Bangor Students’ Union’s English Language Newspaper

ISSN 1755-7585 Issue No. 223 April Issue 2012 INSIDE: IT’S ALL CHANGE Summer Ball Competition!

Seren Hits Up Miami!

‹ e Latest Film Reviews!

• Entirely new sabb team voted in at the SU elections • Online voting system sees the highest turnout ever Steven Freeman Emyr Bath as VP Sports & Healthy ion and a University which genuinely bring back (maybe in a di— erent way) Living. re” ect the desires of students.” Serendipity 2, and to revitalise the new sabbatical team was elect-  e new sabbs start shadowing their Shon Prebble, the new VP for Edu- Love Bangor campaign, which by the ed last month in an election predecessors in the next few weeks and cation and Welfare has outlined what way, I’ve already started!” become incumbent in their new oŠ ce he plans to do over the next year, “One  e entirely new team of sabbs will which saw the highest amount in the  rst week of July, where they will of my main aims this year is to ensure replace the current team of experi- Latest Gadget Aof voters in Bangor Students’ Union start work over the summer in prepa- the redistribution of student  nes. I enced sabbs who have been in oŠ ce News! history. ration for the many exciting activi- want these to be used to help students for two years, aš er they were all re-  e voting process this year had ties the Student’s Union organises for who are struggling  nancially, rather elected in their second term, two years been changed signi cantly so that vot- Fresher’s week. than to subsidise University adminis- being the longest period a sabbatical ing could be cast online, and as a result Newly elected President Antony tration budgets. oŠ cer can hold oŠ ce.  e shake up is of this, voting numbers rose to an all Butcher said “I’m really excited about Ash Kierans as VP Societies & sure to bring a fresh and vibrant work- time high, resulting in 2140 students getting started, and working with the Community said “ I ran for VP Socie- ing atmosphere to the Student’s Union casting votes. team - we’ve all got some great ideas ties & Community because of the ex- and the individuality and goals of the  e sabbatical team which will re- for next year that I can’t wait to get periences societies have brought to me new sabbatical oŠ cers show promise place the existing team are Antony working on” throughout my degree, and I wanted for the making of another award win- Butcher as President, Shon Prebble as “My main goal is to  nd out what not only to give something back but ning sabbatical team. VP Education & Welfare, Ash Kierans students in Bangor want, and to do my improve what is available.” as VP Societies & Community and best to make it happen - to create a Un- “My biggest goals this year are to 2 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk April Issue 2012 Editorial The Seren Team Editor: Aaron Wiles [email protected] Deputy Editor: LJ Taylor [email protected] News: Steven Freeman [email protected] Politics: Anna Hatfi eld [email protected] Features: Rosie McLeod [email protected] Creative Corner: Tom Haynes Contributors [email protected] Nicola Hoban Jonathon Spencer Food & Drink: Joe Russell Alex Thomson Jecelyn Latimer [email protected] Matt Jackson Georgie Lorimer Sarah Braisdell Nayab Khan Film & TV: Alicia Hill Emily Bygrave Amy Westlake & Heather Boyles Sean Talbot Toby Raynsford fi [email protected] Elise Geaney Lauren Binley Music: Joey McNally Georgia Mannion Rebecca Watson [email protected] Hi! I fi nd it hard to believe that I’m already Eddie Small Hayley Horswill Fashion: Kaden Wild presenting to you the fi fth Seren edition of the Yousef Cisco Alison Kennedy Will Osborn Matt Coombs [email protected] academic year! It seems like only yesterday we were all recovering from Freshers’ week and now Tom Bone Rob Young Health & Beauty: Jonathon Spencer Nathan Reynolds Emily Tearle & Sara Royle we’re all feeling the dissertation stress, myself Jecelyn Latimer Anthony Giles [email protected] included. I’m going to tell you all what I’ve been Georgie Lorimer Alan Washburne telling myself, everything is going to be okay! Advice: Ashleigh Garnett News 3-5 [email protected] In the meantime, now you’ve found a few min- utes to pick up our lovely publication, you may Politics 6-7 Travel: Rowena Nathan Comment 8-10 [email protected] as well get the kettle on and pop your feet up for a well deserved break. So what’s in the is- Environment 11 Sport: Tom Knott Features 12-13 [email protected] sue? Well, there’s been so much to rant about this month that we’ve had to make three pages of Summer Ball 14-15 Secretary: Luke Dobson Union 16-17 [email protected] Comment! Remember Kony? Our Features section is taking a look at all the positives, negatives and Societies 18-19 Design: Dan Turner Creative Corner 20-21 [email protected] controversies surrounding the event. Not only that we have all of your standard music, fi lm and tv Health & Beauty 22 reviews, and Ashleigh is calming you down with Fashion 23 The Sabbs her exam stress tips (page 25). Breaktime 24 Jo Caulfi eld Most excitingly though, your Summer Ball has Ashleigh Answers 25 jo.caulfi [email protected] been announced and we’re helping to tease you Music 26-27 Danielle Buckley with the event. There’s a competition on page Film & TV 28-29 [email protected] 15 in which you could win a free ticket if you’re Games & Gadgets 30-31 Danielle Giles lucky! See you next month! Food & Drink 32-33 [email protected] Travel 34-35 Rich Gorman Classics 36 [email protected] Aaron Wiles Sport 37-39 April Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 3 Local News Cargo Ship Runs Aground Body Discovered in Felinheli Near Colwyn Bay By Aaron Wiles By Luke Dobson he body of a man has been as 23-year-old plasterer Dion Hughes ue to rough seas a cargo ship, with its seven crew ing an eye on the salvage operation, which is a fairly delicate found in Felinheli on the 16th and the police are still not treating the members, ran aground near Colwyn Bay on the procedure. In order to move the ship they would  rst have April 2012. death as suspicious. It is thought that evening of 4th April. Whilst traversing the waters at to empty the fuel whilst replacing it with water, to keep the TA spokesman for North Wales Po- Mr Hughes was  nding it diŠ cult to Llanddulas,D the ship collided with a rock on the breakwater, weight.  en the cargo would have to be removed and the lice said: ““We can con rm that the accept his mother’s death two years causing it to run aground broadside on the coast. hull would be assessed; following this they would force the body of a man has been recovered ago and his father’s death several years  e  rst thing the emergency services needed to do was water from the tanks so that it would be light enough to ” oat from a wooded area in Felinheli.  e ago. save the crew from the stricken boat.  ey worked tirelessly away from the shore it is lodged on. man in his twenties, who has not been Mr Hughes was discovered by a lo- from two lifeboats and a helicopter, combating the awful  e cargo it had been carrying was limestone, which it had formally identi ed, is believed to be lo- cal man who is thought to have known weather conditions of gale-like winds and pitching waves. picked up from the quarry jetty before being brought back cal. At this time police are not treating him. An inquest is expected to be held Five of the crew were rescued before midnight but the two towards the shore by the waves aš er the incident at the break- the death as suspicious.” by North West Wales coroner Dewi remaining members had to stay onboard with the helicopter’s water.  is is the second maritime accident to have involved  e body has now been identi ed Pritchard Jones. winchman aš er the winch broke; they were liš ed out soon the same limestone loading jetty in the last six months. An- aš er. other vessel, the Swanland, got in trouble in the rough waters A section of the A55 was closed in order to allow the heli- aš er taking on the limestone and went on to sink. copter to land. Eyewitness Sophie Madeley, having been stuck on the road, said “I have watched this all Bangor Plagued night and […] my high respect goes out to the pilot of the helicopter for the amazing work I watched him do.” Even as the rescue operation was winding down, by Crime concerns turned over to the leaking fuel tank.  e cargo ship isn’t the biggest vessel around but it still By Nicola Hoban had the capacity to carry 40,000 litres of light die- espite the fact that the crime nately a very rare occurrence in Bangor, sel. Luckily the rough conditions helped to break rate in North Wales is sup- however, let me reiterate and reassure up the stu— which leaked, hopefully managing to posed to be considered as one the public that we will not tolerate in- limit the damage it could do to local natural habi- ofD the lowest in the UK, Bangor has re- cidents such as these and those respon- tats. cently been plagued by episodes of vio- sible will feel the full force of the law.” Still, the Countryside Council for Wales is keep- lence. According to online  gures for A spokesperson added to this: “ e February 2012, shockingly Bangor was street robberies were a one-o— with a at the top of the list as the most crime- number of incidents happening very ridden city in North West Wales. High quickly in a short space of time but levels of anti-social behaviour, vehicle tackled by some excellent rapid re- Wylfa to Close Reactor crime, drug-related crime, theš dam- sponse policing with two local men By Alex ‹ omson age and criminal damage appeared to very quickly detained. Both have been be the main causes aš er being reported charged and remanded to appear at he Wylfa nuclear power station Lancashire. Aš er a recent Government wind and solar energy to support large across the city. court in May and so sub judice obvi- on Anglesey will close down one report found that there was no active parts of the country but on their own Telling WalesOnline.co.uk her ously prevents elaboration although a of its reactors later this month. danger to people in the surrounding they aren’t the answer. thoughts on the matter, Bangor Cllr local councillor has already gone public TOŠ cials said Reactor 2, which began areas to where fracking would take  e recent push by the Government June Marshall said: “It’s operating in 1971, would stop produc- place.  e process involves pumping for Nuclear power is welcome and nec- a bit sad. I’m surprised. ing electricity on 30 April because of water and chemicals into the ground essary and there needs to be more UK I haven’t heard of inci- limited fuel stocks and the remaining to push out the gas. Energy companies based companies willing to invest in dents of crime in Stryd Reactor 1 is allowed to operate until have said it will lead to cheaper energy nuclear power and make sure that in Albert (where the in- 2014. supplies but critics argue that there are the near future we don’t face an energy cidents seem to be oc- Last month both E.ON and RWE big risks. crisis. curring). It tends to be nPower made the decision to not go  ere has been talk of a Russian Anglesey has been designated an en- students targeted.” ahead with Wylfa B, intended to operate company negotiating to take over the terprise zone by the Welsh Government Arfona Davies, a from 2025, aš er a strategic review.  is contract to build and run Wylfa B.  e in terms of power creation and this will resident of Stryd Al- has leš the Government in a serious di- bert, goes on to add: lemma but it insists that it will continue “ e Government is seeking to try and ‘wean’ the UK o imported oil” “We’ve had problems with the replacement of nuclear power with cars being broken stations even aš er the Japanese disaster Russian state-owned nuclear operator support the new power plant and hope- into and somebody leš the Fukushima nuclear facility. Rosatom is reported to be interested in fully more of Wales will be used for horrible, abusive notes  e Government is seeking to try a bid to build a new reactor on Angle- nuclear plants, there are a lot of rural on some cars.” and ‘wean’ the UK o— imported oil and sey. International press reports, includ- areas where there is potential for many Police are trying to reassure Bangor praising the e— orts of local police. rely on power sources that come from ing sources in Russia, claim Rosatom more plants and this would be good for residents, but the task is made all the “Arrests too have been made with re- Britain, but in light of the debate over could be set to buy a share of Horizon the Welsh economy in terms of jobs more diŠ cult when, just a few weeks gards to the arson attacks and enquiries fracking that has gone on recently, this Nuclear Power. but also in providing cheaper energy to ago, there were arson attacks on vehi- too reveal these do not form part of a may be more diŠ cult than  rst thought. Nuclear power is the only long term Wales and parts of England. cles parked on Garth Road as well as pattern, but are more focused.”  is controversial method of extract- option for alternatives to oil, although Strand Street. Additionally, a string of Chairman of the Upper Bangor So- ing natural gas is set to be re-started in it would be fantastic if we could use the robberies occurred in the same night ciety, John Martin, tells the Bangor- in the City Centre, whilst in Upper Anglesey Mail that the society will be Bangor people found themselves be- meeting with police on Monday, stat- ing confronted by culprits with knives ing: “Obviously there are some com- trying to intimidate them into handing plaints.  e death in Britannia Square over their money and any other posses- did cause a lot of concern among resi- sions of value. One person was injured dents.  e meeting on Saturday 14th in this event. April will allow for the police to be In the months beforehand, a man present to explain their roles and give was charged with the murder of Kelvin reassurance.” Jones, who was from the Upper Bangor A member of the People of Bangor area. Another man, a resident at the Ty Community Group adds however: Newydd hostel, was jailed for an attack “Personally, I  nd it very disturbing to he conducted upon a teenage girl. hear of such awful crime being com- Inspector Simon Barrasford of the mitted in the city. Maybe this is further North Wales Police, told the Bangor- evidence to reinstate the police hub Anglesey Mail: “Robberies are fortu- back in Bangor.” 4 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk April Issue 2012 UK News UK Unemployment Falls 100 Days Till By Steven Freeman

t has recently been announced that est announcement and TUC general youth unemployment still remains unemployment in the UK has fall- secretary Brendan Barber said: “While high at a  gure of 22.2%. London 2012 en by 35,000 bringing the latest tal- any rise in the number of jobs is wel- In Wales, Unemployment was re- Ily to 2.65 million people who remain By Steven Freeman come, the fact is that full-time employ- ported to have fallen by a thousand unemployed in Britain. ment is still falling and a record 1.4 meaning the rate of unemployment  e OŠ ce of National Statistics million are now stuck in involuntary now stands at 8.9%. vents to celebrate 100 days until schedule. (ONS) said that the decrease occurred part-time work.” In other parts of the UK, Scotland the start of the London 2012 Ol- All this news comes aš er a poll an- ympics have recently got under- between December 2011 and February  e latest report provided some saw a large drop in the number of job- nounces that 64% of the UK believe Eway as Britain welcomes in the highly 2012, and that the rate of unemploy- that the UK taxpayer are having to foot hope to younger generations, saying less as 12,000 people were taken from anticipated games. ment is somewhat promising. that unemployment between people the unemployed tally. too much of the bill to meet the lavish Trade Union OŠ cials have however In Kew Gardens, on the outskirts of spending of the Olympic organisers. aged 16 – 24 had dropped signi cant- Unemployment in Northern Ireland London, a giant set of Olympic rings expressed their concern with the lat- ly, but overall, the ONS stressed that however seems to have not changed. Amongst those surveyed, the ma- made from ” owers has been unveiled, jority of Londoners said they felt un- where it also planned for 40 Oak trees happy having to pay extra towards the to be planted in the upcoming 100 Olympics, as contributions from all days. Sta— at the gardens took 3 days to London Borough’s Council Tax are set plant the 20,000 pansies which make to make up an extra £20 million that is Britain Gets Set for up the ” oral rings spanning 50m. to be contributed to the Olympic fund. West End stars and top athletes  e question of whether Britain is are also set to make an appearance at being unnecessarily exuberant seems Trafalgar Square to mark the occasion still on the cards, as ever more expen- Another Summer and create a hype in these busy few sive projects get underway in prepara- months. tion for the Olympics, and as the gov- 70 days from the opening, the Ol- ernment continue to make exceptions ympic torch relay is set to get under- to long standing traditions, such as the By Matt Jackson of Strikes way, where the torch will tour the UK announcement of the suspension of visiting speci ed locations as it travels Sunday Trading Laws surrounding the ome of you may have by now ers would be towards the end of June working conditions in a move that will on a highly detailed and clockwork games. heard that fuel tankers were and would clash with GCSE and A disrupt millions of commuters across meant to go on strike following Level exams; NUT action would a— ect the capital.  e strike was caused be- Spublic outrage, mass panic and petrol schools in England and Wales. cause RMT members wanted to be stations being bled dry in a week that NASUWT’s strike vote decided able to join the “Transport for Lon- had an estimated one casualty as gov- that any strike would take part in the don pension scheme” and receive the ernmental advise was to  ll up our cars autumn and would be due to pay, same travel bene ts of other London Titanic: with as much fuel as we can carry in preparation for industrial action over workload and pension issues as well underground workers.  e three e— ec- the Easter period. Francis Maude’s as the increasing privatisation of the tive lines are the Piccadilly, Jubilee and comments may have been taken a bit education industry. NASUWT have Northern line which see an estimated 2 100 Years On too far when the general populous described the changes as an “attack on million commuters each year. By Tom Haynes seemed to be cluttering the fuel points workers’ rights, pay cuts and increased  e RMT said that discussions with with fear in their eyes but the fuel pension costs”. Tube Lines had been unsuccessful and he world has commemorated ing of the Titanic Belfast attraction at strikes still leš David Cameron’s coali- March already saw industrial action that striking was to be considered a the 100th anniversary of the Titanic Slipways. It featured perform- tion feeling red faced. Mike Penning’s in London where thousands of teach- last resort with a reported 44% vot- sinking of the Titanic with a se- ances by Pixie Lott, Olly Murs, Katy B, attempts to quell the commotion failed Tries of events throughout April. and Rizzle Kicks. to hit the ground and he was leš with On April 10, a ship containing Meanwhile in cinemas, a 3D ver- nothing to add apart from the fact that over 1300 passengers leš the docks sion of James Cameron’s 1997 smash Maude “didn’t understand the size of of Southampton to begin a 12 night jerry cans”. Penning insisted that no  lm ‘Titanic’ has been re-released to cruise, re-tracing the path the Titanic one from Unite had said to him that coincide with the anniversary of the the strike was about health and safety took across the Atlantic. Five days lat- sinking.  e  lm, starring Kate Win- and reassured everyone that the issue er, at 11:40pm on 15th April (exactly a slet and Leonardo DiCaprio has taken was simply pay. century since the ship hit the iceberg), $190 Million in box oŠ ce gross since As it stands drivers are only allowed passengers gathered on the ship’s decks its release two weeks ago.  is makes to work an average of 48 hours across to attend a memorial service for the it the most successful 3D re-release a 17 week period but many drivers lives lost in the tragedy. A moment of all time, overtaking last year’s ‘ e claimed that they were putting in shiš s of silence was held, followed by the Lion King’ conversion, which current- of over a hundred hours a week.  is casting of three ” oral wreaths into the ly stands at $172 million.  e original could lead to them feeling tired behind ocean. Around  š y of the passengers  lm received widespread critical and the wheel of large vehicles endangering on board were the direct descendants commercial acclaim, winning 11 acad- lives. of Titanic passengers. emy awards, and becoming the high-  e education sector was then hit In Belfast, a minute’s silence was est grossing  lm of all time. It held this as the National Union of Teachers initiated. It was followed by a one accolade for twelve years until it was (NUT), again voted for industrial ac- hour service in the City Hall, featur- overtaken by Cameron’s own  lm ‘Ava- tion over pensions.  e strikes could ing solo performances by singer Brian tar’ in 2009. disrupt millions and would once again Kennedy. RMS Titanic was the largest passen- force the closure of schools.  e deci- Additionally, Belfast’s Titanic mu- ger liner in service at the time of her sion was made merely hours aš er the ers and lecturers disrupted classes by ing in favour of industrial action.  e seum opened its doors to the public sinking, containing 2,224 people on NASUWT decided to up its campaign staging a 24 hour protest. More than 60 industrial action had a 4-1 vote. Tube for the  rst time in April 2012. It is the route to New York.  e ship received for industrial action.  e call comes higher and further education institu- line Lee Jones said “Should a strike go world’s largest Titanic dedicated mu- numerous ice warnings prior to the aš er a campaign that started in 2011. tions were a— ected and a large number ahead, we have plans in place which seum, and since opening has played tragedy, yet was travelling at full speed  e teaching union say that the new of schools across London were either will enable London Underground to host to over 55,000 visitors. It aims to at the time of collision. Unable to turn plans would force them to pay more shut or faced disruptions. Disgruntled operate Tube services on all three lines give people the opportunity to explore in time, the ship su— ered a deadly into their pension and work longer parents will have had to make alterna- and to minimise any disruption.” Be- the history of the construction of the blow, popping a series of rivets on the hours resulting in a smaller pension. tive plans for childcare or work from cause only the maintenance sta— would ship, and  nd out more about the sink- starboard side, puncturing  ve of its  e department of education re- home. be on strike the drivers should not be ing, and aš ermath of the tragedy to the watertight compartments.  e ship butted the calls for a strike saying that Now there are the tube strikes which a— ected, however if Tube Line were to present day. sank two hours and forty minutes later. the deal o— ered to the unions are “as will add further salt into the striking be ill prepared they would be able to MTV has also staged a concert in It resulted in the deaths of over 1500 good as it gets” and that the teachers wounds.  e RMT union announced refuse to take trains out. memory of the tragedy. ‘MTV’s Titanic people, many of which due to hypo- will get one of the” best pensions avail- on the 17th April that they will hold Sounds’, held in Belfast, Ireland, was a thermia in the freezing temperatures able ”.  e time suggested for the strik- a 3 day walk out over pensions and free concert that celebrated the open- of the North Atlantic. April Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 5 World News North Korea World Faces Further Shock Launch Test Rocket as Anders Breivik By Matt Jackson orth Korea earlier in the rocket America announced that it month sparked outrage with would cancel its plans to send aid into Stands Trial an attempt at launching a North Korea as they were not “keep- By Steven Freeman missile;N an act that was oŠ cially re- ing their commitments”. America ported to be for “peaceful purposes”. warned that North Korea could also  e launch came on the 100th anni- face further diŠ culties if they contin- he trial of Norwegian mass versary of North Korea’s founder Kim ue to disregard what the international murderer Anders Breivik has Il-Sung.  e launch of the missile community wanted.  e announce- recently commenced where he didn’t quite go to North Korea’s plan ment that America would provide aid Tfaces charges for the murder of 77 in- as the on lookers and the world’s me- to the North Koreans came in Febru- nocent people aš er he went on a kill- dia witnessed the rocket separate and ary and was said to be under the con- ing spree last summer. meet a watery demise over the yellow dition that North Korea would cease As Norway prepared for a week sea.  e rocket launch is reported to their enrichment of Uranium. North of sadness and remembrance in the be a start for North Korea, who wants Korea had been previously warned hope of receiving justice for their lost, to embark on their own space plan, that the testing of missiles and rock- Breivik continued to shock the world of which they have already set up a 5 ets would lead to the removal of aid as as his actions and remarks show him year plan. well as further sanctions. as having no remorse.  e test launch was attended by Following the failed launch Kim On Monday 17th April, when the Iranian oŠ cials which further sparks Jong-Un unveiled a statue of his fa- trial began, Breivik entered the court the debate around the two nation’s re- ther Kim Jong-Il which was originally room and made a far-right salute be- lationship.  e two already, allegedly intended to be a celebration follow- fore being escorted to the dock. Brei- share plans for weaponry as Iran’s ing the rocket launch.  e failure was vik continued to show great disre- Shahab- 3 ballistic missile is said to even worse for North Korea, who in spect by saying that he did not respect be a replica of North Korea’s Nodong a rare moment allowed a media pres- the authority of the court and that he missile. ence in order to show their blossom- did not regret his decisions which led Following the revelation about the ing strength. to the atrocity that he caused. On day two of the trial Breivik told the court “I have carried out the most Some Norwegians have expressed opinions that he supports the models spectacular and sophisticated attack concern for the high pro le trial of of South Korea and Japan. on Europe since World War II.” Breivik which is set to last for 10 weeks Although the trial has only just be- Breivik said that he carried out the saying that he will use the trial as a gun, there are many talking points be- attacks to defend Norway from grow- pulpit as he tries to disseminate others ing drawn from issues that the trial is ing immigration and multi-cultural- who may share his world views. set to address and commentators have ism and has expressed that he would Breivik has throughout the trial so said that issues such as governmental repeat his attacks again if he was given far digressed on any given opportu- security is sure to be in the limelight the chance. nity from the questions posed to him and under review.  e trial was given the go ahead by the prosecution and has had to be aš er Breivik was deemed sane in a re- asked to be quiet by the judge whilst cent psychiatric assessment meaning he continued to speak about how he that he was to be tried in the normal believed that Norway and the world criminal justice system. should be run, where he expressed his

