Bangor University Students’ Union April 2013 English Language Issue No. 231 Newspaper FREE @SerenBangor Seren.Bangor.ac.uk WRATH OF KRATOS INTERVIEW: THABANI NYONI JAILBREAK 2013

Bangor’sSemi- rst time in the semis nalssince 1999 for Bangor By NICOLA HOBAN tudents from Bangor University have managed to secure a place in the semi- nal round of Uni- versityS Challenge. A er beating their rivals, Cambridge King’s College, by 195 points to 70 on April 8th, this makes it the rst time since 1999 that Bangor team have ad- vanced to the semi nals.  e show, which is currently on its 50th series, has seen Bangor Univer- sity beat the University of St Andrews 125-105, the University of Durham 175-165, lose against University Col- lege London 190-125, and win against Imperial College London 210-120.  e team was created last year a er a selection process including several rounds of questioning over a period of months. It was nally whittled down Nina Grant, team captain and cur- rently studying French and Linguis- tics; Simon Tomlinson, who is study- ing Psychology; Mark Stevens, who is studying Environmental Science; and Adam Pearce, who is studying Trans- lation Studies, as well as team reserve Catriona Coutts. Captain Nina Grant said of the vic- Bangor’s University Challenge team with host Jeremy Paxton tory, “I’m amazed by how well we did, not because we didn’t believe in our ence has been brilliant. We had no idea always liked the programme and it’s ble range of questions is so broad that round, which will be broadcasted on own abilities but because we knew the when we started out that we’d get this something I’ve wanted to do since there’s a lot of luck to it too.” April 22, 2013 at 8pm on BBC 2. calibre of the teams we would go up far, but I think we have a wide range I started taking part in quizzes. It’s Bangor University’s Univeristy Chal- against.” of knowledge among team members.” important to have a broad variety of lenge team will be playing against the She continued: “ e whole experi- Teammate Adam Pearce added, “I’ve knowledge in the team, but the possi- University of Manchester in the next University allocates £1 million to disability access

by LJ TAYLOR upgrading to t existing disability ac- In order for the required work to be we’re doing to improve access to exist- sity’s existing estates strategy. cess legislation. carried out across the university, the ing buildings, Bangor is also currently  e estates strategy will see improve- he University is to invest £1 “Some of the university’s buildings £1 million will need to be identi ed investing millions of pounds in new ments made to various areas in the million in disability access over are from a di erent age. For example, within the university’s existing budget. buildings which are speci cally de- University. Work is due to be com- the next three years. Main Arts is now over a hundred years Both the university and the Students’ signed to provide easy access for all pleted on Maes Glas Sports Centre by T is comes a er lobbying from the old, and the law regarding disability Union will be working together close- our visitors,” said Dylan Roberts, Di- the start of the next academic year and Students’ Union. A report presented access has changed a lot in that time,” ly in order to allocate the funding in rector of Estates at the University. renovations to St Mary’s site look to to the University Executive detailed said Antony Butcher, Students’ Union the best way.  e work will be carried out over the be done by 2015. Other buildings, like how certain parts of the estate needed President. “In addition to the major work that next three years alongside the Univer- Main Arts, will also be refurbished.

April , 2013 | Seren 3 CONTENTS 22 LJ TAYLOR EDITOR [email protected] What a beautiful spring we’ve been having, huh? If it weren’t for the impending dissertation dead- lines I would’ve thought we were still in December. But no, we’re in April and at our penultimate issue of Seren this year. It’s gone so fast! This issue I was away in Berlin where I somehow got sunburnt and stalked by the tv tower. I felt terrible leaving my team to deal with the issue alone but they have done a fantastic job, I’m sure you’ll agree. Even though it’s quite small, this is- sue is jam packed with everything going on in Bangor. Check out our Societies pages to nd out what Bangor’s societies are up to, there’s still time to get in- 8 19 volved with them before the year’s News 4-6 out! Speaking of Societies our very own Society Girls have been out Politics 7 around Bangor nding out what Science 8 societies you guys think are great. And Robyn has been working hard Environment 9 turning old issues of Seren into 13 23 bricks that can be used as fuel by Comment 10 the homeless shelters. Interview 11 Ever heard of Kaya Festival? Its an amazing World Festival coming to Union 12 Bangor and this issue we have an Seren Awards 13 interview with its organiser, Thaba- ni, there’s also chance to win some Societies 14 tickets! Society Girls 15 As always our News section will keep you up to date with what’s go- Games 16-17 ing on in and around Bangor and TV 18-19 we showcase some of Bangor’s best artwork in our Creative section. Film 20-21 Of course there’s tonnes more to Music 22 check out and as always you can ac- cess even more on our website. Fashion 23 And remember if you fancy joining Seren it’s never too late! Books 24 I hope you enjoy the issue and Arts and Culture 25 good luck with your deadlines! Oh and don’t forget to vote in our Creative 26-27 Business Awards! Food 28 Travel 29 The views presented hereinafter do Breaktime 30 not represent the views of Seren Bangor, Bangor Students’ Union or Sport 31-32 17 Thomas Bickerdike Bangor University. Al Hulley Gemma Simmons Seren is printed by NWN Media. THE Laura Doodt Ida Vaisanen Peter Davies Emma Asberg TEAM Angus Lee Tom Emlyn Williams Bradd Farnsworth Sean Talbot Emily Bowen Sean Preston Felicity Walker NOW HIRING Holly Self Ana Victoria Katrin Lloyd Fancy being a member of next year’s Seren team? Editor LJ Taylor TV Becki Watson Kristen Liesel Well, you’re in luck, as our AGM is coming up on the Deputy: Content Becki Watson Film Becci Jameson Sarah Whiteside Deputy: Design Laura Jones Music Tom Davies Jean Hughes 1st of May. All of our committee and sub-editor News Nicola Hoban Fashion Harriet Acton Kim Carter positions are up for grabs, so if you think you can do a Politics Conor Savage Books Sophie Smith Kris Humphreys great job, come along and prove it! Science Adam Morris Arts Rosie MacLeod Lydia Richardson Environment Will Johnson Creative Tom Haynes Olivia Sellors Lauren Hilton For more information on the nomination process and Comment Sinnead Towey Breaktime Stefan Wilson Lucy Bromley Society Girls Pippa Botting Travel Jordaine Hulse Becki Perks the positions availiable, check out our website and Robyn Wynn Sport Matt Jackson Micha Mimi Facebook or email LJ at [email protected] Emma Ridsdale CONTRIBUTORS 4 Seren | April , 2013 UNI NEWS In Brief Bangor archives displayed THE ARCHIVES and Special Col- lections department at Bangor Uni- versity will open its doors to the public for an open day on April 26 between 12-4pm. Manuscripts dating back to the twel h century and a huge range of rare books will be displayed in a unique collection, with the opportu- nity to take a behind-the-scenes tour of the archive service. Bangor University Archivist, Ein- ion  omas, said, “Our vast collec- tions will be of interest to anyone with a yearning to learn more about North Wales’ rich and vibrant his- t or y.” Entry is free and light refreshments will be provided. Nuclear students FIFTY pupils from North Wales had the opportunity this month to learn how to solve some of the chal- Union employee to climb lenges the nuclear industry are faced with. Led by educational charity  e Smallpiece Trust, a three-day resi- dential course introduced students Kilimanjaro for charity to a selection of topical suspects, in- cluding radiation, the environment, Ex-Vp Education and Welfare raises money for children’s charity health and safety and decommis- sioning of plants, and was sponsored by NICOLA HOBAN the most challenging thing I have ever their access to education, improve ally get to go to see one of the pro- by Bangor University and RWE pow- Bangor University employee done in my life, but I felt that if I was their health and develop greater child jects that Childreach runs, so we get er renewables. is preparing to climb Mount asking people to support this charity rights and protections. to see exactly where the money we Marketing Manager from the Col- Kilimanjaro in a bid to raise and donate to the cause, then I should Danielle spoke of her thoughts on have raised goes. I think for me this is lege of Physical & Applied Sciences, Afunds for charity. do something that is pretty challeng- the climb, which is set for July, saying: amazing but also it’s going to be really Stevie Scanlan, said: “We hope their Danielle Buckley, 24, who is the Ac- ing in order to raise funds.” “I’m 50% nervous, 50% excited about humbling and put our own problems participation will encourage them to ademic Representation Unit Co-ordi- Childreach is an international devel- the challenge. I have started training with our lives into perspective. On continue an interest in science.” nator at the Student Union is getting opment charity which is currently op- and I am going to start increasing the another shallower note, it is also pro- ready for the climb up the dormant erating in Tanzania, India, Pakistan, intensity of it soon, to make sure that I viding a fantastic opportunity to meet African volcanic mountain in an ef- Nepal, Cambodia and Bangladesh. It am prepared.” new people and to have a once in a Tribute to fort to raise money in aid of the char- is a charity that believes all children She added: “I really want to meet my lifetime experience.” ity Childreach International. should have the opportunity to un- target fundraising amount of £2,450, For those wishing to donate to Chil- lecturer “I wanted to do something for a lock their full potential in life, and and am currently just over half way dreach International, you can do so BANGOR University have paid charity that operates worldwide and by working in partnership with local there at the moment. I think that I online at: https://mydonate.bt.com/ tribute to former student, who later particularly for children so that is why communities in the developing world, want to prove to myself that I can do fundraisers/daniellebuckley1 became a lecturer at the school of I chose Childreach,” Danielle stated. the charity is keen to address the chil- something like this. Ocean Sciences, a er he died in a “Climbing Kilimanjaro is de nitely dren’s most immediate needs, improve “On one of the days there, we actu- suspected construction accident in Gywnedd on April 1.  e university said of Dr Eilir Mor- gan, 29: “As both a student and mem- ber of the sta he was very well-liked and respected by colleagues and stu- High Sheri Award for dents alike. He will be sadly missed by all at the university.”  e Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have said that it is investi- gating the incident which it said Bangor volunteers involved an excavator at a building near a farm. Nightline service awarded £300 for voluntary e ort Welsh lm wins by NICOLA HOBAN Criminology and Psychology and was ing! I never expected to be rewarded. to support those dealing with a wide he High Sheri Award ceremo- awarded £100 for his work with one of I’m proud and happy, but there’s also a range of issues, and there are currently NYC award ny took place at Bangor Uni- the Student Volunteering Bangor’s Ty larger team e ort behind it all!” 65 student volunteers who commit to A DOCUMENTARY lm on versity recently in its annual Newydd project which is run at a Bail Listening and information service a minimum of eight twelve-hour shi s Tpresentation, recognising and reward- Hostel in Bangor, and was described ‘Nightline’, which is run by students per year throughout University term- which Bangor University student Os- ian Williams worked has won a prize ing both individual and group volun- in his nomination as being “a pleas- for students, is to receive the Group time, which overall amounts to a total at the New York Festivals Awards. teering e orts by Bangor students. ure to work with on the project and Award of £300, and Nightline co- of 5,000 hours of volunteering.  e Boom Pictures Cymru/S4C With the awards being presented by he is both a leader and a role model ordinators Lucy Bryning and Susan Lucy commented: “All the volun- production ‘Fy chwaer a ’ – My the current High Sheri Mrs Marian to the men and shows a happy bal- McCandless accepted the award on teers remain anonymous due to the sister and I – was awarded a World Wyn Jones in her rst o cial action in ance between responsibility and fun”; behalf of the group, and stated that con dential nature of the service.  is Gold Medal in the Human Interest her role, the students were congratu- and James McLean, who is studying the money would be well spent on the o en results in the volunteers not re- category. lated for giving their time and e ort Environmental Sciences, was also voluntary service.  e service aims to ceiving the same recognition from Osain said of the experience: “It on top of their studies to contribute awarded £100 and was described in ensure that every student has the op- their peers and the community, as was a great opportunity for me to to the wider community as well as the his nomination as “a ne example of portunity to access the peer-support compared with other types of volun- work with experienced producers. student community through their vol- a truly sel ess individual” in reference group during term-time between 8pm teering, so we’re particularly delighted It was such a pleasure to be a part untary work. to his voluntary work with the Uni- to 8am, and strives to provide friend- that all our volunteers can feel proud of this lm that tells a very unique Individual winners of the award versity’s Diving Club. Jamie said of the ly, non-judgemental listening service. of their achievement and the recogni- s t or y.” are Mike Dixon, 28, who is studying award: “I’m over the moon, it’s amaz- Volunteers at Nightline are trained tion received today.” April , 2013 | Seren 5 LOCAL NEWS In Brief Man dies days a er diagnosis TRIBUTES were paid to a “larger than life” mechanic who died ve days a er he had been informed he was terminally ill. Jason Brennan, 35, from Ruthin, received the devastating news that he had liver cancer on April 9, and passed away on April 14. Family, friends and colleagues, still in shock, paid tribute to him yesterday. Colleagues of the mechanic, who worked at IT Williams in Ruthin, said: “As a local family business we have lost a great worker, a great friend and most of all the heart of our workforce. He will be sadly missed by all of us.” MMR vaccine urges PARENTS in Gwynedd are being urged to get their children vaccinat- Farmers devastated a er ed against measles immediately, in an e ort to prevent a measles outbreak. Health chiefs fear an outbreak of the illness could occur in a school in snow leaves sheep dead North Wales. Over 700 children have been af- fected so far in South Wales, with 38 Welsh farmer loses 230 of his 1,000 sheep of them ending up in hospital. A spokeswoman for Public Health by NICOLA HOBAN the number of the  ock, which usually do in future to ensure that they can Father of two Dei Everiss, who lost Wales said, “If your child has not farmer has spoken of his dev- stands at approximately 1,000, back to sustain themselves by diversifying six ewes out of his 275 cross breeds had MMR vaccine or you think they astation a er the heavy snow where it was prior to the bad weather. into di erent areas.  ock in Abergele, said, “It will be four might have missed a vaccination you has killed more than 200 of his Mr Morris said of the discovery, “I Mr Morris continued, “It has been weeks on Wednesday since I called should contact your GP, health visi- Asheep. have just been down to the stream terrible; we have never seen anything to say I had six ewes and some dead tor or practice nurse now to get them Eryl Morris, from Tregeiriog, and and found a group of twenty where like this. It has been devastating and I lambs to be collected. But they haven’t protected.” his wife Glenys had been le to search a branch has fallen down from the think I have lost up to 230 sheep. It re- been able to pick them up as they are for the animals a er the recent heavy weight of the snow.  ere is another ally brings back the impact of foot and so busy.  e carcasses really stink; it’s a snow North Wales had been hit with. group of twelve I have found further mouth in 2001.” health hazard for myself, my wife Sian, Beauty Queen A er discovering the dead animals, down the stream. It is devastating. Mrs Morris added, “I have never and our teenage daughters.” the couple have now been tasked I don’t know how I am going to get seen snow like it before – we just  e director of Cluttons Animal By- harasser jailed with arranging for the bodies to be them moved.” weren’t able to get up there. It is going products Ltd. in Wrexham, Sam Clut- A DISABLED man who has been removed. Farmers throughout North Wales to take us about three years to get back ton, revealed that farmers are waiting jailed for harassing a beauty queen  e horri c disaster has cost Mr have asked what support is available to where we were.” because there are so many carcasses has denied breaching a restraining Morris thousands of pounds, and the to them a er the snow le the farming Sheep and lamb carcasses have been to collect, “It’s quite stressful, I under- order. couple have estimated that it will take community in a devastating position. le to decompose for almost a month stand that, to have dead stock hang- Anthony Mantova, 35, was made them possibly three years to increase  e bad weather has also raised the is- in farmyards due to delays to collect ing around.  ere is frustration in all subject of an inde nite order in July sue of what farmers may be forced to them. quarters.” 2012 banning him from contacting or communicating with former Miss Prestatyn Chloe Hopkins, 21. He appeared at Prestatyn mag- istrate’s court April 15 accused of Police warn against breaching the order by commenting on and posting a picture of her on the Facebook. Mantova denied the o ence and his computers were seized by North anti-social train behaviour Wales Police’s high-tech crime unit and are currently being examined. BTP warns that anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated Anglesey crash by NICOLA HOBAN early and positive intervention with network remains a safe and secure en- selves, please be aware that any drink he North Wales British Trans- anti-social behaviour on the network; vironment.” related incidents will be dealt with ap- injures woman port Police have issued a warn- reducing instances of the of passen-  e BTP in North Wales have police propriately. ing against anti-social behav- ger property; and working with the stations both in Bangor and Rhyl, with “Also, please keep an eye on all per- A WOMAN was seriously injured Tiour whilst on the Rail Network. railway to minimize disruption to ser- the NPT being comprised of two po- sonal belongings such as mobile tel- in a crash on the A55 on Anglesey on Whilst levels of crime on the Rail vices and the travelling public. lice o cers and seven Police Commu- ephones, iPods, laptops and luggage. the evening of April 15. Network in North Wales are consid- A spokesperson for the BTP stated, nity Support O cers (PCSO’s). Keep them in sight or check on them Emergency crews were alerted to erably low, the BTP have stated that “Our aim is simple – to keep you safe  e spokesperson went on to say, regularly throughout your journey.” the incident which occurred on the anti-social behaviour will not be toler- and make you feel secure while you “Our o cers are always happy to meet To report an incident, or if there is eastbound carriageway near Gaer- ated on any part of the network.  eir travel. with and discuss any issues a ecting something that the BTP should know wen around 9pm, a er reports said policing focus for 2013/2014 in North “Response o cers and the Neigh- our communities. If you see them out on the Rail Network, passengers have that one person was trapped in the Wales is concentrating on continuing bourhood Policing Team are commit- and about, please feel free to approach been asked to contact them at 0800 wreckage of the car. A North Wales to drive down the level of crime on ted to high pro le, uniform patrols them and have a chat, even if you per- 405040, or text 61016 or tweet @btp_ Police spokeswoman said the in- the network; maintaining or increas- of the network to achieve these aims, ceive the problem to be minor.” uk. In an emergency passengers are cident involved one vehicle, a blue ing their detection rates where crime liaising and working with the pub- When discussing anti-social behav- urged to call 999. Ford Ka. is reported; reducing instances of ag- lic and rail community to maintain iour, they added: “Whilst we appreci- For more information on BTP, please Police are appealing for witnesses gression to sta and public through a joint approach in ensuring that the ate that you will want to enjoy your- visit www.btp.police.uk who are urged to contact the Roads Policing Unit on 101. 6 Seren | April , 2013 LOCAL NEWS

