- Today, the Sills’ homes can still be seen in there is little hard evidence to support this theory. work as their servants is not just local folklore. It dence, West House, near their farm at High Rigg Dentdale. West House is now known as Whern- has been proved by the discovery of a Liverpool End. side Manor, where legend has it there were iron newspaper advertisement in 1758 placed by one Sutton, meanwhile, rose from being the found- rings on cellar walls for chaining up slaves. Heather Boyles Edmund Sill of Dent in which a “handsome re- ling brought up with the slaves to become the  e current owners have found no evidence of ward” was o“ ered for the return of a slave who Sills’ estate manager. But more interestingly as far these. Nor is there proof that many of the slaves – Amy Winehouse A Child Prodigy

ast summer wasn’t the best of times for North When her fi rst album, Frank, hit the shelves back in London. In the world of sport, Tottenham Hotspur 2004, a fuller-fi gured Ms Winehouse was a picture of Land rivals Arsenal got thrashed by northern teams health. With the release of Back to Black a mere two Manchester United and Manchester City in a collective years later, the cracks in her wellbeing were becoming huge defeat over one weekend. Politically, the riots increasingly apparent and concerning. The album is began in Tottenham and in the music world, Amy autobiographical and inspired by the issues affecting Winehouse passed away on July 23rd. Like Joplin, she Ms Winehouse; those of alcohol addiction, narcotic use, was only 27 at the time of her death. Her passing was family issues, tempestuous relationships and diffi culties defi nitely felt strongly in North London; I never text if I thereof and then some- had become as famous as the know the recipient is somewhere in which mobiles are tracks themselves. Amy’s music was a confrontational unwelcome but even I unhesitatingly delivered the sad window thereon, unlike the aforementioned distraction news via text to my mother who was at the theatre. and self-comfort that Joplin’s own tracks provided her. Like Janis Joplin, she was disruptive and volatile in Notwithstanding her personal problems and lifestyle the classroom. Due to being expelled and an inability issues, Winehouse still enjoyed phenomenal success: to settle, she attended various schools, including the In 2008, she won fi ve of the six Grammys for which same performing school as Katie Melua. Unlike Joplin, she had been nominated. In the same year, she gave Winehouse’s songs held a mirror up to the gritty and a memorable performance of Heard it Through the real-life experiences she (Winehouse) was having; Grapevine with Paul Weller on Later With Jools Holland. writing music was far more of an escapist and distracting She openly and vehemently opposed the mainstream technique for Ms Joplin. commercialisation of music that is the X Factor, claiming Winehouse was born into a Jewish family in Southgate, that “Jazz is real”. This phrase of hers certainly sums up North London. She was the daughter of a taxi driver the highly honest, confrontational and autobiographical and a pharmacist, a marriage that failed when she was nature of her work. Since her death, Back to Black is nine. The granddaughter of a singer, she was exposed the bestselling album of the 21st century in the UK to to jazz at a young age, began to play guitar at 13 and date. Amy Winehouse, we “cry for you on the kitchen in childhood even appeared in an episode of The Fast fl oors” of North London and beyond. Show! She never imagined how successful she could really be, nor had any realistic foresight as to the true extent of her imminent success. In an interview before she hit the big time, her phrase was “I want to sing a Rosie MacLeod bit, be a waitress.” (!) 14 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk May Issue 2012 Hollaback What is Hollaback? ollaback! is a movement that is currently type of action will only escalate the situation, forum where people could respond to street surrounded by a crowd of strangers who don’t running in 50 cities, 17 countries and and while this is true to an extent, it has made it harassment, sharing their stories with other do anything, though they have the power to do H9 diŒ erent languages and its aim is to habitual to accept any sort of harassment. people. In a new era where the internet and something! put an end to street harassment using mobile Hollaback! is an organisation that rejects this technology plays a prominent role, Hollaback! Hollaback! provides an individual with a way technology. Even though it is an extreme social norm, believing that everybody has a has chosen to take this opportunity and use it to hold their harasser accountable, since quite pervasive form of gender-based violence, street right to be themselves and feel con‰ dent and to their advantage by leveraging the technology often, the police cannot do anything about harassment is one of the least legislated against safe whilst doing so. The organisation itself to highlight an issue that had previously been harassing behaviours in the streets – not because acts and it rarely reported, being culturally started up in New York in 2005 as a response to ignored, breaking the silence by creating this they remain ignorant to it, but because until now accepted as ‘the price you pay’ for being a female street and tra£ c harassment i.e. subways, using forum as well as phone apps which allows there hasn’t been a feasible solution. Through or for being gay. A global reality for LGBTQ a 25 page start up pack. However in May 2010, people to take photographs of their harassers. this method of safely collecting women’s and individuals and women, acts often range from the organisation transitioned to a non-pro‰ t and They can then upload the photo online since LGBTQ individuals accounts and pictures and objectifying comments like ‘You’d look good on identi‰ ed that since 2005, 20 Hollaback! sites it is not illegal to do so, and name and shame allowing them to be shared with mobile phone me’ to groping, — ashing and assault. This kind had launched but three remained active. Upon their harasser. Hollaback! is also seeking to applications, Hollaback! is rapidly creating a of harassment is a power play and is a gateway investigation, the organisation created a new teach people through their website how to take crowd sourced initiative that will hopefully put crime that allows other forms of gender-based model that still included local leadership and action and how to stand up to street harassment an end to street and tra£ c harassment once and violence seem OK. Silence often seems to be the autonomy but ‰ lled the gaps that had been in without risking instigating aggression. Quite for all. only feasible response to take, because any other the old model. They chose to create an internet often when someone is being harassed they are Nicola Hoban What is Street I’ve got your back! 20+ Harassment?ollaback! Gwynedd is a web-based activ- spinach and feta and — aky pastry. She oŒ ers you ist project to end street harassment. But a napkin and you hold hands as you walk back Hwhat is street harassment, you might toward your house in Hirael, your afternoon er- wonder? Or you might even dismiss it outright rands punctuated with calls of “Are you LESBI- as something you’ve never even heard of, much ANS?” and “Lezzies!” as you go. Not so easy to less experienced! Well, here’s a story for you. excuse it as — attery when it’s said with a leer, this Catcalls, whistles, honks and compliments time. are just — attery! Get over it! You’ve just left your The ‰ rst time it happened you thought, well, house in Upper Bangor. The sun is shining, it’s it’s just teenagers, isn’t it. But then it’s not just unseasonably warm, and you have your head- teenagers, is it? Sometimes it’s middle-aged Gwynedd’s phones in, thinking about what to pick up for women. Sometimes it’s whole gaggles of people dinner at Morrison’s- when you’re interrupted by who’ve gathered round the benches for an af- a loud shout. It startles you. You look around for ternoon cigarette. You try to think of something the source, whipping your headphones out of to say back to them but, you think, they’ll just your ears, and then realise it’s someone heckling laugh in your face. Once, one of them seemed to you from the nearby pub. Suddenly you’re aware follow you a way down the High Street, so you’re that your skirt hem is — apping softly against the a bit wary of saying much of anything at all to Hollabackince starting up in 2005, the organisation International Student Welfare group were also backs of your thighs, your backside is a little them. The last thing you need is to cut across Hollaback! currently runs in 50 cities, 17 asked to push this, and soon a representative more jiggly and you think, maybe, this has in- the alley way behind the kids’ fun centre and get Scountries and in 9 diŒ erent languages. sample of international students was gathered. vited the calls. stuck between oncoming groups of people who Gwynedd is now one of those locations that are It was key that the Women’s Society keep trying (You conveniently push out of your mind the already look at you funny when you wear your a part of this organisation, thanks to the Bangor to make the University deal with the street fact that this happens regularly even when it’s Seren hoody out in public. This is feeling less like Women’s Society which decided in September harassment issue, as well as the Bangor Police laundry day and you’re on day-old trackie bot- a compliment and more like being singled out 2011 to create a priority campaign which would and the Student Union. This alone was a three- toms.) for harassment, become their main focus for the year, deciding month process. After contacting the Hollaback! Only a minute ago you were thinking what a Halfway home you see your friend, he’s got upon Hollaback! and its work against street team, the Women’s Society started their nice, warm spring day it was and that you could his head down and his headphones on and harassment, after seeing the West Yorkshire Hollaback! training, joining at least 150 other ‰ nally abandon leggings under your jeans for he’s walking quickly. You catch him up, and he Hollaback! site. After speaking to some of leaders located around the globe. They received once in March. Now you’re acutely conscious of doesn’t even notice you till you practically wave Bangor’s students, the members of the society guidance on creating a multi-lingual website, every facet of you appearance, wondering how your hand under his nose. You wonder why he’s discovered that Bangor was one of the worst and ensured that they had a Welsh speaker on to make the lip smacking and the comments on walking so quickly, but then you realise it’s be- places for street harassment compared to other their team. your legs stop. You rush past the pub, and into cause he’s from Korea, and come to think of it, places. The Gwynedd Hollaback! website launched Morrison’s, and you keep your head down on the you remember him telling you about getting ra- However, the society needed to supply on the 23rd April, and the society are looking way back home. You suppose you should just ac- cial abuse shouted at him on his way back to the enough evidence to ensure that they would be for more students to get involved with the cept that some men think this is a — attering way halls up at St. Mary’s site. He says it’s any time of heard. After speaking to the president of the website and the Hollaback! organisation. Using to talk to women- after all, your friend says she day, but it’s especially bad later at night, when Bangor Students’ Union, Jo Cau‰ eld, who gave the funding supplied by Bangor Univeristy’s likes it when men notice her in public. Maybe he comes home from evening lectures or soci- support for the campaign, the Women’s Society School of Creative Studies and Media Studies, you should just suck it up. It happens to every- eties meetings. Walking up that hill in at dusk wrote a survey at the beginning of December the Women’s Society’s goal is to produce one, you think. can’t be fun with people threatening you, telling 2011to be put online asking for students views several videos based around the topic of street Or maybe you shout back, something that you to go home, back where you came from. You on Gwynedd street harassment, contacting harassment. At the moment, they are looking for gets carried away on the breeze and you don’t reckon you’re pretty lucky that you blend in till students through their email and Facebook students that are wanting to contribute blogs feel vindicated because the only response is de- you open your mouth- of course, half the time pages. Overall, the society received about 500 about street harassment and are hoping to hold risive laughter. So you vow that next time you’ll doing so means being ragged on for being a stu- full responses from students stating how they a fundraiser, currently seeking the University’s have a ready-made response. Ah, you think. A dent. Sometimes shops seem reluctant to serve feel that Bangor is an unsafe place and quite aid in helping raise awareness and to encourage classic case of staircase wit. Next time, I’ll do bet- you when it’s clear that you’re not from around often they feel comfortable walking around at students to talk and participate in the campaign. ter. here. any time of day. However, the responses also Street harassment is not just aimed at women. But next time it happens, you’re walking Unfortunately, when you try to complain indicate how students feel that they have to Men, LGBTQ individuals and international through Lower Bangor, past the clock in the about these things, people don’t really seem to accept it. The Bangor Women’s Society, like the students alike are targeted and Hollaback! has middle of town. You pop into the bank to check take you seriously. Or they just tell you to lump Hollaback! team, feel that people shouldn’t be created a place that is accessible for everyone if your loan is in (the NatWest site is, predictably, it like everyone else does. Thankfully, you think, made to feel like this and want to undermine that has been aŒ ected by street harassment, malfunctioning) and on your way out you meet you can tell someone, anyone- by going to the this idea. At the beginning of 2012, the society including Bangor University students. your girlfriend. She’s brought you a pasty from Hollaback! Gwynedd website and sharing your presented their ‰ ndings to the Welfare Working the bakery across the street; you give her a peck story. Group in an eŒ ort to raise their awareness of on the lips and say thanks, munching away on Jennifer Krase the ongoing cases of street harassment. The Nicola Hoban May Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 15

Bangor Students’ Union ran a survey about street harass- ment in Bangor and Gwynedd. Here are some of the num- bers that came out of that survey. The results showed a very clear understanding gap between the meaning of ‘Street Harassment’ and actual experiences of it.

52.3%of respondents said they experienced ‘street harssment’ 78.2% Clever Title About What To did not report it to the Do When Harassed police Responses to street harassment fall on two continuums. The 2. Whatever you say or do, speak with a calm, clear, loud voice. ‰ rst is how you respond emotionally; some people feel scared, Think HEAD TEACHER. Swearing and overt anger tend to get or anxious. A number of people in the students’ union survey you laughed at, and what you don’t want to do is escalate the said it triggered panic attacks for them, especially the more situation, because that can back‰ re. threatening incidents like getting shouted at, or having things thrown at them from cars. Some people aren’t too bothered 3. Use the information you have to your advantage- Kearl sug- 22.3% about the run-of-the-mill sexual harassment, and some people gests naming exactly what happened (“Don’t whistle at me, said they had objects even feel positive about it. If you don’t like it, then there are a lot don’t touch my breasts, don’t call us faggots”) or even more thrown at them of ways to respond constructively that can lessen the emotional speci‰ cally, calling out the person (“Man in the yellow shirt, stop impact. This is the second continuum- the action you take. smacking your lips at me, Child in the grey jumper, don’t racially We’ll talk about that here. It’s also important to remember that abuse me”) harassment can have a cumulative eŒ ect. So while 99% of the time you might just put up with it, that 100th time, it just tips 4. Embarrass them- “What would your mother say if she heard you over the edge and you want to do something. you talk to me like that, I can’t believe you just did that” Here are some excellent- and evidenced- ways to respond. These are mainly drawn from research by Holly Kearl of AAUW, a 5. If it’s from a car, write down their number plate and a descrip- women’s equity organisation in the United States, who has pub- tion of the vehicle. Make sure you get it right in case you decide lished two books and numerous reports on street harassment. to report it to the police (in the case of items being thrown from 62.1% The Stop Street Harassment blog has some excellent articles on the car, this is especially helpful). said they experienced responding assertively to harassment; we’ve borrowed a few of their key ideas here to give you a demonstration. These are just some of the ideas from the Stop Street Harass- whistles or horn honking ment website. For more information check out the site and from vehicles 1. Situational awareness- this starts long before you open your the blog, and let us know here at Hollaback! Gwynedd how mouth, and it’s something that comes second-nature to a lot you choose to respond to street harassment. We’ll leave it here of people who are accustomed to experiencing street harass- for now- but our bywords for dealing with street harassment ment. Always take a moment to assess whether you feel safe in (whether you’re a witness or a target) are composed, con‰ dent, responding directly to a harasser. and safe. Keep those in mind and you’ll not go far wrong. Jennifer Krase 18.8%experienced unwanted physical contact Participants in the survey were asked to describe street harassment. the follow- ing are the most popular words used.

14.2%had comments about their 68.1%race or ethnicity did not think it was important enough to report 16 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk May Issue 2012 Business Double Trouble For Nokia okia have been dealt a double over the Blackberry’s failings Interest Mounts as blow. Once the biggest in their new range; the Ncompany in Finland and market is open for a the top mobile phone provider in new business phone the world, they are now running with a practical and in second place in both fi elds. sturdy design. Clinton Collapses Finland’s current top company, Bought in in 2010 the energy provider, Fortum is the new CEO Stephen valued at one billion euros more Elop has indicated that than Nokia. Samsung’s range this could be the end of of Galaxy phones has knocked Nokia. With hundreds Nokia from its top global of designers on their position, as it competes with payroll, if Lumia is the the Apple iPhone. best they could come Nokia sold approximately up with... It’s playing ten million less phones than it far too safe and is Samsung at the beginning of completely inadequate the current year, and with its in comparison to the hip new Lumia it looks to be current Apple and moving further away from Samsung products. the much loved sturdy and reliable original design. The Nokia webpage quotes their Head of Industrial Design Samantha Austin Axel Meyer as saying ‘it was espite going into administration, retail chain the fi rm’s 628 Clinton Cards stores and 139 Birthday an exercise in aesthetic and Clinton Cards could be having a turn around outlets will be forced to closed. technical minimalism, taking Dafter WH Smith emerged as a potential saviour Other possibly interested parties in Clinton along a fi rst principles approach to for the collapsing company. with WH Smith may include Clinton’s biggest suppliers smartphone design... we Clinton Cards, which employs more than 8,000 staff, American Greetings, which acquired £35m of the fi rm’s looked at what could be left was forced into administration on Wednesday 9th May. debt from lenders Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland, out as much as what could It was later revealed that Clinton Cards had failed saying it “may ultimately participate in the ownership be put in’ and there certainly to reveal that three weeks prior their key suppliers of the business or may continue as a supplier to any is something left out, as we can refused to provide it with stock. Despite the Financial buyer of the business”. American Greetings had refused see in the sales fi gures. Services Authority riles stating that companies must to back Clinton’s turnaround plan that had been drawn That being said, the design aim of the disclose to the market any information that is deemed up suggesting a company voluntary arrangement, Lumia is to tackle the issue of buttons. price-sensitive, Robin Knight, an administrator at concerned by the fact that the money owed to it by The main fault most people can fi nd in accountant Zolfo Cooper, the restructuring group Clinton would be put in jeopardy. the touch screen is the inability to use the appointed as administrator, said: “No-one from the FSA The collapse of Clinton Cards is the biggest of a phone at high speed. Nokia have made has contacted us as administrators for either Clinton or listed retailer since Woolworths in 2008, in terms of the buttons on their touch screen bigger Birthdays”. the amount of stores, and follows after the collapse of to compensate for this wasted time. Although Clinton chief executive Darcy Willson- fellow retailers Game Group and Peacocks. Perhaps this is Nokia’s way of retaining Rymer and the rest of the Clinton board were laid off the wonderful aspects of their 3310 in the same day the company went into administration, the modern world. Of course it could be the likelihood is that if a rescue of the company is to a play at ignorance so that they can take occur, then it is highly possible that at least half of Nicola Hoban

TIPS TO MAKE EXTRA CASH

Do you have a room full of items you don’t use? In need of extra cash? Or the space? If so then all you need is access to the Inter- net, an eBay account and you are one step closer to that extra dosh. Selling your unwanted junk online is a great way to accumulate some extra cash for your back pocket. Seren have come up with some great tips for getting the most from your listings. š is in- cludes tips on getting your items noticed, what sort of items to list and what things you should pay attention to.

Make sure you take plenty of quality looking pictures. This will save time when lots of people are sending you questions 1. like “what does it look like on the inside” Just take pictures at every angle.

Building from tip #1 :You can save money by using online picture albums instead of adding pictures to the eBay gallery. In order to sell your item, you have to maximise the views 2. Some categories can charge 10-36 pence per picture, and in for your item. This means writing a strong eBay listing by some they are free. 6. combining search engine friendly phrasing with concrete details about the product, in a way that will entice people to bid on Do your research before you list a particular product, spend your product. some time researching similar products on eBay following the Register for PayPal, it’s like an online bank account and eBay bidding process. 3. users love it! You can send and receive money on it easily; it’s 7. fast and effi cient and is the recommended payment method for eBay. Shipping is under the control of the eBay seller, but some methods of shipping are better than others when you’re selling 4. on eBay. Make sure you know how much your item costs to Feedback speaks VOLUMES! Feedback really matters when send as you will be eating into your profi t if you get this wrong. you’re selling on eBay. If you have a consistent record of 8. positive feedback, prospective buyers will both bid more often and be willing to pay higher prices. Know current trends in order to make a profi t. If a celebrity is seen with something you want to sell then it’s a great opportunity to sell that item. I recently sold a cap seen on 5. Be aware of scammers and time wasters! I once tried to sell Rihanna and I sold it for 3 times the amount it was worth. an iPod on eBay and the listing sold to time wasters who had no 9. intention of sending the money for it.

Have fun, and don’t stress out over your listing. Don’t worry that it hasn’t had many bids, as most users bid in the last few 10. minutes. It’s the best feeling ever watching your item rocket up in price.

18 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk May Issue 2012 Societies 20122012 SOCIETYSOCIETY AWARDSAWARDS

Society of the year Community Award GEOG SOC Brass Band Community Award Most Improved Brass Band PhotoSoc International Society of Achievment of the Year the Year Chinese Society Christian Union Faith Society of Campaign of the Year the Year WomSoc Christian Union Event of the Year Charity Award Comedy Society Student Cut Academic Society Films of the Year Best Performace Award STAG SODA Best New Society Environmental Award Chess Club GEOG SOC Best Collaboration Award Beaumaris Medieval Day Out BEDS, Comedy, Cadi Ha, Thomas Stanley Welsh Levy, Circus Skills, SilverSilver AwardsAwards Archery club, St. John's Society Charlie Wild – Geog Soc Robin Gillham – Chess Club Gold Awards Kate Yates - SODA Geog Soc's Chris Bibby Florian Breit – Linguistics Chinese Societies' Yujie Wu Paddy Pritchard – Bangor Comedy Women's Society's and Seren's Jennifer Krase Charlotte Hughes – Medieval Re-Enactment Bangor Comedy's Rory Cooke Lucy Barrett - Japanese Soc & St John Ambulance Society Unity, Amnesty and Seren's Yousef Cisco Elena Neophytou - Nightline Seren's Aaron Wiles Stuart Smith - Linguistics Society May Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 19 Societies

New Society: MOBS! inecraft society (MOBS) is a brand new society The society has huge plans in development, from dedicated to players of the game Minecraft. For planning to recreate Bangor brick by brick and potentially Myou gamer-types it’s really just a limitless sandbox inter-university competitions with Iowa and She£ eld to run around in but for those unfamiliar with gaming it’s university! Having an online based community means essentially LEGO on a in‰ nite scale with monsters (known members can play from anywhere and we can challenge as Mobs!) and explosives. This is all playable in multiplayer any university that also has a club so you are never short or single player environments with no limitations with of creative or survival/quest competitions to take part in. the cherry on top being that there is a ridiculously huge We are also a very social society, regularly meeting up to modding, or personalisation, community. My personal game together or go out. There is no regular meet-up time favourite is the Pokemon mod where you can catch each week, you play when and how you want to, meaning and level them up and I believe someone has already when you log in there is almost always another person built a stunningly accurate Pontio using TNT and water. online to chat to whatever the time of day. To join, you can Depending on what you want to do, you can play for buy the latest version for a fraction of the price of other BANGOR CARNIVAL 2012! diŒ erent reasons; to build amazing structures, to make games or an earlier version for free! We also have our own f after the exams and highly A mixture of local and university technical mechanisms, to ‰ ght other players, to play role dedicated server: mobsoc.co.uk and even our own blog anticipated summer ball, you’re clubs and societies will also be play games, to play adventure maps. The list is endless! http://bangormobs.wordpress.com Ihanging around Bangor for a little participating so you might spot a longer you might be wondering if friend to cheer on! there is anything to get up to. Well After the parade, Beach Road will you’ll be happy to hear that the 3rd be transformed and will be holding annual Bangor CARNIVAL is rolling a Fun Fair, climbing wall, hog Roast, Student Drama Season into town on Saturday 9th June and beer tents, a clairvoyant, and stalls Go to death and go to satire: The importance of staging Earnest, Sherlock Holmes, Dr Faustus and the Pirates of Penzance is expected to be bigger and better selling local crafts and goods, as t’s never easy staging a well Mistaken Identity’ opened the second Dr Faustus in a scene that eŒ ectively than ever. well as other carnival activities. Entry known play that everybody knows half and was an extremely faithful portrayed him descending into a After the protests in Bangor three is completely free, so it is a great Ibackwards and can quote verbatim, visual representation of Conan Doyle’s madness constructed from his own years ago about the lack of pride excuse for a cheap day out. Everyone as I discovered by doing Blackadder words, with the lines from the story lust for power and knowledge. and sense of community in the area, is welcome so feel free to join in the whilst treading the boards in Rostra. resonating heavily through the cast’s BEDS put on a Murder Mystery a group of residents took it upon fun. From January to March, both BEDS speech and actions like an aftershock Evening in and around JP Hall, set at themselves to create this event for The carnival are also after any (Bangor English Drama Society) and for anyone who has read it. ‘Silver the funeral of the deceased leader of everyone to enjoy. The day will start budding photographers for the Rostra performed four productions Blaze’ and ‘The Greek Interpreter’ also a ‰ ctional nation. It is not long into with a parade from 11am starting day. References will be provided. If native to the British Isles (a term formed the programme and were the service before a furore erupts at Sackville Road, all along the high interested/further details can email that includes Ireland) and ‰ rmly performed in full. In the former, BEDS and accusations are — ying left, right street down to Beach Road, involving [email protected] engrained on our British psyche. The put their own slant on the London and centre as to who is responsible a samba band, Pontio’s own sound curtain went up on Irishman Oscar classic when Colonel Ross became for his death. BEDS added an extra cart and a 30ft Chinese dragon. Charlotte Summers Wilde’s ‘The Importance of Being ‘Welsh-i‰ ed’ into Colonel Rhys and was layer to thicken the plot: between Earnest’ and Edinburgh’s Sir Arthur played to perfection by Tud Jones. In the staged action, there were two Conan Doyle’s ‘Sherlock Holmes’. the latter, Daniel Short played baddie interludes of audience interaction. ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ by Victorian Wilson Kemp with a glint of venom Rather than having the information Londoners Gilbert and Sullivan and in his ocular and an evil laugh in his relevant to the play presented to the T¡¢he Big Give is an environmentalB©² help provideG©£¢³ these much needed items ‘The Tragical History of Dr Faustus’ by voice as he taunted his victim. audience through a staged script, the project run by Student for women in African countries. Christopher Marlowe, who “iiiiiiiiiiiis OH! Wasnt that the most viewers went looking for it! During TVolunteering Bangor that What can’t I donate? an Englishman!”- just keeping up these interludes, the characters all encourages students to dispose of • Perishable or unopened food the Gilbert and Sullivan theme - also hilarious misunderstanding?! dispersed, meaning the viewers were unwanted items in an ethical manor • Torn or stained clothing or formed the viewing programme. Both An Evening of the Arts, organised able to ‘eavesdrop’ on seemingly at the end of the academic year. bedding groups managed to put their own by Bex Phillips and Abigail Gregory, private conversations between This is done by arranging collections • Half used toiletries stamp on these classics by adapting saw an abridged and jape-‰ lled them and, in the labyrinth style, from within halls of residence and • Lecture notes (please recycle other locations on campus and then these!) them slightly to their own style. adaptation of Gilbert and Sullivan’s pose questions to them directly. Not donating the items to local charities. Rostra’s warm and jovial production ‘The Pirates of Penzance’. Joshua Pink only did this give the audience the What kind of things can I donate? Where can I donate? of ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ directed and narrated the piece that opportunity to discover the identity • Non-perishable unopened food • All University Halls of Residence set in an 1895 London mansion house displayed a healthy dose of Impsoc’s of the killer by uncovering the secrets • Clothing • Anglican Chaplaincy made the audience feel involved with own brand of spontaneous humour a set script may conceal, it also let • Bedding • Neuadd Willis the action, either indoors with the and was punctuated with jokes ‰ rmly them put BEDS’ method acting to • Household items – dishes, cutlery, • Main Arts Building butler or in the stately gardens with aimed at the kings of plot twists. This the test. Some of the ‘overheard’ kettles, irons, unopened toiletries etc. Collection Dates • Books, DVDs CDs, etc. • 18th May – 26th June Cecily. The classic line “In a handbag”, comic send-up, featuring more parody exchanges were hard-hitting, others • One year, we even got a working Can I help with The Big Give? more recently associated with Dame than you can shake a deliberately atmospheric and mournful, but each X-Box! Of course! Send us an Judy Dench, was delivered eŒ ortlessly awful prop at, was tailor-made for of them convincingly tense. The • Bras! – This year The Big Give is e-mail at thebiggive@ by Josie Whyatt whose ‘cover version’ anyone who has ever rehearsed (or action unfolded around the audience supporting Oxfam’s ‘Bra’s For Africa’ undeb.bangor.ac.uk of the outburst was made truly her suŒ ered) at length any Gilbert and as the drama escalated and more appeal and will own, delivered with more irritation Sullivan. truths were revealed. The Whodunit than surprise. BEDS and Rostra also showed is a classic British favourite, and with Matt Heslop, Sally Higgins and oŒ their darker sides with some this set up BEDS added an extra layer Ambles Hubbard directed the BEDS eerie and sinister dramas. Rostra of curiosity to it. Sherlock Holmes adaptation, ‘221B’, ambitiously staged ‘The Tragical So whether BEDS and Rostra have which included some of Conan History of Dr Faustus’, directed by Ceri taken you to Penzance, nineteenth- Doyle’s stories in full and others in Roberts and Sara Burgess, in which century London or a giant Cleudo? part. An interlude playfully depicted the title character (played by Chris board this semester, they have the substance-abusing London Davies) makes a pact with Lucifer for certainly been working hard. And, as detective highly intoxicated and on twenty-four years of servitude from Gilbert and Sullivan would sing, “it’s the verge of a discovery whilst also Mephistophilis. The directors chose greatly to their credit”. in a state of apparent simultaneous to have each of the seven deadly sins irritation, inspiration and relaxation. personi‰ ed in a character baring that Rosie MacLeod The opening part from ‘A case of sin’s name, who all enjoy torturing 20 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk May Issue 2012 Union