Weird and Wonderful: Amnesty Campaign Die Hard Cow Gets Top to Stop Bahrain Grand Prix Moo-vie Deal By Steven Freeman By Steven Freeman mnesty International are cam- the Grand Prix, no one should be un- paigning for the suspension of der any illusions that the country’s hu- German dairy cow named of this raging bovine, German police put on Germany’s ’most wanted ‘ list. the upcoming Bahrain For- man rights crisis is over,” Yvonne who escaped from her declared that hunters may shoot her Yvonne was  nally captured in mulaA 1 Grand Prix amidst complaints “ e authorities are trying to por- farm and evaded capture for if they were to come into contact with September 2011 aš er many attempts that government forces are abusing tray the country as being on the road moreA than 90 days is to be the inspira- the animal, for she was considered a by various agencies, including animal the human rights of anti-government to reform, but we continue to receive tion for a new Hollywood movie. serious risk to society and was even rights activists, who tried to use her protesters. reports of torture and use of unneces-  e mis- own calf and Amnesty sary and ex- chievous dairy a bull to lure Internation- cessive force cow broke her into cap- al say they against pro- through an tivity. have evi- tests.” electric fence  e wild dence that  e race before ” eeing adventures of government is so far set from the farm Yvonne are to forces are us- to go ahead where she lived be the inspi- ing excessive on Sunday and headed for ration to Cow force when 22nd April the Bavarian on the Run, dealing with with the c ou nt r y s i d e an animated anti-govern- p r a c t i c e causing much  lm which ment protesters and that the authori- on Friday 20th, whether the work of d e v a s t a t i o n will be pro- ties are torturing detainees who have Amnesty will pay o— is currently un- and chaos in duced by Max been involved such protests. known, but nevertheless, the issue has her path. Howard of Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty’s been raised. Aš er many Papa Loewe Middle East and North Africa deputy failed attempts Film Compa- director commented “With the world’s to put a stop ny of Munich. eyes on Bahrain as it prepares to host to the rampage 6 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk April Issue 2012 Politics ‹ e 2012 Budget id hearing George Osborne cut to 24% before dwindling to 22% by reading the 2012 Budget in the 2014 - lower than most of Europe. The DHouse of Comons make your ears suspending of Sunday trading laws for bleed? Or maybe reading the press’s the eight Sundays around the Olympics opinion made your eyes bleed? You are could really boost consumer spending, not alone! From pasties to wine to a particularly from the tourists all wanting peak of 8.7% unemployment; and don’t to fi ll their trollies with proper breakfast get me started on the muumbo jumbo tea, fi sh and chips...and Primark! of pensions, infl ation or tax boundaries. 2011-2012 has also seen saving It’s easy for us students to close our galore by the government, which is a eyes and ears to the Budget, I mean bonus in itself. Well, as they say, save how can it affect us? We will still get our the pennies and the pounds will look loans after all but that’s where you’re after themselves. The government wrong. Infl ation means price rises. As however have turned this into billions. if food isn’t expensive enough, it looks Take that defi cit! Well maybe mentioning set to rise, with infl ation at 2.8%. Did the D word isn’t the brightest move... you know the tax you pay on a pack of Anyway, back to the saves! The cigarettes is 37p? May not sound like a military has managed to save us great deal but it soon adds up, not to £2.4billion, although this means mention the added tax on alcohol. It’s reducing the defi cit, does it leave our equivalent to 5p extra for every pint you forces unprotected? Isn’t it worth drink. Gamblers beware – a cheeky go plowing it back if it could save lives? on the fruit machines is going to cost They also managed to save another you a whopping 20% more. billion by reducing borrowing. Yes, infl ation is supposed to decrease A billion here, a billion there...isn’t to 1.9% next year – but does anyone really going to make a difference to really believe that? the gigantic hole that is the defi cit. It After all, look at what they said about makes you wonder if any politicians growth; it’s down to 0.7%, can anyone were normal students. If they had to really count that? Hold up, look what’s deal with the constant fear of maxing on the horizon: 2% growth is expected out their overdrafts; we may never have for 2013. Oh wait, that’s until they gotten into this mess! Ahh well, until revise their opinion and knock it down next year, when I’m sure the goodies to its probable size of 0.0000000zzzzzz. and tax breaks will be endless... This budget has given a lot of benefi ts to business in Britain, however. It’s a Anna Hat eld great way to boost the economy and the encouragement to invest in Britain by tax breaks could really prove to be benefi cial. Corporation Tax has been Trusting British Politics New Beginning for can’t help but worry about politicians in this country. appointed as the new security chief. MPs are supposed to represent the people, they are It makes you think that if all matters of government Isupposed to be just like us. Yet once they see the concerned MPs self interest, how quickly would things get Plaid Cymru infl ated pay packet of over £65,000, the endless expenses done? o, after months of struggle, contend with fi erce competition from claims - which came to a back breaking £95 million in Granted, other items such as computers have also been the heat of campaigning and both Elin Jones and Lord Elis-Thomas, 2009-2010 and the luxury of being able to ride taken but who paid for them? Was it MP’s own property Sthe tireless work, a new dawn so much so that she was unable to fi rst class – without paying, they become or is it just another claim on the tax payer? This trivial has arrived: Leanne Wood is Plaid secure herself a victory in the fi rst accustomed to leading a different life. problem has taken prominence in the House of Commons Cymru’s new Leader, and she’s not round. The results saw her lead the The latest happenings in Parliament debate yet they fail to argue so strenuously over matters pulling any punches. Her fi rst speech fi rst round ballot yet were not enough has only underlined how distant they have of real importance. How can people believe in politics and marked a different style of leading. to secure a straight victory. She fi nally become from the people. The national the British state when it is governed by people motivated The campaign itself was "positive, completed her win by overseeing Ms outrage and disgust at the expenses by self gain and greed? respectful, constructive, and in parts Elin Jones 3,326 to 2,494 votes in the scandals seemed to teach them a lesson. a good laugh. And that's how we do second round ballot. Sadly not. Of course not. Yes, they vowed Anonymous politics in this party and that is how What does this new leadership to return their wrongful claims but 2012 I intend to lead”. From the off, she mean for the future of Plaid Cymru? has seen their concern has wanted to steer herself away Ieuan Wyn Jones ended his tenure as turn to a most horrendous from the reputation of so many of her leader after a disappointing General and terrifying scandal: contemporaries and build an image Election. How can Leanne Wood turn theft from the Houses of based on clean leadership and a that around? Well, her youth could Parliament. A whopping clean party. As it so happens she is bring new zest into the leadership. twenty three items the Party’s fi rst non-Welsh The combination of her age of 40 have been stolen since speaking Leader, but alongside her zest in her new June. Among them, a she is learning and role could well see a winning bottle of champagne, fast. formula. a fl oral display and She appears As the fi rst woman a pair of spectacles. a decisive leader leader of Plaid Cymru, Action has been whose top Leanne has made a taken immediately priority is to refreshing change. She to install suffi cient secure Welsh has already visited security with Independence Bangor University Lawrence Ward as, “Together students and seems we can build keen to focus on a Wales that younger voters. Will is fair, a new she be the right leader Wales that will to turn Plaid’s fortunes ‹ ere’s an election happening you know fl ourish and a around? Only time will ost of you might not give two hoots but the local won ever since. However, with many of the primary issues new Wales that tell. elections, through which we elect our councillors, it was formed for already won or lost, there are several will one day be Anna Hat eld Mwill be held on 3rd May. The important thing about councillors returning to the Plaid fold. This means that Plaid free." these elections is that the people who win will directly affect will hold an even larger amount of seats on the council, Before her your day-to-day lives. as they currently lead with 39 councillors. Llais have 16, win, Jones Here in Bangor we are part of Gwynedd Council which is independent candidates hold 12 and Labour & the Lib Dems had to split into 71 different wards which give us 75 councillors. have 4 people each. There are 8 wards in Bangor itself and there will be many The ward which oversees Upper Bangor is currently people canvassing for your vote. Of those there will be held by a sixty year old Liberal Democrat couple. With the many young candidates from all parties, especially Plaid tide of public opinion thoroughly drowning the Lib Dems, and Labour, the latter putting up two students. and with so many younger candidates in contention, it will An interesting peculiarity with Gwynedd is that in 2008 be interesting to see the outcome of the election in this a group of people split away from Plaid Cymru in protest student city. of school closures and several other issues. This new party called itself Llais Gwynedd (Voice of Gwynedd) and Luke Dobson has come second only to Plaid in the amount of seats it’s April Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 7 Politics Will docking child benefit see the return

of Michael Gove’s “missing million”?

n a speech to the Durand Academy on 1 September 2011 payments and county court action would follow for those parents absenteeism can have detrimental effects on a pupil’s confi dence the Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove spoke of who are not in receipt of child benefi t. and their ability to understand what is being taught in lessons. Ithe “missing million” children who are absent from school for Mr Taylor says: "Some parents simply allow their children She went on to say, “However it is not an issue that will be solved more than three weeks a year and the “educational underclass” of to miss lessons and then refuse to pay the fi ne. It means the by fi ning parents. Deducting money from child benefi t will have children who are outside of mainstream education and how many penalty has no effect, and children continue to lose vital days of huge fi nancial repercussions for many families. Having less money of them had simply not spent a satisfactory amount of time in education they can never recover...Recouping the fi nes through for food and bills will simply create a whole new set of problems." school for them to be able to achieve academic success. child benefi t, along with other changes to the overall system, will Alison Garnham, from the Child Poverty Action Group, said that Charlie Taylor, the Government’s Expert Adviser on Behaviour, strengthen and simplify the system. It would give head teachers benefi t cuts such as those proposed could add yet more strain today produced a report which recommends taking fi nes for the backing they need in getting parents to play their part." In this on already stretched families. With child benefi t being frozen truanting children directly out of parent’s child and £18bn of benefi t cuts The Institute for benefi t in order to combat this problem. Taylor Fiscal studies says there will be 800,000 more said that despite improvements being seen 54 "Deducting money from child bene t will have huge children in poverty by 2020. Garnham added million days of school were missed last year. "So this problem is likely to get bigger because The Department of Education released fi gures  nancial repercussions for many families." we know that there's a strong association showing that almost 400,000 pupils missed 15% between poverty and low income and truancy. of schooling each year which equates to a month’s absence. sense the report highlights the importance of the use of language Previous government reports have said this." Helen Dent, chief Under the current system head teachers, council offi cers and when it comes to school absenteeism; truancy is not true of the executive of the charity Family Action said that placing fi nes on the police can issue penalty notices for truancy to parents who early years. Children in primary school miss school because their parents is not the most effi cient way to improve achievement in allow their children to miss too much school. A fi ne of £50 is parents allow them to. As Mr Taylor highlights in his report, ‘The schools and reduce truancy. issued which is doubled to £100 if parents fail to pay within 28 focus of Government should be on attendance fi rst and foremost.’ So, if the proposals are made a reality will they give parents days. Following this the decision lies with the issuer as to whether The report has already sparked debate among those within the incentive they need to ensure their children’s attendance at they prosecute or withdraw the penalty notice. However, under the fi eld of education. Brian Lightman, General Secretary of the school is improved or will it simply land more families in poverty the current system 127,000 penalty notices issued since their Association of School and College Leaders, lent the support of and struggling to make ends meet? introduction in 2004 have been left unpaid or simply withdrawn. his association to the report’s recommendations saying ‘Schools Today’s report suggests an increase of the initial fi ne to £60 then do not want to have to resort to fi ning parents, but sometimes doubling to £120 if left unpaid after 28 days. At this point the it is the only option left.’ However, Christine Blower the National Sarah Braisdell money would then automatically be recovered from child benefi t Union of Teachers General Secretary, commented that regular George Galloway wins seat eorge Galloway, the Respect MP, won his seat in the opening for the smaller parties to have a bigger voice in ‹ e UK House of Commons after winning the by-election in parliament. The Gernal Election saw the Green Party elected GBradford with a majority of more than 100,000. The whilst in Southampton, the Trade Unionist and Socialist views of Galloway were clearly seen when he entered the Coalition (TUSC) are hoping to win their seat under the Chambers and was sworn in. Members of the Tory party same umbrella that Galloway won his - by promising to cheered whilst Labour were subdued. ‘stand up and fi ght for the money Southampton needs to Border Agency Always one to stand out, Galloway has proved an provide essential services to our community.’ TUSC are also interesting politician. From his cat impersonations in the Big campaigning in Winchester and Portsmouth, demonstrating Brother House, where he appeared on its celebrity version that there is a potential for rejection of mainstream parties, to his unorthodox tactics in winning his seat, no one can which could change the course of politics. Could Galloway say that Galloway fails to divide. Confusion again arose as have caused a political revolution by his election? he decide to affi rm an allegiance to the Queen rather than Yet his reputation and past will never escape him. Who swearing on a Bible when hours earlier on the Daily Politics can forget any politician who has been pelted with eggs show he declared that he supports gay marriage as ‘we are and famously greeted Saddam Hussein with "I salute all God’s children.’ Maybe this is just the fi rst contradiction you"? However, he also has the capacity to excite a crowd, that is to come from George Galloway. whipping meetings into a frenzy nobody can forget. When His self description as the ‘Robin Hood of politics’ has he went to Capitol Hill and humiliated the US war brigade left some stirred, others most defi nitely shaken. He he proved he can be considered a loose cannon but one who vows to solely solve the economic and social problems of can amass great political support from crowds. Bradford, while also tackling foreign policy issues such as With such a past, you do wonder how he could have the Afghanistan war. Single-handedly managing to halt amassed such a signifi cant win in his election. Some economic decline whilst also solving an international war would say he clearly has broad appeal; others would say which has raged for years and caused the death of more differently. The stains on his campaigning techniques don’t weighty politicians. Galloway can hardly complain of really matter however, as he is here. And apparently here modesty in his own self assessment. to stay. One thing is for sure, he certainly will liven up the If you thought that his Robin Hood metaphor was more House of Commons. than enough, he certainly doesn’t. Was it quest for more publicity? Or is he genuinely trying to tackle Bradford’s very real problems? Now he’s the ‘advance party’ for the Alicia Hill and Anna Hat eld army ‘mustering in the North.’ He could have provided an