InAppeal Brief for missing man A SEARCH for a missing man has been renewed as detectives appeal for help. David Clywd Davies, from Wrex- ham, has not been seen since the a ernoon of April 6. Police were contacted a er a concerned neigh- bour raised the alarm. North Wales Police are asking the public for any information. Mr Davies was last seen in the Trefynant Park of Acrefair, and is de- scribed as 5’11” tall; heavy build with a thick beard. He normally wears heans, a  eece top and woolly hat. Anyone with information should contact North Wales Police on 101. Neighbours tried to save family A JURY heard during a murder trial how neighbours tried to help a trapped family from a burning house, on April 16. Lee-Anna Shiers, 20, along with her partner Liam Timbrell, 23, 15-month-old son Charlie, nephew Baily, 4, and niece Skye, 2, all died in t h e r e . Neighbour Peter Bailey, told how Welsh runner talks of Boston he tried to rescue the family: “ ere was no way I could get in.  ere was smoke billowing out.” Melanie Jane Smith, 43, denies ve bombing scenes charges of murder following the re in Prestatyn on October 19 2012. Two bombs exploded next to the nish line, killing 3 and wounding 150 Olympic by NICOLA HOBAN the blasts. if there were any other devices. It was others having been injured. Doctors Welsh marathon runner has From his hotel room in Boston, Mr pretty scary as the panic broke out, treating the wounded have revealed conman jailed spoken of the terrifying scenes Gri ths said of the incident: “We there were people crying around me how a number of them had to have A COURT heard earlier this week he witnessed a er two bombs were told to stop straight away. I had and I was wondering what had hap- pellets and “nail-like” fragments re- how an internet conman tricked Aexploded next to the nish line of the headphones in listening to music so I pened to all my friends.” moved. fans desperate for Olympic opening Boston Marathon on April 15. couldn’t hear anything but it was when  e FBI has said that there are “no Mr Gri ths went on to say: “One of ceremony tickets out of more than Owain Gri ths, 37, had travelled everyone started shouting and panic known additional threats” in Boston my friends was 200 metres away from £5,000. from Cardi to participate in the race broke out that I stopped. at the moment, stating that no new the nishing line when the bombs Convicted conman Daniel Jones, as part of a ve-person team of Welsh “Nobody knew what had hap- bombs had been found, and that no- went o . She rang me a er to tell me 28, from Abergele, was jailed for runners. He was approaching the n- pened and people were running away one was being held over the attack. she was safe and how lucky she was. two years a er admitting six fraud ishing line when the explosions ripped screaming and rushing away from the  e rst of the explosions occurred “I can’t stop thinking about those charges and 20 o ences were consid- through an area that was lled with areas as quickly as they could.  e close to the nishing line at 2pm local who have died and those who are in- ered during the trial. Jones had told cheering spectators. picture was forming then and the in- time, with the second going o almost jured.  is was my 49th marathon and police his intention was to fund his Reliving the panic he felt as he tried formation was fed back to us that two simultaneously approximately 170m it’s an event that I’ve run before. It’s gambling addiction. to nd out if his friends were safe, Mr bombs had gone o near to the nish away from the initial blast. just horrendous what has happened Judge John Rogers QC at Caer- Gri ths revealed he felt “very fortu- line and we all had to stand and wait  ree people were killed by the here. It seems like nowhere is safe any- narfon Crown court described Jones nate” to have been a safe distance from until we could be evacuated from the bombs, including an eight-year old m ore .” as having a “formidable record for area safely. Nobody knew at that stage boy, with almost a hundred and  y committing similar o ences”, tell- ing him, “ e upset you must have caused to those people you defraud- ed is incalculable.” Motorcyclist Jobs lost as Anglesey meat airli ed A MOTORCYCLIST was airli ed plant closed to a hospital in Stoke a er an acci- dent on the A487 near Corris on the a ernoon of April 14. 350 employees lose jobs as meat plant fails to nd new owner Emergency services were alerted to by THOMAS naturally extremely disappointed describes the closure as “a knockout the plant.  is included the manage- the accident a er the man collided BICKERDIKE that the Vion plant is set to close and punch for large-scale meat processing ment company from within, who had with a crash barrier. He was airli ed meat processing plant on An- I extend my sincere sympathy to the in North Wales”. planned to save about 70 jobs by just by Helimed to Stoke hospital with leg glesey has failed to nd a new workforce and their families who will He added: “For Wales to lose one of concentrating on abattoir only opera- and arm injuries. owner and 350 jobs have been be devastated by the news.” the largest processing plants in Brit- tions. A crash on the same road occured Alost.  e closure will have a serious e ect ain, with particular strategic impor- Jamie Pritchard, a spokesman from two days before. Two cars collided  e site for Welsh Country Foods at on small local businesses and farmers tance to the industry in North Wales, the Unite union, has taken a job at a and four people were taken to Wrex- Gaerwen had been put up for sale by will have to nd alternative methods is disastrous.” meat company in Somerset, but this ham Maelor Hospital with serious the Dutch food rm Vion. Last year of getting their livestock to market. Because of the closure, Hybu Cig means having to leave his wife and but non-life threatening injuries. they lost a lamb contract with super-  e plant used to process around Cymru will be deprived of funds to three children to work there. He said: Police are urging witnesses to the market company Asda. 640,000 lambs a year. help promote products. “We knew this was coming but it still two collisions to call North Wales Ieuan Wyn Jones, AM, said: “I am Dai Davies, the chairman for Hybu Vion had been speaking to a num- feels like a shock.” Police on 101. Cig Cymru, a meat promotion agency, ber of parties interested in purchasing April, 2013 | Seren 7

MARGARET THATCHER 19252013  e Woman Who Changed Britain

by CONOR SAVAGE Fearing what would happen to the Conservative backbenchers was quick injured, and ve others killed. It was venting a second round, she declared argaret  atcher, who died Conservative Party if it continued to follow, with the dissidents being re- only a few hours later when  atcher that she would ght on. However, following a stroke on the to be led by Heath,  atcher stood ferred to as the ‘wets’.  is culminated gave her keynote speech at the confer- many of her close colleagues told her 8th of April 2013, can be de- against him in 1975. She did not be- with one of  atcher’s most famous ence, that she delivered a robust re- that she would lose, and she used the Mscribed as one of the most in uential lieve she would win, but hoped that by quotes: “You turn if you want to... the sponse to the attack: “ is attack has next cabinet meeting to announce her gures of 20th century politics. running she could shake up the party. lady’s not for turning”. failed. All attempts to destroy democ- resignation. She later mused that: “It Born Margaret Roberts on the 13th So it was to everyone’s surprise when By the end of 1981 her approval racy by terrorism will fail”. was treachery with a smile on its face”. of October 1925 in Grantham, Lin- she defeated Heath on the rst ballot, rating had fallen to 25%, the lowest Her foreign policy strategy focused John Major was elected as her succes- colnshire, her politics were heavily forcing his resignation, and saw o her recorded for any prime minister. In on building up the pro le of the Unit- sor and she nally stood down as an in uenced by her father. She attended opponent Willie Whitelaw on the sec- early 1982 the economy began to re- ed Kingdom abroad, something she MP in 1992 when against all predic- Oxford University reading Chemistry ond ballot, becoming the rst woman cover, and as a result her standing with saw as key to the future of the UK. She tions the Conservatives were returned at Somerville College. Her rst ven- to lead a major British political party. the electorate improved. Her popular- found a soulmate in the US president, to power. ture into politics came in the 1950 and She quickly began to stamp her mark ity received its biggest boost when in Ronald Reagan, with whom she held During her later years, she was 1951 general elections, where she ran on British politics. A speech given by April 1982 she launched her decisive many common beliefs, and also struck awarded a peerage as Baroness as the Conservative candidate for the  atcher in 1976 on the repressive response to the Argentine invasion of what can be described as an unlikely  atcher, receiving the Order of the seat of Dartford, Kent. Despite losing policies of the Soviet Union, led to a the Falkland Islands. Victory, and the relationship with the reforming Soviet Garter in 1995. She wrote her mem- she attracted a lot of media attention Russian newspaper dubbing her “the disarray in the Labour Party under president, Mikhail Gorbachev. oirs, and condemned the Serbian pol- as she did signi cant damage to the Iron Lady”. Her adoption of a house- Michael Foot, ensured a Conservative With Neil Kinnock’s Labour still icy of ethnic cleansing in Bosnia and Labour majority. In 1951 she married wife-politician persona also allowed landslide in the 1983 general election. damaged from the years of in ghting, campaigned against the Maastricht Denis  atcher, with their twins born her to show understanding for the ef- It was the spring following this that the Conservatives won a third term in Treaty. In 2001 she had to curtail her in 1953. She nally became an MP fects of in ation on an ordinary fam- the National Union of Mineworkers the 1987 general election. Following activities when her health began to in Finchley in 1989 which began her ily. It was following Jim Callaghan’s called a nationwide strike.  e gov- this election, one of her rst actions deteriorate. A er a number of mi- long, and controversial, career. vote of no con dence in 1979, which ernment had prepared for this and was to introduce the poll tax, a  at rate nor strokes she ceased to make pub- Two years later she was made a he lost, that the Conservatives tri- when the strikes began, the govern- tax for local services which was based lic speaking appearances and started junior minister, and following the to appear increasingly frail, she was Conservative defeat in 1964, she also su ering from dementia. When was given a position in the shadow YOU TURN IF YOU WANT TO... THE LADY’S NOT FOR her husband died in 2003 she gave cabinet. Following her support of an emotional tribute to him. “Being Ted Heath in the 1965 Conserva- prime minister is a lonely job. In a tive leadership election, she was re- TURNING sense, it ought to be - you cannot lead warded with a post as spokeswoman from a crowd. But with Denis there I on housing and land, campaigning was never alone. What a man. What a heavily for the right of council tenants umphed in the ensuing general elec- ment had substantial stocks of coal at on individuals rather than the value of husband. What a friend”. to buy their homes and criticising La- tion, and Margaret  atcher became the nation’s power stations. Following their property.  is resulted in some No politician of modern time has bour’s policy of high taxation. When the rst female prime minister of the brutal clashes between the picketers of the worst street violence in living created such a divisive view of them- the Conservatives won the 1970 gen- United Kingdom. and the police, the strike collapsed. memory. Many Tory MPs fearing for selves within the public mind. She eral election, she was given the posi- As prime minister she aimed to re- Many mining communities never re- their seats saw no way of getting rid possessed a quality not o en held by tion of Education Secretary in the cab- pair the country’s nances by reduc- covered. of the tax as long as  atcher was in politicians, to stand by her convic- inet, and began a number of spending ing the role of the state and boosting What critics call an incapable mo- power; one of these launched a lead- tions, for good or ill. To those who re- cuts. One of these led to the removal the free market. A radical budget of ment for  atcher came with the hun- ership challenge in 1989 that  atcher vile her, she was the politician who put of free school milk for children aged tax and spending cuts was introduced ger strikes held by the IRA in Northern easily survived. the free market above all else, and was seven to eleven.  is resulted in a with the goal of lowering in ation. Ireland. She took a hard-line approach A er returning from a disastrous willing to see millions pay the price public backlash against her and the Bills curbing union militancy, priva- that infuriated even moderate nation- Euro summit in Rome, she launched for her policies. To those who sup- creation of one of her most infamous tising state industries and allowing alists, with many claiming it increased tirades against her European counter- port her, she rolled back the powers monikers, “Milk Snatcher”. She had in council home tenants to buy their support for the IRA. Although she parts, refusing to accept any increase of an overburdening state and reduced fact argued against the removal of free homes were all introduced.  is boom later attempted to ease tensions, peace in the power of the European Commu- the power of the trade union leaders milk in cabinet, later writing about the in the British economy came at a cost e orts quickly fell apart a er facing nity, which outraged many of her col- which they saw as going unchecked. fallout: “I learned a valuable lesson. I however.  e manufacturing industry signi cant Unionist opposition. It was leagues. Sir Geo rey Howe,  atcher’s Regardless of whether you loved her had incurred the maximum of politi- had long been touted by critics as an in October 1984 that these tensions ousted foreign secretary, decided to or loathed her, it seems that, ironi- cal odium for the minimum of politi- industrial wasteland, unpro table and culminated in an IRA bomb explod- quit with a devastating resignation cally, in the centuries to come, when cal bene t”.  e Heath government a drain on the British economy. So it ing at the Conservative Party con- speech and called for challenges to be the minutiae of the Falklands War and eventually collapsed in 1974, follow- was run down in the hope of forming ference hotel in Brighton where the made to the leadership.  e follow- the Poll Tax have been forgotten, what ing the 1973 oil crisis, the need to im- a competitive Britain.  is led to un- prime minister and a large number ing day Michael Heseltine announced  atcher shall be remembered for his pose a three day working week, and a employment increasing to over three of her Cabinet were staying. Cabinet his challenge to the leadership. When her femininity. A er all, she was the miner’s strike. million people. Dissent among the minister Norman Tebbit was seriously  atcher fell two votes short of pre- Iron Lady. 8 Seren | April , 2013 SCIENCE See-through brains RESEARCHERS at Stanford Uni- versity have found a way of turning the tissues of brain samples translu- cent (close to transparent) by em- balming the brain in acrylamide, which hardens to a translucent gel when heated, and formaldehyde, which binds the acrylamide to the brain’s molecules. Applying an elec- tric current takes away all matter which isn’t bound to the acrylamide gel, removing the fatty cell mem- branes which made the brain opaque but leaving the contents of the cells. Combined with marker molecules used to trace chemicals in the brain, the CLARITY technique allows re- searchers to see exactly what is going on. It could be used to study Alzhei- mers in the brain, and could theoreti- Back from the dead: cally work on any organ. Universe older Can “de-extinction” ressurect lost species than thought by ADAM MORRIS by the California-based project Revive ties as a result of a brain tumour. and that more attention should be fo- ecent advances in genetic sci- & Restore, and supported by many  ough the achievement of bring- cused on conserving the species that RESULTS from the European ence have brought the possibil- scientists, says the capability to restore ing to life an individual of a species are currently endangered rather than Space Agency’s Planck mission have ity of cloning extinct animals extinct species is here, and now is the completely non-existent for several trying to atone for human actions revealed that the Universe is approxi- Rcloser to reality. A recent TEDxDeEx- time to start using it. years previous is astonishing, the sad through species resurrection. mately 13.82 billion years old, 80 tinction conference brought together  e closest anyone has come to end to the story of the bucardo high-  e speed at which DNA disinte- million years older than previously scientists and ethicists to discuss the resurrecting an extinct species was lights one of the issues with resur- grates means that species which have thought.  e Planck mission centres resurrection of extinct species, the in 2003, when a team of French and recting species. Building a full set of been long extinct, such as extinct on a space telescope which observes consensus was that the process is Spanish scientists revived a wild goat healthy DNA is tricky, o en requiring dinosaurs, are almost impossible to microwaves and radio waves from all within reach. But should it be done? species known as Pyrean ibex, or a piecemeal construction of ancient resurrect. But more recently extinct over the Universe. Bringing a species back from ex- bucardo.  e species was driven to and synthesised DNA, as well as some animals such as the giant sloth, the  e light from furthest away was tinction can be a complicated a air; extinction over centuries of hunting, from similar species, and as a result thylacine, the sabre-toothed cat, the rst emitted when the universe was amongst other procedures it can re- and the last living individual died in the individuals may have di culties woolly mammoth and even that most only 380,000 years old, 0.003% of its quire obtaining or constructing the 1999. But her DNA was captured and from the start. dead of species, the dodo, are all pos- current age. By tracing it back, the entire genetic code of the species, stored, and the team managed to suc- Many argue against de-extinction, sible candidates for de-extinction. light reveals a more detailed picture manipulating stem cells, combining cessfully implant an egg containing and the health and welfare of the res- While the ethics and practicalities of of a universe only a trillionth of a all the elements of a fertilised egg and her DNA into a goat surrogate. Of urrected species is one of their many resurrecting such species will contin- trillionth of a second old, the tiny nding an appropriate surrogate to many attempts, only one of the cloned reasons cited. Some ecologists argue ue to be debated, the science will move ‘quantum  uctuations’ of which have give birth to the individual of a long- individuals came to full term, and was that not enough is known about how forward to more accurate and reliable now stretched to become the largest lost species. But a movement headed born by cesarean section, only to die the resurrected species will t into the levels, and perhaps the future will see structures in the universe. minutes later from breathing di cul- ecosystem to risk their introduction, the return of animals from our past. Obama brain project US President Barack Obama re- cently announced a new research project aimed at mapping the hu- man brain, pledging an initial $100 million to develop new technologies which can see every interaction be- tween brain cells.  e BRAIN project is hoped to do for neuroscience what the Human Genome Project did for genetics re- search, and will use newly developed technologies to facilitate huge steps forward in treating brain diseases. Can Big Data predict crimes Breath as a ngerprint you've yet to commit? THE balance of chemicals present “I’m placing you under arrest for the future murder of Sarah Marks, that was to take place today...” in your exhaled breath can be used to predict where and when crime might expose the links and working of crim- argue, risk stigmatising innocent but diagnose medical conditions, and re- by ADAM MORRIS happen, and be there to stop it. Police inal networks, using data from emer- ‘high-risk’ individuals. Many also veal details about your body’s unique o began Minority Report, the in Kent have already implemented a gency hotlines across the globe. And question where the trend will lead, chemistry.  ese compounds are 2002 lm about a team who ar- system which directs o cers to areas researchers at the Institute of Crime fearing Minority Report-style arrests some of the body’s waste products rested individuals before they hadS actually committed a crime.  e as small as 50m2 that have a high pre- Science at UCL have applied big data and punishment of individuals for (metabolites), and have already been dicted risk of crime. Similar systems analysis to simulating the 2011 Lon- crimes they are predicted to commit. shown to reveal conditions such as methods in the lm were science c- used in the US have seen decreases of don riots, using models adapted from But the power of big data reaches be- lung infections and stomach cancer. tion, but a revolution in Big Data, us- 19% in burglary, battery and assault epidemiology (the study of disease) in yond crime prevention; the ability of But new research has found that the ing huge data sets to reveal patterns in some areas, Kent police have more the hope of predicting and controlling sophisticated data analysis so ware to levels of compounds in breath can and make predictions, promises to modest targets of a 3% reduction in future events. spot links and patterns in data prom- act as a “ ngerprint”, being unique bring such fantasy closer to reality. crime, but even this would amount to However, despite their e ective- ises many bene ts for society. In the and stable enough to distinguish in- Using data in such a way is nothing 3,000 fewer crimes a year. ness, some have questioned the ethics future it will be relied upon to provide dividuals from one another. Unlikely new, but rising availability of the anal-  e potential of big data in crime of such systems, which o en rely on guidance for improving education, to be used in identi cation, the sys- ysis tools brings that power to all new prevention extends even further; pro ling individuals based on charac- healthcare, and tackling issues such as tem promises easy prescription of areas. By drawing on historical data Google recently awarded $3 million to teristics known to be correlated with poverty and climate change. personalised medicine tailored to and combining it with theories of hu- three organisations combating human an increased likelihood of commit- your body. man behaviour, it may be possible to tra cking, supporting their project to ting crimes. Such systems, detractors April , 2013 | Seren 9 ENVIRONMENT Japan’s whalers taken to court AUSTRALIA is intending to take Japan to the UN International Court of Justice over the large number of whales caught each year by Japan. Despite a global commercial whaling ban since 1986, Japan catches around 1,000 whales each year, and claim they are caught for scienti c research purposes. However many countries, including Australia, believe this to be no more than a cover up for com- mercial whaling. Japanese o cials have stated that all whaling activity is legal.  e hearing is scheduled to begin in June. EPA to U.S. oil pipeline protests protect bees by GEMMA SIMMONS the cause of the rupture while Exxon contaminated, with one resident com- higher. o cials stated that the company will ing forward saying she saw Exxon  is latest spill has renewed debate AMERICAN bee keepers and ani- recent oil spill in the Ameri- mal activists are suing the Environ- can state of Arkansas has pay for all of the cleanup costs. Clean workers pulling dead sh from the over the proposal of the controversial up crews have already recovered more lake in the early hours of the morn- Keystone XL pipeline that would run mental Protection Agency (EPA) reignited opposition to oil over a long running row over wheth- Apipelines from environmental groups than 12,000 barrels of oil and say that ing, Exxon maintain that no oil had from western Canada to the US gulf most of the freestanding oil has been reached the lake or nearby wetlands. coast, but over the years has been met er insecticides are responsible for the worldwide.  e spill occurred on declining number of bees. Chemi- March 30th when part of the Exxon removed with special vacuum trucks.  e disaster was made even worse by with sti opposition from environ-  ey also plan to power wash side- a storm that may have stirred up the mental groups and activists.  e Ar- cals in certain insecticides called mobil oil pipeline, which runs from neonicotinoids are theorised to be the state of Illinois to Texas, ruptured walks and remove any a ected vegeta- oil and in the days following many kansas spill is a troubling reminder of tion by laying down new lawns. health complaints were received from the dangers of oil pipelines and in the linked to the deaths of pollinating in- spilling thousands of gallons of crude sects, including bumblebees. While oil. Black crude was seen soaking Local residents began to worry that residents and children were sent home wake of the spill many protests have nearby lake Conway would become sick from the local school. Local ani- taken place on the construction sites the EPA has refused to comment, a lawns and streaming down residential spokesperson announced that they streets leading to the evacuation of 22 contaminated and some residents mal rescue centres have received nu- of the keystone pipeline. Environmen- built barriers of rock and dirt to pre- merous ducks from the area covered talists agree that this is just the latest of will be accelerating their review of homes. Although Exxon say that they these chemicals because of their po- classify this as a ‘small spill’ residents vent the oil from contaminating the in oil and say that atleast 8 have been many devastating oil spills and prob- lake while Exxon placed booms in the killed.  e Environmental Protec- ably won’t be the last. tential e ect on the environment. A say that the damage is devastating. An recent European Commission vote investigation has been launched into lake as a ‘precaution’. Although local tion Agency has estimated the spill residents claim that the lake is already at 84,000 gallons although it may be that proposed to ban neonicotinoids in Europe failed to pass, despite sup- port from leading ecologists. Nigerian toxic playgrounds

