ISSN 1755-7585 Issue No. 204 February Issue 2009 CURTAINS FOR INSIDE:

Summer Ball: CARNAGE? Have your Say

RAE Results Brand new fashion column

Police step in and put Bangor’s second Carnage event in doubt Willow Does By Liz Stevens the evening and a number of tasks to com- shirts were on sale and almost sold out. ingness to take part in the planning process UOTC ollowing on from the popularity of plete along the way. Carnage 2008 was Sgt. Coppack also explained that inap- of any future events. e safety of students the November 2008 Carnage, an- undoubtedly a success, and Carnage 2009 propriate steps were taken in relation to is paramount in our minds.” other night was scheduled to take was well on its way to becoming a sell out, Carnage 2008, with Carnage incorrectly in- Carnage’s response has been largely Fplace in Bangor on Tuesday 3rd March, but but with critics arguing the event promotes forming licensees that the police had been optimistic. Varsity Leisure Group Limited, disagreements between the organisers and binge drinking and promiscuity; there are consulted regarding safety, when in fact no who own Carnage UK said: North Wales Police may mean the upcom- worries that the plug has been pulled – the such liaising had taken place. Sgt. Coppack “Carnage is open to a positive, construc- ing event is now in contention. To say that question remains, however, why? reiterated that it was each individual licen- tive dialogue with North Wales Police and this has been controversial would be an un- Speculation began running rife when see’s decision to withdraw from the event, is more than willing to comply with all derstatement. it was reported that e Waterloo Inn had and explained: positive and reasonable requests the Police Carnage is essentially a pub crawl; stu- pulled out, and rumours were circulating “It is not the intention of the Police to make in relation to the event’s organisa- dents move in a pre-selected order from pub that police had stepped in and threatened stop such events taking place, in fact we are tion. VLGLtd wants the students to have a to pub (Rascals, e Waterloo Inn, e Ship licensees. is is in fact not the case, with pleased to assist in facilitating any event safe, enjoyable evening and for Bangor to Inn, Varsity, Yates’ and Academi) before Sgt. Bill Coppack of North Wales Police that enhances the perception of Bangor and have the bene t of a positive boost to its descending on the end venue (Time). To informing Seren that Carnage had not con- is safe and well run. To that end we have late night economy, especially at a time of Sheep escape participate, a £7 t-shirt must be purchased, sulted with the police regarding the second been in attendance at a recent meeting of recession.” which includes the fancy dress theme for event until January 22nd, by which time t- license holders and have indicated our will- CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 on Ffridd NEUADD WILLIS STUDENT ACCOMMODATION Luxury ensuite student ROOMS AVAILABLE FOR SEPTEMBER 2009 Our quality accommodation comprises of fully furnished apartments with en-suite rooms, accommodation in clusters of 3, 4, 5 and 6 with a fully fi tted living/kitchen area. We also provide a selection of fabulous studios which have their own living/kitchen area, and which are for situated within single occupancy. walking distance of We can be contacted on: 01248 371450 or 07841 369249 or via email on: Bangor University [email protected] 2 February Issue 2009 EDITORIAL www.seren.bangor.ac.uk

elcome to the fi rst Seren of 2009. It seems like an age since we last graced your coffee table / bedroom fl oor / own February Issue 2009 Wpersonal Seren archive, but here we are once more. I hope you have all managed to cope in our absence, I realise sometimes Contributors: these things can be too much for one student to take. The Seren Georgia Mannion team have been feeling the strain too, in fact just the other day I walked into my offi ce to fi nd the music editor curled up in a ball Liz Stevens begging for an opportunity to spill her creative juices. It was quite Aaron Wiles disconcerting. She’s ok now though, worry not. So, in between bringing you amazing newspapers to feast Rhodri Barker your eyes on, the Seren team organised a universally astounding Iain Dalton night of 90s nostalgia. Were you there? Then have a look at the pictures which adorn this page and try and spot yourself. It is my Emily Collins personal belief that the Seren 90s Night will go down in history as the greatest expression of our generation’s Pokemon-obsessed Jamie McNeil childhood… maybe we’ll bring it back next year. Joe Firth Moving on to the glittering pages of this exciting February issue. As you’ve seen, we’ve analysed the Carnage issue into Matt Ison submission – however I would like to draw attention to the Willow Manuel apparent suggestion that an organised pub crawl is the remedy to Bangor’s recession. Perhaps we could suggest they hold it in Sophie Griffi ths a high street shop that is in desperate need of some custom. The mass exodus of Bangor’s student population this Christmas Tom Hecht apparently caused Bangor (and the global economy, so it seems) Laura Winstanley some serious issues and as such, it seems Carnage is offering a solution. I salute that, and I’m sure £40 chopping boards do too. Polly Daszkiewicz We also have coverage of sheep escaping and wreaking havoc up at Ffridd site Emma Gregory and as such, the team have spent half an hour choosing their favourite breed of the woollen animal. It’s nothing but hard work round our place. The headline on that Tom McCarron particular article might just be the best thing I’ve come up with in a long time (in my humble opinion). So far, 5 people have seen it and 2 people have genuinely Biya Ashraf laughed. I’d be interested to hear whether any of you lot think I’m moderately Dwight McCarthy amusing, although for some reason I suspect the odds are stacked against me. Right that’s enough inane babble from me, if you’ve got this far then Homan Yousofi congratulations. I expect the next thing you’ll do is a really exciting quiz on Frances Birkett Facebook or something. YOU SHOULD BE WORKING. There, don’t say I’ve never tried to help. Sion Wyn Laszek Jack Sexty T’ra, Rosie MacLeod Jo Caulfield - God of editing Cat Prince Michael Xavier Henry Tom Durkin Robert Mann Bethan Thomas Alex Stamp Helen Aldred Jenny Brierley

Photography: Helen Waller Tom Hecht Gary Smith Jade O’Donoghue

Special thanks to: Fiona Braddley

Proof reading: Tom Hecht TEAM SEREN Spencer George BRINGING NEWS TO YOUR CRIB. RECYCLE Emily Collins Editor Jo Caulfi eld Here at Seren, there’s News Stephen Davies nothing we love more Features Bianca Murray than Mother Nature and Music Emma Dixon d’ya know what she Film Mark Varley loves? Recycling! After you’ve fi nished Books Emma McColl Travel Stef Black with us, can you put us in your blue Sports Will Varley box and make sure we get made into Design Dan Turner something else? Thanks very much. 3 February Issue 2009 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk NEWS Bangor scores some Mumps Epidemic top RAE results Engulfs Bangor ecause we at Seren care about you One dose of MMR protects around 65 students so much, you should be per cent of those who receive it against angor University’s research en- ness School went one better, claiming jects and this reinforces other evidence aware of a suspected outbreak of mumps, with a second dose of MMR quiries have been highly praised the top UK spot for best research. demonstrating the quality and scale of Bmumps currently worrying the University improving immunity to around 85 per recently, with schools ranging Furthermore, the School of Mu- our expertise in areas which cross sub- population. An email was sent out with a cent of recipients. So it is possible to see Bfrom Psychology to Sports Science hav- sic, headed underneath the Arts and ject boundaries. By working with busi- lea et from e National Public Health mumps in individuals who have been vac- ing been accredited with particularly Humanities umbrella, had 90% of its ness, industry, service providers and Service for Wales (NPHS) but in case you cinated with MMR, although this is not lavish praise. e Research Assessment research sta were listed as being of in- policy makers the knowledge created at missed it, here’s some information on the common. Exercise (RAE) attempts to measure the ternational quality. e same percentage Bangor University is applied to bene t disease: If you have not had two doses of MMR level of research according to how they of world quality research sta was also the world.” Mumps is unpleasant but usually mild vaccine you should contact your GP to compare to a world-class benchmark. given of those listed under the Earth In addition to the above research and infectious. It usually causes pain and arrange this. Please inform the surgery Nineteen subject areas were assessed in Systems and Environmental Sciences recommendations, the schools of Welsh, swelling of the salivary glands between when you make the appointment that this Bangor’s research schools with almost  eld. e University’s Vice-Chancellor Psychology and Sports Science all rated the ear and the neck. It causes a fever and is recommended on public health advice. half given the top grading of three and was understandably enthused, saying: within the top 12 in the UK. feelings of general sickness. Most cases You can also print o a copy of this article four stars. Electronic Engineering re- “ e results prove that Bangor has de- see recovery in around a week to ten days. and take it with you to the surgery. search was heralded as the second best veloped over recent years and is now an Complications such as in ammation and Women in the  rst three months of in the UK, while Accounting and Fi- international research-led university. We Stephen Davies pain in the testicles or breasts may occur, pregnancy who have never had mumps or nance, a branch of the University’s Busi- are in the research elite for many sub- as can meningitis and deafness, although the MMR vaccine should avoid close con- these are rare symptoms. tact with people with mumps and should Symptoms appear two to four weeks contact their doctor for advice. If you have a er contracting the infection. If you de- any concerns you should discuss these velop symptoms of mumps please contact with your GP. your doctor and stay o University and More information is available from Bangor students rescued away from others until  ve days a er the www.nhs.uk start of the swelling. Georgia Mannion e MMR vaccine protects against amidst fortnight of tragedy mumps, measles, and rubella infections. on Snowdon

Gwynedd Museum Safe he future of the Gwynedd Museum ing, caring for and by providing access to and Art Gallery in Bangor has been its collections so that everyone can share its secured for the next three years fol- rich heritage.” e museum hosts exciting Tlowing an agreement between the Welsh exhibitions re ecting life of past genera- Assembly Government, Gwynedd Council tions and allowing the public to embrace and Bangor University. the traditions and culture that is unique to Gwynedd Council sta have been this area of North Wales. Welcoming the working with o cials from the Welsh As- announcement, Gwynedd Councillor Dai sembly Government to  nalise details of a Rees Jones, who chairs the Gwynedd Mu- funding package un- seum and Art Gal- der the Museum Stra- lery Working Group, tegic Grant scheme. added “ is is an angor University students Mat- mountain in February. cuers while stating: “It’s kind of sinking Bangor University has important step in our thew Jagger, 20 and William According to the pilot who rescued in. It’s made me think about how close I also agreed to double e orts to ensure the Brooks, 26, managed a lucky Matthew, Flight Lieutenant David Mo- was… We just got caught out”. William is its funding of the Mu- long-term future of Bescape during a fortnight that saw four ran, the situation could have deterio- now recovering in Broadgreen Hospital seum. First Minister the Museum. anks men lose their lives on Snowdon. rated rapidly if not for the rescue crew’s in Liverpool. Rhodri Morgan said: to hard work and co- e pair were part of a group travers- intervention. “[Matthew] was literally e number of lives claimed has been "I am glad that we have operation between ing the mountain on the 7th of February, digging himself in on an almost sheer cogent with an increased number of res- been able to work with Gwynedd Council, when they encountered di culties at- face with a 600 feet drop metres from his cues in the Snowdonia region, with six Gwynedd Council Bangor University, tributed to the e ect of the weather con- feet”. Matthew, who is studying geogra- other rescues carried out in early Febru- and Bangor University the Welsh Assembly ditions on the terrain. Matthew slipped phy at Bangor has had years of walking ary. In addition to the death of Gwyn to safeguard the mu- Government, and on a patch of ice and fell 113 metres and experience on similar terrain, but the Norrell, a keen photographer, the three seum, which has a very important role to support of the Friends of the Museum, we was rescued by an RAF Sea King heli- advice issued by Ian Henderson, of Llan- other dead men were brothers Christo- play in preserving the history and heritage can now work together to  nd new and copter dispatched from Anglesey only beris Mountain Rescue Team, paints pher and James McCallion of Bristol and of north-west Wales." Since the closure of creative ways of securing a sustainable upon spotting his torch light via night a stark picture about the reality of the Weston Super-Mare respectively, and eatr Gwynedd in October the museum long-term future for the Gwynedd Mu- vision goggles. William, a PhD student, dangers of Snowdon even for veteran 70-year-old Brian William Middleton, is one of the last statements of culture in seum and Art Gallery.” Professor Merfyn received serious head and chest injuries ramblers and climbers. He stated: “It found on the 11th of February, following the city of Bangor. Jones, Vice-Chancellor of Bangor Univer- upon falling over 300 metres. He was would be foolish to go on to the moun- a solitary walk on Snowdon. e mission statement of the museum sity said “We are pleased to have been able found shouting for help by fellow climb- tain without crampons and an ice axe, Stephen Davies states that “ e aim of Gwynedd Museum to agree the funding that will secure the ers near the body of 27-year-old Gwyn and unless they know what they’re do- and Art Gallery is to contribute towards Museum’s future in the interests of both the Norrell of Snailbeach in Shrewsbury; ing”. Matthew echoed Henderson’s senti- the understanding of the history and cul- local community and visitors to the area.” one of the four lives claimed by the ments, declaring his gratitude to his res- ture of Gwynedd and its people by collect- Bianca Murray 4 February Issue 2009 NEWS www.seren.bangor.ac.uk YOUR NEWS, Carnage problems YOUR VIEWS ....continued from front page t seems there are two sides to disappointment that Are the police right to step in? every story, but what cannot the event may not Ibe doubted is that Carnage will take place. “I think Carnage is a great not be returning in the near future Every student without serious discussion. But is spoken to agreed event for students to have fun! this good or bad for Bangor and its that Carnage was a I don’t think the police were student population in general? safe, well organised, Critics of Carnage have argued and indeed, right to step in as the previous that the event promotes binge excellent night out drinking and promiscuity, with tasks – largely down to carnage was a controlled suc- on the back of t-shirts arguably the vast presence cessful event with little trou- related to the latter – one on the of appointed back of a 2008 t-shirt was to ‘frolic responsible stewards ble, just the police interfering with a fresher’. The fancy dress and wardens, who Richard themes for events have also been are forbidden to 1st Year Environmental Science again!” pulled into disrepute - Bangor drink until the very Carnage 2008 advertised as ‘dirty end, and are vital porn star’ and Liverpool Carnage in ensuring student 2008 as ‘dirty doctors and nympho safety on the a certain group advertising a night of “If during last time there’d nurses’. Students are already evening. One student informed me ‘Bedlam’ is to be believed. Bedlam is portrayed as promiscuous drunks – that they were reminded to drink advertising itself in a similar way to been (pardon the word) ‘car- and an event which perpetuates this responsibly, and another said that Carnage, but with no restrictions – nage’ with people getting image is unlikely to endear itself to while they felt the 2008 theme – essentially a night of binge drinking the authorities. porn stars – promoted promiscuity, without any responsible supervision, beaten up and property being It also seems that Carnage 2008 they thought the 2009 theme – unlike Carnage. Most students spoken did not go quite as seamlessly as superheroes – was more neutral, to have expressed their desire to damaged then fair enough, one might be led to believe – Sgt. and felt personally safe for the just go out anyway - is a supervised but as it wasn’t I can’t see the Coppack informed Seren that a night better than unsupervised? Do Tom number of complaints were received “The question the cons of Carnage outweigh the 3rd Year Pyschology root of their concerns.” from the public regarding noise and pros regardless? disorder. Seren was also told of remains: what As it stands, the future of damage done to a venue (who wish Carnage is uncertain. A potential to remain anonymous) by revellers will students do disappointment for students but “I can understand why the – although superfi cial, it was a relief for many others it appears police may have problems reportedly profane and far in excess in its place?” unless reconciliation can be of anything seen before. achieved. A number of students with the event because there Yet despite this, the overwhelming entire duration of the evening in have enquired about refunds but popularity of the event cannot be November. at the time of printing, no system have been rumours about denied. It has already been stated Carnage was most certainly a hit is in place. Tuesday 3rd March may alcohol induced violence in that t-shirts for March were almost with students, if not anyone else, yet end up being a huge night out, sold out, and yours truly has spoken but the question remains: what will but not the one the student body some of the bigger cities but I to a number of students who attended students do in its place? Groups expected. dont think the event itself is to in 2008, hoping to attend next have sprung up on Facebook urging Amy month, and the general consensus students to ‘Save Bangor Carnage’, Liz Stevens 1st year Pyschology blame.” among them is one of overwhelming and the answer is slightly worrying if Going to Baaa Uno? Bangor’s defi nitely got talent

