gair rhydd Monday April 27th | freeword | Issue 1051 Special RUGBY: 22-27 SHIELD: 13-25 WINNERS: Get the full results in our Varsity special pull-out THE FREE WORD

EDITOR Michael O’Connell-Davidson GAIR RHYDD CO-ORDINATOR Th is referendum must bind Elaine Morgan Th is week marks the opening of a rare Cardiff Stu- still speak the Welsh language. I feel like I understand as somebody who wishes to embrace Wales as it is NEWS dents’ Union referendum. After an unsuccessful a little better what Wales is, and where it sits along- today. Georgia Hamer senate motion, Steff an Bryn Jones successfully peti- side Scotland and England. I dare not to speak fur- I am not saying that a Welsh language offi cer would Katie Evans tioned the Union to hold a vote on whether or not we ther, because I am no expert, but I have become very immediately bolster the understanding of Wales Alexander Norton should have a full-time Welsh language offi cer. fond of Wales, and I will miss this nation a great deal. and its culture amongst the student body. Perhaps Anna Lewis While there is no requirement for newspapers But I fear that I am in the minority. Don’t get me it would do nothing of the sort. But I am very open to be impartial, it would be wrong for me to take a wrong: I am sure much of the University cohort hail- to this referendum because it has aff orded Cardiff ADVICE stance on the matter; Gair Rhydd is a public service, ing from the rest of the world has grown fond of all University students a reason to think about how they Kirsty Fardell and I do not feel as though it would be appropri- that Wales has to off er. I am less sure, however, that want the Union (and perhaps the University, given ate for me to take an ideological stance beneath the they have had ample opportunity to get to know and that Sabbatical offi cers are tasked with lobbying the COMMENT masthead of this newspaper. understand Wales the way that I have. University) to approach the Welsh language. I can get Anne Porter What I would say, however, is that I have a great One of my housemates (who I met in Freshers’ behind anything that starts a conversation, and I feel Gareth Evans degree of admiration for Steff an’s genuine passion for Week and stuck with ever since) has done a fantas- like this is a conversation that’s worth having. Olivier van den Bent-Kelly the Welsh language and culture. It is no exaggeration tic job of introducing me to Wales and its present And that’s why this referendum must bind. Both to say that this referendum comes very much from cultural and political landscape. Living in close prox- the yes and no campaign seem to agree that Welsh COLUMNIST the heart as far as Steff an is concerned, and it leaves imity to somebody as engaged as he is with policy language provision at the University is simply not Jason Roberts me very happy indeed to see Union politics refl ecting and process has helped me bridge a gap in my un- good enough. Th is shared point of view is good, and what students actually think and what they actually derstanding that I may otherwise have found insur- lends itself well to co-operation whatever the out- POLITICS care about. mountable. come; if a Welsh language offi cer is something stu- Carwyn Williams Regardless of the outcome of this referendum, this I feel as though I am in an enviable position. If eve- dents believe will benefi t our collective understand- Lauren Boyd organisation could do with more people like Steff an rybody left Cardiff University and they felt like this ing of the Welsh identity, then so be it. If it doesn’t, Rhiannon Tapp - people who care deeply about issues closely tied to - that they understood modern Wales as it related then there will be enough interested parties to keep their identity, rather than people who push their ide- to the UK and the wider world, then that would be pushing for the University to do better, and that rep- SCIENCE ology for sport. Th is is not to say that Steff an is the something above and beyond what other universi- resents a massive step forward. Shanna Hamilton only one, as that is evidently untrue. But the world ties off er their students. But I am not sure that this Cardiff Students’ Union referenda require 1,500 Meryon Roderick could always do with more people who care. happens with any frequency, and I do not fully un- votes to be binding, and it would be a terrible shame Since coming to Wales, I have learned a great deal derstand why; it seems as though there is a sort of if this referendum did not attract enough attention SOCIETIES about a culture that I had received eff ectively no subconscious recalcitrance among my English peers to make a diff erence. Such an outcome would leave Hannah Sterritt exposure to before now. It gave me a very diff erent to engage with Wales as it exists today. Th is is seldom too many unanswered questions; neither side would picture of matters concerning the Union; I feel that I spoken about, and I tread uncertain ground doing so be satisfi ed regardless how many votes they received PARK LIFE would have been very dismissive of the referendum - but I do so with only good intentions. relative to the other, and this opportunity for action Vidya Brainerd on Scottish Independence if I still lived in the south Many students go on a year abroad, and, upon re- will be missed. of England, simply because I had no understanding turning, cannot shut up about their time away. Uni- What we need is a way forward, and if this refer- TAF-OD of the cultures that make up this country’s social fab- formly, they pretend to understand the world they endum has enough votes, then we’ll have a picture Steffan Bryn Jones ric. spent time living in: “oh, I went to Germany, and let of what that might look like as early as Friday. If you Morgan Owen I will return to England soon; I am set to graduate me tell you - they do this, this and this...” care about the Welsh language, the Welsh culture, very shortly, and given the path that people in my Yet many English students at Cardiff seem am- and the Welsh identity, then you should vote. It’s SPORT trade normally take, it is unfortunately unlikely that bivalent towards their time in Wales, as though there our responsibility to future Cardiff students to set a David Hooson I will return to Wales in the foreseeable future. And is nothing to understand. Perhaps this is because course that might benefi t them; if that doesn’t moti- Rory Benson yet I feel like I can say that I have at least come to Cardiff is a very “British” city, and hosts a number vate you to add your voice to the conversation, then Joe Atkinson understand this nation a little better. I have come to of decidedly “British” universities. But that does not what will? understand why devolution matters, and why people mean there is a void of things to get your teeth into - MOCD PRODUCTION EDITOR Sum Sze Tam DIGITAL EDITORS Jordan Adams Gregory McChesney THIS WEEK IN HISTORY: GAIR RHYDD 332 SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR 03/5/1989 Maria Mellor Put down that Rubik’s Cube, unplug your Sony Walkman eas there’s a little more to relate to. In a guide to the bur- EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS and stop trying to dance battle me. I’ve told you before geoning appetite for ‘real ale’ supported by the statement Jack Boyce and I’ll tell you again: I’m just not interested. that “Beer for the moment has become not just a fi eld of Eleanor Parkyn What am I on about? What are YOU on about?! It’s knowledge but aggressive knowledgeability to anyone May 1989, at least for the purposes of this exalted feature, who’s been to Urban Tap House (or one of the many es- Want to join the team? and we’ve got another jam-packed issue of Gair Rhydd tablishments of a similar ilk dotted around our streets) Editorial conferences are each (No. 332) to leaf through. Don’t bother trying to visit our of late will confi rm that these pockets of aggression have monday at 5PM. Proofreading website, we’re waiting on Tim Berners-Lee there. mutated into an epidemic of violent hipsterdom”. But I takes place on Thursdays at Th e exclusively paper-based publication of a quarter quite like craft beer, so I’ll leave it. 6PM in the media office during of a century ago didn’t lack moxie: under the promi- In sport, Cardiff City were reported to have eased print weeks. nent masthead it announces to the prospective reader their fears of relegation with a 2-0 victory over South- that it is “a fucking good read”. Th ese days we’re (we end United. So it proved, as the Bluebirds fi nished a Write us a letter hope) a little more subtle in our self-promotion. credible sixteenth - only to plummet to the nadir of [email protected] Once beyond the succinctly-titled ‘Timetable Trou- Division 4 at the end of the following season. Tweet us: ble’ story that dominates the front page (the students Th e small ads also provide an interesting insight @gairrhydd of the day weren’t too happy to receive their exam into the editorial approach of the day; alongside of- schedules a full eight weeks late) we fi nd a veritable fers of word processing and canvassing appeals there time capsule of content. Inside this dog-eared issue is is a call-to-arms for budding psychonauts with ‘Tran- the starkest guide to the eff ects of twenty-fi ve years of scendental Meditation’; an ‘easy learnt technique’ that At Gair Rhydd we take seriously our responsibil- ity to maintain the highest possible standards. Tory/Labour power swapping that you’re ever likely to can help you capture that ever-elusive ‘enjoyment of Sometimes, because of deadline pressures, see; with the unoffi cial arrival of the student loan sys- life’. For more information, feel free to contact the we may make some mistakes. If you believe we have fallen below the standards we seek tem is alleged to be shouldering students with debts omniscient guru known as… Diane. to uphold, please email [email protected]. that could often exceed “one hundred pounds a year”. A further advert struck a very diff erent tone - it You can view our Ethical Policy Statement and Complaints Procedure at Now, a middling A-Level in Economics gave me simply reads “Red head and rubber shorts. See PL cardiffstudentmedia.co.uk/complaints the basics of infl ation - a hundred pounds, back in the block for expert attention.” We can only speculate. day, was a fair wad of cash. But not as much as nine Well, that was interesting and enlightening in equal Opinions expressed in editorials are not reflective of Cardiff Students’ Union, who act as the thousand pounds today. Sorry, students of yesteryear, measure. I see you’ve fi nished your pot noodle. You’re publisher of Gair Rhydd in legal terms, and but you didn’t know you were born. off , are you? Mind your hair on the way out. should not be considered official communications or the organisation’s stance. Gair Rhydd is a post Yet whilst our fi nancial disparity rankles, in other ar- - AN office registered newspaper. EDITORIAL 3 Campus In Brief

Th e nineteenth Welsh Varsity happened. What? You Alexander missed it? Well, it was relatively easy to dodge the National International Pictured: Norton hullabaloo on the basis that organisers decided that Australian the event should be held in Swansea. Despite this Her Majesty the Queen celebrated one of her two After last week’s capsizing of a migrant boat left four Prime Minister unpleasant turn of events, both Cardiff ’s sporting birthdays – her real one. She turned eighty-nine hundred people missing in the Mediterranean, a Tony Abbott, representatives and their enthusiastic fans were in on 21st April, and is the world’s oldest reigning number of similar incidents have sent the estimated presumably fantastic form – the men and women in red claiming monarch. Th e occasion was marked by military gun death toll soaring – the most signifi cant of which saw rehearsing victory in twenty-three of the thirty-fi ve sports to salutes at each of the UK’s four capitals, with Wales’ eight hundred people presumed to have perished off his feat. retain the shield and, for the fi rst time since 2012, commemoration taking place at Cardiff Castle. the coast of Libya on 19th April. (Photographer: beating their bitterest rivals 22-27 in the centrepiece In terms of the leaders we’re allowed to elect, the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has drawn thestar.com) men’s rugby match. polls continue to show that the Conservatives and admiration and ire in equal measure after being Back in the civilised world, potential voters Labour are separated by the tightest of margins. recorded drinking ‘a schooner’ (around two thirds attended a debate focused upon the forthcoming According to polling organisation YouGov (as of the of a pint) of beer in a little over seven seconds as referendum over proposed creation of a full time day of writing) Labour are enjoying a lead of just one he watched Aussie Rules football at a bar in Sydney. sabbatical offi cer for the Welsh language. Current point – meaning that the next parliament is set to be A former Auschwitz guard has admitted that he is (part-time) Welsh Language Offi cer Steff an Bryn well hung, as it were. “morally guilty” on the 300,000 counts of accessory Jones spoke in favour, whilst outgoing VP Education Former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson has to murder with which he is being charged. Th e trial Rhys Jenkins spoke against. Th e fi ve-day voting revealed that he suff ered a cancer scare just days prior of the ninety-three year old, who arrived at the period is set to open on Monday, 27th April. to landing a punch on producer Oisin Tymon. Th e concentration camp at the age of twenty-one, is Cardiff University scientists have established the presenter, 55, made the admission in a newspaper likely to be amongst the last of its kind. root cause of asthma – the calcium sensing receptor. column in the wake of his departure from the BBC A US drone attack killed two hostages (an Th e breakthrough discovery, which has attracted – but promised that he “will do another car show”. American and an Italian) despite being targeted at worldwide media attention, has provoked hopes A resurgent Aston Villa stunned Liverpool by Al-Qaeda militants, President Barack Obama has that a cure could be established within fi ve years. coming from a goal down to record a 2-1 victory in admitted. Th e Commander-In-Chief expressed his Th e condition aff ects around three hundred million the second FA Cup semi-fi nal at Wembley, where “profound regret” over the incident, which is the fi rst “Labour are people worldwide; almost one hundred times the they will face holders Arsenal. Th e result ended known instance of American drones taking innocent population of Wales. former England captain Steven Gerrard’s hopes of lives. enjoying a Left-wing Guardian columnist Owen Jones took ending his seventeen year stint at Liverpool with a General sale tickets for the landmark fi ght between to the steps of Cardiff University Students’ Union piece of silverware. boxers Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao – of lead of just to announce his support for “anti-Trident” Labour Good news, imminent graduates. Th e UK which only one thousand were available to the public one point parliamentary candidate Jo Stevens. Th e latter is unemployment rate has fallen to its lowest level – sold out almost instantaneously, with attendance attempting to unseat Liberal Democrat incumbent since July 2008, now standing at 1.84million or 5.6%. at the much anticipated encounter now being priced - meaning Jenny Willott in what is one of Labour’s most highly Th at represents the highest ever number of people at as much as £47,000 by touts. that the next prized seats for the upcoming general election. in work in Britain, but concerns remain that newly A Michigan woman has been sentenced to a Cardiff ’s blooming lovely. Okay, it’s not the hottest created roles are on low pay or zero-hours contracts. minimum of three years in jail after discharging parliament news story – but anyone who’s taken a stroll through Supermarket behemoth Tesco has announced a a fi rearm at fast food restaurant McDonald’s in Alexandra Gardens will have been impressed record £6.4bn loss, the majority of which was derived response to being twice served a cheeseburger is set to be with the daff odils, tulips and cherry blossom now from the falling value of its property portfolio. Th e without bacon. Shaneka Torres, 30, had complained well hung, adorning . With summer seemingly fi rm, founded in 1919, will now close or cancel 92 on the fi rst occasion and was off ered a complimentary arriving early, take that cursed coursebook out there (largely rural or out-of-town) stores in attempt to burger. She returned to claim it hours later, but this as it were and enjoy it. stem the losses. time reacted less savagely. ” tweet us @gairrhyddnews email us [email protected] NEWS or visit us online at gairrhydd.com/news Welsh language referendum debate heats up Full-time position scrutinised by students and offi cers

n Thursday, 23rd April, cur- diff] but we know that’s not possi- bilingual, citing the recent move ritory as the first VP Postgrad Stu- Katie Evans rent part-time Welsh Lan- ble as things stand at the moment,” to employ a full-time translator for dents’ Officer. Oguage Officer, Steffan Bryn said Jones, adding: “We need to events such as last week’s debate. An audience member, alert to the “We agree Jones, came up against VP Educa- realise that right and turn it into a “We’ve already shown commitment contradiction in Wannell’s argu- tion, Rhys Jenkins, and part-time reality.” as a Union to the Welsh language”, ment, commented: “I thought it was Welsh Postgrad Students’ Officer, Ollie Jones stated that, given that Car- said Jenkins. pretty inconsistent that you can ar- Wannell, to argue the case for the diff University has a greater number Postgrad Students’ Campaign Of- gue for a Postgraduate Officer and language creation of a full-time Welsh lan- of Welsh speakers than any other ficer, Ollie Wannell, argued that, then argue against officers.” provision guage sabbatical position. university in the world, it reflects rather than employ a Welsh lan- He asked: “Why is it Postgradu- Presenting their case to a half- badly on the Union that it doesn’t guage sabbatical officer, the issue ate Officer can get things done for a needs filled lecture hall, Jenkins and Wan- employ a full-time Welsh language would best be served by a full-time postgraduate but a Welsh language improving... nell represented the ‘Against’ cam- officer, whilst Aberystwyth and member of staff whose position officer couldn’t get things done for paign, whilst Jones was joined by Bangor, two smaller Welsh univer- would be solely dedicated to co- Welsh leaners and Welsh speakers?” the question is two fellow members of the Welsh- sities, do just that. ordinating Welsh language efforts. Audience members questioned language community in represent- Jones believes a Welsh Language Ethical and Environmental Cam- the success of the Union’s bilingual methodology. ing the ‘For’ campaign. Officer would celebrate the cultural paign Officer, Daniel Roberts raised efforts, with one audience member Do you need a The referendum debate was held diversity that exists in Cardiff and issue with Wannell’s suggestion, citing how the advertisement for to help students decide how to vote would provide students with free asking: “If it’s much better to have the evening’s debate was given on VP to do it? in the up-coming referendum on opportunities to learn or maintain staff rather than an officer [for the CUSU website in English alone. Rhys Jenkins “Every student whether or not to appoint a Welsh Welsh language skills. Welsh language] why do we have Another student complained that, language sabbatical officer. Stu- Speaking for the ‘Against’ camp, officers for other positions?” despite being able to carry out his has the right dents will be able to cast their votes VP Education, Rhys Jenkins said To the surprise of the audience, assessments through the Welsh to a bilingual between Monday 27th April and that, whilst he agreed with many Wannell questioned the effective- language, all the literature and in- Friday 1st May. However, unless a of Jones’ key issues on the need ness of the sabbatical team, openly formation of his course is given in ” experience quorum of 1500 votes is met, the for Welsh language provisions at admitting that he would dissolve English, and he must, effectively, [at Cardiff] outcome of the referendum will not the University, he disagrees with the position of VP Societies and AU work as his own translator. be binding. the method he is pushing to bring President. “In my opinion, I don’t The situation at the Heath is no but we know Certain sabbatical officers have about such changes, stating that a think we need an elected Societies better according to one Heath Park already made their feelings known new sabbatical position is unneces- Officer, we don’t need an elected student, who described Welsh lan- Keep up-to- that’s not on the subject. Rhys Jenkins, VP sary. AU President. I probably wouldn’t guage provisions on the campus as date with the possible Education, has not withheld from Jenkins has stated that a Welsh have them.” “awful”, adding “We need an officer SU’s refer- voicing his criticism of the pro- language sabbatical officer would Despite criticising the effective- who will put the Welsh language endum on as things posed sabbatical position, claiming not be able to carry out their duties ness of sabbatical officers, during first and not as a last resort.” the creation stand at the it would demand time and resourc- effectively, having to co-ordinate the most recent AMM (Annual In his closing statement, Jenkins of a Welsh es that would be put to better use by with all seven current sabbatical Members Meeting) held in Novem- summarised the ‘Against’ argu- language moment the current sabbatical team. officers because the issue of the ber, Wannell successfully petitioned ment, posing the question: “We sabbatical The debate last Thursday began Welsh language spreads across all for the creation of a VP Postgrad agree Welsh language provision position: tweet Steffan Bryn with an opening statement from corners of Union life. Students position. The full-time needs improving, we agree the Un- us at @gair- Jones part-time Welsh Language Officer Jenkins continued to argue that role was subsequently created and ion isn’t there yet [...] the question rhydd using Jones. “Every student has the right the Union is already taking steps will come into being in September, is methodology. Do you need a VP the hashtag ” to a bilingual experience [at Car- towards making the Union wholly with Katie Kelly treading new ter- to do it?” #caerdyddref Cardiff amongst fi ve nominated for Times Higher Education award

ardiff University’s upper Th e nominations have been sector from across the UK”. 123rd in the QS World University Anna Lewis management teams have been accredited by the University to their “As a senior management team we Rankings. C nominated for prestigious new strategic plan named ‘Th e Way set ourselves the task of becoming a Riordan continued: “Th e key to higher education awards by the Forward’. Th e initiative has included top 20 UK University and one of the delivering the change is ensuring Times. improving areas such as research and world’s top 100.” we take all our staff and students Th e University’s Executive innovation, education, international However, the news follows after and our wider communities with us. Board (UEB) has been shortlisted and engagement. Gair Rhydd reported last week that Th at is why I am particularly pleased for the Times Higher Education’s Cardiff University’s Vice- the University failed to make the top that the creative staff engagement Leadership and Management Chancellor, Professor , 20 universities in terms of student workshops that we put in place to Awards (THELMAS), amongst four said: “I am delighted that, thanks to satisfaction. make sure that staff have a chance other universities. the eff orts of all staff , the University’s Currently, the University is to input directly into the process Th e award, which is given to the senior management team has been placed 23rd in the UK according to has singled us out for specifi c UK University able to show the ranked among the very best in the the Complete University Guide and recognition. greatest extent of leadership and management skills, will be awarded Pictured: during an annual awards ceremony Cardiff on June 18th in London. University’s Th e shortlists for the ceremony “The shortlist Vice also recognised the University’s Chancellor, school of arts, humanities and also Professor Colin social sciences, nominated in recognised the Riordan the Outstanding Departmental Administration Team category. University’s Cardiff library was nominated for the Outstanding Library category school of arts, on behalf of Wales Higher Education humanities Libraries Forum (WHELF). With three nominations, the and social University has seen signifi cant sciences improvement, after failing to make the shortlists last year. ” NEWS 5

Dentistry school ‘oversight’ leads to graduate concerns Bachelor degree’s legal status questioned by General Dental Council

Pictured: Dentistry students at Cardiff University

‘technical issue’ identifi ed for dentists working outside of the with the problem dealt with quickly dents must complete a new registra- Anna Lewis with Cardiff University’s UK, as the current qualifi cations is- and effi ciently. tion form and hand it to the GDC no A Bachelor of Dental Surgery sued to graduates do not include the In order to solve the issue, the 300 later than May 8th in order to be re- The mandatory (BDS) degree has caused the status certifi cates needed to ensure the ‘ap- dentists aff ected will be issued with viewed. Failure to do so will result in “ of 300 dentistry graduates to become propriateness’ of the qualifi cation. a new BDS qualifi cation on 1st May the Cardiff University graduates be- legal status temporarily invalid, according to the However, the University has been 2015. ing removed from the council’s reg- General Dental Council (GDC). quick to stress that the ‘technical’ Th e invalid registrations will be ister from May 29th. was only Th e GDC, in co-operation with nature of the issue does not refl ect removed from the GDC databases on Despite the University’s swift re- attained in Cardiff University has described the negatively on the quality of the teach- May 29th and replaced with a newly sponse to the situation however, entry of all graduates from 2010-2014 ing at the school. qualifi ed status. some graduates have been left dis- 2014, more as ‘erroneous’, after it was discovered ‘Th is is a technical issue (which During this transition period, guntled by the development. than 50 that the University failed to acquire the University and GDC are working graduates will be able to continue ‘I feel as if the mistake lies with the medical authority legal status re- jointly to resolve) and has nothing to working and are registered as lawfully both parties,’ one former Cardiff stu- years after quired for the Dentists Act of 1984. do with quality of teaching or Car- qualifi ed dentists. Th e University has dent stated. In what was termed ‘an oversight’ diff Dental graduates competence to also assured those aff ected that their ‘I don’t know why we need to be the School by the University, the mandatory le- practice dentistry’, a Cardiff Univer- names will remain on the dental reg- involved in rectifying it. It leaves us of Dentistry gal status was only attained in 2014, sity spokesperson stated. ister throughout the process and that with a lot of uncertainty.’ more than 50 years after the School Students have also suggested that no changes will be made to ongoing However, the dentist concluded: ‘I opened of Dentistry opened. despite the incident, trust towards professional development cycles. don’t think that [the situation] will Th is proves a particular concern the Dentistry school remains high, As a result of the discovery, stu- have an impact on me’. ” Lack of working-class students criticised by Oxford Professor

ardiff University has been crit- from one to four years in duration. times more likely to attend Russell However, in a rebuttal against Anna Lewis icised by a world-leading pro- Th e speech took place as part of Group universities than working- Mayhew’s condemnation of Cardiff Cfessor for its low percentage a series of talks held by leading eco- class students. University, a spokesperson has stated admission of students from working- nomic experts to discuss the eco- Previously, the director-general of that the institution “Recognise the class backgrounds. nomic development of Wales. the Russell Group blamed the issue importance of achieving a diverse According to Professor Ken May- Prominent Cardiff businessman on a lack of access for students from and talented student community.” hew, economist and Emeritus Profes- Mark Barry also condemned the Car- working-class backgrounds, suggest- Th e University stated that a ‘con- sor of Education at Pembroke Col- diff University selection process, tak- ing that ‘“School attainment, advice textual admissions model’ is set in lege, Oxford University, only 20 per ing to social media to voice his sup- and aspirations must be dramatically place in order to take into the social cent of students at Cardiff University port for Mayhew’s comments. improved is we are to tackle the real background of applicants into ac- are from working-class backgrounds. ‘Th e selection process at ‘top’ uni- barriers to fair access.” count. With only ten per cent more stu- versities is fundamentally fl awed and In a controversial move, it was also Th e University also reassured Gair dents categorised as ‘working-class’ overlooks too many ‘ordinary’ stu- suggested by politician Peter Brant Rhydd that the recruitment of ‘stu- than Oxford University, Mayhew dents’’, he said. that students must “Be taught to dents from lower socio-economic suggested that fewer students are Th e condemnation follows sta- think and act like the middle classes groups’ in Cardiff remains similar to admitted to prestigious universities tistics published in 2013, revealing if they are to get into the best univer- levels within other Russell Group in- including Cardiff . that children of professionals are 3.3 sities.” stitutions. The selection Th is is in comparison to Glyndŵr “ University’s fi gure of 47 per cent of process Pictured: ‘working-class’ students. Only twenty Mayhew condemned the unequal at the top per cent ratio of students from high and low- [universities] of Cardiff income backgrounds at a three-day students economic symposium ending on is are from a April 14th. fundamentally working-class During his speech, he suggested background that the government spend more on flawed and further education and shift funding from early years and higher educa- overlooks too tion budgets. many ‘ordinary Th e professor concluded his speech by recommending that the UK take students’ an approach to education similar the Mark Barry Dutch vocational educational system, comprising over 700 courses ranging ” 6 NEWS