THE CHILDREN of northern Ni- geria are still being a ected by lead poisoning despite a four year project to clean the area up.  e worst hit area is the state of Zamfara where 460 children have said to have died since 2009.  e lead is an unfortu- nate side of e ect of the small gold mines in the area, mining has been banned but despite the dangers, locals continue to dig in wake of recently discovered deposits.  e government has promised to step in but has done nothing as of yet.  ey have had to rely on funds from out- side charities but it is painfully slow to improve the working conditions.  e lead poisons playgrounds but the children can’t be treated until the area is clean which could take up to Icelandic volcano’s ocean impact  een years. by AL HULLEY cubic metres of tephra (tiny particles to observe the chemical and biological Phytoplankton is also useful for stor- n April and May 2010 the Icelan- of ash) was released from the vent, e ects of iron deposition in the Icelan- ing excess CO2 from the atmosphere. dic volcano Eja allajökull caused with a high percentage ejected 9km dic basin.  is is important as phyto- Oceans are one of the most success- Republicans havoc across Europe and other into the atmosphere. Icelandic sh ex- plankton forms the base of many food ful carbon reservoirs. However it has regionsI of the world. Levels of CO2 ports were a major local industry but chains, by improving their numbers been shown that this areas carbon criticised on released into the atmosphere resulted because  ights were grounded expor- sh stocks will increase, bene ting the storage ability now has a more lim- in the eruption being linked to current tation occurred so people su ered loss economy of Iceland.  ree years prior ited capacity.  e high latitude of the climate change causes of climate change. of income. to this discovery, the same team had North Atlantic results in it being a A POLL of Republican independ-  e constructive plate boundary is Evidence has been found indicating shown phytoplankton is limited by globally important region for storing ents has found that only 35% of these situated in the Atlantic Ocean. Two that deposited iron in the North At- the availability of dissolved iron. More CO2 as well as generating deep wa- voters supported the Republican tectonic plates are diverging due to lantic was a consequence of ash from to the point the excess iron released ter. A limited amount of iron to this Party’s stance on climate changed, convection currents in the Earths’ as- Eja allajökull.  is natural deposition from volcanoes was observed to pro- region means a reduction in carbon with 62% of people polled saying thenosphere in an area known as the caused a rapid phytoplankton bloom. duce larger blooms. On the other storage. that the US should take steps to ad- mid-Atlantic ridge. Volcanic eruptions Scientists arrived at the site ve weeks hand results were short-lived because Despite this the team found in this dress the issue. With the Republican’s in this area are extremely common be- a er the event which led to them be- it caused rapid biological nitrate re- case it was a shortage of nitrogen that ‘climate-sceptic’ policies turning o cause of a mantle plume located below ing pioneers in the research of vol- moval (a key nutrient for growth) limited this bloom growth and conse- potential voters, it could mean that Iceland, resulting in especially vigor- canic ash e ects on the ocean surface. blooms were only observed to be 15- quently CO2 uptake. the party adopts more ‘green’ policies ous upwelling of magma. 110 million  is gave them a unique opportunity 20% larger. in the future. 10 Seren | April , 2013 COMMENT YOU OK? One more say on  atcher It took a bold leader, with a new set peak.  e welfare which was needed of ideas - and genitals - to crush the for the 3 million made unemployed as power of the unions and free the indi- a direct result of  atcher’s monetary vidual from the overbearing state. She policy was provided through North heroically defeated the enemy abroad Sea Oil revenues.  e massive tax in the Falklands War and brutally dis- breaks for the wealthiest were made posed of her enemy within as a result possible because of North Sea Oil. of the miners’ strike. During her time in o ce, government From this polarising narrative it is oil receipts were huge, amounting easy to see the 1970s and 1980s as two to 16% of GDP. Debates surround- decades of complete contrast but both ing mass unemployment, the min- were dominated by a single theme ers’ strike and privatisation can go Ida is an international student which all the tributes, comments, and on forever but none of it would have working in liasion with the endless articles have forgotten - oil. happened without the North Sea Oil international o ce . Every It crippled the governments of the revenues. issue she’ll write about her 1970s; it saved  atcher in the 1980s. I wasn’t even born when Margaret experiences in Bangor. It is incredible how frequently this  atcher le Downing Street and yet factor is overlooked.  e 1970s were her divisive legacy is still relevant to by IDA VÄISÄNEN a period of economic turmoil because children born today.  e Labour Party of the global oil crisis of 1973 where successfully embraced parts of her A long time before I came to Ban- the USA’s foreign policy in the Mid- ideology to win three general elec- gor I learnt that the British people dle East drove up the global price of tions, the Conservatives have never are more talkative than us Finns. To oil from about $3 a barrel to $12. In been able to move on from her.  e be fair, this isn’t much of an accom- the UK this caused in ation to soar roots of today’s economic crisis are plishment since the Finns have cre- to about 25% (In comparison the in- found buried in the 1980s.  e de- ated the concept of very small talk,  ation rate today is at about 4%). e struction of the manufacturing indus- which means that we don’t talk at in bringing  atcher to power and ce- widespread industrial con icts which try which led to mass unemployment, all. I’d like to think that I don’t rep- by PETER DAVIES menting her policies. retrospectively paint such a bleak nancial deregulation and the alarm- resent the antisocial Nordic stereo-  atcher was elected at the latter picture of the 1970s and from which ing increase in inequality has shaped type myself but some situations still realise that more than enough has end of the 1970s, a decade blighted by  atcher apparently saved us were the politics of today. Yet it was the rev- manage to confuse me. been said about Margaret  atch- crisis and industrial strife.  e evoca- caused by workers demanding that enues from the North Sea Oil which I walk down the street, minding er, particularly by ill-informed tive images of endless piles of rubbish their pay increased with the rate of allowed much of this to happen. It is my own business. I come across a yoofsI who weren’t even born in the and unburied dead from the winter of in ation. However by 1979, at around with a certain irony that the song top- familiar person who also acknowl- 1980s. Plenty had been written before 1978/9 have reappeared in the press to the same time  atcher entered Num- ping the charts this week is taken from edges my approach. A nod, a smile. the news of her death broke, and the underline David Cameron’s belief that ber 10, the increase in the global price the musical the Wizard of Oz. In the A sigh of relief, I know how to han- internet subsequently descended into she didn’t just lead our country, she of oil had allowed money to be poured merry old Land of Oz it wasn’t actu- dle this. Then it comes. ”You OK?” a massive  ame war. In spite of this, I saved it. To her supporters she rescued into the UK’s North Sea oil reserves, ally the Wicked Witch who mattered, She or he asks and walks on. I’m left have written an article about Marga- it from the greedy hands of the mighty allowing the country to become a net it was the clueless wizard who with his mumbling some half-words for the ret  atcher. However, rather than a Trade Unions whose series of strikes exporter of its own oil. It was the black cheap tricks, smoke and mirrors de- person’s back and feeling silly. boring and predictable tirade against had crippled both the Conservative gold of the North Sea, not of the col- ceptively persuaded an entire country This issue might feel insigni cant the evils of  atcherism, I have tried and Labour governments of the 1970s lieries which really shaped  atcher’s that he knew what he was doing.  e but I come from a culture where the to highlight an issue that is o en for- and personi ed the disease that ren- government policy. witch may now be dead but the smoke sparse questions are expected to be gotten: the importance oil played both dered Britain the ‘sick man of Europe’. By 1985 UK oil production was at its and mirrors remain. answered and one of the single big- gest culture shocks while in Bangor has been these questions no-one expects an answer to. Its confusing, isn’t it? Doesn’t make things too Our money’s easy, does it? Still my current neme- sis is the question, “you OK?’ I asked my Welsh friend are you supposed to answer it. No, you’re not. People worth? would be worth considering for the just ask it out of politeness. By EMMA ÅSBERG government? Similar schemes are Now the question remains, why? clearly possible, and indeed success- I want to make it clear though that As tuition fees continue to rise, stu- ful, so why not give it a go? In fact, I’m not being hostile or unadapt- dents continue to plummet further, it was not long ago tuition fees were able. I’m not saying that Finns do and further, into debt. We are all af- introduced in the rst place.  e rst these things any better. Still this fected, and it's about time we speak tuition fees in the UK were capped at social custom is just something up. I'm one of the lucky ones that £1000 in 1998, so it did not take long that goes over my head. Why are don't have to pay the full £9000, and for them to rise tenfold... Snowdonia Animal questions about the welfare of to be honest, I simply wouldn't. Have you considered what you are your fellow people asked just out of I get 6 hours of teaching time per going to do a er you nish univer- Sanctuary politeness when a reply isn’t even week, which I dare say is a rough sity? I for one have already been look- studying. wanted? And furthermore, why is it By ANGUS LEE average for students here at Bangor ing for jobs within my eld of study Due to the high workload under- thought as polite to do so? In this nowdonia animal sanctuary is a University. Let's break it down a lit- (journalism), and let me tell you, they taken, the publicity that is desperately case staying quiet makes way more boarding kennels and cattery lo- tle and see how much every hour of are not easy to get. Now maybe it required for the sanctuary is put on a sense. cated near Betws-y-coed.  ey teaching time costs us. Taking into will be easier with a degree - ngers areS a non-pro t organisation and are back seat. As a result the low turno- Well, back at home they said it account how much time we get o a crossed - but the statistics are not ex- ver of donations for rehoming leads well. Everyone’s good isn’t similar. heavily dependent on the work of vol- year, which is six months, counting actly encouraging... to the sanctuary being underfunded. I think this is just going to stay as unteers and donations.  eir aim is to reading weeks, it gets quite expensive. A third of all graduates are in a low-  e team ensure that each dog goes to one manner I’m not adopting and rehabilitate and re-home dogs, even For those of us paying £3,290, that skilled job, compared to one in four the right home, and only when they continue to only ask questions I those deemed beyond help by others. means that every hour costs £22.80. in 2001. And worse, 20% of graduates know the dog is happy in its new sur- want answers to. Just a sugges-  ere are some truly heart-warming For those that pay £9000 that's £62.50 are unemployed, according to  e roundings, will they let them go.  is tion though, why not stay for a few rescue stories from this sanctuary. per lecture or seminar (1 hour-long). Guardian.  e prospects are dire for is honourable, but consequently low- minutes the next time to hear is the  e small team that keep the place Can you really a ord to skip classes? us students, and are not made bright- ers the turnover. Donations, aware- person actually OK? running work tirelessly just to keep What I would like to ask though, er by the massive amount of debt we ness and fundraising are in dire need Remember that the closing date a oat. Despite the sheer work in- is whether or not this is fair. Where will be in by the end of our time here. just to keep food in the dog’s bowls for Swequity Wales programme is volved in cleaning out over  y dogs does the money go? A lot of it goes to However, it's not all darkness and and to pay substantial vet bills. the 20th of March! If you have an a day, they still do their upmost to en- teachers' salaries, looking a er the fa- misery. According to Graham Snow- So please support Snowdonia ani- idea you’d like to be turned into sure each dog gets to stretch its legs cilities and other such fees. But I think don, deputy editor for  e Guardian mal sanctuary, whether by helping reality, visit http://www.invento- on a regular basis.  ey are reliant it's safe to assume that even with the Weekly, graduates still earn more per out, donating or just spreading the rium.org/events/swequity-wales- on the help of volunteers to ful l this. budget cuts, universities are milking hour than non-graduates - regardless word. Please help. If you are inter- spring-2013/ for more info! Having gone and volunteered, it was their students for money. Considering of subject.  e gures, taken from the truly a privilege to help out; the op- ested, or want to nd out more about that many countries o er free educa- Labour Force Survey, also show that portunity to walk some truly wonder- the sanctuary, or the dogs please visit tion - as well as large bursaries - for 86% of graduates are employed, com- ful dogs, in the beautiful Welsh scen- their website: www.snowdoniaani- all EU students, maybe these models pared to a 72.3% for non-graduates. ery, proved a breath of fresh air from malsanctuary.com 10 Seren | April , 2013 April , 2013 | Seren 11 COMMENT KAYA FESTIVAL ORGANISER YOU OK? INTERVIEW  avour of the event to the local One more say on  atcher setting? What is it about Kaya that you What we’ve done is that we’ve think will appeal most to stu- It took a bold leader, with a new set peak.  e welfare which was needed linked the international world to dents? of ideas - and genitals - to crush the for the 3 million made unemployed as North Wales, as it’s a great hotspot Great price, tickets are £35 for stu- power of the unions and free the indi- a direct result of  atcher’s monetary for international students; students dents for the weekend, I don’t think vidual from the overbearing state. She policy was provided through North form a large majority of what hap- you can get a better deal than that. heroically defeated the enemy abroad Sea Oil revenues.  e massive tax pens in North Wales because Bangor Great experience, world food, world in the Falklands War and brutally dis- breaks for the wealthiest were made is a student city. The whole thing of music, world culture, and bringing posed of her enemy within as a result possible because of North Sea Oil. an international festival coming to students together with the com- of the miners’ strike. During her time in o ce, government Bangor provides a great opportunity munity, and also bringing them to- From this polarising narrative it is oil receipts were huge, amounting for those students, and we thought gether with a large audience. I think easy to see the 1970s and 1980s as two to 16% of GDP. Debates surround- linking it to the local community, you can get quite isolated as a stu- decades of complete contrast but both ing mass unemployment, the min- and to other students as well, was dent and too integrated into your were dominated by a single theme ers’ strike and privatisation can go something that could be very pow- own little world, but this way you Ida is an international student which all the tributes, comments, and on forever but none of it would have erful. The university is very behind get to see the community on a big- working in liasion with the endless articles have forgotten - oil. happened without the North Sea Oil it, we have international students ger scale. There’s great pricing, great international o ce . Every It crippled the governments of the revenues. coming along to perform, and why culture and music, beautiful scenery issue she’ll write about her 1970s; it saved  atcher in the 1980s. I wasn’t even born when Margaret not? It doesn’t have to stop at Liver- (some students have never been to experiences in Bangor. It is incredible how frequently this  atcher le Downing Street and yet pool and Manchester, we have a re- the Vaynol estate and its right down factor is overlooked.  e 1970s were her divisive legacy is still relevant to ally lovely and diverse landscape to the road), so it’ll hopefully open up by IDA VÄISÄNEN a period of economic turmoil because children born today.  e Labour Party stage this kind of international event a new experience for them right on of the global oil crisis of 1973 where successfully embraced parts of her in North Wales. their doorstep. Plus, it’s just after the A long time before I came to Ban- the USA’s foreign policy in the Mid- ideology to win three general elec- end of term exams, so they have the gor I learnt that the British people dle East drove up the global price of tions, the Conservatives have never Kaya are supporting two local chance to come down and celebrate are more talkative than us Finns. To oil from about $3 a barrel to $12. In been able to move on from her.  e charities through this event, can while supporting their local commu- be fair, this isn’t much of an accom- the UK this caused in ation to soar roots of today’s economic crisis are you tell us a little bit more about nity. plishment since the Finns have cre- to about 25% (In comparison the in- found buried in the 1980s.  e de- that? ated the concept of very small talk,  ation rate today is at about 4%). e struction of the manufacturing indus- We’re supporting the Leukaemia & How are you planning to develop which means that we don’t talk at widespread industrial con icts which try which led to mass unemployment, in bringing  atcher to power and ce- Lymphoma Research for Wales Char- Kaya in the future? all. I’d like to think that I don’t rep- retrospectively paint such a bleak nancial deregulation and the alarm- by PETER DAVIES menting her policies. ity, who’ve got a base in Cardi , and it We just want to keep it as diverse resent the antisocial Nordic stereo- picture of the 1970s and from which ing increase in inequality has shaped  atcher was elected at the latter supports people who have su ered and as competitively priced as pos- type myself but some situations still  atcher apparently saved us were the politics of today. Yet it was the rev- realise that more than enough has end of the 1970s, a decade blighted by or who are su ering from lympho- sible. We want to grow it to a reason- manage to confuse me. caused by workers demanding that enues from the North Sea Oil which been said about Margaret  atch- crisis and industrial strife.  e evoca- mas, that’s a big charity that we’re able size and then cap it, as we don’t I walk down the street, minding their pay increased with the rate of allowed much of this to happen. It is er, particularly by ill-informed tive images of endless piles of rubbish looking to support. It’s a disease that want it to stop being a personal my own business. I come across a yoofsI who weren’t even born in the and unburied dead from the winter of in ation. However by 1979, at around with a certain irony that the song top- people have to live with every year, festival. Kaya is the people’s festival; familiar person who also acknowl- the same time  atcher entered Num- ping the charts this week is taken from 1980s. Plenty had been written before 1978/9 have reappeared in the press to and we’re hoping that through Kaya we want to promote local artists, edges my approach. A nod, a smile. ber 10, the increase in the global price the musical the Wizard of Oz. In the the news of her death broke, and the underline David Cameron’s belief that we can raise some much needed we’re bringing the community to- A sigh of relief, I know how to han- of oil had allowed money to be poured merry old Land of Oz it wasn’t actu- Thabani Nyoni internet subsequently descended into she didn’t just lead our country, she funds to combat the illness. We’re gether through international artists dle this. Then it comes. ”You OK?” into the UK’s North Sea oil reserves, ally the Wicked Witch who mattered, a massive  ame war. In spite of this, I saved it. To her supporters she rescued Last summer saw the launch of Kaya, a world culture and music festival also working with SOS Children’s Vil- and local artists, as well as students She or he asks and walks on. I’m left allowing the country to become a net it was the clueless wizard who with his have written an article about Marga- it from the greedy hands of the mighty lage, which supports children from and the local community. We’re still mumbling some half-words for the exporter of its own oil. It was the black cheap tricks, smoke and mirrors de- with a North Welsh feel. This month, Seren’s Deputy Editor, Becki, had a ret  atcher. However, rather than a Trade Unions whose series of strikes Africa and other places around the learning, we’ll always make mistakes, person’s back and feeling silly. gold of the North Sea, not of the col- ceptively persuaded an entire country boring and predictable tirade against had crippled both the Conservative chat with festival organiser Thanbani Nyoni to  nd out about this year’s world who are in need of food, books but in the long run, we’re trying to This issue might feel insigni cant lieries which really shaped  atcher’s that he knew what he was doing.  e the evils of  atcherism, I have tried and Labour governments of the 1970s and other educational resources, stay price competitive. You won’t see but I come from a culture where the government policy. witch may now be dead but the smoke event and how they’re giving back to the local community. to highlight an issue that is o en for- and personi ed the disease that ren- which is fantastic cause. The reason many festivals operating and giving sparse questions are expected to be gotten: the importance oil played both dered Britain the ‘sick man of Europe’. By 1985 UK oil production was at its and mirrors remain. answered and one of the single big- for this support is because we be- people such great value for money gest culture shocks while in Bangor lieve that all children have value in on the ticket deals, especially in the has been these questions no-one society, which is why children up to local community. So come along, the age of 13 go free to Kaya, as we buy your ticket and come to Kaya, it’s expects an answer to. Its confusing, by BECKI WATSON Can you tell us a bit more about Aside from the music, what else isn’t it? Doesn’t make things too Our money’s try to make it a great place for them going to be great! the acts that will be performing at have you got going on at Kaya? easy, does it? Still my current neme- to hear great music, and learn about What inspired you to start up your the festival? We’ve got tonnes of workshops cultures from around the world. sis is the question, “you OK?’ I asked own festival? We’ve got Finley Quaye, who’s a going on for all ages, such as steel my Welsh friend are you supposed I’m a musician myself, so it’s some- MOBO and Brit award winner, the pan workshops, arts and crafts work- to answer it. No, you’re not. People worth? THE would be worth considering for the thing I am passionate about. I’ve brilliant The Selecter and Pauline shops for kids, as well as ones where just ask it out of politeness. By EMMA ÅSBERG government? Similar schemes are been going to festivals for years, and Black, who are legendary ska per- children can learn about science, Now the question remains, why? clearly possible, and indeed success- thought I could add something to formers, Afrika Bombaataa, who’s singing and drumming workshops, SIX I want to make it clear though that As tuition fees continue to rise, stu- ful, so why not give it a go? In fact, the market by creating Kaya, a world the pioneer and inventor of hip hop a walkabout workshop, bouncy cas- I’m not being hostile or unadapt- dents continue to plummet further, it was not long ago tuition fees were music festival with good vibes in a and electro funk, as well as Mad Pro- tles for kids, as well as a baby cham- able. I’m not saying that Finns do and further, into debt. We are all af- introduced in the rst place.  e rst beautiful part of the world. fessor, a legendary DJ in dub music. ber, which is a quiet area for parents HAVE YOU EVER HAD these things any better. Still this fected, and it's about time we speak tuition fees in the UK were capped at Another thing we’ve got going at and young kids, so families can come social custom is just something A NICKNAME? up. I'm one of the lucky ones that £1000 in 1998, so it did not take long What made you choose Bangor as Kaya is that we’re putting legendary along, We’ve also got some fantastic that goes over my head. Why are Barney Bear don't have to pay the full £9000, and for them to rise tenfold... Snowdonia Animal the location for Kaya? artists alongside local heroes, like foods from around the world, with questions about the welfare of to be honest, I simply wouldn't. Have you considered what you are I’ve been coming to Bangor for Freedom Sound System and Stacey people preparing and selling food your fellow people asked just out of I get 6 hours of teaching time per going to do a er you nish univer- Sanctuary years for student gigs in places like Cohen. We also have artists and stu- from Argentina, Brazil, India, Africa politeness when a reply isn’t even FAVOURITE MOVIE? week, which I dare say is a rough sity? I for one have already been look- studying. Hendre Hall, and I’ve got friends in dents performing and Bangor com- and the Caribbean. wanted? And furthermore, why is it By ANGUS LEE average for students here at Bangor ing for jobs within my eld of study Due to the high workload under- North Wales, so I’ve known about the edy students putting acts on. It’s a The Godfather thought as polite to do so? In this nowdonia animal sanctuary is a University. Let's break it down a lit- (journalism), and let me tell you, they taken, the publicity that is desperately location for many years. I thought real mixture; we’re basically bringing One of the taglines for Kaya is case staying quiet makes way more boarding kennels and cattery lo- tle and see how much every hour of are not easy to get. Now maybe it required for the sanctuary is put on a Vaynol was just a really lovely loca- people together under one umbrella ‘Celebrating diversity, music and FAVOURITE BAND? sense. cated near Betws-y-coed.  ey teaching time costs us. Taking into will be easier with a degree - ngers areS a non-pro t organisation and are back seat. As a result the low turno- tion for a festival, so here we are. for one weekend, students, the com- arts in beautiful North Wales’; how The Beatles Well, back at home they said it account how much time we get o a crossed - but the statistics are not ex- ver of donations for rehoming leads munity and outside artists. have you linked the international well. Everyone’s good isn’t similar. heavily dependent on the work of vol- year, which is six months, counting actly encouraging... to the sanctuary being underfunded. THREE ITEMS YOU’D TAKE I think this is just going to stay as unteers and donations.  eir aim is to reading weeks, it gets quite expensive. A third of all graduates are in a low-  e team ensure that each dog goes to one manner I’m not adopting and rehabilitate and re-home dogs, even ON A DESERT ISLAND? For those of us paying £3,290, that skilled job, compared to one in four the right home, and only when they continue to only ask questions I those deemed beyond help by others. means that every hour costs £22.80. in 2001. And worse, 20% of graduates know the dog is happy in its new sur- My family, a crate of beer, want answers to. Just a sugges-  ere are some truly heart-warming For those that pay £9000 that's £62.50 are unemployed, according to  e rescue stories from this sanctuary. roundings, will they let them go.  is COMPETITION! tion though, why not stay for a few and Sky Sports per lecture or seminar (1 hour-long). Guardian.  e prospects are dire for is honourable, but consequently low- WIN A PAIR OF WEEKEND CAMPING TICKETS minutes the next time to hear is the  e small team that keep the place Can you really a ord to skip classes? us students, and are not made bright- ers the turnover. Donations, aware- person actually OK? running work tirelessly just to keep What I would like to ask though, er by the massive amount of debt we ness and fundraising are in dire need CAN YOU SPELL THE FULL Remember that the closing date a oat. Despite the sheer work in- To win a pair of weekend camping tickets is whether or not this is fair. Where will be in by the end of our time here. just to keep food in the dog’s bowls for Swequity Wales programme is volved in cleaning out over  y dogs VERSION OF LLANFAIRPG? does the money go? A lot of it goes to However, it's not all darkness and and to pay substantial vet bills. for Kaya Festival on 25th-26th May just go to the 20th of March! If you have an a day, they still do their upmost to en- teachers' salaries, looking a er the fa- misery. According to Graham Snow- So please support Snowdonia ani- idea you’d like to be turned into sure each dog gets to stretch its legs the following link and enter your name and No, I can’t cilities and other such fees. But I think don, deputy editor for  e Guardian mal sanctuary, whether by helping reality, visit http://www.invento- on a regular basis.  ey are reliant it's safe to assume that even with the Weekly, graduates still earn more per out, donating or just spreading the email address. rium.org/events/swequity-wales- on the help of volunteers to ful l this. WHAT WOULD YOU WEAR budget cuts, universities are milking hour than non-graduates - regardless word. Please help. If you are inter- spring-2013/ for more info! Having gone and volunteered, it was their students for money. Considering of subject.  e gures, taken from the truly a privilege to help out; the op- ested, or want to nd out more about TO SEREN 90S NIGHT? that many countries o er free educa- Labour Force Survey, also show that portunity to walk some truly wonder- the sanctuary, or the dogs please visit www.seren.bangor.ac.uk/kayacompetition A chicken suit tion - as well as large bursaries - for 86% of graduates are employed, com- ful dogs, in the beautiful Welsh scen- their website: www.snowdoniaani- all EU students, maybe these models pared to a 72.3% for non-graduates. ery, proved a breath of fresh air from malsanctuary.com 12 Seren | April , 2013 UNION Housing Survey THE Students’ Union is working closely with the housing o ce to nd out more about the search for private accommodation in Bangor. In order to nd out as much as they can they have launched a competition open to all students. They hope for the feedback to help the student experience in the next year. Anyone who enters the survey will be put into a prize draw for a chance of winning £30 worth of Amazon vouchers. To ll in the survey go to the fol- lowing like: www.surveymonkey.com/s/ HM7MN8S Student Safety THE SU and the University have had reports of both verbal and physical attacks on students. We would urge any students who ex- ast year,Heroes Bangor Students’ Union promotion and making sure people Neededrange of skills, helping make you work hard, dependable, resourceful, perience or witness an incident Heroes’ helped make Welcome know about Senate and the General even more employable when you and have initiative. like this to report it to the police. Week even better for rst years Meeting, Minibus driving and lots of leave Bangor. You’ll also get BEA If you’re interested, please email This way we can not only support L across Bangor – and this year its other stu . points. antony.butcher@bangorstudents. you but also lobby the University back, bigger and better! Bangor Stu- In exchange for your hard work, We’re looking for Heroes from all com, brie y explaining why you and Gwynedd Council for better dents’ Union is looking for energetic you’ll get a lovely t-shirt, lunches backgrounds, to re ect the makeup think you’d make a good hero – we’ll lighting, more CCTV, more Secu- and enthusiastic volunteers to help on days you’re helping and lots of of our diverse student body. We’re select Heroes based on the informa- rity/Police patrols etc. Security are us out during Welcome Week with appreciation from your Sabbs. We’ll looking for students who can be fan- tion contained within your applica- available 24 hours a day by calling a variety of tasks including helping also give you free entry to Academi tastic ambassadors for the SU, and tion. We’ll be in contact to let you 01248 382795 and if you want more new students unpack, organising during Welcome Week! This is a great who can make new students feel at know if you’ve been successful, and support, feel free to contact Shôn events, helping at Serendipity, hand- chance to get to meet new people home as soon as they turn up. Poten- what the next stages are. If you’d like Prebble at the Union, Steph Barba- ing out maps, Promoting NUS & Love and help students settle in Bangor. tial Heroes should be enthusiastic, more information, head to www. resi at Student Support Services or Bangor student discount cards, SU As well as this, you’ll gain a whole friendly, approachable, prepared to bangorstudents.com/heroes. WPC Antonia Lloyd, the University Police Liaison O cer. If you’re wor- ried about anything please don’t hesitate to get in touch! Students’ Union Have you NOW HIRING AGM BANGOR STUDENTS’ UNION  lled in the o, it’s AGM time again! The SU spend money on, and nding out AGM is your opportunity to where you’d like to see increased Scome along and review the expenditure, another asking what NSS yet? progress that your students’ union campaigns would you like us to run EACH year third year students has made this last year. The Sab- to improve your education and wel- across the UK take part in the Na- batical o cers will be giving you fare here in Bangor, and a session on tional Student Survey. The survey their annual reports and you’ll have activities. These will kick o at 6pm aims to nd out what students liked an opportunity to question them – all the details will be on our face- and disliked about their course about things that a ect you and the book page – facebook.com/Bangor- over the three years in order to bet- work that they have been engaged StudentsUnion. ter the individual schools across the in to make your student experience The AGM will also include an elec- university. It’s really important that better. We’ll also be getting a pres- tion for our student trustees and TRUSTEES if you’re a third year you take time entation from Pontio setting out senators for the year ahead and will to ll in the survey before the dead- what the building will look like, how also provide you with a report on ex- CARE ABOUT BANGOR STUDENTS’ UNION? WANT TO HELP THE SU line on 30th April. You can do so on- work is progressing, and what the penditure and activity to date. Clubs DEVELOP, GROW AND DELIVER IMPACT FOR BANGOR STUDENTS? WANT line at: www.thestudentsurvey.com building will o er to students, with and Societies are reminded that SOMETHING TRULY IMPRESSIVE FOR YOUR CV? a Question and Answer session. they each need to send 2 members On top of this, for the rst time to the AGM in order to be eligible for WE’RE LOOKING FOR THREE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE BANGOR STUDENTS SLTA’s are ever, we’ll be hosting some fringe SU grant money next year. If you are NEXT YEAR TO SIT ON THE TRUSTEE BOARD AND HELP OVERSEE AND events. We want to give you as unable to send two members, you GUIDE ALL OF OUR WORK. much chance as possible to get in- must send your apologies. upon us! volved in your students Union and The AGM is on Tuesday the 30th of THE students of Bangor have to have your say on what we should April, at 7.15. The fringe events will spoken and have nominated their be doing. We’ll be running a ses- kick o at 6pm in the Management SENATORS sion looking at our budget, what we Centre, full details on Facebook. favourite and most deserving BANGOR STUDENT? GOT IDEAS ON HOW TO IMPROVE THE UNION, teachers for a valued Student Led UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY? BANGOR STUDENT SENATE NEEDS Teaching Award. Now in its second YOU! year in Bangor the SLTA’s award cer- emony will take place on Wednes- THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO SHAPE THE STUDENTS’ UNION FOR YOUR day 24th April in PJ Hall. All those ENLIST GENERATION OF STUDENTS. nominated and those who nomi- nated them have now had their invites. You’ll be able to see the THE ELECTIONS FOR STUDENTS’ UNION SENATE AND STUDENTS’ UNION TRUSTEES results of the ceremony up on the WILL BE TAKING PLACE ONLINE FROM 9PM ON TUESDAY 30TH APRIL TO 4PM 2ND Students’ Union website in the next TODAY! MAY 2013. few weeks. CANDIDATES’ QUESTION TIME WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE END OF THE STUDENTS’ WWW.BANGORSTUDENTS.COM UNION’S ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING ON TUESDAY 30TH IN MALT. VOTE ONLINE NOW!