A SABB They’ve led the Union through the ups and downs we’ve faced; the move from the old building, the introduction of £9k fees and the loss of the trading company. It’s fair to say that they’ve faced a lot, but students in Bangor face a stronger future than any other in Wales because of their hard work. One of the strongest course rep systems, an Athletic Union and Societies Department bigger and better than ever, and millions more from the University into students lives. As they head off into the real world, let’s take GOODBYE a look at the great work that they’ve done in their time here... JO CAULFIELD President hen this sabbatical team took charge of your union back in July 2010 we didn’t have an SU building, the government was threatening unlimited tuition fees and 40% cuts to higher education, we had a new Vice WChancellor, a new institutional focus and a pretty uncertain future. So naturally, we set to work. Early last year, we took 250 students to the national demo in London and successfully fought a proposed £75,000 cut to our Union. We got you a nightclub, became a Union with a zero tolerance stance towards any form of discrimination and made Academi a safe space. We fought for a fairer disciplinary system in halls, argued for greater investment in Normal Site, and secured £87,000 in compensation for students living in Bryn Eithin who faced a number of signifi cant problems with their accomodation. We introduced a comprehensive course rep system, ensuring that every single school in this university had elected course reps to get your voice heard in your academic department and we successfully lobbied for library improvements in line with your feedback, securing investment to extend opening hours over the summer and a fi xed book-to-student ratio that will be rolled out next year. We were successful in arguing the case for anonymous marking and from next year it will be the default way of marking assignments across all academic schools. We’re really pleased with that. I have to mention our formidable campaign to free up Wednesday afternoons. We petitioned, we postered the place, we raised the issue in every meeting we had with the University and at the end of a long year, we were successful. Now, 98% of students have Wednesday afternoons free from lectures and when Pontio arrives that fi gure will be 100%. So, if all that wasn’t enough, this was the year the University decided to charge £9,000 fees. Naturally, we were pretty disappointed by this but we took the opportunity to ensure that the fee money of future students was spent in a way that directly benefi ts those students. Thanks to our lobbying, from next year the University is giving us funding to make all of our clubs and societies free at the point of entry. That means no membership fees, free AU Cards, free Societies Cards and free UMCB cards. Alongside this, we campaigned for more investment in volunteering, making it a priority for our union. From next year, we’ll have an additional £100,000 to spend on increasing participation and maximising the number of projects we can organise for you. Finally, on a personal note I’d like to say thanks to all of you who have made the past two years the incredible experience that they’ve been. To everyone who signed our petitions, to anyone who came to a protest, who became a course rep, who voted in our elections, who attended our Varsity games or indeed any AU game or society event to support your students. To anyone who became a Senator or a Trustee, to everyone who took the time to send us feedback, to tell us we were doing well, to tell us where we could do better and to every single one of you who has given your time and your dedication to our incredible Students’ Union. You have made these last two years the most amazing of my life, you have done our student body proud and made me an incredibly, incredibly proud President. Cheers folks.

During my two years as VP Education and Welfare, we’ve made some real progress with loads of initiatives to improve your time at university. Firstly, the Course Rep system has gone from strength to strength. When I took offi ce in 2010, the Students’ Union had around 35 course reps across the University, now we have 300, all trained and working hard to make sure your voice is heard in your academic schools. I organised two Housing Fortnights that were a great success, complete with sessions on house hunting advice that over 600 students attended. I also gathered loads of information from you about your landlords in our housing survey and used this to get the University to make some changes on that front. I also made progress with Bodnant Surgery, after you told us where they could improve and feedback so far suggests this has made a really positive difference. This year, we ran our fi rst ever Student Led Teaching Awards, an initiative designed to give you the chance to nominate any University staff member who made a difference to your student experience. The awards were a resounding success, we received over 300 nominations and held an awards ceremony that 200 staff and students attended. We’ve had loads of really positive feedback and I’m hoping to get an invite to next year’s ceremony...! I’ve also spent a lot of time working closely with students in individual departments to sort out problems. We successfully managed to prevent changes made to third year modules in Biological Science, which made a number of students happy. In addition to all of this, I worked at a national level, starting a petition to the Welsh Government for free chlamydia testing kits in Wales. We made it NUS Wales policy for them to support this campaign and the petition has nearly a thousand signatures at this point. I’m looking forward to seeing where NUS take this campaign and hopefully we’ll get the same treatment as NHS users in England when it comes to STI testing. I’ve really enjoyed my time as a sabb and wish my successor, Shôn Prebble, the best of luck for next year!

“It’s been a busy year for DANIELLE UMCB, a very successful one BUCKLEY & I am very VP Education & Welfare proud to be a part of it all” May Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 21 Union “When I took office there were around 50 active societies. Now, as I finish, there are nearly 100...” was originally elected as VP Societies & Sustainability in 2010, a strange combination, but one that I enjoyed. Sustainability was a new part of the Union, and whilst I enjoyed a good cup of Fairtrade Itea and had a degree in Sustainable Development (Geography with a funkier sounding name), it was quite scary being given a whole new department and being told to ‘build it’. Luckily, NUS were running a scheme called ‘Green Impact Unions’, Bangor had managed to get ‘Bronze’ level in 2009, thanks to myself and a few other hippies hassling the previous Sabb team until they probably wanted to hang us with our organic hoodies. I set out to try and get us up to a Silver, there were over 200 different criteria and tasks, from ensuring all paper used in the Union was recycled paper, to encouraging biodiversity on campus. Several months later, it was a massive shock when Bangor was awarded Gold, named Most Improved Union and awarded The Ecologist Prize! I was re-elected and took on the Community portfolio, albeit giving it a little green focus, from running community planting projects to encouraging students to put their bins out correctly (a massive local gripe) with a focus on recycling. We even managed to win NUS Wales’ Community Engagement Award for our variety of community based campaigns! In what spare time I had, I kept going on the NUS Green Impact programme too, and this year managed to achieve 99% completion – this led to us not only retaining our Gold award, but being named Union of the Year in our category – a massive success, from Bronze to Best in the UK in 2 years – not bad! However, despite all this tree-hugging, Societies have been the real mainstay of my role. When I took offi ce in 2010, there were around 50 active societies. Now, as I fi nish, there are nearly 100 active student societies at Bangor. I wanted to make it easier for students to start societies, get rid of some of the pointless bureaucracy that surrounded them (who wants to have to write a 4 page constitution just to get a Chess Club going?) – I’d like to think I’ve succeeded. I wanted to give each individual society the attention and support they needed, some societies are huge, others are small, some are well known, others fairly niche. The truly unique thing about the Societies department is how diverse we are, each society is completely different from the next, and that is what makes us so successful – we’re able to represent as many interests and hobbies as our students have. It’s been an absolute honour to be a Sabb for these last 2 years, I’ve met so many great people at RICH GORMAN Bangor who have inspired me. VP Societies & Community So thank you for the opportunity, and remember, keep on recycling!

hat a year it has been! So much has happened, so much has been achieved, amazing! Over the two years we have seen an increase of 35% in the number of students participating Win sport for performance, including activities in Healthy Living Week, BUCS, intramural sport, varsity and club activities. Over both years we have worked together within the AU to produce a good Healthy Living Week, with a healthy living fairs, activities to try, free fruit and lunchtime walks to name a few of the events. This year has seen AU Nights become a huge part of students’ nights out. With the move back to Academi, the AU has been able to raise valuable funds. Varsity; both years were different to me with being away and home but this year’s was magical I will never forget the passion of our students, it was incredible and we WON! “Right now, we are 60th in the BUCS league table, up 8 from last year”

This year we have been very successful, right now we are 60th in the BUCS league table up 8 from last year, an amazing performance by many teams this year! Intramural events have continued with an increase in participation and the increase of intramural leagues with the addition of a Halls League. To say that it has been a good year cannot be complete without mentioning the huge amount of money that AU clubs have raised for charities including British Heart Foundation, Breast Cancer Care, Prostate Cancer, Hope Hospice and Mountain rescue. It shows that even when clubs are in need of money themselves they still fi nd time to help support others. I can’t forget to mention the highlight of my time as AU President: the AU dinners have been amazing, to celebrate the year with all your friends in a great room, with great food and entertainment, is what I leave behind - I hope I get an invite next year. These past two years have been amazing and we have achieved so much I couldn’t have asked for a better sabb team or students to work with. I wish Emyr all the best and can’t wait for Old Boys! DANIELLE GILES VP Sport & Healthy Living

t’s been a busy year for UMCB, a very successful one, and I am very proud to be a part of it all. In terms of events, Clwb Cymru has been held every other Thursday in Academi, it has been a great night Igiving Welsh students the chance to celebrate Welsh culture and to make some money for UMCB and our societies. A very successful event for us was the UMCB Rugby trip to Dublin in February, where 150 of our “It’s been a members went to Dublin for the Six Nations match and we were all celebrating a victory for Wales after a very exciting game. The biggest event of the year for UMCB was the Eisteddofd Ryng-golegol (inter-collegiate busy year for Eisteddfod) that was held in Bangor in PJ Hall back in February. This is one of the main events on the social and cultural calendar of any Welsh student. The weekend included a Sport Gala with rugby, football and seven a side netball championship, the Eisteddfod itself with stage competitions: everything from singing, dancing UMCB, a very and acting competitions, and also a magnifi cent gig to follow the Eisteddfod with a performances by a number of Welsh bands. The Eisteddfod was a great success. Bangor came out on top achieving an overall successful one 843 marks, with Aberystwyth University in second place with 482 marks, and the Welsh gig was a sell out! The atmosphere was electrifying and everyone enjoyed themselves. & I am very This year a lot of my time has been given to the development of Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. A very signifi cant development of critical importance to Welsh medium Higher Education, its main aim is to proud to be a increase, develop and broaden the range of Welsh medium study opportunities at universities in Wales. We managed to secure students reps on the College’s Board of Directors and Academic Board - I held a workshop for student members of the Coleg to discuss what they wanted from it and how they wanted their part of it all” representation to work. I’ve enjoyed my 2 years in offi ce, I’ve learnt so much and have made great friends, I’ll be sad to fi nish but I know the next UMCB President, Mared Jones, will do a great job. MAIR ROWLANDS UMCB President 22 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk May Issue 2012 Want your work in the Creative Corner? Creative Corner Email: [email protected]

Drawings By Emily Taylor

š e CampŽ re Goes Out Photographs by Aaron Wiles

A sudden chill wind

steals a Promethean ¬ ame.

Embers cool and fade.

Fade To White

A star blinks awake

and we crumble like dried leaves whilst insects look on.

- Dhan Panesar

‘Found Poetry’ By Jonathon Howard May Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 23 Creative Corner DAMIEN HIRST: A LIFE IN ART Interview with Allan Redfern With the success of the newly opened Damien Hirst exhibition in London, we look at the life of Britain’s most famous living artist. former university lecturer, Allan Redfern is now one of Anglesey’s top artists. His work has been dis- playedA in galleries throughout Wales and beyond, with solo exhibitions at Oriel Ynys Mon and Beaumaris. In 2008 he won the People’s Choice Prize at the bi- annual exhibition of the Anglesey Art Group, and has since become the chair- man of the club. What materials do you most like to use when painting? I particularly enjoy using oil and acrylic in my work, and have also used water- irst was born in Bristol in which entailed the preserving of a de- colour in the past. 1965, before spending his ceased Tiger Shark. youth in Leeds. Having origi- Issues of life, death, beauty, and sci- Do you ever use materials other than paint? Hnally been refused entry to the Jacob ence have continued to be explored in I enjoy using pencils, both normal and coloured, particularly for quick Kramer School of Art, he was en- his artwork up to the present day. His sketches. I’ve also used indian ink, and charcoal amongst other things, and rolled on their foundation diploma ‘For the Love of God’ piece is a plati- like to experiment with di“ erent materials. course, before later beginning a job in num skull set with 8,601 individual construction. diamonds. His reasoning behind the During his teenage years, Hirst be- piece is ‘you don’t like it [death], so you gan to explore the concept of death, disguise it’, making it beautiful. which would later become a key theme in his art. He made regular visits to the anatomy department of Leeds Medi- cal School, making life drawings of the bodies he found in an attempt to un- derstand human mortality. In 1986 he began a BA in Fine Art at Goldsmiths College, where his un- derstanding of the distinction between painting and sculpting developed. It was here he began his series ‘Medicine Cabinets’, using the packaging of his grandmother’s medication in his work. He would later state that the exhibition explores ‘how science is the new reli- What draws you to painting landscapes? gion for many people’. I like the romance and beauty of the Anglesey landscape, and am fascinat- He then began his series of ‘Spot ed by the relationships between the natural and man-made aspects of the Paintings’, of which there are over 1000 environment. I also like the e“ ects di“ erent lights can have on a landscape, in existence.  e concept was ‘pin- from natural light, to man-made, such as on the Menai straits, and the ning down the joy of colour’, and all shipping area of Holyhead. evidence of human intervention was For the Love of God Damien Hirst removed, leaving just circles of painted Which artists do you most admire? colour on a blank page, as if created by Hirst is reputed to be the world’s I’ve always appreciated the work of Hockney, Lowri, Lucien Freud, and machine. richest living artist, with an estimated Turner, however, my biggest in¬ uence was probably Peter Prendergast, a Work began on Hirst’s ‘Natural His- wealth of £215 million according to Welsh Landscape painter, who was a tutor to me at the Liverpool School of tory’ collection in 1991, and it has the Sunday Times Annual Rich List. Art, where I studied for my degree. since become his most iconic series. He has three sons, and spends most Animals were preserved in clear tanks of his time in a remote farmhouse in € lled with formaldehyde solution, cre- Devon. ating a ‘zoo of dead animals’.  ese in- cluded ‘ e Physical Impossibility of Tom Haynes Death in the Mind of Someone Living’, What's on at Bangor Art Gallery? ARTIST Andrew Smith is exhibit- DESIGNER Ann Catrin Evans is ing his new collection of paintings showcasing her metalwork in the in Bangor Art Gallery. gallery. What are you currently working on?  e collection, ‘Edge Of Colour’, Evans sculpts metal into shapes, I’m continuing with my work on landscapes, particularly focusing on the will remain open to the public until ranging from palm sized to archi- port of Holyhead. Most of the drawings I’ve done so far of that area have June 21st. Smith focuses on clashing tectural. Her pieces include neck- been set in daylight, however I’m aiming to do more night time scenes. I’ve vivid colours in his paintings, using laces, plates, vases, and animals. It also been painting the Menai Bridge, Newborough Beach, and the local oil and gouache on canvas as his pri- is created using hot forged steel with mountains. mary medium. braised detail.  e artist, based in Harlech, said  e designer holds a degree in 3d As an artist, what are your plans for the future? of the exhibition ‘ e process of Design, and has won various awards. To carry on painting, and continue to € nd new ways of creating things – I making has, over time, led to colour Her work has been displayed both in want to use new materials, and not get too complacent in what I do. being the only real direction for my the UK and abroad. painting. It o en feels that the work Finally, what advice would you give to aspiring artists? has developed on its own accord into To relax in your work, enjoy what you do, seek advice from people you an area of self-manifestation. Colour respect, and to have faith in yourself and your work. has its own meaning.’ Tom Haynes 24 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk May Issue 2012 May Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 25

Summer Ball Ticket Winners! The answer to the question asked in the last issue was of course Travie McCoy! We had a lot of entries but unfortunately only two could win. The lucky winners were picked at random and you can see who to be jealous of below!

Devaney Werrin Hanna Hughes 24 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk May Issue 2012 May Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 25

Summer Ball Ticket Winners! The answer to the question asked in the last issue was of course Travie McCoy! We had a lot of entries but unfortunately only two could win. The lucky winners were picked at random and you can see who to be jealous of below!

Devaney Werrin Hanna Hughes 26 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk May Issue 2012

Cheryl Cole vs Rihanna: Battle of the bad-ass pop pants Forget the battle for number one, Rihanna and Cheryl Cole go head-to-head in their latest videos to see who can claim the Worst Trouser award. Full disclosure: I’m obsessed with Rihanna. As the rightful heir to Beyoncé’s throne at the palace of pop (though be warned, she’s only on maternity leave) I’ve been religiously cooing over her every video, tweet, holiday snap and red carpet appearance. But I have to admit, her latest video for single ‘Where Have You Been’, which was released recently, has me a little concerned. The opening dance sequence sees Rihanna in tribal mode dressed for the Serengeti/Sahara in a rather snazzy Roberto Cavalli zebra-print swimsuit, feathered headress and - dun dun daaaa - HAREEM PANTS! Okay, she’s ‘in character’ here with a hunky bunch of war-painted tribesmen dancing around her, we get the reference. Meanwhile, in the Los Angeles dry riverbed, which shot to fame as Thunder Road in Grease, Cheryl Cole was busy slipping into a similarly roomy pair of multi-coloured drop-crotch trousers for her latest video venture for single Call My Name. From what we can tell, Cole - who also has a hunky bunch of bruisers boogying around her - is not in character, unless dressing as a Geordie on a night out counts (and since she’s a Geordie and it’s nighttime, we’re assuming it doesn’t). This can only mean one thing…harem pants are making yet another bid for fashion stardom. THIS CANNOT HAPPEN! Popstars like Rihanna and Cheryl need to accept that with great power, comes great responsibility. It’s not, therefore, okay to dally with such dangerous trends as these without understanding the effect this could have on ladies at large. For their part, ‘civilians’ need to understand that just because Rihanna and Cheryl are wearing them, it is not okay. Okay? FYI Rihanna still looks better <3

Rihanna & Armani Jeans Capsule Collection ‘12 Love her or not, any pop-culture print lining that is revealed when you junkie has to admit that Rihanna’s roll up the cuffs of the shorts. rise to fame has been totally The Emporio Armani Underwear enrapturing. First, she was pieces take a different turn a Barbadian starlet with with the emphasis on a pretty face, then she comfortable, feminine turned into a “Rude basic underwear which Boy” sex goddess. But feature a “Rihanna when RiRi showed up for Emporio Armani” Style Culture in “We Found Love,” inscription across the Founded by Stephane Raynor in 1977, the story of BOY is a true one off, in rocking some truly in-the- elastic. Having that that the wildest rumours and legends that surround it couldn’t hope know brands like Henry modelled for to compete with the reality. Beloved by the underground, but frequently Holland, it was clear: the girl Armani Jeams and courted by an overground hungry for a piece of BOY’s trademark attitude, is now a fashion force to be Emporio Armani it remains the label that everyone wants in on. reckoned with. Underwear, the This week take two of r e l a t i o n s h i p From Warhol, to Madonna, Punks through to New Romantics, club kids to Rihanna‘s collaboration with between Giorgio fashionistas, all have worn BOY. Adopted as the uniform of choice for every Armani Jeans and Emporio Armani and the youth movement that has mattered, the brand has outlived them all, with Armani Underwear has Grammy award the unmistakeable spirit that underpins all things BOY remaining the same dropped with the addition of winning singer today as when it was fi rst formed… denim overalls, is one of mutual jeans, shorts, admiration. In the here and now, you can see stars such as Rihanna, Nicky Minaj and cotton basics “Rihanna is a Jessie J sporting Boy London clothing and accessories, making the products and a leather great artist. highly thought after and, once again, the coolest brand around. You can j a c k e t , She has buy Boy London clothing from their online retail store Leavetheboyalone. r e c a l l i n g personality, co.uk or selected retail stores the spunky c h a r i s m a t o m b o y and energy, and has been a s t y l e pleasure to work with,” says that she Armani. “She captures the Colour me good. donned in young and contemporary videos for essence of Emporio Armani It’s A Kate Moss Colouring Book both “We Underwear and Armani Jeans Found Love” and perfectly.” The iconic model — with a colourful history “Hard,” . “I have always really admired Giorgio — gets all washed out in the Colour Me The Armani Jeans Armani and his elegant work; I never Good Kate Moss Coloring Book. Just as it pieces feature a classic vintage dreamed I’d be able to collaborate sounds, the stunner takes center stage in American denim feel running with him to design unique, modern this 14-page book in outlined illustrations, throughout the collection of three and fun clothing,” Rihanna says of the ready to be brought to life with a little help denim pieces, four t-shirts, a leather Italian fashion designer. from Crayola. jacket and a canvas bag. Seren thinks this small collection is Designed with a boyish feel full of attitude, and defi nitely Excuse us for being tardy for the party — in mind, the collection aims youthful, the Rihanna Navy we’ll admit the Kate Moss-inspired pastime to bring out the coltish will certainly be pleased. Don’t think of it as child’s play (warning: glamour in work wear, not all the pictures are PG-rated), think of with hidden surprises Kaden Wild it as a way to spark a little creativity, think in each design. For outside the box, and draw outside the lines...at least, that’s what we’ll tell example the denim our friends when they catch us scribbling away. high-waisted shorts feature a tartan Colour Me Good Kate Moss Coloring Book, £9.69, available at Shopbop. com 26 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk May Issue 2012 May Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 27

Cheryl Cole vs Rihanna: Battle of the bad-ass pop pants Forget the battle for number one, Rihanna and Cheryl Cole go head-to-head in their latest videos to see who can claim the Worst Trouser award. Full disclosure: I’m obsessed with Rihanna. As the rightful heir to Beyoncé’s throne at the palace of pop (though be warned, she’s only on maternity leave) I’ve been religiously cooing over her every video, tweet, holiday snap and red carpet appearance. But I have to admit, her latest video for single ‘Where Have You Been’, which was released recently, has me a little concerned. The opening dance sequence sees Rihanna in tribal mode dressed for the Serengeti/Sahara in a rather snazzy Roberto Cavalli zebra-print swimsuit, feathered headress and - dun dun daaaa - HAREEM PANTS! Okay, she’s ‘in character’ here with a hunky bunch of war-painted tribesmen dancing around her, we get the reference. Meanwhile, in the Los Angeles dry riverbed, which shot to fame as Thunder Road in Grease, Cheryl Cole was busy slipping into a similarly roomy pair of multi-coloured drop-crotch trousers for her latest video venture for single Call My Name. From what we can tell, Cole - who also has a hunky bunch of bruisers boogying around her - is not in character, unless dressing as a Geordie on a night out counts (and since she’s a Geordie and it’s nighttime, we’re assuming it doesn’t). This can only mean one thing…harem pants are making yet another bid for fashion stardom. THIS CANNOT HAPPEN! Popstars like Rihanna and Cheryl need to accept that with great power, comes great responsibility. It’s not, therefore, okay to dally with such dangerous trends as these without understanding the effect this could have on ladies at large. For their part, ‘civilians’ need to understand that just because Rihanna and Cheryl are wearing them, it is not okay. Okay? FYI Rihanna still looks better <3