NUS National Conference: criticism as delegates vote against full-time Transgender Offi cer position

motion to create a full-time the representation of trans* students, Amongst those who took to Twitter by students. Katie Evans Transgender Offi cer posi tion one of the most marginalised groups to criticise the secret ballot, one Th e new NUS President also urged Anna Lewis Awas voted down at the NUS within the LGBT+ community.” activist tweeted: “Bigots, ashamed of delegates to be “Ready to stand up “The students National Conference last week, “Th e students who abstained and their bigotry, can now be spared being alongside each other” in order to be sparking criticism among student voted against the motion eff ectively seen,” whilst one student described the heard by the new government after who abstained LGBT+ campaigners. rejected the autonomy of those trans* ballot as “A load of rubbish, delegates the election. and voted Students and LGBT+ rights students who brought the motion should surely be held accountable for However, in order to achieve activists took to Twitter to voice forward. I hope the motion will be their votes.” improvement, Dunn warned that against their disappointment at the decision brought to conference again next year Delegates were also accused the NUS must also face changes, and were clearly defl ated with the and will pass.” of creating an atmosphere of and suggested that greater support the motion decision to reject the motion, with Th e motion fell by less than 80 votes, intimidation, as NUS Wales President be given to both campus unions and effectively one spectator tweeting: “Gutted to see with 271 votes for, 194 votes against Beth Button tweeted: “It’s not ok that national movements. [the motion] fall when it’s so vitally and 79 abstentions. Voting took delegates have chosen to leave the In what NUS delegates dubbed as a rejected the needed by TRANS students across the place by secret ballot after audience hall for his debate because they’re “lurch to the left” with newly elected autonomy of country. It’s clearly unacceptable.” members voted to make their decision intimidated and scared to vote NUS vice-presidents, motions were Speaking to Gair Rhydd, next with discretion. publicly.” also passed to condemn the record those year’s elected Women’s Offi cer However, this decision only fuelled However, the failure of the trans* of the coalition government and to Rachael Melhuish expressed her further criticism after the motion fell, offi cer motion did not constitute the abolish student debt. trans* disappointment at the failure of the with critics claiming that the method only drama within the conference. Continuing discussion of the students motion, as she explained: “Th e NUS of voting allowed democratically Further controversy within the upcoming elections, the key-note Conference has missed what would elected representatives to hide behind conference was caused as the event speech of the conference was taken by who have been an amazing opportunity for their ballot sheet. was forced to stop twice after staff Channel Four presenter Rick Edwards. brought threatened to ‘withhold their services’ Addressing concerns about student according to Th e apathy, Edwards stated: “Th e idea the motion Pictured: Linc. that young people don’t care is quite Megan Dunn, Following NUS regulations, frankly off ensive”. forward the newly speakers are not permitted to talk Th roughout the three-day event Rachael elected NUS about staff on stage. However, Lincoln which, was held in Liverpool, fringe President Students’ Union president Brian sessions were held throughout the Melhuish Alcorn caused conference proceedings conference to discuss subjects at the to grind to a halt after criticising the forefront of the student agenda. NUS for taking over a year to fi nd a Th e agenda featured subjects such CEO. as low public trust in politicians, the ” Other events in the conference need to campaign against student included the election of NUS Offi cers poverty, and concerns regarding the for the forthcoming year. newly introduced Counter-Terrorism Megan Dunn, last year’s vice- and Security Act. president for higher education, was Th e NUS conference also featured named as the new NUS President. In a talk on the national minimum wage a speech, Dunn promised to fi ght for for apprentices and a discussion about free higher education and act against religious freedom hosted by the Union the austerity and poverty crisis faced of Jewish students.

Pictured: Student agency New legislation to letting signs limit to-let signs Council crack down on signs following student “An ongoing accommodation break-ins campaign to remove the ew legislation means that let- Over the Easter period South Wales Campaigns by Cathays councillors ernment means that estate agents ‘unsightly’ Georgia ting agents will have to apply Police reported a record breaking 19 and politicians to cap the use of signs will no longer be able to deface our boards raised Hamer Nfor permission to put ‘to let’ burglaries in the area. have been ongoing in recent years and streetscape with permanent lettings signs on properties in Cathays. Th e Welsh Government has re- it has now been announced that Car- boards long after the property has concerns Th is news follows a report by Gair moved presumed consent meaning diff council will be given additional been let.” Rhydd last week about a spate of bur- that letting agents will now have to controls over the boards. “Th ey will have to apply for specifi c that signs glaries in the area. apply for permission to put ‘to let’ As a result the council are within planning permission along with eve- were labelling An ongoing campaign to remove boards up in Cathays. their rights to restrict the size of ryone else and for a period of no more the ‘unsightly’ boards raised concerns Permeant residents have been be- boards, introduce legislation which than two months unless the property properties as that signs were labelling properties as coming increasing frustrated by the requires them to sit fl at against prop- remains empty.” student houses making them more boards which are routinely in place erties and limit the amount of time Cathays councillor Chris Weaver as student susceptible to burglaries during the throughout the year on an over- they can be put up for. added: “Th is is great news in Cathays properties holidays when many students leave whelming number of properties in AM Jenny Rathbone said: “Th is as we’ve had to put up with streets full Cardiff . the area. announcement by the Welsh Gov- of these signs for far too long.” ” NEWS 7

Popular student eatery faces wrath of Wagamama ‘Hogamama’ hot dog sparks trademark dispute

he Cardiff University graduate Hoa Dieu, who studied law and representatives. court system that mean even if I won Alexander behind popular student eatery is currently on sabbatical from the Th e owner had taken the £250 step I could face thousands in costs; if we Norton T‘Hogwurst’ is facing the profession, has had a trademark in order to protect the name of what lose and have to cover their costs then prospect of a crippling legal dispute application for his ‘Hogamama’ he calls “Our most popular dog”, with it could sink us,” he admitted. with restaurant chain Wagamama. hotdog blocked by Wagamama’s legal pop-up eateries that are not associated Hogwurst only opened at the start with the outlet currently free to of the academic year, replacing Italian- utilise it and capitalise on Hogwurst’s inspired coff ee shop ‘Th e College Pictured: growing reputation. House’ – although many of the student Hogwurst Wagamama are opposing the staff have remained, with the outlet situated on application on the grounds that it is continuing to provide an acclaimed the corner likely to provoke “perceptions and selection of coff ees. of Blackweir recollections” on their brand, there is It has drawn rave reviews from “I think that Terrace a “likelihood of confusion” and the hot local food enthusiasts, with the South when a (Source: dog in question is “similar or related” Wales Echo declaring that “You owe it Gourment to their own product. to yourself to visit Hogwurst”. company like Gorro) Th e latter charge is the one that With the deadline for a decision on Dieu contests most strongly, pointing whether to pursue the trademark due Wagamama out that “Wagamama don’t actually in May and potentially ruinous risks to threatens sell hot dogs, their food is of a very weigh up, Dieu is yet to work out his distinct cuisine and it’s not one that next step. action against we provide.” When asked why he was still a business of “I was very surprised that they considering the continuation of his wanted to pursue it, as the name of application, he replied that it was our size, they a sausage at a small student café in “almost a point of principle”. Wales is pretty inconsequential in “I think that when a company like expect [us] the context of their hundred outlet Wagamama threatens action against just to roll over empire,” he added. a business of our size, quite a lot of a However, he has not yet decided time they expect them just to roll over.” Hoa Dieu, whether to press ahead with the For the time being, the Hogamama Owner of trademark application, as the prospect – which features reggae BBQ pulled of a full blown legal battle could prove pork, apple slaw, crispy onions, crispy Hogwurst fi nancially disastrous. crackling, mustard & ketchup – “Th ere are certain elements of the remains on sale at £6.50. ” Th e future of DC nightclub in question Series of assaults and incidents of underage drinking lead to license review

he future of DC nightclub re- cense for a period of three months or have been accepted to fl y out of an age of problems.” Georgia mains uncertain as police re- revoke the license. airport”. Jackson claimed that the club is Hamer Tquest the council review its Speaking to Wales Online, Manag- He added: “DC has never failed a working in partnership with South license. ing Director Richard Jackson, defend- test purchase.” Wales Police and have already had a South Wales Police have called ed the club stating that allegations of “With every incident there is of “positive meetings” and “Put action for the nightclub on Imperial Gate, underage drinking were in reference course two sides to the story, however plans in place to reduce crime and St Mary Street, to have its license to a 17-year-old who used her sister’s a venue that has over 250,000 people a disorder and the protection of chil- reviewed by the council’s licensing passport which he claimed, “Would year going into it will have a percent- dren from harm”. committee following a series of inci- dents at the venue. Since last June, 14 incidents relat- Pictured: ing to assaults have been reported on DC Nightclub the premises. (Source: Wales “A further 15 A further 15 incidents relating to Online) public order and other alcohol mat- incidents ters that required police attendance relating to were also reported within the same period. public order Police also reported that since and other January, two instances of underage drinking at the nightclub have been alcohol recorded. At present the review is out for matters that consultation until May 14th, after required police which the matter will go before the licensing sub-committee. attendance Th e club must decide which of six were also forms of action they wish to take; they may either take no action, modify reported their license, exclude activities from the license, removed the Designated ” Premises Supervisor, suspend the li- Welcome to our Advice section, where we bring you tips for surviving life ADVICE Email us: [email protected] Need some holiday inspiration? From city breaks to activity holidays, here are all the diff erent ways you can go the extra mile this summer on a student budget

Pictured: Poda Island Beach, a popular destination for travellers in Th ailand

ne of the perks of being a want to travel just Asia or just North an option for everyone. sports, or if you’d like a mixture of Kirsty Fardell student is having the longest America or hop through Europe, Th ere are also tickets for bus passes activities you can combine them. Osummer break you will ever Asia, Australasia and both Americas around a country or campervan hire You can also work in your favourite “STA Travel have. It is fast approaching, and while there is an example route for it. If if you’d like the fl exibility of travelling destination to earn money to fund many of you will be taking up a part you know exactly what you want yourself. your travels. Th ere are options for offer time job to fi ll the time, a holiday will to see then you can pick the exact STA Travel also off er good deals jobs on summer camps, ski resorts or travelling cap it all off nicely. destinations yourself and they will on hostels and hotels for your fi nding a regular job in a city. Th ey Many students chose to go work out the tickets for the cheapest adventures at the best prices, so you can help you with setting up visas packages travelling during this time as you have amount possible. can book the complete package. to work abroad and have partner four months to spare – something If you’re a lone traveller and want Th ey also off er ways of working companies in other countries that for a student you will never get in a full time job. to join up with a group of like- and travelling abroad, whether will help you fi nd a suitable job. budget Most students will only have two minded people then the tours are through volunteering, a TEFL course If you’re only after a week or two summers of this length, so it’s worth for you. Th ey will gather a group of or children’s summer camps it is a break with your friends then there are grabbing the opportunity to have a young people aged 18-35 and you will great way to see a new place while still great student deals for a holiday holiday in a holiday and experience all travel on your adventure together. still working. break. Some students are after a week things you’ve never done before. Th ey have options for everything, Th eir volunteering projects lazing around, eating and drinking - ” Start Th e Adventure (STA) Travel maybe you don’t want to do the involve working with animals, basically a standard term-time week specialise in helping students to plan typical tourist things and go off children or helping a community in the sun without the lectures. and book a travelling experience. the beaten track, or maybe you’re to improve their quality of life. Th omas Cook are perfect at Th ey are able to fi nd you the best deals looking to see the wonders of the Th ere are opportunities to work in organising cheap getaways like this at the best prices and can organise a world. Th ese all include activities conservation projects or teaching with their Club 18-30 holidays that go trip for a fi rst-time traveller to ensure and accommodation so everything is you don’t miss out. looked after for you. Th eir famous ‘Blue Ticket’ allows Th ere is also the cheap option of Pictured: you to pay a one-off fare for a plane Interrailing. Th ese are train tickets A student ticket and have as many stops as you that allow you fl exibility to travel travelling desire between two locations. Th at wherever you want by rail. Th ere is a through means you could choose an area ticket that will cover all of Europe by Canada of the world and explore it at no train, you just pick the destinations on an STA extra cost, jumping from city to city you want to visit and go. volunteering changing your fl ight plan as many Th ere are also options to pick project times as you need to. one country to explore such as Italy, Th eir ‘Round the World’ tickets Japan, France, Germany and many work in a similar way but you plan more for those who know which your adventure beforehand – all country they want to explore. your destinations are chosen and Th ey allow you to travel on any booked in advance. Th ese range from scheduled train within the destination What do anything between £340-£2400 so unlimited times and prices start from you think? there is something to suit everyone’s £120. Th e length of time the ticket is Have your budget. valid for can be adjusted, so whether say: advice@ Th ey have many suggested routes you just want a few days in France or gairrhydd.com to suit everyone’s needs, whether you 6 months travelling Europe there is ADVICE 9

to all the usual clubbing destinations - Ayia Napa, Magaluf, Ibiza, Sunny Pictured: Beach and many more. Th e Eurostar Th eir packages will book you onto travelling Continued boat trips, bar crawls and pool parties through from the while you stay in a hotel dedicated Belgium previous to young people wanting a similar page experience. Th erefore you don’t have to worry about making too much noise and ruining a family holiday, and more importantly no kids will be around to wake you up bright and early with a heavy hangover. Th ere are also sailing holidays available around Greece through STA Travel, as well as other activity holidays such as trekking and cycling for students who just can’t sit still. Th e trekking holidays involve arriving at Mount Everest base camp or the Machame route to Mount Kilimanjaro. Trekking the Inca trail is also an option as well as an east coast to west coast trip across North “Airbnb America to see loads of attractions and experience local life in many offer empty diff erent states. apartments “Book you onto Alternatively you might be after a boat trips, bar city break which can still be booked and rooms to on a budget. Th e key to this is keeping rent across the crawls and an eye on discount sites like Groupon pool parties and Studentbeans which can off er world fl ight and hotel inclusive breaks for a while you student-friendly deal. stay in a hotel Th e Eurostar also off er discounted tickets for last minute travels, and off travel. Th at way you can plan in an exact location so that you know furnished with sheets and towels and ” dedicated to they also off er a discounted ‘youth’ advance and receive the cheapest whether it will be a good place for everything you could need to cook ticket for people aged 12-25 going to fairs whether by bus or coach to all you. with, so are suitable for a student young people many major cities. your destinations. Sometimes these On a tight budget renting an empty budget. Th ey are fully working Th ey leave from London’s St are down to half price to entice room in someone’s house is a great apartments and rooms that are just Pancras which may seem like too young people, which is worth looking option, if you will be out exploring standing empty, so could be a better far to get to, but you can use your out for. during the day and taking in the night alternative to hostels or overpriced ” student railcard and book in advance Th e best way to explore is to life at night you won’t need to worry hotels if you’d rather your own space for cheap trains or use National decide on an area you want to cover about living with people you don’t on a budget. Express coaches which are often and fi nding exactly what you want know for a few nights. Th ere are many travel agents that very good value. Unfortunately, the to see. Perhaps you’re interested in Th ey do advertise apartments are targeted at students so that they student railcards are not vaild on seeing more of Wales, Scotland or that aren’t occupied for rent, which get the best value for money. So while Eurostar tickets as they already have want to experience all the attractions can be suitable for big groups. Th is you still have a long summer ahead of their own discounted young persons in London. could work out as a cheaper option you it’s worth taking the opportunity travel tickets. A really good way of doing this than getting several hotel rooms as to see parts of the world you’ve never Maybe you’re more concerned is by using Airbnb, a website and you’ll be able to split the cost of the seen before, and start your own with what is on your doorstep than app that people can advertise their apartment and be comfortable in unique adventure. It’s worth taking going far and beyond, so travelling empty rooms or apartments for your own space. advantage of the student-aimed within the UK is for you. It is worth other people to rent. Th ey state their Airbnb is not just for the UK prices they can off er, as your time as investing in a student railcard and a nightly charge and usually list the either - people are advertising their a student and full-time working life coach card which both give a third local attractions as well as giving you place all over the world. Th ey are all will come around all too quickly.

Pictured: Part of the Inca Trail trek through South America to Machu Picchu

“Interrailing is a great way to see many cities by train still on a budget ” tweet us @gairrhyddcomment email us [email protected] COMMENT or visit us online at gairrhydd.com/comment This election isn’t about tuition fees What about the NHS? Foreign policy? Policing? This election isn’t a referendum on tuition fees. We need to move on.

he news that the NUS has know a lot of you are. already been lost. The structural in- we at least had the choice to go to Michael spent however many hundreds But it's time to move on. Our fixa- tegrity of the NHS has already been university. But we will not have a O’Connell- Tof pounds putting together tion on the Liberal Democrats has weakened, and whatever the result choice over how we are policed. We Davidson anti-Liberal Democrat billboards left us blind to more pressing issues, on May 7th, any upheaval is only set will not have a choice over how the doesn't really surprise me. After all, and other broken promises that may to continue. NHS administration operates on a the organisation is the equivalent of a have consequences that reach much There is a long history of broken day to day basis. If we display tunnel Jobcentre for left-leaning career poli- further. promises in British politics and it vision, then the political class would ticians, so why not spend the money Labour have promised to bring tu- seems we are very comfortable to be forgiven for thinking that we do of your constituent students and ition fees down to £6,000 if they win forget them when it suits us. Labour not care about those things - and I students' unions blasting a barely- this election. I'm hesitant to get be- may be the party of lower tuition fees do not believe that is the case at all. There is a relevant political party that's already hind this, if only because the people now, but they are the party that in- The NUS has done students a dis- “ been dragged through the mud? who were going to pay off the £9,000 troduced them in the first place in service by painting its members as long history My sentiment here is not just that tuition fees as set out by the present 1998 - after they said they had no a partisan group with no interests this is a callous waste of resources. system are the super-rich or those in plans to introduce them in the time beyond tuition fees. It will likely do of broken It's that people still consider speak- extreme demand anyway. But what- before they were elected. Political us a disservice again. But let's not do promises ing out against the Liberal Demo- ever the case, it's proof that the Con- parties are happy to play with fees ourselves a disservice: let's approach crats to be a radical or interesting Dem tuition fee increase is reversible because they're a small part of a the ballot box thinking about more in British move. to one extent or another. wider picture, and while it may make than just how much it costs to get a Look, students, I get it. Nick Clegg But it was the Conservatives that some of us very angry indeed to be Bachelors. After all, few degrees last politics and and his friends fucked up. This coa- said there would be no top-down re- paying nigh-on £10k a year to study as long as a parliament, and few of it seems “Look, lition government has barely been structuring of the NHS, and it was English Literature, it represents a those voting on May 7th will have to we are very a coalition government. Rarely did the Conservatives that subsequently small part of our lives when our lives concern themselves with tuition fees students, I get the front bench look like an effort restructured the NHS. Whether are viewed in aggregate. in the future anyway. Let's concern comfortable it. Nick Clegg to compromise than it did a politi- these measures were conducted in By all means, go to the ballot box ourselves with the future of this na- cal marriage of convenience. Like so such a way that they are truly re- and punish the Liberal Democrats tion; how we want it to be governed, to forget and his friends many political allegiances, it seems versible, we will never know. Lots of if you want. But let's not become a and what kind of nation we want to like the Liberal Democrats failed parties - the SNP, Plaid, and Labour single-interest demographic. There govern us, because that's what's at them when it fucked up to hold up their end of the bargain - are planning to do just that. But is a great deal more at stake in this stake here, and that's worth more suits us where students were concerned. You money will have already been spent, election than how much it costs to than £9,000. What's at stake has no ” should be pissed off about that, and I and many members of staff will have take up your studies. Like it or not, price. ” Why waste time on controversy?

atie Hopkins has caused con- have the same information at the she referred to dementia sufferers Tilly troversy again in her latest click of a button? Newspapers turn- as “bed blockers”. Some suggest that Pictured: McCrystal Kcolumn for The Sun after de- ing to online need the shock factor to the best way to deal with this kind of Terror beyond scribing migrants as “cockroaches” encourage clickbait shares and likes, media induced hatred is to simply words (Source: and suggesting that gunships be used so could Hopkins be forcing contro- stop reading; we could go as far as to Rex Features) to prevent migrant boats from en- versy for controversies sake? Unfor- say the petition only highlights that tering the Mediterranean. Just three tunately in the same way sex sells, so there are 200,000 people out there days after Hopkins’ column was pub- does Katie Hopkins. who all know who Hopkins is. lished a fishing vessel capsized leav- People like Hopkins thrive on Not only does she describe mi- ing those on board to drown, the ex- controversy and specifically target grants as cockroaches, Hopkins also pected death toll is at 950 people. As subjects that will create contention argues that: “They [migrants] might a result 200,000 signatures have been among the public. Hopkins appears look a bit like ‘Bob Geldof’s Ethio- collected on Change.org petitioning to have made a career out of target- pia circa 1984’ but they are built to for Hopkins removal from The Sun ing the already vulnerable; I needn’t survive a nuclear bomb. They are as a columnist. go into detail about why negativ- survivors.” Unfortunately this is un- Although Hopkins’ comments are ity like this should be removed from true considering up to 950 people horrifying I sense the bigger picture our media when her lack of morality lost their lives on the capsized ves- is being missed; people are reading speaks for itself, “No, I don’t care. sel, not to mention a further 450 who and returning to her column. Despite Show me pictures of coffins, show drowned the previous week. “Although the 200,000 signatures and a further me bodies floating in water, play For people like Hopkins and those Hopkins’ 100 complaints directed to the press violins and show me skinny people who agreed to publish her column office, the backlash that Hopkins looking sad. I still don’t care.” Easy these people are just a number not “People like comments receives for her comments week af- to say coming from someone who individuals. Constantly the media Hopkins thrive are horrifying ter week do not deter The Sun; who already has everything that these mi- categorises minorities, the elderly, choose to keep the columnist on. grants are risking their lives for. the impoverished, and the non-Brit- on controversy I sense the And why? Because she draws reader- I suppose the real issue that needs ish, in an attempt to create the sense ship. This does not mean all who read to be addressed is the press’ represen- of burden that us the readers are be- and bigger picture her column support her views; oth- tation of migrants as welfare abus- ing led to believe are carrying. We’re specifically is being ers are perhaps waiting for the next ing, sickness ridden, freeloaders. The too busy focusing our energies on controversial comment she’ll utter. media is meant to inform the public proving to others we don’t support target subjects missed: people Either way columnists like Hopkins but instead we are offered falsified Hopkins’ view that we forget the mi- that will create are reading are invaluable to newspapers as more opinions that promote the view- grants we’re supposed to be defend- people are talking about her column point of ‘us’ and ‘the other’. Hopkins ing and therefore forgetting to focus contention and returning and the paper. is particularly good at dehumanising our energies on helping. Removing It is no secret that in recent years her victims to enable readers to view Hopkins will not do anything but among the to her column the internet has become partly re- those she’s speaking about as less hu- dent The Sun’s profits, instead her public sponsible for the decline in news- man than themselves. Need I remind words should be used as fuel for the ” paper sales, why pay when you can you of her recent ramblings where public to seek change. ” COMMENT 11