riday 13th saw the second round of Bangor’s Got Talent and this is what he Bangor’s Got Talent. is series of had to say about the night: auditions which began at the end of “Bangor’s Got Talent was a huge suc- FRefreshers Week, saw the talented, gi ed cess and both heats were really enjoyable. and downright strange talent of Bangor I have a huge amount of respect for students take to the stage in the Basement those students who got up in front of an Bar. A packed venue gave some of the audience and either sang or played an in- performers a case of stage fright but that strument because I could never do that! soon disappeared. e range of talent in I’m really looking forward to the  nal and n the morning of 5th of February, three possibilities: e Beulah Speckled sheep were captured and returned home, the room was nothing short of spectacu- I’m con dent that whoever wins will go to the surprise and delight of resi- Face, Derbyshire Gritstone or Welsh Hill much to the disappointment of many stu- lar, particularly with performances from on to do Bangor proud in the nationwide dents, two sheep graced the tar- Speckled Face Sheep. e most likely, we dents who had congregated to take pic- the beat boxing  utist and ‘ e Rusty Uni’s Got Talent event. A huge thank you Omacked terrain of Ffridd Site. e curious feel, is the Welsh Hill Speckled Face which tures. Vi, our beloved cleaner said “ ey’re Cadillacs’. goes out to all those who took part, either livestock patrolled the grounds around En- is a derivative of the Welsh Mountain just sheep, you know what I mean yeah?” e second heat included stunning as an act or as an audience member, to the lli and Reichel before  nally settling on the Sheep (the most common to North Wales). How the sheep got onto Ffridd is un- performances from Kate Barclay, Steve other judges and also to Tom Hecht (So- dilapidated house, currently fenced o , the e breed originated in the Devil’s Bridge known, all that is certain is students would Neal and Pete Banks, who received an cieties and Events O cer) who put a lot only feature of the  eld in its original form area of Mid Wales and is generally larger in welcome another visit to liven up their 29/30 for his innovative violin...ing. of time and e ort into making this event before it became home to 1,700 students. size than the Welsh Mountain Sheep with a ursday mornings. Seren spoke to Spencer George, Dep- possible.” e breed of said sheep is unknown.  ner  eece and black markings. uty President and judge on the panel for Bianca Murray e Seren team have narrowed it down to Barely two hours a er their arrival the Georgia Mannion 5 February Issue 2009 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk YOUR LETTERS DEAR [email protected] ... You guys have been getting in touch with emails, Facebook messages and even old school posted letters! Here are a selection in all their glory...

Socialist Students’ Response to John Jackson n the December 2008 issue, Seren carried an interview with President John Jackson on the NUS ‘Students in The Red Day of Action’ and the Campaign to Defeat Fees referendum. Within this interview Jackson claimed that the Ireferendum policy is ‘ridiculous’ and thus he is opposed to it. What a poor argument! The situation students are facing is thus; many universities around the country have stated they would like tuition fees to be increased – suggestions are ranging from £7,000 to £10,000 per year. The government is starting a review of the cap on fees (currently around £3,000 a year) and is expected to increase them. This will leave students in far greater debt. The current economic crisis - which has seen many universities lose money - will lead to course- cuts and has already led to cuts to government grants. Parking on Ffridd Site In response to this, Socialist Students launched the Campaign to Defeat Fees with a strategy to do something about these issues. Socialist Students argue that a mass campaign is needed. Students, trade unionists and others Causing Problems need to force the government to back down on these plans. They also need to go over onto the offensive against the ’d like to bring your attention to the continuing problem crippling levels of student debt that already exist. Such a campaign needs to be built in Students’ Unions locally; but of car parking on Ffriddoedd Site. should also be built for with the resources of the NUS. I As I’m sure you are aware, students living on Ffridd But what does Jackson propose? He just says the fees policy is ‘ridiculous’ and offers no solution. He, the President who own cars are required to pay a yearly parking fee of the Students’ Union, does not outline any other strategy to combat the increased fi nancial hardship of students. for their permit to park on site, this is approx £10 for Perhaps we could assume that he subscribes to the strategy of NUS; they argue that what is needed for students is the academic year. However, it has become increasingly a fairer funding policy, but they don’t explain what this would be. However, it can be assumed that they might mean noticeable (over the past couple of years) that these very a tax on university graduates – effectively a different form of student debt. To achieve this they argue that they can same students are often not able to park on Ffridd Site convince the government by lobbying them, but this is the same strategy that failed students back in 2004 when during the evenings when non-residents are using Maes parliament passed the legislation for top-up fees. Glas gym and then park on Ffridd due to there being a Is there money to fund this? Some people may genuinely ask this question, especially given the current economic lack of parking at the gym itself. crisis. Yet over £45billion per year remains uncollected through tax evasion by large companies; this would be more This obviously causes annoyance – at the very least – than enough to pay for free education and living grants for all. for the Ffridd Site residents who can then not park where Should students avoid appealing to the general public to support them? Unlike Mr. Jackson, we would say no. In they are paying a fee park, and either resort to Ffriddoedd the experience of Socialist Students members, the general public are often opposed to tuition fees and appalled at Road, where they have a high chance of their car being the amount of debt many students have to get into to fi nish their courses. vandalised, or indeed, still park on site but around the Within the student movement there are emerging two main political outlooks on these issues: NUS trust and spaces, resulting in the car park attendant issuing them believe that the Labour Party is working in their best interests and that there is no need to campaign on these issues. with warning tickets. The other view is that students need to rely on mass protests and building links with trade unions to fi ght for free Now, it is quite right that the Halls Offi ce should education. provide a parking attendant to patrol non-permit holders, but is it fair that it only ever seems to be the Ffriddoedd To read the full-length version of this open letter, please visit www.seren.bangor.ac.uk and click on our Site residents (this is due to the car park attendant only blog! patrolling during the times of 8 am to 5 pm, where there is no parking problem on site due to the gym users generally arriving after 5 pm) that are penalised for unauthorised parking and not the people who are responsible for the problem – Maes Glas gym users? I am sure that Bangor University and its Halls Offi ce are aware of this problem and do nothing about it. Is this, dare I ask, down to Bangor University and the Halls Offi ce reaping the profi ts of charging students to park on A slap on the wrist... site and then collecting the fi ne money when they are write to report my disappointment at your choice of headline for your December issue regarding the ongoing works clamped or towed? at the Ffriddoedd Site. I certainly hope not, it would be a very sad state of I Whilst I appreciate the discomfort that the residents are experiencing I see no reason to choose such inappropriate affairs if this is the case – but will the University of the language. In addition, your reporting on the matter should not need to contain exaggerations or comparisons to what Halls Offi ce do anything about it? I have my doubts. the noise level is. Your readership is intelligent enough to realise that construction creates noise. I hope that any future writings on this matter will be less emotive and more factual. Thank you for your time. Anonymous Ffridd Site Resident Jamie McNeill

Sometimes Seren ventures out into the wild. See if you can spot SEREN ON THE MOVE yourself posing with us... 6 February Issue 2009 COMMENT www.seren.bangor.ac.uk Bringing you the best in news, views, Gay Times by Emily Collins here are a number of things Left Leanings I am proud of in my life and some I am ashamed of but my A socialist perspective from Iain Dalton Tsexuality does not fall under either of these categories; it simply exists. I think that, in recent years, the ‘gay- pride’ thing has become a little redun- o you go away for Christmas and and now it’s cracking. dant and overly forceful. Considering by the time you come back lots us a er the spectacular collapses how many positive changes have been of shops on the High Street have and rescues of banks, we have seen the Sclosed down.- about 50 in Bangor alone. economic crisis spread into the real made over the past few decades, the focus should now be on making sure So what’s happened? Gordon Brown economy. Some of the manufacturers the rights we have gained aren’t taken had claimed that he’d eradicated boom that are le have been shedding jobs or away from us, not on shoving our sex- and bust. Today he is laughed at because closing down such as JCB, Hoover and uality in people’s faces. I feel we’ve got of that statement. Yet the economic crisis motor manufacturers. to point where the huge pride parades was his saviour. Towards the end of last But it’s the retail sector that’s really and ‘some people are gay, get over it’ year New Labour recovered slightly in caught the headlines in Bangor. campaigns are actually starting to have the polls. is was partially due to Brown e obvious impact of this the shed- a negative e ect on the way the LGBT leading the charge in reviving elements ding of employment opportunities. community is perceived. of Keynesian economics and bailing out ousands of posts in local council It has previously been important the banks, but also because David Cam- to have those ‘out and proud’ LGBT eron and the Tories appear to have no “The British groups in order to raise awareness other alternative suggestions apart from and remove some of the taboos. Now, another dose of rampant atcherism, economy has been But perhaps more importantly with insult to injury, expecting students to however, I feel we have overstepped the not an appealing prospect to most of the on thin ice for a estimates that a minimum of 600,000 jobs work full-time for a paltry £4,500 a year mark and seem to be making sexuality population. will be lost in 2009 it will be even more (thousands of pounds a year less than the into such a big deal that we’re almost Since the adoption of neo-liberal while, and now it’s di cult to  nd a job when people  nish minimum wage!) with no guarantee of a requesting special treatment, as op- policies in the 1970’s and particularly university next year. Last year saw a cull job at the end. posed to equality. under atcher in the 1980’s the manu- cracking.” of jobs in the  nance sector due to the ere is a serious need for a campaign For these reasons I take issue with facturing base of the British economy bank crisis but even temporary jobs that for jobs for all but especially for young has been devastated. Instead the British workforces, the civil service and other people get for a few months a er gradu- people (of whom latest  gures suggest “We focus too much economy has been built up on  nance public sector jobs are expected to be lost. ation while they look for something else, 1.5 million will be unemployed). Given on highlighting our and  nancial services as well as retail. And that’s before discussing the thou- such as working in a supermarket will be NUS has recently passed a governance Which is viable for businesses if you’re sands of small businesses that have gone harder to come by. is will also com- review that will transform it into some- differences instead in a long period of boom like the last 10 to the wall or will do soon due to lack of pound the problem of student debt. e thing more akin to a charity (more on of celebrating our to 15 years as people have been loaned credit and decreases in sales. main argument in favour of the current that next issue) it is unlikely it will lead similarities” cheap money to spend on these things, But what does all this mean for stu- fees and loans system is that graduates a campaign. Instead, it will fall to others to invest etc. But come a recession these dents? For one thing it means that there’ll will be able to a ord paying the debt o to launch a campaign, which is what the the ‘Pride’ movement and the general are exactly the things people spend less be less part time jobs for people who may once they’ve graduated. With no jobs, the Youth Fight For Jobs (www.youth ght- attitude that it is ‘us’ against ‘them’ on, especially when the boom was sus- have been using the money from that to debt will hang round students’ necks like forjobs.com) intends to do with a dem- because I think this is ultimately de- tained by ever growing debt. e British help  nance their way through univer- a millstone. e Government’s proposed onstration and launch conference at the structive. We focus too much on economy has been on thin ice for a while, sity. scheme for graduate internships adds beginning of April. highlighting our di erences and what allowances should be made for these, instead of celebrating our similarities. Semantically, I will grant that ‘pride’ is, in fact, the opposite of ‘shame’ and so the term ‘gay pride’ has very relevant roots but in my opinion, the time has Offering some come for a new direction. We should also take care to be a little appreciative of how far we have come. e  ght for equality has been a thoughts di cult one, but now LGBT citizens currently have many of the same rights as non-LGBT ones. We now have the on Bangor’s ability to legally commit to those we love, to raise children together, apply for jobs without fear of discrimination and constructively combat any homo- cultural void... phobia shown towards us. Compared to the early nineteenth century when over two hundred people were execut- ccording to folklaw, there was vitality which would even make pleasant screen several wonderfully cra ed and looking for posters of amongst others, ed as punishment for ‘homosexual acts’ once a bona de cinema in Ban- the sensations of being splashed by col- edifying  lms each week in places like the Amnesty International Society Film I would say that the status quo is fairly gor: small, wonderful, cosy, albeit lege roads rogue pavement squares. JP eatre. For those who have not been Screenings (Sunday 7.00pm) which are favourable. It is noticeable how many slightlyA commercial by some standards. A It is only fair to point out here that there, or in my case bunked in there, it legally (and quite conveniently for Am- positive steps have been taken when layer or two above that, in our excavated eatr Gwynedd will eventually be re- is the newly built, nuvo decorated cin- nesty) limited to screenings of political, you consider that as late as 1973, ho- geo-cultural past, we  nd intact the fos- placed, but this may well happen long ema and theatre with awfully nice look- humanitarian and culturally informative mosexuality was still o cially de ned sil of our dearly missed eatr Gwynedd, a er many of us have le the University. ing chairs and is, in my opinion, the best  lms to students and sta of Bangor Uni- as a ‘mental illness.’ where they projected for us the cream of Bangor students are myopic moles, whose performance space in Bangor right now. versity. So, it being LGBT history month world independent cinema, along with average lifespan are usually no more than Notably, these  lms are selected by the Perhaps less likely, but still worth a go, and all, I would like to say thank you to the good stu from LA. 3-4 years, and at trendiest of  lm lec- is trying to petition the University to al- those who were brave enough to take Even as it lay there dying in her  nal least one genera- “At least one turers, and the last low the theatre troupes who would nor- on the world with their rainbow  ags hour, she coughed out beauties like Into tion is at risk of go- generation of Bangor few I’ve attended mally pass through Bangor to perform when it was still a taboo; to remember the Wild, Control and ere Will Be ing through their have included spike in places like PJ hall and the JP eatre the people who su ered losing support Blood to Bangor’s students, cinephiles degree culturally Students is at risk of Jones’ Adaptation, whilst eatr Gwynedd is hurriedly being of friends and family in order to  ght and slightly startled OAP’s. Perhaps more malnourished and going through their the 90’s German replaced. Should we have the wherewithal for our right to love who we want and importantly, eatr Gwynedd was the without even being techno (ya) Run to do so, we can once again walk (directly) to aknolwedge the people who work mainstay for your cultural dose of well angered by what degree culturally Lola Run, and Jean out onto splashing paving stones of Col- within the system today to maintain produced and sometimes great theatre. should be there. malnourished” Luc Godard’s su- lege Road with a look of a warm pleasure our equality. We still have a lot to work Students would be welcomed with smiles, How do we get per cool, Weekend. on our faces. towards, but we really do need to just greatly discounted prices, and hushed through this cavitous cultural quagmire? ese screenings have never exceeded take a moment to appreciate how far usherings to those arriving late; they One way is to rede ne the lines between even half capacity in my experience and Homan Yousofi we have come. would leave with important things to tell public and exclusive  lm screenings. e conveniently, it is dark when you go in. Emily Collins is LGBT Senator. each other, a spring in their step and a  lm studies department, for instance, More legitimately, it is well worth 7 February Issue 2009 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk COMMENT reviews with nothing to lose... Life, the No one is allowed to be happy. Fact. universe and whatsitsface With even soaps pumping The world according to Joe Firth out the sadness, its offi cial, SAVING MONEY hat did you last buy? A baguette we live in a smile free-zone. for lunch? A DVD from Ama- y name is Liz, and I’m addicted My problem lies not with the execu- zon? A double vodka orange to soaps. Yes, it’s shameful, but tion of the storyline (being run with the Wlast night (or this morning if you’re an al- it’s true. Every evening, I put approval and guidance of the NSPCC), coholic)? Whatever it was, did you really myM feet up, and tune in to my daily dose but its general nature; the age old formu- need it? of brain numbing, intelligence sapping, la of soaps – another day, another drama. You see, I’ve been attempting to save soapy goodness. And I love it. It is just the latest in a long line of dark, money recently. Not because I’m languish- But I’ve recently developed a problem depressing storylines (Max being buried ing in the deep depths of my overdra , with programmes of this nature, much to alive, Jase being stabbed, Sean driving nor because I’m trying to save up to fund my chagrin and complete and utter hor- Roxy into an icy lake upon the discov- a sojourn to the other side of the world. Or ror. As well as mind numbing, soaps have ery he was not the father of her baby) to even to save, dare I say it, due to the current become a happiness free zone, complete- come from the EE camp. I could on. And economic climate (by the way, since when ly and totally empty - even more so than on. And they’re not alone. Point me to a does climate refer to economics, I haven’t usual. Eastenders in particular. Gone are truly happy character in all of Soapland. seen any money falling from the sky recent- the days of at least some attempts at com- Go on. I thought not. ly). No, I’ve been attempting to save just for edy, now all it wants to do is upset us. I genuinely do understand how good the sake of it. A recent of choice of storyline cen- soaps are as a platform for raising aware- To me, it seeems that we have it ridicu- tred on the a ermath of Tony, boyfriend ness of these issues (especially in today’s lously easy and are living way beyond our of Bianca (the ginger one that screams society), but the depression level is be- means. Some of us go out and spend £20 Rickaaay! a lot) and the discovery of ing cranked up to an unbearable degree, on drinks getting hammered at least once his secret, consensual relationship with smacking of desperate attempts to win fun, no longer reporting the weird and With news breaking recently of Al e a week, £10 on a couple of lunches out, £10 her 15-year-old stepdaughter Whitney, ratings. And yes, whilst issues like this do wonderful, random and ridiculous, but Patton, the 13-year-old who has become on the new releases at HMV and £20 now whilst maintaining an infatuation with exist today, would it kill the programme the downright depressing. Chris Brown, a dad, it is now more glaringly obvious and again on a nice shirt or dress. Sud- 14 year old Lauren Branning. Having to make us smile? In the current world Rhianna, Jade Goody, Amy Winehouse, the kind of world we are living in. Is it denly, we’re talking outgoings of £60 a week pleaded not guilty to all charges of pae- of recession, war torn countries and gen- the list goes on of those who are so des- so wrong to yearn for just a little bit of and hundreds of pounds a month. dophilia, the family are now struggling to eral bottomless doom, how hard would perately unhappy that the world needs escapism? I understand soap charac- come to terms with what has happened, it be for just one broadcaster to make us to know about it. e funniest thing I’ve ters aren’t allowed to be happy, but what “It’s a travesty whilst trying to discover if Ricky is actu- laugh? read in weeks is about a rabbit on Coro- about us? there’s been no ally father to another one of Bianca’s chil- e problem is not restricted to soaps nation Street getting a personal assistant Liz Stevens dren. Following? Good, it can get quite alone. Even the staple of cheerfulness, my because of animal welfare laws. Omg, lol. charity set up to confusing. good ole gossip websites are joining in the Yes, I am being sarcastic. help us poor sods”