Rihanna & Armani Jeans Capsule Collection ‘12 Love her or not, any pop-culture print lining that is revealed when you junkie has to admit that Rihanna’s roll up the cuffs of the shorts. rise to fame has been totally The Emporio Armani Underwear enrapturing. First, she was pieces take a different turn a Barbadian starlet with with the emphasis on a pretty face, then she comfortable, feminine turned into a “Rude basic underwear which Boy” sex goddess. But feature a “Rihanna when RiRi showed up for Emporio Armani” Style Culture in “We Found Love,” inscription across the Founded by Stephane Raynor in 1977, the story of BOY is a true one off, in rocking some truly in-the- elastic. Having that that the wildest rumours and legends that surround it couldn’t hope know brands like Henry modelled for to compete with the reality. Beloved by the underground, but frequently Holland, it was clear: the girl Armani Jeams and courted by an overground hungry for a piece of BOY’s trademark attitude, is now a fashion force to be Emporio Armani it remains the label that everyone wants in on. reckoned with. Underwear, the This week take two of r e l a t i o n s h i p From Warhol, to Madonna, Punks through to New Romantics, club kids to Rihanna‘s collaboration with between Giorgio fashionistas, all have worn BOY. Adopted as the uniform of choice for every Armani Jeans and Emporio Armani and the youth movement that has mattered, the brand has outlived them all, with Armani Underwear has Grammy award the unmistakeable spirit that underpins all things BOY remaining the same dropped with the addition of winning singer today as when it was fi rst formed… denim overalls, is one of mutual jeans, shorts, admiration. In the here and now, you can see stars such as Rihanna, Nicky Minaj and cotton basics “Rihanna is a Jessie J sporting Boy London clothing and accessories, making the products and a leather great artist. highly thought after and, once again, the coolest brand around. You can j a c k e t , She has buy Boy London clothing from their online retail store Leavetheboyalone. r e c a l l i n g personality, co.uk or selected retail stores the spunky c h a r i s m a t o m b o y and energy, and has been a s t y l e pleasure to work with,” says that she Armani. “She captures the Colour me good. donned in young and contemporary videos for essence of Emporio Armani It’s A Kate Moss Colouring Book both “We Underwear and Armani Jeans Found Love” and perfectly.” The iconic model — with a colourful history “Hard,” . “I have always really admired Giorgio — gets all washed out in the Colour Me The Armani Jeans Armani and his elegant work; I never Good Kate Moss Coloring Book. Just as it pieces feature a classic vintage dreamed I’d be able to collaborate sounds, the stunner takes center stage in American denim feel running with him to design unique, modern this 14-page book in outlined illustrations, throughout the collection of three and fun clothing,” Rihanna says of the ready to be brought to life with a little help denim pieces, four t-shirts, a leather Italian fashion designer. from Crayola. jacket and a canvas bag. Seren thinks this small collection is Designed with a boyish feel full of attitude, and defi nitely Excuse us for being tardy for the party — in mind, the collection aims youthful, the Rihanna Navy we’ll admit the Kate Moss-inspired pastime to bring out the coltish will certainly be pleased. Don’t think of it as child’s play (warning: glamour in work wear, not all the pictures are PG-rated), think of with hidden surprises Kaden Wild it as a way to spark a little creativity, think in each design. For outside the box, and draw outside the lines...at least, that’s what we’ll tell example the denim our friends when they catch us scribbling away. high-waisted shorts feature a tartan Colour Me Good Kate Moss Coloring Book, £9.69, available at Shopbop. com 28 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk May Issue 2012 Health & Beauty Summer Ball Hair Inspiration It’s only a week to go until the summer ball and with all those exams and essays you probably haven’t had time to even think about what you’re going to wear, Feeling Blue? let alone how to style your hair! Fear not because the Seren Beauty team are here to help! Get inspired from With summer just around the corner, we’re dreaming of blue our collection of looks! skies and crystal clear oceans. Sadly, our student budgets Getting Reese Witherspoon’s top knot is might not stretch to a week in the Seychelles so we’ll have to much easier than you think! The key to bring that summer feeling to our make up routines instead. getting this look right is by investing in a Luckily for us, brilliant blues are bang on trend this bun ring. summer season and, even better 2true, have got everything we need for every imaginable occasion! 1) Gather your hair into a ponytail and put it as high as possible. Fresh Breath Lip Gloss 2) Put the bun ring over the ponytail and For minty fresh lips, smack on a backcomb the section of hair from the ponytail coat of this delicious lip gloss! with a bristle brush. Eyeshadow Dazzler 3) With the backcombed hair, place it all around in Shade 6 the bun ring and then place a hair elastic over Coat your lids in this bold the top of the ring to keep the hair in place. blue for a statement 4) Lastly, pin any colour pop look! remains of the hair into the bun with grips. Glossywear Nail Polish in Shade 15 Keep it simple like Emma Stone by opting Try this season’s biggest for a relaxed up-do. trend on your nails too! 1) Pull hair back into a loose ponytail and twist it upwards. Eyeliner Dazzler in Shade 6 2) Secure it randomly with pins and let the ends Use this for a sexy sparkle to ALL hang down. make your eyes pop! PRODUCTS 3) Finish the look with a statement hair accessory. ONLY £1.99!

This is the ultimate product to achieve effortless beach waves. Why not try vintage style waves like Spritz the lightweight mist enriched Jessica Alba? with seaweed extract, vitamins and minerals into towel 1) Start by curling your hair with a hair wand or dried hair and dry with tongs, wrapping large sections of the hair. your fi ngertips. Blake Lively eat 2) Once all the hair is curled, use a bristle brush to your heart out! gently brush out the curls into a glamorous wave. TommyGuns Finish this style by sweeping all the hair to the 3) Clever Curls and Waves side and spray with hairspray for long lasting hold Texture Spray and a sleek smooth fi nish. £6.50

Perfect Guy-Brows Waxing Trimming Tweezing Not as painful as you may Good for those sporadic Great for You might not want to expect! There are home kits longer hairs on their brow. in-be- admit it, but the fact available, but we’d suggest All that is needed is a small tween of the getting yourself to a pair of sharp scissors and a waxes. matter is that most professional salon before steady hand! Simply comb Make sure guys need some sort trying it yourself. After you’ve the brow and trim in the you’ve got a good pair of of eyebrow been waxed a few times, the direction of hair growth. tweezers and, starting from maintenance. eyebrows will grow back Don’t get carried away the underside of the brow, Caterpillar eyebrows signifi cantly less quickly and though, you need some hair move to the outer side, are simply much fi ner. It’s also great for left! working in the direction of unacceptable, and a well groomed set of brows can getting a good initial shape, hair growth and removing really frame your face. With the summer ball coming that you can then keep tidy one hair at a time. Be careful up, now is the perfect time to start getting those brows with tweezers. not to tweeze too often, you into shape! Whether you opt for waxing or plucking, could create a kind of Seren is here to guide you through this (relatively male-pattern baldness in pain free!) process... your eyebrows. May Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 29 Ashleigh Answers Here we are, the fi nal issue of Seren for this year, sad times indeed. To celebrate the end of your hard work and the end of an era for some of those graduating from Bangor, why not head to the Bangor Uni Summer Ball on the 26th May. The amazing folk at Mikes Bites and UNO are staying open for when us drunken students roll out of the Ball at 4am, what more could you need on a night out? It’s been emotional and I hope everyone has benefi tted in some way from my advice giving. Until next year… Ashleigh xx Home vs. Halls If you are graduating this year then this is one decision you don’t have to face. I personally don’t have to makes me the most boring student ever! make that decision either as living off Lidl cheesy beans, pasta bake and 29p Tesco teabags (that’s 29p for This year being in my second year, I lived in Neuadd Willis as I wasn’t ready to go back home yet or back to 80 teabags FYI) all became too much. However, I did enjoy the occasional Morrison’s Salad Bar as a Thursday reality, and so another year of 4OD, Demand 5 and BBCiPlayer took place. I feel now that I have experienced treat. all I have to of university student living so am going to move back home and drive next year. I will have less If you live in the Glasgow or London areas then yes, I would probably advise you to choose halls because money to spend on utility bills and more money to spend on the luxury Asda ‘Extra Special’ range instead of 3am daily commutes on the train may make you slightly insane. frozen microwavable burgers with about 3% meat in. Personal experiences are always good for the nosey folk amongst us so here’s a glimpse into my decision. I I don’t regret living in student accommodation as it gave me independence and an experience that neither only lived about 45 minutes away from university and thought the train commute would drive me mad so opted my mum nor I ever thought I’d ever get, as she did my washing until I was 19. I made amazing friends and could for halls. I have never been a ‘sick-on-my-own-feet-at-4am’ kind of gal but wanted to experience university halls rival Jamie Oliver with how good my Tuna Pasta Bake is, seeing as how I’ve had 2 years to perfect it. and meet new people. I loved the fact that I only had to wake up 30 minutes before my lecture for the 5 minute However, realizing my new independence since being back home, my mum refuses to do my washing or let stroll and that if I wanted a Pot Noodle sandwich then I could have one whenever I liked. Many of my nights me sleep in till 1pm so maybe student accommodation didn’t seem so bad after all. were spent in my fl at mates rooms watching The Inbetweeners and Family Guy so university in fi rst year to me was To help aid that decision some of you may be making this summer, here are some things to consider on living heaven. I think I went out drinking about 3 times in the entire year in my fi rst year in university halls, which I believe in student accommodation and living at home; Home Halls • May be able to get a free clothes washing service (courtesy of the parents) • Meet new people and experience living independently • Home-cooked food (sometimes including the glory that is a Sunday Roast) • Live on Lidl pizza (not Dominoes unless its ‘student loan’ day), 39p beans and 19p lemonade • No Rizzle Kicks blasting through your walls at 2am on a Wednesday • Flat mates Jagerbombe’d off their heads stomping in at 5am • No mouldy kitchen covered in dirty plates with leftover cheesy beans on toast • Break away from nagging parents • Still get to see your family and friends from home often • Learning to manage your money (hopefully not in Varsity on £1-a-pint night) • Feel more secure or supported if don’t feel confi dent enough to live away from home yet (you can • Experiencing more things with your chosen schools on society nights out instead of missing out through always move to university in second year if you change your mind) travelling

Graduating? Do not fear... Surviving: Festivals and Camping By the heading of this section those who are lucky No one will forget their time in university whether enough not to have fi nished university yet may not be you commuted or stayed in Bangor and the traits I would have hoped to begin this sentence with ‘as its approaching summer time’, but due to the interested in this area, but believe me it will go so fast learnt in many aspects will be carried with you until UK weather being well, UK, I shall begin by saying screw the weather, we love camping and festivals and in no time you will be in your gown getting your your free bus pass arrives in the post when your 65 anyway. scroll photo done in Main Arts, so read on. years old. My experience of festivals is Wakestock in Abersoch and V Festival in Hylands Park. Both were Whether you’re petrifi ed or excited at the pros- Enjoy your summer because you deserve it, and if equally amazing as they were dirty. It’s a tough world out there in the land of mud, port-a-loos and £10 pect of leaving university, it’s completely normal, as you’ve already secured yourself a job for when you festival burgers. I have been going camping since I was about 3 with my family and love it every time. everyone feels different and copes in different ways. fi nish university then high fi ve to you because as we Going camping is cheap and some places do as little as £6 per night for a tent stay. I’d say it Finishing university is a drastic change in someone’s all know us brainbox uni go-ers have had it tough in beats going abroad any day and where better to go camping than the beautiful Welsh countryside. life, as you’re suddenly going from freedom like never recent years with regards to the ‘job after gradua- Eating beans and sausages out of a tin on a disposable barbecue and spending 2 hours blowing before on to rules, deadlines, 9 to 5 and BEING AN tion’ malarkey. up an air-bed are the best bits. ADULT. No one will be more proud of you than your family There is one thing that gives encouragement and friends who see you in your gown with your scroll Whether your just camping or hitting the festivals, here are some essentials; about becoming a proper working adult though, and on graduation day and that will come around faster that’s a nice big fat salary. Your ‘hard’ work in univer- than you believe. • Baby wipes (best creation ever – can use them as face wipes, deodorant wipes, sity will have paid off and you will begin the task of The university has a fantastic careers centre that cleaning wipes and toilet wipes) That’s a lot of ‘wipes’ in one sentence moving into the big wide world of work. run career workshops which can help you decide With your fi ngers numb and cramped from writing which path you wish to take or discuss options you • Chewable toothbrush, as well as your normal toothbrush and toothpaste, for on-the-go the joy that is a dissertation, perhaps the largest thing may not have thought about before. They can give freshness you’re ever going to type in your existence, you de- you interview skills, CV writing help, taster days, as- serve to feel happy and relaxed. And even though sessment centre practice and much more. You can • Tins of beans, spaghetti, sausages with the ring pull openings you’re heading into work you will still be learning new give them a call on 01248 382071 or drop them things so the fun doesn’t end at university. an e-mail at [email protected] where they can • Matches unless you want to do a bear Grylls and use 2 sticks to make a fi re Your fear isn’t so much about the graduating, but answer any questions you have or arrange to meet more about what you’re supposed to do when you up to discuss your options. You can always meet with • Hand sanitizer fi nish, or what you ‘perceive’ you should be doing. your personal tutor, as that’s what they are there for. There is no set path for graduates to follow and • Dry shampoo (for the chicks primarily) one of the reasons that university is so diverse is that everyone can choose a different route regardless • Wellies – a campers best friend of whether you’re on the same course or completely different course. There is no set job for students with a • The rowdiness will have to be kept at a reasonable level so not to disturb the oldies specifi c degree and it is up to you to decide what enjoying a weekend in their caravans – but alcohol and drinking games are great around you want to do, after all you must have picked your a little camp fi re specifi c degree for a reason, so enjoy the options in front of you. 30 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk May Issue 2012 Music Featured Artist: Music Editor, Joey McNally, brings you what’s hot and what’s not in music this month Best tracks: ‘Not Ninteen Forever’ ‘If It Wasn’t For Me’ ‘You Overdid it Doll’

Spector- Celestine The Saturdays- 30 Days here’s an awful lot that can be said about these Mancunian wideboys, but mostly it should be said that you need them in your life. Originally billed It’s happening, they’re starting T Is it just me, or is anyone else as the ‘second biggest band in Manchester’ (after some band called their takeover. More catchy than very bored of The Saturdays now? Oasis, whoever they are), their second, more experimental album the Vaccines, and certainly more Sub-par compared to their usual ‘Falcon’ saw them become big, then slip o the radar slightly. Rest interesting, this band are going to assured that when they return you’ll know about it, and if their be HUGE. third album matches the witty, euphoric brilliance of their € rst two, The Wanted- Chasing they’ll be on to a winner. Great songs, great attiude and a great Jack White- Sixteen the Sun band. If you haven’t heard them yet, what are you waiting for?! Saltines This song is quite shamelessly I honestly don’t think there’s a aimed at the ‘summer anthem’ cooler person on the planet right market. Dreary and predictable. now than Jack White. Apart from penguins, I’d imagine they’re pretty cool. Justin Bieber- Boy- Classic Album: Blood Red Shoes- Lost friend Kids How this child hasn’t been found guilty of crimes against humanity There should be more bands yet is beyond me. Sum 41- Does This Look Infected? like Blood Red Shoes. The fact that there’s not is depressing. Another great effort from them. credit this as the album that got me into rock music. Marking their fi rst album Best tracks: Isince becoming worldwide superstars ‘Still Waiting’ with ‘All Killer No Filler’, this album ditched ‘The Hell Song’ the pop-punk sensibilities and turned the volume up a bit. Unfortunately for the ‘Mr Amsterdam’ Canadians, this album didn’t go down as well, which is a shame considering it’s For fans of: stuffed full of great songs, buzzsaw guitar riffs, and even the odd comedy moment. Blink 182 Their defi nitive album, and criminally Green Day underrated. In defence of Morrissey... ivisive though he is, Stephen Patrick rissey, his comments were justi‰ ed, simply be- Morrissey is one of the greatest music cause he values animal life so highly. Dartists ever to have walked the earth. It’s true that Morrissey supposedly made His angst-‰ lled lyrics, his crooning soft voice, some rather unfortunate comments about im- and above all THAT quiŒ mark him out as one migration, but he claimed these were down of the de‰ ning artists of the indie movement, to a misrepresentation by NME, and the court and set oŒ a frantic arms race of bands to see case for libel is due to get underway this year. who could most eŒ ectively ape his The outcome will be of interest to ou’ve all got a good bit of sum- Named a er Derwin’s Grandmother, re¬ ect his fragile relationships: the ones dazzlingly witty words. us all. I have faith that Morrissey mer-lovin’ a’comin’ a er these Lucky Shiner is not so much the weird he’s f**ked up and the musical ones that There’s a lot of criticism was misrepresented though, grotty exams, so it’s time you’re instrumental dance record it sets out were unful€ lling but red-blooded. aimed at Morrissey, most nota- as his work with Love Music allY exposed to Gold Panda. to be, but more one of the melancholic You are, then, free to build your own bly that he — irts with national- Hate Racism in the past Although one of my Chelmsford voices of his family and friends. ‘Parents’ stories around his titles, and they change ism and bigotry, or is indeed an has proven that he’s no brethren, the county of Essex in- every time you slam that CD in the actual racist. Firstly I can assure bigot, famously stat- spired Gold Panda (Derwin Sch- Walkman. you that if I believed for one ing himself that “if the lecker) only in so far as it pis*ed the  e redolent colour coupled second Morrissey was a racist, National Front were to fella o“ . A need to avoid its depress- with the nostalgic energy of ‘India I’d never listen to him again hate anyone, it would ing guitar bands urged him to start now’ and ‘Same dream China’ drag (I’d also have to be me”. sampling, and also to muck around the old ears through the buzzing throw away my But if we forget all with electronic beats made in any hues and unspoken utterances of Smiths t-shirt). the mudslinging and way possible. the streets you dream of and it’s Morrissey is not out-of-context quotes,  e lad started out by mak- welcome respite from the drooping a racist. When the music remains. The ing beats on a GameBoy and loop grey that covers poor Bangor. he described Smiths’ back catalogue pedal, chucking out some shi**y I assure you that once you’ve the Chinese as is embarrassingly rich, experimental clap-trap under the cracked this bad-boy out, there’s a “sub-species”, and Morrissey’s own name of Kiss Akabusi, albeit only no going back. You’ll be jabbing ex- he was talk- solo eŒ orts more than for a laugh. He had, though, unwit- pectantly at a cash machine when ing about their set the bar for lead tingly taken his € rst tentative steps a sudden stab of setting-sun will animal rights singers thinking of towards the ambient, looping tech- catch you unawares, and you’ll slip record, not their breaking away from no of Gold Panda. and fumble back into Gold Panda’s ethnicity. For if their group. Simply put, Luck Shiner (Derwin’s € rst al- half built but dream-like construc- there’s one thing Morrissey is, it’s a fanatic. He the man’s a genius. I defy anyone to sit down bum) is quickly pleasing: it wa s tions, and you won’t want to leave is fanatical about animal rights to the point and listen to ‘Panic’, ‘Still Ill’ or ‘Irish Blood, you into an ethereal landscape of till you’ve put every dream to bed. where he’s walked oŒ stage after smelling English Heart’ and tell me you’re not dealing cassette tapes, tiger t-shirts and tin toys. consists of nothing but a tickled guitar Trust (bruv). meat at festivals. His controversial comments with an absolute titan of the music scene. And  e cigarette crackle of dusty equip- and samples of Derwin pottering around  ere’s naught ¬ accid and impotent about the shootings in Norway, that they despite all his detractors, that’s what it boils ment, the yawning, moaning € zz of wires in the garden with his Grandma. about this Panda. His album of tangy were “nothing compared to what happens down to, the music. As Morrissey himself put it and circuitry, and the reliable, spliced,  ere’s only so much emotion you instrumentals and rhythmic bangers will in McDonald’s and Kentucky Fried Sh*t every in the song ‘All You Need is Me’: “You don’t like stutter of keyboards whips up a boiling can a“ ord a piece of lyricless music, but fondle, canoodle then ravage your ear- day” are based around a value system which me but you love me, either way you’re wrong, sea of ear-based porn that you can’t help Gold Panda manages it through the ro- drums and you will be powerless to pre- equates human lives with animal lives. If you you’re going to miss me when I’m gone”. but disappear into: into that festival haze mantic subtext of ‘You’, the tear-stained vent that bamboo-sucking mother-lover take that as a given, his comments were actu- of electric-blue dust or behind the steam woman he has trapped inside ‘You.’ and from doing so. Enjoy. ally rather truthful. Of course I don’t agree with on the window from a freshly drained the downright blue frowns of ‘I’m with him, I thought he was far from correct and in Joey McNally cuppa. you but I’m lonely’. In many cases, these James Gudgeon many ways rather oŒ ensive. However to Mor- May Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 31 Music

lright there chaps and chapettes! Welcome to my last ever music pages (save the tears, honestly, I know it’s devastating but get a grip!). It’s been an incredible two Ayears, a sharp learning curve and some VERY late nights. I couldn’t have done it without a few people, like former editor Gemma, current editor Aaron, and tech guy and general design genius Dan. I’ve called a few things spot on (The Vaccines, Jessie J, Azealia Banks), and been slightly off on a few (Mona anyone?!), but in general I’ve loved every second. Hopefully there’s something that you’ll get from every Seren sub- editor (including myself) and that’s a massive passion for what we do, what we talk ummer is almost upon us, everyone is The fi rst track, The Only Place, is typical of about, and what we end up producing. fi nishing uni for the year and it’s fi nally time what Best Coast are all about, “why would you live I’ve tried my best to indoctrinate you lot Sto take a few trips to the beach! What better anywhere else?”, sings Bethany Consentino in her with a few of my personal favourites, and time to be gifted with a new Best Coast album? ‘The alluringly mellow voice. But the rest of the album raved about a lot of albums. I could go on Only Place’ was released on 15th May and is the isn’t as simple and the effort put into some tracks forever about the songs and albums that Californian duo’s second album. It follows up from and lyrics gives us a new, unexpected sound from have made me a very happy bunny, but their well-received, scuzzy debut, Crazy For You, a Beth and Bobb that is considerably more personal I’m sure you can all guess some of them. surf pop record that brought the lo-fi sounds of the and sincere. Particularly the fi nishing song, Up All Enjoy these fi nal pages from me and a few sunshine state to our stereos. Night, it is an instant favourite and ends the album lovely contributors (I love the Gold Panda beautifully. analysis), and I’m sure next year you’ll be The appeal of Crazy For You was the lo-fi guitar in equally safe (albeit less rambunctious) sounds and general vibe of carefree youth, The hands. Speaking of which, the position of Only Place is notably a lot more than this. The lyrics Music Editor is still open, so if you’re here and sounds are more refi ned and the album seems for another year and you fancy giving it a to have been taken more seriously; no more are we red-hot crack, then email our wonderful new hearing tales of Bethany’s cat and the pleasures of editor LJ at [email protected]. smoking weed, “I want to be a better girl”, sings Consentino in the aptly named track, Better Girl. Goodnight Bangor, it’s been emotional. Though the charming, hazy sound that the duo achieved has not been entirely lost, evident in The Love, hugs and a 12 inch chicken bar- Only Place, Last Year and Dreaming My Life Away, they’re still capable of sending us into a daydream beque pizza, of sea and sand and The Only Place is set to be the sound of summer 2012. Joe xx Sean Talbot

genres and themes taking you on an emotional journey through depressing, reminiscing over futile crushes and squandered the highs and low of society and her life. youth. Although due to the never ending dance beat pounding The opening track ‘Bubblegum Bitch’ lyrically reveals a more throughout most songs, any negative connotations are quickly playful, Avril Lavigne-esque side to Marina disbanded: let the raving commence. with a punky edge, something seen Lies, Living Dead and Homewrecker, despite being personal throughout the album with often favourites, are a perfect example of the range Marina gives us childish, self-indulgent lyrics. in this latest instalment. Lies, complete with damning lyrics and However, this happy-go- topped off with a dubstep based chorus demonstrates the size of lucky attitude is drastically Marina’s musical spectrum. The same rings true for Living Dead juxtaposed throughout and Homewrecker which contribute massively to making this the album. The constant album. change from rock This cluster of genres and themes, produced with such care bottom low to sky and a personal ‘Marina touch’ to each song demonstrates not high happiness plays only Marina’s development as a musician, but her metamorphosis with our emotions to maturity. Regardless of this change, each track retains the and leaves us in a ‘Marina quality’. However, none more than bonus track ‘Buy the daze, with regards Stars’ which ends our journey with Marina on a more familiar, raw what to expect next. note. Electra Heart is a musical exhibition of the progress Marina The most obvious has made, proving that she is far more than just a one trick pony. explanation to these As mentioned in my previous article, Marina has suffered lyrical mood swings criticism from fans and critics for her change of musical direction would be that once and adoption of a more mainstream style. The music is listenable scratched beneath for all music lovers, yes of course this means she is technically the surface, the mainstream, but there are few artists who can accomplish a album reveals task such as this, delving in and out of each genre, and manage ast issue I reviewed the fi rst single from the new album, a much more to do a good job of it. Electra Heart is a manifestation of Marina’s the incredible Primadonna, and since the eagerly anticipated personal theme. talents and since the release of the album, has received no end Lalbum has been released I couldn’t wait to get my teeth This refl ection of praise from critics and most importantly, her fans. sunk into another review. Electra Heart cannot be described upon her life, in all merely in one word. Marina’s latest work packs a whole array of fairness seems rather Toby Raynsford

hese days not a lot of bands or solo artists stick around very long, a lot of them have a hit and then fall off the radar until an unsuccessful second album. TMetallica, on the other hand, have been around for thirty plus years and are still going strong. Last August marked the twentieth anniversary of Metallica’s fi fth studio album, aptly named ‘Metallica’ but better known to fans as the ‘Black album’, and the band just this month embarked on their anniversary tour. The tour kicked off in Prague on the 7th of May and will end in Nickelsdorf, Austria at the Nova Rock Festival on June 10th. It’ll take the band across Europe and see them headlining a number of festivals over the summer with their only UK date being at Download Festival, in Donington Park on June 9th, the penultimate date of the tour. During the tour the band will be playing the ‘Black’ album in its entirety in reverse order, it was revealed by drummer Lars Ulrich late last year. ‘Black’ is the album responsible for a number of Metallica’s biggest hits with the band releasing fi ve singles from it; ‘Enter Sandman’, ‘The Unforgiven’, ‘Nothing Else Matters’, ‘Sad But True’ and ‘Wherever I May Roam’. Twenty years later each one is still huge with the Metallica fans and well known across the rock and metal industry. The album’s release saw it debuting at number one in ten different countries and to date has sold 25 million copies worldwide, the band’s best-selling album. In 2009 the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) certifi ed it 15 times platinum (diamond) and 2003 saw it ranked at 252 in Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. So its fair to say that ‘Black’ is a good album. From the heavy hitting ‘Enter Sandman’ through to the softer ‘Nothing Else Matters’ all the way to the marching band like drum intro of ‘The Struggle Within’ the album delivers. It will forever remain the backbone of Metallica’s archive and has secured its place in rock history for decades to come. LJ Taylor 32 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk May Issue 2012 Books Seren’s Summer Reads

