Bangor’s Student Publication Are you forced to put up with noise roughly equiva- CREDIT CRUNCH lent to an aircraft turbine* FREE-ZONE for six days out of seven? Are you tormented by night terrors consisting of relent- lessly accelerating construc- tion trucks and hyperactive pneumatic drills? Are you bereft of an internal phone ISSN 1755-7585 Issue No. 203 December Issue 2008 with which you can put across these encroaching fears to Estate staff? Then commiserations, as you are almost certainly a disgrun- tled Ffriddoedd resident. FFRIDD SH*T£? First, some background for the uninitiated and those fortunately unaffected by the ongoing saga. Origi- nally, complaints on Ffridd site in September and early October were linked to building work commenc- *Disclaimer: is is by no means a sci- Students fi rmly unhappy with new build - enti c comparison and Seren stresses the adverb roughly in this description so as to avoid confrontation and scary legal rami - but are your complaints being listened to? cations. Seren also bruises rather easily, and hasn’t been in a ght since it was six. re you forced to put up with noise ter being brought to the attention of sta with Ffridd students having not received a O ce and the residents. At the very least no complaints. roughly equivalent to an aircra at the Ffridd Halls O ce. However, ongo- de nite end date for the building and re- residents should be informed as to why ere have been some concerted ef- turbine* for six days out of seven? ing complaints concerning levels of noise furbishment. the work is being carried out, how long the forts on the part of Estates and Facilities A and dust at Ffridd have now centred on Idwal has also been subject to ground work will be going on for and I think an to resolve certain issues. Internal phones Are you tormented by night terrors consist- ing of relentlessly accelerating construction the Idwal block – the block is supposedly oor ooding – the ground oor is to even- apology for the inconvenience caused is the are hopefully being installed soon but the trucks and hyperactive pneumatic drills? designated as Ffriddoedd’s ‘quiet block’, but tually be used for administrative purposes, very least the students deserve”. cost of replacing swipe cards (currently at Are you bere of an internal phone with has experienced more than its fair share of as well as containing shop space – and ex- He went on to comment, “I am current- a rather extortionate £15) for Halls entry is which you can put across these encroach- noise problems. cessive noise related to the strengthening ly putting together a report which will be apparently not up for debate. ing fears to Estates sta ? en commisera- Most of these related noise complaints of the building’s interior structure. Com- presented directly to the Vice Chancellor at tions, as you are almost certainly a disgrun- are linked to the proximity of Idwal to plaints have also been of a very speci c the next Student Forum (05/12/08). Whilst Stephen Davies tled resident of the Ffridd site. Ffriddoedd Road, Bar Uno, and the main nature: one visually-impaired student has we understand the current re-development First, some background for the unini- pedestrian entrance, which has prompted had di culty utilising specialist audio fa- is essential for the long term future of the tiated and those fortunately una ected by questions of the suitability of Idwal’s quiet cilities because of the wider noise pollution Fridd site, it should not come at the ex- *Disclaimer: is is by no means a sci- the ongoing saga. Originally, complaints on block status. issues. pense of those currently residing there.” enti c comparison and Seren stresses the Ffridd site in September and early October A recent Student Forum Meeting (held Spencer George, Deputy President of It is not fair however, to tar all of Ffridd adverb roughly in this description so as to were linked to building work commenc- October 10th) had sta representatives – the Students’ Union said: “I have raised with the same (probably rather noisy) avoid confrontation and scary legal rami- ing at 7am in the morning. (Construc- including Director of Estates and Facilities, these issues at several meetings and despite brush. Residents of other Ffridd halls cations. Seren also bruises rather easily, tion was then put back to 8am). Internet Mr Mike Goodwin, who stressed at the the small success we have had in getting the seem to be pretty happy with their humble and hasn’t been in a ght since it was six. issues related to the ine ective operation meeting that he was attempting to mediate contractors to start work an hour later in abodes. When John Jackson and his team of ResNet