A good example of perceived student life is a money box I received for Christ- mas (we’ve already had a Christmas rant in Seren right?). On the side it reads ‘starv- ing students’ and asks to ‘give generously so that I can: live on pizzas and pints, buy clothes that aren’t second hand, get a new set of wheels and party all weekend’. It’s a travesty there’s been no charity set up to help us poor sods, isn’t it? Fine, we may have it easy but then it is ludicrously easy to spend money, or rather unreasonably di cult to save. For example, when your friends are all sco ng full Eng- lish breakfasts whilst you sit there gorm- less sipping a glass of tap water, you really do start feeling like a poor bugger. ‘Have Life on a Limewire a chip’, they insist, as if suddenly I’m now some sort of charity appeal. Next they’ll ownloading music is a tricky It’s a well known fact that the music came out the last thing I wanted was to own the copyright to the songs they use. be sending food packages to my house (by business these days. iTunes is industry has su ered  nancially at the give iTunes £10 of my loan for something You might have paid iTunes for them, or the way, I wouldn’t complain if this started the biggest online music store, hands of piracy on the internet, but music which is basically immaterial. Maybe a even dragged them from the depths of happening, however, please bear in mind I takingD over the world one iPod at a time, itself? With it blasting from car windows, reason legal downloads aren’t preferable your dusty CD collection but this is irrel- don’t like mushrooms). but its estimated that 95% of all music mobile phones and everybody’s head- is because you don’t really get anything evant to Facebook who threaten to delete So what’s the solution? I could just downloads are illegal. e rules on down- phones, its impossible to get away from for your money. Of course there’s the the pro les of repeat o enders (remem- simply not go out, stay at home and binge loading are a bit  u y but the basic gist is music. If you take 95% of this away you’d satisfaction of knowing you can have this ber your life before Facebook? No, me on oats and water. e trouble as soon as that if you haven’t paid for it, you’re not have nothing but very quiet halls of resi- song on your computer without the wor- either). is seems quite unfair to me, if we start making a concerted e ort to save allowed. But Bearshare sounds so friendly dence and Radio 1 ry FBI agents could anything these videos promote the songs money by not going out and not spending - do not be fooled! Ignorance is not an ex- le . It would be like “I’m not saying smash through your they use. I had a video that endorsed a money we immediately hinder ourselves cuse when it comes to you vs. Rihanna’s the scene in 28 days window at any time certain very successful SIN night deleted socially and become insular hermits. We record company. It all comes under the later when Cillian music should be free, and arrest you - but for this reason. Montell Jordan should be need to go out and interact with each other, umbrella ella ella of the (sorry I couldn’t Murphy can’t  nd the industry would you can’t touch it or pleased that one hit he had was brought stimulate ourselves through entertainment. help myself). anyone in London. put it on your CD back to the population of Facebook to Alas our intellectual blessing is as much Napster made the  rst waves in the e world would collapse, nay the rack or accidentally enjoy again. of a curse. Perhaps we should all go under internet piracy pond back in 1999 o er- be an aurally bar- whole world probably leave it in the car. Its It seems the authorities have no sense ‘dumbing down’ treatment to diminish our ing free songs to anyone and everyone. ren place. intangible, almost of humour, probably because their e orts insatiable desire to socialise and consume Although it was quickly shut down there I’m not saying would, but it seems like you’ve paid but against copyright the have been so fruit- ‘culture’. On the other hand, this might give was no shortage of people trying to take music should be to have been taken haven’t received less, but possibly also because music is an unfair advantage to e Sun and Chan- its place. In fact there were so many au- free, the industry anything. now available to anyone who wants it, not nel 5 whilst slowing sales of e Guardian thorities have been able to do little to would collapse, nay out of offi cial hands.” e govern- just anyone who can a ord it. Whether and reducing viewing  gures for BBC 4. stop these music pirates in the 10 years the whole world ment have vowed this is good or not is up to you to decide No, as is usually the case, there’s no one following. Its like walking out of HMV probably would, but it seems to have been to “crack down” on internet piracy in but until the day that Big Brother really is sure  re solution. It’s the annoying but ef- with Kanye West’s latest o ering except taken out of o cial hands. general but they seem to say this periodi- watching, thank BitTorrent for the music, fective ‘small cutbacks at a time’ approach so many people are doing the same thing Good albums do well regardless of how cally. at 95% of music is still out there, for giving it to you. which are probably most e ective. Looks (the doors at HMV are quite wide) that many people are illegally downloading the only di erence seems to be Facebook Georgia Mannion like I’m going to have to start stocking Tes- the security guard can’t catch anyone. them. When Kings of Leon’s last album and YouTube deleting videos that don’t co value caviar on my Yacht from now on. 8 February Issue 2009 UNION www.seren.bangor.ac.uk ver the next few weeks the Students’ A day in the Union will be launching its ‘OI SABBS’ Ocampaign. The aim of the campaign is to further promote the Students’ Union to those who life of a may not yet have got involved with it and also to encourage students to have their say and express their thoughts about what it is the Union should Sabbatical do. Commenting about the campaign, President Offi cer John Jackson said “It’s great to see that participation within the Union is at its highest level for a very long time this year. However that doesn’t mean we want to rest on our laurels. We want to encourage as many people as possible to get involved and have their say about what we do and provide. Whether it’s about democracy, entertainment, communication or clubs and societies, if people have an opinion we want to hear it. Students need to tell us what they think so that we can build on the improvements already made.” Tom Hecht The Sabbatical team will be rolling out a poster # and postcard campaign in the coming weeks Societies and encouraging students to contact them with their 3 Events Offi cer thoughts. As the campaign suggests, whether it’s a query, a suggestion a complaint or even praise, Morning the Sabb team want to hear what you’ve got to say! Post a bowl of porridge and a fresh For more information about the campaign, or slice of marmite-clad toast – gosh, if you want to get involved and help out, please it’s 7am*. Occasionally, I’ll cheat and contact any of the sabbatical team. All contact read my e-mails whilst walking to details can be found at the SU website – www. work – ‘testing the water’. First stop bangorstudents.com. - the SU Shop and reception; “Bore da! Morning!”. Time to check out what new things Pearl & Jackie have in stock (woot! Fairtrade) and off upstairs. Who’s in? The sign-in board is a real tell-tale! A quick tidy up and shaping of my to-do list for the day is normally What do you want from your new necessary as is a fl eeting glance at the day’s meetings. *disclaimer: time zone not specifi ed Students’ Union building? Afternoon Lunch can take many varying s SEREN exclusively revealed earlier in the academic year, forms, often resulting in a grazing the University has unveiled its feasibility study for a new Arts effort. Tuning into Storm FM brightens and Innovation Centre that will also house the new Students’ A up the day (especially when I get to Union. The Sabbatical team of the Union have been working make “nifty little form” requests!). tirelessly to make sure that they are involved at all stages of the I send something off to Gareth for consultation process regarding the proposed new SU and as such translation, have a banter with Aled they want to feed back your thoughts and ideas. The ‘NEW SU 2011’ campaign will be launched via Facebook the IT Manager, answer some e-mails, make a brew, sign-off some society and will be advertised around the University. The aim will be to direct students to an online survey on the Students’ Union website. invoices, send some e-mails, ask Rob’s The survey will ask students about their thoughts on services and AU opinion, chat fi nance with Sharon facilities that they would like to see included in the new build that & Rachelle, pester John, write a letter, is scheduled for completion towards the end of 2011. upload photos to the website, organise Deputy President Spencer George and Societies and Events a cloakroom week, prioritise my to-dos, Offi cer Tom Hecht have been spearheading the campaign. answer the phone… When asked about the planning of the campaign, Spencer George commented, “Ideally we would have liked a lot longer to have planned out this consultation process. However, with Evening the feasibility study being unveiled at such short notice we’ve Doh, it’s 5pm and there’s still hours had to come up with a campaign that will allow us to engage of work to go. Around the build-up to with students and feedback as many thoughts and opinions each Serendipity anything goes, sleep into the process as possible in a short period of time.” Tom doesn’t. On a more regular occasion Hecht added, “We want a survey that will provide us with both I do like to get out for a climb, night- qualitative and quantitative data to present to the University hike, game of badminton/squash, or, so that hopefully the new build will deliver the many facilities on a less athletic note, the pub. Society and services that students now come to expect from a and University events are fun to attend modern day Students’ Union.” For up to date information about the campaign and to take of an evening too. If it’s a night in, www.bangorstudents. some toast/a ready meal and a chat part in the online survey, visit with the door staff (post 9pm) are the or join the 1200+ students on the offi cial Bangor com/2011 only perks. A decent stereo system in Students’ Union Facebook group. the offi ce helps fi lter out unwelcome Academi beats (my tastes are broad but…) 9 February Issue 2009 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk UNION This year the Students’ Union Events Committee has liaised closely with the Tell us Entertainments Manager of Undeb Trading Cyf., in order to assist in the shaping of the event. However, we want to hear *your* views and opinions about what *you* want from the Summer Ball, so that we may be best qualifi ed SUMMER BALL 2009 to relate the ‘student voice’. Whilst it’s quite possible that you’d like to hear The Killers and have 10 different fairground rides, our location and the venue size restrict Have your say what is at the disposal of the organisers. We’d like to urge you to concentrate on more than just what bands you’d like to have playing – perhaps you’d like to see jugglers and a coconut • What do you most/least want to see? shy this year? And please tell us about your previous experiences of such events (both here • How can we make the occasion in Bangor and elsewhere). unique and extraordinary? • Genres…? What fl oats your boat? • Are we missing a trick? Let us know about that ‘x factor’ you’ve heard of elsewhere…

Whether you’ve written 10 words or a 1000, please send each and every one of them back to: [email protected]

FINAL YEAR STUDENTS!