Sexual health services must improve Cardiff University has to realise the responsibility it has for their students’ sexual health

ex is without a doubt one of ringing up the local clinics at home foyer and throughout the Univer- what can be done in the interim pe- Emma Payne the hottest topics at university. in Cheltenham, which were inexpli- sity. If nothing else, the group offer riod.” Pictured: SWhether it’s your housemates cably shut on a Saturday morning a friendly face and a listening ear at a But isn’t this the same university Discarded and their hilarious one-night-stands, (surely a prime time for providing the moment’s notice, which puts the of- that recently ranked top in the ‘Gay condom (Source: the latest high-tech toy in Ann Sum- ‘morning after’ emergency pill?) and ten inappropriately long waiting lists by Degree’ guide to LGBT+ provi- Adam Edmond, mers, or the severely overrated Fifty receiving totally conflicting advice for NHS sexual therapy or profes- sions and support? With this fantas- Flickr) Shades of Grey, sex is always on the from clinics in Cardiff and then Bris- sional relationship advice to shame. tic result, I think it’s time we focused agenda. Good sex, bad sex, positions, tol, my hopes were quickly replaced However, despite trying to improve as much on sex as we do on sexuality. fantasies and fetishes are discussed with frustration and helplessness. upon Cardiff’s embarrassingly low So how can we improve the situa- in gruesome detail over dinner in my The fact that, as I cried on my way ranking in the 2013 league table for tion? Firstly, we need to mobilise stu- house, and I know we’re not the only back home, it did not occur to me to Russell Group sexual health servic- dents to talk about issues and fears ones. contact Cardiff University’s sexual es, even well-meaning SHAG falls regarding sex as much as we discuss Furthermore, the media utilises health support is very telling. What- short of the mark. VP Welfare Faraz the positive aspects. Many feel em- our obsession with sex to sell us ever services the University do offer Alauddin in an email to Gair Rhydd barrassed to admit that their sex life products we don’t need, while our are under-advertised, and as the ad- regarding sexual health provision, is anything other than the culture perpetrates stereotypes of vice under ‘Sexual Health’ on the Stu- commented recently: Fifty Shades of Grey fantasy, and the student sexuality, presenting fan- dents’ Union page is largely limited “I am actually saddened to report university could do much to change tastic, reckless intercourse and wild to NHS and local clinic website links, that the sexual provision has gotten this outlook. experimentation as the norm. How- I would suggest this aspect of the worse! The family clinic has been Secondly, website links and short ever, in a world where there are no- University could be vastly improved. withdrawn from 47 Park Place on paragraphs of widely available ad- holds-barred and nothing left to the Furthermore, the topics targeted are Wednesdays. At the moment there vice, although fairly useful, are simply imagination, there is an astounding restricted to STIs, contraception and is absolutely no reason why but I am not good enough. Ideally, we should lack of support for those who come emergency advice for sexual abuse currently working with Student Sup- look to Nottingham University, who up against even the most common victims. Although these are the cen- port to see if we can bring it back or ranked highest in the same 2013 stu- sexual health problems. tral and most common concerns in a find an adequate replacement. As dent sexual health service league At the beginning of this academic student community, emotional well- VP Welfare I place great importance table: their website is packed full of I encountered year I encountered the full force of being within sexual relationships is on sexual health provision: it would useful advice on both physical and “We need “ the inadequate sexual health ser- of equal importance, and something improve the wellbeing of a number mental issues that can arise, and the to mobilise the full vices in Cardiff. Due to a grey area which is largely ignored in a culture of students and the fact there is very university offers an invaluable drop-in between the removal of my trouble- where the lad who pulls the most little easily available for students is appointment service once a week. students to force of the some Nexplanon implant, a perma- girls (and vice versa) is heralded as concerning. One key thing to bear in Finally, even if we do up our game, inadequate nent contraceptive solution, and my the champion of student life. mind is that this issue comes under these services may as well not exist talk about return to the pill, I was up against a However, the good work done by NHS remit rather than that of the without proper advertisement. Fragile issues sexual health very slight but very real possibility of Cardiff University’s Sexual Health University, the latter having positive freshers should be inundated less with services in pregnancy. The situation was entirely Awareness Group (SHAG) in many talks about trying to locate a GP clin- Domino’s pizza leaflets and more with and fears my own error, but as a 21 year old girl ways picks up the slack. Run by stu- ic on campus sometime in the near invaluable information on mental and regarding sex Cardiff I expected the NHS sexual health ser- dents, for students, SHAG is widely future. While this solution would sexual health. Sex is a central aspect vice to provide immediate, accurate active on social media and ever-pre- definitely help in terms of sexual of student life, and it’s about time the ” and infallible support. But between sent, condoms in hand, in the Union health provision I am also looking at University responded. ”                        

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Bias is inevitable Don’t bother looking for unbiased reporting - it doesn’t exist

efining what news actually is especially preaching their cause at Some people prefer to just fit in – involving numbers and statistics, has Anne Porter inevitably leads to bias in re- the moment – a party I have always but now I see that as attempting to an inevitable male bias. While I do Pictured: Dporting. I can’t help but feel liked, and they took too much of be entirely selfless, which ends up not agree that men are all attempting A novel end that we constantly create biased ide- the burden of the rise in tuition fees damaging yourself at the expense to overtake the world, one step at a to a debate as – even if this is not our intention. (hello, they’re a minority party in a of others – and then you aren’t time, I can see her point. We need (Source: Steffan Why should we listen to reporting coalition). Some people are openly much help to anyone. Sociologist greater representation of differing Rousseau, AFP, that has an obvious bias – I wonder if admitting to having a bias in politics. George Herbert Mead argued that opinions in our society. Take the Getty Images) unbiased reporting does exist. Many Newspapers such as The Times and we continually interpret what the general election, for instance. 2015 of us openly admit to having a bias Daily Mail openly admit their political environment around us means for us; will be the first election ever to have – from a political or national alle- allegiance – the former switched from our own values leave us questioning televised debates featuring all of the giance, to a preferential type of food. Labour to Conservative in the 2010 everything. According to his main political parties. In addition I’m English, and as a nation we are general election, the latter remains research, therefore, it is impossible to this, the parties currently in no way near as patriotic as the Welsh. Conservative. They report different to be objective and unbiased. I agree opposition had a separate debate UKIP are promising that St George’s stories as ‘news’ every single day – – we all have personal interests (where I thought Ed Miliband kicked Day will be a public holiday if they and the explosion of online content and agendas that we wish to fulfil. ass – there’s my opinion). These are elected on May 7th (God help means that stories are uncovered and Scientific sociology, such as that of debates showed that our politicians us all if they are). I don’t care about reported at an ever increasing speed. Karl Popper, argues that society is full are humans too. Our national press protecting St George’s Day – but I These papers – and they are not alone of cause-and-effect relationships that has mocked Miliband for having had know many people who do. St David’s – openly admit their allegiance. So require investigation. In spite of their relationships prior to his marriage – “Politics “Many of us Day is huge news for the Welsh – why shouldn’t we? Politics continues views, it is impossible to be objective. what a shocker. Leave the poor guy continues to openly admit daffodils flying left, right and centre to divide people – and always will. We can never know if we have the alone and just let him be a damn in Cardiff city centre. Even nations So why are some of us so afraid to truth, they argued. There is so much politician. The BBC have always divide people to having a are divided, though. Last week’s admit our political stance? We are truth in this – after all, we are only tried to present unbiased opinions Varsity between Swansea and Cardiff too afraid to upset each other – it’s as individuals as part of a society. - without much success. The BBC - and always bias - from saw a fierce rivalry – ‘You’re green! simple as that. As a sociology student my is accused of favouring the left and will. So why a political You’re white! Your uni’s fucking shite! I read and I write every single dissertation involved interviewing Sky News is accused of favouring the Swansea!’ – my personal favourite day – I have the freedom to do so. strangers to uncover their opinions. right. are some of or national chant of the day. I can’t rid myself of I have opinions on everything that I chose my topic – young women and But let’s face it – it is impossible us so afraid allegiance to my nationality; no matter how hard I I come across. My degree subject, gym culture – because it interests to be objective and report in an try. So I’m biased. And my opinions sociology, means that I continually me. So my bias is already in there. unbiased manner. Each individual to admit a preferential towards my nation will inevitably be analyse the differences in individuals. This social research gathered feelings has differing world views that come biased too. Individuals will inevitably differ. I’m and opinions – we are not robots, into their work, no matter what that our political type of food Some of us openly admit to having not a sheep. I have no qualms about we all have them. Feminist Ann is. So let’s embrace our differences, stance? a bias – a political allegiance, for being different, but I have struggled Oakley (that terrifying word, I know) and acknowledge them. And by the ” example. Liberal Democrats are with being ‘myself’ in the past. argued that quantitative research, way, my postal vote went to Labour. ” RIN VE G U LI N E T D I 5AM L 7 D A E K Y S A W E

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Editors David Hooson Rory Benson Cardiff retain Varsity Shield Joe Atkinson Final score:  -  Publisher Michael O’Connell-Davidson ardiff University claimed ful one, with the majority of sports In the early sports on Wednesday, David Hooson their fourteenth successive taking place at Sketty Lane Sports the overall score remained close, Varsity triumph against bit- Complex in Swansea. Cardiff’s bit- but over the course of the afternoon Photography credits Rory Benson C ter rivals Swansea University with ter rivals were hosting the event for Cardiff teams edging several close Huw Evans Joe Atkinson a convincing 25 points to 13 Varsity the first time since 2010. They did games pushed them into a clear lead Taliesin Coombes Shield victory. an admirable job as hosts, organis- and they had secured enough points Robin Coombes Cardiff gained the most wins ing a professional event with mini- for victory by around 3:30pm. over all sports played during a week mal disruptions or delays. Cardiff hanging on for victory in of competitve action that culmi- The only widely-reported issue the Liberty will undoubtedly be the Contributors nated in Cardiff winning the mar- was transport for fans to the Lib- most memorable moment for most Bethany Anderson quee rugby fixture by 27 points to erty Stadium from the Sketty Lane fans, many of whom will be glad to Benjamin Babcock 22 against a Swansea team that were Complex, with rush hour traffic not have seen the boys in red win the Jack Boyce looking for their third consecutive factored into plans for the shuttle fixture for the only time in their Lauren Butcher victory in the fixture, played at the buses. Many fans only just made it Cardiff experience. . Cardiff captain to the stadium in time for kick-off, As with last year the generous Kelli-Jo Davies Ben Madgwick capped off a man- including our Gair Rhydd team! weather played a part in a fantastic Harry Elliott of-the-match performance by lifting Swansea actually went into the day of sport that both sides partici- Tim Erskine the Varsity Cup, which is awarded main Varsity day with a 3-2 lead, pated in admirably, but ultimately Bryn Evans to the winner of the men’s rugby having already won the cycling, box- it was Cardiff who came away with David Evans fixture. ing and shooting events, while Car- what was another convincing Var- The day was a hugely success- diff took the and equestrian. sity Shield win. Louis Frost Rees Herrod Jack Houlston Claire Jones A Bryncredible win for Cardiff James Lloyd Greg McChesney ednesday was, without league with 10 straight wins found defence from Cardiff , the ball fi nally Tegan Morris Bryn Griffiths a shadow of doubt, the themselves down by 10 points at the went out of play to round off the day Toby Mott AU President Whighlight of my year and I halfway point but showed their true on a huge high! Alexander Norton couldn’t be more proud of all our ath- colours late on to sneak a 51-48 win. Conor O’Gorman letes. With Team Cardiff taking home Th e men who are also BUCS league both the Varsity Shield for overall vic- champions were expecting a tough Jamie Reed tory as well as the Varsity Cup for the game on a small court which would Paul Revill men’s rugby for the fi rst time in three favour their rivals in green, but it Jamie Smith years, I couldn’t ask for more. was looking bleak at 42-30 Swansea Daisy Tickner-Portnet It was great to see a number of our coming into the fi nal quarter. Show- Dan West teams make strong comebacks af- ing copious amounts of heart, our ter defeats last year, including a well boys fought to the last second to close fought win by Cardiff Cobras in the play at Sketty Lane with a two point Cardiff victories over their league win before the sea of red supporters Rowing - page 8 rivals. Aside from Team Cardiff ex- moved down the road to the Liberty Equestrian - page 14 tending our unbeaten run of 12 years Stadium. Ladies’ - page 11 in the Varsity Shield some clubs were Cardiff ran out into a Liberty Stadi- - page 7 setting their own records. Taekwon- um on the back of a strong BUCS sea- Taekwondo - page 10 do, who are currently British Univer- son which saw them reach the quarter Men’s Tennis - page 11 sity Champions, kept up their unbeat- fi nals of the Championship. Everyone Ladies’ Tennis - page 11 en Varsity record with a fi fth straight knows that on such an occasion in - page 8 win and more substantially have now front of such a large crowd form can Men’s Squash - page 11 not been beaten by any university for count for nothing, but fortunately our Men’s Ultimate - page 15 four years! boys got off to a strong start and led Ladies’ - page 12 Late on in the afternoon we wit- 20-9 by half time. Th e second half was American Football - page 12 nessed some nail-biting fi xtures in- tense for everyone in the crowd, espe- Ladies’ - page 9 cluding last minute comebacks from cially within the last 5 minutes with Ladies’ Ultimate - page 15 both basketball teams. Th e ladies’ a margin of only 5 points separating Ladies’ Hockey - page 6 team who whitewashed their BUCS the two teams, but after unyielding Ladies’ Rugby - page 4 Men’s - page 15 Canoe Polo - page 13 Ladies’ Squash - page 11 Men’s Basketball - page 12 Men’s Lacrosse - page 9 Ladies’ - page 10 Cheerleading - page 3 Men’s Rugby - page 3

Swansea victories Cycling - page 15 Boxing - page 14 Shooting - page 14 Sailing - page 13 Swimming - page 13 - page 10 Ladies’ Volleyball - page 15 Men’s Fencing - page 10 IMG Football - page 7 Ladies’ Football - page 5 Fresher’s Rugby - page 4 Men’s Hockey - page 6

Draws Men’s Badminton - page 11 Men’s Football - page 5 Liveblog - 10:00: “Varsity day 2015 is now underway, with six sports – badminton, netball, sailing, tennis, swimming and taekwondo – starting the day’s action.” 3 Men’s rugby deliver at the Liberty

Swansea XV M Williams A Claypole Swansea 22-27 Cardiff D Evans M Jenkins J Evans ardiff secured their fi rst Varsity Preedy levelled proceedings fi ve min- alty, but this time Preedy couldn’t take ing to score his team’s second try, and J Hammett Joe Atkinson men’s rugby victory since 2012 utes later. advantage, as his kick sailed wide of Preedy again added the conversion. J Guy Cto put the cherry on the cake Cardiff got the fi rst try of the game the posts. Hammett provided a reminder that T Kaijaks of their fourteenth successive Varsity soon after, as Iwan Phillips sent the Swansea capitalised and with half- his side were still in the game with a T Ball Shield triumph. travelling fans in red into ecstasy, and time approaching they converted a second halfway line penalty minutes J Kaijaks Th e game was a thriller from the Preedy successfully converted the try penalty of their own, fl y-half Ham- later, and were it not for some heroic M Hague start, banishing memories of last to give his side a seven-point lead. mett succeeding where his Cardiff Cardiff defending they could have M Dodd year’s disappointing 15-19 loss for Phillips’ try capped an impressive counterpart had minutes earlier scored a try minutes later as they M Evans Cardiff at the . Cardiff move, with some good pass- failed. were denied just before the line. R Woodman Head coach Louie Tonkin’s men ing interplay on the left fl ank before Hammett then proceeded to score But the pressure from the green O Young (c) were confi dent throughout and the ball was cut back inside for a free a hugely impressive penalty from the and whites became too much for came up against stiff competition in run to the touchline. halfway line to cut the lead again, but those in red and soon after Swansea Replacements a Swansea side that have won twelve Cardiff ’s tails were up and they Cardiff responded emphatically, as captain Ollie Young turned that pres- A Dunham “The well- of the eighteen Varsity rugby matches tried to build on that momentum. centre Madgwick was impressively sure into points, scoring a converted Z Cinnamond since the competition’s inception. Swansea were penalised from their fed on a breakaway and managed to try to bring the score to 19-27 with T Crosse contested spirit Th is was Tonkin’s fi rst experience kick–off , allowing Preedy to again bustle his way over the try-line to give twenty minutes to play. N Thomas of the game of Varsity at the helm of the men’s side kick over and extend his side’s lead Cardiff a lead of twenty points to nine Hammett cut that lead further, J Williams having taken over from Martyn Fowl- further. at half time following another suc- kicking yet another penalty to add J Tingle was replicated er following last year’s fi xture, and A Swansea injury curtailed Car- cessful Preedy conversion. to a fantastic individual performance S Clarke in the stands, the coach will have been impressed diff ’s dominance momentarily, with Half-time followed as did the op- from Swansea’s standout player. L Crandon with the consistent tempo and pace a lengthy stoppage allowed for treat- portunity to win another Varsity Cardiff managed to halt that mo- T Williams with Swansea’s that Cardiff played with. On a num- ment. Once the game got back under- Shield point in the cheerleading, and mentum however, and contained their J Phillips ber of occasions they took advantage way it became scrappy in the middle Cardiff ’s Snakecharmers replicated opponents heroicly for the remaining 20,000-capacity of lapses in the Swansea defence and of the park, with the team in red set the rugby team’s success in secur- portion of the game that was regularly Cardiff XV Liberty Stadium were a constant attacking thorn in the on protecting their early lead, and ing another point towards the cause stalled by injuries and replacements. I Phillips side of the opposition. those in green wanting to prevent any against the Swansea Sirens. Swansea went all-out in the last T O’Flaherty providing a Swansea went into the game having further damage. Th e second half begun and Cardiff ten minutes, but couldn’t fi nd a way J Phillips much more fi nished seventh and therefore bot- Th e theme of consolidation and were immediately on the front foot, through, and Cardiff celebrated a B Madgwick (c) tom of their BUCS league, the same protection looked set to continue be- with Jack Phillips taking advantage huge win on enemy soil, their fi rst A Evans vibrant division in which Cardiff had fi nished fore Swansea gave away another pen- of some more lax Swansea defend- Varsity win in three years. R Preedy third. Despite this gulf in class over L Silver atmosphere the regular season, Swansea put up a T Boot valiant fi ght against what was an in- Aled Rees tense display from the visitors. Alun Rees Th e well-contested spirit of the A Evans game was replicated in the stands, J McGrath ” with Swansea’s 20,000-capacity Lib- J Viggers erty Stadium providing a much more R Martyn-Smith vibrant atmosphere with over three- J Williams quarters of the stadium full, com- pared to the vastly empty Millennium Replacements Stadium clashes in Cardiff . O Evans Captain Ben Madgwick was given J Franchi +1 the man-of-the-match award for a F Young commanding and inspiring display J Kenny that included some big tackles and C Boycott scoring a try. J Preddy Th e game started evenly, with J Wilson each side securing a converted kick B White in a cagey opening ten minutes. Josh D Callaghan +1 Hammett gave Swansea the perfect M Roberts start just two minutes in before Ross 4 Welsh Varsity Ladies’ rugby dominate Swansea

Swansea...... 12 half that the Cardiff ladies were Cardiff ...... 29 fl ying; Within three minutes of the restart, Megan O’Sullivan smashed ardiff Ladies’ Rugby Club beat her way past the Swansea defence. Kelli-Jo Swansea on their own turf on She narrowly missed out on scoring a Davies CWednesday with a dominant try as she was tackled just before the performance. try line, but she managed to quickly Cardiff started the game on the offl oad the ball to Elisa Crombie who front foot, and within the fi rst few went on to score Cardiff ’s second try minutes were awarded a penalty of the game. Th e conversion attempt which Robyn Wilkins kicked to put was unsuccessful on this occassion, them on the scoreboard early on. taking the score to 6-15. It was not too long after Cardiff Just before the fi rst half of the game capitalised on mistakes that Swansea ended, Cardiff managed to score a did the same thing, putting three third try through number ten Alice points on the board. Swansea ended Stein. She made a superb run through up taking the lead after 20 minutes by Swansea’s team and managed to slip making the most of another penalty. through all the spaces she could Despite Swansea being in the see. Th is time Wilkins successfully lead already, Cardiff did not panic. converted the try, bringing the half After the restart, the girls suddenly time score to 6-22. managed to break through the Th e second half was a diff erent Swansea defence to the try line. story. Swansea came back with more Unfortunately for Wilkins, who had fi ght in them. Th ey were not going made a cracking run, the try was not to go down without a fi ght. Cardiff given as Cardiff had made an error in had a bit more of a struggle pushing play just before. Th is did confuse the forwards but they kept doing so, team as initially the referee had given dominating in the scrums and even the try then changed his mind. stealing the ball from lineouts. It took After the confusion, Cardiff a good twenty minutes until either seemed to dig deep and gain team managed to put any points on inspiration to keep pushing forward the board, with Swansea winning a and put Swansea under pressure. penalty to make the score 9-22. Swansea were really starting to feel Th is gave Cardiff the jolt that Th ere were several more Th e game ended with Cardiff giving the pressure as Holly Hearle was able they needed to keep pushing and phenomenal breaks and runs, Swansea a penalty to bring the fi nal to break through the defence to score dominating, and their fourth try especially by the Cardiff captain score to 12-29. the fi rst try for Cardiff with Wilkins was the cherry on the cake that they Beth Staff ord and fullback Megan Th e game was a wonderful one converting it, making the score 6-10 needed, thanks to Wilkins who broke O’Sullivan. Despite the great to watch and the Cardiff girls put in the visitor’s favour. through the Swansea line and then performance Cardiff were putting on, on an exceptional performance and +1 It was from this point in the fi rst converted her own try. they could not gain any more points. deserved the win. Cardiff freshers’ rugby team broken by Swansea comeback

Swansea...... 23 Th e opening ten minutes were were pushing Swansea back and try- was not destined to end at 6-18. Cardiff ...... 18 a nervous aff air, with neither team ing to fi nd an opening in the hosts’ Swansea pushed for the try line, managing to make the breakthrough defensive line. but had to be content with a penalty ardiff stuttered to a disappoint- and seeming content to get in to half Despite the Cardiff pressure, the with a quarter of the game left to play. Rory Benson ing defeat in this year’s Varsity time with the scores level. scoreboard remained unchanged un- Th eir endeavour was rewarded Cfreshers rugby match, despite Cardiff gained confi dence however til two errors from the visitors gave shortly after the successful kick, as it being a close contest. and, in the next ten minute period, Swansea two penalties within the they broke through the Cardiff line space of ten minutes. Both of these and stormed through to touch the ball penalties were scored by the Swansea down close to the posts. fl y-half to give his side a 6-0 lead. Th e conversion was good and the Cardiff responded in good fashion Swansea players had stirred their though, with a quick try scored only crowd into raptures. It was clear to minutes after the restart. Although see the belief running through both the conversion attempt was unsuc- the Swansea fans and players and one cessful, Cardiff were given extra re- felt that the hosts would try every- ward with Swansea receiving a yellow thing in order to win the game. card. Despite the numerical advan- Th e pivotal moment came in the tage, Cardiff went in at the break 6-5 last fi ve minutes. After building up down, with work still to be done. pressure on the Cardiff defence, Cardiff opened up the scoring in Swansea fi nally burst through to the second half with a penalty, giv- snatch the game and the Varsity point ing the away side the lead for the fi rst away from the visitors. time in the match. Another penalty After security had removed some for the men in red allowed them to Swansea pitch invaders, the conver- stretch their lead to 11-6. sion was completed and Swansea held And they continuted to add to their on to secure an impressive comeback lead with a well-worked try, which victory against their biggest rivals. was converted brilliantly by the young Swansea must be given a lot of Cardiff fl y-half. credit for the way they played in this With Cardiff seemingly in the driv- game, as they looked less naive than ers seat going in to the last twenty the Cardiff freshers and played with minutes of the game, Swansea surged more passion, grit and determination forward. It was clear to see the desire - a lesson that the Cardiff freshers +1 in the Swansea players and the game could learn from. Liveblog - 11:20: “The win was never in doubt for the Cardiff ladies in the netball at Sketty Lane’s main hall. This levels the scores in the Varsity Shield at 3-all.” 5 Honours even in men’s football