he Home Secretary. Is it the minsters have just admitted defeat. second most important role in The Border Agency now has a four Tgovernment? Despite having had year backlog of cases to work out more occupants than Hugh Heffner’s with over 450,000 cases needing bed, not many are eager to tackle the sifting. A comforting thought. Even role. You have to be thick skinned, more comforting are the 18,000 decisive, assertive and, potentially, cases which remained unsolved in mean. Of all the issues they have 2011. What will it be this year? had to face, the biggest problem in The main concern has been recent years has been, without a the slow pace of deportation of doubt, immigration. It has meant the foreign criminals, however. 2, 670 difference between election victory criminals who have been waiting for and defeat and it doesn’t seem to be deportation are still living here two going anywhere. And shock horror, years after their release. This seems it has been making headlines again. to sum up the bumbling mess that There has been yet another large has become The UK Border Force. problem, apparently, as The UK £9.1 million was sent on iris scanner Border Agency is now failing in in airports. They have now all been its ‘basic functions, i.e. it doesn’t removed. function. From providing fi gures The new tactic to help sort out the plucked from the air to losing all trace chaos of the Agency, is to split it into of nearly sixty foreign criminals who two separate parts – one focusing on could be living someone near you, it’s entry into the UK while the other one not earned itself the best reputation. tackles immigration policy work. This But the Minsters don’t seem to could signal a new beginning for the learn from their mistakes. Charles Agency or it could just be the latest Clarke was sacked as Minster back tactical move which ends in disaster. in 2006 for letting over 1000 foreign We shall just have to wait and see. criminals back into Britain when they should have been deported. Maybe he lost their paper work. Or maybe, 8 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk April Issue 2012 Comment JESUS CHRIST! HOMOPHOBIA ON A LONDON BUS? o, not Emma West again.  e inherent failure of ‘free speech’ in our It’s a tricky one though, how do you recent ad campaign that was society. Free speech is  ne, as long as de ne something as being ‘too much’? all set to be included on Lon- it’s used wisely.  e moment you cross  e answer lies in equality measures. Ndon buses, promoting ‘gay therapy’ the line of opinion and begin deliber- One classic I hear from the far-right is for Christians, has been pulled by TfL ately inciting hatred or outraging whole “Why do we need a Women’s Day?” or (Transport for London) following many swathes of people with your opinions, “Why is there a black Policeman’s Or- complaints including ones from Bangor you’re violating more people’s rights ganisation and not a white one?”. It’s students.  e ad, which o— ensively en- than your free speech is worth. simple: society hasn’t progressed to couraged gays to ‘Get over it’, caused the point where those previously vic- uproar amongst people on Twitter and Free speech needs timised groups have achieved equality. elsewhere. If white males need themselves repre-  e group, calling themselves ‘ e to be curtailed in the senting in a society built on white male Anglican Mainstream’ were advocat- name of equality privilege, then I truly despair. Another ing the dangerous gay therapy to ‘cure’ great one is “Oh but I’m colour-blind”. Christians of an inherent trait as pre- I’m not a dictator by any means, and If you think you can truly be ‘colour- determined as hair, eye or skin colour. I feel uneasy about any attempts to gag blind’ in a society built by colonialism glad that the group who took out the think about doing the same once in a Gay therapy has a disgustingly high freedom of the press, but there has to be and slavery, then you’re a joker, and homophobic advert called themselves while.  e sooner people start speak- suicide rate, and can oš en lead to de- a line somewhere. For example, pseu- your condescending privileged attitude the ‘Anglican Mainstream’, because by ing out against prejudicial views, the pression. do-fascist paper the Daily Mail regu- isn’t welcome here. using ‘Mainstream’, they’re claiming to sooner we can start working on build- I have numerous issues with this larly crosses the line of acceptability by I realise I’ve gone o— on a bit of a speak for the majority of Anglicans. If ing a cohesive society where racism, story, but mostly my main gripe is this: perpetuating disgraceful slurs against tangent, but it’s all relevant. Free speech anything, that would encourage mod- homophobia, transphobia, ableism, who allowed this bile to even get past Muslims, gays, people with disabilities, needs to be curtailed in the name of erate, free-thinking (relatively- sorry! misogyny and classism are all things of the application stage? TfL rightly pulled the working class, single mothers, etc equality simply because we as a society Atheist alert!) Christians to speak out the past. the ad before it went onto the side of etc ad in nitum.  ere’s no way these owe so much to the groups who we’ve over the atrocious homophobia being London buses on  ve routes, but for it actions can be allowed to continue un- degraded and demonised for the best pedalled in their name. We should all Joey McNally to have even made It that fair shows an hindered. part of our modern history. I’m truly Private Health Service?!

hen the Conservatives took with ageing hospital buildings, insuŠ - which  nger they wanted reattaching two areas in the Surrey health service living should have absolutely nothing to power two years ago they cient beds etc, yet it is always there for aš er they’d cut two o— because the in- were leased to Virgin.  e new Virgin do with money. On a side note: the fact promised us that the NHS an ill person to use, whether they be surance wouldn’t cover both. Perhaps Care now runs the NHS in these areas that pharmaceutical companies only Wwould be safe in their hands.  ose who rich or poor. worse (if that’s possible) is the e— ect aš er paying the government £500mil- research medicines when they know were unsure of this, myself included, I myself have moaned about it but, such health care systems have on peo- lion; they will lease the contract up un- there’s a pro t to be made is almost des- hoped that the balancing factor of the if you actually sit down and think what ple if the insurance companies fail to til 2017 when it will come under review picable. Here are the best scientists in Liberal Democrats would keep them on it would be like without the NHS, you pay up. In those circumstances fami- again. Now this isn’t an insurance com- the world, with the best resources avail- the straight and narrow. would quickly appreciate its existence. lies have to empty their savings and get pany but it is still a business, a private able to them, and they can only really Flash forward to now; we’ve had two Look at the USA, a country where peo- loans to cover the medical bills, all the organisation that exists to make money. work on a medicine or a cure if it will years of the Tories wheeling out archaic ple have to rely on insurance compa- time not being able to earn money be-  e people of Surrey have been assured bring the company money. I know it’s policies harking back to the  atcher nies for their healthcare. Now let’s take that nothing will change in way of the ludicrous to think that type of research years and the Lib Dems, once the Party a moment to consider that statement; If you bring the idea of sta— or actual medical care given, yet could be done without the millions most students in particular had their they have to rely on businesses, organi- pro t into people’s well-be- people, Unison amongst them, are still backing it up but it makes me annoyed hopes set on, have kowtowed their sations that exist solely to make a pro t ing, e ectively placing them concerned. beyond belief that something that could way through the Coalition by keeping (indeed legally they have to turn a pro t  is one instance is now a point of save a life could also potentially bank- shtum on almost every single issue. for their shareholders) to pay out when into a consumer bracket, evidence; one regional health serv- rupt that life.  is is aggravating enough, to say the they are in need of medical attention. then things could go badly ice has been brought under a private  e same applies for where our NHS least, but when it comes to the NHS it’s Would you want to put your life in the very quickly. organisation so why not more?  e is heading. It may be fear mongering, downright infuriating (sic. To make hands of people who can refuse to pay answer is simple: if you bring the idea hell it is, but I honestly believe that we furious or mad with anger; to enrage). out because of one miniscule problem cause they’re ill. of pro t into people’s well-being, ef- could slowly move towards an Ameri-  e National Health Service has in your policy, whether it be that you It is a medieval, barbaric and capri- fectively placing them into a consumer can-like system; so slowly that we won’t been in existence since 1946 and we weren’t covered for a certain illness or cious system; a system which we could bracket, then things could go badly realise it until we walk into A&E with a have enjoyed free healthcare, at the that you merely failed to  ll out the cor-  nd ourselves sliding towards all too very quickly. broken arm and get handed a bill. point of use, ever since. We all know rect forms? quickly in this country with  e Health Personally, everything to do with there have been major problems with We’ve all heard the horror stories, Bill now enacted. people’s lives and the medical attention the Service: long waiting times, issues such as people who have had to choose Mere weeks aš er the Bill became law they must sometimes seek to keep on Luke Dobson April Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 9 Comment NOT ANOTHER GATE! It’s easy to laugh when you turn on the news and their three main adversaries: the NHS, the work- point of cutting it is so we don’t end up in more the Coalition have announced they’re raising VAT ing class, and the unions. debt. However, when your debt levels are run- on pasties. “What next?” I hear you cry “Cameron Perhaps more insulting than the Coalition’s ac- ning at £15 billion, not building up more becomes announces he’s taxing fresh air?”. But beneath the tions are the malice with which they carry them slightly irrelevant. We could run at a billion pound jokes, there’s a serious point to be made.  is Coa- out. Raising VAT on pasties may not be a huge deal surplus for a thousand years and we still wouldn’t lition government are showing a complete and ut- to most of us, but to them they’re attacking what pay our debt o— . ter disregard for the people of this country. they see as a staple of the work-  e UK economy has run at a sur- When Cameron  nally admitted he’d ridden the ing class.  ey’re burdening the We could run at a plus for six of the last 35 years. Coun- horse that ex-News of the World editor Rebekah people on the street with pay- billion pound tries that run at a big surplus include Brooks lent to the Metropolitan Police, people ing for a mess caused by neo- surplus for a countries like Qatar and Norway, were given just another example of the general at- liberalism, something all of the who rank in the top  ve wealthiest titude of the government. Constantly they act in three main parties adhere to as thousand years and countries in the world based on pur- a way that insults the person on the street, con- an ethos. I was brie” y surprised we still wouldn’t pay chasing power per capita.  e UK is stantly they act with an arrogance that borders on to learn that the pasty tax was twenty-second. Qatar and Norway our debt off industry. We need to get rid of our neo-liberal stupidity. It’s almost as if they think that they’re a New Labour idea, but then I also have masses of natural reserves, minded politicians, toss people like Cameron, Os- untouchable. And in a way, they are. We’ve had remembered Mr Blair and his blatant disregard which we lack. So cutting the de cit (with an aim borne and Clegg out onto the street, resign their two long years of a Coalition that nobody voted for anything approaching progressive leš -wing to not building up debt) is as pointless as throwing failed ideologies, and revamp the old Keynesian for, and we’re set for three even more excruciating values. a thimbleful of water on a forest  re.  is coun- and Marxist economic theories to apply to a glo- ones. To avoid sound like a radical anti-mainstream try will have to go bankrupt if we’re ever to have a balised, bank-dominated world. Only then can we When the term of this government ends, the anarchist,I ought to back up my words with facts. hope of paying o— our debt. really start worrying about how much pasties cost. Conservatives will have made themselves un- Well for starters, that de cit we’re told we need So what to do? Well, instead of cutting from electable for a good ten years.  is is why they’re to be cutting? It’s the gap between the money we our public services, we should be stimulating intent on doing as much damage as they can to make in tax and the money we spend, and the the economy and revitalising our manufacturing Joey McNally A New Experience Nicola recounts her time as a first year at Bangor University

can’t believe it! My fi rst year at Bangor is at the top of six fl ights of stairs, with no lift. warned me, with independence and freedom to grab a jumper from the drawer, and noticed almost over. I’m terrifi ed! It’s shocking By the time the car was emptied, we were came responsibility. I managed to keep on top of that all of the drawers were fi xed. With horror, I Ilooking back to see how the months have dragging ourselves by our fi ngertips down the my laundry, dishes, and other household chores realised that maintenance had fi xed the drawers fl own by, but it’s with a feeling of reminiscing corridor to my room, gasping for air. You’d think at fi rst, but slowly that level of organisation with the contents inside without me there. Yes, joy as I remember the brilliant time I’d have gotten deteriorated. I wasn’t the worst though, for the it was nice of them to have fi xed my drawers so I’ve had and how it all started. Soon we fell into our used to it, but no, most part. quickly. What was unpleasant was the realisation I, possibly like most students, spent after months of There is one slightly embarrassing experience that they had had to fi x my underwear drawer as the morning of moving-in day rushing own regimes, our new living here, those I feel I should share though that could forewarn well! I can only hope that maintenance fi xed the around the house throwing last minute stairs still kill me. students living in Halls in future. Not long after drawer quickly with his eyes closed the entire essentials into boxes while ticking off found sense of inde- Saying goodbye I had moved in I noticed that the drawers in time. Whilst mortifying for me though, it was my mental check list. Not that it worked. to my parents was the chest and wardrobe were aligned wrong and a great source of amusement to my fl atmates. My parents visited the weekend after to pendency and freedom diffi cult, I was now wouldn’t close properly. I went down to Security Thanks guys. bring the things I’d forgotten. Anyway, evident in our behaviouron my own and it to fi ll out a form reporting it, and was told that My fi rst year away from home has defi nitely the hour long drive to Bangor was hit me like a ton someone should be there to fi x it in the next been one of the most amazing experiences of thankfully much shorter than most others had of bricks. I needn’t have worried. By the time few days. OK, fair enough, I thought, thinking my life. I have grown as an individual and the to travel, since while my parents sat comfortably my family was exiting Bangor, I was already I’d have a few days to empty their contents friends I’ve made I consider to be my family in the front, my older sister and I were squished getting acquainted with my new fl atmates, and because surely they won’t come and fi x anything away from home. I will cherish the memories, into the back with our knees up around our ears, it was clear that we’d get along like a house while I’m not in my room. I should have read and look forward to many more as I prepare to my belongings testing the boundaries of the car. on fi re. Soon we fell into our own regimes, our the form properly, telling students they do not live with a few of my brilliant fl atmates, soon to Moving my belongings into my room was new found sense of independency and freedom have to be present for maintenance, because be housemates, next year. See you soon Bangor! a challenge on its own. My new lodgings sat evident in our behaviour. But as my parents had the next day I came back from lectures, went Nicola Hoban America’s War On Women With the spotlight on the presidential elections, attacks on womens’ reproductive rights have gone amiss

s Barack Obama comes to the ing in America today. In February, a bill America, it is beyond belief that the demned the ‘Democratic rhetoric’ as President Obama himself expressing end of his  rst term as Presi- in Virginia that would require women basic rights of half the population are ‘insulting’, and insist that there is no his disapproval, his show has continued dent, American politics is be- to undergo an invasive and medically under threat. Due to cost of medical such thing as a war on women. But be- to be broadcasted. Acoming even more dangerous than unnecessary trans-vaginal ultrasound insurance, as many as 1 in 3 American tween all of the political mud-slinging,  e debate shows no sign of dy- usual. As the political stage becomes before getting an abortion was barely women struggle to a— ord birth control, it seems to have been forgotten that the ing down.  e most likely presiden- fraught with rumours, cover-ups and stopped from being made into law. In decisions that these people make a— ect tial Republican candidate is now Mitt potentially career-ending scandals, an- March, funding to the organisation Due to cost of medical the lives of real women and families in Romney, whose policies, despite not other controversy has caught the media Planned Parenthood in Texas was dramatic ways. More than anything, being as extreme as other candidates spotlight, and national attention.  e banned because it provides abortion insurance, as many as 1 in these controversies have exposed a like Rick Santorum, call for the abol- rights of women, particularly repro- services, but in doing so, it has excluded 3 American women shocking, but prevalent, attitude to- ishment of Planned Parenthood and ductive rights, have become a hotly up to 130,000 low income women from struggle to a ord birth wards women which many in America outlaw of abortion. While many predict contested issue, one that could have fa- services such as birth control and breast don’t want to acknowledge, such as ra- that the war on women will result in tally damaging e— ects on many political cancer screenings. And just two weeks control dio host Rush Limbaugh, who called catastrophic results for the Republican careers - and that’s not to mention the ago in Arizona, a bill seeking to modify Georgian student Sandra Fluke a ‘slut’ party, it remains to be seen how much untold damage already done to women the amount of time women have to get a  gure that would shock many here in and a ‘prostitute’ on his show for speak- women’s reproductive rights will a— ect across America. an abortion rede ned a foetus’s ‘ges- the UK. As much as we love to criticise ing out in favour of birth control. It is the presidential result on election day. Looking at some of the laws pushed tational age’, meaning that pregnancy the NHS, it is oš en taken for granted hard to imagine a public  gure who’d through in just the  rst few months could begin up to two weeks before that, in our country, contraception is still have a job in the UK aš er mak- Rebecca Watson of 2012, it’s not hard to see why many conception even took place. free and easily accessible. ing such appalling comments, but even feel there is a war on women happen- In a supposed super-power like Many  gures on the right have con- aš er the loss of several advertisers and 10 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk April Issue 2012 Comment - Was it poor marketing by Pontio or the apathy of students that caused the R1 night to be cancelled? NickNicko, ed this article was intended to beGrimshaw a review unlike all these other nights that went ahead, Pon- move resulted in a backlash, it was received as a of the Nick Grimshaw night thatG was to be tio’s a— air with a R1 DJ was not meant to be. warning to those who hadn’t bought tickets to stay hosted by the highly controversial, vastly  e Grimmy gig was planned for Paddy’s night, clear and caused panic amongst those who had al- S criticised and all-round success that is notorious for all-day drinking, some students saw ready handed over their cash. ‘Nick Grimshaw (& Pontio (sarcasm warning). How- this as the perfect date to host the event, while oth- friends) Bangor!!!!!!!!!!!!!’ was no more. ever, due to what those in charge ers thought it was a disaster. One student told me, A spokesperson for Pontio said “ e outcome called an unexpected lack “It’s on Paddy’s! I plan to be passed out by mid- of the Nick Grimshaw gig was disappointing and of interest, the night was day!”. Needless to say she wasn’t planning on going we know there are lessons that need to be learned. unfortunately cancelled – and she wasn’t alone. However, many others were  e decision to pull the event was a  nancial one and handed over to the more optimistic about their alcoholic capabilities because with just 37 tickets sold out of a total of apparently more capable and purchased their tickets weeks before. Now, the 700 with only 5 days to go, we had to justify that hands of Northampton main cause of the cancellation was that not enough the night would be a success. We also wanted to be University. But were the tickets were sold in the pre-sale; but can students honest with the students as to why it was cancelled” students really to blame be blamed? “What’s the point in buying one now It was also stated that St. Patrick’s day was the or did the fault lie with when it’s the same price on the door?” a friend of only available date. I think it’s fair to say that 37 Pontio’s marketing? Let’s mine said to me during my plea to boost sales, and tickets sold for what could have been a brilliant discuss – and I prom- what an excellent point. If you’re relying on the gig is shameful and embarrassing, though we will ise to be as neutral as pre-sale  gures, then you’ve got to o— er an incen- never know how many people would have turned possible. tive. £2 o— would have perhaps done the trick. up on the night, given that tickets were on sale on As we’re all no doubt  ough it’s possible Pontio were expecting the the door. Promisingly, the spokesperson for Pon- aware, Bangor is, at times, tio also gave us this reassurance: seriously lacking things to do. Two years “We are looking to work more closely with stu- ago it was the host of Radio 1’s Big Week- 37 tickets sold out of a dents in programming future events. Currently we end which was a massive success and hope total of 700 with only 5 run two seasons of student-programmed cinema a for us all that our small city in the top corner year, for example, and we are in discussions with of Wales would  nally be put on the map and at- days to go the SU to provide Bangor, this year with the best tract more business and entertainment. And in Summer Ball yet . Pontio has much to o— er stu- it way, it did. R1 DJ Zane Lowe made his sec- event to sell itself, aš er all, it was hosting not only dents, and together we will pull through these early ond appearance in Bangor this semester Nick, but two upcoming bands and Bangor’s very teething problems.” with his night in Embassy aš er own Deaf by Disco and Lost Property DJ sets – all I think I speak for us all when I say that I would attending the 2011 Sum- for a very fair £10 (considering Embassy’s Zane like to see Pontio working more with students mer Ball. Other notable Lowe night was initially £20, this was a brilliant when it comes to events like this. Aš er all, who nights in Bangor that deal).  e poster was well designed as well, and it knows students and how to appeal to them better have hosted famous was hard to go anywhere in town without seeing it. than students themselves? DJs are Octagon’s So what went wrong?  e Grimshaw night had the potential to be a Radio 1 Comedy A major ” aw was undeniably the Facebook really good event for Bangor. Ever desperate for Dave and Dom event.  e name had brackets and exclamation more live music and decent nights out, the line- event and Embas- marks thrown at it like it was titled by a 5-year- up for this was just what we needed.  ose who sy’s hosting of Ra- old, and who could forget the  nal nail in the coŠ n weren’t intending on going were certainly missing dio 1’s Fabio. With that was the message sent to all invited, sealing its out, though eventually we all did. I hope, in future, all this attention doom in an attempt to increase ticket sales: we students can appreciate when something good from the country’s “Due to struggling ticket sales, it looks like we is heading our way, instead of continually moaning most listened to may have to pull the Grimshaw gig. We have until about how nothing happens here. And as for Pon- radio station, it’s 5pm tonight to up the number of buyers and fans tio, it would be foolish for them to not learn from no surprise that or it’s likely we’ll have to cancel - please spread the the mistakes made here this year, but I also hope Pontio wanted to word” what transpired hasn’t deterred them from hosting get in on the ac- Who in their right mind thought that was a amazing events in the near and distant future. So, tion. What Pontio good idea? A lie would have been more preferable all eyes are on Summer Ball, let’s hope Pontio pulls had in store was and probably would have resulted in the outcome through. bigger and more they were looking for, ‘not many tickets leš now, ambitious, though best had hurry to get yours!’. Instead, this foolish Sean Talbot