So it’s that time of year: your exams and essays are coming to an end, and the long expanse of summer stretches out before you. is is no bad thing, summer is a time to relax and enjoy life, and what is better than having a few good books piled up ready to read? ese are books that you’ve not got round to reading because of Uni work; they are novels or collections of essays of interesting sci- enti€ c works; whatever you like, whatever keeps you entertained and, most of all, whatever goes best with a chair in the sun, an ice cold glass of something, some summer tunes and that wonderful feeling of freedom. Here are just a few books that Seren thinks you should put on your summer reading list. Enjoy! When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris David Sedaris is a celebrated humorist whose essays are always guar- The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde anteed to bring an unbidden laugh, even on those rainy days that we are Combining the surreal wit that comprises a lot of British comedy with bril- treated to far too o en in the British summer.  is is his sixth collec- liant storytelling, action set pieces and an ability to not let you go;  e tion of essays but he is no less witty, observant or oblique with his views. Eyre A“ air is a mercurial novel that is perfect for those sunny a ernoons. From describing how he went about safeguarding his house from neurotic song-  ursday Next is a LiteraTec, a police o® cer responsible for investigating literature- birds by taping LP’s onto the windows (in hopes that the album covers would scare based crimes. Yes, in this universe the icons of literature are revered more than any the birds o“ ), to re-telling what a New York cab driver had openly told him about pop icon or Kardashian troglodyte; making for some peculiar and hilarious reveals his sex life; these essays are un-missable works on the innate comedy that pervades as we, the reader, € nd out more about this increasingly strange and interesting world. life on this planet. Follow  ursday as she battles with Acheron Hades, a man who is completely im- moral, across literature. Making History by Stephen Fry Freakonomics by Steven Levitt & Stephen Dubner Ever wondered what it’d be like to go back and make sure that Hit- Fancy something a little di“ erent than your average € ction paperback? Freakonomics ler was never born? We’d all love to do it, but what would the conse- is just the thing; a book compiled by two economists on how the world actually works. By quences be? In Making History, his best novel, Stephen Fry explores applying economics and the theory that incentives a“ ect everything, from the roots the idea in a witty, engaging story based on history, hatred and love. upwards, to pop culture examples, we are taken on a wonderfully bizarre journey. We follow a budding academic, Michael, who meets a physicist who has From information control as applied to the KKK and real-estate agents, to the developed a machine that can look back at history. Working together they economics of drug dealing (where we learn of the surprisingly low income of update the machine so that it can send objects back; sending a contracep- cocaine dealers), this book will re-educate you and reinvigorate your sense of tive pill into the well from where Hitler’s father drank.  e problem with wonder and bemusement with the world. You will watch the news di“ erently a er meddling with history is that everything changes, as Michael soon discovers. reading this, and so you should. Velocity by Dean Koontz Ghostwritten by David Mitchell For fans of a good paperback thriller that does the job better than most, David Mitchell (no, not the comedian) is one of the most critically ac- Velocity is perfect. Koontz sets up the premise well; we, through the pro- claimed authors of the last few years. You have probably heard of his tagonist, are presented with a moral conundrum in the form of a note le Cloud Atlas, well, Ghostwritten is better.  e story is split between 10 lo- from a mysterious person known only as ‘the freak’. Either Billy Wiles cations, all with their own distinctly intriguing characters and stories. From a terrorist hiding out a er an attack, to the tale of an elder- takes the note to the police or he doesn’t, but whatever he chooses to do ly woman who has lived on a Holy Mountain in China her entire life. will lead to a di“ erent murder. If he doesn’t take it to the police, a young A complex tapestry of life is woven, with thrilling set pieces, mild fantasy blonde school teacher will die; if he does, an elderly woman will be killed. elements and, throughout, a sense that we are learning more about humanity What will Wiles do? What would you do? A cracking read. through these slightly surreal tales than we ever have before. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini Jupiter’s Travels by Ted Simon From the author of  e Kite Runner, this is a sublime novel which will Jupiter’s Travels is the original Long Way Down. Ted Simon travels the length take you in a bear hug of € ne writing and wrenching story. Mariam and of Africa, the American continents, Oceania and part of Asia on his Triumph Laila are two Afghani women, of completely di“ erent ages, who are motorbike and this is his travel log. He encounters generous people of Africa, holy men in India, is arrested in Brazil, lives on a commune in America, gets thrown together because of the masculine world they inhabit.  eir tale drunk with truckers, has his skin saved by monks- this is no ordinary travel twists into a survival story when the Taliban descend on Kabul, turning book! We see his packs get smaller, his instincts get sharper, we enjoy his the already religiously charged world into a place which is downright dan- minor victories as if they are ours and experience his disappointments just gerous to live in. You will weep, you will smile and you will love this book. as tangibly.  e Triumph powers through 64,000 miles of culture shocks and Simon writes eloquently and convincingly about what he experiences. The Forever War by Joe Haldeman Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life by Bryan Lee O’Malley Even if you’re not into science € ction,  e Forever War is a classic that you should Made popular by the Edgar Wright € lm, the Scott Pilgrim series is a must read before you shu e o“ this mortal coil. One of the de€ ning books of the genre have, even for non-comic readers.  is, the € rst in the series, sets up Scott, for the last forty years, Joe Haldeman’s novel ponders on a simple question, with a a Canadian twenty-something slacker who plays video games and is in a complex scienti€ c background: What would happen if you returned home from band. One day he meets Ramona Flowers, a mysteriously peculiar girl who time on another planet, only to know that centuries have passed on Earth? he ends up going home with. She warns him, however, that he will have to Our protagonist is a scientist which means, in this future, that he has been con- defeat her seven evil exes in order to go out with her. Filled with pop culture scripted into the United Nations Exploratory Force. He and his fellow scientist-sol- references, witty dialogue and brilliantly realised action scenes, this superbly diers face alien attacks and, ultimately, the psychological e“ ects of being displaced drawn book will have you sco® ng down the next € ve volumes in no time. hundreds of years into the future. The Last Arakad by Guillaume Wolf new author is step- protagonist Maya and her younger brother  omas move from whether she will learn to trust herself and the power she holds or ping onto the scene in Los Angeles to Paris to live with their reclusive family friend Un- whether she fall prey to her own fears. the form of Guillaume cle D. a er the death of their father and their mother becoming A thought-provoking and inspiring idea, when I started reading AWolf, author of e Last Ar- gravely ill, they did not suspect what thrilling adventures would this novel I was hooked immediately, which is one of those rare but akad. Gaining fans through await them. Discovering that all is not lost as it seems, everything fantastic qualities to € nd in a book.  e author has clearly done his the social networking site Fa- that these two young characters knew and believed in is about to research and it shows in his writing. Captivating from the start, the cebook, Wolf attracted inter- change. What starts as an initiation into the mysterious age-old or- readers see a change go through Maya, and the two young char- est for his novel by weekly re- der called the Arakad soon takes a drastic turn for the worse as acters are easy to relate to; the author doesn’t make them perfect leasing new chapters on the string of brutal murders turns Maya’s world upside down. Finding and ¬ awless, but instead makes them humans that make mistakes internet which fans quickly herself in the centre of a violent battle between good and evil which and with this comes a sense of realism.  e plot is moving and snapped up. puts the future of humanity at stake, she struggles against being never dull, constantly sweeping the reader up into the world that ‘Do you believe in des- caught up in the clutches of an ancient prophecy. As she becomes has been created and making it an impossible story to walk away tiny? When young female the ultimate target of an evil clan, the choice falls to Maya as to from. A de€ nite must-read! Nicola Hoban May Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk TV 33 for this series, in the form of Wade Adams (Alex Newell). Seemingly a lovechild of Kurt and Mercedes, he goes to them for advice on performing in drag, at Regionals with Vocal Adrenaline.  ey tell him not in to for fear of him getting hurt. But Wade de€ es both of their advice and goes behind team leader, Jess St James’s back, performs in full drag, (making a remarkably convincing woman) winning the audience and Regionals. Season two of  e f you’re reading this I’m going to assume that you’re Glee Project starts in June, so maybe by the time we get on American time, because it seems in the UK the a new series of Glee we’ll be seeing even more new faces. only realistic way you can watch Glee is online. As Sue meanwhile, is told if the New Directions don’t IGraduation rapidly approaches, Gleeks start to prepare win Nationals, then she will lose her position as coach to say farewell to key characters that have been there of the Cheerios. So she does everything in her power from day one. Can you imagine Glee without Kurt, Finn, to encourage the New Directions and in a very unlike Rachel or Santana? Would you watch Glee without in- Sue way, is nice to them. She doesn’t let on her sel€ sh dependent Quinn, or diva Mercedes? Or are you actually intentions though she blames it all on hormone surges as tired of Finchel and want something fresh? a result of her baby (which we still don’t know the father hen Being Human € rst premiered back in to get to know each of the main three characters and  e mid season € nale, le us witnessing Quinn in of yet.) 2009 it took the UK by storm.  e show pitted them against a number of di“ erent challenges. what looked like a fatal car crash.  e series’ writers have In the last dinosaur themed prom episode, the boys quickly became one of the most popular Aidan € nds himself struggling to escape the clutches of been criticised for sucking all potential drama from this of the New Directions performed One Direction’s “What Wshows on BBC iPlayer and has been comissioned for his maker Bishop (Mark Pellegrino). Josh has to come story line. When the series started again, did we see her makes you beautiful” complete with boy band choreog- a €  h season. A British TV show that’s become a cult to terms with the fact that he is now a werewolf while in a critical condition with the New Directions praying raphy. We saw Rachel € nally looking very glamorous, phenomenon naturally was going to be snatched by Sally discovers how she really died. One of the great- for her survival? Oh no, she was there in the choir room and more like Lea Michele at a premiere than Miss Berry. the Americans. However, unlike shows such as Life On est parts of the show though, other than its immersive € rst episode back. Sure she was in a wheelchair, but  e season € nale this week is a two hour special. Pre- Mars US, Being Human US works. storylines, is the chemistry between the cast. Its easy with a promise that with psychical therapy, she would be views have hinted that the € rst half, is to be a dream that  e show € rst launched in January, 2011 follow- to believe that Witwer, Huntington and Rath could live up and walking soon enough and otherwise happy and Tina has, a er hitting her head. She imagines herself as ing the same premise as the UK version, a vampire, a together. While the show is essentially about these three healthy. Rachel, and the whole of the Glee club swap roles. Mark werewolf and a ghost sharing a house. Being Human supernatural beings sharing a house they all have sepa- It tested the relationship of Finchel, Finn realised he Salling as Blaine (with hair!) which means, oh yes, Dar- US is set in the city of Boston and begins with vampire rate storylines that intertwine as the boundaries of their hadn’t actually planned what he was going to do in New ren Criss with Puck’s mow hawk. With Tina as Rachel Aidan (Sam Witwer), named a er Aidan Turner the ac- friendships are tested. York, while Rachel danced into musicals on Broadway. can only mean Rachel with Tina’s goth make up and Kurt tor who plays the UK version’s vampire, looking for a  e second season premiered in January this year  e temptation of Puck’s o“ er moving to LA to expand and Finn swapped should be very interesting. I won’t house with werewolf Josh (Sam Huntington).  e two and so far has taken the now developed characters and his pool cleaning business brie¬ y pulled Finn away, long give away anything else but I’ll just say there’s also some work together Su“ olk County Hospital, but later their thrown them into even more intense storylines but enough to make Rachel realise she had been sel€ sh, sung gender swapping too, with even the adults not acting like backstory is revealed and we start to understand how again always returns back to the importance of their Finn a song and apologised, and they were back together themselves. With Graduation upon them, perhaps the a vampire and a werewolf, enemies in legend, became friendship. With Bishop gone Boston’s vampire under- again. Glee club will € nally win Nationals... so close. world is in the hands of Aidan, while Josh deals with the Klaine’s relationship was brie¬ y tested when Kurt Being Human isn’t about a vampire and a werewolf fact that he’s turned his girlfriend into a werewolf and encountered a very complimentary Chandler in the mu- Heather Boyles who share a house for the hell of it though.  e two Sally tries to accept that she passed her chance to cross sic shop. A fellow student aspiring to Broadway fame want to feel normal for once; Aidan has been trying over and they deal with all of this from their kitchen. in New York who won Kurt’s number with the line “us to leave behind his past and not drink live blood and As of yet there appears to be no plan to broadcast future New Yorkers gotta stick together,” and proceeded Josh has run away from his family because he’s afraid of the show in the UK but its one of those shows that’s to text Kurt nonstop. Blaine found the texts and accused what he is, and so they decide that they will rent a house worth going out of your way to watch, the show con- Kurt of cheating. Kurt defended that Chandler compli- together and try to live a normal life.  e house, how- stantly delivers episode a er episode. If you’re a UK Be- mented him, something Blaine never did. A hurt Blaine ever, turns out to be haunted and their hopes of living a ing Human fan then chances are you might enjoy the then performed “It’s not Right but it’s OK,” Kurt told normal life are shattered as they now have to share the American take on the show and either way if you’re a Chandler not to text him again and once again they were place with Sally (Meaghan Rath) the ghost of a young fan of supernatural dramas it de€ nitely worth a watch. back together. woman murdered there. In recent episodes we’ve seen tributes to John Tra-  e show’s € rst season gave audiences the chance LJ Taylor volta, Whitney Housten and even a guest star Whoopi Goldberg. Rachel possibly gave her best performance yet when she performed Kelly Clarkson’s “Cry” at the end of the shocking “Choke” episode. Glee Project winner Samuel Larsen as Joe Hart, seems to be having more of a storyline than fellow winner, Irish Damian. Joe has been helping Quinn with her physi- cal therapy, and of course has developed a crush on her, but with Quinn about to graduate, could this possible romance realistically develop into anything before she leaves? We’ve also seen  e Glee Project’s € nal o“ ering,

show a very wise selection from the production team be- he third season of  e Vampire Diaries has been Originals at the end of Season 2 where we met brothers hind  e Voice, not only are they coming across as quite an emotional rollercoaster, packing one hell of Elijah Mikaelson (Daniel Gillies) and hybrid Klaus Mi- likable characters, they span a wide variety of music a punch. With a rapidly moving plot, the script kaelson (Joseph Morgan) was carried on smoothly into tastes and generational gaps. Sir Tom Jones, whilst being Tensures it supplies the audience with an aneurism every Season 3 where we meet fellow family members Rebekah loved by one and all will be more familiar to the older episode, keeping fans on edge with their hearts in their (Claire Holt), Kol (Nathaniel Buzolic) and Finn (Casper generations where as will.I.am and Jessie J will have more mouths. Zafer). We also meet Original parents vampire-hunter BC’s  e Voice launched earlier on this year and mainstream appeal. Despite being a seemingly contro- A hit supernatural drama  e Vampire Diaries, de- Mikael (Sebastian Roche) and witch mother Esther (Al- is a concept brought across from the Netherlands. versial choice Irish singer Danny O’Donoghue hosts a veloped by Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec, is loosely ice Evans) who are continuously plotting to destroy their  e voice like many current popular television wide range of musical achievements including two best Bprogrammes is a reality TV show based around singing. selling albums with his band  e Script. based on the book series of the same name written by abominable children. Parents of the year clearly! L.J. Smith. Premiering in September 2009, the series  roughout Season 3, we see Stefan be compelled by However this show harbours a di“ erence, initially  e coaches, named so, because they do not judge takes place in the € ctional Mystic Falls, a small town Klaus to forget his love for Elena and go all out vampire the contestants take part in a blind audition where the singers, rather than acquire them for their team in haunted by supernatural beings including vampires, on a blood-drinking binge, while Klaus uses Elena’s dop- the “coaches” cannot see them.  is means that order to love and nurture their talents, seemingly pick werewolves, witches and hybrids, plus a ton of ghosts. pelganger blood to create his vampire-werewolf hybrid the usually shocking auditions (anyone remem- acts that follow their own style. Whilst some (mainly  e series focuses around protagonist Elena Gilbert army, as her friends and the overbearing but infatuated bers Amanda Holden’s reaction to Susan Boyle) Sir Tom Jones) steer away from their own personal (Nina Dobrev) and the love triangle between her and Damon is trying to protect her while trying to save Ste- become much less surreal as the coaches section of the music industry the other three vampire brothers Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Damon Sal- fan. All while they try to kill the Originals but not get just get simply blown away by powerful chose acts that they felt they could look a er vatore (Ian Somerhalder). We are also introduced to killed in the process. voices. If a coach wants to best (any singer would learn from the man fellow characters Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen), Elena’s  is show does have its ¬ aws: it is over-rushed, the recruit an act to their team himself though surely). younger brother, best friends witch Bonnie Bennett (Kat plot is all over the place and the love triangle factor is they had to hit a button turning Following the team selection and Graham), and vampire Caroline Forbes (Candice Ac- starting to get old.  e ending of Season 3 was predict- their chair around and reveal- blind auditions the coaches rally cola), plus ex-boyfriend Matt Donovan (Zach Roerig), able in places but mainly because they had to happen to ing the then delighted contest- around a counterpart and start his best friend werewolf-turned-hybrid Tyler Lockwood shake the show up and allow for the game to change for ant to them; o en resulting in preparing their acts for the chop (Michael Trevino), and Elena and Jeremy’s aunt Jenna the next season. However, this show does have strengths high € ves and air punches when (they all had to lose half of their original 10) Sommers (Sara Canning), their new guardian.  row in clearly represented by the millions of fans screaming they realised most acts still € t in before the public are unleashed in a public vote; history teacher/vampire-hunter Alaric Saltzman (Mat- through their tears at the TV screen, eagerly awaiting with the pop star image. If one or which has caused quite a stir as over 30 people com- thew Davis), a supernatural-hating town council, and next week’s episode If you do to choose to start watch- more of the famous coaching line up plained at the show being pre-recorded. the Salvatore brothers malevolent sire Katherine Pierce, ing  e Vampire Diaries (and I recommend that you do) (will.I.am, Jessie J, Sir Tom Jones and All in all the Voice has provided a refreshing who like Elena is a doppelganger, and a family of unbeat- you will not regret it, though buy some tissues! Also, for Danny O’Donogue) turn around they change from the usual type of Saturday night reality able original vampires, and it’s a great big mesh of emo- those of you that have watched the Season 3 Finale, I must then name drop their way into show that we’ve been plagued with in the past, and I tion and con¬ iction. share your pain! the contestant’s heart; this o en ends know I for one have actually heard some of the artists It is ridiculous how ¬ awless this cast are, not just in  e Vampire Diaries will return with Season 4 Sep- up with some witty lines such as my and thought “yeah I’d probably give their record and a appearances but also in their acting skills.  e third sea- tember 2012. personal favourite “he’s got tactics I’ve chance and see how well it ends up”, which I know is son has somewhat been rushed in plot development, and got tictacs, ‘cause I stay fresh holla” from something that the likes of the X Factor have yet to pro- it is true that certain factors could have been dragged out the ever-so-cheeky will.I.am. vide me with. for a few more episodes.  e introduction of the vampire Nicola Hoban  e coaches, in my personal opinion, Matt Jackson 34 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk May Issue 2012 The Avengers

When self proclaimed genius, Iron Man billionaire, playboy, philanthropist, he Avengers...how do we even fi rst appearance. Captain America sacrifi ce to ensure the Earth’s safety Tony Stark found himself kidnapped by terrorists he refused to build begin to express our adoration then gets involved, in an attempt to and really pulls at your heartstrings in Shrapnel wounds them a missile and instead created Tfor this fi lm!? As the opening control the hot-headed demi-God the fi lm’s climatic fi nale. arc reactor mechanism a for suit his of chest armour to keep in which him aliveto escape. credits appeared on the screen we and the self-obsessed billionaire. The As much as we love him, he’s which he then uses tohowever power aforced new modifi him to ed build suit a and powerful thus, were excitedly tapping each other’s result is a perfectly written scene defi nitely not the only star of the Iron Man is born. Originally Iron Man is shoulders, internally screaming and in which all their powers cancel one show; we would just like to take Avenger’s Initiative due to Stark’s erratic behaviour wriggling in our seats like puppies. another out, with Iron Man’s suit a moment to honour one of our soon becomes After all, we’d waited what felt like a being no match for the strength of favourite characters, Agent Phil a hugely important part of the team. millenium to see it. Thor’s hammer, which in turn had no Coulson who represents The Avengers rejected for the The Avengers is quite possibly the effect on Captain America’s shield and fandom perfectly – if you’ve seen super-hero fi lm to end all other super- lightning produced by Thor powering The Avengers and fl ailed over it as but he hero fi lms, in true writer-producer Iron Man’s suit to 400% capacity. It’s much as we did you’ll understand. He Joss Whedon fashion – this man the beginning of a perfect realisation may be a minor character but Agent does nothing half-arsed. Featuring that together they are unbeatable. Coulson plays a huge part in both Iron an incredible cast, The Avengers None of the characters in this Man movies, tasked with getting Stark sees the formation of a group of fi lm overshadow each other, which on board the Avenger’s Initiative, dysfunctional, broken super humans we thought was brilliant and and is an integral part in getting The who are brought together by the those characters we hadn’t seen Avengers to stop comparing weapons head of the agency S.H.I.E.L.D. Nick much of in previous Marvel fi lms and fi nally work as the team that the When renowned gamma radiation Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) to defend were given a little more character Earth needs. expert Dr Bruce Banner fi nds himself Earth from an ‘alien’ invasion led by development in terms of back story For us, the crowning scene of in the middle of an attempt to the villainous Loki (Tom Hiddleston), and relationships (We demand a Whedon’s Avenger’s is the fi nal battle reinvent the super-soldier scheme, adopted brother of Asgardian demi- Black Widow fi lm now please!). The scene. You have to congratulate things turn a little bit ugly. In order Hulk god Thor (Chris Hemsworth). Along witty banter and emotional talks in the guy on not only creating such to protect people from himself and ‘the other guy’, with Thor, the other members of the The Avengers was typical Whedon- a fantastic movie but for doing it The Hulk, Banner, goes into hiding. But when Loki Avengers Initiative are Tony Stark style, constantly provoking laughter without favouring one character over threatens the Earth’s safety Nick Fury knows that not aka Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), or heart-breaking sobs whilst still another. Our favourite part sees the only does he need Banner’s expertise on his side but also Steve Rogers aka Captain America adding to the characters and taking complete team in the middle of a war- his unimaginable power. The only problem is can Banner (Chris Evans), Bruce Banner aka nothing away from the plot. Particular stricken New York fi ghting off Loki’s control himself when he see’s green? The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Natasha comedy highlights came in the form attack. Sounds simple enough with Romanoff aka Black Widow (Scarlett of interactions between Gwyneth modern day technology, right? It’s Johansson), and Clint Barton aka Paltrow’s Pepper Potts and Tony Stark not just any slapped together fi ght Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner). Recurring whose chemistry, we’re glad to say, scene though, the camera expertly characters from the previous Marvel was unchanged in the hands of a follows our heroes from sharpshooter fi lms are also brought back, including different writer. Hawkeye on the rooftops all the way Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) and Intertextuality, understandably, through to Captain America and Black Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), plus plays a huge part in The Avengers Widow fi ghting on the streets below. Thor, son of Odin, is set to take new characters such as Agent Maria with four epic fi lms and even more It’s a ridiculously impressive piece of his father’s place and become King Hill (Cobie Smulders). The characters beloved Marvel characters thrown fi lm that perfectly links up our heroes of Asgard until he reignites the Thor and the actors that play them in into one. One of the best references with Hulk and Thor taking out an alien war between the Asgardian’s and this fi lm are fl awless from beginning by far though; “Hulk. Smash.” As midair while Iron Man zooms past. the Frost Giants. Furious at his hot to end and the transition from has become habit with Marvel fi lms No fi lm is without its problems -headed heir Odin banishes Thor to their individual fi lms was executed we even get a cameo from creator though and The Avengers does Earth where he must earn the right to perfectly. In fact, in The Avengers we Stan Lee and a number of plot points have one or two problems: One is his godly powers and once again become worthy of wielding see more character development than suggest a little more character cross- that we didn’t feel the development the hammer, Mjolnir. After protecting the Earth from The we do in the individual fi lms. overs in the upcoming individual of Banner’s control over the Hulk Destroyer, sent there by his power-mad half brother, Loki, From the get go in this fi lm, there sequels. For example, we’d love for was covered very well, more that it Thor’s powers are returned to him. Now that Lokitheir has planet.found is not one boring or uninteresting Tony Stark to keep his word and bring was actually skimmed over and the his way back to Earth, hell-bentAvenger’s on intaking protecting over, its up to Thor moment. Whedon manages to make Banner to visit his lab at some point change seemed rather drastic and to return and assist The every minute count for something during Iron Man 3. sudden to get him into the battle. as he throws the audience into the Speaking of Iron Man, yes we Secondly, we would have liked to see beginning of the action. Although said that Whedon did a fantastic job more kick-ass action from Nick Fury the characters were brought into of making sure not to favour one in the (epic) battle scene, rather than the fi lm somewhat quickly this was character over the others, but Robert him practically sitting on the sidelines necessary to keep the plot moving Downey Jr’s Iron Man really shines. waiting for his team to do the job. at a pace that kept the audience on Perhaps it’s because his character has These are our only complaints with the edges of their seat (to be honest had more chance to warm our hearts the fi lm though, and we cannot wait It never mattered to Steve Rogers that he was a little guy, he wanted to we had practically melted onto the in both Iron Man and Iron Man 2, for it to come out onto DVD which is Captain America fl oor in a puddle of emotion by the perhaps it’s Downey Jr’s magnifi cent why you’ll more than likely spot us at fi ght for his country. When a chance meeting ended with him being time Thor was introduced). It was portrayal of Stark or perhaps we’re the cinema getting our Avengers fi x for. After being injectedselected with a special for a special serum, experiment, he becomes interesting to see the interactions just partial to red and gold metal. and heavily anticipating the obvious Captain America, super-soldierSteve never and imagined playsa huge what part he in was in between the four main characters, Either way, we can’t help but fall in sequel fi lm and individual fi lms to World War II. Steve is MIA later to be found in the present Iron Man, Captain America, Thor love with Stark all over again. Despite follow. day frozen in the ice, but still alive. Its up to and Hulk, all dominant characters having the most to lose, he’s now to not only adjust to his new surroundings, seventy who have previously stood alone in in a ‘stable-ish’ (his words not ours) after his time, but to lead the slapdash team their battles. Unsurprisingly, their relationship with Pepper (and her Nicola Hoban the fi ght to save the Earth. personalities and egos clashed with cheeky, sneaky shorts) and is the and LJ Taylor the Captain an all out fi ght breaking out between head of a billion dollar company, he years Iron Man and Thor upon the latter’s is prepared to make the greatest of heroes into May Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk Film 35