Swansea...... 2 Cardiff ...... 2

midst an intense atmosphere Harry Elliott at the Sketty Lane main pitch, ACardiff men’s football team fought to a hard-earned scoring draw against their opponents in green and white. After nervous exchanges between the sides early on, the deadlock was broken in stunning fashion inside ten minutes: Cardiff won a free-kick twenty-fi ve yards out and to the left hand-side, and Scott Chester struck a sweet right-footed dead-ball which curled tantalisingly away from the Swansea keeper. Chester immediately ran over to the numerous travelling Cardiff fans, kissing the crest of his beloved University. It was obvious how much the goal meant to him, and is one he is sure to remember. Cardiff were on top for most of the fi rst half, but it was not all one way traffi c, as the rising Swansea corner count proved to be tricky to defend, exemplifi ed by one that was headed off the line from underneath the crossbar. Left back Chris Hugh took it upon himself to terrorise the left fl ank, and the long throw-ins of centre back Jack Lane caused Swansea issues as the trajectory was almost horizontal. However a speculative half volley on thirty minutes was the closest Cardiff came to extending their lead, and for all their endeavours could not fi nd to Swansea’s equaliser, which arrived of the game, and unfortunately for by red shirts before it found the very another goal – to their detriment in after a sustained period of pressure goalkeeper Nick Feely he was wrong- impressive Lygo who volleyed home the second forty-fi ve. from the men in green. Th is amounted footed by a cruelly defl ected shot, in emphatic style. + Th e fi rst minute of the second to Cardiff failing to adequately clear meaning the Reds were behind in a Th is goal opened the game up, with period set the precedence as a mistake a corner and Swansea showed their game they looked set to comfortably both sides clearly not happy with their from the Cardiff right-back lead to a clinical instinct where Cardiff could win after ten minutes. lot and seeking a winner. Swansea corner. On the balmy Welsh not, and put the ball in the back of the Th e direct running of Will Lygo However, despite some neat afternoon tempers began to fl are as net with under an hour played. and Williams gave Cardiff an outlet and intricate football on display, ½ Cardiff striker Matt Hurley became With their tails up and with the which they needed to go in search of neither side breached the respective embroiled in a small scuffl e with a home fans along one touchline an equaliser. After having a penalty opposition defence again. On Swansea midfi elder which rightly spurring them on, Swansea found appeal correctly turned down, another refl ection a draw was a fair result on warranted a talking to from the the net again a mere two minutes Lane long throw proved Swansea had the balance of play, but Cardiff must referee. after their fi rst. Th e away side paid not heeded their previous warnings: be wondering what potentially could ½ Th e ever increasing foul count led the price for coasting for too much the lofted ball was twice fl icked on have been. Mistakes cost Cardiff in ladies’ football Swansea...... 3 sea an easy opportunity to end the the fi ght to the green adversaries. Cardiff ...... 0 stalemate via a penalty kick, which Whilst this was true, it was not they gratefully took. before they fell a further goal behind: wansea women ran out comfort- Taking the lead appeared to invig- just a few minutes of the second half Harry Elliott able winners against their Car- orate Swansea who were only a sub- had elapsed before a Swansea third ef- Sdiff counterparts, but the score lime save from Cardiff ’s goalkeeper fectively killed the game as a contest. line did fl atter the Swans. away from doubling the lead just Another defensive mix up allowed the Th e game started with Cardiff two minutes later - the away stopper Swansea number nine to tap into an pegged inside their own half and only smothering fantastically in a one-on- empty net. Understandably, the goal- threatening on the counter attack, one situation. keeper and back four were not happy with Swansea employing a high de- Unfortunately this top stop was in with each other. fensive line and long ball tactics from vain as four minutes before half time However, from this point on it was the off . Swansea scored a critical second goal: all one way traffi c in favour of Cardiff . Cardiff , on the other hand, at- Cardiff ’s Achilles heel of failing to Streaming forward down the fl anks tempted to utilise the ball and tried, deal with long bouncing balls proved numerous crosses were put into the and often succeeded, in playing a fatal, as the powerful Swansea centre box, and so many were agonisingly passing style of football that was at- forward gained the initiative to chase short of going in. Th e Swansea keeper tractive on the eye. However, this was down one of the aforementioned balls played her part, keeping out a few simply not as eff ective as the long forward, and after beating the Cardiff shots in tidy fashion and Cardiff even ball, and defensive errors arising from defender to the ball, poked it home. hit the post. these punts forward gave the home 2-0 to the Swans, but Cardiff would As much as Swansea were team chances to score and eventually have been disappointed to go into the fortuitous to have netted thrice, won Swansea the game. break two down, especially due to the Cardiff were desperately unlucky not Th e match was actually without avoidable nature of both goals. to score at least once and may have much in the way of goalmouth inci- As the half time interval passed, thought that they deserved more +1 dent before the half hour mark. Here Cardiff took to the pitch with the look from the match. Th at said, not many a late challenge in the box gave Swan- of a team energised and ready to take can begrudge Swansea the victory. 6 Welsh Varsity Men’s hockey lose out in thrilling encounter

Swansea...... 1 and were gutted when a low shot from Cardiff ...... 0 a short corner was cleared off the op- position line. ardiff men’s hockey team were Th e frustration was obvious as Toby Mott left heartbroken after a solid another Cardiff player joined the bin CSwansea side ground out a after a brief lapse in discipline, and thrilling but hard-fought 1-0 victory was exacerbated as the away side put on the Sketty Lane Astro Turf. the ball in the net again from an ille- Swansea’s men were seeking to gal shot outside the area. Th is moti- avenge the earlier defeat of Swansea’s vated the capital’s coach to recall his ladies and almost drew fi rst blood af- recently returned keeper in favour of ter a long-ball down the fl ank resulted an extra attacker. in a close range shot that was knocked Th is almost paid off as the reds sus- away by the Cardiff keeper. tained pressure on their opponent’s Th e away side soon imposed them- goalmouth, but a brace of Swansea selves by dominating possession, breaks could have ended the contest. and were unlucky when the steadfast First, the green-shirts among the home defence survived an emphatic crowd were amazed to see their at- fl ick that rebounded off the crossbar. tacker outplay a depleted Cardiff de- Drenched by the half-time sprin- fence but hit the post when a second klers, the spectators created a caul- goal looked certain. Th is was before a dron of noise and those in red shirts burst of pace from a Swans attacker roared when Cardiff lashed home saw him strategically brought down on 49 minutes. Th ey were dismayed by an away defender who was not when it was disallowed for a foul in surprised to see a subsequent yellow the build-up, and even more so when card. a second was also ruled-out for an- Cardiff had one fi nal chance to other infringement. clinch penalty fl icks from a short cor- Th e tension created by these con- ner but the resulting shot was blazed troversial decisions came to the fore over the Swansea net, prompting a when a yellow-card for the Cardiff pitch invasion by a proud Swansea keeper left the away goal dangerous- crowd. ly exposed for the short corner that “If you get outplayed you can write followed. Sensing opportunity, the that down to a bad day at the offi ce” Swans took full advantage by expertly said Cardiff captain Danny Mills. “But sliding the ball into the backboard to today it feels like we got our pockets take a 1-0 lead. robbed, and that hurts”. Increasingly desperate, the reds Swansea captain James Nick An- were buoyed when a Swan was sent to drew was thrilled with his squad’s the bin for what was deemed to be a performance. “We’ve come off the high elbow. end of bad results from Cardiff , but +1 However, the away side could not we put everything in today. It means make their renewed impetus count so much”. Ladies’ hockey beat Swansea on penalties

Swansea...... 0(2) ing shots saved off the line. sending the ball wide. 4-2 on fl icks with goals from Jess Cardiff ...... 0(4) Despite the heat, Cardiff worked Excellent goalkeeping from the Greaves, Olivia Abbott, Mollie Hunt hard throughout the fi rst half, mov- Swansea number 1 kept the hosts in and Rachel Dunning. A well deserved ardiff started the game strong, ing the ball confi dently around the it in a half in which Swansea failed to win for Cardiff despite making quite Lauren winning a short corner from back line of Jo Williams, Jess Greaves, penetrate the Cardiff D. hard work of it. Butcher Cthe fi rst set of play. Unable to Amy Hayes and Alex Graham. Swan- Th e Cardiff midfi eld held strong Cardiff goalie Libby Marsden made convert, Cardiff continued to press sea held well under the pressure and throughout the second half with El- a total of 1 save throughout the game, Swansea, dominating much of the Cardiff failed to convert a number of lie Lewis, Rae Allen and Rosie Harper showing how one-sided the match up fi rst half. penalty corners in the fi rst half. distributing the ball well to the for- truly was. A good run of play from Naomi Th e second half continued much ward line. Despite numerous chances, Th is was a good win for captain James and Mollie Hunt resulted in the same as the fi rst with Cardiff Cardiff failed to score and the game Amy Hayes and Cardiff 1s ahead of Cardiff hitting the post, with Lauren dominating the play, but unable to went to penalty fl icks. the Welsh Cup Final on Sunday where +1 Butcher and Olivia Abbott also hav- fi nd the net; Sioned Davis narrowly Cardiff went on to win the game they meet Whitchurch Saints. Liveblog - 12:30: “First draw of Varsity 2015 in men’s bad- minton. There’s always at least one split point in Varsity and this year it’s the turn of men’s badminton.” 7 Cobras hold off Titans in American football

Swansea...... 17 Club President Rhys Romo ran the refereeing calls and found themselves put one over the noisy neighbours. Cardiff ...... 19 ball well, gaining vital yards for the in fi eld goal range. It would come Th e ball fl ew through the air in slow Cobras off ence. Swansea couldn’t fi nd down to this. Weeks of hard work and motion and cannoned off the cross he Cardiff Cobras American a response and the Cobras defence led pain all culminated into this one mo- bar, giving the Cobras the win that +1 James Lloyd football team capped off their by Robin Ford and Toby Lock were re- ment. It was the chance for Cardiff to they deserved. Tfl ourishing season with a Var- surgent enough to shut Swansea out sity win against Swansea. Th e Cobras until the interval, leaving the score avenged their early season loss to the 13-3. Titans in a thrilling encounter, which Th e job was half done and the Ti- saw them fi ght off a Swansea come- tans came out fi ring and began the back to grind out a 19-17 win. third quarter well with a touchdown. In a tense fi nale, the Titans needed Cardiff responded with the deadly three points to win and they man- duo of Gardner and Pollitt combin- aged to get into fi eld goal range which ing once more for another Cobras would have been enough for them to touchdown making it 19-10. Swansea be victorious. However, the Cobras turned to their battering ram running defence somehow got a hand on the back, who proved to be the diff erence ball and the ball defl ected, hit the in December, but struggled to gain crossbar and bounced agonisingly many yards against the solid Cobras short. defence who fought bravely to keep it Cardiff kicked the game off in front a nine point game. of a raucous Swansea crowd, who did Th en came the fourth quarter and their best to put the Red men off . An the Cobras’ favourite phase of the early fi eld goal for Swansea gave them game. However, the tiring off ence the lead, but the eff ective combina- struggled to make yards forcing the tion of Richard Gardner and Stefan Cobras to punt and after what can Pollitt, who were playing for the fi nal only be described as a “muff ed punt”, time, pulled the Cobras back imme- the Titans found themselves back in diately. the game after scoring a fortunate Dan Reeves then made a superb touchdown. diving catch in the endzone to pull With seconds remaining, the Titans Cardiff further ahead before half time. marched down the fi eld, after dubious Swansea superior in IMG Football

Swansea...... 2 passionate Swansea supporters sur- judged that the Swansea goalkeeper, the exception of a couple of counter- Cardiff ...... 1 rounding the pitch. who dropped the ball after a free- attacking opportunities as Cardiff Th e Swans’ pressure soon told kick evaded everyone before him, had pushed forward, they were limited Jamie Smith wansea avoided a third succes- as captain Lewis Th omas, clearly a been fouled. to few real clear-cut chances as the sive defeat in as many years as favourite with the fans, broke the Eventually though, Cardiff did have feistiness continued. Sthey outmuscled a below-aver- deadlock with a close-range header a legitimate goal. A ball across the box Unfortunately for the away side, age Cardiff IMG side to claim a con- after the ball was delivered across the from the left-hand side managed to though, they were also restricted to vincing 2-1 victory in the IMG Foot- box. Th e striker threatened the fragile fi nd an unmarked forward, who head- few openings in front of goal. Th is ball. Cardiff defence throughout, holding ed home to level the scores at 1-1. was ultimately a performance to for- Th e opening 15 minutes at a sun- the ball up successfully and making However, the frantic celebrations get; there was very little composure soaked Sketty Lane were particu- several key passes as well as having of the Cardiff supporters, who sub- on the ball, they were out-fought in larly cagey, with both sides putting numerous chances to add to his tally. sequently invaded the pitch as if they the air, and keeping the ball on the in strong challenges in what proved But, despite initially struggling to had just won the game, were cut short fl oor seemed to be too diffi cult a task to be a feisty encounter that lacked fi nd their rhythm and settle into the when Swansea restored their lead at times. great quality besides a few innovative game, Cardiff did eventually start soon after. Cardiff allowed Swansea to make movements now and then. asking some questions of the Swan- After the away side failed to clear it a physical contest, which, with the Swansea had certainly started the sea defence. Almost immediately their lines, the ball trickled across the superior height of the Swans, was brighter and generally looked more after conceding, they went up the box as if in slow-motion, allowing for always going to be challenging. And up for the challenge than their coun- other end and struck the post as they a simple tap-in into the bottom left- whilst the eff ort from each player terparts. Second to almost every ball, searched for an instant equaliser. hand corner to make it 2-1 to the was second to none in such scorch- the visitors appeared to be slightly in- And shortly after, Cardiff did have hosts going into the half-time break. ing heat, Swansea just wanted it that timidated by the intense atmosphere the ball in the back of the net. Howev- Swansea maintained their strangle- little bit more and ran out deserved +1 generated by a couple of hundred very er, it was disallowed when the referee hold for the rest of the game but, with winners. 8 Welsh Varsity Rowing claim victory on the Tawe

Swansea...... 1 maintaining a high rate the whole cellent start from Swansea they be- length and a half. Cardiff ...... 3 course and had pushed ahead by gan to pull away within the fi rst 10 Despite the senior men putting up about 3 lengths with 500m to go. strokes. an exceptional fi ght, Swansea crossed n Saturday April 18th Cardiff With the cheers from the rest of However, Cardiff held on to with- the line fi rst ending the day of races Tegan Morris University Rowing Club trav- the club growing louder, the girls gave in a boat length of them the whole with their fi rst win. Oelled to Swansea for the fi rst a fi nal push to fi nish about 5 lengths way and as they came onto the fi nal After an amazing day of racing and Varsity event of 2015: the Welsh Var- ahead of Swansea and defend the straight, the crowd saw the closest great hosting on the part of Swansea, sity Boat Race. Th is is the fi rst time in Novice Women’s winning reputation. race both boats looking neck and CURC came away with a 3-1 victory. the past few years Cardiff have trav- In order to get racing back on neck. But as they came closer into Cardiff deservedly maintained the elled to Swansea for the boat race and schedule, it was the turn of the Novice view it was clear to see Swansea had overall win of Varsity Rowing for an- +1 after a hard week of preparation at men to do Cardiff proud. Both boats taken the race with about a boat other year. training camp, the club felt equipped rowed up to the start, Cardiff eager for a successful day of racing. to make it 2-0 to Cardiff . After some After rigging up the boats, and a visible improvements from Cardiff ’s Pictured: quick pre-race paddle it was time for Novice squad over training camp, the Left: Cardiff the coin toss. It became all too clear boys raced hard to came into sight 5 rowers on the of Swansea’s home advantage when lengths ahead of Swansea with 400m water (Source: @ picking which side to race down, to go. Cardiff ’s roars spurred the boys SwanseaUniRC Cardiff won the coin toss and picked on to offi cially fi nish 7 lengths ahead on Twitter) a side that raised cheers of joy from of Swansea – the greatest win of the Swansea. Th is didn’t deter us though. day. Below: Th e After a pre race pep talk from our After a quick boating, the senior cricket club pose coach it was the Novice Women who women started the day of racing for (Source: Kit kicked off the races. the senior squads. With a stronger Williams) Although the weather was glorious Cardiff boat and a fl awless winning sunshine, we soon discovered condi- reputation against Swansea, the girls tions were not as optimal as we fi rst knew they had the advantage. thought, and umpires struggled to get However, with vast improvements both boats lined up suitable enough this year it was clear as the women to race. However, after 15 minutes rounded the corner for the fi nal we heard the calls to attention and we straight that they would be the clear were off . Swansea didn’t disappoint winners. After another domination by our expectations of a great start and Cardiff , of about 4 lengths, the girls they took us marginally off the start. celebrated the moment they crossed With windy conditions both boats the line, Bridget Lapage at stroke rais- grew closer together, both sides be- ing her hands in elation. ing giving a warning just as the Car- However, the club knew that the fi - diff stroke, Lottie McCarthy clashed nal race of the day would be Cardiff ’s blades with their 4 seat. After an most challenging being the only race amazing recovery from Lottie, avoid- where Cardiff were challenging Swan- ing a replication of the Oxford-Cam- sea for the title. bridge boat race of 2014, and a strong Swansea’s senior men are a strong push from Cardiff we began to pull 8+ who have trained religiously to- away from Swansea. gether for this race all year, bringing Th e novice women pushed hard, Cardiff ’s toughest fi ght. After an ex- Cardiff sweep to third successive cricket win Cardiff ...... 149-5 off 20 long on in the 10th over. Again how- Cardiff struggled with the ball early ing position of 78-0 off 10 to 100-3 off Swansea...... 145-6 off 20 ever, he was dropped by the hosts and on, giving away too many extras and 15; leaving them with 49 runs to hit went on to hit two maximums later looking unlikely to make a break- off the last fi ve overs. on in the over. through. Some good death by the ardiff University cricket club In the following over, Turley was Fate intervened at this point. With visitors left Swansea with 26 runs to Rory Benson maintained their unbeaten dropped again at long on, leaving the Swansea’s opening pair of Parkhouse hit off the last two overs, which was CVartsity record on Wednesday Swansea bowlers frustrated that their and Peake looking comfortable at the just too many for the Swans. after beating the hosts by fi ve runs. hard work was not being rewarded. crease, Cardiff pace bowler Nick Kent Cardiff ended up winning by 5 runs Swansea won the toss and decided Cardiff punished Swansea for hit Peake on the toe and he was un- in a hard-fought game that Swansea put the visitors into bat. With some their clumsiness in the fi eld, making able to continue. With Peake retiring could easily have won. Th e game was tight bowling in the opening couple it to 87-1 off 13 overs. At this point, hurt, Cardiff had a chance to bowl at a played in a great spirit and both sides of overs, Cardiff stuttered into the the runs began to fl ow, with Turley new batsman. were a credit to their respective uni- +1 third with 10 scratchily hit runs on launching a low full toss over the Swansea went from the command- versities. the scoreboard. boundary fence and into the fi re sta- A miscommunication between tion next door. captain Josh Allen and Joe Collings- As Turley brought up his half- Wells led to the fi rst of the day, century, Allen began to hit out. An- with Collings-Wells being run out at other drop in the deep from Swan- the non-strikers end. Th e direct hit sea looked as though it would cost was Swansea’s best piece of fi elding of the hosts dearly, but the fi elding side the day and brought Zac Turley to the managed to hold on to the catch to crease. dismiss the Cardiff captain. Th e nervous new batsman strug- After 17 overs, Cardiff were cruis- gled to settle againsty a few early de- ing at 123-2, but a succession of late liveries, even being dropped at point Swansea wicktes held the visitors to without a run to his name. Th is was 149-5. Turley was fi nally caught at the fi rst of many examples of Swan- deep cover in the fi nal over, but he sea’s fi elding letting down some good had already done the damage to the bowling. opposition. Th e Cardiff number three Cardiff seized the chance to punish top-scored with 82. the Swansea mistakes, pushing on to Despite Cardiff hitting what looked 46-1 off the fi rst eight overs. like a good score on an uneven pitch, With Turley now on the front foot Swansea came out of the blocks fl y- and hitting boundaries every over, he ing; hitting 27 off the fi rst four overs looked certain to be caught at deep without the loss of a wicket. Liveblog - 14:40: “Cardiff take ladies’ rugby win. An early penalty put them 3-0 up. Cardiff went on to score four tries in total en route to their 29-12 victory.” 9 Men’s lacrosse net another Varsity win

Swansea...... 1 A commanding perfor- cation of pressure after ending 3-0 up Th e Cardiff attack was relentless Cardiff ...... 11 mance with face-off s (14 from 15) in the fi rst quarter proved too much and brutal, with Alex Russell, Will allowed Cardiff to dominate posses- for Swansea, with King-Oakley capi- Morris, and King-Oakley each scor- t was an early departure from the sion, while the Swansea off ence came talising on a foul by a Swansea player to ing; Captain Paul Chapman with 2 Greg back of the Union for Cardiff La- up impotent against the red-brick score from distance on a man-up play. goals alongside an invaluable face-off McChesney Icrosse. After an 8:30 team break- wall of Ward, Jamie Bodnar-Horvath, Despite a prodigiously performance, while Teluch showed fast in the Taf, the team set off for Tom Hewitt and Marc Cork. strong performance by Cardiff , Swan- that experience can’t be beaten, top- Sketty Lane for the fi rst varsity match A custom high-pressure defence sea were not without their threats; ping the pile with 3 goals. outside of Cardiff since 2010. play by Evans was executed to dev- the tireless work of Connor John- Th e Cardiff defence proved insur- Some might have voiced concern astating eff ect, serving to nullify and son and Toby Wilkinson made sure mountably strong, with eviscerat- that the change in location would emasculate several attempts at ag- to keep Cardiff ’s wits sharp and feet ing transitions and essential clearing have a negative impact on perfor- gressive plays by Swansea. moving throughout the match. Th ere leaving the Swansea off ence dead in mance, but with Varsity veterans During a clinical fi rst-quarter per- were several attempts on goal from the water. Hugo King-Oakley, Ondrej Teluch formance, Alex Russell saw the back the Swansea side, but the speed and An excellent implementation of and Jack Ward, with men’s coach Wil of the net, while brothers Paul and skill from Cardiff keeper Jack Saupe plays from Evans, along with great Evans as surgeon general, it became Bobby Bowen-Chapman proved two prevented follow-through and sub- team cohesion from every single immediately obvious that would nev- heads are better than one, scoring a sequently earned him Player of the member, guaranteed Cardiff ’s men a +1 er be an issue. goal apiece. Cardiff ’s continued appli- Match. comprehensive victory.