it needs to work with the University with their thoughts, whether they are ntering its fi fth year, the their input into the survey and the to make sure improvements are positive or negative. Only by knowing National Student Survey (NSS) results will eventually be published on made. Last year’s results showed what students truly think can the Get on the is an independent census of Unistats.com. Prospective students E that students at Bangor University University look to improve for the students in their fi nal year of a course and their advisors can then use the future.” results to help them make informed were not happy with the quality of website leading to undergraduate credits or assessment and feedback they were The Ipsos MORI team (the qualifi cations across the UK. choices of where and what to study organisation rolling out the survey) in the future. receiving from lecturers regarding The survey gives fi nal year students their coursework. As a result of these will be contacting fi nal year students & tell ‘em the chance to have their say about More importantly though, the in the very near future. If however results will help the University identify results, the Students’ Union has been what they liked and didn’t like during working with the University to look at you’d like to complete the survey where its strengths and weaknesses www. their student learning experience feedback and assessment protocols before then, simply visit about your here at Bangor University. The Survey lie so that it can improve upon the thestudentsurvey.com or for more services and facilities it currently across the board in all schools of the encompasses a wide range of topics University information visit the Students’ Union including course specifi c issues, offers. Only by knowing what it needs website www.bangorstudents. time here to improve can the University continue Deputy President Spencer George services and provisions such as commented that “The NSS is incredibly com. This is a great opportunity to Library and IT facilities and questions to facilitate best practice and enhance voice your opinions about all aspects the student experience. important both to the University and about extracurricular activities along the SU. I would encourage all fi nal year of the University. So as the slogan in Bangor with many other topics. The results are also incredibly suggests, make sure you take the important to the Students’ Union as students to take the time to complete Final year students will be contacted the survey and be completely honest time to ‘Be Heard!’ over the coming weeks to ask for they can often highlight areas where 10 February Issue 2009 FEATURES www.seren.bangor.ac.uk Spencer George: making pennies for Getting ‘closer’ losing pounds! in BEDS he New Year is in; fresh talent is theatrical device was used when wonderfully and Dan’s roving eye was here with up-and-coming shows free-spirited and sexually untidy evident, without being disgustingly Twhich are tickling every taste Alice performs in a strip joint. Her sleazy. Anna and Alice were two bud. Two ROSTRA girls went to see references to the security and the BEDS (Bangor English Dramatic surveillance, which, she gestured, Society) production of Closer. were based somewhere in front of “Hardly halfway Perhaps better known as the the stage made the audience feel original 2004 fi lm, written by Patrick involved with the play and that the through the Marber with Jude Law, Clive Owen, events were all the more real. Natalie Portman and Julia Roberts, The characters’ very believable fi rst half, the the original play Closer recounts the emotional responses to each other story of four strangers, Alice, Dan, succeeded in creating a highly fi lm version Larry and Anna. Each character dramatic effect on the audience. was entirely enslaved by desire, their lives These included a heart-broken become completely entangled and Dan confronting his love rival Larry forgotten.” consumed by lies, temptation and pleading for his beloved back, and betrayal. the former, out of passion and completely different women with the BEDS decided to perform Closer characters’ having a big age gap, in the newly refurbished John Philips “The directors which was evident. Everything had (JP) hall. The audience were greeted been thought of, including clothes, with a warm smile and a programme showed sheer make-up, mannerisms and accents. from the front desk, and shortly we Each actress performed their were shown to our seats. The play brilliance and character without any faults. Mentally preparing himself to join in? began quickly and the fi rst scene set Last, but defi nitely not least, the a high standard for the rest of the wonderful back stage crew worked quickly and s a way to raise money Spencer joined the gym and with play. quietly with their effi cient scene for Ty Gobaith Children’s his pedometer (given to him by Joe) The play opens up with the stage originality changes, which allowed the play to AHospice, Bangor University will continue with his goal of losing black and stark. A nondescript bed. progress with its’ fast pace and which set up ‘Pennies for Pounds’. For this a stone, “now that the weather has A conventional-looking woman with throughout” kept the intensity of the characters fundraiser, University staff members picked up I’m going to start walking a common leg injury. Your average and the electric atmosphere at a take part in a weight-loss challenge to work as well.” In its third week man approaches her. Not even a wrath, striking Alice on the face; a constant throughout. and for every pound they lose, 10p of running, Spencer has said that single word yet. The chemistry is forceful application in a formidable It is never easy to approach a is donated to the local hospital in the going is “slow and steady”. With instant. This atmospheric, tense scene which brought the drama to well-known piece of theatre, and Conwy. The challenge started at seven weeks still to go, the staff and sexually-charged meeting a shocking climax. All mannerisms, even harder to perform a play that the beginning of February, shortly members will fi nish just in time initiates Alice and Dan’s troublesome clothing and speech tendencies has been made into a fi lm and known before the launch of Healthy Living for Easter Sunday. Although there relationship. enabled the very strong character by so many. But BEDS took the Week by the University Nurse Health are several days of fasting during development, and Anna’s use of script by the scruff of the neck and Practitioner, Joe Patton, as a way for Lent so maybe that will give the hand movements, typical of creative made it their own completely. It was people to improve their fi tness levels participants incentive to keep going. “The pace was people, added to an accurate thoroughly enjoyed by all. and raise money at the same time. Until then, they’ll just have to forget portrayal of an established artist. By Emma Gregory Spencer George, Deputy President about such delights as Pancake Day fast and exciting” Each actor made the character of the Students’ Union, decided to and chocolate crème eggs. their own. Hardly halfway through and Rosie MacLeod. take part. the fi rst half, and the fi lm was entirely Frances Birkett The play moves quickly on, forgotten. The incredible rawness showing the sexually uninhibited side of Larry’s character was portrayed of Dan and Larry’s characters, which were conveyed by the men interacting over an x-rated, online chat room in a scene effectively delivered. Centre stage was a giant screen showing the progression of their deceptive discussion. The appearance of frank, sexualised, even vulgar language in text format added even more comic effect. Assuming the character of his desired Anna, Dan converses as her ghost writer and projects his own fantasies about her into the conversation. This tricks dermatologist Larry into believing he is conversing with a temptress. The plot thickens when fate intervenes and Larry meets Anna, the events of last night’s cyber trickery become apparent and this pivotal rendezvous begins another ill- fated relationship. The plays’ pace was fast and exciting, without leaving behind any of the audience. The directors showed sheer brilliance and wonderful originality throughout the play, with ideas that included the usage of a split screen. The best of which was shown in a scene exposing the affairs and introverted relationships of all the characters. Another memorable 11 February Issue 2009 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk FEATURES Healthy Living Week Red Nose Day 2009 Mr Motivator - not part of healthy living week but a big hit at the Seren 90s SIN Night

Main Arts building - not one of the UK landmarks going red for Comic Relief but imagine if it was... ts that time of year again - Red of two different guest panellists each and the Sarah Jane Adventures will Nose Day! Since its conception show, including Emma Bunton, Paul be shown. osted by Bangor Students extremely successful with 65 people in 1985 by scriptwriter and soppy O’Grady and Michael McIntyre. The BT Red Nose Climb will see Athletic Union, Healthy Living coming down. We had the infl atable I fi lm maker Richard Curtis, Comic Other special events being nine celebrities attempting to climb Week ran from 30th January out and slide open, which was H Relief has raised over £600 million. screened on the night will include all 19,000 feet of Africa’s highest to the 7th February incorporating awesome. Everyone really enjoyed This Friday, 13th of March 2009, ‘Comic Relief Does The Apprentice’, mountain to raise money. On 27 a number of activities from taster themselves and had lots of fun. we’ll see the twelfth red nose day featuring celebrities like Carol February 2009 Gary Barlow, Ronan sessions hosted in Maes Glas to The other events were well grace our screens. This year there Vorderman, Gok Wan and Jonathan Keating, Chris Moyles, Ben Shephard, a pool party, which despite the attended as well though, particularly are three different nose designs to Ross attempting to make a television Cheryl Cole, Kimberley Walsh, Denise appalling weather, turned out to be the free Maes Glas sessions. choose from, all with different Van Outen, Fearne Cotton, and one of the highlights of the week. Seren: Do you think the week facial expressions! The event Alesha Dixon will be setting off With ever increasing press that was a success and will the this year will see the revival of to Tanzania to tackle Mount students are lazy and spend their students of Bangor be seeing old favourite TV shows or even Kilimanjaro! Here at Seren we’re days watching Jeremy Kyle, this more events like this? in one case its own stand alone hoping you’ll all join in, here are was an opportunity to show that the Rob: I think it was a huge success reality TV show. some ideas: students of Bangor are not slaves with most of the events being The Saturdays will provide to Pot Noodle and Xbox. I spoke well attended, and seeing a good - Buy a red nose the offi cial single, a cover of to Rob Samuel, president of the response from the students. I would ‘Enough’ and Comic Relief’s Athletic Union about his thoughts on defi nitely like to hold more things - Get sponsored for doing Chief Exec has announced that Healthy Living Week... like this, and I will be recommending something crazy, such as the UK’s landmarks will be Seren: What made you decide to these sorts of events to whoever walking around in wellies full going red before the big day. host a Healthy Living Week? takes over the role next year. of beans David Tennant and Davina Rob: I wanted to promote sport It is something that can most McCall will be presenting the and recreation, and a healthy defi nitely be built upon, as well as - Collect money in lectures fi rst hour of the main live Comic lifestyle to all students of Bangor. fi nding out what other things like Relief show and Fearne Cotton Also I wanted to provide sporting this the students actually want to - Dress up stupidly for will be presenting a special Top and recreational opportunities and see. lectures of The Pops for Red Nose Day 2009. advert for Sir Alan Sugar. activities that any student could get Judging by the success that Claudia Winkleman revealed she will A special episode of Gavin involved with whether they were a the Athletic Union has seen this - But most importantly, be presenting a new Comic Relief and Stacey, based on Nessa and member of the AU or not. Basically year from the various sports clubs RAISE SOME MONEY FOR show with Steve Jones called ‘Let’s Bryn travelling to Las Vegas for a the week was mainly aimed at and the number of AU Nights and CHARITY Danc’e. Each week, a celebrity act will championship where they meet up getting more people involved with events, whoever will be stepping perform a number of famous dance with Tom Jones and sing the Bee Gees sport and recreation (not just into Rob Samuels position next year routines which will then be voted on written “Islands in the Stream” (the Sion Wyn Laszek competitive sport). will have very big shoes to fi ll, not by the judging panel and public. The second comic relief single) are also Seren: What was the most just because Rob wears a size 12. panel will be headed by Anton Du to be aired. Special episodes of Two successful event of the week? Beke, who will be joined by a team Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps Rob: The pool party was Bianca Murray

You don’t always have to follow the crowd

FASHIONashion Staple – The plain white tee. There are certain items of Big is the way forward. To create this clothing that will never go out of fashion - no matter what your style look you can either keep it simple with F– it’s likely that you’ll have most of these items in your wardrobe some backcombing at the roots, or glam already. it up and step back to the sixties with The most evident of these is the original white tee with skinnies. To a backcombed beehive style. To keep liven this outfi t up add a pair of ballet pumps or if you have it, a the look updated, try a headband biker jacket for the tough look. Alternatively for a straight off the with a bow. Cropped boyfriend cuts cat walk feel add a tailored, cropped jacket or a vintage style are low maintenance and very baggy boyfriend blazer is always a hit. chic. The centre parting of your TIP: A vintage brooch always adds a bit of ‘va va voom’ to childhood has made a comeback and any outfi t. is the cheapest way to make a change. Statement The original white tee could also make a very glamorous evening Makeup Must-haves: Eyes outfi t. To get the look that’s in at the moment without braking the bank, Include some cheap beauty tricks: A tub of borrow your boyfriend’s tshirt. This cheap trick means you have a loose Vaseline is essential, whether you’re using it as a lip gloss, fi t top that looks effortless and straight off the rails from Topshop, at no cheek highlighter, or on cuts and grazes from falling cost to you! To customise add a waist belt, leggings and heels then you are over drunk, a pot of Vaseline never goes out of beauty set for a night out with the girls! Fancy being the next Agyness Deyn of fashion! Statement eyes are big this season, but Bangor? All you have to do is dress to impress and you could be the best you don’t have to go wild. You can create this look by dressed in Bangor. Remember individuality is always best. simply extending your eye liner further than usual, Cheap Student Tricks smudging it with Vaseline or brave a new eyeshadow www.boohoo.com – scour this website for cheaper versions of some colour. Barry M have some great shades, and Topshop and River Island garments. Boohoo also do a lovely pair of Superdrug usually have offers on this brand. Nude sequin leggings for £20, usually priced at £30-£40 on the high street. lips are all over the catwalks at the moment, and Charity shops are another great idea. Floral prints are big this you don’t have to break the bank to achieve this season so if you spot a Granny top grab it. Alternatively, you could look. Simply blend your concealer onto your check your Grandmas loft for perfect vintage tricks. lips and cover lightly in clear gloss (or Vaseline!). Alternatively, Natural Collection at boots have a DIY great range of lipsticks all for under £2! These Boyfriend Buy some thick ribbon from a haberdashery, make it into a bow include the nude shade, as well as a Hollywood blazer and attach a safety pin. There you have an instant fashion uplift. staple colour - crimson, to get that red carpet Nude & white Hot in hair this season look. Lips t-shirts Laura Winstanley & Polly Daszkiewicz SEREN STUDENT CENTREFOLD

Biya Ashraf kindly invited us to THROUGH THE her humble Lower Bangor abode. If you have traffi c cones galore or mess STUDENT to impress get in touch! [email protected] Going KEYHOLE Up

Lily Allen Seren approves of her latest offering It’s Not Me It’s You.

Giant Tamagoitchi...why not? Being able to like things on facebook

We like this!

Snow, apparently Where was our snow? You never get this in Hollyoaks There was Kitchen, with en suite - hygenic! scarcely enough to sledge down Is this you? Do you know who Bitch Hill on it is? If so, then get in touch a bin lid and you’ll win a HANDPAINTED Students causing SEREN MUG! the recession What more could you want? [email protected] Two lucky people:

Matt & Sophie

...here with their hand painted Spotted! Seren mugs!