William Scott reprises his role as Steve Stifl er, Chris Klein is back as OZ, Eddie Kaye Thomas as Finch and it wouldn’t be an American Pie fi lm without Eugene Levy as Noah Levenstein, a.k.a Jim’s Dad. Other characters back include Kevin Myers (Thomas Ian Nicholas), Vicky (Tara Reid), and Stifl er’s Mom (Jennifer Coolidge). This is the fi rst fi lm that all of the original cast have here are many to whom the mere Whedon’s other projects – most notably merican Reunion is the fourth instalment of been together in since American Pie 2 in 2001. mention of Joss Whedon (Buffy the Chris Hemsworth (The Avengers) and the original American Pie series and the eighth As an American Pie fan I was genuinely looking TVampire Slayer/Fireplay) will instantly Fran Kranz (Dollhouse) as well as other Afi lm for the American Pie Franchise. American forward to reliving my teenage days watching this increase their interest in something. But, minor characters. Each cast member Reunion brings back the original cast thirteen years group of funny guys back on the big screen. American until The Avengers put him fi rmly into the brings something and each is in his or her after they have graduated high school when they Reunion is funny and there are some great laugh out Hollywood spotlight, there were many who own way excellent but the two standout gather for a ‘Class of ‘99’ reunion and a weekend loud moments but I don’t think the fi lm is as good as I had never heard the name – those are performances are those of Kranz and together. Instead of people being intimate with expected. A lot of the jokes are recycled from previous most likely the people not rushing out to leading lady Kristen Connolly. Connolly, apple pies, the storyline has moved on to depict Pie fi lms and sometimes it felt like the writers where see this independent horror fi lm he created a relatively unknown actress before The the frustrating relationship problems of parents Jim trying too hard to make this fi lm great. It is clear that alongside writer/director Drew Goddard Cabin in the Woods, holds much of the (Jason Biggs) and Michelle (Alyson Hannigan) and the the cast have grown up and there is an attempt at (Cloverfi eld/Lost). plot weight on her own, particularly in frustration of being boring adults who have day jobs a more grown up storyline but in all honesty it falls That the fi lm was granted little scenes in which she is alone on camera. and relationships to maintain. When we meet the rest fl at on its face. One minute you are watching Jim and advertisement worked in its favour – to Kranz brings comedy when needed but of the cast, their lives aren’t perfect and this American Michelle be parents to their young son and the next, go into Cabin in the Woods with more than the rest of the time heightens tension and Pie instalment tells the story of a group of adults who you see boobs, sex and bondage and any sense of a hint of the plot could seriously damage makes observations set to draw audience simply cant be satisfi ed… in more ways than one. adulthood disappears. viewing pleasure. This is not your average attention whilst claiming himself many For this fi lm, all of the original cast are back. Seann If you are a fan of the American Pie fi lms then you horror fi lm; there is no set up to be new fans as Cabin’s best actor and one of will enjoy this instalment. It fi ts in with the franchise inevitably paid off twenty minutes from the the main reasons for the fi lms excellent well, it certainly feels like an American Pie fi lm and end. The story, more than a series of jumpy developments. it follows on from the previous fi lms nicely. Seann moments, although there are plenty, moves It is diffi cult to review Cabin in the William Scott and Eugene Levy are the stars of the as one excellent arc through proceedings. Woods as one might any other fi lm. fi lm. Sometimes it feels like a Stifl er fi lm as he gets Every time you think you’ve cottoned onto Whereas normally it might be expected the best laughs but these two characters certainly something the story moves again and the to see hints of a plot in a review, for the got the most laughs out of the entire cast. entire experience steps up another notch. purposes of this fi lm it seems necessary The soundtrack is also something to look out Of course there are obvious references to to give away nothing. The fi lm is a game- for. It is great and accompanies the fi lm perfectly. the horror genre played with by the fi lm – changer in many respects and its ever- Songs are provided by artists including Good The Evil Dead being the most obvious. But unfolding plot sets it leagues above Charlotte, Cobra Starship and Boyz II Men. it’s important to note that The Cabin in the the majority of modern production line Overall it is funny and does make you laugh Woods is not a spoof. It is an all out horror horror. Cabin in the Woods is a terrifying but it is questionable as to how much further fi lm from start to fi nish. That is not to say, experience, occasionally poking fun at the this franchise can go. The cast are getting however, that it isn’t funny. At times it is so genre but forever highlighting what it is too old to be playing these silly jokes and much so that it could rival any of the year’s that makes horror lovers so dedicated, and the storylines just aren’t developing enough. comedy fi lms for nailing a joke in exactly when funny, it’s hilarious. It already looks It seems that American Pie just wants to be the right way. There is no humour gained set to be the horror fi lm of the year, if not the fi lm that you love at 15 because it’s a bit in the genre’s standard way – through the one of the fi lms of the year, and hopefully naughty and explains your teenage angst. use of cringe worthy awful clichés – the now on the back of The Avengers more humour is thoroughly intended and it works people will get the chance to see it. A must in the fi lms favour. Softening the tension see. Amy Westlake just enough so that each time it returns the audience is more on edge. Tom Knott The cast, as might be expected, contains multiple actors from Joss

heThe Avengers opened the summerLee Jones (Agent K) as Agent J travels back to of the GI Joeof franchise on 3rd August.cinema August the Batman franchise to get excited early and spring cinema season on the 1960s to stop an alien from assassinating is a good month for fi lm releases and as well with Christopher Nolan fi lming over an hour of T26th April and has already set Agent K. More alien life will be hitting cinema as the fi lms already discussed, The Bourne footage in IMAX, this is surely going to give The and broken records. Taking over screens with the release of Prometheus on 1st Legacy starring Jeremy Renner is released on Avengers some competition. This will be the $1 billon dollars worldwide, The June. From the creators of the Alien franchise, 13th August and follows the story of a new CIA last Batman fi lm that director Christopher Nolan Avengers has left the door open Prometheus precedes the events of Alien operative. If you’re not a fan of the Bourne creates and is likely to be the last Batman fi lm nicely for a summer cinema but is not directly related to the original fi lm. fi lms then released on the same day is Brave, that Christian Bale stars in. If this doesnt make season of superhero’s, aliens, Prometheus will be presented in IMAX 3D as a Disney fi lm that tells the story of Princess you want to watch, then I don’t know what will! fairytale characters and rock well as RealD 3D. A sequel has already been Merida who brings chaos to her kingdom and This summer cinema season is bound to be a gods. hinted at and it has been said that if another has to rely on her bravery and archery skills to successful one for cinema and is sure to bring in Offi cially kicking off the Prometheus fi lm is made then it will step further undo a beastly curse. audiences of all ages. Whether you want to see 2012 summer cinema season away from the Alien series. The Expendables 2 is due for release on 17th alien time travelling, superheroes in 3D, new is Men in Black 3, which is As well as some major blockbusters being August and brings back the cast of the fi rst fi lm chapters to already existing franchises or you released on 25th May. The released early in the summer, cinema-goers for what should be an easy pay check, but when just want to hang out with your friends and fi lm reunites Will Smith can also expect to see Snow White and the a man is killed on the job, their quest for revenge have a good time at the cinema, then (Agent J) and Tommy Huntsmen released on 30th May. Rock of puts them into enemy territory and up against there is bound to be something Ages is released in cinemas on 15th June an unexpected threat. For those unaware, the for you released this summer. and is the fi lm adaptation of the popular cast includes Jason Statham, Bruce Willis, stage show. Set in 1987 Los Angeles, Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Amy Westlake Drew and Sherrie are two young people Younger fans of the fi lms can expect to see Liam chasing their dreams in the Hemsworth in this installment. big city. The F o l l o w i n g cast includes on from the Tom Cruise, success of Julianne Hough The Avengers, and Catherine Zeta this summer is once Jones and is the only again fi lled with great musical released this superhero fi lms. The summer season. Amazing Spider-Man is The Ice Age franchise will be releasing released in the UK on 3rd July and is a a fourth instalment, Ice Age; Continental new take on the Spiderman series. Drift on 13th July. Also released on this day, Andrew Garfi eld is the new Spiderman a fi lm bound to pull in female audiences, is and is accompanied on screen by Emma Magic Mike, which is a fi lm, based on the Stone as Gwen Stacy. This Spiderman fi lm life of a male stripper, Magic Mike (Channing is presented in 3D and was entirely fi lmed in Tatum). Alongside Channing Tatum is 3D so this one might be worth watching just Matthew McConaughey, Alex Pettyfer and Joe for a great 3D experience. A sequel to The Manganiello, The fi lm adaptation of Abraham Amazing Spider- Man is already in the works Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, staring Dominic and is set for release in 2014. Cooper and Benjamin Walker is released on Hot on the heels of Spiderman, the 2nd August. The 16th President of the United highly anticipated The Dark Knight Rises States discovers vampires are planning to is released on 20th July and is bound to take over the United States and he makes it be the fi lm of the summer. The cast alone, his mission to eliminate them. Following this, which includes Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Dwayne Johnson and Channing Tatum are back Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Gary with the release of GI Joe: Retaliation as part Oldman and Michael Caine has caused fans of 36 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk May Issue 2012

hen the fi rst Bioshock got character, Booker Dewitt; a former Pinkerton Agent who is sent released it caused a bit of to the fl oating air-city of Columbia to seek out a young woman, Wa storm, with gamers and Elizabeth, who has been held captive there for the last 12 years. reviewers loving it. The second one did Booker quickly discovers that Elizabeth is central to the civil war little to dull that popularity. quite raging in the air-born city and her rescue is the start of a chain It’s now been over two years since active at keeping Bioshock Infi nite in of events that ultimately lead to the literal downfall of Columbia. Bioshock 2 was released, but we all the public eye. It’s unusual to see Furthermore, without wanting to reveal too much, Elizabeth is said know what is coming next: Bioshock long gameplay videos released to hold her own strange powers to manipulate rifts in the time- Infi nite. The game has been teased before launch, and yet Infi nite got space continuum that ravage Columbia. since August 2010 and was set to be plentiful previews which can be found on their website. Any upset caused by the delay is soon replaced by anticipation released October this year; however If you’ve played through the fi rst two games and are eager to of what the team have managed to create and hopefully improved it was revealed that Infi nite would get your hands on Infi nite, remember it’s not a true sequel to the on the Bioshock formula. Although how can it be a true Bioshock be pushed back to February 2013 previous two games. There are no Big Daddies (sob), and you game if it’s not set in Rapture? I believe they are pinning its success much to the dissapointment of aren’t underwater in the wondrous world of Rapture. In fact, this on carrying the Bioshock name, to entice us game players that us avid Bioshock fans. Suggested is the complete opposite with the story playing out in the fl oating fell in love with the fi rst two. However I’m sure they will deliver reasons for this setback are said to city of Colombia, which is suspended in the air by giant blimps and another visually orgasmic fi rst person shooter which is different include Ken Levine wanting to improve balloons! Furthermore, you can say goodbye to Plasmids as these from all the rest and I’m hoping it turns out to be another great the multiplayer mode, as well as redesigning have been renamed. success for the Bioshock team. Bioshock isn’t the only anticipated some of the characters. Platforms getting Set during the turn of the Century, Infi nite brings us back to game to be pushed back; the new Tomb Raider Origin has been the game include the expected Xbox 360, the 1890s inspired by the Chicago World Fair. However, it is set in delayed till late 2013. It seems next year will be pretty exciting PS3, and PC. the fi ctional early 20th century, building on the ideas of American for us gamers! 2K Boston and Ken Levine have been Exceptionalism. The story is set to revolve around the main Kaden Wild October to December in Gaming his summer is full of Hollywood blockbusters but there is the only improvement we’ll see in the game though. The new son, David Mason. very little on the gaming front. Come autumn all the big installment of the franchise also boasts new weapons and new New to the franchise will be player choice which will branch Tnames in gaming will be back in stores, their discs rarely environments taking you out of the city and into the wild frontier out into different storylines dependent on choice, a good addition leaving our consoles. land of Native America. to help with replay value. The plots focuses on the introduction The intriguing steampunk action adventure Dishonored kicks While Assassin’s Creed 3 isn’t likely to be anything amazing of all the futuristic weaponry and how it could harm t h o s e off the big game season on October 9th across Playstation 3, X that we’ve never seen before, it will defi nitely be a must play for it was meant to protect. One of the biggest parts o f Box and Windows. The plot follows Corvo, an ex-guard of Dunwall anyone who’s followed the previous four games. A huge selling Black Ops was the inclusion of the zombie mode (the fi ctional city in which the game is set), who has been accused point on Assassin’s Creed 3 is the fact that in a lot of ways it’s which has been confi rmed for the sequel and of murdering the Empress that he used to protect. Meanwhile, the a fresh start. Leaving behind Ezio, the protagonist of the past will support eight player co-op. imprisoned Corvo encounters a character called The Outsider who three games, means that new players can come into the franchise With the game only just being gives him magical powers to help exact revenge on Lord Regent, and understand the story more, though it’ll be undoubtedly more revealed at the beginning of the who framed him for the Empress’ murder. enjoyable to those who have been there from the start. month there isn’t a whole lot of On fi rst thoughts, it appears similar to the Assassin’s Creed Not being an X-Box owner or player, I feel I’ve missed out information on it to start with. franchise, giving the player the chance to run through a city on the Halo franchise. Come November 6th however, X-Box fans But there’s no denying that it with a full arsenal of weapons doing as they please. Dishonored across the world will no doubt be very pleased with their choice of will be a huge success in the combines stealth and weapons, much like Assassin’s Creed, but console when the latest in the Halo franchise is released. gaming industry. has a particular emphasis on the former as well as the use of Halo 4 begins a new trilogy in the franchise, the ‘Reclaimer That just about covers the gadgets. Corvo’s weapons include swords, guns and muskets. Trilogy’, and will be the eighth game in the series. Master Chief big games due out towards The supernatural powers instilled in him by The Outsider can also returns as the game’s main protagonist for the fi rst time since the end of this year but 2013 be utilised within the game allowing Corvo to teleport, stop time, Halo 3 back in 2007. Typically a fi rst-person shooter, the Halo looks pretty promising or just casually possess any living creature. franchise is evolving with the new instalment focusing more on already with Bioshock: The big downside to Dishonored, in my opinion at least, is mystery, exploration and discovery. The story is set up for a three Infi nite, the new Tomb that it’s a fi rst person game. I’ve never been a fan of not being game story-arc and is intended to darken as the plot progresses. Raider and about to see the character I’m playing as. While at fi rst glance it Whether the franchise has been taken too far or whether the new Naughty does look a lot like a supernatural Assassin’s Creed, Dishonored trilogy is better off as a result is yet to be seen. D o g ’s is defi nitely worth a play. I don’t want to, but it will be one of the biggest releases T h e L a s t The end of October, the 31st to be precise, marks the new towards the end of the year so I can hardly boycott Call of Duty. of Us to name chapter in the Assassin’s Creed legacy. It’s a classic case of out The multi-billion dollar franchise is set to release yet another just a few. with the old and in with the new as familiar hero Ezio is replaced installment on November 13th. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 will be by Native American Connor Kenway as our new assassin. Moving the ninth COD game to date and is a sequel of the 2010 Call of away from Renaissance Italy, Assassin’s Creed 3 pits us in the Duty: Black Ops. Unlike previous games though, Black Ops 2 is American Revolution with Connor torn between each side. set in the future, with a new cold war between China and the With an improved engine, Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed series United States providing the backdrop. It will begin, however, in is set to continue in style with the intention to make the game the eighties continuing on from Black Ops with Alex Mason still look “next-generation on current-generation consoles”. That’s not as the main protagonist. The player character in 2025 will be his

“I am Guybrush Threepwood, mighty pirate!”

Or at least I was for all those long days of my youth that I spent playing Monkey Island. The franchise was fi rst introduced to me years ago by my Auntie and I’m proud to say I’m still a huge fan; the theme tune still makes me want to run to the nearest PC and I still spend the occasional afternoon insult swordfi ghting through a fan website. The Monkey Island series is a LucasArts franchise, who are responsible for one of the world’s biggest franchises - Star Wars, so you already know it’s going to be amazing. It follows the wannabe pirate and bit of a drip Guybrush Threepwood as he attempts to It’s an interesting journey to say the least. Insult swordfi ghting isn’t all you do in Monkey Island games become the most notorious pirate in the Caribbean. Guybrush fi rst Following the story of the original game, The Secret of Monkey though. At times the games can be quite challenging with you turns up on Mêlée Island, home of love interest and Governor Island, Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge sees Guybrush, having to make sure you say the right things to the right Elaine Marley, to begin his journey to become a real pirate. having saved Elaine, now searching for the ‘Big Whoop’ treasure. people in order to add items to your inventory which will later In the Scumm Bar Guybrush meets The sequel is the only one in the franchise to not feature Monkey come in use. For example, in Escape from Monkey Island, in three pirate captains’ who set him Island, though it has been said that the fi nale of the game was set order to break into a bank, you have to get tasks to become a pirate. He must on a part of Monkey Island. hold of some prosthetic skin to put over a win a fi ght with Carla, the island’s The Curse of Monkey Island, the series’ third installment, sees manhole and bounce your way into an open swordmaster, steal an Elaine once again kidnapped, this time as a gold statue after window. Later on, you have to combine the idol from the Governor’s Guybrush accidentally turns her into one with a cursed ring. right ingredients to recreate the smell of a thief! mansion and fi nd some Eventually Guybrush and Elaine get married but return to Mêlée In a time where video games are judged buried treasure. Island in Escape from Monkey Island, the fourth game, to fi nd that on graphics and their online multiplayer Naturally, Guybrush’s while they were on their honeymoon she has been declared dead capabilities it’s easy for a game like Monkey pirating abilities are put and is no longer Governor. The plot of this game revolves around Island to get overlooked. It’s a sad truth to the test when the two of them proving she is alive - apparently she herself is not because I highly doubt that there’ll ever be evil ghost pirate proof enough - and Guybrush ends up embarking on a quest to a game with quite the same with strategy LeChuck, the series’ Lucre Island to obtain legal documents proving Elaine’s right to the and all round amazing storylines. main antagonist, Governor’s Mansion. Of course none of this goes smoothly and he raids Mêlée Island soon fi nds himself caught up in a race to fi nd the ‘Ultimate Insult’ LJ with his crew and before LeChuck. kidnaps the Governor, There has since been an episodic adventure called Tales of Taylor Elaine. Guybrush vows Monkey Island, created by Telltale Games, under supervision to save and win her heart, of LucasArts, which has also been released on the Playstation setting off on his voyage having Network but has none of the same charm as the original games. bought a ship and acquiring the One of the main aspects of Monkey Island is its insult haphazard crew of ‘Carla’ - the swordfi ghting where instead of having to attack your opponent, pessimistic swordmaster and you must select the correct comeback to their insults in order a prisoner he met on Mêlée to win the dual. It’s an interesting change to the usual way of Island by the name of Otis and fi ghting in a game, which was replaced by insult armwrestling Meathook, a guy whose hands in Escape from Monkey Island, adding to the humour and have been replaced by hooks. wit of the entire series. 36 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk May Issue 2012 May Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 37