BAR PUB • LOCAL INDEPENDENT • TATTOO SHOP • TAKEOUT • HIGH STREET HAIRDRESSERS • STUDENT FRIENDLY • RESTAURANT • CLUB • SUPERMARKET VALUE • CHARITY • BANGOR’S FAVOURITE BUSINESS

voting closes Friday 10th May www.seren.bangor.ac.uk/awards2013 14 Seren | April , 2013 SOCIETIES Society Snippets PostGrad Voices If you fancy being the voice of postgraduate students and repre- senting this growing community, working within the Student Union why not run for one of the PGSF Committee spots? Nominations are open from the 15th until the 24th of April 2013. You need to be a reg- istered Bangor postgraduate stu- dent in the next academic year. For Can you cook the most student friendly meal? full details visit our website: http:// pgsf.bangor.ac.uk/Or contact us by e want as many teams as what it is, time it took to make, recipe mission dates. 3rd prize = Homemade treat box e-mail: [email protected] possible to get involved as a whole and where you heard it While we encourage inventive ide- Creativity prize = Mystery! Wand lm the cheapest, from. We will then arrange a time to as, please do not be o ensive. healthiest, fastest and most student meet up with you to collect your en- Try to not swear as well as the win- With 50% of the cash going as friendly meal that you can think of. try money. If we don’t get your entry ning lms will be publicised. prize, BUCAS have decided that 25% Afro This could be up a mountain on a money by the deadline your lm will Please cook safely. will be used for BUCAS use and 25% gas stove, in a kitchen, or on a boat. not be counted! will also be going to the Better Food Caribbean The more radical the better! (Fancy Deadline: Foundation charity which promotes The Afro-Caribbean Society, in dress = extra points) Extra bits: 15th April till 29th April 5pm sub- healthy eating. For further details : its usual grandeur, exceedingly Film it using your phone, camera To enter it is £2 per person or £5 mission/ link to cooking madness! http://www.jamieoliver.com/foun- thrilled the audience in the full ca- or laptop and upload it to YouTube. for a group of 5. The max amount of dation/ pacity Prichard Jones Hall at the Once you have done that, email bu- people in a group is 5. Prizes: Check out the facebook group for Bangor University One World Gala [email protected] with the The video cannot be more than 30 1st prize = 50% of the money taken any more details or to ask us a ques- Day 2013; the University’s annual YouTube the link, details about your mins. from the event tion (https://www.facebook.com/ celebration of the diverse range group and what you’re cooking as You can record it from now up un- 2nd = Meal from a restaurant for groups/545888598758905/) of cultures and nationalities of its well as the price of all your ingre- til the deadline, as long as the email the entire group (max 5) (tba) Event: https://www.facebook.com/ students which held on the 8th of dients. Remember to also include with the link is sent within the sub- events/513479058694291/ March this year. Even as we gradually approach the end of the 2012/2013 academic year, the Afro-Caribbean Society is taking no rest from its successes as we are going further to ensure we bring closer to you, the most enter- taining summer-event this summer season. RAG cycles to Gambia On 25th April, Rag will be holding a Virtual African Cycle event in the Main Arts foyer to try and cycle 211 miles, the approximate distance of Gambia, in 12 hours. We are looking for as many peo- ple as possible to cycle a distance or time of their choice, and to par- ticipate in several competitions Director Jordan Ward with Professor David Crystal throughout the day. Alternatively, turn up anytime between 9am and 9pm where you can see our pro- Bangor students gress on the giant map of Gambia, Rostra to perform a see Rhodri cycle and support fellow Raggies and cyclists. saving Lemurs portunity to introduce people in world  rst Shakespeare The event will be held to raise vital by LJ TAYLOR Wales to some of my country’s bio- funds for Concern Universal, a char- diversity and culture while raising itable organisation that focuses on angor University students play money for this really good cause. A helping communities around the are working closely with the ostra have taken on a big chal- of OP, who has attended rehearsals little money goes a long way in Mad- world nd practical, long term solu- BWelsh Mountain Zoo to organ- lenge this semester, and will to coach the cast on the pronun- agascar so what we raise will make a tions to poverty. ise a fundraising evening with the be performing William Shake- ciation. The production has also big di erence,’ said Voahirana. R zoo’s lemurs. speare’s ‘As You Like It’ in Original received advice from Michael Cor- The event organised by the Moun- Money raised from the event will Pronunciation of the 17th century, bidge, Voice Director at the Royal Comedy tain Zoo, Geog Soc, HogSoc, Voahi- go towards the Zoo’s Lemur Con- spoken as it would have been when Shakespeare Company. It is a large rana Randriamamonjy (a Masters servation Fundraising Project which the play was written. This excit- task for the cast to take on, but de - student at the university) and Dr works with communities in Mang- ing new venture will be only the nitely worth the pay o - this pro- Club Show Julia Jones will showcase the biodi- abe to conserve both the rainforest 7th recorded OP production in the duction could be talked about for Bangor comedy are set to per- versity and culture of Madagascar. and its lemur inhabitants. The mon- modern world, and the rst OP pro- years to come. form with popular TV comic Seann Taking place at the Zoo, in Colwyn ey raised will be matched by the duction of ‘As You Like It’ in over 400 Don’t miss out on this rare treat! Walsh. Walsh, seen on shows such Bay, on 27th April the evening will Size of Wales charity who have been years. See how 17th century English was as ‘Mock the Week’ and ‘Michael give people the chance to get up working closely with the University Director Jordan Ward was inspired pronounced and how this a ects MicIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow’, close with the lemurs as well as try all year. to attempt this idea by Professor Da- the play. The performances are the will be performing on 6th May in JP some Malagasy food whilst enjoying Tickets are available from the vid Crystal, a leading expert on the 19th, 20th and 21st of April and tick- Hall, and will be supported by the a presentation from Dr Jones. Welsh Mountain Zoo and are priced English Language and the pioneer ets are £4, or £3 with a valid SU card. winner of Bangor Comedy’s Stand- ‘I am really excited about the op- at £10 for adults and £8 for conces- Up Competition. sions. April , 2013 | Seren 15

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wonder if you all have noticed the rise in St Mary’s distributed ‘annual homeless winter ripping up our hard work, just left me with ink ing contraption, yes that is a technical term, homelessness right on your doorstep? packs to rough sleepers living in the area’. A stained hands that got EVERYWHERE. I’m pret- not the chamber. IGwynedd is 4th worst in Wales for home- typical winter pack includes a sleeping bag, ty sure that I didn’t have a ngerprint visible When I’d recti ed that small snag it lled lessness and rough sleeping, or 3rd not includ- roll mat, hot  ask, tin opener and clothes, and there was so much gunk on my skin. But that readily and took all of my weight to press as ing Cardi . this year Seren will provide the fuel to burn on came o soon enough… all over my wall and much of the water out as I could. Bear in mind Seren is teaming up with St Mary’s Hostel in open res and stoves for the rough sleepers kitchen as I made a cup of tea… I don’t weigh loads and have the upper body Lower Bangor to provide recycled paper fuel and people in supported living. I left it to stew in water overnight and came strength of a newborn T-rex, only with smaller blocks for their winter packages. St Mary’s So I tried my hand at making these paper back in the morning to nd a mop bucket, arms, so if I can do it, anyone can. Direct Access Hostel helps ‘residents to nd blocks. It was messier than expected and it which had black and white dinosaur chunder It turns out, 1 full issue of Seren= 1 Block= 1 and secure appropriate move-on accommo- looked like Oliver Twist’s worst nightmare: in it. Slotted spoon at the ready I started ll- ½ hours of burning. Not a bad result. They take dation’. They provide shelter and support to grey gruel. Probably didn’t help that I was us- ing up the block maker with the paper pulp. about a week to fully dry out. Maybe less in a those people who need immediate help and ing a slotted spoon and spatula to manipulate Reading the instructions might have helped as central heated SU o ce (* hint hint *). food and supplies to rough sleepers. Last year the paper slurry into position. So stage one, I soon realised that I’d been lling the squish-

This issue, with Easter placed slap bang in the middle of when we would normally visit some societies, we decided instead to interview people about what they are a member of, to give an insight into the wide range of societies out there that we may never get to try. Brave enough to face JOE interrogation by Pippa were Sarah, Joe, James and Rachel. What societies are you a part of? JAMES Mountaineering society (BUMS), DJ What societies are you a part of? Society and Seren SARAH RACHEL Quidditch Club, Minecraft ori- Would you say you have a favour- What societies are you a part of? ented Bangor Society and Japanese What societies are you a part of? ite society and if so which one? Riding club and BUSAC Snowsports Club, BUMS, SVB (Stu- Society De nitely Bums I reckon. I love climb- Would you say you have a favourite dent Volunteering Bangor), Badmin- Would you say you have a favour- ing, everyone’s really friendly and society and if so which one? ton and Sub-aqua club (BUSAC) ite society and if so which one? easy to get along with and there’s no Probably sub-aqua club where I am Would you say you have a favour- I would say Minecraft. There is pressure - you can go to as many or ite society and if so which one? as few sessions as you like. learning to scuba dive. There are great a friendly atmosphere with like- My favourite would probably be stu- How often do they meet? opportunities to do a wide range of minded people and the Uni has set courses and lots of trips around the dent volunteering. There are just so up a server especially for the club, Twice a week, on Sundays and Tues- many opportunities to try out new local area. All the equipment is avail- so the club are able to play and days things. Whether you are interested in Why would you recommend it? able for use so you don’t have to buy helping the elderly, coaching young meet altogether. The social side is really good, there your own and the club members are sports stars of the future, running arts How often do they meet? are lots of opportunities to travel and often willing to lend drysuits and other and crafts for children or helping with They have regular weekly socials go to other places. The club also have equipment of their own to those in projects for vulnerable adults, there and often meet up to play alto- all the equipment already and so it’s need. are projects for everyone – and it gether. much cheaper than climbing outside How often do they meet? looks amazing on your CV! Why would you recommend it? of Uni. How often do they meet? If you are already quali ed then they With the Uni hosting a sever with What would you say is the best Most volunteering projects operate part of being in a society? E.g. the usually run club dives at local sea/ on a weekly basis, however some run multiple worlds for creative and social aspects, the activities and quarry sites once or twice a week, oth- fortnightly or even monthly. survival game play, it makes it a lot trips? erwise it depends on your course as to Why would you recommend it? more exciting. There are building Making friends with similar interests how many sessions you have per week. It’s a great chance to meet new peo- competitions and a great commu- and hobbies and the social side of it Why would you recommend it? ple who have the same desire as you nity. is de nitely a plus. It is a great chance to gain quali ca- to help others! It also looks really What would you say is the best good for future employers. tions for a lot cheaper cost than out- part of being in a society? What would you say is the best side university. The instructors are very The social side and the opportu- part of being in a society? E.g. the experienced and can dedicate as much social aspects, the activities and nity to meet like-minded people. time as you need to getting you quali- trips? e d . De nitely getting to go on activities What would you say is the best part and trips you wouldn’t normally get of being in a society? E.g. the social to go on and helping to make a dif- aspects, the activities and trips? ference. The social aspects and the opportuni- ty to travel to new and exciting places. 16 Seren | April , 2013 GAMES