SEREN STUDENT CENTREFOLD SEREN STUDENT CENTREFOLD

Exploring current affairs Issues... with Dwight McCarthy he expensive high street shop issue, (much debated by the students of Bangor - especially on Facebook), is a highly Timportant one, worth my discussion. I would personally And another thing… like to chastise you for not spending over one hundred pounds The certain popular branded pub crawl issue. I went to the on blocks of carefully crafted Japanese kitchen knives. How dare last one, with promises of lewdness and vulgarity, excessive you all sit there, in your lovely warm student houses, drink beer amounts of drinking and general “carnage”… what I witnessed constantly, eat steak and excrete gold. Your choice not to buy however, seemed to be a well run, thought-out plan of moving Tom McCarron plastic shoes full of holes, in the winter, IN BANGOR has brought students effi ciently around Bangor and eventually herding them the rest of us into disrepute. You skinfl ints. While I’m here all to Time/Academi. The free soft drinks and wardens within I remind you, you are all to blame for the may earshot generally added to my rejection of the idea that every permanent shutting of Woolworths and student involved would have 10 pints and then have sex in some various other buildings on the high kind of orgy on Glanrafon (aka Bitch) Hill. All in all I’m street, despite the effect of a global now economy crashing. Hundreds of disappointed that we will no longer get a people all over the country are chance for this to happen losing jobs left right and centre again. and this is entirely your fault, students in Bangor. Although this sad and terrible time of recession is upon us, you are all to blame. Your choice not to spend money on a set of four cocktail glasses, but Birthday: 8th Feb instead pay food and heating bills astounds me. So shame on you students of Hometown: Bangor, shame on you. Wallasey

Studying: They affect your life Psychology Bangor’s unsung heroes! on a daily basis, but This month: Library Staff do you really know Music: RATM, Late enough about them? of The Pier, Mr aving been expressly “There is no better way than coming disruptive. For instance, instructed to make clear that to the library and reading a book. I’d always assumed mobile Scruff, The Rapture Hlibrarians do not all wear Obviously, you have to take into phones to be the bane of librarians’ pleated skirts, buns in their hair and account that access to information lives. The ‘phone zones’ now dotted Films: High Fidelity, spectacles on strings, or incessantly is far more varied than it’s ever around Bangor’s shout ‘ssshhh!!!’, I can report, in all been, but there’s nothing that can libraries have helped This Is Spinal Tap, honesty, that I encountered none of replace reading a good book. That’s somewhat, but it these things during my time with the true way to education.” seems you can’t Blow the lovely gatekeepers of Bangor’s Bangor’s extensive collections shake the belief that knowledge. Instead I found tears, include texts from the fi fteenth conversations on your pigeons and ghosts. century and a letter from Elizabeth I, mobile are inaudible Groups: Coffee and First the stats; 850,000 books to everyone but you. TV Milk Carton Fan are held in Bangor University’s six “Students should libraries, as well as subscription to “It shouldn’t be be a little bit careful Club, The Y Borth over 10,000 e-journals. There are about what they’re 420,000 book loans and renewals necessary to discussing on their Crew, a year with, obscurely enough, A mobile phones in the I wish Billie Piper Companion to Latin American Film add ‘no phone corridors, because proving this year’s most borrowed they are public areas” would lighten her item (49 loans since September fact sex’ to library warns Sian. “I work at fans). There are over half a million the top of the building black eyebrows, its visits to the library per year, but notice boards” and people’s voices upsetting there could and should be more. carry up there, and “If you’re a student who’s never but naturally, its libraries must also I’ve listened – well, I been to the library, then why not?” keep pace with the developments try not to listen, but year” observes Sian), “you have to asks Sian Robinson, senior library and demands of today. These can it’s very diffi cult not to when they’re use different skills to work in the Tom’s acceptance assistant for the Welsh and special be benefi cial (self-issue machines, outside your door discussing very library…you have to be patient and collections. It’s a good question. electronic resources, Wi-Fi) or intimate subjects”. It shouldn’t be considerate and aware”. Access to speech... necessary to add ‘no phone sex’ the library isn’t restricted to the to library notice boards, surely: university’s staff and students, I’m typing this in the midst it’s bad enough your housemates either. “The library belongs to of a waterfall, from my eyes, to having to hear that through the the local community as much as it the keyboard. I believe this to be wall, don’t infl ict it on librarians. belongs to the university” stresses “ one of the fi nest moments of my For the most part however, Sian. All comers are welcome, as life. Apart from that time I lost library staff greatly enjoy their long as they cause no trouble. From The Game. I’d just like to thank contact with students. Everybody I the homeless who enter Deiniol my family, friends, the G-O-D spoke to cited the interaction with library for some warmth and shelter, man, Morrissey, Mark Zuckerberg, students and the satisfaction gained to the family of pigeons who nest Alien Minnows, and Seren for from helping them as the best behind the clock in the Shankland making this all possible. Peace & aspects of the job. Some even form reading room, to the spectral porter Love. Tom lasting friendships across the issue who patrols the Lloyd reading room desk. “A student from Malaysia used late at night and, of course, you. to bring presents back for us when “We like students” says Sian, “the more the better”. ” he went home; a pair of trousers, or duty-free cigarettes” recalls Gwyn Fancy a bit of Williams. “He told us that if we were ever in Malaysia, we could stay Rhodri Barker with his family”. Even when those this? Add us on familiar library pressures prove too much for students, the staff do as Facebook to be much as they can. For instance, during exam period (“there’s far in the running more crying around that time of next month! SEREN STUDENT CENTREFOLD 14 February Issue 2009 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk This year, Seren’s roving reporter, Willow Manuel, is dedicating some time to trying out clubs and societies.

All photos of Willow in action taken by Helen Waller

BUMS night out in Academi was perhaps not the best preparation for BUMS, a club UOTC whose name deceivingly makes it sound like it does not require much get Aup and go. However get up and go is literally what is required for Bangor University’s Mountaineering Society. The BUMS have-a-go session took us to ‘little’ (debatable) Tryfan in the Ogwen Valley. Being somewhat underprepared clothes-wise, the club kindly lent me “After stinking and an oversized brown coat which was, in fact, older than my parents. The more experienced climbers prepared ropes of varying lengths for us to climb up and sweating we did I decided to climb the smallest rope. After checking that my rope was secure at least ten times and being safe in the knowledge that I wasn’t going to fall out of ‘sex poses’ to my harness and plummet to my death, I quiveringly decided to attempt climbing up the rock. Eventually, I reached the top, however I was unaware of how I would come back stretch out” down. To my horror I was informed that I would have to abseil to the bottom. After clinging to the rock face for quarter of an hour, refusing to come down I decided to attempt abseiling and screamed the whole way. Nevertheless after this agonising experience I was really pleased with myself as I had made it up and down alive and decided to try out the University Offi cers Training Corps (not that attempted the climb for a second time. All of the other climbers bravely climbed up kind of corps) on an evening when the corps was having a formal and down pats of the rock face which were about three times higher than the rope Iinspection, meaning that there were in effect two inspectors that I had climbed and enjoyed it! present (me being the second). Despite fi nding the climb terrifying I was really proud that I had tried it and the After changing into my greens, which were about fi ve times too danger was actually quite exhilarating. Climbing is a really good way of improving big, we had a meeting with the inspector where I discovered what team work as you have to fully trust the person who is belaying you (lest they allow was good and bad about the society. The inspector mentioned you to fall and die). It is great exercise and a good way of experiencing the beautiful a programme which had infuriated him called the ‘The Secret surroundings that the Bangor prospectus bangs on about. Soldier’. In this programme he explained how a journalist had posed as a soldier in order to get inside information, I then got rather worried. From the discussion I realised that despite some problems that the UOTC may have, everyone really enjoys the “After clinging to the rock face for society, and they also get paid to attend! After the meeting we did a personal fi tness test with targets to quarter of an hour, refusing to come pass, I was quite worried as I have done no exercise since I was about 16. However I met and surpassed each target for girls doing down I decided to attempt abseiling” 34 press ups in two minutes, 59 sit ups in two minutes and reached 9.4 on the bleep test. After stinking and sweating we did ‘sex poses’ to stretch out and then went to get changed for drinks in the offi cer’s mess where drinks are incredibly cheap. I have been told that to fully experience the UOTC I should attend an adventure training weekend where they shoot guns and run around in camoufl age (I’m sure that there is more to it than that)! I feel that this is the society that I would be most likely to join as you get so much out of it. Members of the UOTC go on skiing trips etc, they have brilliant socials such as the casino night which is coming up, and learn skills such as discipline, leadership and team work which will stand you in good stead when applying for a job.

“I was quite worried as I have done no exercise since I was about 16” 15 February Issue 2009 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk UPDATE

STORM ONLINE MARCH ’09

Happy 2009 to you all! Here at SVB, we’re all hoping that everyone has had a successful exam period and that you’re all experiencing a great start to the new semester. From this month onwards, SVB will be sending out a monthly newsletter packed full of exciting news about what’s going on at SVB and how you can get involved in a whole host of different projects. Whether you’re interested in joining one of our regular weekly projects or just fancy attending a one off volunteering opportunity, we’ve got something for all levels of commitment. If you haven’t A Storm member already joined our mailling list, you can do so online at www.bangorstudents.com/svb working hard Starting this Semester, we’ll also be bringing you details of ways you can get involved with at getting the station online volunteering organisations out in the local community and if you come along to the Student Volunteering Offi ce on the 2nd Floor of the Students’ Union you can pick up a full list of opportunities. reetings, friends! This is an interruption to the usually scheduled Storm article to Meanwhile here at SVB, there’s still opportunities coming up in the next few weeks for you to bring news that will change the way students in Bangor listen to radio. For too get involved. Glong now, Storm FM has only been able to be received by students on Ffriddoedd Bangor Elderly Residents Spring Tea Party – 25th April Site. We at Storm say ‘NO MORE!’ to this and after much hard work by members of the We’ll be looking for volunteers to help us put on our second tea party of the year, following on team, much discussion with University bods and a memorable debate last year, we are from the successful Christmas Tea Party held in December. Look out for the recruitment emails proud to announce that as of March 2009, Bangor’s Student Sound will be comin’ at shortly or email [email protected] y’all via the web as well as the airwaves! What this means for you is more inclusion in Storm broadcasts: text us, phone us, e-mail us your requests and views and have them heard. Storm will be working tirelessly to keep you up to speed with the comings and goings of your Students’ Union as well as the usual fun and frolics from everyone in the Storm gang! Exciting isn’t quite the word! We’ll be coming in your ears VERY soon! Peace out. Matt Ison, Station Manager

Monday Thursday 08:00-10:00 Ste and Coffee in the Morning 15:00 - 17:00 The Monday Afternoon Bit 17:00 - 18:00 Have you heard? 17:00 - 18:00 Four-play 18:00 - 19:00 Thats Debatable! 18:00 - 20:00 Time Tunnel 19:00 - 20:00 Ka-Pow! 20:00 - 22:00 The Lost Brigade 20:00 - 22:00 Rhagien Ioan ac Iwan 22:00 - 23:00 Chance to Dance RAG’s Soak A Sabb fundraiser at Serendipity 2 Tuesday Friday 16:00 - 18:00 The BIG Mix Up 08:00 - 10:00 Ste and Coffee in the Morning 18:00 - 19:00 The Forum 15:00 - 16:00 Six Nations Rugby Coverage 19:00 - 20:00 The Irish Show 18:00 - 19:00 Songs to... 20:00 - 21:00 Tuesdays Gone 19:00 - 21:00 The Music Team Show RAG Week 21:00 - 23:00 Thunder Storm 21:00 - 23:00 Sugar and Spice 23:00 - 00:00 Late Night Quickie Wednesday 16thBangor RAG – is21st having a great March year and have Saturday with over the coming weeks 08:00-10:00 Ste and Coffee in the Morning plenty of crazy things for you to get involved 13:00 - 14:00 Back To The Future 00:00 - 01:00 The Riot 17:00 - 18:30 Decomposing Composers 13:00 - 14:00 Cheap as Beans 18:30 - 20:00 Paranormal Society Show 17:00 - 18:00 Double A Side We are going to be kicking off the week 20:00 - 21:00 Distortion 18:00 - 20:00 Any Requests? with a mega raid to Liverpool, raising money 20:00 - 21:00 City Anthems...from Liverpool for meningitis trust. Then we will be selling cakes during the week, a battle of the sexes Introducing... Rodney RAG! Become his Sunday friend on Facebook for RAG updates 12:00 - 13:00 Bangor Sunday Sport competition and a scavengermoney for hunt. Barnardo’s. Then at thePlus end lots of more! the 13:00 - 14:00 Past Force week we will be going back to Liverpool but this time raising 15:30 - 18:00 Storm Bound To fi nd out more you can email 18:00 - 18:30 Squawk Box 18:30 - 20:00 Menage a trois [email protected] 20:00 - 21:00 Acoustic Rooms 21:00 - 22:00 Six Nations Rugby Coverage 16 February Issue 2009 MUSIC www.seren.bangor.ac.uk The View – Which Bitch? Lily Allen - It’s Not Me, It’s You

ily Allen, it seems, is the sleb who gets away with it. Guilty of Lmany of the horrors of our age (overexposure, rampant gobbiness, life-as-tabloid-fodder existence), she nevertheless avoids the widespread public opprobrium reserved for certain other gossip-rag staples. In large part, perhaps paradoxically, it is her absolute candidness which endears her to the nation (excepting a few squares). While others cynically grasp for column inches and Heat covers, Allen exhibits a refreshing genuineness, a take-me-or-leave- ack at the end of last year, wrong about British indie in ’07 as me frankness which renders her both when you could still claim it was strongly lacking in identity. ballsy and vulnerable. Bto love critics’ darlings Fleet No such problem is presented by This honesty is, as you’d expect, Foxes without getting a metaphori- Which Bitch? though, which instead in abundance on her second album, cal kicking from your pointy-shoed, displays a band of multiple identi- and is by turns admirable, affecting indier-than-thou friends, a con- ties, previously unseen facets of and characteristically unrestrained. sensus emerged in sections of the the group nurtured and given the Three tracks in, for instance, Lily mainstream music press touting the chance to develop. It takes until bemoans the only apparent failing re-emergence of a troupe of female ‘Temptation Dice’, the album’s fi fth of her otherwise perfect man: you electronica/soul/folk artists (notably track, for all the elements of the never make me scream, she sings, Lady GaGa, La Roux, V.V. Brown and band’s debut to again be in align- and that’s before she mentions the Florence And The Machine). The as- ment; unsurprisingly, it is one of the wet patch in the middle of the bed. sumption was that an unstoppable weakest tunes on here. The album is It’s testament to Lily’s delivery that tide of oestrogen fuelled sass was edgier and darker than its predeces- this raises a smile rather than cries about to engulf the indie-rock dull- sor and the range of infl uences is of “too much information!” Similarly, ards of our day, and that no amount often stunning. Tracks like ‘One-Off the bluntly titled ‘Fuck You’ features of jangly riffs and King Canute pon- Pretender’ reference the widescreen an impossibly sweet chorus based tifi cating could save them. In truth, ‘90’s indie of Dodgy and Cast, ‘Glass on the refrain, fuck you, fuck you, this was a contrived exercise in Smash’ sounds like a more playful fuck you very very much - ideal lumping together strong, disparate version of The Cooper Temple Clause for subverting toddlers, such is its artists and an exaggeration, as of at times, and the penultimate song, sugary catchiness. more ‘modern’. ‘Everyone’s At It’ remembering people’s names? / Do the four above, only Lady GaGa has ‘Give Back The Sun’ has an opening Elsewhere, however, things are made a sizeable breakthrough. segment reminiscent of soundtrack and ‘Back To The Start’ make all you think he’s ever taken smack or more ambiguous, as on the glacial the right post-Blackout electronic cocaine?.... Er, what?! Avoid. The Nonetheless, the attendant cov- composer Ennio Morricone! single, ‘The Fear’. While surely erage of new music in 2009 has In truth, I set myself up to re- noises, and she still has a way with preceding track, ‘Chinese’, thankfully tongue-in-cheek to some extent, a killer couplet (So your daughter’s showcases Lily’s strengths. A paean to shifted somewhat and it is into these view this album as a sort of Devil’s Allen’s deadpan, dispassionate vocals uncertain climes that The View are Advocate litmus test, having previ- depressed, well get her straight on lazing with a loved one, it transforms lend unnerving self-assurance to the Prozac / But little do you know the mundane into blissful pop, releasing Which Bitch?, their second ously dismissed the band. It is far, lines like, I wanna be rich and I want album which showcases a partial far better than I anticipated, and she already takes crack). elevating the art of doing nothing in lots of money / I don’t care about Things go wrong when Allen strays particular with that special someone evolution of the band as the post- although it’s several tracks short of clever, I don’t care about funny. Arctic Monkeys bandwagon lurches brilliant it makes a convincing case too far from the path of observational to its rightful glorious place. Stick to Whether satire or another example pop, for which she is best known. what you know, Lil. off-course and threatens to plum- for the band’s creative survival at a of that famed honesty, the song is met into a particularly laddish ob- time when similar groups are at an Hidden (rightly) near the end of the one of It’s Not Me…’s best. album is ‘Him’, Lily’s rumination on scurity. The View hadn’t helped impasse. In general, Allen succeeds when – oh yes – God. Do you think he’d Rhodri Barker their own cause – Hats Off to the she leaves behind the chirpy, cheesy Buskers, their debut album, pretty drive in his car without insurance?... Lily of old, and tackles material more / Do you think he’s any good at much exemplifi ed all of what was Stephen Davies akin to ‘The Fear’; slinkier, shinier,