Cardiff seal double with ladies’ lacrosse

Swansea...... 4 capable of recovering. In the second Cardiff ...... 18 half Swansea conceded an astonish- ing 5 goals in just over a fi ve-minute ne has to wonder what was in period (courtesy of Weighton, Milne, Greg the Lacrosse Team’s breakfast, Tait, Amy Rochford and Jordache), McChesney Owith the Ladies’ team nearly prompting a green timeout in a vain quadrupling their points on the board attempt to regroup. on last year. Th e Swansea presence Set plays played a crucial part in pitch-side was initially strong, but, conquering the Swansea disarray, impervious to their futile chants Car- with experienced team coach Ali Ru- diff stormed through, leaving Swan- sak pushing the girls to profi t from sea licking their wounds wondering the myriad Swansea mistakes. A key what just rolled through Sketty Lane. feature of the team’s strength came in Despite small-beginnings on the the form of goalie Sophie Th orbeck, goal-scoring front, spirits were high who remained completely unfazed by on the Cardiff side. Swansea chanting any one-on-one situation that came fell on deaf ears, and with an overrid- her way. ing determination to improve upon Akin to the men’s performance lat- last year’s winning margin of 5-4, er in the day, team cohesion was im- the team was quick to make the ball peccable amongst the Ladies’ squad; at home in the back of the Swansea verbal communication and motiva- net. With a team tactic straight out a tion was a great source of fortitude, pringles can, once they popped, they leading to pivotal transitions down- didn’t stop, fi nishing the half on the fi eld. Play was briefl y paused due right side of a staggering 9-2 score- to excessive physical contact on the board. fi eld, both captains were pulled aside Cardiff had a decisive edge at the and the issue soon dissolved back to a centre draw thanks to the concerted healthy competitive spirit. eff orts of Bex Jordache and Emily A scarcity of down-fi eld transitions Weighton, while the skilled read- and fast breaks towards goal from ing from surrounding circle includ- Swansea meant that not much resist- ing Anni Seaborne, Flora Milne and ance was put up against the exemplary Fiona Tait lead to quick adjustments strength of the red army. A tour-de- from the play and excellent follow- force performance from the Cardiff through. Ladies ensured that they walked off With such a strong off ensive push the pitch at full time with heads held +1 and aggressive scoring, Swansea were high, while Swansea tails remained thrown off balance and seemed in- fi rmly tucked between trembling legs. 10 Welsh Varsity Mixed Cardiff fortunes as ladies put Swansea to the sword in fencing

Swansea men...... 134 diff ’s Achilles heel this season, and Cardiff men...... 118 one of Swansea’s strengths. Swansea won the fi rst few bouts, propelling Swansea ladies...... 105 themselves into an early lead, and de- Cardiff ladies...... 126 spite the best eff orts of the epee team, they couldn’t bridge the gap, falling to he Cardiff University Fencing a fi nal score of 45-29. After all three Jack Houlston Club had mixed success this weapons, Swansea emerged victori- Tyear at Varsity, with a victory ous with a 134-118. for the women but a narrow defeat for But with every cloud comes a sil- the men. ver lining, as the women’s team led by Having faced Swansea twice al- Amy Radford, recently a runner up in ready this season, the men’s team the British nationals, stormed to an knew they were in for a tough fi ght, impressive victory over their closest after defeats against Swansea in the rivals. league in November, and prevailing It turned out to be a diffi cult start, in the cup semi-fi nal, who had been with the women’s match opening with boosted this year with a crop of excel- the sabre, usually Swansea’s strongest lent new fencers. weapon. Despite good eff orts from Despite Cardiff missing a few key the team, Swansea maintained their fencers the men fi elded a strong side, early lead and closed it out 45-36. and managed to edge out the foil 45- Next came foil, and with the wom- 44 in a nail-biting encounter, with en’s team clearly fi red up after their Chris Lennon scoring the vital fi nal early setback, swept aside the Swan- point, to hand Swansea their fi rst sea team, opening up a 26-7 lead, and defeat of the season in that weapon. keeping Swansea at arm’s length for a Next came the Sabre, which was routine 45-28 victory. equally as enthralling as the foil, with Once again, the match’s outcome the match once again tied at 44-44, al- would be decided by the epee. How- though this time it was Swansea who ever, the women’s team fared much claimed the fi nal hit. better than the men’s, seeing off the With the scores standing at neck- match 45-32 with a strong perfor- +1 and-neck at 89-all, everything would mance, successfully retaining their be decided by the epee, typically Car- varsity title with a 126-105 victory. Swansea drive to victory in golf

Swansea...... 7.5 an early lead. In the following group Following the girls was impres- Captain Rob Smith who after with- Cardiff ...... 2.5 were George Sandford and Rachel sive fresher’s Dan King and Johnny standing the comeback from the Car- Williams, who fared better than the Wright. Dan struggled early on which diff player, showed his renowned class n what can only be described opening pair with George recording gave his opponent an unassailable to hold on for the victory to give his Jamie Reed as a perfect day, the Swansea the team’s fi rst win of the day with a lead which even he was unable to team a well-deserved win. Oteam prevailed 7.5 points to classy performance. Sadly Rachel was claw back. However Cardiff ’s second Th e game was played in superb 2.5 over Cardiff in the yearly Varsity unable to make it a clean sweep in the win of the day came from Johnny who spirits as always and was a nice touch match. Th e Swansea team lived up to group as she lost to the impressive held a superb putt on the last to win having an after match meal and drink their reputation as being one of the Swansea golfer. the team a point. with all the Swansea team and their best teams around with a superb per- Next up was the all-female pair- Th e last pairing was the strong supporters. formance. ing of Emily Davies and Marie Jonn- team of Tom Tracey and Jamie Reed. Pennard Golf Club was more than In an attempt to get some early son. After a bad start to both of their Both players continued the theme of an excellent venue and was in perfect points on the board, captain Lewys matches, both girls pulled their games the day of bad starts to their matches. condition and made the day before Charles sent him and Alan Maher out back showing excellent resilience Despite some excellent shots Tom a ball was even hit. Hopefully next in the fi rst group. However, things did which was rewarded with a fi ne half was unable to bring the match back year with some new blood the Cardiff not go to plan as both lost by narrow from Marie but sadly Emily couldn’t against his opponent and fell to a team will be keen to avenge the disap- +1 margins to give the Swansea team hold on and lost in the closing holes. harsh loss. Jamie took on Swansea’s pointment of this year’s loss. Cardiff battle to taekwondo glory

Swansea...... 7 of the eight patterns. at that stage. the culmination of day, with Cardiff Cardiff ...... 13 Cardiff won four of their six indi- Sparring was split into belt classi- battling back to win three of the four vidual patterns with all fi ve judges fi cations: the only match in the junior fi ghts in some fi ercely competed com- ardiff ’s Taekwondo Club pro- giving their vote to the visiting group. grade was won by the Cardiff com- petitions. Joe Atkinson duced a display of discipline Th e team pattern competition petitor, with all four judges awarding All three of those black belt fi ghts Cand quality to see off a feisty was even, with Swansea winning the her the match. were adjudged to be Cardiff wins Swansea group at Swansea’s Sport Pa- second to peg back Cardiff who had In the intermediate grade there unanimously by the four judges, vilion. claimed the fi rst. were four fi ghts, with Swansea storm- showcasing some of the quality that I one of the fi rst events of Varsity Th at Swansea win was by a clean ing back with three out of four fi ghts the visiting group of martial artists Wednesday, Cardiff had the edge over sweep of fi ve judge verdicts, while adjudged to be won by them. have in their ranks. three disciples to claims a point to- Cardiff won their team pattern by In the second match of the inter- And so with the scores totalled to wards the Varsity Shield cause. four votes to one. mediate section of the sparring the 13-7 in Cardiff ’s favour, the visitors Th e day started with a mix of in- After an hour of patterns and a Cardiff competitor was yellow carded lifted the trophy again and retained dividual and team patterns. Th e visi- break the action got more intense for some overly aggressive and unfair their status as taekwondo Varsity tors were dominant in the individual heading into the sparring, with Car- play. champion on the back of last year’s +1 event, being adjudged to have won six diff leading by seven points to three Th e black belt classifi cation was victory. Liveblog - 16:50: “The only thing the men’s hockey match was short of was goals, as Swansea’s single goal was enough to secure victory.” 11 Easy win for men’s tennis, but nail-biter for ladies’

Swansea men...... 1 event fell the way of Cardiff from the revival was dashed, however, wtih Joe Cardiff men...... 5 very start, the doubles teams wrap- Hill and Greg Leigh Jones dispatching ping up comfortable victories 6-2 6-3 their opponents to wrap up a formi- ardiff ’s men’s tennis team and 7-5 6-2 respectively. dable and dominant Cardiff perfor- Alexander swept aside their highly rated Th eir good work was swiftly rein- mance. Norton CSwansea counterparts, win- forced in the singles, with Mike Wat- With the scoreboards being oper- ning the tie by a 5-1 margin to add kins winning 6-3 6-2 – only to see ated somewhat inconsistently by the another point to the visiting team’s team-mate Danny Hawker fall to a 6-3 players themselves, there was room burgeoning total. 6-3 defeat as Swansea clambered on for audience incomprehension – but In testing temperatures the six to the scoreboard. the scale of Cardiff ’s victory left no match (two doubles and four singles) Any opposition hope of an unlikely room for doubt.

Swansea ladies...... 3 (7) competitive 4-6 5-7 to leave Cardiff Th e decider saw the scores of two Cardiff ladies...... 3 (10) teetering on the edge of early defeat. singles and a doubles mini-game Th e alarming situation was com- combined, with the winner being the While the women’s team were unable pounded as club stalwart Sophie Bra- fi rst to reach ten points. to replicate their male counterparts’ zell unfortunately lost the opening Th e singles ties failed to separate dominance, their hard fought win singles match. the two teams, ending 1-1, meaning it more than made up for that in the way However, at 3-0 down the team ral- fell to Eloise Lloyd and Elspeth Grif- of entertainment. lied – Rachel Williams, Becky Squire fi ths to secure the encounter for Car- Th e tie started badly, with the fi rst and Elspeth Griffi ths all hitting back diff . Th e fi nal result of a sun-baked doubles match, which pushed the to level the competition at 3-3 and day at the Swansea Tennis & Squash players to the limit, ending in a coura- force a tiebreak match to decide who Club was a 10-7 triumph for Cardiff , +2 geous 4-6 6-2 13-15 defeat for Cardiff . would take the point towards the Var- meaning they took maximum points Th e result in the second match was a sity Shield. from the Varsity tennis fi xtures. Ladies show men how it’s done in badminton Swansea ladies...... 1 3-1 after Richards and Mann won left with both Cardiff teams in very win meant victory and a loss meant a +1 Cardiff ladies...... 5 their fi rst match of the day. diff erent situations. Although already draw. Th e men’s team however had two securing the win, the ladies’ team Th e duo made a terrifi c start in Swansea men...... 4 exhilarating matches which couldn’t sought to increase their score. Rose the match by winning the fi rst game. Cardiff men...... 4 have been any closer, both of which and Rapacioli soon made it 6-1 leav- However, the strong Swansea pair went Swansea’s way making it all ing it to Richards and Mann to win came back in the second game to ½ he badminton day kicked off square at 2-2 at the halfway stage. an epic match to fi nish the day with take the match to three games. Th ere David Evans with the fi rst round of singles Th e second round of singles got a score of 7-1. couldn’t be any more pressure on Tmatches early in the morning. underway and saw the ladies’ team However, the men’s team had more both these pairs in the deciding game. Both Cardiff ladies’ and men’s team secure the victory by wins from both of a fi ght on their hands with the score Th e Swansea pair had an answer got off to a fl ying start with wins all Chow and Strange making the score being 4-2 to Cardiff , guaranteeing the for everything Patel and O’Rouke + around, although one player had a 5-1. Dragons at least a draw. could come up with and so the hosts thrilling 3 games to get the win. For the men’s team, wins were es- Th e fi rst match of the second round took the deciding game making the Th is gave Cardiff a healthy 2-0 lead sential to keep us in the running, and of doubles went Swansea’s way with fi nal score 4-4. for both teams going into the fi rst Vignal and Lesage delivered, regain- Digby and Maltby narrowly missing Overall, Cardiff won and should be round of doubles. Th e ladies’ team ing the lead at 4-2. out, making the score 4-3. Th e pres- very proud of the manner of their vic- ½ withheld their lead making the score Th e last matches of the day were sure was on for Patel and O’Rouke. A tory. Contrasting victories for Cardiff in squash Swansea...... 2 string, was to have the toughest of Swansea...... 0 classing her opponent and achieving a Cardiff ...... 3 matches on the day, and fell 3-0 to a Cardiff ...... 4 swift 3-0 Cardiff win. With the points very strong Swansea player who at the secure, the number one strings were fter two of the most successful start of the year looked like he should fter the men had fi nished, it under no pressure and could play Rees Herrod seasons in recent Cardiff Uni- be playing as their number one string. was then the turn of the two some exhibition squash. Aversity Squash Club team his- Despite a nail-biting second game, ALadies teams. Both Cardiff As it fi nally came to Natalie tory, spirits were high as we entered Jason couldn’t quite muster his usu- and Swansea Ladies had won their Machin’s match it was clear from Varsity day. Rumour had it that Swan- al performance and fell in straight respective BUCS leagues heading into the outset that she would follow up sea had put on a week-long training games. Varsity, so were feeling confi dent. her near perfect BUCS season with a camp in preparation for the game, In the 2nd string match, Club Pres- Shailee Morjaria started the match comfortable 3-0 win, and so it proved and they needed it having suff ered ident Rees Herrod took to the court, for Cardiff . It quickly became clear to be the case. three losses out of three against our getting off to a fast start with an early that her Swansea opponent couldn’t It’s fair to say Cardiff University La- Men’s fi rsts during the year. 1-0 lead. Th e second game ran much handle Morjaria’s long shots to the dies Squash team have had their best Kieran Collinson got things started closer, but Swansea levelled the match back and the game was over quickly. season in recent years, with fantastic at 5th string and put Cardiff immedi- to 1-1. Rees returned to the court A 3-0 win for Cardiff matching Ki- performances from all of the team. A ately in the ascendency, keeping his composed and fi nished the game off eran’s quick win for the men. massive 4-0 win at Varsity was the ic- opponent under relentless pressure comfortably however, with the fi nal Th e next match was a battle of the ing on the cake. and breaking him in three straight score at 3-1 and the match poised at captains, with Rachel Farquhar rep- Playing Varsity in Swansea for the forward and commanding games. 2-2 to take it down to the fi nal, fi rst resenting Cardiff . Th e match was a fi rst time in a few years, the team was It was then the turn of the 4th string string match. close one but despite the loud oppo- extremely encouraged by the large Angus White who, appearing a little Adam Doran, swept the rug from sition fans and a few diffi cult referee Cardiff support who made it to the far nervous, struggled against an in-form under the Swansea fi rst string though decisions not going her way, Farquhar end of the Sports Park to support the Swansea player. Angus fought back and took the Men’s Varsity title in a won 3-2 securing a second win for teams. Some fantastic chanting from well in the third game, but unfortu- convincing 3-0 display. In true Doran Cardiff . 2-0 up with two games to play stands full of fans in red provided an nately he couldn’t quite pull it back as fashion he secured the point with a and Cardiff were looking to build an incredible atmosphere for the players he then went down 3-1 and the match graceful backhand-volley-nick which unassailable lead. to play in. We are extremely grateful score was levelled at one-all. rolled to his opponent’s feet, fi nishing Next up was Anna Johnson who to everyone that came over to see us +2 Jason Matthews, playing at 3rd him, and the Swansea threat off . made quick work of her game, out- secure double points. 12 Welsh Varsity Cardiff come from behind in basketball

Swansea ladies...... 48 looked just as impressive in their of- Swansea men...... 50 fell to them, including several free Cardiff ladies...... 51 fensive possessions, and they domi- Cardiff men...... 52 throws awarded to them as Cardiff nated on the inside, producing com- and their following supporters got fter bus issues that resulted posed lay-up after composed lay-up aving witnessed the women more frustrated as it seemed like luck Jack Boyce in a long delay of the start of to put the home team even further ‘s team stage an incredible was not on their side and their shots Athe match, Cardiff may have ahead, as Swansea went into the half Hcomeback, the men’s team were not hitting the target. Cardiff wished they hadn’t turned up after 32-22 up. came out looking to complete the picked their performance up near the Swansea looked the stronger squad, as Cardiff went into the second half as double over their opposition. Un- end of the third quarter, and were- they dictated the tempo of the game they went into the second quarter – fortunately, they followed the same able to produce and convert chances and played some exquisite team play with several great 3-pointers, clawing manner in the fi rst half, in that they to bring them back to a 42-30 score on the perimeter of the 3-point arch. back at the defi cit. Yet, this half Car- felt sluggish compared to the Swansea line, one which seemed too diffi cult As Swansea played their own game, diff expanded on their great play on team, who conveyed their strength to overturn. Cardiff got frustrated, and there were off ence by bringing their defence up and durability in defence whilst also However, something in Cardiff ’s several fouls from both teams, but to the same level, with every Cardiff looking the stronger physically and team talk at the start of the fourth Cardiff squandered many free throw lady proving themselves a nuisance mentally in their off ensive posses- fl ared up the ambitions of the away chances to get back into the game, as to the Swansea players, with several sions, as inside the arch the Swansea team. Led on by their captain and the fi rst quarter ended with the home steals . Th is defence allowed Cardiff to attacker found himself on the end of coach, Cardiff pounced on any loose team leading 12-6. use the fast break to their advantage seemingly every rebound whilst also balls and the fast break was utilised to Cardiff came into the second quar- more often. sinking many lay-ups to put Swansea quickly decrease the lead that Swan- ter looking to turn the tide that had After a hard-fought second half, up by 27-19 in the fi rst half. sea held. been set, with big 3 point shots being with mistakes being tidied up and the Th e third quarter opened to anoth- Th e last two minutes were agonis- made by two stand-out Cardiff play- defence now looking to patch up the er Swansea onslaught, who were ex- ingly tense, and Cardiff completed a ers, who ran the off ence and always leaks that they portrayed in the fi rst, tremely direct and team-oriented in staggering 22-8 fourth quarter come- looked like a threat from the perim- Cardiff valiantly fought back to pro- their attacking duties, and they capi- back to beat Swansea 52-50 overall +2 eter and inside. However, Swansea duce an excellent 51-48 win. talised on many of the chances that and claim the Varsity point. Netball get the ball rolling Swansea...... 7 It didn’t take long for this trend to Cardiff ...... 47 creep into the second half, as Cardiff didn’t lose any of the energy they dis- ardiff ’s Netball team came into played in the fi rst half despite their Jack Boyce their morning Varsity match- fast and free-fl owing play. While the Cup intent on quieting down build-up play was to be admired, the rowdy home support that had someone on the end of each attack to amassed despite the relatively early fi nish it off was also a necessary com- scheduling. ponent. Cardiff certainly conveyed an aura Th e Cardiff goal shooter certainly of composure and trust in each other stepped up to the plate, as she accu- that the opposition didn’t, and they mulated the majority of the points raced to a staggering 16-2 lead only with some composed shooting. Th is within the fi rst quarter. goal threat was only increased as the Th is lead was furthered even more goal attack established herself in the as Cardiff progressively fl aunted the match with a few goals, giving the amount of talent in the squad, while Swansea personnel an extra attacker the swift and accurate breaks down to worry about. the court felt almost unchallenged by Despite the extra amount of sup- the home team, as they strode on to- port given to them, Swansea couldn’t wards a 30-5 halftime lead. Cardiff ’s really get themselves out of the hole defense was key to this considerable they found themselves in, and Cardiff lead, and their goal defence had a didn’t let up one bit, fi nally ending the +1 hand in easily cleaning up every at- match at 47-7 for the fi rst win of the tack thrown their way. day. Liveblog - 17:40: “According to our calculations, the current score is 20 victories to Cardiff and 11 to Swansea, with two draws bringing the score to 21-12.” 13 Cardiff capsize Swans in canoe polo

Swansea...... 1 essentially playing a four against fi ve Swansea bagged a well-deserved goal. Th e second half continued in Cardiff ...... 2 game. Swansea capitalised on this, Th e ladies remained focused, and the same vein as the fi rst. Although but Cardiff still managed to score continued to play a solid off ensive Swansea managed several attacks t 1:30 on Wednesday at the another goal, to fi nish the game 5-2. game, and several more shots on goal against the Cardiff goal, solid Louis Frost Wales National Pool, Cardiff As the ladies game began, Cardiff led to a fi nal score of 3-1 to Cardiff . defending pressurised the shooters, Afaced off against Swansea began with the majority of the As the men’s game got underway with the majority of the shots going in three games of canoe polo – a possession, with multiple shots at the pressure was on, with Cardiff and wide or straight at the keeper’s paddle. niche contact sport similar to a cross the Swansea goal falling tantalisingly Swansea sitting on one game apiece. Cardiff continued to work the attack, between water polo and basketball, in close, as well as some solid saves from A strong sprint at the start saw Cardiff scoring three more goals. As the kayaks. the Swansea keeper. Cardiff didn’t let win the ball, and the team instantly second half drew to a close, Swansea’s Th e day began with the fresher’s up however, and were rewarded with sprang into action, relentlessly attacks paid off , as poor defensive game. Th e boys played well, but with a goal before half time. attacking the Swansea defence, but communication allowed a player to a last minute team swap due to an Th e second half continued in a sloppy shooting led to two missed paddle up to the goal and score an ill-fi tting boat, the team were placed similar vein to the fi rst, with Cardiff open goals in the fi rst two minutes. easy goal. Cardiff kept possession for under a lot of pressure. After an early controlling most of the possession, Th e boys slowed things down, worked the remainder of the half, leaving the goal from Swansea, Cardiff brought and scoring another point, until a on their accuracy and began scoring fi nal score 6-1 to Cardiff . the score back to 1-1, but a couple missed pass lead to Swansea making goals, leaving the scores at half time Th is made the fi nal score overall +1 of unlucky capsizes led to Cardiff a break. With no time to get back, to be 3-0 to Cardiff . 2-1 in Cardiff ’s favour. Sweet swimming success for Swansea

Swansea...... 195 climb, and they put every ounce of break just ahead of Cardiff . this race. After the fi rst leg, Swansea Cardiff ...... 151 energy they had into it. Swansea Th e second half started at 11am were ahead, however that didn’t stop put themselves ahead very early on, and this was full of interesting racing Cardiff , as they soldiered on and he early morning of Varsity was winning the crucial early morning in which Cardiff did well. Swansea’s fi nally caught up and pushed ahead to Dan West fi lled with mind games for the races. Being the home team, they lead became smaller and smaller as win the race. Tswimmers, with both teams had lots of supporters and drowned the races got closer and closer. Despite the athleticism shown trying to gain the psychological edge out the few travelling fans who had With Cardiff nipping at Swansea’s by Cardiff in the fi nal race, Swansea on the other during the arrival and ventured to Swansea from Cardiff . heels, the fi nale race came around; the still managed to pip them to the post warm ups. As the fi rst half of swimming 8x50m freestyle. in points and won the much coveted From the fi rst race, it was obvious rolled through, it got much closer In a good display of swimming, trophy that Cardiff had previously +1 that Cardiff had a mountain to and Swansea went into the 20 minute Cardiff fought Swansea well to win held. Swansea take advantage of home water in sailing

Swansea...... 6 Th e team started well with the fore 10am the Cardiff support cracked them to retire and leave the other two Cardiff ...... 3 fi rst leg seeing them in positions one, open the fi rst beer to sooth the pain of boats valiantly battling it out. As it three and fi ve; a winning combina- the Swansea wins. Cardiff kept their was looking scarily like it might be a tion. However, Swansea’s team was strong start and managed to push 6-1 victory to Swansea, Cardiff pulled ith a winning streak on form catching the Cardiff team out Swansea back through the third race themselves together and won the Daisy Tickner- stretching back about four at the fi rst mark; Toby Morsley and with the team taking positions one, sixth race with one, two and six and Portnet Wyears, Cardiff sailing team Helen Armstrong took fi rst but the two and four at the fi nish. the seventh with one, three and fi ve arrived at Tata Steel Sailing Club with others struggled to catch up giving Th e wind started to pick up after which put spirits and the score back pretty high expectations it was going Swansea the winning combination of this, which bought the refreshing up to 5-3 as Swansea got penalty after to be a breeze. Th e wind was up and two, three, and four. smell from the crematorium and steel penalty. it was a beautiful day, only slightly Th e second race again started well works the teams’ way. All agreed Car- Sickeningly, Swansea clawed their tainted by the ‘do not touch the water’ but fi nished badly with Swansea tak- diff was the better venue. Th e team way back in the last race leaving the sign outside the gates. ing one, two and four at the fi nish. lost the fourth and fi fth races with fi nal score at 6-3. Th e only enjoyable Th e format was best of eleven rac- Cardiff fought to initiate their own their boats pulling alongside the start thing about the fi nal result for the vis- es, but the team assumed they would manoeuvres; consoling themselves boat in between for a quick sip of bev- iting squad was that Swansea aban- take the victory before this, cutting with the obvious advantage Swansea erage to take the edge off the pain. doned their inhibitions and deemed short the day and initiating the drink- had sailing in home waters. Th e Cardiff girls took a swim at it necessary to jump naked into the +1 ing - it was not to be. As the third race kicked off just be- the start of the fourth race, forcing grimy water. 14 Welsh Varsity Cardiff trot to victory in equestrian