n my most recent night out less you have a brightly printed Rihanna trainers? Sorry, I mean Vans. But they do at UnderGrad in Octagon, I T-shirt to match. count as trainers, right? Or is there an- couldn’t help but notice the Admittedly, I am beginning to  nd it other fashion rule I am missing out on? Osheer amount of guys who all seemed quite entertaining to see the music that Maybe if one of your friends couldn’t  nd to be wearing identical items of cloth- is such an inspiration to this look. My their socks that morning, you all have ing. Although I am not claiming to be personal favourite had to be a shirt that I to forget to wear yours, as some form of some sort of fashionista, I can’t help but noticed whilst sat in Bar Uno. All I could moral support? Sure, I’m probably be- feel really frustrated every time I see a see was the word ‘MUSIC’ printed above ing really over dramatic about this chino group of people all wearing the exact a picture of the Statue of Liberty. I was pandemic so the next time I pass one of same get up. It seems to be no exaggera- intrigued to guess how those two could these students in their full swag clobber, tion that almost every guy I pass on the possibly relate to each other. It wasn’t perhaps I should spare a thought for all of high street is likely to be wearing those until I later realised that the T-Shirt in those students who are making that pain- un” attering, baggy, o— ensively fawny fact said ‘Music Liberates’ that I could ful transition of buying clothes without coloured trousers. However, it seems appreciate the touching story behind the the help of their Mum. to be that these dog-fur coloured pants, Topman shirt. (complete with elasticated ankles for a Also, the last I heard, I was pretty sure Elise Geaney really ” attering look) mean nothing un- you are supposed to wear socks with your April Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 11 Environment Canadian oil pipeline threatens endangered wildlife Oil moguls plan to profi t from dangerous oil extraction through untouched rainforest ou would think that after everything that happened size of the entire Chester Blue Planet just to the diversity of around the BP Deepwater oil disaster in 2010 the the BC coast. The waters of the BC coast are home to the Yworld might be waking up to the dangers of oil. There biggest sea star in the world which reaches up to a metre might be higher demand for safer, cleaner energy, better across as well as 26 types of game fi sh, which First Nations technology and for the “fuel of the future” to be something communities and all other life in the area rely on. They are this planet can sustain. also home to grey and humpback whales, Pacifi c white sided Unfortunately Enbridge, the North American oil and gas dolphins, California sea lions, the rare sea otter and orca pipeline company, has plans for a new crude oil pipeline that are ubiquitous throughout BC, depicted in First Nations to transport oil from the Alberta Tar Sands to various art, on tourist postcards and on the Vancouver Canucks ice destinations across the US and the world. hockey team strip. The extraction and processing of tar sand oil is considered There is immense pride in the beauty and diversity of the dirtiest and most destructive industrial process on earth. natural life here, undisturbed for so long it is now under huge The practice creates 3 million gallons of toxic run off per day threat of destruction. Even if the pipe does not break and and destroys boreal forests, a major carbon sink. the damage caused building and maintaining it was reduced Setting aside the broader problems with oil as an energy to its absolute minimum, the coast itself is dangerous to source, the damage this particular pipeline will create with be navigate. In 2006 a BC ferryboat carrying 60 people sank The endangered Spirit bear violent, irreparable and benefi t the oil company exclusively. on rocks these proposed super-tankers would navigate past Enbridge, who claim the pipeline is safe, have had 804 225 times a year each. One spill here would end all life as “Enbridge is poised to become it is now known. Pacifi c Wild decided that the best way to save this area the BP of BC” was to show the world how beautiful it is. They set up Rapid oil spills between 1999 and 2010 spilling 168,000 barrels of Assessment Visual Expedition (RAVE), a two week project poisonous hydrocarbons into the sea. To put the size of the which invited the world’s greatest wildlife photographers to pipeline into perspective, it will cross almost one quarter of capture every aspect of life in this area from the spirit bears Canada. It will be more than quarter the width of the USA. to the eagles to the salmon leaping up the waterfalls as a If allowed, the pipeline would cut across Alberta and matter of urgency. Their fi lm Spoil has received international British Colombia, destroying the ancestral lands of over 60 attention as well as winning the Best Environmental Film First Nations tribes and threatening the natural habitats award at the 2011 Vancouver International Film Festival of grey wolves, caribou, elk and 24 other land mammals proving how Canadians feel about this menace to their including the endangered Spirit bear. The Spirit bear (or country. Kermode bear) is a rare species of black bear which is born Indigenous communities are involved in ongoing protests with a white or blonde coat. They are not albino or related against the pipeline. Greenpeace have occupied the to polar bears but a naturally recessive gene makes one out Enbridge offi ces in Vancouver, BC demanding they withdraw of every ten black bear cubs in the Great Bear rainforest their plans. Stephanie Goodwin, Greenpeace B.C. director a spirit bear which is especially signifi cant to First Nations said “Enbridge is poised to become the BP of BC”. For more tribes who have inhabited the area for hundreds of years. information and to add your voice for those calling for Bald eagle British Columbia’s (BC) natural coast is celebrated for its the plans to be outlawed you can visit greenpeace.org/ diverse and vibrant life. Vancouver Aquarium, ranked in the canada and pacifi cwild.org. top 10 aquariums in the world, dedicate an exhibition the Georgia Mannion UK to source power from Icelandic volcanoes

t’s nice to hear that our solar down. Whether bill payers will benefi t slashing, nuclear initiating from this cheaper supply (Npower Igovernment is looking into announce a 34% growth in profi t over sourcing energy from a clean the last year while its customers are and sustainable source. Iceland’s facing higher energy bills than ever abundance of geothermal before) is unclear as yet, although energy has attracted the the environmental cost would be What to eat now attention of the energy dramatically lowered. or all our talk about local food, it has more than happy for us to “taste” each jar minister, Charles Hendry, Iceland itself has been completely occurred to us that if you did want a few times. We couldn’t decide between who has suggested plans dependent on geothermal electricity Fto venture out of your supermarket green and purple kale so we bought both for a European supergrid since 1970. It seems that as EU comfort zone, you might not know what to for next to nothing. which would be “an countries are committed to sourcing expect. The joy of buying local food from the absolutely critical part of 20% of their electricity from As it turns out, the door opposite the people who have made it is that they are energy security and for low- renewable sources by 2020, we counter in Dimensions isn’t an offi ce. happy to talk with you because they’re carbon energy”. The plan are not only dragging our feet but Nor will you startle an unsuspecting yoga proud of their produce. They’re happy has been called ambitious our knuckles too. However, as links instructor in use of a compost toilet. It’s to round the price down to the nearest by the Department of Energy between England and Norway are where they keep the vegetables! I was as pound or throw in a few extras because and Climate but perhaps under construction to harness tidal happily surprised by this news as I assume they are grateful for your custom in a something as “radical” as and wind power, perhaps it is a case you are. The staff are keen to help and to way no supermarket checkout person utilising Iceland’s volcanoes of better late than never after all. chat so for the anxious local-shopping virgin ever will be. is exactly what is needed, there is nothing to worry about. If you are interested in buying local, not only to sustain the UK’s Georgia Mannion To take a trip slightly further afi eld, you real variety and saving money then I energy needs but also to may know that Anglesey is renowned for cannot recommend Anglesey Farmer’s bring the price of energy its food produce. Every three weeks the Market enough. best farmers, brewers, smokers, butchers, How to get there: bakers and confectioners of Anglesey and 62 from the bus station takes 14 beyond gather to sell their produce. minutes to get to Menai Rhubarb On my fi rst trip I especially enjoyed the Bridge (and it is a lovely friendly bravado of the Derimon Smokery drive). From there it’s less staff. If you can dream it, they can smoke than a fi ve minute walk it. Not only do they have the fi nest in local to Ysgol Daffyd Hughes meat and fi sh but also smoked cheese and where the Anglesey butter. “How do you smoke butter?” I asked Farmer’s Market is held. “Carefully” he replied. The enormous free range eggs, which In season now: Broccoli, are cheaper and nicer than any I’ve seen new potatoes, radishes, in a supermarket, are from the same farm rhubarb, rocket, spinach, which supply Bangor butchers G. Williams spring onions, watercress, & Sons. crab, sea trout, leeks, The man on the mushroom stand potatoes, mackerel, chucked in a few extra shitakes for a fi rst mussels, oysters, lamb, time visitor as well as a few good recipes rabbit, caulifl ower, chives, to try. The lady on the preserve stand was sorrel, cockles, cucumber. Mackerel Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Station - not as pretty as a windfarm but not as deadly as an exploded nuclear power station either 12 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk April Issue 2012 Features

WHAT IS KONY 2012?

n March 5th 2012, a short fi lm entitled ‘KONY 2012’ created by to, with hundreds of thousands of supporters, the congressmen and the organisation Invisible Children Inc. was posted on YouTube senators soon changed their minds and agreed to aid in any way that Oin an effort to promote the charity ‘Stop Kony’ and its movement they could. Soon, a small number of U.S. forces were deployed to central to make Ugandan war criminal and fugitive Joseph Kony known world- Africa to provide any assistance to regional forces working towards wide. This was done in order to have him arrested by the end of capturing Joseph Kony. Not to fi ght and create confl ict, but to aid and December 2012, when the campaign itself comes to an end. assist. With the massive amount of support surrounding the campaign, Of course, the 28 minute fi lm spread like wild fi re over the internet it means that the issue rests at the front of the congressman’s and and by the end of March 2012 had over 86 million views on YouTube senator’s minds so that they can see how important this cause is to alone, and 16 million views on Vimeo. The video was also available on the public and therefore they won’t withdraw the military advisors they the ‘KONY 2012’ website set up by Invisible Children. Those who logged have sent out to aid the regional forces. onto Facebook and Twitter at that time found themselves facing a The Kony 2012 campaign itself takes place on April 20th 2012, and page covered with the logo and message as the organisation recruited is set to happen all over the world. The effort aims to plaster cities and many more supporters. Funding for the organisation and its cause has towns world-wide, including Bangor, over night with posters carrying come from the youth of today, who donate a little bit of their money the KONY 2012 logo to show support for the campaign as well as help each month to help fi ght with the cause, their money going towards make Joseph Kony famous not to celebrate him, but so that he can construction of early warning radio networks which lie a few miles from fi nally be brought to justice. towns and cities in an effort to protect them from LRA attacks. After confronting the American Government about Joseph Kony and their plight to stop him, which the government had originally said no Nicola Hoban

time and uses the opportunity to for him, defending him. It is believed that he regroup, rearm and attack once has had thousands of children abducted in again. The LRA is a highly trained, an effort to maintain the power that he has. WHO IS KONY? violent group that is constantly on Moving from Uganda across to the Central the move and has no actual political African Republic, South Sudan and the D.R. purpose. Congo, it is extremely diffi cult to track the LRA oseph Kony has become a name that one Nothing seems to be able to stop this man and stop them. What makes it even harder cannot help but recognise when hearing it as he continues to abduct children from their is that after becoming aware of the fact that Jin a conversation or reading it in an article. villages and towns, turning the girls into child the USA had joined the campaign to stop him, An International Criminal Court fugitive, sex slaves and the boys into child soldiers Kony has now changed his tactics to avoid his having been indicted but escaped in 2005, to fi ght in his own army. Additionally, upon anticipated capture. Since 2008, over 2,400 Joseph Kony is well known for being the head abduction Kony and his foot soldiers often people have been murdered at the hands of of the Lord’s Resistance Army, aka the LRA, kill the children’s family and neighbours so the LRA, and in the four weeks since KONY a Ugandan guerrilla group. While efforts have that they have little choice other than to fi ght 2012 became active, another 57 children have been made to stop him in the past, whether for him; sometimes they are even forced to been abducted. they be peace talks or militant strategies, kill their parents themselves. He has been little has helped as Joseph Kony manages to committing these crimes for twenty-six years, Nicola Hoban manipulate himself out of the situation every having these children he’s kidnapped fi ght

fact file opinions: cover the night A non-profi t organisation formed in 2004 by Jason Russell, Bobby Bailey and Laren Poole. feel that it was good The organisation seeks to: n my opinion, this is how it Ifor raising awareness Iis; there are good people about a big world issue, • Make the world aware of the LRA by • Pressure from the campaign has and bad people. What defi nes but I don’t feel that it’s them is how they live, who they making documentaries and touring them seen the passing of Lord’s Resistance done anything to help choose to help (amongst other around the world for free. Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda the situation and I don’t things). But blind generosity agree with many of the Recovery Act in May 2010. leads to confusion and in the methods of the “Invisible • Channel energy from viewers of IC case of Kony, corrupt fi gures of Children” charity. fi lms into large-scale advocacy campaigns • Money is used to support the Ugandan power. to stop the LRA and protect civilians. military, the UPDF. Invisible Children state Seeing friends suggest that ‘liking’ Isabel Vincent that is due to the fact that no other LRA a status is going to bring this man to • Operate programs on the ground affected country has a military equipped justice is just shocking. in LRA-affected areas that focus on or competent enough to engage with the protecting communities, supporting LRA LRA. Daniel de Reybekill victims and post-confl ict reconstruction. • The charity has established several think it's all a bunch of • Encourages a “four pillar” system: ‘on the ground’ programs in Uganda, Iover hyped toff, teenagers getting hooked in to a 'good (1) the protection of civilians, (2) the South Sudan, the Central African Republic cause' as a fad, not because apprehension of LRA leadership, (3) the and the Democratic Republic of Congo, think that while the cause they're genuinely interested. facilitation of the peaceful surrender including early warning radio networks, Iis just the videos kind of They all follow the crowd, of LRA combatants and (4) support to a rehabilitation centre, funding merit glorify it a little bit, and while so in itself it's a bad thing rehabilitation efforts for communities and scholarships and a teacher exchange something needs to be done because these people are individuals affected by the LRA. program. about it people aren’t going to pretty much feigning an fi nd the answer to fi xing it in interest just so their friends • Previously organised several splashing videos all over social don't judge them. campaigns including ‘Displace Me’, where networking sites Alex Baxendale 67,000 activists created a cardboard Laura Phillips village in order to raise awareness. April Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 13 Features

here has been a lot of everyone’s newsfeed with the campaign and the With such doubt surrounding the KONY 2012 for KONY 2012. I’m not saying I’m in support of debate surrounding the viewers’ belief in it. The emotional cries of the campaign, the question remains: Should we still the organisation, but the cause itself is a just one. Tsubject of KONY 2012, public soon waned however when it became clear go ahead with it? A couple of people have said The effort itself may not work, but I would like FOR the organisation Invisible that maybe not all of the information provided to me that they couldn’t really care less about to be able to say years from now that I at least Children, and what the in the short fi lm was accurate. They became it, as it wasn’t likely to affect them in any way. cared enough to try and help those children that campaign means as a whole. Many believe that a even less supportive after the co-founder of We have our own problems to solve in our own live their lives day to day in fear that they may be helping hand should not be extended to those that the organisation, Jason Russell, the fi lm maker countries, shouldn’t we start here fi rst? Why send abducted from their beds that very night. There need it, when we haven’t even sorted out issues behind the 28 minute short fi lm, was arrested on out military forces when all it is going to do is are other organisations that money can be sent to happening in our country fi rst. Others mistrust Thursday 15th March after behaving in “a bizarre instigate more violence? True, what is happening help aid the idea of stopping Joseph Kony. But the the organisation Invisible Children because of and irrational manner”, running through the over there isn’t actually affecting us in any way, idea of KONY 2012 itself isn’t one to be ignored. the controversy surrounding it, and therefore streets in nothing but his underwear screaming. shape or form. It’s true also that we still have a Why not plaster Bangor with the posters (that are refuse to acknowledge the cause in any way. A It was also stated that witnesses had seen Russell lot of problems to solve in this country ourselves. free to download)? Why not make Joseph Kony lot of people given the opportunity would gladly remove his underwear and start masturbating, To think like that, to me, is a little narrow- famous, and have him stopped? Not through express their dislike for this campaign, and due to although this remains unconfi rmed by offi cials. minded; to assume that our problems are greater violence, but with the aid of US military advisors that others start to change their way of thinking. However, with no charges pending, the CEO of than or more important than the trials others face helping regional forces capture the war criminal. Originally, when the KONY 2012 video fi rst the organisation released a statement saying that every day is not a view I care to share. Maybe I’m It can only be a good thing. So why not? went viral, it was immensely popular, storming his behaviour was due to Russell suffering from too soft hearted, too open to emotional plights by across Facebook and Twitter and plastering exhaustion, dehydration and malnutrition. those in need who are worse off than me. I am all Nicola Hoban