he came out of nowhere, taking the charts and clubs by storm and leaving behind her a trail of leather and glitter Sballs. I’m talking about LadyGaga, born in Manhattan she spent the fi rst years of her career writing songs for The Lady GaGa - Pussycat Dolls and Britney Spears before eventually releasing her debut album The Fame this year. So far its spawned the hit singles ‘Just Dance’ and ‘Pokerface’, the fi rst going straight to the top, and rightly so. It’s a stomping tune as the lady herself says that ‘Just Dance’ is “about being totally wasted at a party. The Fame It’s about all the things that happen when you’re out and you totally lose your head. In that situation we never really want to stop the party so we just dance through it.” ‘Pokerface’ follows the trend with a consistent beat that makes it hard to stop dancing to it. If you love the previous tracks then get ready to love ‘The Fame’ and ‘Lovegame’ in which she boasts I want to take a ride on your disco stick. ‘Eh Eh’ has been revealed as the third single to be released from the album, personally releasing this song around summer time would seem more of a good idea to me because it would make such a good summer tune. Lady Gaga calls it her “simple pop song” and I would agree, it is a perfect pop song. There are a few tracks that let the side down though, nothing too terrible but tracks like ‘Brown Eyes’ can be a bit boring compared with the rest of the album. Lady Gaga can defi nitely do upbeat better than she does ballad. In ‘Paparazzi’ she sings about how she’s going to make you love me, and no matter how wacky she dresses, or how weird she looks it’s hard not to. Expect to be hearing a lot more of her throughout the year as she carries on topping chart all over with what I think would’ve been the album of the year so far had it not been for Lily Allen.

Aaron Wiles 17 February Issue 2009 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk MUSIC

INTERVIEW eren were lucky enough to meet up with Peredur ap Gwynedd, the guitarist from Pendulum, when the band hit Llandudno back in December. On the back of a huge US tour, and even bigger UK tour thanks to the I ♥ Trouble Books Smassive success of In Silico, he was certainly in high spirits and fun to chat with, before going on to play a great set that night. I’ve been meaning to write about Trouble Books ever since Seren: How‘s the tour been going for you time we’ve got to start recording the third music to please ourselves. You are going to get I was fi rst captivated by their then? album. your critics and that’s fair enough, everyone’s brilliantly warm and dreamlike Pendulum: Fantastic. It sold out months ago Seren: What sort of direction do you think entitled to their own opinion music. Each song sounds to me so there have been packed houses everywhere you’ll be going in for this then? Seren: You’ve had a lot more commercial like a stream of emotions and we go. Pendulum: No idea. It’s impossible to say success recently do you think this is conjures imagery of pine forests Seren: Is there something about your when you start a project to predict where you because of your new sound? and scattered sunbeams projected sound that makes people so receptive to end up. You never know – could be a country Pendulum: Well it’s obviously to do with the into to the back of my mind. it? and western album! new sound because that’s what the radio has Pendulum:Well, it’s quite exciting and fast I Seren: There’s a big difference between picked up on. If we didn’t have radio friendly Trouble Books are from Akron, suppose so maybe that’s it, I couldn’t really Hold Your Colour and In Silico, what do songs then they defi nitely wouldn’t play Ohio and have an album out called put my fi nger on it! you think pushed you towards the more them. The United Colors Of Trouble Seren: What genre would you classify rocky sound? Seren: What about your aspirations? How Books out though MIE Music. yourselves as? Pendulum: I’m not sure really, possibly to do big do you want to be? Pendulum: I couldn’t classify our music, it with playing live as we felt that the sound Pendulum: As big as possible I suppose. We’ve Listen to Trouble Books: www. started off as sort of drum ‘n’ bass. suited that more so I suppose that was a bit made roads in Japan, Europe and the States myspace.com/barkandhiss Seren: Would you still put yourselves in of an infl uence. now so I suppose we’d like to copy the success that category? Seren: Do you see yourself continuing that we’ve had over here worldwide. That’s the Buy the record: miemusic.co.uk I � Pendulum: Well it doesn’t sound like drum ‘n’ with it? next thing on our plates I think, we want as Trouble Books bass does it? I suppose there are infl uences Pendulum: Yes. I mean, we’ve done alright many people as possible to hear our music. there still but there’s rock in there and electro. with it so it would be mad not to really! Conquer the world! Just a big amalgamation of lots of different Seren: I think it’s divided the fans a little things. at times, a lot of people have been saying Emmy The Great - Seren: What do you plan to do next? they don’t like it so much. Michael Xavier Henry Pendulum: God knows we’re always so busy! Pendulum: Fuck them. That’s what I say. If First Love We’re off to Australia then to the States and they don’t like it then they can piss off! We and Emma Dixon then back here doing some festivals. In that don’t do music to please other people we do Looking back at 2008 there was a lot of indie folk making waves in the charts and in music publications with bands such as Noah & The Whale, Lightspeed Champion, Laura Marling and Johnny Flynn. After having somewhat of an underground following before any of the other acts began to make names for themselves, the only name that for some was obviously missing from this list was Emmy The Great. Jake Thackray Classic This might have been for the best Review as time seems to have provided A National Treasure the chance to fi ne tune ideas and properly grow into a fuller sound through the EMI record label. You of who you are and where you come Gorilla” as heard on the samples of new don’t really need to delve much from is something that is represented on Youtube, songs featured on the album. It deeper than the greatest hits to get less and less in music, as it becomes as well as “The Lodger, seems on the title track (and fi rst the full picture of his music though, so eclectic and diverse. ” and “The Blacksmith and the single) from First Love there is a unless you get utterly inspired. If you want to see what I’m Toffee Maker.” defi nate growth in confi dence and Regardless of being a devout talking about then I seriously Jake Thackray really is worth a the production sounds fantastic. Catholic and having being taught in recommend you check listen for all of the above reasons,

a Catholic school , Thackray wasn’t out “Brother and most probably more. Despite the majority electronic- afraid to turn crude, often fusing tinged music now fast becoming together the themes of sex, class the focus of many whats hot in and religion in ways that made his Tom Durkin 2009 lists I believe Emmy will audiences cringe, applaud and laugh get the attention she deseves will hysterically. after a long time of being an indie The characteristic soft sounding darling just for those in the know. nylon stringed guitar that he used on recordings, rhythmically First Love is released on punches along underneath his 9th Feb via Rough Trade. ollect the ingredients of cascading poetical form so perfectly and beautifully. His live rambling poetical form, humour, www.myspace.com/emmythegreat Ccontemporary view points and performances don’t disappoint folk music, mix for ten minuets and either. He entertained both then leave to simmer and something musically and comically. along the lines of Jake Thackray will I think the thing that emerge. really keeps me hooked Lee., x The Leeds born singer-songwriter on Thackray, and makes with his distinctive British humour and him such an interesting singing style gave him the national act to listen to, is the respect that he deserved in the 60s unpredictability of his and 70s. Sadly, he never actually songs. Sometimes there made it to any higher level of success will be three words than this, but you can easily see why in a line and in the he stayed rooted in this country, after next, maybe twenty. you hear a few songs he has written. Sometimes there His distinctive ways didn’t just stop will be a rhyme and in his music. His stage presence and sometimes not, and persona was very much that of a Brit often there will be and comedian, frequently one-lining a long legato style the audience when introducing his verse followed by songs, for example “This next song a fast staccato is…dirty.” style chorus. Despite the small following he Listening to him is like managed to maintain throughout his a musical journey. career, Thackray still had more than It is also the fact that Thackray a couple of national album releases wasn’t afraid to be so typically British that earns my respect. Being proud 18 February Issue 2009 FILM www.seren.bangor.ac.uk

Slumdog Millionaire ritish director Danny Boyle has breaks for the night, police arrest him to answer the fi nal question, the and one good touch is that, for the editing style are a bit too distracting. had an extremely eclectic career, on suspicion of cheating; how could a Inspector and sixty million viewers most part, the dialogue in the present This is only a minor criticism though, Bdirecting fi lms in a wide variety street kid know so much? Desperate are about to fi nd out. At the heart day scenes is presented in English, in a fi lm that has few other fl aws. of genres - including science fi ction, to prove his innocence, Jamal tells of its storytelling lies the question of while in the fl ashbacks it is presented The acting is of an extremely high horror, comedy, drama, romance the story of his life in the slum where how anyone comes to know the things in Hindi, which makes it easy to standard with everyone delivering and thriller. He also brings art-house he and his brother grew up among they know about life and love. differentiate between the two whilst strong performances but the real stars sentimentalities to the mainstream vicious encounters with local gangs, In turn moving, funny, tense, never seeming forced or out of place. are undoubtedly Dev Patel and Freida cinema, and never more so than with and of Latika (Freida Pinto), the girl sweet, romantic and occasionally even The use of subtitles throughout the Pinto, who both completely convince his latest fi lm Slumdog Millionaire, he loved and lost. Each chapter of his disturbing, this is a fi lm that really fi lm is also quite inventive with Boyle in their roles and have a fantastic on- already tipped to be a favourite at this story reveals the key to the answer does have it all and the reason it all making them more visually appealing screen chemistry. Overall, Slumdog years Oscars. to one of the game show’s questions. comes together so well is the strong than what you usually see. As for Millionaire is easily one of Danny Jamal Malik (Dev Patel), an 18 year- Each chapter of Jamal’s increasingly direction by Boyle backed up by an Boyle’s direction, this is also fantastic, Boyle’s best fi lms to date. A truly old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, layered story reveals where he learned extremely well written screenplay with Boyle creating a vibrant looking fresh and different fi lm. is about to experience the biggest the answers to the show’s seemingly by Simon Beaufoy. The love story fi lm that also isn’t afraid to show the day of his life. With the whole nation impossible quizzes. But one question at its core is very well executed, negative aspects of life in the slums watching, he is just one question away remains a mystery: what is this young seeming completely convincing, and of India. Robert Mann from winning a staggering 20 million man with no apparent desire for riches avoiding many of the typical clichés For the most part, the fi lm is very rupees on India’s Who Wants To Be really doing on the game show? When that many modern romances are full well shot but at times the shaky A Millionaire? But when the show the new day dawns and Jamal returns of. The dialogue is also very good camera movements and jumpy Role Models

he fi rst pleasant surprise for seven years is contemplating of 2009 comes courtesy of dumping him. A brush with the Tbawdy feel good comedy Role law lands him and Wheeler with Models. Amazingly, Judd Apatow a choice to spend 30 days in jail has no involvement in this one and or 150 hours community service it benefi ts from having none of at a mentoring programme. They the unnecessary hype that a Judd choose the latter and are assigned Apatow fi lm attracts. Also, it doesn’t to be role models for children. star the overrated Seth Rogen Danny is set to look after Augie but the harshly underrated Paul (Superbad’s Christopher Mintz- Rudd, best known for his hilarious Plasse) and Wheeler has to endure news reporter Brian Fantana in Ronnie (Bobb’e J Thompson). After the memorable Anchorman. ‘Sex day one, they both contemplate The Wrestler Panther’ anyone? Rudd plays it going to jail, but, of course, in a straight here, but has brilliant feel good comedy they both grow irstly, this fi lm is not a wrestling in his van when he can’t afford fi ght scenes. The Wrestler works comic timing and his sarcastic put a bond with their new friends and version of Rocky! Secondly, it’s rent for his trailer. He also has a because wrestling is fake in real life downs hit the spot every time. learn important life lessons. Fsure to be one of this year’s fi lm failed relationship with his daughter too. Therefore we get to witness Sean William Scott, who is in need As predictable as Role Models is, highlights. Thoroughly entertaining, whom he hasn’t spoken to in years the ways in which entertainment of a hit, also impresses. Albeit, he the sense of fun this fi lm injects is funny and thought provoking, The or rather hasn’t bothered. So in wrestling is staged as the fi lm’s does reprise Stifl er effectively but very satisfying. Too many comedies Wrestler has it all. short we have a failed star scraping humorous side comes from when his character here has much more recently have delved too much in Mickey Rourke plays a former a living, trying to reconnect with we see the wrestlers backstage humanity and some of the more realism and bad taste, for the sake professional wrestling superstar his forgotten daughter and turn planning their bouts. heartwarming moments in the fi lm of bad taste. Role Models came out who tasted success during the back the clock to a time when he Shot with a handheld camera, we he handles well. of nowhere without any build up 1980s. Now in present day he cuts was young. However, this is not an also get the added feeling of realism Role Models follows Danny (Rudd) of hype and delivered a frequently a sad, middle aged fi gure, wrestling underdog story. to the story. The fi lm mainly works and Wheeler (William Scott) as a funny and immensely enjoyable in small time auditoriums, still My personal gripe with sports due to the perfect casting of Mickey mismatched pair of salesmen, who comedy with great comic turns under his stage name, Randy ‘The fi lms, in particular boxing fi lms, Rourke. His off screen life has been sell a pretty disgusting energy drink from the entire cast, particularly Ram’ Robinson. He drinks in the is that fi ght scenes are poorly so hectic and self destructing that to local school children. Danny is Bobb’e J Thompson who is destined local strip joint, seeks comfort from executed. Yes of course the boxing he almost appears to be playing having a really bad day, a beginning to become the next Chris Rock or an ageing lap dancer, played by the must be fake but that leaves me himself. of a mid life crises. He hates what Eddie Murphy. excellent Marisa Tomei, and sleeps to question the need to include Will Varley he does for a living and his girlfriend Mark Varley 19 February Issue 2009 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk FILM DVD Reviews Taken