This issue our Editor , LJ, takes a look at what has fast be- come one of Sony’s agship franchises; God of War. The franchise, which has so far spawned seven games across Sony consoles has been a best seller since its inception back in 2005. LJ takes a look at what has made it so suc- cessful and pulls apart the latest game to hit the shelves; God of War: Ascension.

ver dreamt of bringing Olym- Ares and Kratos have some history which, long tos is the son of Zeus. What would a modern pus to its knees? Have a pen- story short, had Kratos tricked into killing his video game be without the protagonist hav- Echant for brutal deaths? Or wife and daughter. Kratos soon deals with Ares ing some ‘Daddy issues’? love some good old fashioned re- and becomes the new God of War on Mount The third in the series, or trilogy as it should venge? Then the God of War series Olympus alongside Zeus and co. be, has Kratos once again betrayed (he really is for you. Zeus, being the bitter and untrustworthy needs to nd better friends), but this time by Initially released in 2005 on the bastard that Greek Mythology portrayed the Titans. Eventually destroying both the Playstation 2 console, the series him to be, soon betrays Kratos in God of War Gods and the Titans, like any good warrior follows Kratos, otherwise known as II. For Sony, the Gods of Mount Olympus ap- should, Kratos refuses to stand by Athena’s the Ghost of Sparta, as he wreaks havoc parently aren’t enough for one game ,and so side looking over mankind and thus disap- across Ancient Greece. The rst game, in come the Titans. Gaia, Mother Earth, saves pears never to be seen again... aptly named God of War, saw Kratos en- the Spartan warrior and leads him in a revolt Until now, that is. Sony are back with the lat- couraged by Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, to against Olympus. And of course just a little est in the God of War series; God of War: As- kill Ares; y’know, the God of War. Turns out more drama was needed; turns out that Kra- cension.

as the blades now come with ‘el- there’s Team Favour of the Gods the same brutal game punctuated by emental powers’ which you get from where 2 or 4 teams battle it out in the ubiquitous quick-time-events. I Olympia’s ‘Big Four’: Zeus, Ares, Po- what is essentially a team death- doubt that Ascension will do a whole seidon and Hades. match where you can only use a lot for new players to the series but The latest instalment makes battle sword, hammer or spear. for the fans of the franchise it is nice a little more interesting by replac- Whilst the multiplayer is nothing to see Kratos once again - perhaps ing the ‘O’ button’s old grab and kill special it’s a nice little addition that for the last time. Though with the se- function with the ability to pick up would keep the die hard fans enter- ries being one of Sony’s  ag- weapons which will allow you to do tained for at least an afternoon. ships these days it’s likely di erent things; the best of which is All in all God of War: Ascension the team are racking their de nitely throwing javelins at your lacks the epic feel of the previ- brains to nd the most enemies. ous games but that could have obscure of Greek Mythol- Ascension is the GoW game that a lot to do with the fact that ogy to base a PS4 game nally caved in to the pressures Kratos has killed pretty much o of. hilst Kratos may have intriguing. The subsequent back of multiplayer. These days a game every God, Titan and Beast that spread his (Hermes) wings and forth and back and forth left me without a multiplayer mode has lit- Greek Mythology has to o er! It and  own away in GOW feeling more confused than my rst tle hope of having any ‘replay value’. is however a cool origins story W You play as a prisoner supposedly for the Ghost of Sparta and III, the latest game takes us back to viewing of Christopher Nolan’s Me- the days when Kratos’ hands weren’t mento. killed at the beginning of the single The Furies’ torture of stained with the blood of Ares, in- With the beautiful backdrop of player story, but thankfully your plea Kratos for killing his stead letting the narrative build up Greek Mythology, the latest in the is heard by the Gods and you must family provides an to those events. God of War franchise is visually stun- form an allegiance with one of the interesting narra- Speaking of the narrative, it seems ning, pushing the boundaries of the ‘Big Four’. After some quick war- tive. to have been hit in the head by Kra- Playstation 3 system just like any rior customisation, you’re ready to Gameplay-wise to’s Blades of Chaos one too many exclusive game should do. Howev- do battle. There’s four game types Ascension hardly times. Adopting the, ever-popular- er, the visuals in a way feel like the which are very similar to your tradi- advances any of with-video-games, anti-narrative only real upgrade from the previous tional multiplayer games but with an the other games; GoW: Ascension begins with our games. Ancient Greek twist. there’s a few cool white washed warrior chained up, Ascension, in a lot of ways, doesn’t In Trial of the Gods, you and one new moves imprisoned by the Furies. di er from its predecessors. Despite other player will battle against the but essen- There’s no explanation attached to the engaging story it is at heart a clock ghting o hordes of enemies tially it is the game’s opening, much like UN- hack and slash, beat-every-last-one- and even boss battles. Capture the CHARTED 2’s literal cli hanger of an of-them-up, button bashing kind of Flag is self explanatory and sees opening. About an hour’s worth of game. Instead of the usual, two hits teams of Spartans vs Trojans. This gameplay later we skip back in time and they’re dead enemies, Ascen- match type also includes a bonus to nd out what lead to Kratos’ im- sion makes players work a little bit  ag that belongs to no team and prisonment. This should have been harder to increase their death toll. gives your player basic healing and the perfect structure to one of my You do this with the familiar Blades stunning powers. favourite franchises. It was, however, of Chaos, which surprisingly are Kra- Then there’s the Match of Champi- a disappointment. tos’ only weapons in this game. It’s ons, the typical deathmatch, where The initial timeframe hopping was more interesting than you’d think, 4-8 players battle every man for themselves. And nally April , 2013 | Seren 17

Game Bits LucasArts closed DESPITE promising “business as usual” after taking over LucasFilm six months ago Disney have closed down the games studio. An estimated 150 jobs have been lost due to the closing over the Lu- casFilm subsidary who are respon- sible for a lot of the Star Wars games on shelves as well as the popular Monkey Island series. The closure has left the future un- certain for a number of anticipated projects such as, Star Wars 1313 and Star Wars: First Assault. It has been hinted that the former may be completed by an external company under liscensing.

by LJ TAYLOR that the series has needed for a interesting multiplayer though it’s to nd much out about. think it’s safe to say that most while. It’s always nice to have the doubtful Rockstar will incorporate Whilst we won’t be able to answer Mewthree gamers amongst us, whether familiarity but sometimes it just it in that way. phone calls or go on dates, which Iold enough or not, played the feels like you spent £40 on a game The game is set in Los Santos, to some of us will be a relief, GTA Grand Theft Auto games in their you’ve already played. which you may recognise from San V will let us play golf, tennis and is born? prime. And by in their prime I Unlike the other games in the Andreas. The trailer consists of a even do some scuba diving and RECENTLY the internet has been mostly just mean Rockstar’s 2002 franchise, GTA V will see us taking lot of shots of Los Santos, which is yoga. Though I’m pretty sure most hit with pictures of a Pokémon Vice City. It was a masterpiece from the lives of three protagonists into said to be a bigger game map than of us will be spending more time bearing a lot of resemblences to the the soundtrack to the rally cars our hands. First there’s Michael, an Grand Theft Auto 4, Red Dead Re- behind the wheel breaking every mysterious and genetically created spawning from the sky. Then there ex-bank robber. He’s in his forties demption and Grand Theft Auto: tra c law ever invented. Speak- Mewtwo. was San Andreas. Followed by GTA and has a family that are taken care San Andreas combined. Hopefully, ing of which, the cars in GTA V look The reveal of the new Pokémon is IV. Something had happened to my of from the money he made in his this will mean a long game that great from what we’ve seen in the part of promotion for the upcom- favourite series or I’d outgrown it. old life. The second is Trevor, he’s will keep us going for a while. It’d trailers. My particular favourite is ing Nintendo 3DS game, Pokémon This year though, Rockstar are an older business partner of Mi- certainly be a step towards mak- the Audi R8 Spyder lookalike. X and Y. back with the long awaited Grand chael’s but unlike his friend doesn’t ing GTA V worth the long wait. I’m intrigued by GTA V to say the People are sill speculating about Theft Auto V. We’ve been teased live in style, but instead in a trailer As always the graphics have im- least. Yes I will buy it as soon as it whether this new Pokémon is re- with little bits of information all park with a drug addiction. Thirdly proved and Los Santos is looking comes out and yes I may be disap- lated to Mewtwo but the o cial year but now that we have the re- there is Franklin, the youngest good but not quite to the graphic pointed. I’ve been a Grand Theft website seems to point towards it: lease date (17th September) the of the group, a repo man thrown standard of a number of recent re- Auto fan since I was a kid and so “The mysteries of Pokémon X and Grand Theft Auto buzz is about to into business with the other two in leases. Grand Theft Auto, however, it would be wrong of me not to Pokémon Y continue to grow with take over the gaming world. “pursuit of the almighty American seems to maintain a comic feel, give it a chance. From the looks the unveiling of a Pokémon that is When it comes to gameplay GTA dollar”. Sounds like typical GTA, akin to that of Borderlands and of things so far, Rockstar have ad- strangely familiar! It looks a lot like has always been pretty conserva- right? Borderlands 2, and it seems that dressed a lot of issues and spiced the powerful Legendary Pokémon tive however Rockstar have an- Each character will have his own even with the technology available things up. GTA V will be the biggest Mewtwo, but not quite the same...” nounced that they have rebuilt story arc but what sounds pretty in- Rockstar would prefer to stick with free roaming game that Rockstar the game’s mechanics completely. teresting is how some missions will this iconic look. Other locations have ever built and the fact that We can’t be exactly sure what this require each one’s speci c skills to include Mount Chiliad, Vinewood they have spent so long on it has to Journey to means until we get our hands on complete. This means we’ll have to (GTA’s Hollywood), San Fierro and count for something, right? a copy in September but I like to work out when to switch and who Alamos Sea. Apparently there’s also think that this is the fresh change to. This could make for some pretty a secret military base that we’ve yet the awards AWARDS season is well underway and in the gaming industry there’s been quite a few shocks. Rather than a big budget game sweeping all the di erent awards it’s independent, PS3 exclusive Journey that’s grabbing all the gold. The game took 6 awards last month at the Game Developers Choice Awards and then 5 BAFTAs. This alone shows how the indus- try is shifting more towards the independent game than the multi- million pound franchises that cur- rently dominate the market. by SCOTT BURROWS selves with Batman. And so begins important thing about superheroes? there’s a whole lot to choose from, or me at least, this latest of- the ghting. Their powers and ghting styles of obscure to legendary)There’s also fering from the DC studio has Superheroes are all the rage in the course! S.T.A.R Labs where you must com- NextBox? F own way under the radar. I movies these days but with Injus- The interactive elements of the plete 240 character speci c chal- had no idea that it was coming out tice: Gods Among Us our favourite game sound pretty interesting too. lenges. Like any good game these RUMOURS are circling the inter- despite the cool artwork and range DC Heroes are brought to life for us Attacking your opponent towards days Injustice also has some online net that the next generation con- of trailers for it. Once I was aware to take control of. The creators of the edge of the arena will take you multiplayer options such as King of sole from Microsoft, the Xbox 720, though I was pretty intrigued. Mortal Kombat are those behind In- into a di erent area where there the Hill. will feature its own tv style chan- Written as a standalone from the justice which means we can expect could be items your character could It’s due out this week but I’d prob- nel. The channel would apparently comics, Injustice takes place after a good old fashioned ghting game. use. For example, Superman picks ably recommend giving it a few work like Net ix and would show the Joker destroys Metropolis and At rst this put me o Injustice, I felt up cars and attacks his enemies with months until the price comes down, its own original shows like Net ix’s tricks their greatest hero, Superman, as though a ghting game was bor- them. However, a character who as it often does with this type of House of Cards. into killing Lois Lane and their un- ing and that so much more could favours gadgets over strength, like game. If you’ve got an iPhone, iPad This is yet to be con rmed or de- born child. Both angry and devastat- have been done with the DC cata- Batman, could cause the car to ex- or iPod though you can download nied by Microsoft but if it were to ed the Kryptonian destroys the Joker logue. Sure, it would be cool to have plode instead. the Injustice: Gods Among Us app be true it does sound like a smart and establishes a New World Order. a full on adventure game featur- Whilst it is like a very typical ght- for free. It’s a cool little app that move. Games consoles are in de- The world of DC is divided with some ing our favourite heroes but there’s ing game Injustice also features a looks amazing and gives you a taste mand for so much more than gam- siding with Superman and others something about Injustice that pulls story mode which will have players for what the console game is going ing as X Box’s deals with ESPN and opposing his regime allying them- me in. And besides, what’s the most swapping between characters. (And to be like. UFC have shown. 18 Seren | April , 2013 TV IN BRIEF Panorama Criticism BBC’s Panorama has come under re for allegedly using students as a ‘human cover’ during an under- cover lm shoot in North Korea. The students, from the London School of Economics, were appar- ently unaware of the true nature of the trip, although the BBC have stated that the students knew a journalist was travelling with them, and the LSE Students Union and the University itself are demanding that the programme be withdrawn. However, the BBC have decided to continue with the broadcast as the lm is ‘strongly in the public inter- est’, and stated that ‘the risks, as we THE MIMIC explained them to the students, were justi ed.’ By MATT JACKSON lead Martin into a cohort of shenani- low mainly typical sitcom styles, for Mynott’s ability to act. Receiving a gans which turns his seemingly me- example man has tragedy imparted lot of acclaim from the public on nitially I couldn’t help but feel nial life interesting. Parading around on him by close friend, OH NO! Nev- social media sites such as Twitter, sceptical about Channel 4’s new with his friends including the ditsy er fear he can “crash” with another Mynott himself has had an interest- Marr neighbour and fellow sad-sap news- friend right? With hilarious conse- ing journey leading to his Channel 4 ITV show The Mimic; the adverts looked good but it wasn’t getting as agent, Martin’s life is never short for quences? Got you! TV show. Starting o on the comedy returns much advertising time as that god events across the 5 episodes. The initial episodes were much circuit Mynott was soon spotted by awful abomination that they broad- One thing I didn’t expect from the stronger in my own opinion; they an agent whilst performing stand- Andrew Marr has made his rst cast called Gogglebox. programme is that I’d actually nd seemed to have a lighter hearted up, which led to him working with appearance on television after he The basis of Mimic sounds quite myself quite liking Martin as a char- feel, whereas the latter seemed to high pro le names such as Rhys su ered a stroke in January, saying obvious as well; it’s a TV show that acter. Whilst he does seem to con- attempt a deeper look into the lives Darby. that he is ‘lucky to be alive’. Marr ap- follows the life of Martin Hurdle form to the expected middle age sad of Martin and those around him, Either way hopefully Channel 4 peared as a guest on his own show (played by Terry Mynott), a middle sap, he also seems to have a lot go- including his estranged son whose will consider a second series of The on Sunday morning, and blamed aged man with an unimpressive life ing for him more than just the basic addition turns Martin’s life upside Mimic but the only fear would be his stroke on over-vigorous exer- who is capable of replicating the mid-life crisis only this time with a down. that dragging out something which cise on a rowing machine; prior to voices of the nation’s much loved ce- touch of impressionism. Considering he’s not a house- in essence revolves around an unu- his illness, Marr was considered to lebrity treasures. These voices thus The basis of the plot seemed to fol- hold name, I was quite surprised by sual gimmick could quickly grow old. be very t for his age. The stroke af- fected the left side of his body, and Marr stated that he still has some mobility problems and a ‘lot of physio still to do’, but is determined to return to work full time. iPlayer films The BBC has announced that it is to air six short lms exclusively on BBC iPlayer, the rst time the company has created content spe- ci cally for its online streaming site. This has mirrored moves made by US sites such as Net ix, which showed its political drama House of Cards on the site and is due to show a new series of Arrested Develop- ment exclusively on Net ix. ITV wins ratings IN THE FLESH by TOM EMLYN WILLIAMS gore. phere of the show is extremely e ec- might well be, and achieves a kind of This is not a universe of good and tive, providing as it does a sense of realism by doing this. It’s quintessen- war s all speculative ction should evil - these characters inhabit a more alienation and coldness. We can un- tially British in its understated drama do, In the Flesh asks a ‘what complex moral grey zone, exempli- derstand how lonely it would be to and the politically correct naming of The new ITV drama Endeavour if’ question: ‘what if zombies ed by the hypocritical HVF, who be in their situation as outsiders, and the rehabilitated undead as ‘partially pulled in 6 million viewers on its A could be healed and reintegrated believe they are protecting their the socially reviled group that the deceased syndrome su erers’. The debut, beating out John Simm’s into society?’ Possible answers to community by being hostile to the zombies becomes can be seen as an moments of humour in the show are The Village. The drama, a prequel to this question are explored very ef- zombies. Though they refer to the e ective metaphor for other unfairly also part of this and serve as a relief the beloved series Inspector Morse, fectively over the three episodes of undead as ‘monsters’, it’s made clear ostracised groups like homosexuals from the darker moments. surpassed the BBC drama by 1 mil- this series. The zombies themselves that they have become monsters or racially persecuted individuals. In the Flesh is, above all, a charac- lion viewers and held a 23% share are humanised brilliantly - they are themselves. The audience is prompt- This theme of social prejudice be- ter piece, and is really unique in the of the viewing. This follows the actual characters, rather than simply ed unobtrusively to consider various comes increasingly important as the zombie genre for focusing on the huge success of Britain’s Got Tal- fodder for bullets. This is an interest- questions - is it right to resurrect the series progresses through its three zombies as victims and sympathetic ent’s rst episiode, which pulled in ing approach to the zombie genre, undead? How would this a ect your episodes. human characters. If you haven’t over 10 million viewers, 4 million and results in In the Flesh achieving sense of identity? Are the characters’ The writing captures conversation- seen it yet, it’s well worth a watch. more than its BBC counterpart, The something that goes beyond cheap actions justi able? ally what the natural human respons- Voice. The low-key, downbeat atmos- es to such extraordinary situations April , 2013 | Seren 19 TV Doctor What? Our TV editor, and long-time Whovian, Becki Watson questions if, under Stephen Mo at’s reign, Doctor Who has lost sight of what made it great. (contains spoilers for all series standard of writing on Doctor Who Statue of Liberty as a Weeping An- especially as the River Song storyline niversary episode, and in the hope of New Who) isn‘t the same as what it was. More gel, which doesn’t make any sense got so much build up. Plus, the that it eventually gets better, and more often, glaringly obvi- no matter what angle you look at whole ‘the universe is about to be but it’s clear that the ike many a Whovian, I was ous plot holes have crept into it. It was particularly annoying, as destroyed’ plotline doesn’t have Doctor Who that overjoyed when I found out the storyline and then excused that episode was Amy and Rory’s the same scale and ef- I knew and Lthat Steven Mo at would because it‘s sci- and therefore last as the Doctor’s companions, fect when it’s used loved is no be taking over the role of Doc- ‘can’t have a continuity and those characters (one of the few every season. more. tor Who show runner from Rus- error’ (Yes, this is an things done well in Mo at’s tenure) It’s not all bad; sell T. Davis in Series 5. Mo at actual thing Steven deserved a better sending o than I’m enjoying Clara is responsible for many of the Mo at said). This what they got. as the new com- most fantastic episodes from is most obvious in For me, Mo at’s real issue is his in- panion so far, and Davis’ time, such as the mind- the Weeping An- ability to sustain a series long arc. there are some in- blowing and terrifying ‘Blink’, gels. Considered Russell T. Davis, despite all of his is- dividual episodes, the incredibly creepy ‘The by many as the sues, knew how to foreshadow, such such as The Doc- Empty Child’ (‘Are you my scariest Doctor as the ‘Bad Wolf’ plot that kept us tor’s Wife and The mummy?’), and the heart- Who monsters of guessing throughout Series 1, and Girl Who Waited, breaking ‘The Girl in the Fire- all time, their sub- the masterfully done ‘Harold Saxon’ that have been ab- place’, so I was sure he would be sequent appear- storyline that even crossed over solutely outstand- able to take that brilliance and ances have created into Torchwood. Mo at’s idea of ing, but overall, create the most stunning televi- so many plot holes foreshadowing is to incessantly ask Doctor Who seems sion show of all time. But unfor- and contradictions the same question all series (Is Amy to have lost the tunately, in my opinion, the qual- that now they’re mainly pregnant? Who is River Song? DOC- factor that made ity of Doctor Who has declined just confusing and a lit- TOR WHO?!), create massive build up it uniquely charm- so far over the past 2 and a half tle bit weird. It was es- and then wrap it all up with a con- ing and brilliant. series that I’m struggling to even pecially noticeable in the venient paradox and a totally unsat- I’m still going to tune and watch what was once episode ‘Angels of isfying universe reboot. This is best watch the show my favourite programme. Manhattan’, which seen in the episode ‘The Wedding out of a vague I can’t really pinpoint when I no- featured, among of River Song’, which was ba ing, interest in Clara’s ticed the show’s decline in qual- other unexplain- mind-boggling (not in the good storyline and ity, but it can’t be denied that the able things, the way) and completely disappointing, the 50th an-

RECOMMENDS: SCI- FI Sticking with the sci- theme, the Seren gang are here to recommend their all time favourite science- ction programmes. With spaceships, aliens, time travel and one really weird island, these shows are all genre classics.

