ISSN 1755-7585 Issue No. 205 March Issue 2009 Down to the wire INSIDE: Next Years’ Alternative Party Venues Unsung Heroes visits MB! Willow Does: 2009 brings our closest Students’ American Union election result in history Football he SU Elections are over, and Seren Andy John elected by the tightest of mar- Elsewhere, it was a case of incumbent announcement of the result was marred to can announce the results, declared gins – a mere three votes. In a contest wor- victories for Students’ Union President a degree by sporadic booing of the victori- on the morning of the 20th of March thy of the best BUCS tournaments of the John P. Jackson, Deputy President Spen- ous candidate and a small number of peo- Tfollowing a three day voting period of col- academic year, the rst round saw Chris cer George and Societies and Events Of- ple being evicted from the Curved Lounge, ourful ags, multitudes of sweets and large- Reid receive 565 votes, while Andy took cer Tom Hecht. John Jackson prevailed though no further incidents were reported. scale paper campaigns. Having utilised the 571, leaving him 14 below the quorate to- over Nathan Scammell by 979 votes to 173. Elections Secretary Matt Ison was reported week of the 9th-13th of the month to hold tal of 585. e second round recount saw Spencer George defeated post-graduate as saying, “I think it’s a momentous day for debates in Main Arts outlining their posi- Chris Reid take 574 votes, and Andy took student Iain Dalton by 881 votes to 227, the Union”. All three incumbents had con- tions and being questioned on the specif- 577. As before, this was below quorate, whilst Tom Hecht ran unopposed. From a centrated on pointing out their proven ex- ics of their policies, the following week saw but as Andy had won both rounds of the total of 1, 100 votes, Tom Hecht received 1, perience as a boon for their continuation in candidates trying to win the battle on the contest, he was duly elected as our new AU 009 whilst there were 91 votes cast for a new their respective positions, especially given ground, particularly on the three election President. e contest between the two had election. e elections for UMCB President the number of changes that the SU will face Brand new TV days of Tuesday, Wednesday and ursday. been hard-thought for the days running up provided drama of a largely di erent stripe. next year, principally in terms of location Capping a night of high spirits at the and during the elections, with both camps Although Sharyn Williams defeated rival and its status in relation to the University. review section! Students’ Union, the drama of a two stage running spirited campaigns. Tomi Rowlands by 640 votes to 459, the Stephen Davies election for Athletic Union President saw 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 March Issue 2009 EDITORIAL www.seren.bangor.ac.uk March Issue 2009 FINALLY! IT’S FINISHED! Contributors: Sion Wyn Laszek Georgia Mannion Liz Stevens Good morning students of Aaron Wiles Bangor… Rhodri Barker Iain Dalton I write this to you from my offi ce at midday on Friday 20th of March. Emily Collins I have been up for nearly 36 hours Joe Firth slogging away at this wonderful Willow Manuel newspaper we like to call Seren. Laura Winstanley So please forgive me if I act a little Polly Daszkiewicz strange (as David Gray once said… Dominic Vince what a man). Dwight McCarthy So, your midterms should be Hannah Smart over, your dissertations should Fiona Bradley be in full swing (yeah, remember Emma Gregory that? You should probably get back Rosie Macleod to it, shouldn’t you really? Go on, Tom Durkin get on with it, you know you want to. Close that Facebook window Cat Prince different, because the sun is offi ciallyas well, out. skiver!) That’s right, but this OUT. week I wasn’t has been aware Liam Randall of its homosexuality before now, but it seems March has made a difference. Everyone is Lee Howson sitting in a fi eld, or drinking cider on Roman Camp, or laying in the middle of the road, desperate to catch a few rays… and I can’t say I blame you. Remember the suncream Robert Mann though, I’ve heard that’s pretty important. Baz Luhrmann told me about that once in the Dave Lewis 90s and I’ve never forgotten. Once our week of summer has passed however, it’ll be back Nick Finikin to the depths of Deal or No Deal whilst the rain beats holes in your window. Oh well, enjoy Kevanne Sanger it while it lasts boys and girls. Abby-Jay Wilson Callum Drury Easter is around the corner, so if you’ve given anything up for lent soon you’ll be able Alice Gadsby to revel in abstinence liberation and binge your face off. Lots of my friends have given up meat, as a full-time vegetarian I have little sympathy for their all-too-well-vocalised plight. Alex Stamp Be sure to make the most of your Easter holiday, also. I know working hard is top of your Gemma Carter list of priorities, but make sure to chill out too… and scrounge as much from your parents as you possibly can. Photography: Helen Waller Right, I’m signing off, I don’t think I can write anything else before I pass out head Tom Hecht fi rst onto the keyboard. Our next issue isn’t out til the end of April, so don’t miss us too much! Sion Wyn Laszek Aaron Wiles Love you all Special thanks to: Fiona Bradley Jo Caulfield, The editing engine, powered by Red Bull. UB Ultimate Frisbee Proof reading: Stephen Davies Sion Wyn Laszek Emily Collins TEAM SEREN BRINGING NEWS TO YOUR CRIB. RECYCLE Georgia Mannion 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 March Issue 2009 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk NEWS The citizens of Wheels of fi re Bangor deserve better... ...so much so they took to the streets to protest about it n the 10th of March, a fairly placid park it just o the entrance to Ffridd and Carter also said “ e re engine raced past Tuesday evening at e Ffridd Site escape unharmed. Aimee Carter witnessed us, they came within minutes and put out clouds of smoke could be seen bil- the event and had this to say “don’t play the re quickly. Just shows that Bangor re Olowing from the foot of Idwal that were vis- the re down! It was ABLAZE. e smoke department are dependable in an emer- able from Upper Bangor. An act of arson, went almost down to Morrisons! You could gency.” Which may be more than can be perhaps by a disgruntled high street shop see the ames from way before the halls said for the local car garages. As the crispy *disclaimer: the protest above may or may not have occured on Bangor High Street. Who knows... owner? Or a protest at the recent unsatis- buildings start! Srsly, so cool... obv not for vehicle sat dripping and dis gured in the factory internet services? Or just an over- the person whose car it was, but for me road Majid, who is lucky to have escaped zealous masterchef? No, infact a aming (who has never seen a car on re in person) unharmed said “I don’t mind so much, I ver since the destruction of the were only done so to alleviate fears that Ford Escort was the source. it was well exciting!”. hope they replace it with a mini cooper”. old cinema, and the erection of students were monopolising local hous- e car in question belongs to Majid, At rst the cause of the re was unclear private housing for students in ing stock. It remains to be seen whether Eits place, dissention has escalated into facilities, such as an arts and innovation a rst year living at Ffridd. Unluckily for but alas, it was not as exciting as you may him, the car is the rst he has owned here. have anticipated. e car had been in a lo- Georgia Mannion action from disgruntled locals claim- centre, theatre or cinema could even be Extended Hangover for As he was driving up Ffriddoedd Road the cal garage earlier that day. Tom Cruise on ing they are fed up of being glossed over contemplated without university back- engine burst into ames, he managed to a motorbike was nowhere to be seen. Miss by the local council and the university. ing; in a town with scarce little to do, eir anger has manifested into a pro- surely people should appreciate what Bangor Pub test march which took place on 21st they have.