Death Race n Death Race, British hardman competition is granted freedom. Jason Statham attempts an It turns out that Statham is pretty American accent and fails, handy behind the wheel which will I ome of the most stylish and (Maggie Grace) His ex-wife Lenore The action and tension is relentless but succeeds wholly in providing make the warden’s show ever more refreshing action thrillers tend (Famke Janssen) is against it, but throughout the duration of the movie, his target audience with some no popular and destructive. The plot to come courtesy of French he is determined to make up for and the action sequences are both holds barred action and Death Race somewhat lacks logic, but you don’t S movie directors. This has been lost time. When Kim is invited to thrilling and perfectly executed, as delivers in bucket loads. The fi lm watch Death Race for an intelligent seen with fi lms like The Transporter, Paris by a friend, Bryan reluctantly well as being completely believable. is rubbish, explosive, adrenaline story or a profound message. Unleashed, Taxi and The Fifth agrees to let her go but provided The action is very violent but never pumping rubbish. The acting is You know if you’re going to like Element among many others, all she stays in contact so that he gratuitously so, which only adds questionable, dialogue as it would a fi lm like Death Race as it serves fi lms that broke the mould and knows she is safe. Shortly after to the realism that is portrayed on be in a Jason Statham fi lm but only to entertain and thankfully offered something a bit different arriving, however, Kim and her screen. The effectiveness of the the awesome action covers those the fi lm does so with its tongue to action fans. Now, following in friend Amanda (Katie Cassidy) are action is heightened considerably cracks. fi rmly in cheek. It never takes the footsteps of such great French kidnapped and Bryan hears the thanks to a believable lead Director Paul Anderson (no not itself seriously and most of the directors as Luc Besson is Pierre whole thing over the phone. Thus, character, who could give the likes that one) has fi nally left the awful violence and carnage veers on the Morel, who previously directed Bryan immediately heads to Paris to of James Bond and Jason Bourne a Resident Evil series alone and gone cartoonish. Paul Anderson manages French action fl ick District 13. His fi nd her and save her. But with only run for their money. This character onto making his best fi lm since sci-fi to keep his camera still during the second directorial effort Taken is a 96 hour window in which to fi nd is brought to life with an excellent horror Event Horizon. The story for hectic race sequences so that you another addition to the growing list her, he must use all the skills he has performance by an against type what its worth has Jason Statham know what’s going on and they are of great French produced action obtained over his career and won’t Liam Neeson, who delivers an wrongly imprisoned for murder by great to watch: breathtaking and thrillers. let anyone get in his way. extremely intense, convincing and prison warden Joan Allen so that he impressively staged. Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) is Taken is a very slick, stylish and emotive performance. can compete in a reality TV sensation a former CIA agent and divorcee smart action thriller that works ‘Death Race’ which sees notorious who has retired in order to spend exceptionally thanks to terrifi c Robert Mann prisoners race each other literally Mark Varley more time with his daughter Kim execution by director Pierre Morel. to the death. The winner of each Bafta recognises Bangor’s Boyle (and other people too...)

ritish Cinema had success at returned in 2007 to talk to fi lm emotions overcame her and forgot this year’s BAFTA fi lm awards students and was understandably that Angelina Jolie was nominated Bas Danny Boyle’s Slumdog well received. in her category. Millionaire scooped the most Ponte Tower is said to be his latest Scriptwriting awards were also prestigious awards for Best Film and successful for Britain as Slumdog Best Director. Millionaire won Best Adapted The Mumbai set drama starring “His work is Screenplay for Full Monty writer former Skins regular Dev Patel is Simon Beaufroy and Martin hotly tipped to go on and achieve rooted in realism. I McDonagh won Best Original greater success at the Oscars. know he has been Screenplay for black comedy In Boyle has an impressive repertoire Bruges. of fi lms to back up the claims about determined to stay Other wins came from Best Slumdog Millionaire. With iconic Sound, Music, Cinematography movies such as Trainspotting, The away from the and Editing. The new Wallace and Beach and 28 Days Later up his Hollywood studio Gromit fi lm, A Matter of Loaf and sleeve it’s no wonder Bangor is Death, shown at Christmas won proud to have spawned such a system” Best Animated Short. notable producer of consistently British cinema was given a good fi lms. Coming from an Irish project based on a book by Norman serious boost with the success of catholic family he nearly entered Ohler which is set in Apartheid Slumdog Millionaire at the BAFTAs. the clergy but was discouraged by South Africa. With the Oscars around the corner, a family friend. Boyle claims “I don’t With regards to awards it will expect the fi lm to achieve just as know if he was trying to save me or be a close call between Slumdog much success in the States as it did the priesthood”. Millionaire and David Fincher’s at The BAFTAs. The Oscars will be Boyle graduated with a degree visually stunning The Curious Case taking place on the 22nd February. A in English and Drama in 1978. His of Benjamin Button. More British report on the world famous awards former lecturers describe him as success came from Kate Winslet show will feature in the next issue “a determined and hard-working who won Best Actress for her turn of Seren. student”, Prof. Tony Brown said of in The Reader, beating Meryl Streep, him “His work is rooted in realism. Angelina Jolie and herself again in I know he has been determined Sam Mendes’ Revolutionary Road. Mark Varley and to stay away from the Hollywood Her acceptance speech wasn’t as Georgia Mannion studio system”. Boyle, who is now entertaining as her Golden Globe an honorary fellow at the university, win for Revolutionary Road, in which 20 February Issue 2009 BOOKS www.seren.bangor.ac.uk Oliver Twist by Charles Top romantic Dickens hen asked what Cat’s Classics they know Wabout Oliver novels Twist most people are likely to respond with e all know that this is the time of year were all of the valentine cards, chocolates either “Please Sir, I and ‘the perfect gifts’ are covering the shops. Couples are walking hand in hand want some more” or a Wdown the streets and single’s nights’ are being advertised, but it’s also around passing rendition of songs this time of year were quite a lot of us decide to read the many different romance novels from Oliver! the 1960s musical that are out there. Well here are some of our best romantic novels that will tugg on your based on the book. However, heart strings and maybe even get you crying (in which case we are sorry if your mascara Oliver Twist more than that does run): one scene and is a novel about prostitution, class warfare and murder, his is the ultimate classic romance among other things. novel’s, not only because it is one The book begins with Oliver being Tof the most renowned tales, or the born into a workhouse, he is put fact that there is always some type of to work by the owner of the, Mr movie or television adaption on it, but Bumble, by the time he is nine. because of the different love stories that Due to the amount of work they are in it. Whether it is Elizabeth and Mr. were expected to do and how little Darcy, Jane and Mr. Bingley or charlotte food they given the orphans draw and Mr. Collins, we always seem to be straws for someone to go and ask for intrigued by the dynamics of it all, and in more food. This is where the infamous Elizabeth’s case, the sheer determination “Please Sir, I want some more” comes to avoid fate. in. Oliver is severely reprimanded for daring to ask for more. From this point on Oliver wants to escape, he is sold for fi ve pounds to an undertaker but after a fi ght with the other apprentice he runs away to London. his love story has inspired millions On his arrival Oliver encounters Jack Dawkins, of lovers and started generations the Artful Dodger, and the better known part of the of authors and movies based on T novel begins. Everyone knows the part with Fagin and forbidden love over the years. This his gang but a section that is often forgotten is the part is the main love story that is always involving Mr Brownlow, the Maylies and the man named remembered, even though it does not Monks. have a happy ending like most other A complicated plot follows involving Monks trying to kill romance novel, or in this case, play. Oliver, Fagin’s hanging and the truth about Oliver’s parentage. Nevertheless it’s the love between Romeo and Juliet Conveniently, as often happens with novels of this period, that has gained a place in everyone’s hearts and will everybody is somehow distantly related. Which leads to a continue to do so for years to come, just don’t watch it if happily ever after for Oliver with his new found family. you want to be cheered up. All in all, Oliver Twist is a complex novel that has a lot more to it than meets the eye. Not my favourite Dickens novel, a spot which is reserved for A Christmas Carol, however well worth a read if only to discover the forgotten parts of the narrative that his new classic has stirred the country, whether it get omitted in the many adaptations that people seem to favour was through the book or in the movie, Ian McEwan over the original work today. Tcreated a timeless love story that no one will forget because of its beauty and sorrow. This story has inspired many people to take a chance on love or lose it By Cat Prince like Cecelia and Robbie did. Twilight his modern love story is a true heart break story about a widow who keeps by Stephenie Meyer Treceiving envelopes and presents from her dead husband to help her get teenage girl. A teenage vampire. A recipe theories. over him and begin to have a life again. for disaster, or true love? Superhero A truly amazing novel that will remind A Based in the small town of Forks, in classics such you to make the most of it, or realise the Olympic Peninsula of northwest Washington as radioactive that you can move on without forgetting State, 17-year old Bella Swan is just beginning spiders and everything. her new life. She feels like the odd one out in Kryptonite. a town where it is freezing cold and rains all Put together the time, nothing at all like her previous home with the in Phoenix. appearance of At fi rst Bella fi nds it surprisingly easy Edward, Bella Both A Major And A Minor Key settling into her new school. Everyone seems thinks she friendly enough, everyone that is except, the has found the answer, only she doesn’t quite Captain Corelli’s Mandolin Cullens. Edward Cullen in particular. The fi rst want to believe it. Edward Cullen, a vampire? by Louis de Bernières glance exchanged between them across the Meeting up with an old friend of the family’s, here is something in Captain Corelli; an Italian lust he once felt for Pelagia cafeteria sets Bella’s mind whirling. She doesn’t Jacob Black, Bella appears to have her theory romantic about a invader and assumed enemy. becomes an appetite for rape. understand how he seems to dislike her with confi rmed. Tmandolin. Like the Dr. Iannis, adamant that He returns inured, incorrigibly one serious glare without even speaking to As the story unfolds and Edward object of your affections, its people belie their belligerent violent and attempts to make her. is discovered by Bella, they embark on a silhouetted frame draws you governments, harbours Corelli her his next victim. The reader The event which occurs days dangerous but passionate relationship. Can closer to discover its anterior in his house, yet, devoted to wonders whether Corelli later, of Edward saving Bella from she be trusted enough with him and his beauty. Fittingly, the title his country, orders that Pelagia would have been similarly a speeding car swerving on family’s secret, and what lengths will character of this love story hate the resident émigré. Try affected without dulcifi cation some ice in the school’s parking Bella go to in order to keep it? has extreme aptitude and as she may, Corelli’s dulciloquy by romance. The gargantuan, lot, intensifi es this interest. Twilight is the fi rst in a predilection for the instrument. and tutelage spark their ardent war-induced changes are Bella can’t understand how one series of four books, also Set in Cephalonia in 1941, passion. A perturbing yet epitomised by Pelagia’s minute, Edward is several feet having recently been made it centres around Italy’s sublime love affair between physiognomy; temporofacial away then, all of a sudden right into a fi lm. Characters invasion of archipelagian engaged Greek woman and wrinkles and tuffs of grey hair beside her. At fi rst Edward Bella, Edward, Charlie, Greece. Pelagia’s, the beautiful Italian invader ensues, a appear a decade too early. tries to convince Bella that Jacob and many others daughter of Dr Iannis, life love which alleviates the The uplifting message is that it is all down to her hitting will intrigue you, with seems complete once engaged horrendous confl ict and gives instinctive human kindness her head on the ground, hidden secrets and to Mandras. Her sense of hope; all their blandishments can prevail over oppressive but Bella is not so easily dark forces leaving you security is quickly obliterated and sweet nothings begin regimes and that, just as a fooled and demands hungry for more. when her beloved goes to “After the war…” so-called imperfect cadence answers. war, severing contact and The relationship between sounds beautiful, there is Convinced she is leaving her unknowing. She love and war is a prevalent always hope of fi nding rapture going crazy unless she Bethan fi nds the illegitimate antidote theme. Atrocities surpass in turmoil. gets some proof, Bella to her loneliness and anxiety Mandras’ impassivity and the searches the internet, Thomas Rosanna MacLeod fi nding some strange 21 February Issue 2009 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk TRAVEL

Hi there guys!! Well here we are in 2009 and four weeks into the second semester, and to be honest we already need another break. The Easter holidays, although I don’t think we are really suppose to call them holidays as of course we are all meant to be studying, is only six weeks away. So it’s time to get your travel brains ticking and think about where you would love to be heading, in-between all the revision we will be doing obviously! Maybe a short weekend in the sun is just what you need and so I have included a guide to the amazing Spanish city of Barcelona. And for music lovers everywhere the summer months are not too far away which means music festival galore. So this summer we can maybe enjoy travelling around the four corners of Britain and living the good traveller’s life in a four man tent and wearing the same clothes for three days…it really is the way toStef go now!! Barcelona ucked away in the northern Barcelona International. Flights fl y Barcelona come east Iberian peninsula coast of daily from Manchester, Liverpool and in their hundreds TSpain is the vibrant and lively Birmingham with Ryan Air to Girona but there are some city of Barcelona. Best described things that you just as the heart of culture in Spain, the Designers have to do. If culture capital of Catalonia is the second and history is your of legendary architect Antoni Gaudi one of the most visited in Barcelona largest city in Spain. Its modern mixed in with thing La Sagrada Familia is one of the remains still in construction 127 and he has become a cultural icon buildings and parks mixed with quirky local greatest architectural masterpieces years after he fi rst drew up the plans. for the city. history and traditions of its culture you could ever behold. The best time La Pedrera (Casa Mila) is another Barcelona isn’t all art and make it the place to visit for any boutiques, it to see it is fi rst thing in the morning of Gaudi’s work and is a one of the architecture though. It has one of the travel lover. when the sun is just coming up. The strangest architectural designs to greatest shopping streets in Europe. The city has three airports to fl y into; is a shopping refl ections off the spirals makes a see, with its curved shaped roof and Las Ramblas is one long street that delight! the series of catenary arches. stretches right to the docks. Lined If you fancy something more with rows of mainstream designers and Reus with prices ranging from outdoors then head to Gaudi’s Park mixed in with quirky local boutiques £10 to £40 return including taxes. Guell in the North of the city. It it is a shopping delight. BMI Baby also fl ies from Manchester has a mixture of mosaic tilling and Nightlife is buzzing with an and Birmingham with fl ights costing amazing range of bars, restaurants around £20-£25. and nightclubs. Las Ramblas comes A city where old and new run side A city where alive at night with street performers by side, the hotels refl ect a similar and an energetic ambience to parallel. Montcada is situated in old and new run amaze every traveller. And after the historical centre of the city, side by side dinner, you will see the real reason overlooking the Cathedral and is why everyone comes to Barcelona only £60 per night. Hotel Condal is fascinating buildings. Look for the besides the shopping, Gaudi, the one of the oldest hotels in the city, number 13 which is inscribed on one beaches and the sun; the nightlife opening in 1850, and costs only of the tiles in the park. And the best and nightclubs. With students, £45 per night. It is located one of thing about it, it is free entry. tourists and locals lining the streets the loveliest streets in the historic Barcelona’s artists are world there is a great mix of clubs to suit city centre, the Calle Boquería, renowned, with a few in particular all music tastes, from jazz to tourist just walking distance from the sticking out. Spanish Surrealist Juan techno trash. Las Ramblas, the main street the Miro has many of his unusual pieces So when you think about it…why runs from the top to the bottom of of work displayed around the city go to Barcelona? Well really how can Gerona, Reus Barcelona’s centre. photographers and within Montjuic Park. His you not want to now? and the nearest to the centre, Reasons to visit the streets of dream. The work museum, Fundació Joan Miró, is Stef Black Britain’s Festivals!