hen the fi rst Bioshock got character, Booker Dewitt; a former Pinkerton Agent who is sent released it caused a bit of to the fl oating air-city of Columbia to seek out a young woman, Wa storm, with gamers and Elizabeth, who has been held captive there for the last 12 years. reviewers loving it. The second one did Booker quickly discovers that Elizabeth is central to the civil war little to dull that popularity. quite raging in the air-born city and her rescue is the start of a chain It’s now been over two years since of events that ultimately lead to the literal downfall of Columbia. nce upon a time our illustrious students’ union president dropped her iPhone in a cup spray encasing your phone will just make it slide active at keeping Bioshock Infi nite in of tea. As you do. By some stroke of luck the phone survived and spent the next few off, even something as thick as syrup. It’ll even Bioshock 2 was released, but we all the public eye. It’s unusual to see Furthermore, without wanting to reveal too much, Elizabeth is said know what is coming next: Bioshock to hold her own strange powers to manipulate rifts in the time- Ohours of its life in a bowl of rice. Apparently rice soaks up the water, or so our Editor, keep out bacteria and apparently ice, though if long gameplay videos released Aaron, tells me. That must be why we have copious as amounts of the stuff in our kitchen. you’re putting your phone in the freezer then Infi nite. The game has been teased before launch, and yet Infi nite got space continuum that ravage Columbia. since August 2010 and was set to be Any upset caused by the delay is soon replaced by anticipation The need for rice is almost up though. Across the ocean in Lancaster, Pennsylvania a you probably deserve the repercussions. plentiful previews which can be found on their website. company specialising in nanotechnology has designed a solution that’ll have us no longer even With the company responsible already released October this year; however If you’ve played through the fi rst two games and are eager to of what the team have managed to create and hopefully improved it was revealed that Infi nite would on the Bioshock formula. Although how can it be a true Bioshock batting an eyelid as our £400 plus smartphones go for a swim. having at least four deals set up with different get your hands on Infi nite, remember it’s not a true sequel to the NeverWet, a spray designed by Ross Nanotechnology, coats your iPhone (or equivalent manufacturers we should hopefully be starting be pushed back to February 2013 previous two games. There are no Big Daddies (sob), and you game if it’s not set in Rapture? I believe they are pinning its success much to the dissapointment of on carrying the Bioshock name, to entice us game players that smartphone) in millions of tiny nanoparticles which, when self-assembled, essentially create to see NeverWet roll out across the market over aren’t underwater in the wondrous world of Rapture. In fact, this an invisible, impenetrable fortress around your device. The spray not only protects your phone the summer. us avid Bioshock fans. Suggested is the complete opposite with the story playing out in the fl oating fell in love with the fi rst two. However I’m sure they will deliver reasons for this setback are said to another visually orgasmic fi rst person shooter which is different from the dangers of deep sea diving, or tea-dunking, but it also stops dust from getting in. In city of Colombia, which is suspended in the air by giant blimps and fact, NeverWet keeps your phone completely clean. When put in contact with any liquid the LJ Taylor include Ken Levine wanting to improve balloons! Furthermore, you can say goodbye to Plasmids as these from all the rest and I’m hoping it turns out to be another great the multiplayer mode, as well as redesigning have been renamed. success for the Bioshock team. Bioshock isn’t the only anticipated some of the characters. Platforms getting Set during the turn of the Century, Infi nite brings us back to game to be pushed back; the new Tomb Raider Origin has been the game include the expected Xbox 360, the 1890s inspired by the Chicago World Fair. However, it is set in delayed till late 2013. It seems next year will be pretty exciting PS3, and PC. for us gamers! the fi ctional early 20th century, building on the ideas of American et me be the way for this to happen with ease and the ability to boycott the who it thinks it is. So far I’ve been myself, Seren’s current Editor 2K Boston and Ken Levine have been Exceptionalism. The story is set to revolve around the main Kaden Wild fi rst to admit, treacherous Facebook mobile app. With Kilk taking a photo on Aaron and Seren’s last Editor Gemma. There seems to be some LI hate the your phone automatically tells you who is in the frame, with the sort of theme going on. sudden infl ux of option to ‘learn’ any faces that it doesn’t recognise, and then For a free app I’d say Klik is defi nitely worth the download just photo sharing, allows the hipster-side of you to take over and whack on an to have a play around with it and who knows you might fi nd you photo editing, Instagram-esque fi lter. Kilk also lets you include the names of the prefer it to the alternatives. Klik’s biggest downside however is October to December in Gaming p h o t o people tagged in the photo and then lets you choose whether to probably going to be that it’s currently only available for iPhone his summer is full of Hollywood blockbusters but there is the only improvement we’ll see in the game though. The new son, David Mason. w h a t e v e r - share with the whole of Klik, Facebook or Twitter. meaning it’ll miss out on the growing number of Android users. very little on the gaming front. Come autumn all the big installment of the franchise also boasts new weapons and new New to the franchise will be player choice which will branch ing apps on Klik doesn’t just like to know who’s in your photos but where names in gaming will be back in stores, their discs rarely environments taking you out of the city and into the wild frontier out into different storylines dependent on choice, a good addition T the market. your photos were taken too. With Foursquare integration Klik leaving our consoles. land of Native America. to help with replay value. The plots focuses on the introduction Well, I say gives you the option to not only tag the people in your photo but The intriguing steampunk action adventure Dishonored kicks While Assassin’s Creed 3 isn’t likely to be anything amazing of all the futuristic weaponry and how it could harm t h o s e LJ Taylor ‘ s u d d e n to tag the location too, like a number of apps these days. Tagging off the big game season on October 9th across Playstation 3, X that we’ve never seen before, it will defi nitely be a must play for it was meant to protect. One of the biggest parts o f infl ux’ but the location and then sharing it publicly on on Klik means that Box and Windows. The plot follows Corvo, an ex-guard of Dunwall anyone who’s followed the previous four games. A huge selling Black Ops was the inclusion of the zombie mode t h e y ’ v e your photos will appear on the app’s main page displaying all the (the fi ctional city in which the game is set), who has been accused point on Assassin’s Creed 3 is the fact that in a lot of ways it’s which has been confi rmed for the sequel and b e e n photos that were taken nearby. At the moment when you look at of murdering the Empress that he used to protect. Meanwhile, the a fresh start. Leaving behind Ezio, the protagonist of the past will support eight player co-op. around a this page in Bangor you see about three Bangor users with the imprisoned Corvo encounters a character called The Outsider who three games, means that new players can come into the franchise With the game only just being while now, next nearest being in Bangor. gives him magical powers to help exact revenge on Lord Regent, and understand the story more, though it’ll be undoubtedly more revealed at the beginning of the the problem The main problem with Klik is that it isn’t really anything that who framed him for the Empress’ murder. enjoyable to those who have been there from the start. month there isn’t a whole lot of is they are still new or exciting. Sure the whole face recognition premise is pretty On fi rst thoughts, it appears similar to the Assassin’s Creed Not being an X-Box owner or player, I feel I’ve missed out information on it to start with. holding strong. cool but it’s more of a gimmick than something you really need. franchise, giving the player the chance to run through a city on the Halo franchise. Come November 6th however, X-Box fans But there’s no denying that it Unfortunately. I The fi lter’s it provides aren’t amazing and I doubt it will take the with a full arsenal of weapons doing as they please. Dishonored across the world will no doubt be very pleased with their choice of will be a huge success in the mean, how many place of Instagram in this respect. The response time of the app combines stealth and weapons, much like Assassin’s Creed, but console when the latest in the Halo franchise is released. gaming industry. angles can a kid with is quite slow and it’s easy to fi nd annoying when you’re has a particular emphasis on the former as well as the use of Halo 4 begins a new trilogy in the franchise, the ‘Reclaimer That just about covers the an iPhone really shoot his waiting to capture your ‘Kodak moment’, though gadgets. Corvo’s weapons include swords, guns and muskets. Trilogy’, and will be the eighth game in the series. Master Chief big games due out towards hazelnut latte and why do I need to see it in the fi rst place? Why it is something that Face.com will likely improve The supernatural powers instilled in him by The Outsider can also returns as the game’s main protagonist for the fi rst time since the end of this year but 2013 do I want to watch someone’s life in fi ltered, edited and frankly, with updates. be utilised within the game allowing Corvo to teleport, stop time, Halo 3 back in 2007. Typically a fi rst-person shooter, the Halo looks pretty promising repetitive pictures? My biggest issue with Klik is that it requires you or just casually possess any living creature. franchise is evolving with the new instalment focusing more on already with Bioshock: My hatred aside, I did fi nd myself scouring the internet in to sign up using Facebook. Of course there’s really The big downside to Dishonored, in my opinion at least, is mystery, exploration and discovery. The story is set up for a three Infi nite, the new Tomb search of new and exciting apps for you, our dedicated readers, not a lot that can be done about that since it uses that it’s a fi rst person game. I’ve never been a fan of not being game story-arc and is intended to darken as the plot progresses. Raider and when I came across Klik. I saw the word ‘hipster’ and instantly your Facebook to recognise faces. I do however about to see the character I’m playing as. While at fi rst glance it Whether the franchise has been taken too far or whether the new Naughty thought of Seren’s Comment Editor and hipster in the making, appreciate that it doesn’t start posting everything does look a lot like a supernatural Assassin’s Creed, Dishonored trilogy is better off as a result is yet to be seen. D o g ’s Cisco, who conveniently happened to walk in just at that very to Facebook, like a number of apps do, and instead is defi nitely worth a play. I don’t want to, but it will be one of the biggest releases T h e L a s t moment. And after ticking our two requisites (is it available on gives you the choice of whether you want to send The end of October, the 31st to be precise, marks the new towards the end of the year so I can hardly boycott Call of Duty. of Us to name the iPhone and is it free?) we downloaded Klik. your pictures to the social networking site or not. chapter in the Assassin’s Creed legacy. It’s a classic case of out The multi-billion dollar franchise is set to release yet another just a few. What sets apart this photo app, made by Face.com, is just In no way do I think Klik will take off and become with the old and in with the new as familiar hero Ezio is replaced installment on November 13th. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 will be that. Face.com boasts ‘the world’s largest and most accurate face the new go-to mobile photo app but it is good fun by Native American Connor Kenway as our new assassin. Moving the ninth COD game to date and is a sequel of the 2010 Call of recognition platform’ and has been been providing the internet to play around with and offers a few different fi lters away from Renaissance Italy, Assassin’s Creed 3 pits us in the Duty: Black Ops. Unlike previous games though, Black Ops 2 is with face recognition software since 2009. The site is responsible to Instagram. I also enjoy that it doesn’t, like a American Revolution with Connor torn between each side. set in the future, with a new cold war between China and the for the popular ‘PhotoTagger’ Facebook application which will go number of social networking applications, require you With an improved engine, Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed series United States providing the backdrop. It will begin, however, in through a bulk upload of photos and tag them all for you. This, to have friends but instead shares photos based on is set to continue in style with the intention to make the game the eighties continuing on from Black Ops with Alex Mason still as I’m sure you can imagine, saves a lot of time when you’ve just location. It is quite entertaining and an easy way to look “next-generation on current-generation consoles”. That’s not as the main protagonist. The player character in 2025 will be his uploaded an album of two hundred plus photos. They also provide upload tagged photos on the go. My favourite thing the ‘PhotoFinder’ application which scours Facebook for untagged about Klik though is the ‘learn’ feature which makes photos of you or a friend. sure that the app knows your face. Clicking on it has Klik isn’t always accurate though! It thinks our Music “I am Guybrush Threepwood, mighty pirate!” The Klik app takes all of this software further, realising the the software searching whoever’s face is in the camera Editor, Joey is 36% female and 21% our Editor, Aaron!! growing demand of users to upload on the go, and provides a lens at that point in time and shows accuracy bars of Or at least I was for all those long days of my youth that I spent playing Monkey Island. The franchise was fi rst introduced to me years ago by my Auntie and I’m proud to say I’m still a huge fan; the theme tune still makes me want to run to the nearest PC and I still spend the occasional afternoon insult swordfi ghting through a fan website. Tattooist Implants The Monkey Island series is a LucasArts franchise, who are responsible for one of the world’s biggest franchises - Star Wars, so Magnets Into His Arm you already know it’s going to be amazing. It follows the wannabe pirate and bit of a drip Guybrush Threepwood as he attempts to It’s an interesting journey to say the least. Insult swordfi ghting isn’t all you do in Monkey Island games or those unfamiliar with the body become the most notorious pirate in the Caribbean. Guybrush fi rst Following the story of the original game, The Secret of Monkey though. At times the games can be quite challenging with you modifi cation world, let’s just say that turns up on Mêlée Island, home of love interest and Governor Island, Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge sees Guybrush, having to make sure you say the right things to the right Fpiercings on the ear and tattoos can be Elaine Marley, to begin his journey to become a real pirate. having saved Elaine, now searching for the ‘Big Whoop’ treasure. people in order to add items to your inventory which will later considered to be the tamer forms of body In the Scumm Bar Guybrush meets The sequel is the only one in the franchise to not feature Monkey come in use. For example, in Escape from Monkey Island, in modifi cation. For the more extreme person, three pirate captains’ who set him Island, though it has been said that the fi nale of the game was set order to break into a bank, you have to get tattoos and piercings in odd places along with tasks to become a pirate. He must on a part of Monkey Island. hold of some prosthetic skin to put over a implants placed under the skin, are also possible win a fi ght with Carla, the island’s The Curse of Monkey Island, the series’ third installment, sees manhole and bounce your way into an open body modifi cations and in the case of body swordmaster, steal an Elaine once again kidnapped, this time as a gold statue after window. Later on, you have to combine the piercer Dave Hurban, he decided to take things idol from the Governor’s Guybrush accidentally turns her into one with a cursed ring. right ingredients to recreate the smell of a thief! to the extreme by implanting four magnets mansion and fi nd some Eventually Guybrush and Elaine get married but return to Mêlée In a time where video games are judged under his skin ouch!. buried treasure. Island in Escape from Monkey Island, the fourth game, to fi nd that on graphics and their online multiplayer Tattoo artist Dave Hurban used dermal Naturally, Guybrush’s while they were on their honeymoon she has been declared dead capabilities it’s easy for a game like Monkey e’veLG all seen photos Flexi of phones with smashed Screen displays before and we’re pretty sure implants to secure his iPod nano to his wrist. pirating abilities are put and is no longer Governor. The plot of this game revolves around Island to get overlooked. It’s a sad truth that you have at one point experienced it before. Well if you’re sick of that heart Hurban implanted four perfectly placed, powerful to the test when the two of them proving she is alive - apparently she herself is not because I highly doubt that there’ll ever be Wwrenching feeling when you drop your iPhone and have its display smashed, it magnets under his skin to hold the small iPod in evil ghost pirate proof enough - and Guybrush ends up embarking on a quest to a game with quite the same with strategy seems that LG is currently working on a fl exible OLED display which the company claims place. Now Hurban can use his iPod nano as a LeChuck, the series’ Lucre Island to obtain legal documents proving Elaine’s right to the and all round amazing storylines. is unbreakable. The report (from OLED-info) claims that these fl exible OLED displays watch without having to use a wristband. main antagonist, Governor’s Mansion. Of course none of this goes smoothly and he contain plastic substrates and that they’re designed for use in today’s mobile phones, so if While we have to admit the end-result is raids Mêlée Island soon fi nds himself caught up in a race to fi nd the ‘Ultimate Insult’ LJ you’re thinking that this technology will result in fl exible phones like what LG’s competitor, pretty neat! We can’t imagine that surgically with his crew and before LeChuck. Samsung, is reported to be working on, you’d be out of luck. Instead these screens have installing foreign objects into your wrist is a kidnaps the Governor, There has since been an episodic adventure called Tales of Taylor been designed for today’s smartphones to help ensure the next time you drop it, you can good idea. And we certainly don’t recommend Elaine. Guybrush vows Monkey Island, created by Telltale Games, under supervision worry about something else other than the screen breaking. Michael G. Helander straight doing this yourself! to save and win her heart, of LucasArts, which has also been released on the Playstation from LG’s research lab, says the biggest advantage is that such screens will be thinner, Not to mention, what is Hurban going to do setting off on his voyage having Network but has none of the same charm as the original games. more durable, and less prone to impact than the current ones with glass substrates, rather if Apple changes the Nano’s design next time bought a ship and acquiring the One of the main aspects of Monkey Island is its insult than the whole “bending like Gumby” thing we envision for phones with them. Supposedly around? haphazard crew of ‘Carla’ - the swordfi ghting where instead of having to attack your opponent, LG’s 3.5-gen production plant is ready to begin production by the end of the year so it pessimistic swordmaster and you must select the correct comeback to their insults in order come be early-mid 2013 when we start seeing phones being advertised with “unbreakable” a prisoner he met on Mêlée to win the dual. It’s an interesting change to the usual way of displays. I don’t know about you but Seren thinks a fl exi ruler mobile phone screen is Kaden Wild Island by the name of Otis and fi ghting in a game, which was replaced by insult armwrestling defi nitely something worth looking forward to. Meathook, a guy whose hands in Escape from Monkey Island, adding to the humour and Kaden Wild have been replaced by hooks. wit of the entire series. 38 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk May Issue 2012 Food and Drink Recipe Central: Asparagus. Pigs’ cheeks with carrot, sparagus, the king spring vegetable, is in season from now till the start of July. Shipped in from apple and ginger. Peru, the asparagus available for the rest of the year is a poor imitation of what is undeniably my favourite vegetable. Right now, there’s no need to peel them because the stalk is so tender; A igs’ cheeks are the most ridiculously value for money ingredient around right now. Eight in fact, to remove the woody exterior would be a damning indictment of your decency as a human cheeks cost around £2.50 and are invariably well stocked in morrisons. I think the reason being. they’re always so plentiful is because people are reluctant to eat a part of the pig that is bloody Ignore the tired mantra, ‘but it makes your pee smell’, an oft-peddled line from people with P ugly. This is only exacerbated by the thought of said ugly piggy chowing down on all kinds of nature. no appreciation for the salient moment of spring. Without asparagus’ attendance, though British But ignore all that, because pigs’ cheeks nascent position as darling of the culinary world will springtime would still be a picture of vivid gree, for thousands its vibrancy would be dulled. There soon reach the kitchens of Britain. Highly regarded food Renaissance man Tom Parker-Bowles (son would be no asparagus with melted butter; nor asparagus with a voluptuous poached egg, the yolk of Camilla) called pigs’ cheeks a ‘hidden beauty of a cut, cheap, generous and versatile’. In fact, of which coats the spears, making them even more irresistible. just as a fi nished writing this article, and subsequent two hours in the kitchen, I came across Hugh To honour their arrival, here are three simple ways to cook asparagus (serve one). If you’re looking Fearnley-wittingstall (you don’t have to have a double-barrel surname to eat pigs’ cheeks) lauding for a way to celebrate fi nishing your exams, buy one less vodka and coke and spend your £2 on a them, claiming that ‘their fl avour and texture is unrivalled’. pack of asparagus. If you think about it, the cheek is an ideal cut for eating. It gets a strenuous workout because the pig eats so much, resulting in tough fi bres that become beautifully gelatiness once cooked. Like all cuts from parts of the animal that work hard, pork cheeks need long, slow cooking to give them a soft, unctuous texture. Here, I’ve paid homage to all-round good egg Bryn Williams (from Denbigh) and his recipe for pigs’ cheeks with carrot and ginger. Instead of ginger beer, I’ve used apple juice, mainly because pork and apple is probably one of the most symphonic pair of ingredients you can get. My far inferior interpretation diverts from Williams’ slightly but that’s because it’s a cheaper, abridged version. If you’re to do one dish from this column all year, make it this one. I can’t put pigs’ cheeks on a high enough pedestal; here, they’re the centrepiece of a cheap, fi lling dish that’s given a spring lift from the light, acidic apple juice and peas. Eight cheeks will feed two hungry people but comfortably feeds three, though you may need a healthy portion of carbs on the side to bulk it up. Before you cook the cheeks, you need to remove the small fi lm of sinew from them.

Asparagus and egg Asparagus, one egg, ham, dill, mayonnaise, lemon juice. The above photo is from noma, widely regarded as the best restaurant in the world. The dishes many elements include white asparagus, sous vide wild duck egg, fi ddlehead ferns (nope, me neither), hops and bulrush , served with a woodruff sauce. Because we aren’t all privy to the delights of a sous vide machine (or the Nordic coastline for that matter), here’s a basic (and I can’t stress that word enough) version of the masterpiece.

Method Start by blanching the asparagus in boiling salted water for three minutes. Immediately plunge into cold water to halt their cooking. Next, poach your egg. Thoroughly whisk a pan of boiling water until there’s a tornado effect. Add a splash of vinegar before sliding the egg into the middle of it and turning down the heat. Three minutes later, gently spoon the egg out of the pan and drain on kitchen roll.Finally, make a dill mayonnaise. Finely chop fresh dill and mix into mayonnaise (make it fresh if you’ve got the time) and season with salt and lemon juice.To dress, put the asparagus on the plate and top with the egg. Drape some ham (parma or prosciutto hams if possible) over it and dot the mayonnaise around the plate. Great with toast.

Asparagus and prawn stir-fry Asparagus, cooked prawns, a handful of torn basil, 1 red chilli, 1 garlic clove, two tablespoons soy sauce. Ingredients (Serves 2) Method Method If you’re using thin asparagus stalks, cut in half and fry in oil till they’re One sliced white onion Heat some oil in a heavy based pan and gently caramelize your cheeks glistening. Thrown in your chopped chilli (deseeded if you don’t want the  ree crushed cloves of garlic for 1 minute on each side. Take out and rest on a plate. In the same pan, heat), crushed garlic clove, salt and pepper. Add in the cooked prawns, soy A sprig of thyme add your onions and garlic and cook really gently for around ten minutes sauce and basil leaves. Quickly stir in cooked egg noodles and serve. Two carrots until they’re so and sweet. To prevent them from burning, add some salt  e zest and juice of half an orange which will help to remove the water content from the onion. Add in your Asparagus Pesto Eight pigs’ cheeks ginger and incorporate with your onion and garlic. Put the cheeks back in A bunch asparagus spears, 3 handfuls spinach leaves, 2 cloves garlic, 50g Two tablespoons of ground ginger the pan, along with the zest and juice of half an orange, thyme, stock and grated Parmesan, a 50g pine nuts, 150ml olive oil, salt and pepper, juice of Halved Jersey Royal potatoes apple juice. Bring to the boil, then turn down to a simmer. Cover and cook 1 lemon). 750ml chicken stock on a low heat for an hour. A er the hour, add your carrots and potatoes and 400ml apple juice cook till tender. By this time, the cheeks should o“ er no more than slight Method Salt and pepper resistance when prodded with a fork; the sauce should be the consistency of Put the asparagus into boiling salted water and cook for no longer than A handful of peas syrup. If the cheeks are still slightly tough, take the vegetables out and top 3 minutes. Drain under cold water. Cut the tips off and set aside for later. the liquid up with a touch more chicken stock and cook till the cheeks are Except for the olive oil, salt, pepper and lemon juice, blitz the ingredients in ready. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Take o“ the heat, add in your a food processor – if you don’t have one, a mortar and pestle would be great or, you could crush the pine nuts and mix everything in a bowl together with the olive oil, which would be delicious in its own right - gradually adding the Di´ culty: oil as you go. Taste and season with the lemon juice, salt and pepper to your taste. Serve with cooked pasta, stirring in the saved tips at the very end. May Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 39 Food and Drink Restaurant Review: Forte’s 69 Mostyn Street, Llandudno, LL30 2NN (01492877910) Meal for two, including service, £30 ur childhoods were littered with lies. Loosely, they can be separated into and juicy beef. I’m sure if there wasn’t a burger on o“ er there I’d have paid more a cleansing squeeze of lemon. Amongst all this, two types of chip battled it out – two distinct categories - lies that were created to bring us happiness (think attention to the décor; from what I acknowledged, there are some oversized mirrors the matchstick fry vs. the chunky chip.  e oversized chips were just undercooked Restaurant | Fortes's IceSanta Cream, Claus, Llandudno, the tooth fairy North et al) Walesand then the con lies that were invented to stare at yourself in, lots of retro Italian photographs and some funky tiles.  e which highlighted their ¬ oury texture, unfortunately missing the contrasting crispy Oto prevent us from outing our morally bankrupt elders and their mischievous ways. waiter (who I believe ascended from the original Forte) came over and I placed my exterior that makes a chunky chip successful. A chip lives or dies by its crispiness I don’t know who told me but for years, I believed that McDonalds added gherkins order. My patience was going to be tested. and the matchstick fries most certainly lived up to expectations.  ey were covered to their burgers because the sugar content of their buns and dressing (speci€ cally Foreplay arrived in the form of garlic bread; the warm baguette wasn’t exactly in beautifully hot, dripping fat with little bursts of salt dissolving in. As chips go, the Big Mac) was so high that without a slice of these were pretty damn good. And then there was the gherkin, they’d have to classify it as a dessert. Instead burger. I was instantly hit by a really, bloody fantastic of questioning it (it’s not true, I’ve researched it) I used piquant kick of a sharp gherkin pickle.  ough the it to justify my aversion to gherkins. For every great patty had good ¬ avour, the meat was ground down too childhood memory of Mum’s roast dinners (but were € nely giving it a dense, € lling texture. Being so tightly they great or am I just lying to you?) or Nan’s scones, packed and heavy, the burger really bene€ tted from the there’s the harrowing burst of accidentally biting into acidity of the pickle, its fat being cut by all kinds of a tooth achingly vinegary sliver gherkin in my burger. gherkiny goodness. I just couldn’t comprehend why they would want to So, rather disappointingly, it didn’t quite live up ruin what was otherwise the perfect burger. It was the to expectations. But I think I’m being unduly critical. childhood version of a really dirty, sordid porno. You It was never going to be good enough.  at perfect knew you should stay well clear of it but there was burger only exists in my mind and I hope I never € nd something strangely alluring about the heavy meat, it.  at way, I can spend my nights dreaming of the day. sugary buns and cheesy € nish. And the gherkin? Well, But it was certainly enjoyable enough to mean that the that was a bit like someone knocking on your door next time I’m in Llandudno, I’ll be sure to give Forte’s a halfway through. visit. If you do decide to go, be sure to check out their But that was then. Now, I’m an unashamed ice cream parlour and more speci€ cally, a really nice gherkin groupie who would quite happily do all kinds raspberry sorbet. It’s what they’ve built their reputation of horrible things just for one more hit of lip smacking on since 1926. gherkin (plus, the government are slowly instigating plans to ruin every desperate, sexually aroused web user’s anonymity so that one’s out as well). I frequently experience pregnant-like dripping with garlicky butter but it had a pleasingly so , doughy texture to contrast cravings for some gherkin. If I can’t get my hands on any, something that’s been the crunchy crust.  e main courses arrived and by and large, the standard was submerged in pickling liquor for at least € ve seconds has to make do. I o en wonder good. A pizza Margherita had a thin, crispy base and the classic tomato, basil and if I have an unhealthy love of vinegar but, a life without it would be pretty dull, I mozzarella topping, free from any bastardisation.  en there was a portion of € sh 7/10 reckon. and chips that was made up out of the most obscenely large € llet of white € sh I’ve So imagine my delight when, upon reading the menu of Forte’s in Llandudno, I seen.  e batter was light and gave way to perfectly cooked ¬ akes of so , moist € sh. saw a classic American burger on the menu. I couldn’t contain my excitement; here Mushy peas on the side acted as a solid condiment. Sticking with € sh, we also tried I was, sitting in Llandudno, about to have my fetish fed. with its smacks of gherkin a seafood platter; deep fried squad, scampi and prawn was € ne and bene€ tted from Great British World’s top 50 restaurants The much anticipated World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards were announced late last month, with bittersweet Menu Returns recognition for Heston Blumenthal and a gradual reat British Menu is back and this time, Rick Stein’s monopoly of the Padstow restaurant Nordic revolution the two main talking points. it’s serious. In recent years, the show had scene. struggled to captivate, mainly because the The highlight so far has been Simon Rogan, G he awards refl ected a good year for demoted down to 13th, four places behind his fi nal banquets became pretty low-budget affairs whose restaurant L’enclume is recognised as Scandinavia, with the regions fl agship new venture, Dinner in London. Blumenthal, in comparison to early versions that saw the the country’s second best by The Good Food restaurant, Noma in Denmark, holding on who has previously expressed a nonchalant chef’s cook for the Queen’s 80th birthday. As a guide. He progressed to the overall fi nal after T to top spot. Noma is the ultimate Wildculture- attitude towards the list, will be delighted and result, the chefs competing were the rising stars narrowly defeating Aiden Byrne. Watching Rogan inspired restaurant. Its ingredients are almost disappointed in equal measures; despite his of the culinary scene, rather than the established cook was a really formative moment for me. exclusively foraged and gathered from the attempt to play down the list’s importance, names of Britain’s food world. This year, however, His use of archaic techniques, such as clamping Nordic larder and turned into dishes such as it generally refl ects the mood within the food the big guns are back. vegetables – a Victorian method of preserving ‘Blæksprutte og kartofl er; mayonaise og brunet society and perhaps acts as a poignant reminder To put it into perspective, The Good Food vegetables underground – was combined with smør’ - Squid legs and potatoes; mayo and that Blumenthal’s molecular approach to food is Guide, possibly Britain’s most reliable arbiter properly unique elements such as rosehips brown butter (opposite). not enduring. of good restaurants, includes nine of the chefs (picked at altitude) made into a syrup, and a If Noma is the ‘standard-bearer New Nordic Britain’s only other top 50 representation featured on Great British Menu in its 50 best snow made from distilled hyssops (it’s minty movement’ in food then Frantzen/Lindeberg, came in the form of The Ledbury, whose restaurants list. That’s not to mention Aiden in fl avour, apparently). Normally, this sort of also an ingredient led restaurant, Sweden, is head chef, Australian Brett Graham, promotes Byrne, the youngest ever winner of a Michelin- gimmicky trickery does nothing for me but its nearest rival. Sweden is represented twice seasonal dishes; if it isn’t in season, you won’t star; Stephen Terry, who worked for Marco Rogan’s approach is so organic (indeed, he has more: Fäviken, no.36 and Mathias Dahlgren, fi nd it on the menu. Gordon Ramsay’s Royal Pierre-White before going on to win his own another restaurant called Roganic) and sincere, no.41. Hospital Road restaurant once again missed star, is competing in the Welsh regional heat and it’s impossible not to admire. Elsewhere, Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat out on the list, as well as its 51-100 sub section. in the fi nal heat of the series, Nathan Outlaw, As tenuous as the link between cooking and Duck – at one stage the best in the world – was head-chef at the eponymous two Michelin star the Olympics is, it’s helped to revitalise a waning restaurant in Cornwall, goes up against Simon format and bring some of the country’s best Hulstone (a fellow Michelin cheffy) and Paul chefs to our screens. Ainsworth, the man who is tackling the legendary

http://www.fortesicecream.co.uk/restaurant.php[13/05/2012 14:19:13]

http://foodsnobblog.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/img_9767.jpg[13/05/2012 18:29:42] 40 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk May Issue 2012 Travel

Dart Destination is back and this issue we’re taking you all the way to Scandina- via to see what’s on offer in the World Design Capital of 2012; Helsinki, Finland It’s time for this issue’s...