Will recommends... Thomas recommends... Nicola recommends... Bradd recommends... Becki recommends... Torchwood Futurama Fire y Lost Red Dwarf RED Dwarf is a cult sci- comedy THE spino sci- genre is known THE futuristic cartoon from the FIREFLY is one of those brilliant Lost was not only an incredible that began back in 1988. It is set in for its  ops but Torchwood became creators of The Simpsons. On sci- shows that television has had TV show which revitalised the sci- the 22nd century on the mine- the exception. This gritty, sexy 31st December 1999, Phillip J. the privilege to be graced with. genre, it was also a show which ship Red Dwarf, where Dave Lister and violent show sprung onto our Fry, a 25-year-old delivery boy, is Created by the genius that is Joss de ned my early teenage years. awakes after 3 million years in screens in 2006 with Russell T. Da- accidentally cryogenically frozen Whedon, Fire y is a space western Passengers on a jumbo jet mysteri- suspended animation to nd that vis, the man who rebooted doctor and wakes up 1000 years later in television series that, set in 2517, fol- ously crash land onto a seemingly everyone on the ship is dead and who, at its helm. With an immortal the future. He goes to work for lows the renegade crew of ‘Fire y- ‘deserted’ island. Finding out that he is (apparently) the last human Captain Jack Harness (John Barrow- the Planet Express Corporation, an class’ spaceship ‘Serenity’ after the they aren’t actually alone, the alive. He’s kept company by Holly, man) heading up the Cardi branch intergalactic delivery service. human race repopulated to a new star passengers must ght for survival the ship’s computer, a hologram of of anti-alien taskforce the series Fry’s colleagues include Leela, a system. Cut short in its prime after on the island, which holds dark and Arnold Rimmer, his old rommate, take a varied range of storylines. one-eyed alien ship captain, and only one season by the abomina- twisted organisations, mysterious and Cat, a humanoid feline who From aliens which will kill you via Bender, a robot who specializes in tion that is Fox, the show still de- ‘smoke’ monsters and shifts in time. has evolved from Lister’s pet cat. sex to the planet being held to ran- bending and drinking. It o ers a veloped a loyal fan base that had For me, Lost was great because it The huge popularity of the series som and children as the price, cul- very unlikely, yet amusing, look at fallen in love with the show, so was a show in which every episode has kept it coming back for more minating in 2012 with the 10 part the future, including the idea of much so that after its cancellation, was completely di erent, yet linked series over the years (the last one “Miracle day” which asked what famous people’s heads being kept their devotion and support for Fire- everything together perfectly. being in 2009 on Dave), and it’s would happen in a world without alive in jars. Plus, who can’t like  y persuaded Universal Studios Packed with mystery and suspense, easy to see why. With neurotic death. a character as bizarre as Doctor to produce Serenity, a feature lm each episode would have me and robots, shape-shifting mutants Although new episodes are Zoidberg? which tied up all the loose ends my friends wondering, ‘What’s planned, a released date has not be which Whedon hadn’t had the op- next?’ and a sentient toaster, Red Dwarf announced. portunity to develop in depth yet. will remain a sci- classic for many years to come. 20 Seren | April , 2013 FILM

By THOMAS aspects of it. Its fast pace holds the BICKERDIKE audience’s attention and blend be- tween reality and the ‘trance’ is con- rance is the new lm from di- fusing for both the characters and rector and Bangor University the audience. Many of the dream Talumnus Danny Boyle. This is sequences are recognisable through his rst piece of work since the Lon- the cinematography and the set de- don 2012 Opening Ceremony (being sign. The uses of coloured glass and shot before and edited afterwards). re exive surfaces makes Trance a Boyle has said that all the dark mate- highly visual lm. rial he was unable to include in the Trance is somewhat reminiscent of Opening Ceremony is in this lm. It many of Danny Boyle’s early works, starts o as a heist movie, but then being written by John Hodge, who quickly descends into a psychologi- also did the screenplay for Shallow cal thriller. Grave and Trainspotting. Trance Simon Newton (James McAvoy) is also uses a similar electronic style an art auctioneer who is involved soundtrack to Trainspotting, com- with a group of criminals led by posed by Rick Smith from Under- Franck (Vincent Cassel). Simon is world, whose song Born Slippy. the inside man in their attempt to NUXX appeared in Trainspotting. steal a painting worth millions, but However, the idea behind Trance he double-crosses them and hides was originally a small budget TV the painting. However, during the movie back in 2001, written and di- heist he is knocked unconscious and rected by Joe Ahearne who is cred- develops amnesia, therefore not re- ited at the end of the lm. membering where he has hidden In short, Trance shows why Danny the painting. The group hire a hyp- Boyle is one of this country’s most notherapist, Elizabeth (Rosario Daw- respected, acknowledged and gift- son), to help recover the painting by ed lmmakers. It is not his best lm delving into Simon’s mind through (that will always be Trainspotting for a number of di erent dreamscapes, me) and it is not perfect, the plot also known as trances. The situation sometimes being overshadowed by becomes complicated by a develop- general mayhem on the screen, but ing love-triangle between the three it is an enjoyable piece from a direc- leads. tor at the top of his game. If you do My initial reaction to the lm was not understand it rst time round, that it reminded me very much of go and see it again. This lm will cer- Christopher Nolan’s Inception, es- tainly bene t from repeat viewings. pecially the psychological thriller

By BECCI JAMESON battle of wills as they ght against It is a visually stunning lm, the the other and try to gure out design of the 'souls' is beautiful was initially sceptical when I their feelings for the other mem- and ethereal and really captures heard that Stephanie Meyer's bers of the resistance. All the while the essence of familiar alien. The I other novel was being taken to being tracked down by others like humans' lair is a cave network that the big screen. The giant shadow Wanda called Seekers. weaves underground, it is grimy from 'that' series weighed down Unlike 'that' series, the story and innovative enough to t the on me as the lights dimmed; was I and the characters have integrity, near future time scale. As always to be subjected to hormonal teen- which may be due to the better the aliens are obsessed with white age longing and ridiculous u-turns class of actor. Saoirse Ronan is bril- to a well established genre? What I and silver as everything they own liant and Diane Kruger pulls o is coated in chrome while the re- can say about this lm is that there the disillusioned villain very well, is more extra-terrestrial face hug- sistance are under a desert and going above and beyond to get at ging than in the Alien franchise. wear various shades of brown. I'm As expected the storyline fol- Ronan's character. not sure what this says about hu- lows young lovers who have been The love interests (of course man survival skills. ripped apart by an alien invasion. there's two) lack any real depth Overall, The Host is a pleasant These 'souls' have latched onto as they are just there to be looked surprise. It is grittier than 'that' the humans, erased the people in- at and remembered in 12A  ash- series and doesn't contradict eve- side and are walking around as if backs. As there are two people rything we know about the inva- they own the place. Melanie (Sao- inside Melanie's body and the al- sion genre. There is an underlying irse Ronan) is part of the resistance ien likes one guy and the girl likes message about us being un t to and after being captured by the another, it all plays out like an odd look after our planet, but that is aliens, she ghts back against the schizophrenic love square and the soul she shares her body with. The in every lm nowadays. An enjoy- amount of kissing does get tedi- able watch, perfect for a dreary alien calls herself Wanderer which ous after a while. is later shortened to Wanda. It is a Welsh afternoon. April , 2013 | Seren 21 FILM

9th May 21st June 28th June sequel to a revamp can go one of two ways; it can be so rad Pitt's zombie  ick sees United Nations employee comedy where all the actors are playing themselves. I bad that it disgraces the original or tolerable enough that Gerry Lane (Pitt) travel around the world in a race imagine it will be a bit like Knocked Up but with more A it is acceptable. Star Trek Into Darkness will hopefully be Bagainst time to stop the zombie pandemic that is top- Adeath. While attending a party at James Franco's house, neither of these and smash the original out of the water. When pling armies and governments and threatening to destroy the Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel and many other celebrities including the crew of the Enterprise return home, they nd a one man human race. He must nd a way to stop the attack and strug- Emma Watson are faced with an apocalypse like no other. It's as wrecking machine from within their own organisation has de- gles to nd the point where it all started. The story is based on if they threw every possible scenario into it; I think I saw a di- stroyed the  eet and everything it stands for, leaving the world a book by the same name which shows individual accounts nosaur in the trailer. It will be intriguing to see if the characters in a state of crisis. They are propelled into an epic chess game of of people trying to survive a zombie apocalypse. The lm dif- on screen will re ect what an audience expects that actor to be life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn fers in this respect and holds more of a world view rather than like. It would be strange to see Rihanna as a wisened scholar or apart, and sacri ces must be made. Starring Chris Pine, Zachary a localised zombie breakout. Just imagine the amount of CGI Michael Cera as a tough guy. It promises plenty of laughs, some Quinto, Zoe Saldana and the highly anticipated bad guy, Ben- bodies  ailing about on screen. Also starring Matthew Fox and absurdity and sometimes plain stupidity, so why not? It will be edict Cumberbatch. Bryan Cranston. It will be released in 3D. good as a way to unwind from the end of term.

Lent was all about giving things up but now its time to indulge in our pleasures that we dare not speak of. Here are our Guilty Pleasures:

By TOM BICKERDIKE By MATT JACKSON By BECKI WATSON By NICOLA HOBAN By WILL JOHNSON Amelie (2001) Love Actually (2003) Mamma Mia (2008) Dirty Dancing Mean Girls (2004) (1987) mélie Poulain is a young ’m not sure whether this lm is kay, so it’s not Oscar worthy s men we are “supposed” to waitress living and working a guilty pleasure because eve- cinema, and it’s cheesier asily one of my favourite mov- enjoy explosions, gun ghts Ain Paris, who one day nds Irything is wrapped up so neatly Othan a lump of cheddar, but ies of all time, and de nitely Aand gory violence but some- a small box in her apartment. She it hurts, or just because I actually I’ll admit that Mamma Mia is one of one lm that I would con- times there’s nothing I like more returns it to the previous owner enjoy it when I shouldn’t, but either my favourite lms. Not because of E than sitting down with a tub of ice sider to be a guilty pleasure. I don’t and upon seeing his reaction she way Love Actually is, in my opin- the acting, the beautiful Greek loca- know whether it’s because of the cream and watching Mean Firls. devotes her life to helping those ion, a bloody good lm. Okay, so tion, or even the singing (God bless music and the dancing, the story Seeing Lindsey Lohan up on screen around her. However, she struggles everything does work out in a way you Pierce Brosnan, you tried), but line, or Mr. Patrick Swayze himself before her spiral down the Holly- with her own isolation and needs to that really is quite predictable and I because of the general upbeat at- (probably it’s all three combined). wood staircase takes me straight help herself by nding love. Amélie cringe every time I watch the nal mosphere throughout the lm. It’s I can sing all the songs, quote all back to 2004 and with a fantastic features a brilliant central perfor- scene, but all in all you can feel for the perfect feel-good lm for when the words, and dance none of the script by Tina Fey there are quot- mance from Audrey Tatou, as the the characters, you want them to you need cheering up, and it’s im- dances, though I assure you it is not able lines in every scene. A favour- title character. It contains the right succeed as they go along, and it’s possible to watch Meryl Streep for lack of trying. This is a lm that I ite with friends of both genders this mix of romance and comedy and its not a lm splashed across the TV singing Dancing Queen without am never not in the mood to watch lm has a secret following amongst quirky charm will surely put a smile screen 24/7 every day of the year. a smile on your face. Plus, anyone when I nd myself at a loss of what men and has a place right at the top on your face. Not bad from the di- It comes on TV occasionally, and it’s who says they don’t like any ABBA to do with my evening. of my favourite lms. rector of Alien: Resurrection… just generally enjoyable. songs is lying to themselves. 22 Seren | April , 2013 MUSIC Flashback: The Divine Comedy - Promenade by TOM EMLYN WILLIAMS ating from 1994, this bril- liantly witty pop album is Dperhaps the Divine Com- edy’s best album. Hailing from Northern Ireland, the band are led by Neil Hannon - he writes the songs, arranges the various instru- mental parts, and sings in his Scott Walker-esque baritone croon. In fact, it’s fair to say that the Divine Comedy is basically Neil Hannon, no matter which musicians happen to be backing him up. Promenade consists of 12 songs, which are arranged to tell the story of a young couple’s day at the sea- Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Mosquito Review side. However, the story never over- by SEAN TALBOT venture, not to mention how well electric tales of aliens, vampires - beautiful - and ‘Always’ is a number whelms the music, partly because they actually work. The choir, the and monsters - paired with vicious to which Zinner envisages people of its vague, dreamlike quality, part- rapping from Dr. Octagon, the syn- vocals from O and wizard ri s from making babies. ly because of the ironic wit of the osquito distances itself from the radio-friendly sounds thesisers & the reggae; all these as- Nick - famed for their attitude, the “Free yourself, that leash is long songs, but mostly because they’re pects brought into one record show YYYs have loaded it into these tracks, gone” pleads Karen-O in ‘Buried just such good songs. Part of Han- Mof It’s Blitz!, but no justice a  uid and lively attitude from the giving the album energy and fun. Alive’, a song about the band, its non’s approach to writing this al- is done in saying they’ve returned to their roots. This record is an band, it shows they’re con dent with Markedly distant are these youthful identity and direction. Unafraid to bum seems to have been simply to their inspirations and are willing to outbursts from the softer and mel- venture into the unknown, they write about some of his favourite old-school horror show lled with grunge and grime; it’s an indie-punk take risks. One thing is for sure, the ancholic notes found throughout. have freed themselves and thus things. For instance, seafood, cy- Yeah Yeah Yeahs seem to have said ‘Subway’ is an ode to the big city, found themselves. Encompassing cling, alcohol, literature, and French revival. It’s the Yeah Yeah Yeahs - re- vived. just that to every idea that hit them but a side seldom seen. The sounds all they are known for - art, punk, cinema all have a song dedicated while camping out in the Texan de- of trains on subway tracks slowly uniqueness - the Yeah Yeah Yeahs to them, and this gives the album Sacrilege, you say? The last thing anyone expected from this trio was sert - the home of their recording roll throughout the song as Karen-O have produced the album for which an enthusiasm and energy that is studio for this album. delivers a touching tribute to their they’ll be remembered. hugely infectious. the inclusion of a gospel choir, but you’ll be surprised how many new Songs like ‘Area 52’ and ‘Mosquito’ home. ‘Wedding Song’ is to this al- Hannon’s melodies are never less have a wonderfully tacky edge; bum what ‘Maps’ was to their debut than brilliant, and the eclectic ar- angles the band have taken in this rangements, most importantly the string section, lend the music a charming sophistication that some- how manages to never feel preten- tious or pointless. Hannon’s sense of humour is one reason for this - for instance, the song ‘the Book- lovers’ comprises a list of author’s names with a humorous sound bite following each author. But there are moments of serious beauty too - the band blends divinity and com- edy in equal parts, as their name suggests. Various in uences are apparent throughout the album, from the Michael Nyman-esque minimalist Fall Out Boy - Save Rock and Roll Review piano and string introduction, to the ballads which sound at times by EMILY BOWEN beat anthem with lyrics that portray sees Fall Out Boy wrenching up the building quick intensity; ‘I cried tears like a fusion of the Electric Light Or- the insecurity of the ‘troubled soul’. primal energy in Death Valley, mix- you’ll never see / so f**k you, you can chestra and Scott Walker. But what ut on your war paint, howls Where Did the Party Go is rhythmic ing the driving rhythmic intensity of go cry me an ocean / and leave me Neil Hannon created on this album Patrick Stump aggressively and edgy, coupling images of he- guitar and dub-step. be’. Save Rock and Roll is bursting is ultimately a brilliantly original Pover the top the heavily rhyth- donistic youth culture with delicious The folky Young Volcanoes evokes with heartfelt emotion, and seems sound, and hasn’t dated badly at mic string motif sampled from Shos- satire; ’all the boys are smoking Men- summer with a tribal beat and mel- not to be a plea for salvation, but all. If you’ve never knowingly heard takovich’s Seventh Symphony. The thols, girls are getting back rubs’. odies that rekindle the rich inven- more an expression of loyalty to their any Divine Comedy, this is an excel- symphony, otherwise known as ‘Len- Just One Yesterday presents both tory of Fall Out Boy’s From Under the music; ‘I will defend the faith / Going lent album to start with. ingrad’ symbolises resistance to the purity and corruption continuing Cork Tree; ‘We are wild / We are like down swinging’ (a self-conscious political extremism of 1941, a de - the album’s duality. Stump sings; ‘I young volcanoes’ exempli es the nod to Sugar We’re Going Down). ant remembrance of the thousands thought of angels / choking on their band’s new found energy and ex- Accompanying vocals from Elton of Russians who lost their lives. In halo / Get them drunk on rose water perimentalism. John compliment Patrick Stump’s quoting this, Fall Out Boy make their / See how dirty I can get them’ The Rat a Tat (ft. Courtney Love) is ini- impassioned lead vocals and we are intentions known, they are militant, guest vocals of Foxes, an up and tially frustrating. With fast-paced vo- invited into Fall Out Boy’s rea rmed marching back into the music scene; coming female singer-songwriter cals from the guest singer it seems commitment, with a nal upsurge de antly rising like The Phoenix. from Southampton, adds to the jux- the song is destined to the same reminiscent of Folie a Deux’s ‘What a The Phoenix is raw and rousing, taposition. confused destination as The Mighty Catch, Donnie’; ‘Oh no we won’t go / antagonistic and rebellious, and The Mighty Fall (ft. Big Sean) is a Fall. Yet, with ‘If my heart is a grenade Cause we don’t know when to quit’. F.O.B look set to prove that they mix of rap and hip-hop with a big / you pull the pin and say’ superbly Save Rock and Roll sees a reinvig- have changed (‘like a remix’) o er- bass beat that frankly does not t preparing us for a chorus bursting orated Fall Out Boy convinced that ing a reinvented version of them- the album. Like its title, it is a mighty with melodic, harmonic and lyrical they are capable of much more and selves. Lead single, My Songs Know fall. Thankfully, Miss Missing You force all becomes well again. are here to stay. Poetic but eclectic, What You Did in the Dark, shares brings us back to more familiar ter- Everything slows down on the familiar yet fresh, Fall Out Boy’s new The Phoenix’s rocked-up insistency, ritory. With a backdrop akin to the eponymous album-closing Save album is both what you did and although it contrasts with more clar- electronic synthesis of The Killers, Rock and Roll. Opening with simple didn’t expect it to be, but becomes ity and subtlety. F.O.B present their Miss Missing You presents the same piano and syncopated drums, over- what you want it to be as you press experimentation in pop and R&B in painful optimism and emotionally laid by a haunting loop of ‘until your repeat. Alone Together - a melodic and up- yearning as Alone Together. ‘I wanna breathing stops / forever’, the tone see your animal side / let it all out’ is initially soft and intimate before April , 2013 | Seren 23 FASHION ALL AMERICAN SPORTSWEAR

The All-American Sports look has basketball vests. Women’s oversized taken the fashion world by storm in the printed tees and crops and varsity jack- past few weeks. Replica sportswear has ets appear to be the most popular and emerged largely on men’s summer cat- are easy to incorporate into your existing walks and the style is already creeping wardrobe! into women’s high street fashion. Among NUMBER 92 some of the men’s favourites are typi- CROP TOP cal American baseball shirts and baggy TOPSHOP £16

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LOOK OUT FOR... TOPSHOP MUST HAVE This gorgeous cropped spot denim shirt is the perfect ad- dition to your wardrobe as we enter into (hopefully!) warmer Beyonce is to be the new face of weather. It looks great teamed high street giant H&M, beginning with with skinny jeans or a cute skirt, a huge summer campaign and line but it seems to be quite short so which will be available in stores and if you want to be able to tuck it online in May 2013. She also provided in, try a bigger size! the campaign with a new soundtrack which will be featured on the cam- paign’s adverts, “Standing on the Sun”!

