Bangor Students’ Union’s English Language Newspaper ISSN 1755-7585 Issue No. 212 End of Year Issue 2010 THE PARLIAMENT INSIDE: THAT HUNG BRITAIN? WIN Summer Ball tickets! Yeasayer drop by for a chat What do the election results mean for us students? Jez Harvey obvious choice in many ways in terms of As well as this, the Minister for Univer- one who prevented them joining a Labour agreement over policies. sities and Science is Conservative David coalition in 1997. er the votes of 30 million people In the end, the Liberal Democrats de- Willetts. It’ll be surprising to hear, but hav- To Brown’s credit, he recognised this and were counted, and ve days of po- cided that the only viable Government that ing this Conservative is fantastic news for the day before the Liberal Democrat/Tory litical wrangling, Britain got its new could be formed would be with David Cam- students. He has been the loudest voice deal was announced, declared his inten- APrime Minister. It took a lot longer than we eron’s Conservative Party. against fees and does not believe Universi- tion to step down before the Labour Party are used to and it is a Government that few And so, at 7:45PM on Tuesday 11 May, ties have the right to charge anymore than conference in September. Many believed of us will truly recognise. David Cameron was asked by the Queen to they already do. He also will be responsible that this would open the door to a Lib-Lab Britain has not had a coalition Govern- form a new government as Prime Minister. for assigning research grants to Universities, coalition or pact similar to that in 1977 that ment since the second World War, and the He heads a government with Liberal Demo- so can turn the tide on Universities being lasted for a year before falling apart, but this Willow Does fact that it is an agreement between two par- crats in it, and Nick Clegg their leader, as his forced to explain the ‘economic’ bene ts of was not to be. ties that are not conventional partners will Time will tell how successful this coali- Wonderlland- perhaps make it a less than stable relation- Most experts agree that this coalition will tion will be, and how much in uence the ship, but it does mean that Britain has what not last much longer than a year Lib Dems actually have within the Cabinet. udno! should be a stable Government. Most experts agree that this coalition will Since it became clear early on the Friday Deputy Prime Minister. Most of the seats in their proposals before getting money. not last much longer than a year, and if the morning that Britain would be facing a hung Cabinet went to Conservatives, but at least 4 Whilst many will be surprised at the Lib- electoral reform that has been central to the parliament, negotiations had been going on of them went to Liberal Democrats, as well eral Democrats’ seeming ‘betrayal’ of pro- Lib Dems election pledges and post-election between the Liberal Democrats and both as Nick Clegg’s seat as Deputy Prime Min- gressive politics it should be remembered demands is passed, we could see another other parties to determine who they would ister. that in some areas at least, the two parties very di¡ erent looking Parliament within 18 join or work with in a new government. One of those seats has gone to Vince are closer than the Lib Dems and Labour months. Because of the Tories lead in number Cable, named as Secretary of State for Busi- were. Education for instance was a strong For now, the rst Conservative led Gov- European of seats (but not majority, they didn’t have ness, Innovation and Skills, whose Depart- link between the two. ernment in 13 years is taking its rst steps. more MPs than all other parties) they were ment will include Universities. is should However, many people argue that the What it will mean for students and society festivals to the obvious choice in terms of producing a be encouraging to students, as Cable has a strongest link between the two parties was at large is yet to be seen. Needless to say, this stable government. However, a coalition of background of lecturing in Universities, and the desire to see Gordon Brown out of is a massive change for the country, we hope check out almost every other party in the UK with La- has strongly spoken against the introduc- Number 10. Brown has long been seen by for the good. bour and the Liberal Democrats at the heart tion or rise of top-up fees. the Lib Dems as an enemy of theirs, and the Summer was also a possibility, with this being a more 2 End of Year Issue 2010 EDITORIAL www.seren.bangor.ac.uk End of Year Issue 2010 Contributors: Jez Harvey Cynthia Flapp Jennifer Krase Claudia Jean Willow