Peoples Defence Forces in mid-2006, the LRA and general’ (a section which unlike many of within their target market, by using song and has retreated to dense terrain within bordering the others does not offer a break down of the dance routines, to the setting of the video itself countries in the Central African area. They are a summary title) and rendered even more so – which coincidentally, is set within a basketball AGAINST diminished and weakened group with numbers when contrasted to the British Red Cross, who court. The only way Jason Russell could further not exceeding 300”, suggesting that the video has only spend around 5% of their donations on cash in on the latest fad would be if they had Zac ollowing the release of Invisible Children’s greatly exaggerated the true size and scale of LRA the same administration. When contrasting the Efron sing about how they want to “change the latest video, Kony 2012: Beyond Famous, operations. Whilst the second video has indeed vastly differing size of the two charities, it further world” whilst holding a Ugandan child to tug at Fon 4th April, it might seem like the critics done much to tackle these claims of exaggeration validates the claims of these critics, especially the heartstrings of the young and impressionable now have nothing left to say. However, whilst and misrepresentation, it still raises serious considering that Invisible Children have a team without actually telling the public how they can the sequel certainly clears up some of the issues questions about the reliability of the charity; of 39 activists (such a small team of activists for help except by handing over their money to make raised by the fi rst, the campaign still raises some though the charity’s fi nances are transparent, if the United States)thus making its administration further obnoxious and uninformative videos for serious questions. they cannot even represent the facts and statistics fees ridiculously disproportionate in contrast to their own self-aggrandisement. Perhaps the biggest issue with the campaign which underpin the entire campaign correctly, can that of the British Red Cross, and leading some to Of course if they were using these marketing is that it smacks of colonialist saviour complex. we be sure that their fi nancial fi gures wont be suggest that it’s entirely possible that some of the techniques directly to help raise awareness for the The idea that LRA affected countries like Uganda just the same? administration fees are being used as wages for plight in Uganda then it could be seen as a good cannot cope without western intervention is The fi nancial expenditure of the charity itself the main activists, regardless of the fact that it is technique. However, as was shown in the 2011 incredibly patronising. The idea that America , a has come under under under heavy fi re from a non-profi t organisation. video, entitled “The Fourth Estate” they hint at a country that has repeatedly failed in its attempts critics. The division of expenses can essentially A further cause of ire is that despite Invisible completely different vision the organisation has. at international intervention, (Vietnam anyone?) be broken down into three Children’ claims to equally divide funds The video is set within an ominous government particularly the embarrassing failure to capture between their three initiatives, 47% of the total building with several members of the Invisible Osama Bin Laden, could solve this problem expenditure goes towards the marketing of the Children dressed up in clothing reminiscent of the is laughably arrogant. Though monetary aid charity and they currently have over 180 videos Third Estate within the French Revolution, which and the charity’s on the ground programs are on their vimeo account. One at the time completely changed the dynamics of desirable in order to rebuild the lives of those such “awareness” the world. This hints that the Invisible Children affected, military intervention is almost entirely video, geared towards organisation’s main focus is not soley the unnecessary. The affected countries have formed their target market of charity in which they subscribe to, but rather a a coalition in order to combat Kony and the LRA the young and easily potential new world order. Ironically it makes as a united force, and the Ugandan military impressionable, entitled the organisation look like they are recruiting an has already been successful in achieving the “Invisible Children: A ‘army’ of young people to join their cause whilst permant expulsion and dramatic reduction of LRA Musical to Believe simultaneously campaigning against military numbers in 2006, suggesting that this demand in!” features a faux action in central Africa. for intervention into hostilities that has stretched demonstration at a Such mismanagement and manipulation makes across the last twenty years are too little, too late. high school where the the organisation look less like a charity and more So despite Invisible Children’s claims that these three founding members similar to a group of expert propagandists who countries “lack the specifi c capabilities” to bring of Invisible Children try to know how to manipulate the public, for as they Kony to justice, the facts would in fact suggest convince a group of high say in “A Musical to Believe in!” even though they that they are perfectly capable of controlling school students to back are ‘attempting’ to end the troubles in Uganda and containing the situation, and in a joint effort sections: Administration, awareness and the their cause.Although, the video itself doesn’t they will “congregate and demonstrate” to tackle with the International Criminal Court are likely to actual money they give to the cause, and has been mention how they are actually going to stop Kony, other more ambiguous goals on their agenda. So apprehend Kony within the near future. released onto the organisation’s website for the instead it chooses to use clichés such as “we can whilst we thoroughly support the charity’s on the The viral video that launched the campaign public to see, in order to combat the allegations change the world” without offering any kind of ground programs and the overall mission to bring has also greatly discredited the charity for its of mismanagement from critics. However this viable solution. The video itself is a transparent Kony to justice, think twice about where your sensationalist and allegedly inaccurate approach does little more than reinforce convictions when homage to both the earlier Michael Jackson hit money is going before you commit to a charity to the confl ict, which has sparked a backlash one considers that only 37% of the money spent “we are here to change the world” and the hit like Invisible Children. from the Ugandan government’s spokesman within the charity actually goes to help improve Disney franchise “High School Musical” which, Fred Opolot: “It must be clarifi ed that at the lives of the children they originally set out to coincidentally, was released earlier in the same Sophie Smith present the LRA is not active in any part of help. This revelation is particularly alarming when year of 2006. The video has been blasted as an Uganda. Successfully expelled by the Ugandan 16% of this money is spent on ‘management obvious attempt to cash in on a current trend and Eddie Spencer Small

ollowing a meteoric rise to fame over the last few weeks, mental, emotional and physical shock his body has gone through Jason Russell, 33, co-founder of Invisible Children and in these last two weeks. Even for us, it’s hard to understand the Fnarrator of viral sensation Kony 2012, has been detained sudden transition from relative anonymity to worldwide attention and admitted to a mental hospital for psychological assessment. Controversy - both raves and ridicules - in a matter of days. He has a long Russell was alleged to have been apprehended on suspicion way to go, but we are confi dent that he will make a full recovery”. of public masturbation and vandalism of vehicles, after being The Kony 2012 campaign has been heavily slated by critics for reported to the police for running through the streets of San especially, and that toll manifested itself in an unfortunate incident misrepresentation of facts, including the Ugandan Prime Minister Diego in his underwear and shouting at passing traffi c on the 12th yesterday.” Amama Mbabazi, who claims that the video is not representative March. However, Russell is reported to have been coherent and Early diagnosis would suggest that Russell is in fact suffering of the situation in Uganda, and creates a false impression of the cooperative when picked up by the San Diego police department, from ‘reactive psychosis’, the spontaneous manifestation of whereabouts of Joseph Kony. The charity has since responded to though he was not arrested and no charges are planned. psychotic symptoms. His family have strongly denied any claims its critics by releasing its disputed fi nancial records and defending Invisible Children chief executive Ben Keesey told TMZ: “Jason that his erratic behaviour was the result of alcohol or drug use, the campaign video, releasing a further twenty minute video Russell was unfortunately hospitalised yesterday suffering from despite rumours that he was under the infl uence of alcohol at the without Russell, Kony 2012: Beyond Famous on 4th April. exhaustion, dehydration, and malnutrition. He is now receiving time of the incident. medical care and is focused on getting better. The past two Danica Russell has defended her husband’s behaviour, reporting Sophie Smith weeks have taken a severe emotional toll on all of us, Jason that “Doctors say this is a common experience given the great

The Ticket Price Breakdown Staff The security to keep you safe, the attendants to give you somewhere to park, but more importantly the bar staff to Production keep the drinks flowing! Not only that, technicians, stage managers and artistMain liasons Arts areand allPJ needed Hall unfortunately to help the night don’t come free. Staging, lighting, screens, music, run smoothly! amps, the amazing free fun fair The rooms have to be cleaned and groundsmen have to rides, wiring, technicians, putting it prepare outside, this includes the investment of proper all up, taking it all down. Production waste disposal too! is a massive job and arguably the most important, which is why it £4.95 Venue takes up quite a large proportion of your ticket money. £3.15 £3.15 First Aid equipment should any Site Equipmentaccidents occur, the tents which hold £16.20 separate gigs, scaffolding , pedestrian barriers and more barriers to keep £1.35 out non ticket holders!

£16.20 Marketing Promotional flyers, ActsWhat would the Summer Ball be without your posters and the actual design of performers? It’s quite understandable that a your ticket so that you know large amount of your ticket price is invested what is happening, where it’s into the acts that are booked to entertain happening and when! you! A typical gig would cost you around £15, so £16.20 seems reasonable considering you get a free ferris wheel ride out of it! Win a ticket to this year’s Summer Ball! Last year’s Summer Ball brought us Stooshe just as they were starting their rise to pop stardom. Their official debut single ‘Love Me’ recently went top 5 in the UK, but which American superstar was featured on the track?

A) Travie McCoy B) Travie Walkers C) Travie Quavers

Send your answer [email protected] and you could be in with a chance of winning a Summer Ball ticket. Good luck! 16 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk April Issue 2012 Union AGM 2012 what can i run for? senate

Senate is the democratic heartbeat of the Students’ Union, it meets monthly and discusses issues relevant to Why should I care? students in Bangor. To join senate you need to be able to commit to attend tudents’ Union elections are over and the to the people who will listen. The AGM is the once a month, but aside from that you don’t need to easter holiday is gone; next it’s time for the single most powerful decision making body in the bring anything other than yourself and your opinions. AGM. Students’ Union. The trustee board, the Sabbatical Senators are encouraged to talk to as many students S as possible so that discussions at senate are genuinely So, why should you go? Well, its a great offi cers and senators are all responsible to the opportunity to ask the questions you want AGM, and it’s at the AGM where you can vote on representative of student opinion. answering. The Sabbatical Offi cers will be there to policy that can make a real difference. Senate is incredibly important to the Students’ Union. give their report on the year, and you can ask them If you want to change something, you can. We can’t have General Meetings every week, so Senate the questions you don’t think have been answered Listen to what people want, ask questions and use exists as a mechanism for students to engage with the and you want to know about. your vote. A Students’ Union is there to listen to Union Offi cers, to guide, question and challenge them If you want to know about something within what students’ want, and the AGM is the loudest – to ensure that your union is always working hard for the AU, in the budget, in societies or about the voice it can speak with. you. direction of the union, you can get your answer by The AGM may not sound interesting or relevant If you’re interested in being part of a Students’ Union just turning up to the AGM. to you, but it’s all about you. The AGM is the that is changing and evolving, if you’d like to help shape A lot of work has been going on in the Students’ chance to see what has happened this year, and and create your Students’ Union and if you’re motivated Union this year, with some massive changes. Now how it can be made different next year. You are to stand as a student leader...run for Senate. is your chance to fi nd out what else could happen part of the Students’ Union, so make sure it does by asking your questions and making your points what you want. trustees

The Trustee Board is central to the organisational structure of the Students’ Union, it meets 6 times a year and is responsible for ensuring that the Students’ Union is run in a fi t and proper manner. what The Trustee Board maintains responsibility for the strategic direction of the SU and sits to ensure that the organisation is run according to the laws of the land and in a fi nancially prudent manner. The Board provides will be strategic line management to the Union Director and receives reports from its sub-committees, including Finance, Remuneration & HR, Elections and Nominations. To join the board you need to be able to commit to happening? attend board and sub-committees, but aside from that you don’t need to bring anything as we will provide full uestion time for the online elections will be to fi nd out what you really need to know. training. Trustees need to approach the role in a serious happening at the AGM as well. Make sure Elections are being held for Senators and and confi dential manner, and always be mindful that you know who who is best for the job and Trustees, which may sound a bit vague, but they Q the Students’ Union exists to benefi t its members – the who deserves your vote. All candidates will be are important positions. This year votes will be students of Bangor. giving a short speech about why they want to run cast online. Trustees take on an incredible amount of personal for a position and then you can ask them questions responsibility but are rewarded through their in-depth involvement in planning organisational strategy, steering the Union through times of diffi culty and watching the Union grow and fl ourish as a result of their input and direction. If you’re interested in being part of a Students’ Union that is changing and evolving, if you’d like to work more info? behind the scenes to plan and prepare for the future and if you enjoy responsibility and the challenge of leadership... run for trustee. bangorstudents.com /elections April, 30th 7.15pm MALT April Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 17 Union Your New Sabbs!

Shon Prebble Ash Kierans Emyr Bath VP Education VP Societies VP Sport & Antony Butcher & Welfare & Community Healthy Living “…last year the University made “Societies formed mid-academic President “I will have a proactive approach over £23,000 in fi nes, which year struggle to secure a grant from in improving our students’ “I want every decision this ended up in the administration and the Union. I’d assure to budget in experience through increasing the university makes to be made in training budgets. I want this money such a way that no society would awareness of Healthy Living... I partnership with students.” channelled back to students, into come across this issue.” will use a variety of intramural hardship funds, to help students WWW.BANGORSTUDENTS.COM sports to pursue a wider The job: The President is the who need it the most.” The job: As it would suggest, they audience and increase student chief offi cer of the Union and head are responsible for maintaining the participation.” of the Sabbatical Team. It’s their The job: They are responsible for operation of the numerous societies job to represent the Union to the Academic Welfare, Student Housing within the Union. Along with VP The job: They are responsible University, the local community and Health Promotion within the Sport & Healthy Living it is also for the AU’s operation and and, at times, the nation. Union. As such it is their job to their job to organise Serendipity. maintenance. Through this they They are responsible for the organise the Course Rep system. Their community role includes must liaise with the University and Union’s Higher Education remit They also liaise with VP Sport & working with ‘Love Bangor’, aiding the local community on sporting which means that they deal with Healthy Living concerning Healthy student community projects and matters and events. It is in their matters of education policy, funding Living Week. A main responsibility liaising with resident groups and remit to promote participation in and how that affects the Union they have is to maintain the Union’s the local council. members. Equal Opportunities policy. competitive and recreational sport.

angor Students’ Union was recently named Union of the Year (non commercial) at the National Union of Students (NUS) Green Impact Awards in Manchester. B The awards recognise the environmental work of students’ unions around the country and this year had a record 105 unions competing. The awards are part ominations have been fl ooding in for the Student Led Teaching2012 Awards of the NUS Green Impact initiative which provides environmental accreditation for STUDENT LED TEACHING AWARDS for the last six weeks and when the deadline closed at the end of students’ unions, helping unions to showcase great environmental practice. March, we had received over 330 nominations from you guys for over Bangor Students’ Union won their award for their wide range of environmental N 150 different members of staff. Needless to say, coming up with a shortlist activity and best practice, from projects to help reduce the decline of the bumble has proven quite diffi cult as there were some really good nominations and bee that saw thousands of wild fl owers planted in the there are some excellent members of staff out there who have been going Bangor area, to innovative recycling initiatives that aimed the extra mile for you lot day in, day out. The celebration evening is drawing to collect old bras for re-use in other parts of the world. closer and we are really excited to be one of the 21 unions taking part in The Union also actively supported Fairtrade Fortnight and this initiative this year. The shortlist of staff nominated in each category will Go Green Week, as well as working closely with Gwynedd be going up online next week, so you will be able to see if your lecturer has Council to encourage students to recycle and keep Bangor been nominated or if the member of staff you nominated made it onto the tidy! shortlist. We are now in the process of inviting course reps and the students, This is the second year in a row that Bangor have who nominated the shortlisted members of staff, to the evening, so if you been recognised for their exceptional environmental are one of these people, please make sure you check your inbox and let us performance, receiving The Co-operative ‘Most Improved know if you would like to come along and celebrate the evening with us. In Union’ Award and The Ecologist ‘Communications an ideal world we would have you all there, but unfortunately there is a limit Challenge’ Award at the Green Impact Awards in 2011. as to how many people we can fi t into the PJ Hall! For those of you who are Rich Gorman, Vice President, Societies & Community, unable to attend, but would like to know how your lecturer or support staff said “It’s fantastic to be named Union of the Year, we’ve member has got on, then check out bangorstudents.com for the pictures from come a long way very quickly, two years ago we were only the evening, the shortlist, and of course, the list of winners once they have a Bronze level Union, now we are the best in the UK”. been announced on the night. 18 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk April Issue 2012 Societies BEDS’ ANTONY BURGESS’ ‘A CLOCKWORK ORANGE’

angor’s BEDS Society is putting on a show. Antony Burgess’ A Clockwork Orange comes to Blife once more as the society prepare for their show set to open on Friday 4th May – Sunday 6th May. Being held in JP Hall, Antony Burgess’ play (with music) is based on his own provocative novella of the same title, which was fi rst published in 1962. angor Comedy Society are going to be hosting their end The novel follows a fellow named Alex and his vicious of year Gala Show on the 27th of April. It will comprise of gang as they revel in horrifi c violence, mugging and Ba live performance of the radio show A Matter Of Fiction, gang rape. The language used in the production is being their second successive Gala Show performance. Bangor as complicated as their actions. When a drug fuelled Comedy’s famous ImpSoc will also be taking part, hosting with night of entertainment and fun ends in murder, Alex audience suggestions creating on-the-spot comedy. Winners is fi nally caught and locked up. However, he is offered of the society’s Stand Up competition will also be appearing an ultimatum – be brainwashed into becoming a good during the night giving 20 minutes of pure comedy genius that citizen and therefore have the opportunity to walk free, will be bound to have the audience in hysterics, followed by the or face a life time in the Big House instead. Sketches Divison who will be giving a TV and movie themed Opening their doors at 7.30pm on each of the nights, series of 40 minutes of all-new side splitting sketches. This the price of entry is £5, £4 with NUS. Take note that fantastic array of comedy will be hosted at JP Hall with doors the play does have an 18 rating due to violence and opening at 7pm with the show going from 7.30pm until 10pm. scenes of sexual nature. It is most certainly not a night to be missed and at only £3 per ticket on the door, you’d surely be mad not to come! Bangor University Endeavor Society

THE BIG FESTIVAL GIVEAWAY! n StormFM every weekday from 3-5pm we will be giving away free tickets to Ofestivals for two weeks until the 27th of April. We have pairs of tickets to give away from Wakestock, BeachBreak, Red Hot Chilli Peppers at Knebworth, and Ozzfest. This promises to be one of the biggest giveaway’s Storm has ever had, and all you have to do is tune in every day and answer one simple tudents from the Endeavour Society of the School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, question. Yes, it’s that easy! So make sure held a Spring Beach Clean at Traeth Lafan on Saturday 24th March. They collected you tune in to win FREE tickets to see some of S22 bags of rubbish from this ecologically important area. The Lafan Sands are a UK the biggest bands around; Dizzee Rascal, Ed Special Protected Area and an important feeding site and overwintering site for many wading Sheeran, Calvin Harris, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, birds. It was great that the students managed to clear so much rubbish from this important Razorlight, Maverick Sabre, Dappy, Wretch 32, site, and it is hoped that it will help make it a more attractive area for walkers and bird Chase and Status, and many many more. enthusiasts to spend time whilst benefi tting the local wildlife. Calling all societies! Seren provides you with two pages every issue for you to tell us all what you’ve been up to, so why not use them? You can keep Bangor students up to date by sending articles to: [email protected] Hard work pays o for Bangor Brass Band OOMPAH!angor University at Nantporth, the stadium of Bangor FC, is one of “This is a fantastic chance to get our name out there Brass Band have the highlights of the Welsh football calendar and is to more people,” said chairman Andrew Shepherd, Bbeen offered their expected to attract around 1,000 people. The match will “This band has come so far from its inception just biggest gig to date in the also be broadcast live on S4C. The band are delighted two and a half years ago, and we hope it will keep form of entertainment to have been offered this amazing opportunity after a going long after its current players have graduated!”. at the Welsh National year of heavy community involvement, including the The Brass Band will be preparing for this performance Football Cup Final. The Remembrance Day parade, Christmas caroling around with a one-off Oompah show in Academi on the 24th match, which will take the city and at Penrhyn Castle, and the ever-popular of April (entry £2.50). place on Sunday 6th May Oompah nights which take place at the Belle Vue pub. Nina Grant April Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 19 Societies STUDENT CUT FILMS FILM-A-THON inners of Best New Society 2010/11, event/screening we have ever held.” Adam Farrand added: “I am really looking forward Student Cut Films are proud to announce Members of the society were responsible for to the fi lm-a-thon because the money we’re raising Wthat we’ll be hosting a 12 hour fi lm-a- choosing which fi lms would fi ll the twelve hours, is going to a great cause.” The entire fi lm-a-thon thon in aid of Diabetes UK. The half day movie the fi lms chosen being Hugo, The Girl With The and individual screenings are open to everyone, marathon will take place from Wednesday 25th Dragon Tattoo (2011) and Midnight In Paris. In free of charge, although it is asked that everyone April at 7pm to Thursday 26th April at 7am in the addition to these choices, Treasurer Ben Davies who attends a screening makes a donation, no Main Arts Lecture Theatre. The marathon is the and Society Member Aglae Bindi were given the matter of the value, to Diabetes UK. Donations fi rst event to be hosted by the new Student Cut task of choosing two ‘Mystery Films’ that will only can be made online through our offi cial ‘Challenge’ Films Committee. The Founder of Student Cut be revealed on the night of the marathon. Society page on the Diabetes UK website or in person at Films and former Chair, Adam Farrand, said that Member and Seren Film Editor, Amy Westlake, the fi lm-a-thon/screenings. Some refreshments “The fi lm-a-thon is a fantastic way to introduce our was responsible for putting Diabetes UK forward will be provided on the night but you are welcome new committee. The fi lm-a-thon was thought up as the charity the event will be supporting. to bring your own. For more information fi nd us on by the founding members of Student Cut Films as Amy said: “Diabetes is an illness that not many Facebook - ‘Student Cut Films’. well as our new Treasurer Ben Davies, Secretary people understand and know about. As someone The following is the itinerary for the night. All Isabel Vincent and Chair Ali Brabbs. We were with diabetes, I know that Diabetes UK raises the fi lms will be separated by breaks to allow the looking to not only hold an event to recognise the awareness and knowledge about the condition. audience to get refreshed, ready for the next fi lm. election of a new committee but to also end the All money raised will help further treatment and year on a high. This truly is the most ambitious upgrade equipment for people with diabetes.“ ? ? 7.00pm - 9.10pm 9.25pm - 12.00am 12.15am - 1.50am 2.30am - 4.30am 5.10am - 7.00am