MOTO SPOT CROP DENIM SHIRT TOPSHOP I’ve always liked H&M’s focus on fun and £35 a ordable fashion. I really loved the concept we collaborated on to explore the di erent emotions of women represented by the four elements –  re, water, earth and wind 24 Seren | April , 2013 BOOKS PULITZER PRIZE 2013

FINALIST: WINNER: FINALIST: BASED on the Russian fairy tale of the CITED by the Pulitzer committee as an BOTH immersing and unsettling, What Pablo same name, The Snow Child is retains “adventuresome journey into the depths We Talk About When We Talk About Anne a strong sense of magic and folklore to of totalitarian North Korea and into the Frank is a collection of stories exploring create a stark contrast to the bleakness most intimate spaces of the human heart”, Jewish identity and modern life. Portray- Neruda’s of human isolation and desperation. Set the novel follows the turbulent events of ing a vast scope of Jewish life, it o ers in 1920’s Alaska, the novel is an enchant- the life of Jun Do as he is plucked from ob- an equally wide range in tone, from the body to be ing tale of heartbreak and hope, centring scurity and trained as a tunnel assassin, a provocative titular tale of two couples on older couple Jack and Mabel as they kidnapper and a spy, only to rebel against enacting the Holocaust as a perverse attempt to build a new lives for them- the state that has shaped his entire exist- parlour game, to the political fable ‘Sis- exhumed selves amongst the icy wastelands after ence. Akin to the infamous 1984, Johnson ter Hills’ and the tender intimacy of ‘Eve- the death of their child many years ago, creates a poignant image of totalitarianism rything I Know About My Family on My and the mysterious feral girl they adopt through the multi-voiced narrative that Mother’s Side’, it’s a revealing exploration Lethal injection could one night when she suddenly appears suggests that the nightmarish Orwellian that manages to be both dark and darkly have killed poet out of the darkness. dystopia is no longer just a fantasy. funny.

By EMMA ÅSBERG

hilean communist poet and Nobel prize-winner, Pablo Neruda, allegedly Cdied of prostate cancer in 1973, a be- lief that has scarcely been doubted for four decades. Now, however, his body has been ordered to be exhumed and autopsied in the US, in line with an investigation originally launched by a Chilean judge in 2011. Neruda’s bodyguard and driver, Manuel Araya, is the one who initially raised his con- cerns about the cause of death. He died just 12 days after the military coup that brought the infamous dictator Augustus Pinochet to power, and nine after the death of deposed president Salvador Allende. Neruda, as a com- munist, was an outspoken critic of Pinochet’s regime - which Araya believes led to his death by a supposed lethal injection. Mr Araya says that the poet was about to go into exile in Mexico, from where he planned to lead the global opposition against the dic- tatorship in his homeland. Neruda’s family have long maintained that he died, age 69, of advanced prostate can- cer, and that he was already hospitalised by the time the coup began. Araya however, believes that the cause of death was an ille- gal injection by the hospital, after recieving a phone call from Neruda claiming he felt ill immediately afterwards, something which Book of the Month: has caused Araya to believe Neruda is one of many communists to be murdered by Pino- chet’s regime. Araya’s allegations are backed by the Chile- The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy an Communist Party, which says that Neruda did not exhibit any of the symptoms associ- By THOMAS BIKERDIKE Galaxy, who has been sent to research the recorded in 1978, the plot of which Author ated with the advanced cancer he is reported Earth, but also that the planet is about to be Douglas Adams always claimed he made up as to have died of. he Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, rst destroyed to make way for a hyperspace by- he went along. He was notoriously bad when Pablo Neruda was famous for his passion- published in 1979, is a perfect mix of pass. The pair of them escape and after hitch- it came to deadlines. This is the rst book in ate, romantic poems - particularly Twenty Teveryday scenarios, science ction and ing a lift on a spaceship, proceed to have a Douglas Adams’ ‘Trilogy of Five’ books. The Love Poems and Song of Despair, penned in humour. series of adventures with a bizarre assortment others – The Restaurant at the End of the Uni- his trademark green ink, and in 1971 recieved Arthur Dent wakes up one strange Thursday of characters throughout the universe. Arthur verse, Life, The Universe and Everything, So the Nobel Prize for Literature. He was also a morning to discover that, rstly, his house is learns a few truths about the earth, as well as Long, and Thanks for all the Fish and Mostly left-wing politician, and a close friend of pres- scheduled for demolition to make way for a the answer to the “ultimate question” of life, Harmless. Back in 2003, the BBC conducted a ident Salvador Allende, who killed himself bypass and secondly, his close friend, Ford the universe and everything. One of the most survey to nd the nation’s most loved book of rather than surrender to Pinochet in the 1973 Prefect, is not originally from Guildford but interesting things about the book is how it in- all time; The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy coup, a seventeen year long regime under is actually an alien from a small planet in the cludes extracts from the guide to complement nished 4th overall. which more than 3,000 people were “disap- vicinity of Betelgeuse. Ford reveals that he is the narrative. As the guide says on its cover in big friendly peared” and killed. a researcher for The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the The book was adapted from a radio show letters: “DON’T PANIC”… April , 2013 | Seren 25 ARTS AND CULTURE CHARLES DICKENS MUSEUM: A NOTSO BLEAK HOUSE BY ROSIE MACLEOD. 2012 was Charles Dickens bicentenary year. This year, following heavy renovation, his house has been reopened, ful lling great expectations.

Museum: Directions: The Charles Dickens Museum. The museumised house Charles Dickens The nearest Underground station is Russell Square (Piccadilly line), al- though Chancery Lane (Central line) also provides a direct walk to the once inhabited. museum. Where: Entry fee: 48 Doughty Street, Camden Town, London. WC 1N 2LX £6 concessions, £8 non-concessions. Dickens’ A tale of a ‘The Old Curiosity bio: Hard times harles Dickens lived at num- city shop’ ber 48 Doughty Street from he Charles Dickens Museum ne of the upstairs bedrooms to Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby, n his childhood, Charles Dickens 1837 until 1839. was reopened in December is tinged with an air of sad- Smike, Fagin, The Artful Dodger, Mr was imprisoned in a workhouse C manufacturing boot polish while There, he wrote ‘The Adventures T2012 as the London Under- Oness, for it is the room in Bumble and many more. I of Oliver Twist’ and ‘The Life and ground was approaching its 150th which Charles Dickens’ sister-in-law Allowing the desk to be tangi- his father served time in Marshalsea Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby’. anniversary. died. ble enables the visitors to feel inti- Debtor’s Prison. Both novels were initially pub- How tting it is that the museum This sombre room houses, tting- mately connected to Dickens the Both were imprisoned as punish- lished in periodicals; ‘Oliver Twist’ dedicated to the man who in- ly, a rose from a gravestone: to be novelist. The ground  oor of the ments for the debt his father had between February 1837 and April vented the word ‘boredom’ whilst exact, Charles Dickens’ gravestone museum displays Dickens’ engage- accumulated. The grill-like bars of 1839. The publication of ‘Nicholas aboard the Underground should be from 1870! The fact that a severely ment ring, a silver piece decorated the very workhouse in which Dick- Nickleby’ spanned from April 1838 reopened within a month of the an- crumpled, heavily decayed and with turquoise gemstones. This is ens was imprisoned are on display until October 1839. The fact that niversary. weakening rose is still intact and the assumed inspiration for the line in the Charles Dickens Museum, on Dickens completed these two icon- Dickens had a vocabulary wide survives is nothing short of mind- “a toy of ve blue stones” in his novel its uppermost  oor. The fact that ic works, both since made into mul- enough to rival that of James Joyce blowing. ‘David Copper eld’. it is still standing strong demon- tiple stage and lm productions, in and did not stop there: He invent- The suit that Dickens wore when The lowermost  oor is a replicated strates the relative recentness of this house, renders it a site of great ed a network of words that ran he met Queen Victoria is hung in but very convincing scullery, which the insu erable workhouses, which achievement. It is a house where through the lines of his pages. this same bedroom. reminds the visitors of the class sys- e ectively punished people for be- his great accomplishments were The rst recorded use of ‘bore- In its adjacent bedroom there is tem that Dickens wrote of, criticised ing poor. Looking between the for- not momentary, but ongoing; their dom’ is in Dickens’ novel ‘Bleak housed, perhaps more comically, and observed. midable and overpowering bars is production spanned and ran along- House’ - the word appears six times Dickens’ own commode from when However, it is not only artefacts most sobering. side his time in the house. on the rst page! he was unwell and a letter he wrote from Dickens own life that are ex- COME ON IN, THE This museum was closed for Was Dickens really so bored by to his doctor complaining of  atu- hibited. The ragged dress worn by WRITER’S LOVELY: Dick- renovation in April 2012, a project the Underground that he resorted lence and bowel trouble. Helena Bonham Carter in the part ens’ museumised house costing £3.1 million. The museum, to inventing vocabulary, or did the The Charles Dickens Museum also of Miss Havisham in ‘Great Expecta- (above). The London Un- which houses original scriptures word ‘boredom’ derive from his ob- boasts and allows visitors to touch tions’ (2012) is also on show. derground is a key hallmark and manuscripts from Dickens’ very servation that the tunnels are es- the very writing desk that gave birth of ‘his’ city. hand as well as many of his actual sentially ‘bored’ holes? Visiting the belongings, has had its interior rep- home and hometown of your writer licated into genuineness; every- of choice enables such hypotheses thing domestic appears and is posi- and observations to be made. Dick- tioned as our mutual friend Dickens ens’ time in this house saw the crea- would have known and inhabited tion of the two iconic works ‘Oliver it. At least as far as the researchers, Twist’ and ‘Nicholas Nickelby’. historians and Dickens experts can tell. 26 CREATIVE Seren | April , 2013

By Sarah Whiteside By Jean Hughes By Kim Carter

Embers and Smoke Silent Breakdown SPRUNG

Part I Your colours are running down When spring leaves Sitting in bed, exchanging memories From your head to your skateboard winter behind with a shiver Looking in your eyes, breathing heavy And I wanna scream until no sound and without looking back If I dream, I’m afraid of what I nd Comes out so you learn your lesson enters the second act, But your placid blue eyes are so blind... a silent explosion You hold me captive in your mind can be heard And we’re underneath a million seconds, Your walls make it hard to breathe across our elds, But for us time stops, I would reckon And I wanna run but far enough creating a backdrop Classes - are we showing or skipping? From you to make you miss me of luminous green, By Kris Humphreys But are we thinking the same thing? disturbed only by splashes of And remember the days when lilac, fuchsia, cobalt, We can take on this chilly morning You loved to kiss me... lemon and orange, Through streets, sharing our dynamic walking moving this spectacle of We turned the corner safe and sound, - By Ana Victoria nature Was it time to get back on the ground? from classic lm noir to radiant Technicolor. Part II Monday Amber lights, sketches of what was before - By Kristin Lissel. Red turned grey turned black outside the door... Isn’t it curious If you had the choice, would you pick me, how willing one is to Or would you pick the sky under the sea? drink coconut rum of an afternoon because the water tap is two doors away? When I look into your blurred out eyes What am I supposed to nd - disguise? I’ve been wearing the I start to think if this was a mistake, Cause I prefer you when you are awake... same

And I don’t know what you are thinking, red And I have this constant feel of sinking... jumper Could you want me the same when you are you, for three days now Or the you I know seems to be gone too? (it wore me when I ate boiled rice yesterday). Drawing by Tom Emlyn Williams The paper price-tags sit uncomfortably Could this be the right time to keep you? unpleasantly Could this be the right time to loose you? since I never quite made up my mind. As we both stand, on the edge of time But we both share the same starry sky... - By Katrin Lloyd

- By Ana Victoria See more students work online!

VENDING MACHINES $1 BILLION WORTH OF CUBIST TRACEY EMIN LAUNCHES MAJOR SELLING ART FOR £1 WORKS DONATED TO MUSEUM ART SERIES A shopping centre in Leeds is selling art in Cosmetics tycoon and art collector Leonard Tracey Emin is to launch a major art series Arts News! vending machines for £1. A. Lauder has donated £1 billion worth of for Radio Four. Thirty artists were invited to create 150 piec- cubist works to New York’s Metropolitan Mu- The series, “Cultural Exchange” will see Emin, es of art each, to be sold in machines in the seum of Art. alongside 74 major public gures including new £350 million Trinity shopping centre. 33 works by Picasso, 17 by Braque, and 14 Paul Weller and Mark Ravenhill, discussing the Each piece ts inside a small round capsule works by Gris were among those donated. cultural in uences of their work. that would normally be used to sell novelty Lauder said he gave the museum the collec- Emin will discuss the impact of the Vermeer toys. tion because he felt it was essential that cub- painting “Lady Writing a Letter with her Maid.” Art being sold includes still life lemon draw- ism be seen and studied in one of the greatest She described the artist as “one of the rst ings, and “the world’s smallest action paint- museums in the world. feminists”, who “showed that women had ing.” Museum Director Thomas P Campbell ex- singular thoughts that were away from their Money raised will be reinvested into com- pressed his gratitude towards Lauder. He said, husbands.” missioning more paintings for the machines, “This is an extraordinary gift to our museum The series will begin at 19:15 on April 22nd with the gallery hoping to make art more ac- and our city gift is truly transformational for on Radio 4. An episode will then be broadcast cessible to the public for years to come. the Metropolitan Museum.” every weekday until the end of July. April , 2013 | Seren CREATIVE 27 Interview with Kay Rees-Davies s a botanical artist, Kay Rees- Davies has been awarded Aeight medals from the Royal Cultural depictions of Horticultural Society, and her illus- trations have been published in over ten published books. Tom Haynes THATCHER! gets an insight into her work.

Thatcher’s puppet presented as by TOM HAYNES Aside from botanics, what else an abusive tyrant, a cross dresser ince becoming Prime Min- else do you like to draw or paint, (regularly urinating in urinals), ister in May 1979, Margaret and why? who united with Hitler in hatred SThatcher’s radical, and highly I occasionally paint tiny minia- of the French. Show creator Roger divisive, political actions led to her tures, either portraits or landscapes. Law this week defended his brutal becoming widely represented in Other than that I draw my botanical portrayal of Thatcher, stating, “The popular culture. subjects either in graphite or col- show was allowed to be harsh and As a freelance artist, what drew Thatcher’s policies were the oured pencils. source of inspiration for many art- confrontational because Thatcher you to specialising in botanical il- works during her reign. In 1982, was so harsh and confrontational.” lustration and  ower portraiture? Mark Wallinger famously edited Thatcher has also become the I am a Botanical artist and I have Thatcher’s Falkland’s speech to subject of numerous songs, includ- always loved the detailed drawings create “In the Sleep of Reason.” ing Morrissey’s “Margaret on the and paintings by some of the artists The video featured Thatcher with Guillotene,” Elvis Costello’s “Tramp who accompanied the plant collec- closed eyes throughout, to re ect The Dirt Down,” and Hefner’s “The tors in the 18th and 19th centuries. I how Wallinger felt she “closed her Day Thatcher Dies.” She was also met a local artist, Margaret Stevens, eyes whilst speaking as if nobody heavily referenced in protest songs at her exhibition in Penrhyn Castle in else existed.” by members of the Red Wedge col- 1987, and loved her botanical paint- In 1984, Hans Haacke caused a lective, including Paul Weller, who ings so much that I decided that I national furore with his painting fought, unsuccessfully, to oust wanted to study this form of art. It of Thatcher, titled “Taking Stock.” Thatcher from parliament in fa- has now become a privilege to be The piece featured Thatcher “en- vour of the Labour party. able to create paintings from nature throned, nose in the air like a gun However, not all cultural depic- and to hand on the knowledge to dog, with broken plates in the tions of Thatcher have been nega- other people in my classes. tive. Meryl Streep’s 2011 portrayal background featuring the faces of Which artists do you feel have of the PM in the Oscar winning Charles and Maurice Saatchi, who inspired you? lm “The Iron Lady,” was praised for handled the advertising for three The Bauer brothers, Ehret, and es- presenting an “exclusive focus on of Thatcher’s campaigns.” Haacke pecially a Dutch painter, Pieter van Thatcher as a woman triumphing wanted the piece to re ect how Koornhourn (1647), have all inspired against the odds.” The lm went on “the Saatchi’s used their dona- me by their use of colours. In their to gross over £114 million at the tions” as a “vehicle for power, pres- times the pigments had to be mixed box o ce worldwide. tige and social climbing,” and that by hand – none of the tubes of paint Despite attitudes towards the work, o ered as a critique of we can buy today! I have seen origi- Thatcher varying greatly in each the increasingly uneasy relation- nal paintings by all of these artists piece of work, at the centre of each ship between corporate sponsor- and their paintings are all as fresh as one is a strong, uncompromising ship and art. if they were painted yesterday. leader. Her legacy will continue to Which materials do you often However, it was on ITV’s Spit- ting Image that Thatcher was shape culture for generations to use in your work, and why? most brutally depicted. The show, come. I always use hot pressed paper, of broadcast from 1984-1996, saw 300 gm weight – this will take the amount of water that I use without my having to stretch the paper. Hot pressed (HP) paper has a smooth surface which makes it easier to achieve clean, crisp edges. I love watercolour paint which has clarity and luminosity which allows the col- ours to ‘sing’ out from the paper.

And  nally, what advice would you give to aspiring artists? My advice to aspiring artists – nd a good teacher, learn the techniques and love your chosen eld of work, be it botanical, portrait, landscape or abstract art. Keep practising!