were resolved fairly quickly af- with students and the building contractors. the day, I am disappointed by the apparent of sabbatical o cers roam around Ffridd, Evidence points to the contrary, however lack of communication between the Halls the majority of students they speak to have NEUADD WILLIS STUDENT ACCOMMODATION Luxury ensuite student Looking for Accommodation for next September? accommodation Pop along to our OPEN DAY on: Tuesday 9 December, 12pm - 3pm WE HAVE FLEXIBLE CONTRACTS STILL situated within AVAILABLE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2009!!! walking distance of We can be contacted on: 01248 371450, 07841 Bangor University 369249 or [email protected] 2 December Issue 2008 EDITORIAL www.seren.bangor.ac.uk December Issue 2008 So here it is.... Contributors: Patrick Stephens Georgia Mannion Rhodri Barker …bloody Christmas! Ok so, I Iain Dalton am quite a bit of a Scrooge when it comes to the festive time of Emily Collins year, but I’d be lying if I said that making this Seren look seasonal Liz Stephens hasn’t been fun. Joe Firth As the fi rst semester of this academic year draws to a close, Matt McCullagh it’s really quite bizarre to think that nearly 3 months have Matt Ison passed since we all got back to / made our debut in Bangor. Time Bettina Heller does fl y… but such is life and as we get older I’m sure this Willow Manuel apparent bend in the space/ Sophie Griffi ths time continuum will appear to happen more quickly. THE Mike Walsh JOYS. Ok so, on to this issue. There Tom Durkin is loaaaads for you to feast those wonderful eyes upon, Dave Lewis including a letters section Peter Cox (“ooh!”), Willow Does Medieval Reenactment (“ahh!”), the low Kenneth Padley down on those spam emails (“grr!”) and much much more Frances Birkett (“woop de do!”). I bet you literally cannot wait. In fact, Megan Tapper I wouldn’t discourage you Kirsten Kennedy from completely disregarding the rest of this (really rather Sion Wyn Laszek laborious) editorial and fl icking straight through to the wonders of Christmas Seren 2008. After this next paragraph that is… Aaron Wiles SEREN HANDPAINTED MUGS NOW IN STOCK. Yep, I do not usually capitalise, but I felt this announcement was defi nitely worth an exception. As you can see from the picture to the right, these mugs are unlike anything Jack Sexty you have seen before. Painted by the fi ne hands of your very own Seren team, this mug Robert Mann will bring joys to your life that you are yet to encounter. Yours for only £2! Rosie MacCloud Want one? Of course you do! Get in touch – [email protected]. We’re starting a trend, you’d better get on it. Liam Randall Hannah Meachin Lots and lots of love Charlotte Bewley Jo, the best editor this side of Deniol Dave Lloyd Road. Matthew Cox Richard Laba Sam Evans Andy Peterson Cat Prince Don Kelly Ellie Sutcliffe Seren is Bangor Students’ Union monthy newspaper, however we Kevanne Sanger do have editorial independence from both Bangor University and TEAM SEREN BRINGING NEWS TO YOUR CRIB. Bangor Students’ Union. Seren is written by students for students and we’d love you students to get involved! Photography: Editor Jo Caulfi eld Helen Waller Send an email to the editor ([email protected])or to a News Stephen Davies relevant sub-editor (sub-editor’[email protected]). The Features Bianca Murray Gareth Roberts other option is to add us on Facebook and get in touch! Aaron Wiles Music Emma Dixon The next issue of Seren goes to print on in Film Mark Varley Proof reading: February - the date is currently under review, but Books Emma McColl Tom Hecht if you want to know, get in touch. Travel Stef Black Spencer George Sports Will Varley Georgia Mannion Much love, peace out. Design Dan Turner Here at Seren, there’s nothing we love more than Mother Nature and d’ya know RECYCLE what she loves? Recycling! After you’ve fi nished with us, can you put us in your blue box and make sure we get made into something else? Thanks very much. As Craig David once said: RE-E-CYCLE. WHEN THE CROWD SAY ‘BO’ SELLEEEECTA 3 December Issue 2008 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk NEWS Rising concerns over student safety in Bangor Are we really living in one of the UK’s safest cities? angor prides itself on being a safe a rst year from Walsall recalls the en- addition, last week one city. All over the University pro- counter with some young locals during student reported this spectus is the quote “Bangor is a Freshers’ week “we were coming back to us: “my boyfriend’s Bsafe place to live - one of the safest cities from Yellow and they started talking to car was parked in front in the UK” from educationuk.org and us.