HUGO GIRL WITH THE MIDNIGHT MYSTERY MYSTERY DRAGON TATTOO IN PARIS FILM FILM BANGOR LAW STUDENT WINS SCHOLARSHIP Bangor University Law Student face meeting with the Head of School is set to move her studies to to discuss her application to Lincoln’s AManchester this coming September Inn, something she believes would’ve in order to continue working towards her been much more diffi cult within a larger ambition of becoming a barrister. school. She thanks the staff for all of Kate Longson, a third year student, their support over the last three years was just last month awarded the Lord and praises their knowledge stating: Denning Law Scholarship which grants “They know what they’re talking about!” her £15,000 to continue her studies with Bethney Miller, on behalf of the a Bar Professional Training Course Law Society, said “We are not at all (BPTC). She will be taking surprised with Kate winning the the course at Manchester scholarship with Lincoln’s M e t r o p o l i t a n Inn; she has been a SocietiesAwards 2012 University. keen competitor in the Kate, who is internal McLaren Mooting originally from Competition where she ach year the SU hosts an annual Societies Awards night, celebrating Staffordshire, and won and also took the the very best of what our Student Societies do. who was a student at initiative to compete E In order to be in the line-up for the highly coveted Societies St Joseph’s College in a National Mooting Awards Trophies, Societies and the individuals that run them, need to be in Stoke-On-Trent, competition which took nominated by YOU. has gone through a lot place in Liverpool. Kate More information, award criteria and nomination forms can all be found of hard work to achieve gaining the Lincoln’s Inn on: http://www.bangorstudents.com/societies/awards.asp the prestigious scholarship. scholarship highlights a standard Nominations close on the 25th April at 12 noon! “This achievement is all down which should be followed by any The Awards Evening itself will be on the 5th May at Bar Uno starting at to her hard work and the experience student who is seeking a career at the 7:30pm. Tickets are on sale from SU reception and cost £15 and include that she’s gained outside lectures.” Aled Bar. We applaud her success and wish entry to the Awards Evening, a three course meal and entertainment till Griffi ths, Deputy Head of the Law School, her the best of luck with the future.” 2am! said. The scholarship was awarded to There are various award categories for societies her following a successful interview to enter as well as awards for individuals. last month by Lincoln’s Inn which she LJ Taylor successfully joined last year. Lincoln’s • Society of the Year Inn is one of four Inn’s in the UK that • Community Award students wishing to pursue a career as • Most Improved Award a barrister must apply to. The barrister- • Best New Society in-the-making was previously awarded • International Society of the Year the Hardwicke Entrance Award which • Academic Society of the Year covered the costs of her joining Lincoln’s • Achievement of the Year Inn last year. • Campaign of the Year Aled Griffi ths congratulated Kate on • Faith Society of the Year behalf of the Law School and noted that: • Charity Award “It is a remarkable achievement to get • Event of the Year a scholarship awarded in honour of the • Best Performance Award most famous lawyer in history.” • Environmental Award Kate complimented Bangor’s Law • Best Collaboration School on its personal approach stating that she was able to have a face-to- 20 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk April Issue 2012 April Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 21 Creative Corner Creative Corner

Sea Softened Stones 1 Lupine

sat on the rocks overlooking Did you really think the sea beneath that lupine slink burns with the salt that dandy smile of purifying your wily swipe of drinks like a medicinal vial across the bar fi lled with the moon that you would not be caught and the cracking below is for what you are? the edge of a slap would not be skinned? fading from the cheek into (far worse than slimming) a repetitive shush and strewn across my fl oor a repetitive shush no trophy the hushed just fur to make the ground less cries of people stony on the beach beneath the beat of my dancing feet a reminder that you cannot be alone across your back together beneath the mounted heads and horns Photographs by Nayab G. Dawood stone cold up on the walls your hand icy on my arm gazing eyes freezing the bicep no longer grazing beneath your fi nger tips but with a smirk at your demise like a sigh and I leave and wrap like the sea my shoulders with your coat and the make up cleft hooves swinging across my washed away by the sea spray back which sits on your clothes pendulous with the sway of my feet silent my lupine slink your touch my dandy smile against my skin my innocent bleat pales

- Georgie Lorimer - Georgie Lorimer

Checkmate

Across from me sits my opponent. Straightening his pieces, the black set of course, he gives me a steady stare.

He’s been playing this game for so long. We both know that I can’t win but I still reach forward and make the fi rst move.

Needlework

Your tongue clicks silver lightning; the thread unravels. You reap what you sow.

- Poems by Emily Bygrave Artwork By Jonathan Spencer. Photograph by Jecelyn Latimer j-spence.com 20 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk April Issue 2012 April Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 21 Creative Corner Creative Corner

Sea Softened Stones 1 Lupine sat on the rocks overlooking Did you really think the sea beneath that lupine slink burns with the salt that dandy smile of purifying your wily swipe of drinks like a medicinal vial across the bar fi lled with the moon that you would not be caught and the cracking below is for what you are? the edge of a slap would not be skinned? fading from the cheek into (far worse than slimming) a repetitive shush and strewn across my fl oor a repetitive shush no trophy the hushed just fur to make the ground less cries of people stony on the beach beneath the beat of my dancing feet a reminder that you cannot be alone across your back together beneath the mounted heads and horns Photographs by Nayab G. Dawood stone cold up on the walls your hand icy on my arm gazing eyes freezing the bicep no longer grazing beneath your fi nger tips but with a smirk at your demise like a sigh and I leave and wrap like the sea my shoulders with your coat and the make up cleft hooves swinging across my washed away by the sea spray back which sits on your clothes pendulous with the sway of my feet silent my lupine slink your touch my dandy smile against my skin my innocent bleat pales

- Georgie Lorimer - Georgie Lorimer

Checkmate

Across from me sits my opponent. Straightening his pieces, the black set of course, he gives me a steady stare.

He’s been playing this game for so long. We both know that I can’t win but I still reach forward and make the fi rst move.

Needlework

Your tongue clicks silver lightning; the thread unravels. You reap what you sow.

- Poems by Emily Bygrave Artwork By Jonathan Spencer. Photograph by Jecelyn Latimer j-spence.com 22 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk April Issue 2012 Health & Beauty How to Beat Stress The weeks leading up to work deadlines and exams are always particularly stressful. Stress might seem part and parcel of student life, but if you Spring Beauty Trend: Statement Eyes don’t fi nd ways to deal with it then stress can cause a whole host of other Create two of spring’s hottest looks with just three items. problems such as weight loss, skin problems, and lack of sleep. We asked Colour Pop: inject some colour with this bright Bangor University student, Jenny Krase, how she combats stress... trend. Although it might not be an everyday look, why not try re-creating your own look at home. We all know it’s tough enough writing up your dissertation- the sun is (intermittently) shining, palette and end-of-break parties beckon. And we all take “breaks”, clicking over to Facebook or other This contains toned down colours to social sites for a few minutes respite. Okay, or a whole afternoon. Here are some alternative help you achieve a more wearable, subtle take on recommendations to Facebook if you want to refresh your brain a little: this catwalk look. Don’t forget to complete your look with lashings of mascara. With this 1. Oh No They Didn’t!: a hilarious and active celebrity gossip community on Livejournal. An W7 ‘Big Lash’ we no longer account is free and it’s great fun if celeb gossip is something you read casually anyway. need falsies! New CID Cosmetics i-smoulder Smokey Eye Pencil and Shadow £16.65 2. Start your own blog. It’s super easy- Wordpress is easy to learn- and customising your site W7 Big Lash is kind of addictive. Plus it’s a really useful skill. Tumblr is another popular option and is also Mascara £4.95 W7 10 out of 10 highly customisable (and not just for reblogging amazing photographs). palette £5.95 3. Go to http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/ and get signing! It’s an excellent way to justify not working on your latest section or chapter and it can do some good. I highly recommend Metallics: One of spring’s biggest beauty trends, the http://www.c4em.org.uk/ petition, as well; it’s lagging seriously behind the Coalition for this metallic look will get you ready for the festival Marriage petition which seeks to prevent marriage equality for LGBT people. season. Go for gold, shimmering tones teamed with your classic smokey eye kit. This eye colour palette 4. Clean out your fi shtank/gerbil cage/litter box. It probably needs doing anyway. If you contains a great range of shades to recreate this look. have goldfi sh, get some sinking pellets and enjoy watching them forage in the gravel... it sounds Use the eye pencil to make your look stand out ridiculous but this is probably the cheapest fun I’ve had since being able to buy alcohol at 19. by lining your lids and use the other end to smudge (Oh! Canada..) along the lash line for a great fi nish.

5. Nip over to Poundland and pick up some spring planting supplies- they have grow your Take your hair own tomato/potato/strawberry kits. Spend a little time planting up your seeds and watch them Trend Alert! grow- pumpkins and beans are especially fast, you often see germination in just a few days- and colour to another it’s easy to justify this as a sustainable activity. Plus it’s fun. Dip Dye Hair level with the

6. Back online now, had enough mucking out your pets and growing your own produce? Well latest celeb look! then check out the candidates for the Gwynedd council elections here: http://tinyurl.com/ gwynelection12 Most students live in Arfon and there are actually several students standing in the local elections. If you live in Halls, you’re pre-registered to vote, so make your that you make your voice heard!

7. Okay, this one is still probably not “fun” but it’s important: Academi’s new licensing hours are up for consideration at the council. So why not write to your councillor and tell them to support the later hours? Contact info for Bangor-based councillors is here: http://tinyurl.com/ gwyncoun

8. Bored of local politics now? Yeah, me too, so let’s move on to something just a little bit more interesting. Go check out My Drunk Kitchen and Jenna Marbles on Youtube. Go on, if you haven’t already, you will not regret it. I promise. Jennifer Krase

The Benefits of Narcissism Joey McNally shares his self-confi dence secrets...

“Hurry. Up.” my housemate growls at and makes you generally more likely 1) Glam up- Treat leaving the house 4) Imagine- Envisage your perfect me as I apply yet another coat of to just, y’know, be yourself. Whilst in my as if you’re about to headline ‘look’, and work at it. Feeling good hairspray, splash a bit more aftershave head I might think donning my trusty Wembley. If you think you look fl ashy, about yourself is like playing an on, and swagger about admiring myself leather jacket, lacing up my boots and you’ll feel fl ashy, and you’ll notice a instrument, it takes practice, and soon in the mirror. “We’re only going to the slathering myself in cheap jewellery might little spring in your step. enough it’ll be second nature. pub” he adds. For me, there’s no such make me look some latter-day James thing as ‘just’ going anywhere. The Dean, I’m all too aware I probably 2) Water off a duck’s back- If 5) Realise that you’re stuck with yourself second I leave the house, I want to look look a bit of a melon. But it’s not what anyone does have the audacity to forever. Beauty is in the eye of the my best. Ok, I admit it: I’m a shameless other people think that bothers me. It’s make a negative comment on your beholder and all that, so instead of narcissist. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not that I don’t want them to think bad appearance, just laugh it off. Who focusing on imperfections, pick out the no Samantha Brick by any stretch of things about me; it’s simply that I just cares? Their opinion isn’t important, things you like and emphasise them! the imagination (although if you get don’t care what they think, not even and if you let it be important, you’re the urge to pay for my train tickets, go slightly. Do I think I’m gorgeous? Yes. Am doing yourself a disservice. 6) Don’t ever, EVER make the mistake of ahead), but I do have an unhealthy I? Who knows, it’s not important. I’ve got thinking you’re better than anyone else. obsession with gazing longingly at the nous to recognise that like it or not, It’s the one thing I’ll never be guilty of. myself in the mirror. You see, the way I I’m stuck with this mush, so I might as well 3) Spend a little time- Give yourself We’re all brilliant in our own way. see it, there’s nothing inherently bad make the most of it. So here are a few an extra 15 minutes making yourself about having a high opinion of yourself. tips to get you along the path to loving look exactly how you want to look before you go out. You won’t regret *Parts of this article may or may not have Thinking that you look good builds yourself... been written tongue in cheek; it’s up to confi dence, which builds self-esteem, it.. you to decide which bits! 22 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk April Issue 2012 April Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 23 Health & Beauty How to Beat Stress The weeks leading up to work deadlines and exams are always particularly Summer Days stressful. Stress might seem part and parcel of student life, but if you Spring Beauty Trend: Statement Eyes Sunny days call for vibrant prints and bright colours brought to don’t fi nd ways to deal with it then stress can cause a whole host of other Create two of spring’s hottest looks with just three items. life with playful attitude. Mix them up with a 50’s twist for fun, problems such as weight loss, skin problems, and lack of sleep. We asked Colour Pop: inject some colour with this bright head-turning style! Bangor University student, Jenny Krase, how she combats stress... trend. Although it might not be an everyday look, £55 why not try re-creating your own look at home. We all know it’s tough enough writing up your dissertation- the sun is (intermittently) shining, palette and end-of-break parties beckon. And we all take “breaks”, clicking over to Facebook or other This contains toned down colours to social sites for a few minutes respite. Okay, or a whole afternoon. Here are some alternative help you achieve a more wearable, subtle take on £25 recommendations to Facebook if you want to refresh your brain a little: this catwalk look. Don’t forget to complete your £25 look with lashings of mascara. With this 1. Oh No They Didn’t!: a hilarious and active celebrity gossip community on Livejournal. An W7 ‘Big Lash’ we no longer £8 account is free and it’s great fun if celeb gossip is something you read casually anyway. need falsies! New CID Cosmetics i-smoulder £10 Smokey Eye Pencil and Shadow £16.65 2. Start your own blog. It’s super easy- Wordpress is easy to learn- and customising your site W7 Big Lash is kind of addictive. Plus it’s a really useful skill. Tumblr is another popular option and is also Mascara £4.95 W7 10 out of 10 highly customisable (and not just for reblogging amazing photographs). palette £5.95 3. Go to http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/ and get signing! It’s an excellent way to justify not working on your latest section or chapter and it can do some good. I highly recommend Metallics: One of spring’s biggest beauty trends, the http://www.c4em.org.uk/ petition, as well; it’s lagging seriously behind the Coalition for this metallic look will get you ready for the festival £25 Marriage petition which seeks to prevent marriage equality for LGBT people. season. Go for gold, shimmering tones teamed with your classic smokey eye kit. This eye colour palette £30 4. Clean out your fi shtank/gerbil cage/litter box. It probably needs doing anyway. If you contains a great range of shades to recreate this look. £25 have goldfi sh, get some sinking pellets and enjoy watching them forage in the gravel... it sounds Use the eye pencil to make your look stand out ridiculous but this is probably the cheapest fun I’ve had since being able to buy alcohol at 19. by lining your lids and use the other end to smudge (Oh! Canada..) along the lash line for a great fi nish.

5. Nip over to Poundland and pick up some spring planting supplies- they have grow your Take your hair Playsuits are own tomato/potato/strawberry kits. Spend a little time planting up your seeds and watch them Trend Alert! hot on our style grow- pumpkins and beans are especially fast, you often see germination in just a few days- and colour to another radar this season it’s easy to justify this as a sustainable activity. Plus it’s fun. as a one-piece Dip Dye Hair level with the essential for any occasion. 6. Back online now, had enough mucking out your pets and growing your own produce? Well latest celeb look! then check out the candidates for the Gwynedd council elections here: http://tinyurl.com/ gwynelection12 Most students live in Arfon and there are actually several students standing in the local elections. If you live in Halls, you’re pre-registered to vote, so make your that you make your voice heard! Crop Top Crazy Perhaps you heard, there was this little music festival that 7. Okay, this one is still probably not “fun” but it’s important: Academi’s new licensing hours are happened in the desert in California this past weekend? It up for consideration at the council. So why not write to your councillor and tell them to was super low key and people just came for the music, man. support the later hours? Contact info for Bangor-based councillors is here: http://tinyurl.com/ Kidding! The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Palm gwyncoun Springs has become one big sponsored celeb-fi lled pool party. It’s also become the gold standard in festival style with all the 8. Bored of local politics now? Yeah, me too, so let’s move on to something just a little bit more cutoffs and crop tops you can handle. Take a look above at interesting. Go check out My Drunk Kitchen and Jenna Marbles on Youtube. Go on, if you some Seren faves rocking this look. Oh Rihanna <3 haven’t already, you will not regret it. I promise. Jennifer Krase

The Benefits of Narcissism Joey McNally shares his self-confi dence secrets... Step into summer with vibrant pops of colour; add denum, ColourPOP neutrals and print tees to break up those bold shades. 4) Imagine- Envisage your perfect “Hurry. Up.” my housemate growls at and makes you generally more likely 1) Glam up- Treat leaving the house £26 me as I apply yet another coat of to just, y’know, be yourself. Whilst in my as if you’re about to headline ‘look’, and work at it. Feeling good £25 hairspray, splash a bit more aftershave head I might think donning my trusty Wembley. If you think you look fl ashy, about yourself is like playing an instrument, it takes practice, and soon on, and swagger about admiring myself leather jacket, lacing up my boots and you’ll feel fl ashy, and you’ll notice a £25 in the mirror. “We’re only going to the slathering myself in cheap jewellery might little spring in your step. enough it’ll be second nature. pub” he adds. For me, there’s no such make me look some latter-day James thing as ‘just’ going anywhere. The Dean, I’m all too aware I probably 2) Water off a duck’s back- If 5) Realise that you’re stuck with yourself second I leave the house, I want to look look a bit of a melon. But it’s not what anyone does have the audacity to forever. Beauty is in the eye of the my best. Ok, I admit it: I’m a shameless other people think that bothers me. It’s make a negative comment on your beholder and all that, so instead of narcissist. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not that I don’t want them to think bad appearance, just laugh it off. Who focusing on imperfections, pick out the no Samantha Brick by any stretch of things about me; it’s simply that I just cares? Their opinion isn’t important, things you like and emphasise them! the imagination (although if you get don’t care what they think, not even and if you let it be important, you’re the urge to pay for my train tickets, go slightly. Do I think I’m gorgeous? Yes. Am doing yourself a disservice. 6) Don’t ever, EVER make the mistake of ahead), but I do have an unhealthy I? Who knows, it’s not important. I’ve got thinking you’re better than anyone else. obsession with gazing longingly at the nous to recognise that like it or not, It’s the one thing I’ll never be guilty of. myself in the mirror. You see, the way I I’m stuck with this mush, so I might as well 3) Spend a little time- Give yourself We’re all brilliant in our own way. see it, there’s nothing inherently bad make the most of it. So here are a few an extra 15 minutes making yourself £25 look exactly how you want to look about having a high opinion of yourself. tips to get you along the path to loving *Parts of this article may or may not have Thinking that you look good builds yourself... before you go out. You won’t regret £16 been written tongue in cheek; it’s up to £25 £16 confi dence, which builds self-esteem, it.. you to decide which bits! £30 April Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 24 Breaktime crossword