Swansea...... 207.5 once again introduced to a new set However, Rory was closely followed Cardiff ...... 155 of horses, this time to complete their by fellow Cardiff teammate Kathryn show jumping round. Although 2015 Carmody, placing second individu- fter a promising year for the was the fi rst Varsity experience for ally. Bethany Cardiff Equestrian team - with some team members, Cardiff refused Despite a grueling six hours of Anderson Ateams A and C qualifying for to horse around. competition in a surprising Welsh both regionals and nationals, they With only a few errors and excep- heat and competing against a much- managed to maintain their impressive tional rounds from each rider, they improved Swansea team, Cardiff streak with a comfortable win over managed to widen the originally small Equestrian once again remained Swansea on Monday. gap to fi nish on a collective penalties victorious. Finishing with Swansea’s A combination of A, B and C team score of 155 in comparison to Swan- complementary champagne duel and members travelled to Swansea early sea’s 207.5, beating Swansea with an most importantly on a high for many Monday morning to compete for the impressive 52.5 score diff erence. of Cardiff ’s equestrian committee Varsity title. Cardiff began the day Cardiff ’s team captain Rory New- members in their fi nal year. with strong dressage scores from all ton Dunn aided his team to victory Although WelshVarsity is over for competitors and two individual wins. with superb results, galloping ahead another year, Cardiff ’s A team will However, Swansea riders were also of his rivals to fi nish fi rst individually now go on to compete against some on top form, only leaving Cardiff nar- in both the dressage and show jump- of the top universities in the BUCS +1 rowly in the lead with a 9.5 advantage. ing – ending the day with a remark- national fi nals at Bishop Burton Col- After lunch, the Cardiff team was able overall fi rst in the competition. lege in June. Swansea deliver knockout blow in boxing Swansea...... 3 strategy would have paid off , unfortu- nent grappled and played his game diff erent. Amateur boxers often fall Cardiff ...... 2 nately his opponent (having previous- throughout the fi rst round, giving victim to the unspoken home advan- ly been beaten by a Cardiff student) Andy a match which was largely un- tage and Dan should be proud of his oxing is a sport applauded by managed to land more punches in the expected. Th e even fi rst round was performance. Cardiff 2, Swansea 2. Conor many but approached by few. time limit, with the help of a booming quickly forgotten when Andy (with Last up, with the fate of the shield O’Gorman BTh ose who chose to step in the Swansea crowd. the help of Coach Sam in his corner) resting on his shoulders, was Sam ring must be commended. Th ese pu- Th e fi ghts proceeded in weight or- fi gured his opponent out and planted Briggs. Sam, also being a fi rst timer gilists possess the courage, conviction der and next up was Jack Pattison. A several body and head combinations. was in the heaviest of the bouts at and mental fortitude which we all de- newcomer to Cardiff and a southpaw By the end of the fi ght Andy had fi n- 75kg. With a cool composition and sire for ourselves. fi ghter, Jack boxed like a true tactician ished his opponent and there was no sleek boxing style Sam landed some On Monday the 21st of April fi ve of and used his strong jab combined doubt in anyone’s minds. Unanimous hard punches throughout the three our own warriors were put to the test with a tight guard to outbox his oppo- decision, Cardiff 2, Swansea 1. rounds, whilst taking some punish- in Swansea after months of gruelling nent for a split decision in his favour. Fourth in the line-up was Dan Bar- ment himself. preparation to regain the prized var- Jack showed speed and accuracy, ratt, another newcomer facing his Unfortunately the home team took sity shield. Th e bouts began with the along with a great defence to outclass fi rst opponent. Dan landed lefts and the win, but if the last fi ght was a lightest of the fi ghters at 64kg. his opponent. Cardiff 1, Swansea 1. rights continuously whilst holding close one, this one was a dead match. In his fi rst bout Ken Yip faced a Andy Smith was next up for his 3rd the centre of the ring through most Briggsy should be proud of his per- barrage of wild punches from a tire- bout at 69kg with an equally experi- of the fi ght, however unfortunately formance as should all of the box- less opponent and lost the decision enced opponent, which added a new lost a questionable decision. Showing ers, Coaches Sam, Adeel and Jimmi after 3 rounds. Ken showed technical level of excitement to this fi ght. An stamina and the ability to move in and Sandham the cornerman. Th is year prowess by landing straight-down- explosive fi rst round saw fast paced, out of range, Dan troubled his oppo- Swansea take the shield but these fi ve the-barrel shots to his opponents intense boxing with both fi ghters let- nent who brawled his way through to warriors return to Cardiff with their +1 head and had the fi ght continued his ting some big shots fl y. Andy’s oppo- a victory despite the crowd expecting heads held high. Cardiff shooting miss the target

Swansea...... 1110 detail. seventeen after the third detail, the Swansea’s shooters who turned out to Cardiff ...... 1073 Swansea managed to increase their two guys pulled it back in the fourth be the best and most consistent in the lead to six points at the end of the detail to only eleven points between tournament. rriving at the Swansea range, second detail. Next up were Kanak Swansea and Cardiff . Th e fi nal scores were Swansea: Paul Revill Cardiff were greeted by a Nachinolkar and Kieran Howard. Th e fi nal duo to shoot was Owen 1110, Cardiff : 1073 so a narrow loss Adelightful range of cake, fudge Despite Kanak being a fresher, his Escott-Allen and Josh Stephens. for Cardiff . Despite the loss, the day and other treats, but it would be the selection paid off as, although the Whilst they put in a great eff ort, was a great success and the Cardiff sweetest thing the visitors would taste score diff erence was increased to they were out performed by one of shooters can be proud of their eff orts. on the day. Th e Cardiff shooters got straight down to some practice details due to the lack of access to their range, which Pictured: is currently being knocked down and Above: Th e reconstructed. Once both teams had Cardiff team honed in their skills and rifl es, the celebrate their competition began. victory (Source: Th e competition had been decided @Cardiff Uec on to be two Cardiff shooters against two Twitter) Swansea shooters on each detail. Th e details would last ten minutes for the Left: Th e two shooters to sight themselves in and shooting teams shoot a ten card. share a photo A 10 card has 10 targets on it with (Source: Paul the highest possible score being 100 Revill) per card. Each shooter shot two cards each. First up were Chris Seaman and Annie Rudd, two of Cardiff ’s best shooters. Th ey managed to keep the scores tight with only two points +1 separating the teams after the fi rst Liveblog - 21:00: “Cardiff win the Varsity Cup! Cardiff have won the men’s rugby match to take the Varsity Cup for the first time since 2012.” 15 Cardiff secure Ultimate Frisbee double

Swansea ladies...... 5 ing stamina and speed had paid off , Cardiff l a d i e s ...... 8 the Cardiff team only having one substitute against a team of twelve solid performance from the and still outran the Swans. Bryn Evans women’s Ultimate Frisbee Captain Jones explained that the A team saw an 8-5 win for Car- game was “very close” with long diff at Varsity. Despite playing against points and few sub rotations. “Th e a larger team, Cardiff managed to girls all played excellently and did me keep Swansea at bay with their fa- proud.” mous speed and furious marking. Captaining Cardiff ladies yester- day was pint-sized rocket, Chloe Swansea men...... 7 Jones, whose valiant eff orts proved Cardiff men...... 13 victorious alongside other experi- enced players Becky Porter, Ellen Cardiff Men’s Ultimate Frisbee team Salter, and Chloe Fowler. Freshers to stayed golden with another victory Cardiff Frisbee also made an impact of 13-7 against Swansea, maintaining on their Varsity debut with superb their 100% Varsity record. grabs from Lola Rodgers and Alice Th e game began with a strong Newton. start from the Cardiff side, quickly Defence was strong throughout progressing to a 5-1 score. Swansea with Niamh Corr and Sophie With- eventually caught on to the gameplay, erford applying some serious pres- resulting in a half-time score of 8-6 to sure and aggressive defending to the Cardiff . more experienced Swansea team. Th e second half saw a change in All of the girls proved themselves defensive strategy, allowing Cardiff Th eo Isaac committing to bids with favourites Bon Leung and Marcus in what was a very close and tiring to cut Swansea’s main fl ow of play, reckless and fearless abandon. Ben Lewis. game, with fearless bids being ex- allowing for more turnovers. Th is, as Alba, the only fresher playing on the Similarly to the Women’s team, ecuted by Rodgers and Jones. Men’s Captain Alden Ching claims, men’s team, managed with boundless Cardiff Men’s played a game that chal- Irish hurricane, Niamh Corr, se- was “all due to some hard running, energy to outrun Swansea in true no lenged Swansea’s stamina and speed. cured a point with an inside-out si- aggressive defence, and lots of layout frills style. Leung, a handler, described this when dearm to Alice Newton. D’s from the boys”. Frisbee veteran Mike Walters, he explained that Swansea “couldn’t Th roughout the game it was clear Defensive pressure was certainly courageously played his sixth and fi - deal with the pace so they changed to +2 that Cardiff Frisbee’s focus on train- in strong form, with Dan Geerah and nal Varsity alongside fi nal year club less exciting tactics.” Swansea pedal to cycling success

onday April 20th saw Car- Next up we had the men’s individu- ers early on, leaving just Geoff Smart incorporating four tight corners, test- Benjamin diff University Road Cycling al kilo, a two-lap race testing riders ac- and president Joe Lockett still con- ing the riders bike handling, skill and Babcock MTeam take on Swansea Uni- celeration, power and top end speed. testing the event against six Swansea nerve. Rhys Williams took the victory versity in the very fi rst cycling Varsity. Th e event was won in a dominant riders. Despite this, Lockett managed ahead of Geoff Smart with Swansea’s Th e day began with the men’s team manner by Cardiff ’s Geoff Smart, who to take the victory against the odds in Jordan Wade in third place. pursuit consisting of four riders per won the event by three seconds. With impressive fashion. With Swansea only sending one fe- team racing over eight laps. First up two riders on the podium and the re- Next up was the men’s points race, male racer, versus Cardiff ’s seven, an was Cardiff B who cruised to victory maining results alternating between where all the 30 riders would com- omnium event was held. Th e overall over Swansea B by 20 seconds, in a Cardiff and Swansea it marked a good pete against each other. Th e race was victory was taken by Sophie Lank- very respectable time of 5:13. result for Cardiff . 40 laps, with a sprint at laps 10, 20, ford, ahead of Jade Payne and Laura Next up we had Cardiff A. Swansea Th en came the individual pursuit, 30 and 40, with the fi nal sprint being Strudley. went out quickly, gaining a consid- raced over four laps. Th is event is a worth double points. Th e race was Th e team’s strength in numbers erable advantage by lap one. Cardiff test of speed, endurance and pacing won by Swansea’s Jordan Wade, who highlighted just how far the club has gradually clawed their way back into strategy. Cardiff ’s men’s captain Ben won all four of the sprints. come on especially with regards to in- contention, decreasing the time gap Babcock won the event. Heading into the fi nal men’s event, corporating female riders. lap by lap. In the end, despite a valiant Th e fourth race of the day was the there was only seven points separat- Unfortunately, Swansea took the eff ort, Cardiff were pushed into sec- men’s elimination race, with the last ing the teams, leaving it all to play overall victory ahead of Cardiff , but ond place by Swansea by a mere two rider every lap being eliminated. Car- for. Th e criterium race involves us- there were many positives to take +1 seconds, fi nishing in a time of 4:58. diff got off to a poor start, losing rid- ing both the inner and outer track, from the day. Mixed fortunes for volleyball

Swansea ladies...... 3 it was hard to separate the two teams Swansea men...... 0 to take a brilliant opening point. Nev- Cardiff ladies...... 2 in the second set, with Cardiff manag- Cardiff men...... 3 ertheless, this set proved to be much ing to go into a 20-19 lead. A strong closer, with Swansea improving their ith the ladies’ volleyball bout of serving by Diavasti helped the here was an electric atmos- co-ordination, particularly in block- Tim Erskine Varsity soon to begin, the dragons bring home the set 25-21, phere in the sports hall as ing spikes. WCardiff spikes were getting making the score 2-1 to Cardiff . Tthe men’s volleyball players With the scores tied at 24-24, the pumped during their warm up. Th ey With Cardiff needing one more set warmed up for their straight-set win. fi rst team to go into a two-point lead were set to have a close match, play- to win, Swansea upped their game After a tense ladies’ match eventually would take the set. Cardiff duly ham- ing excellently, but unfortunately los- in the fourth set, but Cardiff fought taken by Swansea, spirits were high. mered home the next two, taking the ing to Swansea in a tense fi fth set. back with a blast of a spike by Manin. An opening ace by Badirwang, set 26-24. Th e fi rst set was comfortable, with Th e fourth set painfully turned green, shortly followed by another two from Swansea took some chances in the the girls in red and black sealing it 25- fi nishing at 25-11 and levelling the Al-Korbi, made for a convincing start third set, but as Cardiff eased into a 16. Swansea still had big ambitions match once again at 2-2. from Cardiff . Swansea hitting the ball 20-16 lead, the match began to look and went into an early lead in the In a dramatic winner-takes-all fi - into one of their own player’s head like it would be a quick fi nish. Calm, +1 second set, but Cardiff held their own nal set, Swansea made a succession demonstrated the gulf between the collected passing, accurate setting with a fl urry of points, including an of successful middle attacks and took two teams. a powerful spikes brought home the unstoppable attack by Leventi. Swan- the set 15-6. Cardiff won 11 points in a row with third set 25-23. sea’s improved co-ordination and a Th e fi nal score of 3-2 represented Barkanov serving, and Cardiff took Th ere were some tense moments number of nifty serves meant that the twists and turns of the game, with the fi rst set by a comfortable 25-11. along the way as Swansea tested Car- they took the second set 25-19. Swansea doing well to force their way As the second set began, Al-Korbi diff ’s nerves, but in the end the boys +1 With the game poised at one set all, through at the end. pounded the ball down like a hammer in red managed to see out the win 3-0.

JASON ROBERTS VS THE WORLD 15

Click on the dotted line Online petitions are not a substitute for real citizenship

ne of the more perverse things sharpening my daggers, I saw that a wave. The petitions to sack and re- away to the fat man and trust him Jason about the strange world of petition had been started with the instate Jeremy Clarkson respectively that he wouldn’t auction them off to Pictured: Roberts Ojournalism is that over time, goal of sacking her from the Sun. And are a perfect example of this. Realisti- the highest bidder. And after all that, The Stig sat your perspective and priorities tend just like that, I had a new target. cally, only a small number of people you’d never hear from anyone ever on a tank in to get a little… well, skewed. Case There are many contentious issues have strong feelings about Jeremy again, except someone calling every London, as in point: last week, sentient mela- in this terrible world of ours. Some Clarkson, because there are more three weeks to tell you that you could part of an noma and collective national shame are large, and some are small, but it’s important things to worry about. But be recompensed for an accident you online petition Katie Hopkins wrote a daring think getting to the stage where every sin- because signing a petition nowadays had recently. As a nation, we’ve lost to bring back piece, outlining her brave and for- gle fucking one has its own petition. is no more arduous than liking some- this noble art of being properly angry Clarkson ward-thinking plan to utilise gun- Don’t believe me? As of the time of thing on Facebook, and sharing it is at things, a trait that used to count as ships against the migrants storming writing, a petition has been launched easier than ever, the number of people one of the defining characteristics of shores armed only with hopes and to change Scotland’s national animal who ‘care enough to sign a petition’ is what it means to be British. dreams. Understandably, this caused from the unicorn to the Loch Ness now grossly inflated. And as a result, The thing is, because people knew every reasonable human being in the Monster. This is quite literally the it’s damn near impossible to gauge the that it was a chore, those signatures country to vomit into their mouths dumbest endeavour in human his- sincerity of the people who’ve ‘signed’ carried more weight. It’s one thing for before taking to Twitter to register tory, and I say that with great regard it. You might be absolutely apoplectic a quarter of a million people to click their outrage. BUT NOT THIS GUY. for all the dumb things that we’ve about something or you might be a a button, but could you imagine even Idiotic When this story broke, I was sitting achieved as a species. bored 13-year old with nothing bet- 10% of those people getting up to ex- “proposals at home planning what to write about You might be thinking that the idi- ter to do, but your binary registration press active dissatisfaction instead of this week, and I didn’t have shit. And otic proposals are just an inevitable of outrage will count just the same passive disdain? If that were the case I are just an then, like a gift from the writing gods, part of our beautiful new Internet as everyone elses. So nowadays, sites think Katie Hopkins would be on the this wondrous example of frothing democracy. After all, democracy is like change.org have essentially just dole, and wouldn’t that be some sweet inevitable part lunacy delivered itself right into my for everyone, even the idiots. But the become a new form of social media irony? of our beautiful exceptionally grateful arms. For me sheer number of petitions out there for people to register their approval Online petitions aren’t going away, then, whenever Katie Hopkins or an- seem to be diluting any positive effect and disapproval of various things. and nor do I want them to, because new Internet other likeminded screaming mouth- they might have. For every petition Compare this to a time where pe- they have been shown to instigate democracy. piece says something so brazenly of- about Katie Hopkins that manages titions were done on paper. If you change in some instances. They also As a nation, fensive, my instant reaction isn’t one to go viral, there are thousands of far wanted to get properly pissed off have the power to make people aware “ After all, of shock, but celebration. worthier causes floating around in at things 15 years ago, it was noth- of certain issues, which can only be a we’ve lost this So when I sat down to write this, I the sea of digital change. ing short of a herculean labour. You good thing. But we need to be realistic noble art of democracy is was ready to bring the noise. I was go- Virality is the issue here. There are had to step outside your house, trek about their limitations, and we need for everyone, ing to make jokes about Katie’s failed clearly many important issues in the through the freezing rain to find a fat to consider if we’re really performing being properly show, the plight of her miserable chil- world that need addressing, but it man in an ill-fitting cagoule stood on our civic duties in the most effective even the idiots dren; I was even going to compare her seems that the petitions that make the high street with some soggy pa- way when we sign one. If you want angry at things to cancer. Okay, so I made good on their way into the public eye are the per and a biro that didn’t work. Then to instigate real change, it’s probably ” that last intention. But just as I was ones that ride the crest of a particular you had to give your personal details best to start in the real world. ” tweet us @GairRhyddPol mail us [email protected] POLITICS or visit us online at gairrhydd.com/politics Crisis in the Mediterranean EU sea rescue operation funding trebled as over 1,750 die on crossing so far this year

Pictured: A migrant sailboat capsized off the coast of Greece on April 20th (Source: NBC)

n the gravest incident involving died in the attempt. Th ose hoping to undertake the peril- for the high number of deaths, more Louisa Idel migrants in the Mediterranean Driven away by the unstable eco- ous journey are often fully aware of actively and more eff ectively. Ito date, around 700 people try- nomic and political situations in vari- the high risk of failure; yet prefer to While these measures are steps in ing to leave Africa to cross to Europe ous African countries, more and more take this risk than to continue living the right direction, more remains to are believed to have died due to the people hope to fi nd security, stability in their home countries. be done. One key aspect that remains sinking of their ship. Th is tragedy, and a better life in the European Un- In response to the latest incident, unaddressed, for instance, is the fact however, is far from unique. Every ion. Th e harsh reality, however, is that the President of the European Coun- that fi ve European Union member day, between 500 and 1,000 migrants the chances of successfully crossing cil, Donald Tusk, called for a special states out of 28 – namely France, are caught while attempting to cross the Mediterranean are slim. In 2014, European summit. Th is took place in Germany, Italy, Sweden and the Unit- this sea. In the fi rst four months of the International Organisation for Brussels on April 23rd to further dis- ed Kingdom – currently receive 70 this year alone, more than 35,000 mi- Migration published a report stating cuss actions to be taken on behalf of per cent of EU asylum seekers. Due grants have attempted the journey, that the migration route to Europe is the European Union concerning the to its geographic position, Italy is of which 1,600 are believed to have the ‘most dangerous’ one at present. Mediterranean migrant crisis. struggling to bear the burden of more When the former Italian-led rescue and more waves of stranded migrants Nationalities of migrants attempting sea operation “Mare Nostrum” expired in on its own. October 2014, its replacement “Tri- Ultimately, there is no simple so- crossing to reach EU ton” came into being. While “Mare lution – otherwise it would have al- Nostrum” had a monthly budget of 9 ready been found. In the long term, million euros with an operational area the only durable solution is to tackle including the Libyan coastline, Triton the source of the problem in the currently has a monthly budget of 3 countries people are fl eeing. President of million euros and only operates in Aiding the economically or politi- “ European territorial waters. Th is of- cally weaker countries on the Afri- the European Syrians ten-criticised discrepancy has been can continent to stabilise them has addressed by the European Commis- to be done with the utmost care to Council, Eritreans sion, which proposed a 10-point ac- avoid neo-colonialist relations and Donald Tusk, tion plan to tackle the Mediterranean ensure that sustainable development Sub Saharans migrant crisis on Monday. Under the can take place. Th is will hopefully has called new plan Triton’s fi nancial resources eventually end the need for many mi- Malians would be increased and its opera- grants to risk their lives in the hope of for a special Afghans tional area extended. Moreover, Im- fi nding better living conditions in the European migrant Liaison Offi cers are to be de- European Union. summit to Other ployed in key third countries in order Th e summit ruled that aid funding to “gather intelligence on migratory for the search and rescue operation take place in laws and strengthen the role of the EU will be trebled. Th e EU will also look Delegations”. Another declared aim is at ways to capture and destroy smug- Brussels to fi ght human traffi cking, which is glers’ boats, going as far as discussing one of the major factors responsible destroying migrant boats. ” POLITICS 17 No Deal for Plaid and Labour Plaid Cymru and Labour outline post-election intentions d Miliband has now confi rmed wouldn’t vote down a Labour Queen’s Robert that his party will not actively speech only if the party worked ‘pro- Thomas Eseek a formal coalition with gressively’ as a ‘real Tory alternative’ Plaid Cymru in the event of a hung and not if “at its heart represents the parliament. Th e statement came in worst excesses of austerity”. Ms Wood the same week of the second party has also made clear Plaid’s intention leader’s debate earlier this month of gaining parity in terms of funding when he argued that he would not and power of the Welsh Assembly, around. Tory-UKIP-DUP, Tory/Labour-Lib form a coalition with the SNP. La- bringing it in line with the Scottish While the idea of coalition govern- Dem, as well as SNP-Labour coali- Pictured: bour, understandably but perhaps na- Parliament, if it were to support a ance may well look like an uneasy ne- tions; asserting which parties you Leanne Wood ively in light of current opinion polls, Labour government. Th e idea of the cessity to the main parties, especially would be willing to work with is a campaigning still believe, or at least want to believe coalition, she argues, means that con- in light of the damage the current one unique feature of this election, mi- wih party they can win a majority on May 7th. cessions for Wales can be realised, ar- has done to Liberal Democrat sup- nority parties cannot be blamed for activists Plaid Cymru, on the other hand, guing that gains brought about after port: the split of the electorate since bringing their demands into the fold, cannot demand such an authority the 1997 election sets a precedence 2010 and the archaic nature of fi rst- whether the main parties like it or over the election’s outcome. Leanne for Plaid, that it can win consider- past-the-post has meant this will be not. Th is is how our democracy now Wood has stated that her party able gains for their voters this time inevitable. Th ere are talks of possible works in 21st century Britain. Summit called as South Wales fires up 892% ritain could be on for the hottest incidents will tie up crews for hours Carwyn April on record this month, as on end and means they are isolated Pictured: Williams Bthe unseasonably hot weather from getting to other serious inci- A grass fi re is getting students heading outside to dents such as property fi re or a road spread to 1,000 revise. You may be loving the weath- traffi c collision.” tyres causing er, but South Wales Fire and Rescue is Commenting on this appalling re- black smoke to working harder than ever this month, cent spike in deliberate fi res, minis- be seen across having dealt with 600 grass fi re inci- ter Leighton Andrews commented, the valleys dents in the fi rst twenty days of April. “Th ose who start grass fi res deliber- In the South Wales valleys, the num- ately are committing a criminal of- ber of deliberate grass fi res is up an fence. I welcome the strong statement astronomical 892 per cent in the fi rst from South Wales Police yesterday.” week of April alone, compared to last Members in the chamber ex- year across the region. pressed their gratitude to the fi re Over 750 fi res have started since service, while expressing concern as emergency services due to the severity emergency call centres. Environmen- Over 750 fires the start of April at time of print, ris- these incidents will lead to cultural is- of the matter, having thought to have tal concerns have also been raised, “ ing daily it’s only a matter of time un- sues, and even poverty. A Welsh Gov- cost almost a million pounds already. with fi res destroying local landscapes have started til someone gets killed. South Wales ernment report has shown evidence Th e local beauty of the valleys is and negative consequences for wild- Police are urging residents to take a that during periods of recession and being destroyed daily by irresponsible life. Natural Resources Wales has also since the start stand against local arsonists to try and bad economic climate, the number of vandals. With Fire and Rescue ser- commentated on the serious reper- of April cut down the number of incidents. deliberate fi res actually increases. It vices being under fi nancial pressure, cussions these fi res will have for wild- Cerith Griffi ths of the Fire Brigade was also announced the Welsh Gov- these incidents are adding extreme life, protected sites as well as commu- ” Union in Wales added “Th ese kinds of ernment will hold a summit with the pressure on the service, as well as in nities. A week in the Senedd with Carwyn Williams