Dartought to Destination be prepared not to want to 150 different species of animal and the Workshop Vintti, an interactive leave! over 1000 different plants, showcasing exhibit especially designed for children One of Helsinki’s main selling Finland’s diverse wildlife and nature. in which Finnish history is learnt with points as a tourist destination is the The Zoo takes you through rainforests, the use of your head and hands. ‘Helsinki Helpers’ scheme. Through tundra, foreign mountain peaks and I know I keep mentioning it but the busy months of June to August wetlands immersing you in many a Finland really does have an eye the city is patrolled by the Tourism different environment. You’ll feel like for design and The Museum of and Convention Bereau’s staff you’re in the Amazon Rainforest as you Contemporary Art Kiasma “breaks the who can be stopped anywhere hear the monkeys jumping between boundaries of traditional art and follows to ask for directions, suggestions trees above your head before you fi nd the latest trends”. The Kiasma is also of what to do or just if you want yourself in the Himalyas with the snow home to a theatre and its schedule a map of leafl et. This means that leopards and miniature pandas. You includes drama, dance, music, fi lm those of you who don’t like to plan can even take a mountain tour! and video and lectures amongst other things out can head out into the A lot of people visit Helsinki for the things. hen people city and explore without having to shopping experience, and those who If you’re visiting Finland during consider a worry about getting lost or what to don’t soon fi nd themselves enjoying the winter month’s there’s two WEuropean holiday do until you’re ready and come across the experience. Home to some of the experiences that you simply cannot the fi rst places that come a Helper. It also saves queuing at a world’s best designs you could easily miss out on; a husky and reindeer to mind tend to be countries such tourism desk. And if you can’t seem fi nd yourself soon replacing all your ride. There’s a number of different as Spain, France, Italy. There are to fi nd one of the bright green clothed furniture at home, Sweden isn’t the companies offering you the chance to over forty more countries within the Helper’s don’t worry because the only Scandinavian country with an have these experiences and the rides continent though, each with their own Helsinki Tourist Mobile Info Container eye for home design! One of the best operate around the country. The one’s charm and different experiences to is on hand to not only provide tourists parts about Helsinki shopping however in Helsinki from family run business offer. Finland is one that stands out the with any information they need but is the markets and market halls. ‘BearHillHusky’ give you the chance most. With its outstandingly beautiful to represent Finland’s love for design There’s a number of different market to have a short husky ride, a reindeer nature, peaceful surroundings and with its modern steel and wooden squares and halls across the city each ride, spend the night in an Igloo and extraordinary activities, Finland is a architecture look. providing a range of traditional foods have a drink at Europe’s biggest indoor place in Europe that really shouldn’t be Like any good capital city Helsinki, and handcrafted souvenirs for you to icebar. forgotten by holidaymakers. of course, has a number of sightseeing take home from your visit. Eco-friendly There’s plenty more things to In contrast to Spain in, Finland’s tours. If you don’t fancy a bus tour of shopping is also very big in Finland, experience in Helsinki, or Finland weather is often associated with cold the city though then you have plenty why not take home some earrings in general, but we have just named and snow. Southern Finland’s winters of other options. Being just by the made from keyboards? a few. The Finnish are particularly usually last four months and snow sea means that Helsinki provides sea Other popular tourist destinations in enthusiastic about their music scene covers the ground from December excursions with some ferries taking Helsinki include the Helsinki Cathedral and so you can easily stumble across through to April meaning whilst in you to the Suomenlinna Maritime which was completed in 1852 is one of an amazing gig in a visit. The shopping Northern Finland, the home to Lapland, Fortress or the Helsinki Zoo on the beautiful pieces of architecture that experience doesn’t just end at markets winters can be a lot more extreme and Korkeasaari Island giving you a chance surrounds the Senate Square which and home design but the cities market last up to seven months, with snow to fully experience Finland’s beautiful established Helsinki’s centre when it square is home to many high street covering the ground from October to nature and wildlife up close. became the country’s capital. If you shops with all the latest fashions and early May. None of this is a bad thing The fi fteen minute journey to haven’t had enough of all the Olympic trends. Finland is highly praised for though, because experiencing Finland the Fortress is often one of tourists’ height over here then Finland’s Olympic its unique cuisine, something you will properly means experiencing just how favourite parts of visiting the city. Stadium is also worth a visit. It was no doubt fi nd yourself trying, but of snowy the Scandinavian country can Once you’re off the ferry you’re free built in 1938 and hosted the Olympic course caters to all different tastes. get. to explore the Fortress, which attracts Games in 1952. The stadium is now Instead of spending your money So why should you visit Finland? about 700,000 visitors per year. You’ll used for national and international going on the ubiquitous sun-soaked The country’s capital, Helsinki, discover typical fortress elements like sporting events and concerts of which holiday why not take a gamble and was included in The New York Times’ walls, cannons and tunnels as well as are worth the experience if you happen give Helsinki a chance? After all it has ‘45 Places to Go in 2012’ and ranked a submarine, museums and a brewery. to be in the city for one if only because been voted the world’s most liveable number two; praised for its design The fortress even has a number of cafés of the sheer beauty of the stadium and city and the country is home to fi ctional scene “Design. Design. Design.” (New and restaurants in case you forgot your the atmosphere it can create. creatures, The Moomins! York Times), Helsinki has plenty to packed lunch. If you’re brave enough The city is also home to a number offer in terms of old architecture and you can even take an aerial tour of the of popular museums. The National new and modern designs. The city was Suomenlinna group of islands! Museum of Finland boasts 170 years voted the most liveable city in 2011, If instead you were to choose the worth of work dating back from LJ Taylor by British Lifestyle magazine, so you Helsinki Zoo then you’ll encounter over prehistoric times. It is also home to May Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 41 Travel

f you fancy getting away for the pass to travel across no less than 30 money practically begs the question, purchase from Thomas Cook, if you someone close to you. Remember summer, seeing some magnifi cent countries throughout the continent. why am I not already doing this? are feeling little more spontaneous! these are the people who will be with Isights and travelling to places you Unfortunately, interrailing passes Susie Turnbull, a third year Of course with interrailing you will you for the entire time so it’s best if wouldn’t have ever imagined - then cannot be used to travel across your language student from Bangor said always be on the move, so don’t forget you get on with each other! interrailing across Europe might just own country! about her experience: “I went for one to pack light and take only the bare So, what are you waiting for? be what you are looking for... The great thing about interrailing month and it was fantastic! Best way essentials. I recommend that you Summer is practically on our doorstep InterRail is a company which is that you don’t even need to take to get around Europe and it was great take a smaller rucksack as it will be now and there is so much out there provides a number of different offers a whole month off to go travelling. fun planning the route too. I would lighter and easier to transport – what to see. You could even use interrailing on unlimited train travel across There are a multitude of passes totally recommend it!” may seem okay to carry normally for a last minute holiday, as it requires Europe. The scheme began 40 years which range from fi ve day passes to Whilst travelling, you can use an may get a bit strenuous after very very little planning. Happy travels! ago, since then it has become the use within a space of ten days, to online route planner. In the case little sleep and hours of walking! most popular way for European passes which can be used everyday that you don’t have access to internet Don’t forget to be sensible whilst Rowen Nathan citizens to travel. This is fantastic for within one month. For people who are or you like to be organised, you can travelling and always err on the side anyone who wants to see the sights younger than 25 this a brilliant deal always plan your route before you of caution to make sure that your that Europe has to offer! Everyone as prices are phenomenally cheaper. leave for your adventure. There is experience is a pleasant one. Another who is living in Europe is eligible The amount of experiences that you also a book with all the timetables top tip is to always travel with for these offers and can purchase a can have for such a small amount of for European trains which you can someone else, preferably a friend or Must-Have Summer Travel Essentials The summer holidays are just around the corner and now is the perfect time to start getting excited and thinking about what you might want to take with you on your travels! This year there are three things that should be on your list of essential items for your trip... Amazon Kindle Travel Diary Yes, yes I know these aren’t exactly a Which you can even Pac-a-Mac new invention but they are becoming buy whilst you’re Don’t let bad weather ruin your increasingly popular down to the simple away! As well as fun! There are plenty of Pac-a- fact that they are amazing! The Kindle this being a fantas- Mac’s out there which are small, is small, light, straightforward and can tic souvenir of your handy and can fi t in your beach store over a thousand books on it – what time spent away, bag for just in case. ASOS are more could you want? For all those puri- this can also be an doing a great fl oral Cath Kidston tans out there who love books (believe excellent way of Pac-a-Mac which is perfect for me I was the same) it is a fantastic way recording all of the the fashion conscious women out to carry around all your favourite books fun you are having there! and not have to worry about the extra so you can look back luggage cost! Oh and did I mention that and remember in the the battery lasts for one month? Perfect future! for your summer getaway.

Around the world with

Pictured to your right, Timothy is tion (that page to your le‘ ) to the standing in front of a sign in Finland. wonderful country that is Finland. According to our account this makes We’ve had some great entries, and it’s him the winner of our competition to been nice to see you lovely lot tak- get Seren the furthest around the world. ing Seren with you on your travels, We started the competition in Fresher’s so we’d like to say thank you for that. Week and said that if you managed to Some of you with more keen memo- get a copy of Seren to a destination, take ries may be thinking how Timothy WINNER! a picture proving it, and send it back to won when, in our previous issue, Seren us, then we would € gure out who had made it across the Atlantic to Miami. gone the furthest; the person who won Well, that particular issue was being at the end of the year would win a free carried by one of our Sub-Editor’s. Timothy Jacobson meal for two in a restaurant in Ban- In the interests of fairness we decid- gor (with a bottle of wine thrown in). ed that anyone involved with Seren Well, Timothy has pipped our other en- couldn’t qualify to win this competi- trants to the post with his Seren voyage to tion, otherwise what’d be the point? Finland, printed in our Christmas issue. Once again, congratulations to Tim, and In honour of this achievement we’ve we hope you all have a summer € lled dedicated this issue’s Dart Destina- with some travelling, holidaying fun. 42 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk May Issue 2012 Breaktime crossword

ACROSS 2. ___ DMC (3) 3. Winner of 2012 FA Cup (7) 5. Marvel superhero team (8) 6. Welsh for ‘dance’ (5) 8. Fights 7 evil exes (12) 10. Finnish mobile phone company (5) 11. Deadly snake under Hogwarts (8) 12. Lucy in the sky with ____ (8) 13. Gwen Stefani and Gwynedd street campaign (9) DOWN 1. American Reunion likes what desert? (3) 4. This is a ____ (9) 7. ‘Where Have You Been’ artist (7) 9. Computer program used to put Seren together (8

Sudoku 6 1 5 9 8 3 9 4 1 8 1 4 4 4 1 3 6 2 7 3 5 6 4 7 2 5 8 9 7 9 4 1 3 6 5 6 4 2 1 9 2 3 9 8 4 9 8 2 9 62 2 5 RECYCLE ME! Hello hello! Seren is made from 100% recycled paper, so get in on the action and recycle me when you are done! May Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 43 Letters to the Editor Dear Editor, Dear Editor,

I’d like to begin by saying I’m not a pedantic old man, BUT I I received three copies of your newspaper today, the April Issue of

was enjoying filling out the crossword in your latest edition of Seren. While normally I enjoy reading the students newspaper this

Seren and was disappoint to find that many of the answers morning I was most perturbed by errors in the Crossword feature on

were either non existent, had the incorrect number of spaces or page 24. While attempting to complete a usually enjoyable crossword

had clues missing. Across 8,9 and 18 were missing clues as was this issue was rife with errors. Clues for 7, 8 and 9 across were

2 Down. 17 Across was also stated twice! Just thought I should missing making the Crossword impossible to complete, furthermore,

bring this to your attention, the clue to 2 down was also missing not to mention and extra space

Best wishes, in 11 down. Upon discovering these errors I became most annoyed that

David Draper. I could not complete said Crossword. These aforementioned errors

made the repeat of two 17 across clues a minuscule mistake, in a

crossword made up of spaces impossible to fill and therefore a puzzle

impossible to complete.

Yours Sincerely, A Concerned Crossword Doer.

Down Across 1. Name of the new Bangor 4.  e Menai Bridge leads to? (8) City stadium (9) 7. Steep Bangor hill (5) 2. Name of the Student’s Union 9. 24 hour Bangor store (4,4) building (7) 10. Name of main hall in Main 3. Bangor library on road of the Arts (2) same name (7) 11. Seren’s annual ___ night (3) 5. Ffridd site bar (3) 13. Lower Bangor construction 6. Bangor’s nearest hospital site (6) (12) 14. Bangor Uni’s Vice-Chancellor 8. Ffridd security have a pet (10) ___ (3) 12. Bangor Uni’s con€ dential listening and information service (9)

Dear readers,

First of all, let me extend my apologies. We at Seren have no idea how this has

happened, but our intention was to never ruin your breaktime fun, we’re sorry. Let Do you have something you want to say about Seren? Anything you’ve particularly enjoyed, or maybe you us make it up to you by offering you exactly the same puzzle, but this time you can haven’t enjoyed? How do you think we can improve? If you have any comments [email protected] all that you want to put actually complete it! forward, email them to and we might even publish them! Yours Sincerely

Aaron Wiles

Seren Editor 44 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk May Issue 2012 May Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 45 Motors Sport Audi Closes the Gap On BMW ales over at Audi increased by 14.4% thousand cars. BMW is top with 478,030 to 125,000 last month, compared to sales, Audi is second place with 471,300 City Take Title on Incredible Final Day SBMW who saw a smaller increase of whilst Mercedes falls behind even more Matt Coombs West-based team to the € nal relegation slot and at goals by Shane Long and Graham Dorrans. Yossi relatively tame € nish.  ere were even further Adamp until recently, is the Name! 7.4% to see sales of 121,476. Audi have with sales of 418,426. With the new A3, least one season in the Championship, regardless Benayoun, Andre Santos. Laurent Kosciely and changes in the second half. A Djibril Cisse ri¬ ed Vauxhall’s upcoming been gaining on their rivals for a couple the updated R8 and electronic versions of oming into the last day of the season, of events at the Etihad Stadium. surprisingly enough not Robin Van Persie se- e“ ort shortly a er the break restored United’s rival to the Fiat 500 U of years now and it seems like there is models in its current line-up, expect Audi many teams still had everything to play Goodison Park was the venue for Everton and cured the win, and third spot for Arsenal. Over lead at the top and was then further assured when and the Mini was known no stopping them. However, they haven’t to close the gap or even take the top spot as the Junior, however yet managed to overtake BMW in year on in the very near future. for. Working from the bottom up, Bol- Newcastle’s € nal day match. It quickly became at White Hart Lane, Tottenham completed a com- Jamie Mackie headed home a pin point Armand Vauxhall have now year sales with Audi trailing by just a few Cton Wanderers needed to win and hope that QPR apparent that it wasn’t to be prehensive 2-0 win against Traore cross on 66 minutes, despite QPR being confi rmed that the new would lose against Manchester City. Champion’s for Newcastle, who have im- Fulham. Tottenham were down to ten men courtesy of a rush of blood to stylish city car is actually going to be named Adam! League football was up for grabs for Newcastle pressed many this season un- buoyed by the news that the head from Joey Barton. It was beginning to The car has been United who needed to win against Everton and der the management of Alan Fulham’s 23-goal hero Clint look like the title was heading to United with snapped countless of times hope that Arsenal or Tottenham Hotspur slipped Pardew. Goals from Steven Dempsey would miss out City seemingly unable to break down QPR’s de- wearing heavy camoufl age up against their respective opponents. Of course, Pienaar, indispensable Janu- with a groin injury and took fence and the much improved goalkeeping skills and it’s likely that we won’t see the fi nished product the ultimate prize of the Premier League Champi- ary signing Nikica Jelavic full advantage. Simple € nish- of Paddy Kenny. However, with Roberto Mancini until Vauxhall debut it at onship was still up for grabs too with Manchester and Johnny Heitinga meant es by Emmanuel Adebayor bringing on Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli to the Paris Motor Show in City’s superior goal di“ erence meaning that a win that an incredible come back and Jermain Defoe gave Tot- add more attacking prowess to the front line, it September. against previously mentioned QPR would all but was needed by Newcastle. tenham the three points and began to seem inevitable that City would score, We’re surprised that Vauxhall haven’t named seal the title for the blue half of Manchester. Not that it was beyond their fourth place, meaning that but could they get two? City scored the equaliser it the Custom, for that Over at the Britannia Stadium, Stoke City took reach, many still remember- they would take the fourth almost as soon as the game at Sunderland had is going to be the main an early lead through a controversial goal. Ex- ing the incredible 4-4 game Champion’s League place € nished, Edin Dzeko scoring a header, seemingly selling point of the Adam. Trotters forward Jon Walters appeared to knock against Arsenal from last and would enter the compe- unmarked, from a corner. Further in to injury Vauxhall say that there are going to be around 10,000 the ball out of goalkeeper Adam Bogdan’s hands season where the Gunners tition at the non-champions time, the come back was complete and the title different varieties of paint and into the goal on 13 minutes. Although not the went 4-0 up in the € rst half. play-o“ qualifying round. was sealed. Sergio Aguero started and completed The three-door only model is expected to measure and interior trim, meaning that no two Adam’s will start that Bolton needed, by half time Wanderers Unfortunately it was not to Manchester United went the move, cooling slotting past the helpless Kenny, around 3.70 metres in length. In terms of power, be the same. engines available will be a range of small effi cient were 2-1 up and a goal at the Etihad to City meant be, although Tony Hibbert’s into their game at  e Sta- sending the packed Etihad Stadium into scenes of Styling wise, the car is infl uenced by the 2004 petrol and diesel engines, with a new three-cylinder Vauxhall Trixx concept but will borrow heavily from that they were temporarily out of the relegation own goal in the 73rd minute dium Of Light knowing that joy and delirium. engine being introduced. the established design already seen in the current zone. Goals from both Mark and Kevin Davies sparked dreams of a revival. the title was out of their  ere were tears, there were pitch invasions, The Adam will go on sale in early 2013 with Vauxhall line-up, Vauxhall say they are going for a ust like the original GP of 2006 was, the Mini John Cooper Works GP II is a special had an element of fortune to them, the former by A well mannered game was hands.  ey had to win and quite simply, the € nal day of the season had eve- starting prices looking to be around £10,000. Miniedition of the current hatch and is a fi nalGP goodbye before the third generationII Mini is “sporty and muscular design”. Mark Davies came a er an attempted clearance marred by the post-match hope that QPR could pull o“ rything. Aptly enough, the season which is being The Adam will sit under the Corsa whilst borrowing Jannounced. a shortened platform of the next generation model. Offi cial power details of the GP II haven’t yet been detailed, but the car has lapped the by Andy Wilkinson struck the Bolton playmaker sending o“ of Tim Cahill, who appeared to raise something miraculous.  e title did in fact change called the most exciting in the Premier League’s Aaron Wiles Nurburgring in eight minutes and twenty three seconds, some nineteen seconds faster and found its way past  omas Sorensen and the his arm in the direction of Yohan Cabaye. hands numerous times throughout the 90 min- history by journalists nationwide was ended with than the previous GP. Therefore we can expect more power from the 1.6 litre turbocharged second by Kevin Davies came from a cross which Newcastle could console themselves in the utes, with all games kicking o“ at the same time one of the most exciting days of football I have engine, and a 0-62mph time of around six seconds plus. Styling wise, the GP II takes inspiration from the original. Red brake vents, red bonnet found its way past Sorensen at the near post, an knowledge that neither Arsenal nor Tottenham in the interest of fairness.  e Red Devils were ever witnessed.  ere were times when both intakes and red wing mirrors were all featured on the old GP, as were the pretty similar error that will undoubtedly be the source of some faltered. Arsenal recorded a 3-2 away win at the slotted into € rst place on 20 minutes via a cool Manchester United and City were thought to have alloy wheels and GP badging. Mini have also removed the rear seats to save weight, again embarrassment for the Danish veteran. However, Hawthorns against West Brom, who were hoping Wayne Rooney € nish from a Phil Jones cross, but sealed the title and the fact that it went down to just like the original. all of the hard work by the Wanderers players to win in their last game under England-bound found themselves going in to the dressing room at the € nal day is testament to the quality of the The signature Mini handling should be even better too; the car has adjustable race suspension, slicker tyres and stronger brakes which will no doubt provide endless fun was to no avail a er Jon Walters slotted home a Roy Hodgson. Indeed, the Midlands out€ t put up half time demoted into second with Paddy Kenny league, which has been questioned at length by on the race track or just a quick drive to the corner shop. The GP II is expected to cost penalty to level the scores and con€ ne the North a good € ght and were at one point ahead through inexplicably failing to keep out Pablo Zabaleta’s the press. around £25,000 with just 2,000 editions being produced.

Aaron Wiles Alex Thomson e Olympics: Will Sport Take a Back Seat? have to admit that I’m not the biggest fan of tage has been taken away because all countries are All domestic competitions have been cancelled belief that if the home footballing nations rally be- the Olympics, the venue is wrong it needed being allowed to train in Britain. and the International Olympic Committee has hind the Union ¬ ag for the Olympics and doesn’t to be in either the West Midlands or in the  e lighting of the Olympic ¬ ame at the birth- been forced to step in with another Greek bailout really take into account the changes that have oc- INorth to really kick-start failing regional econo- place of the ancient games was a stirring moment, - this time to ensure they can € eld a decent team curred since London won the right to stage the mies for all the money that would have been which reminded people of the historic signi€ - in London. Olympics with the SNP saying that they will hold pumped into the area cance of the movement and  e indignant response a inde- both public and pri- London’s responsibilities from the Scottish and Welsh “ ey insist there is no new agreement, pendence vate. London in the this summer. football associations to the no falling in line.” referen- 21st century still Besides a brief scare announcement of Great dum in has all the money when the ¬ ame went Britain football teams for the 2012 Olympic 2014/15, so are Scotland really be part of a Great and all the in¬ u- out, the ceremony passed Games cannot have come as any surprise to the Britain team when the Scottish Government is ence so why does it smoothly. But even with the British Olympic Association. intent on separating from the rest of the United

Spotted in Bangor need the Olympics on top of sun shining it was hard to ignore  e other home nations outside England have Kingdom? I wish that a GB team could be formed everything else? We keep get- the gloomier economic backdrop for long made clear their implacable opposition to for every sport in the Olympics because it would ting told that money will ¬ ow from the event. the idea of a joint team, and they are clearly € nd- show to the world that Britain can forget about London to other parts of the country and re-ignite Greece is facing a crippling economic crisis. ing the language used by the BOA in making the political arguments and join together to play Britain, I doubt that it will do any of that, it will And while it seems slightly perverse to bemoan announcement provocative. sport. Football’s world governing body FIFA may be London with more money and in¬ uence.  e cuts to sport at a time when so many are losing  ey insist there is no new agreement, no fall- well in time, eventually, decide to make the joint sport, I believe is second place because Britain their jobs here, the impact on elite athletes has ing in line.  is row has been festering for years. team a permanent € xture which would, in my won’t win the Olympics; the home team advan- been severe. It’s quite a unionist idea and founded on the basic opinion, only be good news. Audi Porn Audi R8