Across Down

2. Name of main hall in Main Arts (2) 1. Ffridd security have a pet __ (3) 4. Name of the new Bangor 3. Bangor Uni’s Vice-Chancellor City stadium (9) (4, 6) 10. Steep Bangor hill. (5) 5. Name of the Student’s Union 13. Seren’s annual ___ night. (3) building (6) 14. Bangor library on road of the 6. Students’ Union nightclub (7) same name. (6) 11. 24 hour Bangor store (4, 4) 15. Bangor’s nearest hospital (12) 12. Ffridd Site bar (3) 16. Lower Bangor construction site’s project name? (6) 17. The Menai Bridge leads to? (8) 17. Bangor Uni’s confi dential listening and information service. (9)

Sudoku 7 3 2 8 8 7 1 5 3 5 4 9 4 3 2 5 9 1 4 2 5 6 2 5 6 1 4 9 3 9 2 2 3 8 8 5 4 1 5 9 6 4 7 8 9 2 7 6 4 3 1 8 2 RECYCLE ME! Hello hello! Seren is made from 100% recycled paper, so get in on the action and recycle me when you are done! April Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 25 Ashleigh Answers Greetings Bangor-lings, I would have hoped to begin by welcoming you all into the Summer-time, but as my umbrella did the awkward inside out blow thing today and my wind-slapped, dry cheeks have made me look like I live in an igloo, that changed. As this will be my last contact with the students of Bangor until after exams, I’d like to wish good luck to everyone and rock out with your socks out in those damn exams! As always any questions you would like me to answer or to address, please throw an e-mail my way at: [email protected]. Ashleigh xx How to deal with exams? It seems only yesterday we were tucking into our mound of food on Christmas Day like a pig’s trough whilst way for. Unless you started revising on Bonfi re Night then you’re probably not going to be able to fi t every tearing open gifts at 6am in you’re dressing gowns with one eye still stuck shut. Eww. Four months on and we single sentence of notes into your revision plan. Try and get the main points with a brief expansion from each have had a chance to get back to reality after our Christmas break and after the ‘month of love’. module, focus on that fi rst as it won’t seem as unachievable. Then when you manage to get your Corona- April is evil. Evil because us students have to revise our poor butts off like the Einstein’s we are, to show our fi lled student head around that, look at extra points to add to gain extra marks. parents’ results that prove we haven’t spent our entire university life being sick up walls, drinking beer and eat- ing burgers. For those few lucky ones who don’t have to endure the pain that are exams this year, you carry • If you know how many questions there are in your exam, then the best thing to do is double that on with your beer and burger fl avoured vomming sprees. and concentrate on that many topics. In law, for example we have 6 questions but only have to choose 3 to Personally, I believe there is one major thing to give us some encouragement to work crazily hard just for answer – 3 problems and 3 essays. So ideally I would revise 6 topics fully, then if you’re an eager beaver who these couple of months before exams, and that my friends, is 3 whole months off - unless you’re in your fi nal certainly won’t settle for less than a top fi rst degree, crack on with a few more, no biggie. year and you have to head into the ghastly world of ADULTHOOD after exams *insert smug grin here*. As you all probably know by now, everyone learns differently, whether that is highlighting books, re-writing • Arrange your revision material – I am just fi nishing my second year, and only now have I fi nally lecture notes or drawing huge multi-coloured mind maps, as I do. found my desired revision technique, so trial and error was best done in A levels or fi rst year. My preferred We might not all be Monica ‘Organized Freak’ Geller from Friends, but we can always pretend, so here way of revising for essay type questions is to type out the main areas into bullet points in an introduction, are a few plan ideas to get the giant, miserable, boring revision ball rolling; main body and conclusion fashion, then print it out and attack it with highlighters.

• Create a revision timetable – Revision should (key word: should) start about fi ve to six weeks • For problem questions, I gather textbooks and lecture notes and take out the main bits and go before your exams. This time frame mainly consists of fi nal year students who realize you can’t get a 2:1 by mind-map crazy! I have realized that I am more of a visual learner and remember colours and little pictures playing ‘Ring of Fire’ on a Monday night whilst dressed as a Smurf. on mind maps better than just reading over notes.

• Your timetable should be realistic, and by realistic I mean more than two days, and should include These techniques and ideas may not work for you but try different ways such as those mentioned and see time for a break every two or three hours - One Born Every Minute and Ross Kemp On Gangs can’t watch what you prefer and what works best. themselves. If you over do it, you will make it even more of a daunting experience, so my tactic is for example to fi nish off the page I’m on, then as a treat for fi nishing get a big fat cup of Typhoo and a half eaten Easter As much as I adore Adele and her glorious album that is 21, I have to revise in complete silence and get egg out of the fridge to rest that tired brain. rid of the Cosmopolitan and Look magazines that surround me. I have to constantly remind myself that learn- ing how to do a fi shtail plait will not get me a 2:1 degree. Bad times. • Balance your subjects – You may adore one topic but despise another. This does not mean you ignore the evil one. Try and split your time equally on both because you never know you may be a secret So put down that Sambucca shot and get your heads down just for the next 6 weeks, it will pay off in the champion in a subject you hate (my personal experience being European Union law FYI *yawns erupt*). end and then you can join your exam-less chums in their continued celebration of student life and the joys that are ‘£1 a pint’ nights. • Identify key topics – This I’m assuming is the advice your lecturers and tutors may throw evils my Home Not So Sweet Away from Home Summer Time = Spare Time?

Exams done, student house tenancy nearly up, recently – that rather than washing socks when he On my days off I look forward to 9:25am on ITV voluntary work. If you would like to get involved in washing piled high ready for delivery back at the runs out, he simply buys more and throws the dirty when Jezza and Graham grace our screens with volunteering with RAG or just want to fi nd out what parents house = summer. You couldn’t get away ones away. Laugh out loud you may. their advice/abuse, DNA results and most juicy of they are all about then give them a call on: 01248 quick enough in September ready to be parent- all the lie detector results – where 99% of the time 388021. free, but how do you feel about going back for At home your family have been enjoying full cup- they fail. There’s only so many Jeremy Kyle’s you can the summer? Excited to see your family and friends boards of food, tidy bathrooms and no Calvin watch before you have no faith in the cleanliness Whilst many have well and truly taken advantage from home or dreading going back to rules and Harris blaring from your room. They have been of British people anymore. That’s a sign that spare of their student overdraft (I know I have), summer trying to be swear-free? able to enjoy reading Jane Austin and Nigella time needs to be fi lled and it can be fi lled in many can be the time to pay that back to take a slight Lawson books peacefully in the lounge with no ways you’ll be glad to hear. wedge off the student debt or just to save money Parents are not as excited about your return as drunken arrivals scratching at the door with their for the next year of nocturnal university life in the you may initially think, here’s why; keys at 4am. Maybe your younger siblings have One major spare-time-fi lling trip I shall be going on form of copious amounts of Jagerbombs, perhaps. been able to enjoy upsizing to your old room. is Uganda in August for a month. Yipee! I’m going • Many of you will have been nocturnal I’m not saying all teenagers/students are messy, with an organisation called East African Play- Whether you want to make the ‘rents proud and go throughout the university year and 9am just isn’t dirty, drunken, sleepless yobs. What I’m grounds and will be building a playground for local straight in for the kill of full-time work or just part-time, part of your day. Parents like to wake up at 6am trying to say is: appreciate the home children in the community and doing reading and there are lots of jobs around the summertime. Many and go to sleep at 9pm, students tend to wake cooking, the free laundry service sports activities with them, but more will be revealed holiday parks look for sales people, bar staff and up at 9pm and go to sleep at 6am. and the ability to be Kevin & Perry- in the next Seren issue hopefully. waiting on staff that is great for temporary summer • Parents enjoy fruit, vegetables and non- esque for the next 3 months if work as the season usually ends about September alcoholic beverages for breakfast, students enjoy you are venturing back home Volunteering is an amazing thing to do whilst being anyway. For more help with job hunting head to the out-of-date Rustlers burgers, re-heated doner for the Summer. Growing up a student as you have a whole summer to embark Jobzone’s online search and register for job vacan- kebabs and Fries-to-go (these are AMAZING sucks, everyone knows it, but on those fantastic trips. There are hundreds of cies at www.bangor.prospects.ac.uk or alternatively FYI – 3 minutes in the microwave and voila, every enjoy being carefree and companies who organize volunteering trips abroad give them a call on students dream). blowing government dollar and also here in our home turf. You don’t need to 01248 388 200. • Parents wear their clothes for one day only on useless objects and go abroad to help out, as demonstrated by the and then put them in the wash before they begin in Varsity on Thursdays RAG Bangor society who continuously engage growing mould, students wear the same clothes for until you have to offi cially in and organize events to help raise money or a week then wait until they have no more clean become an adult when give to those who need help. Plus nothing looks clothes then pile up the festering items awaiting university ends. better on your CV than a nice little chunk of mum’s magic washing powers. This relates to the confession my little brother actually made to me 26 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk April Issue 2012 Music Featured Artist: Music Editor, Joey McNally, brings you what’s hot and what’s not in music this month Best tracks: ‘Grace’ ‘Wasted Little DJ’s’ ‘Shock Horror’

he beauty of this ramshackle Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Olly Murs - Oh My Good- Dundonian outfi t is in the irony. For fans of: TFor a band so remarkably rock Me Maybe ness ‘n’ roll, they manage to come up The Pigeon Detectives Hmm. Painfully average, but will with moments of beauty that would The Courteeners I defy you not to have this slice put any mainstream ballad writing of bubblegum pop rattling around no doubt soundtrack a thousand summer romances. Weak. enthusiasts to shame. However, their your head in the days after you strength lies in the absolutely devastating nature of their quick- hear this. Addictive. fi re, broadly Scottish (you’ll struggle to understand the lead singer Chris Brown - Turn Up Kyle at times) rock brilliance. The perfect band to jump up and Plan B - Ill Manors the Music down to spilling your alcoholic drink of choice all over your friends. *Comment removed by the Seren “What you lookin’ at, you little legal team for fear of being sued”. rich boy?”... What’s not to like? Plan B returns to his roots in incendiary, devastating, ultra- political style. Marina and the Dia- B.o.B - So Good Classic Album: monds - Primadonna Well contrary to your misleading title Bobby, this song is not ‘so good’. In Adele, Florence and the Machine, fact, ‘So Utterly, Irrevocably Boring Lana Del Rey, sit down and pay And Dull’ would have been a much Franz Ferdinand- You Could Have It So Much Better attention. The Queen is back in better title. The record company town, and on fantastic form. probably wouldn’t have liked it though. he second effort from the Scottish Best tracks: indie kings saw them build on a Thugely impressive debut, and take it ‘This Boy’ to a different level altogether. ‘The Fallen’ ‘The Fallen’ shimmers and strides with arrogant glory, ‘Do You Want To’ hooks a beautiful riff ‘Walk Away around a catchy refrain, and peppers it with the cheeky lyrics that make this band an For fans of: absolute delight. A brilliant album from start to fi nish. 2012 marks the return of Franz, The Strokes and not a second too soon. Arctic Monkeys Swearing: O-f**king-K? n October last year, I bought o n e . a copy of NME whilst in Swearing is a natural, colloquial part he highly anticipated release of Ma- IManchester. Whilst perusing it of our language, and can be used to rina and the Diamond’s new single on the train home, I came across express any variety of emotions; from ‘Primadonna’ hit stores at the end an article about a new artist by elation to fury. So why mute it on Tof last week and already has received posi- the name of Azealia Banks. Upon daytime radio? tive reviews from critics, and more impor- reading the praise lavished upon I understand we don’t want tantly her fans, the ‘diamonds’. her, I rushed to my laptop and children running around dropping ‘f’ Following the success of her debut al- downloaded her song ‘212’. I’m and ‘c’ bombs, but by making them bum ‘ e Family Jewels’, Marina, (full sure you’ve heard it by now. taboo we only increase their ‘coolness’ What I heard was innovative, to our youngsters. When I discovered name Marina Diamandis from Aberga- encapsulating and brilliant. I swearing didn’t make the world cave venny, South Wales), gives her fans a new, loved it. Then Annie Mac jumped in aged eleven, I was more foul fresh form of music. Packed with a pulsat- on the bandwagon, and the song mouthed than Ozzy Osborne. It’s time ing euro beat, catchy lyrics and a chorus became massive. Nowadays, I’ll to stop the big taboo over swearing, even the most reserved characters would seems to be taking. Primadonna is the sec- fl ick my old analogue radio in the and start teaching children that bust a move to, Primadonna is set to be a a song that is nearly more silence than ond song to be released o— the new album bathroom on (Radio One is the only it is music. you don’t need to swear to properly hit. It’s already clocked up over a million and is a follow channel we get) and hear a silenced, Swearing is a natural part of life, and express your point. YouTube views and is sanitised version of it being played by up to of expressive art forms. I don’t know storming up the down- “Marina retains this certain Greg James (insert other androgynous Radioactive, re- a single person who’s never uttered a load charts either side of radio personality here), with all the uniqueness to her voice, a dia- leased September swear word, and I doubt I’ll ever meet Joey McNally the Atlantic. naughty words being cut out, leaving 2011.  e heavier Despite the positive mond in the rough-esque qual- dance beat and response, many have ever it takes for the thrill of being ity” club anthem criticised the direction in a rock ‘n’ roll band”. In fact, theme hasn’t Marina’s latest music Kasabian like this band so much gone down well with all of her devoted dia- that they gave them a shock sup- monds. Claims that she is becoming ‘main port slot on one of their tours last stream’ in search of a quick success come year. You’ll certainly hear why they aš er an interview with Australian radio Pravda Scrolls admire them so much in the song, as station Undercover FM, where she stated it con dently driš s from the polemic “I feel pissed o— I’m not bigger!” following political musings of verse to the rousing, elcome to the future of rock ‘n’ comparisons to other female artists Rihan- epic nature of the chorus, and back again roll.  is Scottish band from na and Lady Gaga. Dunfermline are here to take  is aside, Marina retains this certain Wprisoners of chart acts everywhere and beat “Make no bones uniqueness to her voice, a diamond in the them with a big bag full of attitude, guitars about it, this is a huge aganda, a social liar” in the chorus, you’ll rough-esque quality and edginess to her be hooked. It’s a hard climate for a band to and politics. ‘Pravda Scrolls’ starts o— all song” lyrics which have won, and more impor- heavy chords and 80’s glam-rock progres- enter into at the moment, as guitar bands tantly kept, her fans content. sion. But when the lead singer Monty cuts aren’t as popular as they used to be. But Much speculation continues to sur- smoother than a marble ” oor, punctuated in with his gravelly voice, you realise that with a small bit of luck, plenty of persistence round the release of her second studio only by a stabbing staccato synth ri— that this is a bit special. and songs as good as this, you wouldn’t bet album ‘Electra Heart’ due for release later persists throughout the majority of the  is band bear more than a passing against Modern Faces succeeding. this month on 30th April. song. It’s catchy, whilst avoiding being re- resemblance to Kasabian, and lead singer petitive and hackneyed. of Kasabian Tom Meighan has even said Make no bones about it, this is a huge Joey McNally Toby Raynsford “Modern Faces remind me of us when we song. By the time Monty is shouting “Prop- were young, ready and willing to do what- April Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 27 Music

“Don’t fear, for they know how to hold on to their roots, despite the constant progression of their musi- cal style.” mem- bers.  e majority of the album carries an eerie ambiance  lled turity to unwanted levels, easily forgettable are the  nal two songs with increasing angst and powerful melodies. of this album. ‘Down Here In  e Dark’ has a decent chorus but If the new sound created in this venture doesn’t quite do it for is massively let down by the dreary verse and seemingly endless you or if you were hoping for more fast-paced madness, then don’t repetition of “oh oh oh” by the otherwise brilliant Carter and ‘7 usical development has never been displayed more than fear, for they know how to hold on to their roots despite the con- Years’ ends Blood Red Shoes’ third record in a familiarly drawn-out by Brighton duo, Blood Red Shoes. With every new album stant progression of their musical style. ‘Je Me Perd’ is an explosive fashion. comes a new sense of maturity, and their third release, In interlude brought on by 6 fairly subdued predecessors (at least by Overall I enjoyed ITTV, the experience gained from the previ- TimeM To Voices (ITTV), is no exception.  e overall sound is more comparison).  is intense wake up call is an essential part to this ous two albums is realised here with better production and lyrics. I focused and noticeably slower compared to their fresh, punk debut, album and personally one of my favourite tracks, its heavy sound particularly appreciated their ability to take a slow paced song and ‘Box of Secrets’ and punk/indie follow-up ‘Fire Like  is’. Each track and desperate lyrics gave me an excuse to get really excited about build it perfectly to create memorable anthems. builds slowly, carried on by deep bass and chilling vocals by Carter. In Time To Voices.  e  rst single, ‘Cold’ combines a catchy, melodic chorus with a  e tracks that follow, ‘Stop Kicking’ and ‘Slip Into Blue’ are solid heavy guitar sound and an impressive clash of voices from the two contenders but the latter stages of ITTV sadly takes the relaxed ma- Sean Talbot

hen our Music Editor, Joey, asked me to write something assure us all she’s still young enough to be at least mistaken for footsteps with a birthday related song but I sure as hell hope for him last issue I jumped at the chance to showcase a girl she’s angrily singing about her ex-husband Guy Ritchie. not. I do not want to hear an extended version of this track ever. Wmy ‘L.U.V’ for Madonna. This issue I offered to follow up In fact my current personal favourite track ‘Gang Bang’ sees 53 I feel as though its about time I stop slating ‘MDNA’ because on my previous article now that I have my copy of the Queen of year old Madonna telling us how she shot her lover in the head. there are a few decent songs on it. ‘Masterpiece’, a song Pop’s latest album ‘MDNA’ and my tickets booked for her London This, believe it or not, is not the reason I’m currently loving Madonna has used in the credits of the movie she directed gig in July. So, Madonna, have you made the shame of outing it though. ‘Gang Bang’ starts off more than repetitive as she earlier this year, W.E., is a slow paced and all round nice song myself as one of your fans worth it? I really don’t know. sings about shooting, who one can only presume to be, Ritchie to listen to. ‘Beautiful Killer’, another bonus track, almost makes The album’s fi rst single, that I was more than likely raving before heading off into some random drum and bass breakdown up for ‘B-Day Cake’ and feels like just the right balance of new about in last month’s article, ‘Give Me All Your Luvin’, featuring followed by Madonna talking about what she’s going to do to and old Madonna. Nicki Minaj and M.I.A, I have to say has gone up in my him. “I’m gonna shoot him in the head again, cause I wanna see All in all there are much worse albums on the market than estimations. This could however, have a whole lot to do with the him die, over and over and over and over...” And believe me it is ‘MDNA’ which did go straight to number one in the album charts fact that ‘MDNA’ hardly produces much to beat it. ‘Girls Gone ‘over and over and over again’. It’s hilarious though and I love it only to be predicted an 88% drop in sales in its second week, Wild’, the album’s second single is also the album’s best. It’s a when she talks, it just reaffi rms how bored she seems to be of which would probably be embarrassing if it really mattered to catchy, party anthem that, despite her continuously referring to singing after what’s already been a lengthy career. Madonna’s already established reputation. While ‘MDNA’ wasn’t herself as a ‘girl’, we’ve come to expect from Madge in recent The worst parts of the album come with ‘I F***ed up’ which really what I had hoped for I have to say its mostly what I years. It’s one of those tracks that you keep going back to and is Madge slowing everything down to tell us she’s sorry. Quite expected and I’m still looking forward to my bankrupting visit to I’m not ashamed to admit you might hear blasting from the car frankly Madonna, I’ve heard it all before. Hyde Park to see Madge in the Summer. Well, apart from the fact as me and Seren’s Editor drive around Bangor. If you’re brave enough to listen long enough for the bonus that LMFAO will be supporting. Unlike the name connotes, though, ‘MDNA’ isn’t quite as tracks then you will encounter the gem that is ‘B-Day Song’. addictive as you might fi rst think. When Madonna’s not trying to I don’t know whether Madonna is trying to follow in Rihanna’s LJ Taylor