investment in Wales.” Conservative minister confi rmed that the South AM Janet Finch-Saunders commented Wales metro plans were moving for- that local government demoralisation ward. Responding to Kirsty Williams, and uncertainty, eff ecting public ser- Jones continued to call for the Severn vices, was down to the chaos of the bridge tolls to be in the control of his Welsh Government. administration. Williams recommend- Th e leader of the opposition turned ed her party’s policy that the tolls “UKIP purple”, in the words of the First should be scrapped, rather than fought Minister this week, as they argued over by governments, while also notic- over the economy and which gov- ing that the Labour UK manifestos did ernment was to credit for the Welsh not include anything regarding the economic recovery, down to the To- matter. ries’ long term economic plan, or the Welsh Governments eff orts to bring Cut in Welsh NHS beds First Minister’s Questions on public services now, and there are in investment. Davies stated that a re- always challenges when cutting. Th e turn to Labour policy at Westminster Conservative AM Darren Millar last Despite the election campaign being Minster criticised Tory plans to cut would see “slash and burn” policies. week outlined issues in the Welsh in its fi nal stages, the Assembly was the Welsh Government’s budget by 20 Th e First Minister disagreed saying NHS, and accused the Health Minis- back in business last week. Plaid Cym- per cent, which would be an unmiti- that’s what we’ve had for the last fi ve ter for cutting one in fi ve beds in the ru opened proceedings, querying the gated disaster for Wales. Responding years, adding that the Tory manifesto service. Th e minister, Mark Drak- First Minister on the implications of to Leanne Wood, Jones added that was full of unfunded promises, and the eford, said that the reduction of beds cuts to public services for the budget the bedroom tax aff ected Wales very Conservatives defend bankers rather was slower in Wales then in England, of 2015/16. Carwyn Jones stated that badly, and a Labour government at than working people. despite also admitting that “we treat there is now £1.4 billion less to spend Westminster would see “fi ve years of Onto the matter of transport, the more people than ever before.” 18 POLITICS Interview: Green candidate Gair Rhydd speaks to Chris von Ruhland

hy would you encourage opposition’ and ‘the government’ and Rhiannon students to vote for you towards a genuine parliament. Pictured: Tapp Was the Green candidate? Chris von Firstly I would encourage students What do you say to people who Ruhland, Green to vote anyway as a principle. A lot think that voting green is point- candidate for of young people are disengaged from less? Cardiff Central politics which is why they don’t get All votes count. Just because we the hearings they should do from have a fi rst past the post system Pictured politicians while elderly people get doesn’t mean that other voices aren’t below: very good deals indeed. heard. We’ve seen that with UKIP. Greenland Why should students vote for the Th ey currently have one MP but they Iceberg Green Party? We’re going to abolish gain disproportionate amount of in- (Source: tuition fees. We see education as a fl uence on the big parties because of Ludovic fundamental right and a principle of the support that they’ve managed to Hirliman on a civilised society and we will replace engender, so they might ultimately Flickr) that initially with a grant system not receive any MPs but just be- and then ultimately with a citizens cause you’re not going to get elected income scheme. In the Green Party doesn’t mean you don’t have an infl u- we think education should be free to ence. everyone the same way the NHS is. If you believe in Green policies, ment we have an economic system made. Is there any truth to this? vote for the Greens. Don’t be cynical which, certainly in the West, takes Global warming is a result of in- Do you see a substantial future for and use tactical voting. Th is is some- more than its fair share of resources creasing anthroprogenics in the at- the Green Party? thing which is exploited by the two of the planet. Th ere will be conse- mosphere. In the Green Party we Yes. We’ll need to move towards main parties and it perpetuates the quences if we carry on which we’ve are pro science. People think we’re a sustainable society. It’s the only system. We should encourage people already seen with climate change. a bunch of hippies but we’re not like way we can continue civilisation as to vote for what they actually believe A move towards a more sustain- that at all. Science underpins all of we enjoy it. Our current system is in and that’s the only way you’re go- able society will create jobs in order our policies. Th e simple scientifi c geared towards economic growth ing to get change. to achieve that and it is a challeng- fact that we live on a planet and its but of course we live in on a planet ing situation to deal with this. Th e rescources are fi nite is something so we are restricted by this fact. Un- How do you think Jenny Willott Greens also want to reduce the hours only we as a party have recognised. less we move towards sustainable has done so far as MP for Cardiff people work, there’s a lot of empha- Over 95% of scientists agree that economics we’re going to encounter Central? sis placed on the acquisition of ma- global warming is man made and more of the problems we’ve already I think like all MPs she has worked terial goods but there are other very they are getting very, very concerned seen like global warming and the de- very hard. She’s certainly been very important things like happiness and at the intransigence of which West- pletion of the ozone layer. loyal to the coalition and looking at health which aren’t really measured ern nations have been dragging their We’re simply exceeding our plan- her record she’s voted for the policies to any signifi cant extent at the mo- feet for decades. et’s capability to absorb our waste which the coalition has drawn up to ment. I invite students to think much Th e Green Party has always said products so ultimately we need a agree on. She did vote in favour of a more longer term. we need renewable energies in order more sustainable society and that better investigation of the Iraq War to preserve resources for the future is green politics. Whether the other which ultimately failed in parlia- Why does the Green Party oppose and now people are only just starting parties will pick up on that and be- ment. She opposed tuition fees. Th at nuclear power? to notice this is true. come more green remains to be seen was where she was actually in the Uranium is a fi nite resource. Th is We’re melting the Greenland ice but there is defi nitely a requirement whips offi ce and she stepped down is something advocates of nuclear sheet and this is terrifying. Th ere are, for green politicians. from that so that she could do that so power don’t mention. Current rates I don’t know how many, cubic kilom- that was one of her highlights I think. of consumption mean we have about eters of ice melting on a slope. It’s ob- Who would you prefer to see in 40 years of uranium left worldwide vious what the consequences of this power Ed Miliband or David Cam- Many students take issue with what so it’s going to run out. At the same will be. If we continue as we are, in eron? job prospects and the economy time we have this huge legacy of the next fi ve hundred years we will be I wouldn’t like to see either of would be like under the Greens? nuclear waste which nobody knows as hot as the Cretaceous period. Th e them. Th is is an issue of the way our Well we’ve got a fully costed eco- what to do with and we’re just leav- biosphere can’t cope with a transi- parliament works. It’s this confron- nomic policy. We’re going to create ing that to future generations to sort tion of that rapidity. tational politics that disingenders. one million jobs by investing in green out. Th at’s just morally wrong. We We’re going to see serious prob- Th ere are politicians of all political technology. We want to improve the have no idea what to do with it, it’s lems, crop failure, drought, worsen- persuasions who work together and prospect for apprentices. Th ere’s too going to last for tens of thousands of ing weather and it’s going to impact are beginning to move away from this much emphasis I think on academ- years. To continute creating nuclear on our descendents. What I fi nd as- confrontational politics. To move to- ic qualifi cations at the expense of reactive waste seems to be a spectac- tonishing is the sheer lack of urgency wards a system of cooperation where technical ones and there’s a serious ularly stupid thing. It’s only for short amongst Western governments. “ we fi nd a common ground is good. shortage of technical staff in the UK. term gain. Th ere seems to be no con- Th ere are many developing countries We need to Most politicians want to make the Th is we can overcome by investing in sideration of future generations in a who are switching to 100% renewa- move away world a better place and that’s why I technological prospects. lot of current party politics. bles and we’re just dragging our heels stand and that’s why most of the oth- Really it’s thinking about the fu- which is absolutely outrageous. from this er candidates have stood. We need ture: what sort of future do students According to Welsh MEP Nathan In the Green to move away from this idea of ‘the want to grow up with? At the mo- Gill, climate change is not man “ idea of ‘the Party we are opposition’ pro science. and ‘the People think government’ we’re a bunch and towards of hippies but a genuine we’re not like parliament that at all ” ” POLITICS 19 Does negative campaigning turn voters off ? A new era is leaving the old parties trailing behind

he election campaign so far ponents. One particular Twitter ex- Tom Morris has shown the extent to which change had the Conservatives tweet Tpolitical parties will spend a picture of Alex Salmond with Ed time smearing other party cam- Miliband safely in his pocket, to paigns. It is easier for politicians to which someone replied with a pic- criticise other parties than sell their ture of Rupert Murdoch, with David own policies. Right now, none more Cameron safely in his pocket. Ar- so than the Conservatives and La- guably much of this behaviour is in bour. I myself was startled to see an cheap taste. unsettling YouTube advert where The problem with this kind of Alex Salmond moves to London and campaigning nowadays is that it dis- begins to make Ed Miliband dance illusions voters. In the past it may like a puppet. have worked. An example of this is This was of course part of the when the Conservative supporting Tory general election campaign. In Sun newspaper ran the headline “If the previous election, Labour didn’t Kinnock Wins Today, Will the Last think of their own ideological ideas Person to Leave Britain Please Turn for a poster, as they simply turned out the Lights?” and then the Tories around a poster depicting Cameron won. Many historians have since at- “The problem as favourite TV detective Gene Hunt tributed Kinnock’s loss to the impact into a sign that Cameron would of the Sun’s campaign. this kind of bring Britain “back to the 1980s,” However, in the new world of advertising whilst the Tories said that Labour politics where smaller parties such would “turn Great Britain into Little as the Greens and UKIP are split- has nowadays Britain.” ting voters more than ever, it is not gamble for the party spending mon- gether coalitions after the election. is that it Labour’s latest efforts involve a enough to just give a message “not to ey on smear campaigns. So if any Labour or Conservative Pictured: spin on a 70s anti-Labour campaign, vote for the other guy” because there In short, the political parties need PR people read Gair Rhydd, I hope Cameron disillusions where people under a Conservative is no longer a guarantee that the lost to demonstrate more reasons for they would consider putting policies and Miliband government queue up to see a GP. voter will come over to your side. people to vote for them- maybe then of their own party into their adverts haven’t been voters. The fight has been taken online, Many might argue that a vote for we would see a decrease in people from now on,. We should move away the happiest where parties encourage voters to a populist party is still one vote less refusing to vote. Alongside this, we from politics which works by show- during the ” share Photoshopped images of op- for the opponent, but it’s definitely a wouldn’t need to hastily scrabble to- ing opponents as insane puppeteers. campaign UKIP denounce homophobic troll

ack Monroe, food writer and name @Alex_WoodUKIP, said: with the contempt it deserves. “We attacks.” Daniel Heard campaigner left twitter due to “Your sick form of Lesbianism and have been in contact with Twitter A 22 year old, who is believed to J homophobic abuse. Ms Monroe, militant queerism (sic) is destroy- and hope that they will delete the be the perpetrator of the hate crime, 26, who blogs about poverty for the ing this country. Get out and give us account as quickly as possible. So to has been arrested and released on Guardian, said she found the hateful Britain back! #VoteUKIP.” people like Jack Monroe and Owen bail. The suspect previously robbed messages “suffocating” and did not Responding to the comments Jones we can only feel sympathy, no a police and avoided jail after a hoax feel the social media website was a Ms Monroe, who is openly gay and matter our differences they do not in which he accused a Muslim of as- “safe place to be”. campaigns on food rights, tweeted: deserve these coarse and unpleasant saulting a baby. UKIP said the abusive Twitter ac- “God it’s men like this that make count has been set up by a troll and me wish I wasn’t a lesbian. Be still has called its contents “vile”. The my beating heart for the charm and Pictured: abusive messages were sent from intellect.” In a tweet on April 18th Jack Monroe an account purporting to belong to entitled “final word”, she wrote: (source: Alex Wood, a former UKIP election “Please do not retaliate to the trolls redonline. candidate from Somerset, who was and abusers with abuse. Not in my co.uk) suspended from the party in 2013 name. Please, not in my name.” The after pictures emerged of him ap- account also aimed abuse at Guard- “UKIP were parently making a “Nazi-style” sa- ian columnist Owen Jones. UKIP lute, which he has strongly denied. were quick to denounce the Alex- quick to He has vehemently denied being the WoodUKIP Twitter account as a owner of the offending account. fake and said the party was treat- denounce the The abuse came after Ms Mon- ing the sentiments expressed on it Alex-Wood roe wrote a comment piece for the - which include a link to an overtly Guardian following Thursday’s racist blog - with “contempt”. A par- UKIP Twitter election debate in which she praised ty spokesman said: “UKIP utterly Green Party leader Natalie Ben- denounce the vile and uncalled-for account as a nett’s stance on immigration and Twitter troll that is masquerading fake criticised UKIP leader Nigel Far- as Alex Wood. We are very sorry for age’s “circus act”. One of the mes- the offence it has caused and treat ” sages, posted using the account it and the sentiments it expresses tweet us @gairrhyddsci email us [email protected] SCIENCE or visit us online at gairrhydd.com/science

Pictured: Paracetamol may 200 million packs of paracetamol are sold every year over the counter in the dull emotions as UK. (Steve Smith, well as pain Flickr) magine you have a headache. You is an interesting compound because Maria want something to take the pain although it is extremely commonly Mellor Iaway so that you can go about used, with over 200 million packets your day as normal. One of the most of paracetamol sold in the UK each popular over-the-counter choices for year, the mechanism by which it in- pain relief for over fi fty years has been hibits pain in the human body is still paracetamol, favoured for its eff ective- unknown. It is thought to inhibit an ness in dulling a wide range of physical enzyme called cyclooxygenase (or discomforts. New research has found, COX), which is involved in the infl am- however, that the drug not only dulls matory response. Th e infl ammatory physical pain, but also emotions. response is one of the body’s basic re- them again and asked to indicate the the brain, which may go on to aff ect A few years ago, researchers found sponses to injury and is responsible for intensity of their emotional reaction to the overall mood of those who take the “... people a link between physical and emotion- a large share of the pain we feel when the image on a 1 to 10 scale. drug. who took al pain. It was found that there is an we injure ourselves. If this response is Th e results? Th ose who had taken Th e study has been taken to the incredibly similar pattern of activity reduced then we feel less pain. paracetamol had less intense reactions NHS. Th ey have suggested that any- acetaminophen in the brain when test subjects were A study was carried out on 167 stu- to the images than those who had not. one taking paracetamol on a long- hurt physically and when they were dents at Th e Ohio State University; Th e positive pictures made them less term basis due to chronic pain or other didn’t feel the hurt emotionally. We now know the half were given a 1000mg pill, and half happy and the negative images made long standing conditions who may be same highs or overlap of the two types of pain goes were given a placebo. After the drug them less sad than those who had not worried about its eff ects on emotional further than this, as not only do they had been given time to work, the stu- had their emotions dulled by the drug. engagement should see their doctor to lows as did the function similarly, but they also react dents were shown a range of images Baldwin Way, a co-author on the study discuss alternative treatment options. Got a story in a similar way to painkillers. chosen with the intent of triggering a said that “people who took acetami- Th e researchers behind the study people who idea? Let Th e chemical acetaminophen is the strong emotional reaction. Th ey were nophen didn’t feel the same highs or intend to go on and investigate other us know: main active ingredient in paracetamol asked to rate how positive or negative lows as did the people who took place- painkillers such as ibuprofen and aspi- took placebos science@ and is thought to be the component they thought image was. After rating bos”. It is speculated that paracetamol rin to see whether they have the same gairrhydd.com that dulls emotions. Acetaminophen the images once, they were shown may aff ect signalling pathways inside eff ects. ” No, that Japanese beer will not make you prettier Alcohol containing collagen claims to improve complexion

tudents are arguably the demo- the usual fi ve per cent of alcohol. or desperate, university students any and you will still get a horrendous Shanna graphic that love beer the most. Suntory have aimed for scare tactics time soon. hangover if you drink too much. Stick Hamilton SIn fact, you be may currently with their branding: the unusual ad- So no, I wouldn’t waste your time to what you know – Carlsberg might enjoying a crisp, refreshing lager in a vertising suggests that “guys can tell if on “Precious”. You won’t get prettier, taste like a bodily fl uid, but at least it beer garden, in the worst form of pro- a girl is taking collagen or not”. you may still need those beer goggles, does what it says on the can. crastination from depressing exam Th e collagen business has been revision. It is well known that beer, booming in Japan for several years, although its consumption can be a with supermarkets off ering boosting Pictured: joyful experience, has some terrible beauty creams, while restaurants off er A pint of side eff ects, and is not wholly good foods naturally rich in the protein: this Carlsberg for our bodies. Yet a Japanese brewery includes sharks fi ns and pig trotters, might quench believes they have defi ed all scientifi c just to name a few of the delightful your thirst, reasoning: their latest beer “Precious” delicacies. but certainly is branded as making drinkers “more Experts, including the British Skin won’t make youthful and beautiful”, because it Foundation, categorically state that you prettier contains collagen. Is this claim just too eating collagen does not benefi t the like Precious You won’t good to swallow? skin in any way, and there are no pub- beer claims “ Collagen is a natural and impor- lished scientifi c studies to support to. (Source: get prettier, tant component of our skin, one of these claims. Suntory have also failed basegreen, the most abundant proteins found in to reveal how this beer is supposed to Flickr) you may still animals. It is the main component of work, or off er any evidence to suggest connective tissues, which support and that it does. need those connect the skin, muscle and nerv- Th ere is also the issue of what hap- beer goggles, ous tissue in the human body. Th is is pens to collagen when you drink it. why, as we age and collagen supplies Some sceptics argue that since it is a and you will deplete, our skin wrinkles up in those protein, your digestive system is likely crow’s feet around the eyes, gathers to break it up before it even reaches still get a up under the neck, and creases up in the skin. horrendous those tell-tale frowning forehead lines. Despite the complete lack of any Japanese brewery Suntory are ex- medical reason why somebody would hangover if ploiting the large chunk of the coun- ingest collagen, the trend appears to try’s female population who believe be growing in Japan. Th ankfully, the you drink too that by ingesting collagen they will beer is only currently being sold in much improve these wrinkles and their Hokkaido, a north island of Japan: looks. Each can of beer “Precious” hopefully “Precious” will not make its ” contains two grams of collagen plus way into the hands of perhaps gullible, SCIENCE 21 Giving birth at 65 is not a feminist issue Health risks should take precendence over possibility for late motherhood

nnegret Raunigk, a 65 year old quadruplets is the perception of some Meryon woman from Germany, has an- that this is a feminist issue. Clearly a Pictured: Roderick Anounced that she is pregnant woman has dominion over her own Th e chances with quadruplets. Th is pregnancy will body and should of course be able to of a natural be record breaking if Raunigk carries decide the timing and manner of the quadruplet the unborn children to term making birth of her children but this should pregnancy her the oldest woman in the world to only apply within reason. Th ere are is one in 13 have quadruplets. She already made many double standards in western million. news a decade ago when she gave birth society when it comes to gender but (darkroom. to her youngest daughter Lelia at the the fact that an older woman having baltimoresun. age of 55, making her Germany’s old- children incites a much greater reac- com) est mother. tion than a man of the same age simply It was Lelia’s request for a younger isn’t one of them. sibling that spurred Raunigk to travel Th e ethical implications of Anne- “It is important to Ukraine in search of an IVF clinic gret Raunigk’s decision are of course to consider that would work with her, as artifi cial wide ranging. It is important to con- insemination at her age is illegal in sider whether it is reasonable to have the fact that she is carrying quadru- far eclipses that of a late-in-life father. whether it is Germany. Four embryos were made by children when there is a strong possi- plets, which in itself carries a high Whilst the sperm of an older man combining sperm and eggs from two bility you will become unable to care risk of premature birth. does carry greater risks of imparting reasonable to anonymous donors and implanted for them properly until they reach Prematurely born children carry genetic diseases and the question of have children into Raunigk’s uterus. Th is method of adulthood; the oldest woman ever to greatly increased chances of develop- whether the father will see his chil- implanting several embryos at once is give birth died of cancer when her ing conditions such as cerebral palsy, dren grow up still remains, the risk when there often used in IVF because it raises the children were two and a half. Th ere is which can greatly reduce quality of of death to both the unborn children is a strong chances of one of the embryos stick- also the question as to whether it is en- life. To subject your own children to a and the parent simply do not exist ing to the uterine wall well enough vironmentally responsible, in a world hugely elevated chance of contracting in the way they do for a late-in-life possibility you to be carried to term. Th e Ukrainian that is already hugely over populated, a debilitating and life altering condi- mother. Th is is not a question of gen- doctors never expected all four of the to have 17 children which is the num- tion, just so that your child can have a der discrimination but of basic biol- will become embryos to implant successfully. ber Raunigk will hit once her quadru- baby brother or sister, is reckless. ogy. unable to Raunigk’s pregnancy has ignited a plets are born. Frank Louwen, secretary for the I sincerely hope for the sake of furore, both in Germany and across However, the major issues sur- German society of Obsetrics and Gy- Raunigk’s children that the pregnancy care for them the world. Th ere has been widespread rounding the quadruplets in my naecology notes that carrying such a continues to term with no complica- properly until condemnation of her actions which opinion are purely scientifi c. Th ough large number of foetuses late in life tions but I can’t help but agree with has been combatted by a large num- Raunigk’s babies are due to be born carries extreme risk of “high blood Frank Louwen when he says that “ for they reach ber of vocal supporters of Raunigk’s in August, they will almost certainly pressure, pregnancy diabetes and pre- a 65-year-old to get pregnant through right to give birth how and when she arrive much sooner due to the estab- eclampsia, all of which impact on each egg donation with quadruplets, it’s lit- adulthood pleases. lished link between late in life preg- other.” tle more than someone trying to prove One problem with the public dis- nancies and premature births. Th is All of these factors are why the it can be done, and I fi nd that disturb- ” course surrounding the birth of these problem is further compounded by condemnation of a late-in-life mother ing.” Why are iPhone games so addictive?

hether or not video games the delivery method. Psychology To- based on the same concept, with the tion to smartphone games is relatively Meryon are dangerous is a hotly de- day notes that opiates such as heroin diffi culty set so that you don’t win so harmless as long as it doesn’t interfere Roderick Wbated topic. From encour- weren’t viewed as problematically ad- often you become bored but you do too much with your day-to-day life. aging violent crime to aff ecting how dictive substances until the hypoder- win just enough to keep you playing However, if you are going for some children relate to one another, the list mic syringe was invented, allowing until you win again. kind of Candy Crush record, maybe of crimes the video game industry large doses to be delivered with ease. As far as addictions go, an addic- wear a thumb brace. stands accused of is extensive. How- In the same way video games have ever, a US man recently succumbed to become more and more addictive be- a danger we never even saw coming. cause they off er instant gratifi cation. Pictured: Th e 29 year old from Virginia who It is no longer necessary to travel to Candy Crush, wished to remain anonymous for rea- an arcade and sink hard earned cash the root cause sons that will become apparent was into huge monolithic machines to of many a admitted to hospital with a torn ten- play your favourite games. We now failed degree don in his thumb, which he suff ered carry hugely powerful gaming ma- (Alper Cugun, due to spending much of every day chines around with us in our pockets Flickr) for six to eight weeks playing Candy at all times, off ering an escape from Crush on his iPhone. Th e repetitive boredom at a fl ick of the thumb. “We now strain caused by matching those can- Games keep people hooked by ac- dy pieces all day every day had proved tivating the dopamine system that carry hugely too much for his connective tissue is otherwise activated in the natural and he required surgery to correct the world by things like sex and eating powerful damage to his hand. tasty food. Dopamine encourages gaming Candy Crush is a smart phone feelings of well being and content- game that has become notorious for ment but these feelings are often machines its addictive nature, with some people short lived which is why activities or spending eye-watering amounts of substances become addictive as peo- around with money on in-game powerups just to ple chase the next high. us in our get them to the next level. Th e behavioural biologist Burrhus Th e reason that games such as Can- Skinner identifi ed that animals are pockets... dy Crush, which conceptually sound more likely to repeat a behaviour if mind numbingly dull, are so incred- they are not rewarded constantly for ” ibly addictive is mostly to do with it but at random. Candy Crush works &  ' 

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Dylen ni gael swyddog sabothol Ni ddylen ni gael swyddog sabothol dros y Gymraeg gan fod yr iaith yn dros y Gymraeg oherwydd mae perthyn i holl fyfyrwyr Caerdydd a yna ddulliau mwy effeithiol i wella bod angen ei chynrychioli yn deg. gwasanaethau’r iaith Gymraeg heb reolwr canol a biwrocratiaeth ychwanegol.