Mini O’Sullivan Claims Snooker World Championship Title Jaguar XJ Joe Russell too much snooker in China?’ and the answer is ing their integrity. Allen was subsequently € ned; who called Carter ‘childish’), had snooker’s real n spite of the commentators’ interminable ‘No!’ ‘We are playing where the demand is’. Once the Northern Irishman is a supreme talent but entertainer Peter Ebdon – he of 12-break in four references to its sponsors, the BETFRED. play got underway, there were several reasons for his penchant for saying ill-judged, controversial minutes fame – in his corner. Unfortunately for COM(!) World Championship proved itself consternation, but few of them towards Hearn. things is unwelcome. Carter, O’Sullivan, who had breaks of 56, 117, 52, Ito be a thoroughly enjoyable two weeks, full of Next, the exodus of many seeded players: the 92, 141, 68, 62, 101, 54, 64, 55, 70 and 61 in the controversy and o“ ering a timely reminder that “Once play got underway, there were Marks – Selby and Allen – were joined by 5th seed € nal, was playing his brand of total snooker – pa- when he concentrates, Ronnie O’Sullivan is close Shaun Murphy, along with Stephen Lee, Martin tient aggression combined with a phenomenally to unbeatable. Since its takeover by Barry Hearn, several reasons for consternation.” Gould, Ding Junhui, Graeme Dott and Stuart e“ ective safety game – and went on to win the who’s in the process of prostituting snooker to Bingham in exiting the championship in the € rst € nal 18-11. O’Sullivan, who has a reputation for the far-east market, snooker has been in a stage First, there was Stephen Hendry’s immaculate round. Judd Trump, John Higgins, Mark Wil- threatening retirement, immediately announced of transition.  ere are now more events than 147-break that he, unfortunately, followed with liams, Neil Robertson and Stephen Hendry all fell a six-month sabbatical from the game, citing ever before and the World Championship was the announcement that he was retiring. Snooker’s before the semi-€ nals that saw Ronnie O’Sullivan Hearn’s attempts of ‘blackmail’ as a reason. If this clouded by rumours that its venue,  e Crucible most successful player was giving the game up defeated Welshman Matthew Stevens 17-10 and year’s championship illuminated anything about in She® eld, was to be axed in favour of a move to to focus on business interests in China. Sticking Ali Carter get the better of Stephen Maguire 17- snooker, it was that its new dawn will be full of China. Hearn tempered criticism of his plans to with the far-east, Mark Allen found himself in hot 12. controversy and equally dependent on Ronnie Citroen 2CV Audi R8 increase the game’s expansion in China by saying, water a er making a wholly inaccurate, damning Carter, who’d already had an eventful fortnight O’Sullivan’s continued excellence. ‘there are some corners that say “Are we playing contention against Chinese players’, question- (he’d had a Twitter argument with Judd Trump, May Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 45 Sport City Take Title on Incredible Final Day West-based team to the € nal relegation slot and at goals by Shane Long and Graham Dorrans. Yossi relatively tame € nish.  ere were even further Matt Coombs least one season in the Championship, regardless Benayoun, Andre Santos. Laurent Kosciely and changes in the second half. A Djibril Cisse ri¬ ed oming into the last day of the season, of events at the Etihad Stadium. surprisingly enough not Robin Van Persie se- e“ ort shortly a er the break restored United’s many teams still had everything to play Goodison Park was the venue for Everton and cured the win, and third spot for Arsenal. Over lead at the top and was then further assured when for. Working from the bottom up, Bol- Newcastle’s € nal day match. It quickly became at White Hart Lane, Tottenham completed a com- Jamie Mackie headed home a pin point Armand Cton Wanderers needed to win and hope that QPR apparent that it wasn’t to be prehensive 2-0 win against Traore cross on 66 minutes, despite QPR being would lose against Manchester City. Champion’s for Newcastle, who have im- Fulham. Tottenham were down to ten men courtesy of a rush of blood to League football was up for grabs for Newcastle pressed many this season un- buoyed by the news that the head from Joey Barton. It was beginning to United who needed to win against Everton and der the management of Alan Fulham’s 23-goal hero Clint look like the title was heading to United with hope that Arsenal or Tottenham Hotspur slipped Pardew. Goals from Steven Dempsey would miss out City seemingly unable to break down QPR’s de- up against their respective opponents. Of course, Pienaar, indispensable Janu- with a groin injury and took fence and the much improved goalkeeping skills the ultimate prize of the Premier League Champi- ary signing Nikica Jelavic full advantage. Simple € nish- of Paddy Kenny. However, with Roberto Mancini onship was still up for grabs too with Manchester and Johnny Heitinga meant es by Emmanuel Adebayor bringing on Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli to City’s superior goal di“ erence meaning that a win that an incredible come back and Jermain Defoe gave Tot- add more attacking prowess to the front line, it against previously mentioned QPR would all but was needed by Newcastle. tenham the three points and began to seem inevitable that City would score, seal the title for the blue half of Manchester. Not that it was beyond their fourth place, meaning that but could they get two? City scored the equaliser Over at the Britannia Stadium, Stoke City took reach, many still remember- they would take the fourth almost as soon as the game at Sunderland had an early lead through a controversial goal. Ex- ing the incredible 4-4 game Champion’s League place € nished, Edin Dzeko scoring a header, seemingly Trotters forward Jon Walters appeared to knock against Arsenal from last and would enter the compe- unmarked, from a corner. Further in to injury the ball out of goalkeeper Adam Bogdan’s hands season where the Gunners tition at the non-champions time, the come back was complete and the title and into the goal on 13 minutes. Although not the went 4-0 up in the € rst half. play-o“ qualifying round. was sealed. Sergio Aguero started and completed start that Bolton needed, by half time Wanderers Unfortunately it was not to Manchester United went the move, cooling slotting past the helpless Kenny, were 2-1 up and a goal at the Etihad to City meant be, although Tony Hibbert’s into their game at  e Sta- sending the packed Etihad Stadium into scenes of that they were temporarily out of the relegation own goal in the 73rd minute dium Of Light knowing that joy and delirium. zone. Goals from both Mark and Kevin Davies sparked dreams of a revival. the title was out of their  ere were tears, there were pitch invasions, had an element of fortune to them, the former by A well mannered game was hands.  ey had to win and quite simply, the € nal day of the season had eve- Mark Davies came a er an attempted clearance marred by the post-match hope that QPR could pull o“ rything. Aptly enough, the season which is being by Andy Wilkinson struck the Bolton playmaker sending o“ of Tim Cahill, who appeared to raise something miraculous.  e title did in fact change called the most exciting in the Premier League’s and found its way past  omas Sorensen and the his arm in the direction of Yohan Cabaye. hands numerous times throughout the 90 min- history by journalists nationwide was ended with second by Kevin Davies came from a cross which Newcastle could console themselves in the utes, with all games kicking o“ at the same time one of the most exciting days of football I have found its way past Sorensen at the near post, an knowledge that neither Arsenal nor Tottenham in the interest of fairness.  e Red Devils were ever witnessed.  ere were times when both error that will undoubtedly be the source of some faltered. Arsenal recorded a 3-2 away win at the slotted into € rst place on 20 minutes via a cool Manchester United and City were thought to have embarrassment for the Danish veteran. However, Hawthorns against West Brom, who were hoping Wayne Rooney € nish from a Phil Jones cross, but sealed the title and the fact that it went down to all of the hard work by the Wanderers players to win in their last game under England-bound found themselves going in to the dressing room at the € nal day is testament to the quality of the was to no avail a er Jon Walters slotted home a Roy Hodgson. Indeed, the Midlands out€ t put up half time demoted into second with Paddy Kenny league, which has been questioned at length by penalty to level the scores and con€ ne the North a good € ght and were at one point ahead through inexplicably failing to keep out Pablo Zabaleta’s the press.

Alex Thomson e Olympics: Will Sport Take a Back Seat? have to admit that I’m not the biggest fan of tage has been taken away because all countries are All domestic competitions have been cancelled belief that if the home footballing nations rally be- the Olympics, the venue is wrong it needed being allowed to train in Britain. and the International Olympic Committee has hind the Union ¬ ag for the Olympics and doesn’t to be in either the West Midlands or in the  e lighting of the Olympic ¬ ame at the birth- been forced to step in with another Greek bailout really take into account the changes that have oc- INorth to really kick-start failing regional econo- place of the ancient games was a stirring moment, - this time to ensure they can € eld a decent team curred since London won the right to stage the mies for all the money that would have been which reminded people of the historic signi€ - in London. Olympics with the SNP saying that they will hold pumped into the area cance of the movement and  e indignant response a inde- both public and pri- London’s responsibilities from the Scottish and Welsh “ ey insist there is no new agreement, pendence vate. London in the this summer. football associations to the no falling in line.” referen- 21st century still Besides a brief scare announcement of Great dum in has all the money when the ¬ ame went Britain football teams for the 2012 Olympic 2014/15, so are Scotland really be part of a Great and all the in¬ u- out, the ceremony passed Games cannot have come as any surprise to the Britain team when the Scottish Government is ence so why does it smoothly. But even with the British Olympic Association. intent on separating from the rest of the United need the Olympics on top of sun shining it was hard to ignore  e other home nations outside England have Kingdom? I wish that a GB team could be formed everything else? We keep get- the gloomier economic backdrop for long made clear their implacable opposition to for every sport in the Olympics because it would ting told that money will ¬ ow from the event. the idea of a joint team, and they are clearly € nd- show to the world that Britain can forget about London to other parts of the country and re-ignite Greece is facing a crippling economic crisis. ing the language used by the BOA in making the political arguments and join together to play Britain, I doubt that it will do any of that, it will And while it seems slightly perverse to bemoan announcement provocative. sport. Football’s world governing body FIFA may be London with more money and in¬ uence.  e cuts to sport at a time when so many are losing  ey insist there is no new agreement, no fall- well in time, eventually, decide to make the joint sport, I believe is second place because Britain their jobs here, the impact on elite athletes has ing in line.  is row has been festering for years. team a permanent € xture which would, in my won’t win the Olympics; the home team advan- been severe. It’s quite a unionist idea and founded on the basic opinion, only be good news. O’Sullivan Claims Snooker World Championship Title Joe Russell too much snooker in China?’ and the answer is ing their integrity. Allen was subsequently € ned; who called Carter ‘childish’), had snooker’s real n spite of the commentators’ interminable ‘No!’ ‘We are playing where the demand is’. Once the Northern Irishman is a supreme talent but entertainer Peter Ebdon – he of 12-break in four references to its sponsors, the BETFRED. play got underway, there were several reasons for his penchant for saying ill-judged, controversial minutes fame – in his corner. Unfortunately for COM(!) World Championship proved itself consternation, but few of them towards Hearn. things is unwelcome. Carter, O’Sullivan, who had breaks of 56, 117, 52, Ito be a thoroughly enjoyable two weeks, full of Next, the exodus of many seeded players: the 92, 141, 68, 62, 101, 54, 64, 55, 70 and 61 in the controversy and o“ ering a timely reminder that “Once play got underway, there were Marks – Selby and Allen – were joined by 5th seed € nal, was playing his brand of total snooker – pa- when he concentrates, Ronnie O’Sullivan is close Shaun Murphy, along with Stephen Lee, Martin tient aggression combined with a phenomenally to unbeatable. Since its takeover by Barry Hearn, several reasons for consternation.” Gould, Ding Junhui, Graeme Dott and Stuart e“ ective safety game – and went on to win the who’s in the process of prostituting snooker to Bingham in exiting the championship in the € rst € nal 18-11. O’Sullivan, who has a reputation for the far-east market, snooker has been in a stage First, there was Stephen Hendry’s immaculate round. Judd Trump, John Higgins, Mark Wil- threatening retirement, immediately announced of transition.  ere are now more events than 147-break that he, unfortunately, followed with liams, Neil Robertson and Stephen Hendry all fell a six-month sabbatical from the game, citing ever before and the World Championship was the announcement that he was retiring. Snooker’s before the semi-€ nals that saw Ronnie O’Sullivan Hearn’s attempts of ‘blackmail’ as a reason. If this clouded by rumours that its venue,  e Crucible most successful player was giving the game up defeated Welshman Matthew Stevens 17-10 and year’s championship illuminated anything about in She® eld, was to be axed in favour of a move to to focus on business interests in China. Sticking Ali Carter get the better of Stephen Maguire 17- snooker, it was that its new dawn will be full of China. Hearn tempered criticism of his plans to with the far-east, Mark Allen found himself in hot 12. controversy and equally dependent on Ronnie increase the game’s expansion in China by saying, water a er making a wholly inaccurate, damning Carter, who’d already had an eventful fortnight O’Sullivan’s continued excellence. ‘there are some corners that say “Are we playing contention against Chinese players’, question- (he’d had a Twitter argument with Judd Trump, 46 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk May Issue 2012 Sport

Liam ConnollyChelsea Claim 2012 F.A. Cup he 5th of May was a blue day at two minutes later when Craig Bellamy saved by Petr Cech, a save that is sure to Wembley Stadium as Chelsea smashed a volley against Branislav become one of the iconic moments of le the F.A Cup € nal with the Ivanovich in the Chelsea penalty area. the F.A Cup’s history. With some Liver- Ttrophy in their hands.  e game began  e longer the game went on the more pool players claiming the ball crossed with 85million pounds worth of goal comfortable the London side looked as the line, perhaps it will be one of the scoring talent on the the reds failed to bring Cup’s most controversial moments too. bench as both Andy “With some Liverpool Suarez into the game, Chelsea held out to win their 7th F.A Carroll and Fernando the Uruguayan too of- Cup. As John Terry became the captain Torres failed to make players claiming the ball ten isolated against the to li the trophy the most times in the the starting line ups. had crossed the line, blues back four. modern era, Chelsea’s attention now  e latter was not perhaps it will be one of Frank Lampard es- turns to Munich and the Allianz Arena missed. With just 11 caped Jay Spearing far for the Champions League Final on minutes on the clock, the Cup’s most contro- too easily before slip- May 19th. For Liverpool a disappoint- Jay Spearing’s inabil- versial moments” ping the ball to Drogba ing season ends on a sour note, despite ity to control the ball in the Liverpool penal- hammering Chelsea 4-1 at An€ eld led to Juan Mata seizing possession. ty area and the big Ivorian swept a le mere days a er losing to them in the With Liverpool on the back-foot he foot shot past the Liverpool ‘keeper’. It persistence paid o“ as his block on a Liverpool side pressed relentlessly cup € nal. Both teams will know a Cup swept a ball through to the galloping was the Strikers fourth F.A Cup € nal Bosingwa found its way to Carroll deep for the remaining half hour. Finally win may not be su® cient success in the Ramires who outpaced Jose Enrique goal in as many games. inside the Chelsea penalty area. Liver- the ball was sticking as Andy Carroll next campaign. to € re the ball past Pepe Reina at his Dalglish had to make a change.  e pool’s number nine twisted and turned caught everything thrown at him. near post, both of whom will be disap- struggling Jay Spearing was replaced to gain half a yard on John Terry before  e thirty-€ ve million pound man pointed with their part in the goal. by Andy Carroll; he made an instant € ring a shot past Petr Cech in the Chel- nearly became the hero in the 81st Liverpool responded well to the impact. Just ten minutes a er his in- sea goal. Liverpool began to dominate. minute. A lovely clipped ball from goal as they got their € rst real grip on troduction to the game Carroll was At 2-1 Chelsea began to become Suarez found Carroll looming at the possession.  ey were nearly level just on the scoresheet. Stewart Downing’s nervy and tired as the newly inspired far post and his header was brilliantly Mixed Emotions for Williams Matt Jackson hour and a half a er the race had came to a close.  e € re crew that attended the blaze he Spanish Grand Prix marked a bit- had to come from a nearby location. tersweet day for the Williams team,  e € re is said to have started from a with the end of the race looming KERS supply. KERS or the Kinetic Energy T#ABV – anything but Vettel was trending on Recovery Systems has been controversial in Twitter.  e Williams driver Pastor Maldo- its time at Formula One as it was originally nado picked up his € rst Grand Prix win and seen as something that would separate the William’s € rst win in eight years. However big teams, who used KERS with the smaller the joyous occasion was overseen by tragic teams who did not.  is is another move in a events inside the William’s pit crew. long line of F1 controversies linking over the A pit € re broke out injuring a total of widening gap within F1 with teams regular- 7 people; 4 of which were from William’s ly dominating a whole season. Liam Connolly spite Bayern’s failings, any talk of Ivanovic and Raul Meireles all miss own team.  e other injured persons were Amidst the devastating news about the low morale may be premature as out through suspension. However, made up of four Caterham mechanics and Williams team the Spanish Grand Prix will he Allianz Arena is set to the Champions League is a strange news that David Luiz and Gary Ca- a Force India crewmember that su“ ered be remembered for Michael Schumacher’s host the Champions League animal; domestic form rarely hill have returned to training will from smoke inhalation; the tracks € rst aid collision with Bruno Senna. Since his return € nal on Saturday in what is counts for anything in these big Eu- be a welcome boost for the London and medical teams treated them all. Martin to the sport Schumacher has been described Tsure to be another magni€ cent Eu- ropean ties, just ask Chelsea. side.  e German’s haven’t got a full Betts received the worst injuries following as more mediocre than what his previously ropean night. For both Chelsea and O“ the back of the FA Cup win squad to choose from either, with the incident and has second-degree burns decorated career would suggest. Schumach- Bayern di® cult domestic seasons the blues lost 4-1 to Liverpool in a Gustavo Lopez, David Alaba and on 15% of his body; the worst e“ ected areas er called Senna an idiot over the radio how- have added extra signi€ cance to the shambolic performance, and € n- Holger Badstuber having picked up are his hands and legs. Caterham said that ever the o® cials suggested that the collision game that is always the pinnacle of ish the league campaign in 6th suspensions in their semi-€ nal tie three of their crewmembers had su“ ered was his fault giving him a 5 place penalty for the football calendar. place, the lowest of league € nish with Real Madrid. from respiratory problems whilst one crew- the famous Monaco Grand Prix. Bayern Munich head into the of Roman Abramovich’s tenure. Should Bayern win it will be the member had su“ ered from minor burns on Following the race Williams and the game on the back of a 5-2 defeat However, Saturday’s 2-1 win over €  h time they’ve li ed the famous their hand. FIA have launched an investigation into the to Borrusia Dortmund in the Ger- Blackburn Rovers may well pro- trophy, while Chelsea seek to get Following the incident there have been cause of the € re and have vowed to focus man Cup € nal, hardly the kind of vide Roberto Di Matteo with some their hands on it for the € rst time calls from various people to try and tighten on prevention in future in order to avoid a preparation manager Jupp Hey- optimism. With so many Chelsea in their history. While it remains up on track safety within the sport.  e ef- similar incident. However for Pastor Mal- nckes would have been hoping for. players suspended, it would seem to be seen whether Munich’s home forts of various crewmembers from Wil- donado this is a chance to silence his crit- Bayern’s league campaign brought Di Matteo’s most di® cult job will advantage will be a bene€ t or a bur- liams and their competitors have been la- ics and celebrate his € rst formula one Grand equally as little joy as they were be to dig deep into the squad in den, what is guaranteed is yet an- belled as “heroic”. Spanish reports suggested Prix. For a lot of formula one fans it shows forced to settle for a runners-up order to € nd 11 players eligible to other dramatic Champions league that the track € re crew had already le the a refreshing moment for one of the Red Bull spot again behind Dortmund. De- play. John Terry, Ramires, Branislav night. event prior to the € re, which occurred an to not win. Bucs table week ending 13/04/2012 League Cup Indiv. Total 1 Loughborough University 1644.5 902 2443 4989.5 58 London School of Economics 277.5 120 19 416.5 59 Liverpool John Moores University 313.5 88 12 413.5 60 Bangor University 315.5 70 22 407.5 61 Lincoln University 295 107 5 407 62 University of East Anglia 278.5 93 26 395.5 149 Scottish Agricultural College 0 0 0 0 For Bangor’s complete Bucs scores and tables visit: visit Bucs online or scan the QR code to the right. May Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 47 Sport LJ Taylor UEFA European Championships ith the whole country in an olympic Championship € nals will include sixteen nations, from the group stages. looked to be going into penalties.  e World Cup uproar its easy to forget that they aren’t with the 2016 championships, hosted in France, For me though, my interest lies with  e Neth- € nal marked the last professional match for Dutch the only major sporting events tak- being the € rst to allow twenty-four of the teams erlands of whom I’ve been a fan for eleven years Captain Giovanni Van Bronckhorst who was Wing place this year. Two years a er 2010’s World into the € nals.  e winner of Euro 2012 will gain now. Following their disappointing end to a vastly brought o“ towards the end and replaced in de- Cup championships in South Africa, its time for automatic entry into the 2013 FIFA Confed- successful World Cup campaign in 2010, which fence by mid€ elder Rafael Van Der Vaart. It was a the UEFA European Championships.  is year’s erations Cup in Brazil in June of that year.  is landed them with the Runner Up place, it’s going bad decision from the manager, arguably in prep- European Championships will be the fourteenth tournament will consist of the host, Brazil, World to be interesting to see how they handle the Euro- aration for the expected penalties in which Van organised for international teams by UEFA and Cup 2010 winners, Spain, 2011 Asian Cup win- pean Championships. Many people commented Der Vaart’s le foot would have been a valuable will take place between 8th June and 1st July with ners Japan, CONCACAF Cup winners, Mexico, on the change in style of football from Holland asset, but le the Dutch end of the € eld without the championships hosted by both Poland and Copa America winners, Uruguay and the yet to in the World Cup, leaving behind their roots in the strong line of defence it needed when Spain’s Ukraine, the € rst time either nation has hosted the be determined OFC Nation’s winners, Euro 2012 ‘beautiful football’ and instead playing a dirtier Cesc Fabregas broke the Dutch defence and got tournament.  e two host nations automatically winner and 2013 Africa Cup of Nation’s winners. game, the nation was criticised.  e fact of the the ball to Iniesta. Dutch hearts broke across the quali€ ed for the € nals championships in which  e groups from the tournament, which were matter remained though; it worked. nation and as they say the rest is history. they will be joined by fourteen other teams that decided on the 2nd December, have turned out Dominating the group stages, with a win in Two years later the Netherlands are back in an have made it through the 51 team quali€ ers.  e pretty interesting with World Cup runner up’s every match, the Dutch soon found themselves in international championship, with the chance to teams that will be joining the home nations are:  e Netherlands € nding themselves in Group B the Quarter Finals up against one of the world’s meet Spain once again but can they seal the deal Greece, Russia, Czech Republic,  e Netherlands, with possible favourites Germany.  e Word Cup best nations and favourites for the cup; Brazil. this time around? I hope so and I think it’ll be Denmark, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Re- champions, Spain (who if victorious will pass their Losing 1-0 at hal ime to a team who hadn’t lost a interesting to see how the Dutch approach Euro public of Ire- land, Croatia, Sweden, Confederation’s Cup place to the runner’s up), World Cup match in which they held a half time 2012.  eir new style of football, criticised in the F r a n c e and England. join Italy in Group C along with one of two UK victory for 37 matches, the Netherlands managed World Cup, brought them a lot of success but will T h i s year will be the nations to qualify, the Republic of to turn the tables and win 2-1 with an amazing they give it up and return to the preferred ‘beauti- l a s t time that the Ireland. England’s Group D has corner kick straight into the net from Wesley ful football’ that the Dutch are so well known for? UEFA European shaped up to be a pretty inter- Sneijder. I know I de€ nitely won’t be counting them out as esting contest Meeting Uruguay in Cape Town for the Semi- one of the favourites for the title and despite the too with both Finals really tested the team but a er a dramatic recent retiring of Dutch legend Ruud Van Nistel- France and match they came out on top and on their way rooy the Netherland’s have plenty of young and Sweden pos- into the World Cup Final for the € rst time since brilliant players. Hopefully this time they can grab ing a threat to their 1978.  e € nal, in which the Dutch took on the the gold. chances of advancing Spanish, was an intense rollercoaster of a ride that

Old Rugby Boys and Girls Re- LJ Taylor Nicola Hoban Alan Pardew: Unexpected Hero hen Alan Pardew was an- Liverpool 3-1 at St he Bangor University rugby we had a really good team and we did nounced as Newcastle James’ Park and then teams welcomed back some old pretty well.” United’s new manager, just a brilliant 5-0 victory faces last week as the Old Boys  e men’s match kicked o“ at 2pm Wthree days a er the sacking of Chris over his former club Tand Old Girls from previous years re- and stood at 5-7 with the Old Boys pull- Hughton, in December 2010 it was West Ham. Peoples’ turned to Bangor to prepare for their ing ahead when the game had to be cut to mixed reactions from the fans.  e opinions on him were annual rugby match, though this year short a er one of the Old Boy’s broke Newcastle fans have long been known quickly changing. He it was held in memory of Old Girl Sam his tibia and € bula and badly dislocated for their sheer dedication and love for and the team faced Hurst who died earlier this year of his ankle, and emergency services had their team, despite the fact that their quite a bit of embar- leukemic cancer. to be contacted. team has little to o“ er in terms of sil- rassment when they  e two match- “ is year we had a really good  ird year verware, and so it was an important lost 3-1 to League es, held on the team and we did pretty well” Bangor student decision on who should manage the 2 team Stevenage Treborth pitches Philippe Brown, historic Magpies. A poll, by Sky Sports, though.  at loss, twelve games. on Sunday 6th May, saw the Old Girls Number 5 Second Row on the Bangor revealed that only 5.5% of the 40,000 however, was cancelled out with one Pardew’s time at Newcastle has and Boys face the current Bangor Uni- University Men’s team said of the day: voters backed Alan Pardew to become of the Premier League’s greatest come- had a few downs but has mostly been versity rugby teams while the crowd “As always a great game to see the old the Magpies’ new manager, a € gure backs of all time. Down 4-0 at half ups and he’s really had a huge impact standing on the sidelines stood watch- faces of Bangor! It was really enjoyable that would likely change if they could time to Arsenal, in February, Newcas- on bringing the Magpies back to the ing and cheering.  e women’s match although a serious attitude re¬ ects the see him now. tle United somehow fought back and standard of the Alan Shearer days. He kicked o“ at 12.30pm, where the Ban- kinds of players we are when we enter Just returned to the Premier League, ended the game 4-4. was awarded for his dedication and gor Women’s rugby team faced some the € eld.  e game was cut short by a Newcastle were ready to return to their  is season Pardew brought in hard work by being named as the Bar- sti“ competition as their components shocking injury, but these are unfortu- old form and Pardew was happy to be some of Newcastle’s now most valuable clay’s Premier League Manager of the consisted partly of players of the pre- nately the types of occurrences that be given the chance to lead them to suc- player’s such as Cabaye and Ba and led Season, the € rst Newcastle manager to miership England Women’s rugby seen in such a physical game. Prior to cess. He knew he would have to do them to their best Premier League start do so. He’s managed to secure Newcas- team. With the game resulting with the injury however the match had been a lot to earn the support of the fans in 17 years with an undefeated streak tle €  h place in the Premier League the Old Girls winning, the score stood fairly even.” and the players but he was ready for of eleven games. January this year he this year, above big names Liverpool at 36-5. Second year student Gabriella  e match managed to raise £440 the challenge and knew it wasn’t a job brought in Cisse who’s proved his right and Chelsea, and a place in the Europa Rosseti, who plays openside ¬ anker as for Leukaemia Research UK by selling he could pass up. In his € rst game as to the legendary Newcastle number League. Unfortunately Newcastle just number 7, said of the match: “It was a wristbands in memory of Old Girl Sam manager Pardew saw his team defeat 9 shirt by scoring thirteen goals in lost out on a Champion’s League place. really tough match but we put up a re- Hurst, who passed away from leukae- ally good € ght, whereas before we nor- mia earlier this year. mally got smashed.  is year though Matt JacksonMurray Triumphs Again ndy Murray struggled his way into the third round ple of close chances sent a of the Rome masters following a fairly one sided € rst shot just edging over the net AU AWARDS 2012 set that eventually turned into a colossal struggle and pushing Murray one step Aagainst David Nalbandian. In the end a lucky break in a de- closer to the win. Club of the Year: Women’s Gaelic Football cisive third set was what € nally saw Murray through on his  e close of the game Team of the Year: American Football 25th birthday. however was still an uphill Garbiella Rosettit: Blues for Jitsu & Women’s Rugby Murray looked stronger initially capitalizing on a series of struggle for the seemingly errors from his opponent and sailed his way into a convinc- self destructive Murray who Varsity Teams of the Year: Men’s & Women’s Football ing 4-0 lead. Nalbandian pulled back but following a massive would have been shocked to AU President’s Award: Robyn Cooke 15-minute game Andy Murray paved the way to seal the four overcome his opponent. He game cushion. found himself 15-40 down Spirit of the Union: Lacrosse Nalbandian however looked a lot stronger in the second as he attempted to serve for Sportswoman of the Year: Kathryn Howard set and looked as though he could easily give British fa- the match but came out the vourite Murray a run for his money.  e set loomed at 5-5 eventual winner as Nalbandi- Sportsman of the Year: Ben Butler and Murray looked as though he could have easily been an sent a € nal forehand shot turned over by the Argentine Nalbandian however Mur- hurtling into the net. ray eventually stormed 0-40 ahead and following a cou-