What’s on at Bangor Art Gallery? Acclaimed artist Gilly Thomas the mundane mingle here to medium such as print, collage, is set to exhibit her latest collec- bemuse, amuse, and disturb in a and paint. tion “The Uncanny Edge” at the rich lexicon of intriguing image- Both exhibitions open on April Gwynedd Museum and Art Gal- ry. There is an engagingly odd 27th, until 8th June. Gallery lery this April. perspective here that is absurd, open Tuesday-Friday 12:30-4:30, The collection, featuring ab- angst-ridden, gleeful, and pos- and Saturday 10:30-4:30. stract works in mediums such as sibly uncanny.” acrylics and pencil, explores per- Also featured this April is “Stress Gwynedd Museum & Art Gal- sonal and archetypal narratives and Layering,” a new exhibition lery, Ffordd Gwynedd, Bangor, and situations. by John Hedley. The new works Gwynedd, LL57 1DT Thomas said of the collection: explores the concepts of stress, “the strangely signi cant and cracking, and layering, through 28 Seren | April , 2013 FOOD RECIPES OF THE ISSUE: COURTESY OF BUCAS

SUMMER INGREDIENTS METHOD 500g frozen summer fruit mix 1. Blend until smooth. This recipe can 500g natural yogurt be slightly bitty so you may want FRUITS 600ml orange juice to sieve the mixture but it’s not a necessity. SMOOTHIE INGREDIENTS METHOD HALLOUMI 300g Carrots – grated 1. Preheat the oven to gas mark 1 courgette – grated 6/200°C/fan oven 180°C. Mist 1 onion – peeled fi nely chopped a large baking sheet with low fat 150g regular tofu – chopped cooking spray. AND TOFU 100g fresh bread crumbs 2. Put the carrots into a large mixing 1 egg bowl and add the courgette, onion, 100g halloumi cheese (fi nely tofu, breadcrumbs, egg, halloumi BURGERS chopped or grated) and coriander. Season with the salt 1 table spoon of coriander and pepper. 1 teaspoon salt 3. Form the mixture into 8 burgers and 1 teaspoon black pepper arrange on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for about 20-25 minutes, until golden brown. 4. Serve with some warm pitta breads, mayonnaise and salad. Splendid! INGREDIENTS METHOD 100g sugar 1. Preheat the oven to gas mark CHOCOLATE 100g butter 4/180°/fan oven 160 ° 150g self-raising fl our 2. Mix together the butter and sugar till 70g chocolate buttons creamy and then mix in half the fl our CHIP 3. Add the buttons and the rest of the Hi! We’re Bangor University Cooking Appreciation Society fl our. Work into a dough using the tips of your fi ngers. (BUCAS). We’re a new society who aim to bring happiness COOKIES 4. Separate the dough into balls (do and good food to your tummy! Here are just a few of the not fl atten) and place on baking recipes that we enjoy cooking. paper on a tray 5. Bake for 14 minutes (or until the Check us out on Facebook and feel free to have a chat dough has fl attened out) and share your recipes! recipes BY LYDIA RICHARDSON AND 6. Remove from the oven and allow to OLIVIA SELLORS solidify and cool on a baking rack. RESTAURANT REVIEW: TASTE OF INDIA By LJ TAYLOR chosen our meal - I was coerced into ou may have noticed that there trying my rst Rogan Josh - we could tends not to be a great selec- just sit back and chat.  at was prob- tion of restaurants in Bangor. ably one of the best things about Taste YDon’t get me wrong, the ones we do of India. It wasn’t busy, likely because have are great but compared to most we went so late at night, and there was other university cities we have hardly just a nice, calm atmosphere. anything. Luckily though, just across Our meals tasted great, meaning I the pond (or Straits) in Menai Bridge can now add another type of curry there are a few gems to be found and to those I like. We shared a bowl of for once, I’m not talking about Dy- rice which was probably a good op- lan’s. tion because the curry portions were Every so o en, myself and my pretty big and lling. Both of us also housemate, ex-Editor Aaron, like to had a garlic naan bread because you get a takeout but on this occasion, we can’t get better than naan bread from decided to go to an Indian restaurant. an Indian restaurant; again, however, We went to Taste of India, located this was huge and neither of us could on Menai Bridge’s high street (if you eat a whole one. Tasty though! Sur- could call it a high street), a er a rec- prisingly the meal only came to £20 ommendation from some friends. which was a bargain for a full meal I’ll admit I’ve only ever been to three with a side and a pint of beer each. Indian restaurants, this one included, Taste of India also had really friend- and I’ve enjoyed all of them but Taste ly waiters, which was great. Whenever of India’s now my favourite. they came over they were really nice As we read through the menu and and not at all intruding which is of- sipped on our pints of Cobra we were ten the demise of restaurants. If you’re presented with complimentary pop- able to get across the bridge and fancy padums which came with a selection an Indian meal then I’d de nitely rec- of dips which Aaron assures me were ommend. great. (I don’t like dips.) Once we had 4/5 27-29 High Street, Menai Bridge, Anglesey, LL59 5EF, 01248715187 April , 2013 | Seren 29 TRAVEL RAG CHARITY JAILBREAK 2013 30 hours to travel as far from Bangor as possible without paying to raise money for KidsCan Caped Crusaders - 1,500 miles travelled to So a, Bulgaria by LAUREN HILTON, were given tickets to So a, Bul- LUCY BROMLEY & garia at a sta discount rate so we BECKI PERKS just had to raise £40 for the three of us which we had raised from magine arriving in a country local businesses in Bangor. with no money, nowhere to We managed to raise some stay, no knowledge of the area more money for KidsCan in the orI contacts and absolutely no airport which was great and de- knowledge of the language.  at’s spite being awake for 24 hours the position we found ourselves at this point we were really ex- in a few weeks ago stood in So a cited getting on the plane. When Airport, Bulgaria. We decided to we arrived we knew we had to take on the Jailbreak Challenge hitchhike into the city centre as organised by RAG where we there was no other option with had 30 hours to get as far away no money and we managed to from Bangor as possible without hitchhike twice. Once not so suc- spending any of our own money. cessfully to the other terminal  is was in order to raise money and then again with a local who for KidsCan; a charity that re- was keen to practice his English searches cures and treatments and gave us a tour of So a before for cancer in children. We spent dropping us o in the city cen- weeks fundraising in our Super- tre. He warned us against trying woman costumes which were to hitchhike to the next town as kindly discounted by Sparx and it was about two hours away and were shocked by the generosity not a very safe place to hitch- of everyone – particularly many hike so we decided to stay in So- psychology lecturers. a and look around. We stayed  e challenge started on the the next day too before getting 22nd March at 4pm and a er a a return  ight home managing cancellation scare due to weather to see some beautiful buildings conditions we were o . Our rst such as the St. Alexander Nevsky li was to Chester given by a fam- Cathedral, look round the local ily member who agreed to help markets and try some traditional us out for free when he found out foods. the cause. We had a co ee whilst As a team we have raised ap- waiting for our next li (getting proximately £750 so far, travelled many funny looks o people) and about 1800 miles and had one of then a friend of a friend picked us the best weekends ever despite up and we headed down South. the lack of sleep and constant We arrived in Watford, London walking! We would really recom- at midnight and stayed at his mend that anyone who is inter- house for a few hours refuelling ested in travelling/doing some- on chocolate and nearly break- thing unique to raise money for ing our necks playing hide and charity should give Jailbreak a go seek in the dark! We moved on next year! to Stansted Airport at 4am and thanks to a contact at EasyJet we

Two penguins travel around the UK and raise £255 by EMMA & MICHA sought out the local coach station and other train with the intention of changing waited two hours for the next coach to trains and then heading to Chester. A er t 17:30 on Friday 22rd March London. However, as the coach would a very long 28 hours we were looking for- 2013, Micha and I set o from not take us, we caught a bus back to the ward to getting to Chester. However, in Bangor Students Union building airport and a er having no luck with any an unfortunate turn of events, the train Aon Jailbreak, with the hope of travelling other airlines we tried to get some sleep broke down due to the adverse weather, the country for free. We had 30 hours to on a bench. At 6:30am two very tired and leaving us stranded somewhere near travel as far as possible away from Ban- cold penguins were permitted to board a Stockport, Manchester at the end of the gor with one catch, we weren’t allowed to coach to London and we were nally on thirty hours. spend any money. our way! A er a long and very cold thirty hours, So, looking truly ridiculous dressed We arrived in London at roughly mid- during which we ate only one hot meal as two penguins, we hitched a li with day and set about trying to catch a coach and had approximately six hours sleep, a friend in the direction of Manchester abroad. We nearly managed to board a two tired penguins stayed at a friend’s and set o on our journey. A er a long coach to Paris the o er was unfortunately house in Manchester before catching a and treacherous car journey through the revoked at the last minute. A er a long train back to Bangor in the morning. snow, wind and rain, we were dropped o ve hours being unsuccessful in travel- We would like to wish Bangor RAG a at Manchester Airport where we spent ling out of London we nally managed to great big thank you for organising the the next few hours pleading with all the board the Megabus to Glasgow. event and posting our progress on Face- airlines to  y us abroad. One airline kind- With time running out we needed to book on a regular basis. Jailbreak was an ly o ered us two return tickets to Islama- decide where we wanted our nal desti- amazing opportunity to raise vital funds bad but unfortunately we had to decline nation to be at the end of the thirty hours. for KidsCan, a charity that cures children on account of having no visas. We decided that we wanted to do a round with cancer and an exciting adventure for Knowing that many of the airlines trip and attempt to return to Bangor by two penguins on the run! wouldn’t open until 3am the next morn- the end of the challenge. So, with our new Check out our video on Youtube: http:// ing we set o on a train headed for cen- destination set we le the coach at Shef- youtu.be/igap-Wh9HdY tral Manchester. Upon arriving at Man- eld and caught a train across the city. chester Piccadilly station we quickly A er a short wait we then boarded an- 30 Seren | April , 2013

This is the Puzzler. Keep looking for him in the issue. If you nd him in every issue, tell us and you have a chance at a prize!

THE SEREN CROSSWORD Across 5. ‘____ , Gods Among Us’, video game. (9) 9. Jailbreak challengers Lauren, Lucy and Becki travelled to ____. (8) 10. ____ Rock and Roll, Fall Out Boys new album. (4) 11. A recent oil spill occured in the American state ____. (8) 13. RAG is to cycle the approximate distance of ____. (6) 15. Our editor LJ visited ____ over the Easter holidays. (6) 17. ____ Emin is to launch a major art series for Radio Four. (6) 19. The ____ , Stephanie Meye’s novel turned lm. (4) 20. ____ Neruda, a Chilean communist poet and Nobel Prize winner. (5) Down 1. Seren recommends Joss Whedon’s TV series ____. (7) 2. ‘It’s a kind of magic at ____’. (9) 3. Mount ____, a dormant African volcanic mountain. (11) 4. Tom Bickerdike’s giulty pleasure in lms is ____. (6) 6. MMR stands for measles, mumps and ____. (7) 7. Recent Pulitzer award winning author ____ Johnson. (4) 8. ‘The Life and Adventures of Nicholas ____’, Charles Dickens novel. (8) 12. ____, Channel 4’s new TV show. (5) 14. Adam ____, Science Editor. (6) 16. Taste of ____, a Menai Bridge restaurant. (5) 18. Bangor Comedy are to perform with TV comic Seann ____. (5) SUDOKU! EASY SPOT THE DIFFERENCE BEFORE

Take a look at these ‘identical’ pictures of Bangor’s University Challenge team and spot the 7 HARD di erences!

AFTER April , 2013 | Seren 31 SPORT AU In Brief Dancing it a bit BU Dance’s end of year show will take place on Friday 26th April, 7:30pm, and Saturday 27th April, 2:30pm, prices are £3 for Students and £4 for non Students. Previous shows have seen SU President Antony Butcher dance Gangnam Style on stage, as well as BEDS members performing a ballet to One Direction. Can-u?

BANGOR Canoe club held a train- ing session in collaboration with the Jumping for joy foreign students department.  e training session gave a chance for Riding club have won numerous titles this year people to try canoeing who wouldn’t usually think of the sport to give it a go. Around 15 students were given Partnership with local disability charity is better than ever the chance to learn how to Kayak. by HOLLY SELF who operates out of Anglesey Riding pete in a friendly league with Chester, round a er mini-leagues, Regionals. Centre. BURC runs a volunteering Manchester and UCLAN and this Yet another new addition this year is orking together with An- trip there every Wednesday morning, year at our Varsity match. Our riders the occurrence of polocrosse sessions. glesey Riding Centre, Ban- managed by our RDA O cer Rachel have come on leaps and bounds this For those not in the know, polocrosse gor University Riding Club Holt, and this year we have more vol- year, making the scheme something is a combination of Lacrosse and Polo. Handball canW provide lessons at a discounted It’s a very intense, physically challeng- rate throughout the week, both pri- ing sport that we are proud to o er to vately and in groups, on a range of FOR THOSE NOT IN THE KNOW, POLOCROSSE IS all ability levels. excell well-schooled, friendly horses and A COMBINATION OF LACROSSE AND POLO We’re also very proud of our new- AT the recent National University ponies. We can also o er hacking for look website, which is jam-packed Championships in London, Bangor’s beginners through to experienced, with information for anyone inter- Handball team excelled all expecta- with grassy canter tracks or thrilling ested in the club, courtesy of our very tions, with the men’s teams nishing beach gallops for the brave, along with unteers than ever. It has been a won- we are very proud of.  is year our own web designer, Anna Kimber-Tar- 21st and 32nd out of 40 teams, and Gymkanas and now this year, Polo- derful opportunity to give something girls have acquired titles including 1st buck. the women’s team competing hard crosse lessons! back in such a rewarding way. in Dressage, 1st in Team Overall and If you want to nd out more visit in their rst ever Nationals competi-  is year has been a great one for We have also has great success with 2nd Team Overall, to name a few! Our bangorstudents.com/riding or get tion. Bangor will be participating in the club - we have further developed our Development Squad, a group of BUCS team has also done very well in touch on Facebook, Twitter or via another regional tournament on May our partnership with Riding for the riders in training ready to apply for this year, and for the 3rd year running email on [email protected]. 5th. Disabled Association on Anglesey, the team next year.  e DS now com- we had a rider qualify for the next It’s a kind of magic at Quidditch Atomic Bangor compete in rst major UK tournament Touch by WILLIAM JOHNSON weekend before Bangor had lost in we were all pumped and ready to go a player received a concussion in an WRU and Bangor University are host- Varsity so the Quidditch team had a the next day.  e ve teams playing awkward fall, with Oxford winning. ing an atomic touch competition at he worldwide phoneme that score to settle. Giving it our all and were Edinburgh, St. Andrews, Keele,  e next day came and Keele forfeit- Maes Glas. At a cost of just £2 per per- is the Harry Potter books has playing our best, Bangor won all 3 Oxford and of course Bangor, and our ed without playing Bangor so semi- son for the tournament, the teams will inspired people to write mu- games played, not conceding a sin- rst game was against St. Andrews. nals didn’t take place.  erefore the battle it out for medals and a trophy Tsic, make videos and now has people gle goal. Although one of our players It had been raining all day but as we tournament nals would see Bangor and, of course, the crown of atomic taking to their broomsticks and play- broke a nger and Aber had a broken ran onto the pitch and got warmed face Oxford again.  ere was just touch champion. ing Quidditch. Based on the air born collar bone, this game had given the up, the snow started to fall. Fighting enough time at this point for a quick game from the books and adapted at team a massive boost and we could on through the cold and snow, Bangor friendly match between Bangor and an American school by students in not wait to head up to Edinburgh for scored ve before St. Andrews caught the Scotland team, which Bangor won. 2005, Quidditch is now played at over By the time the nal came around, our 300 universities and high schools and WHAT STARTED OUT AS A GROUP OF FRIENDS team had been plagued by injury with On the is fast taking hold in the UK. about half still being able to play, but What started out as a group of PLAYING FOR FUN DOWN BY THE STONE CIRCLE that didn’t stop us. Holding our own friends playing for fun down by the HAS BECOME A FULLYFLEDGED AU CLUB against the larger team was knacker- Bucs stone circle has become a fully- edged ing but as the game draw to a close AU club with the Captain, Emily Bangor’s new captain Lee Marsh THE Athletics Union entered 38 Oughtibridge being the driving force the rst major UK tournament,  e the snitch, ending the game with Ban- su ered a leg injury and had to be team s into the BUCS for the 2012 - behind it. With a great deal of initial Highlander cup. gor winning 50 to 30. Despite the aw- stretchered o the pitch and taken to 2013 season. Bangor has secured 332 interest and those people who were re-  e 3 weeks until we got to go to ful weather and our team thinning out hospital, resulting in the game being wins so far this season, with 364 de- ally passionate sticking with it, Bangor Scotland seemed to drag, but when though injury and mild hypothermia, called at 120 to 40 to Oxford. feats and 42 draws, making their win Broken Broomsticks has become one the day nally came around, and a er we went straight on to play Oxford. If you’re interested in playing come rate 45%. of the top Quidditch teams in the UK. the 7 hour drive, we arrived. Staying Bangor were on the back foot from the along on a Wednesday and Sunday af- Bangor, despite a good strong season, Early on a February morning we in the shadow of the castle and hav- start and conceded six goals without ternoon at the stone circle. sit below Aberystwyth by an aston- packed up our kit, jumped in a mini- ing a good half day to explore the city, scoring.  e game was called o when ishingly close 0.25 points. bus and headed over to Aber.  e QUIDDITCH inside page 31 SPORT

JitsuBangor scoop medals still at Nationals  ying high by FELICITY WALKER his academic year has been a busy one for the Bangor Uni- versity Jiu Jitsu Club. First we Twelcomed a visit from Sensei Sean Baxendale from Manchester in Oc- tober. Sensei Baxendale came to take two of the clubs sessions and made quite the impression on all members, helping to strengthen the bonds be- tween BUJC and his club, the Uni- versity of Manchester Jitsu Club. For many of the new members, this was one of their rst chances to meet and socialise with a Jitsuka from another club.  e club did not have long to wait until their next visit either, with Sensei Lee Baker taking a session in November.  e club hopes to welcome Sensei Baker back for another visit in the upcoming months. November also saw the club attend the Atemi Nation- als, our only BUCS event and the rst National championship event for the club each new academic year.  e At- emis o ers attendees two mornings of training followed by two a ernoons of competing.  e club took 18 club members to the event, improving on the club’s presence compared to both previous years. For the new members, this was their rst national event as a member of BUJC and an opportunity to get to know other Jitsuka not just from their region but the entire UK.  e clubs attendance at the event was topped o by the success of Harry Photo by Phil Coleman Bradford and Gareth Jule at getting into the nals and Lewis Fisher at win- old. Sensei Mortimore covered a spec- Jitsu in its competitions. Sensei Gabri-  e nal part of this academic year Summer Ball.  e International is an ning gold. trum of di erent Jiu Jitsu techniques ella Rossetti won the Women’s Open, for the club promises to be a victori- event only seen every 3 years and this February saw another visiting Sen- to challenge all club members, giving Harry Bradford won bronze, Lewis ous one as well. Due to the weather the will be the rst time it is held in the sei, this time in the form of 3rd Dan them a taste of what was to follow in Fisher won two gold medals and Joe club was unable to make the March UK.  e Summer ball, held in mid Sensei Colin Mortimore from Bristol. our next major event:  e Randori Dalzell won bronze. Joe’s medal was grading and hopes to make up for this July, will be the nal event of the year  is visit was especially important Nationals. Our second National event especially note worthy as he gained it in the coming months.  e club won’t and for some club members their nal for the club, as Sensei Mortimore has of the academic year, the Randori Na- in the brown belt category. Joe is only be letting their hard work go to waste event as representatives of BUJC. been instructing our own Sensei, Ga- tionals follows the Atemi Nationals a green belt in Jitsu, however due to over the summer either, with the club briella Rossetti, since she was 7 years in structure, however the Randoris his experience in Judo he was allowed planning to attend the Jiu Jitsu Inter- focuses on the ground ghting side of to compete above his Jitsu grade. national in Edinburgh and the Jitsu B.U.T.S: Best newcomers by SHAUN PRESTON to socialise with the CommISTO and even with the hours of training that go noon everything settled down for the that Bangor found at ISTO.  e organ- over 300 students. into them, it can all be ruined by the awards ceremony.  is was when they isers of the event also gave out certain he Irish Student Trampoline Friday and Saturday were when 30 seconds in which you get judged. were caught unawares by their suc- awards to individuals and teams for Open is the biggest event in things got serious and the main Tram- Happily though, all the competitors cess. One bouncer, Georgia Mitchell, various reasons. One of these was Best European Student Trampolin- poline Competition began. B.U.T.S got through their routines and were had managed to not only come 2nd Newcomer. As this was read out and Ting and ran from 4-7th April in Cork, had 8 competitors in varying cat- happy with their performance. How in her category for Trampoline (15th Bangor was called; the B.U.T.S com- Ireland and comprised of a large tram- egories from Intermediate to Pre- happy was yet to be known until the overall out of 500 competitors), but petitors mouths dropped and the cap- polining competition and competi- tain and Competition Secretary went tions in DMT (Double Mini Tram- to collect the award. poline), Tumbling and Synchronised THE B.U.T.S COMPETITORS’ MOUTHS DROPPED Looking back at the event, Shaun Trampoline. Preston, the Competition Secretary A er weeks of planning and organi- AND THE CAPTAIN AND COMPETITION responsible for the trip had this to say: sation, it was nally time for B.U.T.S ‘ISTO was a major event in the B.U.T.S to jump on the ferry and travel down SECRETARY WENT TO COLLECT THE AWARD. calendar and not only allowed us to to Cork not really knowing what to compete with over 500 students but expect as the club had not attended also allowed the current team to bond ISTO since 2009 when the club was Elite and all of them had been train- results the following day. also came 2nd in her DMT category; a and become more of a close knit team. under a di erent committee.  e ing hard, memorising their routines Sunday saw a morning of Synchro, sport she has not trained in for over a We are hoping next year to take a lot  ursday night saw them, although and practicing for this moment.  e DMT and tumbling which was en- year following an injury. more members and show Ireland what exhausted from travel, heading out downside of these competitions is that joyed by everyone, but in the a er- However this wasn’t the only success Bangor can really do.’