      Dydd Llun 27ain Ebrill 09:00–Dydd Gwener 1af Mai 17:00 ,      -       ./[1"23/4356 !   "   #-

                                

We should have a sabbatical We should not have a sabbatical officer for the Welsh language officer for the Welsh language because the language belongs to because there are more effective every Cardiff student and needs to ways of improving Welsh language be fairly represented. services without having a middle manager and more bureaucracy.

            Monday 27th April 09:00–Friday 1st May 17:00 tweet us @gairrhyddsoc email us [email protected] SOCIETIES or visit us online at gairrhydd.com/societies

much fun planning this event is, I am sure the evening itself will be Barney’s Note magical! In other news, the Societies Ex- ecutive will be meeting for the last elcome back everyone! amazing day of sportsmanship and a time quite soon to decide the fate If you are reading this, real event for celebration! of new society applications. This Wyou are probably back The Societies Ball marches ever time, we have a Latin Dance Society to Cardiff and distracting yourself further – I recently signed off the proposed and also StitchSoc (a sew- with everyone’s favourite student payment for enough wine to fill ing society!). If they are approved, newspaper! Things have been quiet several baths and the table plan is watch out at the next Freshers’ Fair while you were gone but we have completed! Of particular fun was for new kinds of activity open to started this term off with a bang – choosing the music people will Guild members! Now, read the rest VARSITY! For another consecutive have played as they walk up to ac- of this fantastic section and have a year, Cardiff are victorious! It was an cept their awards! Considering how lovely day!

Final Bake Off end of year awards. 8pm Doors open 6.30pm, begins at 7pm. What’s On Face 11, Cathays Terrace £1 members, £3 non-members Concert Hall, School of Music, Wednesday 29th April Corbett Road

Monday 27th April SHAG AGM Maths Society Friday 1st May All are welcome as any student can MathSoc End of Year Ball Xpress Radio attend and run for a committee 7pm – 11.30pm Grimsoc and Altsoc Live on 87.7FM Radio position. Come along to fi nd out National Museum, Cardiff Alternative Ball 2015 20th-30th April more and put yourself forward. 6pm – midnight xpressradio.co.uk or 87.7FM 6pm Th ursday 30th April Urban Tap House 4G, Students’ Union Cardiff University Students’ Union Music Society Chaos Society Th e Big Debate Boardgaming, Roleplaying and Anything Goes Final Lunchtime Annual Chaos Ball 6pm - 9pm Wargaming League Concert 7pm – 11.30pm Great Hall, Cardiff University Dragon’s Hoard board games evening 12.30pm-2pm Radisson Blu, Cardiff Students’ Union 6pm - 11pm Concert Hall, School of Music, Th e Crofts pub, 14-15 Croft Street, Corbett Road HistorySoc Amnesty International Society CF24 3DZ History Society Masquerade Ball Jamnesty 2015 Committees 7pm - 11pm 7.30pm Socialist Students Society New Committee Welcome Talk Th e Angel Hotel Th e Moon Club, CF10 1BR Social 6pm - 8pm 7pm - 1am Saturday 2nd May Tuesday 28th April Starting at the Owain Glyndŵr Xpress Radio & Cardiff Union TV Cardiff Central Decides Wilderness and Expedition Medicine Sexual Health Awareness Group Baking Society 6pm – 7.30pm WEMS Go Kayaking Y Plas, Cardiff University Students’ 9am - 4pm Union River Wye, Monmouthshire Pictured: Cardiff Univer- Japanese, German, French, Spanish & Boardgaming, Roleplaying and sity Big Band Italian Society Wargaming League at a previ- Languages Ball All Day Roleplaying and Wargaming ous concert 7pm – 3am 9.30am - 10pm (Photographer: Marriott Hotel, Cardiff 4A/B/C, Students’ Union Cardiff Univer- sity Students’ Jazz Society Sunday 3rd May Have an event Union) concert Swinging Into Springtime you want An end of year showcase of Jazz Boardgaming, Roleplaying and covered? Society’s Ensembles: Big Band, Wargaming League Email: Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Choir and Sax CROW roleplaying afternoon societies@ Choir. Including a bar, loads of Noon - 6pm gairrhydd. sweet jazz and the presentation of 4 H/I, Students’ Union com

Pictured: Want to be the Let’s get quizzical next Loveday? Join the quiz Join Cardiff University’s new quiz society! society

he Quiz Society is basically educational adventures! I have been Charlotte what it says on the tin. We’re loving every minute of Quiz Society Gunn Ta new society who just have so far, especially taking a dictionary “I have been a great time quizzing and being as to Gassy Jacks! Come chat to us loving every genuinely nerdy as possible. at Fresher’s or join us at our next We’ve been around for less than events. We’ll also be selecting next minute of Quiz a semester and have already started years Team Cardiff for University having the best time. Our society Challenge, details to follow nearer the Society so commenced with a social, aptly titled, time. We’re looking for more extreme far, especially Paxman Pub Golf. was hilarious quiz enthusiasts, people who are and our Countdown evening was so similar, who love of all things Paxman, taking a hard! We hope these fun nights can themed game nights, and competitive dictionary to continue. quizzing. A good sense of humour In the next year we hope to develop and a pun-derful nature required. Gassy Jacks an inter-faculty University Challenge For more information, search Cardiff style competition and go on fun University Quiz Society on Facebook. ” SOCIETIES 25 An originally written absurdist play by Act One

oluntas Electio is an originally designed to deal with the play’s Poppy Parker written play marrying aspects difficult issues in a striking yet Vof contemporary dance, sensitive manner. Fusing together physical theatre, naturalism and contemporary dance and physical absurdism. theatre in the performance we have It is a play exploring the effect of aimed to create a dynamic approach We have your choices on the world around to the important issues prevalent “ you. Poppy Parker the director in our society. The main challenge aimed to cre- comments, ‘I wrote it because I faced when choreographing these had become disillusioned with the pieces was how to portray the harsh ate a dynam- nature of the justice system and reality of this difficult subject matter ic approach policing in the UK and America. without it being too graphic; thus we I also find the idea of the way the have utilised a melange of contact through the things we do affect everyone around and reaction in the movements to use of dance us and how if we’d made a different ensure a balance between physical choice, it could change our whole and implied violence. to the impor- life.’ Although there are some There is a satirical element that disturbing scenes we have tried to tant issues considers the policing and justice approach them sensitively. prevalent in systems of the world we live in. The play is being performed at the Lucy Spain is the choreographer, YMCA Theatre, Roath on the 27th our society and dance is an important element April with doors at 7pm. Tickets are in Voluntas Electio. Dance is £6, or £5 for students. ” An Arc de triumph for Music Society his year has seen the Music So- of the places discussed in modules de Paris. Th e collection includes many Musée D’Orsay; and the Eiff el Tower. Victoria ciety make its fi rst trip abroad, across the 2nd and 3rd years of the unusual and rare instruments such as After joining the queue to see inside Thomas Tspending four days during the music course, giving the trip a link to a theramin – an electric instrument the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris; Easter break seeing the sights of Paris. our course appealing to both the in- which you do not touch to play – and we were able to see just how spec- Once in Paris we saw the city’s sky- terests of those going, and to bring a an Octobass – a string instrument tacular the cathedral’s design truly is, line from the steps of La Basilisque du new dimension to discussions held similar to the double bass, standing climbing the 385 steps to the top of Sacré Cœur de Montmartre, before in lectures. First up was a tour of the at around 3.5m – one of only a few in the bell tower where gargoyles and a wandering around the market-stalls Palais Garnier; a nineteenth-century existence. Th e musical day ended with breath-taking view of the city greeted of Montmartre itself. opera house, home to the Opèra Na- a visit to the newly opened Philhar- us. Jelly-legged after climbing and de- Th e second day was planned with tionale de Paris. Th is was followed by monie de Paris to see the Russian Na- scending the many stairs, we made the guidance of Dr Caroline Rae, who a visit to the Musée de la Musique, tional Orchestra play Tchaikovsky’s our way to the Musée D’Orsay to view is both a lecturer at the School of Mu- part of the Cité de la musique, which 6th Symphony and Piano Concerto works by the likes of Van Gogh, Mon- sic and a member of the Conference is an area of Paris dedicated to music. with Nikolai Lugansky, conducted by et and Manet. Following a lovely meal Committee for the Philharmonia’s Th e Cité de la Musique contains a vast Dmitri Liss. at Le Petit Cler, the trip was brought ‘City of Light’ concert series, which array of instruments from across the After seeing some of the locations to a close watching the Eiff el Tower explores music composed in Paris world from the seventeenth-century related to the course, the next day lights display as the sun set, before 1900-1950. With the advice of Dr to the present day, all of which have was all about being tourists, visiting making our way back to the UK the Rae, this day included visits to some been collected by the Conservatoire the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris; following morning.

Pictured: Music Society in front of the Eiff el Tower (Photographer: The trip Patrick Rear- “ don-Morgan was and Victoria brought Th omas) to a close watching the Eiffel Tower lights display as the sun set ” tweet us @gairrhyddsport email us [email protected] SPORT or visit us online at gairrhydd.com/sport Cricket Club’s innings just beginning

ardiff University Cricket Club to see how they can continue to take the Josh Allen set two targets: win Varsity personally for myself. Rory Benson has gone from strength to club forward to even bigger and better and get the fi rst team promoted after “However, as the last few years have Cstrength since its creation in 2010. things.” their unfortunate relegation last year. shown, we are very lucky to have had a Following their third successive Varsity Th e sharp Varsity performance saw “Th e 1s and 2s are in the same league great new bunch of lads come in each triumph, the club now looks to be in the key players performing well, such as this year so hopefully the 2s can fi nish year and we are very much looking best shape ever. opening pace bowler Nick Kent, whose behind the 1s in the league in second forward to welcoming the new boys next Club Chairman Jonny Carpenter fi gures were exceptional, and MCCU place and it would be seen as a hugely year!” oversaw this year’s victory at Swansea batsman Zac Turley, who hit a match- successful season for the club.” Th e cricket club has also never been and is very proud of the direction the winning 82. Th e diffi culty for the club over the far away from controversy, with the latest club is going both on and off the fi eld. He Despite claiming victory over Cardiff ’s short time it has been running has been issue to come to light being the fl ags said: “It was a fantastic day for the club South Wales rivals, the Varsity fi xture how to deal with players graduating and hung outside Koko Gorilaz supporting “At the start of in general. Th e support was absolutely was the fi rst outdoor game the club has leaving the successful club. the Unionist terrorist group, the UVF. the season, superb and the boys did themselves had since the last match of last season. With losses in the last few years Although a Cardiff University Cricket justice on the pitch. Th e club participated in a friendly fi xture including Varsity winners as well as the Club member did hang the fl ags, the myself and “Th e club over the last few years against St Fagans on Saturday and are committee that made the club what it is club has punished the off ender and has has only grown stronger and stronger raring to get back to playing their BUCS today, Carpenter spoke about the vital openly condemned the actions of the first team due to the great work of the previous fi xtures. cogs in the cricket machine that will be individual. captain Josh committees, meaning there is now a very Th e club had a diffi cult season last leaving. He said: “Th e fi nal year members Despite the occasional incident, strong foundation at the club. year, with the fi rst team being relegated we have in the club this year are going to which usually involves the actions of Allen set “Financially we are the strongest we into the same league as the second team. be hugely missed next year and sadly a lot individuals and not the club as a whole, have ever been, members-wise we are Although this would give the league of big characters will be leaving. the camaraderie and passion that the two targets: increasing each year. On the pitch we competition an extra spice, Carpenter “Cricketing-wise a special mention club produces is second to none. win Varsity have arguably our strongest ever fi rst believes that the fi rst XI should be must go to three of the boys who have Cardiff University Cricket Club must team and our football team have just pushing for promotion from BUCS played and won in every Varsity are be widely recognised as both a successful and get the won the division one title in IMG so this Western 2A league to get back to the leaving including captain Josh Allen who sports team and the club with one of first team year we are extremely happy with the stage they were at before the start of last has been a rock for this club and will be a the most revered social scenes: giving progress the club have made thus far. season. massive loss for the club as a whole next the club an impressive reputation which promoted. “Next year we have again another very He told Gair Rhydd: “At the start of year. Everyone would agree that he has their members claim is unmatched by strong committee and I am very excited the season, myself and fi rst team captain been a great friend to all and a huge help any other. ” Glamorgan open season with a pair of draws

lamorgan CCC have failed to maker Kevin Pietersen was certainly David Hooson make a signifi cant impression more or an achievement. Pictured: Gin their two opening fi xtures in As he has done so many times in Craig this year’s LV= County Championship his career, Sangakkara proved his Meschede Division Two, playing out draws class by scoring 149 off 230 balls in scored his against Leicestershire and Surrey. the fi rst innings, backed up by former maiden First Failing to make a mark in their fi rst Test player Steven Davies’ maiden Class century game, held from April 12th to 15th, double century, fi nishing 200 not out. at against Leicestershire, the bottom team Pietersen was Surrey’s top scorer in the number nine in the County Championship for the second innings with a fairly quick 50 last two seasons, is certainly the more not out. Mark disappointing result of the two. After taking Pietersen’s wicket “ Having made an imposing 513/9dec. for just 19 in the fi rst innings, Craig Wallace, in the fi rst innings at a fair scoring Meschede top-scored with 101 not out rate with Rudolph and Wagg making batting at number nine, his maiden though only centuries, they led by 78 and added a First-Class century, showing a glimpse scoring 18 further 227/7dec. in the second innings. of what the 23-year-old might be Tight but unexceptional bowling capable of. runs in total, allowed Leicestershire to trundle along Rudolph and James Kettleborough’s became in response, surviving 120.3 overs in smooth opening partnership to play the fi rst innings and the 38 overs they out the draw on the fi nal day was the first needed for the draw in the second. perhaps the most encouraging aspect Mark Wallace, though only scoring of either game, proving what might be Glamorgan 18 runs in total, became the fi rst possible this season when it all comes wicketkeeper Glamorgan wicketkeeper to pass together for the Welsh county. 10,000 runs in this game - a testament Glamorgan will immediately have to pass to his service to county cricket. another chance to prove themselves, as 10,000 runs. Managing a draw against a Surrey they take on Championship minnows side that included the legendary Kumar Derbyshire from this Sunday, May 3rd, ” Sangakkara and ubiquitous headline- onwards. A recent defeat to local rivals is truly unacceptable. Of course the directors. Although they may not whilst also allowing him a full three Steffan Newport Gwent Dragons in the spending power of the English and like to admit it, the appointment of years before judging whether he has Thomas quarter fi nals of the European French clubs in recent years has the now departed Mark Hammett as been a success or not. What is also Challenge Cup that the Cardiff Blues’ made it extremely diffi cult for the director of rugby turned out to be the important is that the new head coach season is virtually over with three four Welsh regions to compete on the wrong appointment. is given the luxury of selecting his Guinness Pro 12 fi xtures still to play. European stage. Results were never going own assistant coaches, and is also With the Blues languishing near However, there is no excuse for to improve over night, but the given freedom to sign his own players the bottom of the table, the capital the Blues’ woeful Pro 12 form, with appointment of former All Blacks within the current budget. city region have been condemned to a the Arms Park outfi t having a better hooker Hammett just last year was With the Blues already fi nalising second successive season without top squad on paper than many of the supposed to be a long-term project their recruitment for next season it fl ight European rugby. sides ahead of them on the table. with the region expecting to be in a is likely that whoever is appointed When one considers that the With regional rugby facing stronger position after his three-year is going to have to work with what Cardiff region were once one of the something of a cross roads in Wales, contract was over. he has got in his fi rst season before genuine superpowers of European a healthy future for the Cardiff Blues It is vital that the Blues appoint building his own side the season club rugby, their current position lies in the hands of their board of the right man to take them forward, afterwards. SPORT 27 Team Cardiff show support for LGBT players

or this year’s Welsh Varsity, that a player’s sexual orientation or or uncomfortable participating in David Hooson Cardiff University and Swansea gender identity should not be a barrier sport.’ Pictured: FUniversity teamed up with Welsh to taking part and that university sport Gair Rhydd discussed the state of LGBT charity Stonewall Cymru is open to all.’ play for LGBT people in the world of (Above l-r) in support of their Rainbow Laces At Varsity, student athletes in many sport in February as part of LGBT Cardiff athletes campaign to challenge homophobia, sports wore their rainbow laces to history month. Th ere are still very showing biphobia and transphobia in sport. show that they support inclusivity in few openly gay, lesbian, bisexual and their support Th e Rainbow Laces campaign sport, regardless of sexual orientation transgender people participating in (Sources: was launched last year to encourage or gender identity. Many athletes and elite sport and it is therefore still often Cardiff _Netball, sportspeople to wear rainbow-coloured clubs posted statements and photos on seen as a taboo subject. Th is makes it VolleyballCU, laces to demonstrate their support social media to promote the campaign, much harder for those competing in cardiff students, for LGBT participation in sport. often accompanied by the slogan ‘We sport at amateur and recreational level, RowCardiff Uni, Th e campaign has received support don’t care which team you play for’. including university sport, to come out LGBTplusCSU from prominent fi gures including Speaking before last week’s Varsity due to fear that there may not be a place on Twitter) Stephen Fry, Gary Lineker and Gareth event, VP Sports and AU President for them in the world of sport. Th omas, as well as from 70 professional Bryn Griffi ths said, ‘Varsity 2015 Th e Rainbow Laces campaign is (Left) Cardiff football clubs including Arsenal and will undoubtedly be the climax of hopefully making some progress in Snakecharmers Manchester City. the year for Team Cardiff and we’re this area, by helping LGBT allies to promoting the Luke Young, the Campaigns proud to show our commitment in show their support and create an campaign slogan Manager for Stonewall Cymru, challenging homophobia, biphobia and environment in which everybody feels explained the signifi cance of the transphobia, showing it’s OK to be ‘Out comfortable to be open about who campaign: ‘By wearing Rainbow laces at In Sport’. We are working with Swansea they are. By including this campaign the Welsh Varsity, Cardiff and Swansea University and Stonewall Cymru to as part of Varsity, strides can be made students will be sending a strong help break down some of the barriers to making university sport a safe and message toteams across the country that make LGBT students feel excluded welcoming place for everyone. Athletics Club shine at South West Champs ednesday 25th of March showed why she’s going to be leading in the long jump, decided to join in used to just taking three or four to the saw the inaugural South the club’s charge next year with victory the women’s javelin and won that too, Cardiff Met Grand Prix! But to then Nick Marsh WWest Universities athletics in the women’s 5000 metres. bringing home maximum points. win the competition and bring home championships hosted in Exeter, Th ere was also a personal best for After an incredibly successful day, our fi rst ever track championship is with the uni athletics teams from Freek Van Arkel, en route to coming a Track & Field Captain Nick Marsh incredible, everyone has been brilliant.” Cardiff , Exeter, Plymouth, Bristol and brilliant second in a close men’s 5000 had to say, “It has been unbelievable to It’s safe to say that on this showing Gloucestershire taking part. With a few metre race, along with PBs for Rhys take 25 athletes to a track competition CUAC on track has a very bright future weeks to go until the entries deadline Annett, Alex Hiscock, James Best and outside of BUCS has been completely indeed and the team will be back next for the BUCS outdoor athletics Tom Chandy, who were all running unheard of at this club before; we’re year to defend their title. championships, Cardiff University a track 5000 metres for the fi rst time. athletics club took a team of 25 athletes Patrick Baatz and Lizzie Harris ran new down to Exeter, a club record for an best times over 400 and 200 metres Pictured: out of BUCS track competition, and respectively, in a good warm up for their Th e Cardiff came away as the fi rst ever South West competing at BUCS in a few weeks, delegation in Universities Champions. whilst Harry Th ick, Beth Bradford and Exeter Many athletes put in great Harry Vercoe all competed in a CUAC performances, some in their fi rst vest for the fi rst time. track competition for CUAC. Makoye Th e Cardiff performance of the day Kampengele came away with two however has to go to Sara Adel Sayed, victories in the men’s 100 metre fi nal also competing in her fi rst track meet and his 200 metre race, while female for the uni, who having already won cross country captain Megan McBrien the women’s shot put and competed

The first Cardiff City game I ever smashed in a second. It was Peter With 380 appearances, only eight like more robust players have, but Dan Heard went to was on the March 30th Whittingham. other players have worn the famous ability, particularly at dead-balls 2010, Cardiff v. Leicester City. Last week, Peter “Whitts” blue shirt on more occasions, which and set-pieces, is one thing that It was a big season for us, one of Whittingham was named in the barely hints at the remarkable cannot be questioned. the best, actually (anything seems Football League’s Championship impact he has made on the club’s Cardiff fans have had many better than this season’s showing), Team of the Decade, alongside fortunes. To score 85 goals in the names to revere over the years as we had a real change of winning players who went on to star in the process is even more outstanding. Keenor, Charles, Toshack, Clark promotion to the promised land top flight such as Adam Lallana, His usefulness and ability have and Whittingham deserves to be up – the Premier League. Leicester Ricky Lambert and some kid from come under fire in recent years, there. He is a hero for Cardiff today, were tough opponents, but Cardiff Whitchurch now playing in Spain. particularly this season, where he as he should be. proved tougher. There with them in the middle, was was shown his first red card against My favourite moment from Ross McCormack (yes, all Whittingham. During the 2009/10 Wolves and has been the target of Whittingham of course has to be £11 million of him, who Cardiff season, my first, he finished the much criticism from the fans and that iconic free kick in the play-offs sold for £250,000…) opened the league’s joint-top goal scorer, as media. Certainly, he has never been against Leicester. What a goal, and scoring, before a certain number 7 Cardiff lost in the play-off final. a player to get stuck in to challenges what a great player. ALSO IN SPORT

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