lobe trotting round the world of stalking the summer festivals this is one form of travel, a very year? Well it all kicks off in early June. Gexpensive one sometimes. You have Colourfest, for the die hard might However there is a travel trail much dance lovers on June 6th in Glasgow, fancy closer to home that is just as fun. Scotland. Following this is the ever jumping As the summer approaches it more popular Rockness. Held in on a cheap means no lectures, no getting up early Dores near Inverness it’s attracting Ryan Air and no essays. Instead we have our some big talent this year. fl ight to County days to ourselves to do as we please, Next up we have the biggest of Kildare in Ireland and what better for Oxegen, or way than to venturing back spend them than to North Wales travelling about for Wakestock in Britain to all the Abersoch. summer musical Turning to festivals. August you have With a 16- a small break until 25 rail card and V Festival from the get 1/3 of all rail 20th-23rd at Hylands fares, travelling Park, Chelmsferd followed by the around the UK is Reading/Leeds Festival. That same cheaper than you weekend you have Creamfi elds, think. Whatever which has a new location for 2009 at your music taste Daresbury Estate, Cheshire. there are over And to top it all of before coming 50 festivals that back to another semester of hard take place through the months of the festivals, Glastonbury. From the work, venture across to The Isle of June, July, August and September. 24th-28th June this gives us the Wight for Bestival from the 11th to  The great thing about usual spectacle of hippies and mud. the 13th of September. VaaGdj\] camping is included in the price of you. In England you have Wireless, Maldives and instead jump on a train D[[ZgkVa^Yjci^aZcY'%%. the ticket. Then after the weekend held in London’s Hyde Park on the with a rucksack full of beerand a you just pack up your tent and off 4th and 5th of July. Heading North bunch of mates and see what kind of you go, jumping on the train or bus you have T in the Park at Balado, summer you have. to your next destination. Scotland running from the 9th to the So where do we begin our journey 13th of July. That same weekend you Stef Black

rg_africawalkad.indd 1 13/10/08 16:56:45 22 February Issue 2009 SPORT www.seren.bangor.ac.uk League Team Undefeated Champions Farewell 2008... Previous Matches is Year: Bring On Bangor 30-22 MMU Cheshire Tries: Luke Donovan 2, Will Varley 1, Tom Mottram 1, Danny Wright 1, 2009! Max Bracken 1. Conversionss: Bracken 3.

University of Liverpool 16-44 Bangor Tries: Adrian Gunn 2, Max Bracken 1, Luke Donovan 1, Nick Brown 1, Will Varley 1, Danny Wright 1, Chris ‘Wol e’ ompson 1. Conversionss: Bracken 6.

s years of sport go, 2008 will live long in the memory, so Alet’s see what lies ahead in 2009! Firstly, you have the football- Premier League, who will win it? Manchester United? Chelsea? Liverpool? Maybe even Aston Villa! All shall be revealed in the coming months. Then there’s the Champions League, FA Cup and Carling Cup-an exciting few months lie ahead. Bangor 48-4 Chester MMU Cheshire 24-28 Bangor Uni Rugby, Six Nations-Wales- last second try by Craig Spencer Will Varley put Spencer in for the winner. can they repeat their grand slam angor University’s rugby league As is always the case for University feats? Ireland? Can they raise their team completed a successful de- teams, the in ux of new players is key gave Bangor victory over Chesh- Other try scorers for Bangor in the second game? France, how good are they fence of their Cheshire League to ensuring the continuation of a club ire in a match that will remain half were Luke Donovan 1, Tom Cheveus really? England? Can they avoid the Along on the memory. rilling, tense, frus- 1 and Nick Brown 1 with Tom Mottram BChampionship with a comprehensive, or society and star newcomers Adrian wooden spoon? swi and de ning defeat of Chester Gunn and Leon Mellor. Each scored one trating, joyous and bruising are only a few kicking three conversions helped by Max Formula One, will Hamilton’s earlier this month. Chester, reduced apiece a er showing the form that has of the words that described the drama as Bracken who also scored one conversion. rivals catch him up? Will we see to o ering no more than verbal abuse, been characteristic of the two through- it ebbed and  owed throughout the eighty ere were many nervous errors and frus- a resurgent Alonso, Raikonnen and with their defence disintegrating by the out the season. Bracken  nished with minutes. e visitors led only 4-0 at half trations grew which resulted in another Massa rise up? Or will it be the year of Lewis once again? minute and attack de ating like a slow adding four conversions to help the score time thanks to a score by Ian Skinner but sin binning for Bangor but in the end the it was enough to give Bangor the edge over game was won by the heart and guts shown In Cricket, this is a critical puncture, were defeated 48-4. Bangor along. A special mention must go to all year. It’s Ashes fever and are only in their   h year since form- the freshers and new players to the team. their opponents in a half that also saw by the visitors. In terms of game play, how- everyone should be getting excited. ing but have enjoyed championship suc- Will Roberts Has been an in uential them lose a player to the sin bin for ten ever, the two teams were even as Cheshire Two teams, one urn, a thousand cess three times in what has truly been addition to the pack; making his debut minutes. It was apparent at this stage that showed why they were unbeaten with an possibilities, can England tip the a remarkable journey from the days of against Liverpool this year. Indeed eve- the game would  nish close as both teams equally impressive display, scoring qual- form book and win them back? making last minute phone calls in hope ryone has played their part towards the matched in defence and attack. Former ity tries of their own. Impressively, Bangor Are Australia like the proverbial of making a match day team. Against team’s success this year. Luke Donovan Great Britain international Andy Gregory managed to keep their composure when it wounded animal? Most dangerous Chester, Tom Mottram, the sole original impressed particularly in the forwards was at hand to give Bangor some advice was easy to let the situations get the better when they’re cornered? It promises to be a very exciting summer. survivor from the team’s  rst year, rolled with eight tries; mostly determined long but it was down to the players to  nd the of them. Both Skinner and Cheveus took result. Indeed it was in the balance until huge hits on the  eld but continued to play Furthermore, we have the World back the years to claim two well taken range e orts, and Liam Morton has 20/20- which is taking place tries along with adding two conversions. made the hard yards week in week out. the very end as, with ten minutes to go, their part and Liam Morton produced in England-sixes and wickets Max Bracken showed terri c swi ness Bangor have been led superbly by the lead changed hands four times to set a solid performance at prop for Bangor, aplenty-big hits and stumps fl ying, of foot to twice bedazzle the defence on Captain Danny Wright and vice-captain up a compelling  nale. Even with Chesh- working tirelessly throughout. all on our very doorstep. his way for two tries and Will Varley also Mark ‘Bernie’ Ward and here’s wishing ire taking the lead with two minutes to go Tennis, well he may have added three of his own. all the best for next season. the game was not out of reach for Ban- Will Varley missed out on the Australian Open gor as quick hands by Tom Cheveus and but Andy Murray still has three chances to win that long-awaited Grand Slam, and could he do it at Wimbledon and make himself a true British sporting hero? Or Polo Team Scale Snowdon will it be the year of Fed, breaking Sampras’ grand slam record, or North Wales Canoe Polo team will Rafa Nadal prove himself took upon the challenge as one of the fi nest of all time? Aof Snowdonia’s Mountains In the women’s, all eyes will arguably (pictured right). Saturday 10th be trained on young Laura Robson, January 2009 saw 13 members of winner of the Wimbledon Girls title, the club complete the 5hour walk and perhaps the fi nest young female while taking a fl eet of canoe polo tennis player we’ve had in a long boats up with them. The club from time. Bangor University were walking to In athletics, will the Brits stand raise money for new equipment. up? On a more intriguing note, can Social Secretary Sarah Spencer and Usain break his own record; perhaps organiser of the Snowdon event even break the 9.50 mark? explained why the event took place; In Golf, can Padraig push on, and “It is important that the club has bring in more silverware or will Tiger the success off the pitch as good as Woods dominate? it is on the pitch and the sponsored Finally, in boxing, can Ricky ‘the walk up Snowdon just goes to prove Hit-Man’ Hatton beat arguably the how well we do this.” She went on pound-for-pound best fi ghter in to say “Despite the less than ideal the world in Manny Pacquiao? Can weather conditions those that did the David ‘The Hayemaker’ Haye beat walk managed to raise much needed the robotic Klitschko brothers and money that will go towards providing clean up the sorry state of the kit to help keep the on-pitch Heavyweight division? success coming.” Last years BUCS Well there we are, let’s say tournament saw the Men’s 1st team goodbye to 2008 and bring on placing 3rd. Training is in motion for 2009, because it promises to be the upcoming BUCS championships another fantasic sporting year. which take place in April. Charlotte Bewley. Alex Spamp 23 February Issue 2009 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk SPORT Athletics team running the show

he last few months have been very 10km on Sunday 8th February for the sec- busy for Bangor University’s athlet- ond year running and also broke the course ics team. We have had competitions record. A fantastic achievement, congratu- Talmost every weekend; whether cross coun- lations Nick. try, 10km, half marathons or marathons, e cross country season is almost over, the team has been out in force. but due to the clubs new a liation to Welsh Most recently 18 club members hit the Athletics a small team (Suzy, Rob, Jenny and road to Aberdeen for the BUCS cross coun- Heather) have managed to gain representa- try championships. Unfortunately, a er 9 tion for North Wales in the up coming inter hours of driving we were told the race was regional cross country championships to be cancelled due to the snow. All was not lost held in Nottingham on the 7th March. Good though; all the other universities who had luck to all who are running there. Jess Bratt managed to make it to Aberdeen turned and Shaun Mochan were also picked to rep- up to the race course on the Saturday and resent but unfortunately being non-Welsh staged a huge snow ball  ght. A couple of  rst year students miss out due to eligibility the more ‘elite’ universities decided they rules. One  rst year member, Mark Hughes, would run an uno cial race despite the is going to be running on behalf of his home cancellation; a er much discussion Ban- county – good luck Mark! Rob and Jenny gor’s team decided to carry on building are also heading to Cardi in a few weeks to their snow lady rather than joining in the represent North Wales in the inter-regional race and are proud to say that her picture 10km road race championships. has made it all over the internet and into e social events calendar this year had ‘Athletics Weekly’ magazine. For this I can been brilliant and our new kit designs are only congratulate such an achievement. lovely, well done Andy John. Plans for a Rob Samuel won the recent Menai Mini good end of year party are currently in Marathon 10km race in a personal best the making. Kat Richardson has been busy time of just over 32 minutes. Well done making it possible for people to gain their Rob; this course is certainly not a ‘personal Level One athletics coaching awards, and best’ course so a fantastic achievement here. is now working out plans for a Level Two. e rest of the club ran really well too, with Angus Mackay continues to run circuit Bangor University ladies scooping  rst training every Friday, 6-8pm at Normal Site (Becki Law), second (Vicki Gottwold), and Gym. is is open to anybody: members third places (Jess Bratt). (free) and non-members (at a cost of £1 a e day before this event a small group session). Come along and give it a try! ran in the Colwyn Bay Twin Piers 10km; ere have been so many achievements again, another good result with Jenny Bri- made so far this year and many more to erley winning the Senior Female position come I’m sure. If anyone is interested in in a personal best time and personal bests being part of the athletics club, whether to for Jonny Hardway, Suzy Blandford and Ca- compete or just for fun drop me an email on ressa Janssen. Suzy Blandford also recently [email protected] won the under 20 Helsby half marathon in a personal best time, well done Suzy. Nick Swinburn won the Llandudno Jenny Brierley Success for Bangor Dance team rowing at Liverpool hopeful for success arly into Decem- ur festive show, A Christmas A team of thirty  ve dancers will head ber, Bangor’s row- Spectacular, was a great suc- up to Scotland to compete in hip hop, ing team made cess! With over   y dancers, contemporary, advanced ballet, ad- Etheir way to Liverpool Oseven di erent genres of dance, an vanced tap, jazz and break. With extra docks for their  rst race enthusiastic audience and a Christmas rehearsals on top of our   een hour of the season. e men tree not to be forgotten, it was a bril- week, it’s certainly a very busy time for took two eights, one liant night had by all! We raised a total BU Dance, but one that will hopefully senior crew and a novice of £294 that night, with £150 going to pay o ! To all dancers competing in Ed- crew, and the ladies took Children’s Hospice, Ty Gobaith. A big inburgh- break a leg! Finally, to all our one novice crew. thank you to everyone who came to new members this semester, we hope to e senior men were support us! see you very soon in Dance!  rst to race and came  rst Our next big venture is the focus in their category and sixth of our year, the annual Edinburgh Abby-Jay Wilson over the entire regatta University Dance Competition 2009, with a combined time of being held on Saturday 21st February. Bu Dance Captain 8:07 over two legs of the 1300m course. A spe- Monday cial mention must go to Thursday Christian Russell-Pollock 5pm: Street 5pm: Beginners Modern who was selected to row 6pm: Contemporary 6pm: Advanced Modern in this senior boat a er disappoint. Coming second in their cat- well and the support for each crew was Tuesday only picking up the sport in September. egory the ladies were all very pleased. amazing with everyone pitching in. Friday Second to race were the novice men’s Again, a special mention must go to anks also to those who came along in 5pm: Beginners Ballet 5pm: Fitness (Curved crew comprising of almost complete Lucy Ferris who had never rowed before the cold to simply cheer on the crews. A 6pm: Advanced Ballet freshers and all competing in their  rst September and was placed in the deep good day was had by all and we returned Lounge) 7pm: Break race. All were nervous as they went over end racing with experienced rowers. to Bangor in high spirits. 5pm: Break to boat but another excellent perform- Congratulations also go to Emma e clubs are looking ahead to Wednesday ance, the placed them in the top 50% of Haynes who coxed superbly in her events coming up in February and again 5pm: Beginners Tap their category with a combined time of  rst race as a non rower. Everyone was in March. Good luck to everyone in- 6pm: Advanced Tap All classes held in Time / st 9:12 and 31 overall. shocked by how such a little person volved. 7pm: Irish Curved Lounge Finally, the women were under pres- could project her voice so far! Helen Aldred hope to see you there! sure to also compete well and they didn’t All those who competed rowed WEEKLYEVENTS FROM JANUARY 2009

MONDAY

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