Manuel Emma Dixon Luke Dobson Nelia Minnows Sophie Mills Matthew Cox Laura Smith Tabz McGuinnes Laura Stephenson Danny Brown Lisa Nowak Alex Dunk Richard Anthony Morris DeAnn Bell Victoria Halliday Danny Southward Greg Flynn Zoe Perrenoud Alex Foulkes Hello again readers! Callum Rymer So this is my fi nal editorial. For a while it was just going to say, “OH MY GOD IT’S OVER!!” which I felt ad- Karl Hanks equately described the sadness, disbelief but also mild relief that I feel writing this. Instead I’m going to write a Vicky Osten slightly obnoxious Oscar acceptance speech style short essay for your perusal. Ben Jones Jack Stanbridge You might have noticed that I am not alone in my picture. That is Jo Caulfi eld, President Elect of the Students’ Peter Topham Union, last year’s editor, the person responsible for getting me involved in Seren and my best friend. Thank you Katie Dyer for making me your run-around whilst you were editor, it’s been a pretty good 2 years of late nights in the Jack Stanbridge union, making tea and screaming at InDesign. Ben Neale The highlights of my year have been plugging Peggy Sue at every available juncture, taking on major corpora- tions (and subsequently making Spencer George a nervous proof reader), the amazing 90s night and watching the Seren team make impressive progress.You should all be extremely proud of yourselves, I’m proud of you Photography: (in a non-patronising but slightly motherly way). Hannah Shuker Thank you to everyone who contributed in the shape of articles, pictures, ideas and feedback;, you are essential Jo Caulfi eld to the existence of Seren and the value of your input does not go unnoticed. I’d also like to apologise to Gareth whose offi ce is next to Seren’s and who is constantly harassed by the music we blast out to keep ourselves going. This issue I have had The Specials extended version of Ghost Town on Special thanks to: repeat. Willow Does All that remains is for me to leave you with an obscure song lyric and say goodbye. Luke Dobson Thanks, it’s been a blast. Emily Collins Still I am but what they made, Proof reading: Luke Dobson Georgia Xx Jennifer Krase The Sabbs THE SEREN TEAM Editor Georgia Mannion RECYCLE News Liz Stevens Hello hello hello! We’ve Features Stacey Gannon been asking for a year Music Aaron Wiles now, I really hope you’ve Creative Corner Gemma Ellis got the message with this Film Louise Cotteril recycling business. When you’ve read the Travel Rachel Stretton paper cover to cover, ripped something Sport Martyn Singleton out and stuck it to the fridge, spilled tea Design Team Dan Turner and all sorts on it, can you stick it in the Jo Caulfi eld blue recycling box? Thanks very much! 3 End of Year Issue 2010 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk NEWS A Fire, Again?! Students in Bangor are again be- Summer Ball ing reminded to observe re safety precautions a er a Ffriddoedd resident had a lucky escape at the end of April. e student had le a smoking cigarette butt in a waste bin which subsequently caught re; the student had also covered their smoke alarm. is Exclusive: caused a serious re but injury was avoided, with the Halls Of- he atmosphere in Bangor has been one of overall excitement ce reminding students such ac- ever since the Big Weekend was announced, but the Summer tions are disciplinary o¡ ences. TBall, which is coordinated between the Events Manager and members of the Events Committee, is our traditional home-grown fi nal farewell to the busy and often stressful academic year. This year Ball organisers have made a strong effort to bring successful mainstream music acts to our humble northern Welsh city, and they have surpassed themselves. Students at Bangor hopefully Guilty already know they will be treated to headliners Mr. Hudson and Tinie Tempah, in addition to the quirky, hip and essentially British sounds Greek of Natty, Maybe Gaga, and DJ Nico Lupo. The Bangor University Jazz Orchestra will demonstrate their impressive portfolio whilst Carnival Yet another Bangor establishment Sound Clash, featuring Banda Bacana, Racubah, Drymbago, and has undergone a police license re- Byd Mawr, will invade our ears in Powis Hall. Bangor’s very own Lost view a er being found to be serv- Property team will also be heading up an eponymous indie tent with Sam Airey ing alcohol to underage children. guests Jaguar Jones and Wilder. e Greek Taverna, in Upper Ban- Seren have scooped an exclusive breaking addition to the lineup, gor, was found on three separate which should satisfy the deepest wishes of all the folk fans in our occasions to be serving an under- student body.