hen I was a kid I never really cared about music, I would And now, four albums later I’m still a Lostprophets fan.  e band head-banging aggression and enthusiasm of the ‘Start Something’ listen to whatever my Mum had on in the car and think has changed quite a lot in the last eight years or so.  e new album, album that introduced me to Lostprophets back in 2005 and it nothing more of it. As a teenager I started to appreci- ‘Weapons’, sees the band slowly moving back to their old grungy, doesn’t quite have the more rock pop, chirpy feel of ‘Liberation Wate it more and soon became a fan of rock and metal. I remember hardcore ways but still sees the calmer, radio-friendly songs that Transmission’. ‘Weapons’ reaŠ rms the band’s alternative roots but the  rst time I was introduced to Lostprophets. I was sat watching we’ve gotten used to from ‘Liberation Transmission’ in 2006; an al- shows their maturity with more meaningful lyrics and more radio Kerrang, the only channel that seemed to play music I liked at the bum which topped the UK album charts, a  rst for the ‘prophets. friendly tracks. time, when ‘Last Summer’ came on the TV. At the time I was prob- Opening with, the now Radio One familiar, ‘Bring ‘Em Down’ ably more interested in whether the lead singer’s hair was actually there’s a strong return to the band’s rock roots and con- LJ Taylor blue or whether I was imagining it but aš er a few more listens the tinues into the ri— (and chant) heavy ‘We Bring an Ar- song grew on me. senal’ . Once you’ve been hooked in and tricked into thinking this is the ‘prophets of old the album moves into the slower ‘Another Shot’. You know those songs that seem to be on albums just to  ll in a bit of time?  e ones that never make it as singles and are never the one you expect to be the next single? Well, the next couple of songs on ‘Weapons’ are those. I have to admit that my hopes for the album’s middle were revived with the intro ri— to ‘A Song For Where I’m From’, but that was only momentarily. By track seven (there’s only ten tracks), we’re  nally back in single territory with ‘Better O— Dead’ which, like ‘Bring ‘Em Down’ has the feel of the old Lostproph- ets albums but with something new added to it. Overall ‘Weapons’ isn’t a bad album, it’s already gone to number 1 in the rock album charts and number 9 in the UK album charts which isn’t bad. It lacks the 28 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk April Issue 2012

or those who aren’t aware, The The fi lm is two hours and twenty-two win the games and now mentors. Hunger Games is the latest young minutes long and is a great adaptation The fandom of The Hunger Games Fadult novel to get the Hollywood of the book. The fi lm is strong for its has already drawn comparisons to treatment. The Hunger games was length and it really does deliver goose that of Harry Potter and Twilight. The written by Suzanne Collins and was bump moments and heart wrenching fi lm broke records for its non-sequel published in 2008. This is the fi rst of a moments. The audience stays with midnight opening by taking $19.47 three part series. Katniss throughout her journey and million at the box offi ce. This ranks it The book was well received by it is rare that you want to look away. seventh of all time. It also scored the critics and authors such as Stephen Jennifer Lawrence‘s portrayal of top midnight debut for a non-sequel King and Stephanie Meyer have both Katniss as a strong and feisty yet still and it beat Twilight by almost double. praised it. In 2009 Lionsgate acquired scared sixteen year old is perfect for It has been reported that The Hunger the rights to distribute the fi lm and audiences to fall in love with and you Games opening weekend has earned a on March 23rd 2012, the fi lm was certainly encourage her all of the way. historic $155 million during its Friday- released worldwide. It could be argued that some parts of Sunday showings. This has beaten all The Hunger Games takes place the fi lm do drag a little but that could of the Spider Man movies, all of The after the destruction of North America be due to how much needs to be told Pirates of the Caribbean movies and all by an apocalyptic event in the nation to get across the whole story. Fans of of the Twilight movies. of Panem. Panem consists of the the original trilogy should be happy People need to see The Hunger wealthy capitol, which is surrounded with the fi lm version and non-fans Games even if it just to see what all by twelve poorer districts. After the should defi nitely step out to see this the fuss is about. The story is clever, uprising in Panem, a reaping is held entertaining yet heart fi lled story. the characters are loveable and the where one boy and one girl from each The cast of The Hunger Games is end result is great. If you really want district must compete in the Hunger truly great. Jennifer Lawrence and something to sink your teeth into after Games. During the Hunger Games Josh Hutcherson are joined by Liam the end of Harry Potter and upcoming each contestant must fi ght until only Hemsworth as Katniss’ District Twelve end of Twilight, then defi nitely sit down one is left. The fi lm follows the story of friend Gale, Elizabeth Banks as Effi e and enjoy The Hunger Games. With its Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), Trinket, escort to the tributes of District sequel, Catching Fire set for release in the District Twelve tribute as she Twelve, Lenny Kravitz as stylist Cinna, November 2013, The Hunger Games volunteers to replace her sister in the Donald Sutherland as Panem President craze and excitement is something annual games. The second District Snow and fi nally Woody Harrelson as that is bound to grow and grow. Twelve tribute is Peeta Mellark (Josh Haymitch Abernathy, a former District Hutcherson), the son of a baker and Twelve tribute who Amy Westlake someone Katniss has known since went on to childhood.

icking off the that is put into the Easter holidays, shots. No other KThe Pirates! In studio would think of an Adventure with a pirate having a Blue Scientists is the fi rst Peter badge on his hat, 3D-stop motion fi lm and audiences should produced by Aardman look out for the extra Animations, the producers puns and gags on street of other family favourites such off on a signs, buildings and walls in the as Chicken Run, Flushed Away and plan to present back of shots (a personal favourite Arthur Christmas. Released on 28th Polly to the Royal Society in London, is Napoleon Blownapart’s Dynamite March, the complicated stop motion and win enough treasure to secure and GunpowderSupplies). However, system means that the fi lm has been his place as Pirate of the Year - all despite a strong start, the plot starts in production for over fi ve years (it the while avoiding Queen Victoria to drag towards the end of the fi lm takes a week to shoot 5 seconds (Imelda Staunton), who is famous as it tries to wrap up the many of fi lm), and it defi nitely does not for her hatred of pirates. plotlines before the 88 minutes disappoint. The Pirates! has a fantastic voice were up, something which not The Pirates! follows the cast, featuring some of the biggest even Queen Victoria with ninja adventures of the ambitious Pirate names in British cinema; Hugh Grant s w o r d s could save. But Captain (Hugh Grant) and his crew, was brilliant as the enthusiastic but d e s p i t e the pacing which includes his second mate The self-doubting Pirate Captain, David issues in the fi nal Pirate with a Scarf (Martin Freeman), Tennant’s turn as Charles Darwin half hour o f the The Surprisingly Curvaceous Pirate (who is desperate for a girlfriend) fi lm, this (Ashley Jenson) and a fi sh with was especially hilarious, and the fi lm is a hat. Pirate Captain’s life dream performance of the supporting cast d e f i n i t e l y is to win the coveted Pirate of the really brought the characters and worth Year Award, but unfortunately, he’s the jokes to life. A special mention a viewing. rather hopeless at being a pirate, also goes to Brian Blessed’s superb The artistry and especially compared to his nemesis cameo as the Pirate King. The detail put into The Black Bellamy (Jeremy Piven). He humour is very typical of Aardman, Pirates! is phenomenal, gets his chance when they hijack and will draw many comparisons and if Aardman’s type Rebecca Watson the Beagle and meet Charles Darwin with their other productions, such of humour appeals (David Tennant), who informs the as Wallace and Gromit, but it works. to you, this movie will captain that the ship’s parrot, Polly, The jokes are slick and genuinely have you cracking up. is not a parrot at all, but is in fact funny, for children and for adults, The Pirates! In an Adventure with the world’s last living dodo. With and the fi lm is worth seeing alone Scientists is a great fi lm for kids and this knowledge, Pirate Captain sets for the wealth of background detail grown ups alike, and is a brilliant

Pike) and Poseidon’s demigod son Agenor (Toby Kebbell) in others, it to stop the Titans from destroying mankind itself. was still in Although Clash of the Titans seemed to disappoint my opinion most of its audience, it didn’t disappoint me. Maybe it’s an action my love for Greek Mythology and action movies, but I p a c k e d found the movie entertaining and watchable, though m o v i e not an Oscar winner by any means. The same opinion to watch goes for Wrath of the Titans, though I will admit that I although the he sequel to Clash of the Titans, Wrath found it more enjoyable. The CGI in the sequel was much ending wasn’t of the Titans is set ten years later where we better than it’s predecessor, where Medusa looked like what I thought Tsee demigod Perseus (Sam Worthington), something you would fi nd on a video game rather than in it would be and slayer of the Kraken and son of Zeus, living a quiet life a Hollywood movie. However, in Wrath of the Titans, the seemed a little unrealistic, with his young son Helius as a fi sherman after his wife CGI was used fantastically, especially with the monsters in mythology aspects. sadly died. One night, Zeus (Liam Neeson) visits Perseus such as the two-bodied demon soldiers, the Chimera and Anyway, if you’re sitting on asking for his aid in stopping a horrifi c prophecy coming Kronos and my only quibble with it was that something the fence about seeing it, best to pass. With mankind moving away from the Gods, more could have been done with the Minotaur, which wait until it comes out on DVD they’re beginning to weaken, losing their powers and didn’t live up to my expectations. or rent as an ideal way to pass becoming mortal themselves. This has triggered the walls The cast were fabulous as always, with Liam Neeson the time considering it’s only about of Tartarus, the Titan prison located in the Underworld, and Ralph Fiennes, as Hades, being at the top of the list an hour and a half long, but if you to weaken, therefore allowing the inevitable escape of of course. However, one character who I didn’t suppose I do decide to see it whilst it’s in cinema, be sure to Kronos and the rest of the Titans. Perseus however denies would like so much was Agenor, played by Toby Kebbell, see it in 3D. The action scenes are well worth it. Zeus’ request in order to remain with his son but quickly who brought to the role a twisted sense of humour and changes his mind when it becomes clear that the prophecy wit which was immensely enjoyable and lightened the Nicola Hoban is starting to play out. Perseus soon fi nds himself on a mood of the fi lm when needed. journey with old friend Queen Andromeda (Rosamund While the fi lm dragged in some places and felt rushed April Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 29

original cast would be together. Arguably seasons seven and eight were the less popular of the shows run. It seemed that the writers had begun to recycle old storylines instead of bring- ing in new stories. Storylines such as the one which included psycho Derek from season four was reused in season six with the introduction of Nanny Carrie.  e idea of reintroducing Karen’s Café in season eight also seemed problematic as it looked as if the show was trying to revert back to its old ways. Also reinventing the theme song was a bad idea (in my opin- it the Road Jack is Jack Whitehall’s at- with a male voice Welsh choir, and appears on a ion), With Gavin DeGraw’s ‘I Dont Wanna Be’ opening the tempt to move his career forward to T.V. local Welsh soap. Each segment only lasts a few show for four seasons, it was decided that new artists would personality from “that posh one”, who minutes and the show feels very rushed. I would sing the song....and that shouldn’t have been done! Happears on panel shows such as Mock the Week have liked to have seen more of his stay with the Season Nine began on its English home E4 on 5th March or 8 out of 10 Cats. Other stand up comedians local family for example. 2012 and is a thirteen episode season. As someone who has have had their own shows but does Jack match the  e series does seem to get better as it goes previewed the current season it is easy to say that One Tree standard of these household names? Well, he cer- on. In Newcastle, Jack dons a wig and fake nose š er nine seasons, 184 episodes, three weddings, six Hill is back on form and season nine can be looked at as an- tainly has a good go at it. to pose as a movie director, recruiting Geordie births, three psychos, three murders and one suicide other great season. With more twists and turns, the death of Jack entered the comedy circuit wowing audi- Shore cast members for the imaginary  lm “Bees One Tree Hill is about to air its  nal episodes. an important character, the reintroduction of a great charac- ences at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, following 3D”. He manages to extract gold from them, as a A e Show debuted in the US in 2003 and has attracted ter and the short and one o— return of a missed character, the with appearances on panel shows alongside well female cast member admits she hasn’t read Shake- millions of viewers. Originally One Tree Hill followed the writers are giving its audience the opportunity to go out with established stand up comedians. He used his mid- speare, “I read Katie Price. Katie Price is Shake- lives of half brothers Lucas (Chad Michael Murray) and a bang. It will be a sad day when One Tree Hill ultimately  n- dle class background to his advantage and turned speare for girls.” In Glasgow, Jack is joined by ac- Nathan (James La— erty) living in the  ctional town of Tree ishes and the CW has already announced that there will be a it into his strength, making fun of himself and tors John Hannah, and fellow Fresh Meat co-star Hill, who compete for positions on their school basketball two-hour season  nale with cast and crew reminiscing over his upbringing.  is gave him a distinctive voice Greg McHugh. Upon discussing the famous fried team ( e Ravens).  eir relationship then evolved from the past nine years (it is yet unknown if this will be shown in which he uses to bring his own brand of public food of Glasgow, John Hannah states “You have to soulless enemies to loyal siblings.  e audience was then the UK but it will likely appear on the DVD). One Tree HIll school boy tomfoolery to our television screens. have something that you can eat in the rain, and taken through the whirlwind romances of Lucas and Pey- started before  e O.C and lasted longer than Lost which Jack really made a name for himself when he again the rain will run o— .” – seems logical. ton (Hilarie Burton), Lucas and Brooke (Sophia Bush) and proves its popularity with audiences. embraced his ‘little posh boy’ image and exagger-  e best bit of the show has to be Jack’s Dad Nathan and Haley (Bethany Joy Galeotti). By the time the One Tree Hill has been a loved show and ated it, for his part as J.P in Channel 4’s comedy ;Mr Whitehall senior is  lmed, having had a bit to show reached season  ve, creator Mark Schwan decided to has reached audiences of up to 4.3 million Fresh Meat. drink, and is asked his opinion about the di— erent jump four years ahead in time to show the characters lives in people of all ages.  e last ever episode is a  e recipe for Hit the Road Jack is a mixture regions that Jack is visiting, and how Jack will fare college and by the start of season seven the show had jumped tear jerker so if you are a One Tree Hill fan of hidden camera sketches, chat show, stand up, in each. As a result of this we warm to Jack further another fourteen months ahead of time showing the lives of then have tissues at the ready. Even though music and reality documentary segments. I ap- as his Dad rips him apart saying he wouldn’t sur- the characters in adulthood as parents and businessmen/ it’s the end of its TV run, fans will be able plaud Jack for trying to showcase all his skills, vive in Glasgow, and rants about how disappoint- women. to relive the show via DVD.  e ending but for a 25 minute programme it seems a bit too ed he and Jack’s mother are at him for not  nish-  e main young cast of One Tree Hill were accompa- of the show is the end of an era and much. Jack visits di— erent parts of the UK, where ing University, and proceeds to rub it in that his nied by some great older actors including Moira Kelly, Paul fans around the world only need the show is recorded locally and a celebrity from sister has exceeded him in that respect. Whether Johannson, Craig She— er, Barry Corbin and Barbar Alyn to remember one thing…..there is the area is invited on for a chat. He also stays with you like Jack or not, his show is worth a watch. Woods. Audiences were even treated to many music artists only One Tree Hill. a local family and they set him tasks to see if he You have the jokes, but it’s also entertaining to see performing live including Fall Out Boy, Jack’s Mannequinn, can  t in with the locals. For the opening pro- Jack embarrassed in a variety of ways. How can Tyler Hilton and Sheryl Crow. gramme, Jack was in Wales, where Ruth Jones was you not like a guy who is willing to put himself in Aš er six seasons, it was announced that Chad Michael invited for a chat, that lasted for only a couple of such humiliating situations? Catch Hit the Road Murray and Hilarie Burton would not be returning to the Amy Westlake minutes.  en the segment is shown where Jack Jack, on Tuesdays, Channel 4 at 10.30pm. show therefore season six would mark the last time that the stays with a Welsh family, where to  t in, he sings Heather Boyles

he second season of AMC’s The Walking Dead the bulk of the interpersonal confl icts; his constant has certainly had more ups and downs than clashes with Dale and Rick surrounding the murder Ta rollercoaster; events have rocked between of Otis and the inevitable fate of Randall were fast paced, nail biting tension, shocking, emotional brilliantly brutal, and provided the backdrop for the twists and far less endearing moments of inertia and key questions of the morality of survival. stagnation. But one thing that I feel really sets this show apart The extension from six to thirteen episodes, as well from the random maiming and carnage of your usual as the introduction of a new, apparently permanent zombie fi lm is that it is capable of being poignant camp at the Greene Family Farm, seemed to provide and emotional. Dale’s death was both completely a golden opportunity to explore the human side unexpected and heart wrenching, demonstrating of the apocalypse. Whereas season one appeared the powerful reactions that can be evoked when solely focused on the fi ght for survival against the the writers take the time to properly invest in a ast year a new show hit our screens, a thing stupid again. constant presence of the undead, the increased character. Scenes such as Dale’s horrifying death medieval fantasy epic  lled with palace Tyrion is, perhaps, the heart of the show. length of season two would allow writers to develop clearly illustrates how the series has gone from intrigue, blood, sex and a multitude of Played by Peter Dinklage (who won an Emmy the characters and examine the moral questions and strength to strength in delivering the gruesome Lpoisonous, conniving characters. No, it wasn’t for his performance last year), he exudes a repercussions that this constant struggle to survive action sequences that defi ne the zombie genre. last year’s Apprentice; it was Game of  rones. wisecracking wit whilst being  ercely intel- would bring. Regardless of the internet trolls who ridicule the Based upon the best-selling A Song of Ice ligent and ruthless. His entrance at the begin- And whilst this certainly seems to have been the ‘amateur’ special effects, I think this season has and Fire series by author George R.R. Martin, ning of the episode is a punch-the-air moment intention, I can’t help but feel that the writers fell had some of the best gore on TV; the walker who the show splattered into the top spot held for as he deš ly slaps his nephew, the King, down a somewhat short of the mark. Despite having a cast ripped his face apart clawing through the windshield those special shows which are both critically few pegs with a few words and a cunning smile. of over fi fteen characters, little to no effort was made of Lori’s wrecked car, and the walker whose head was to develop the majority of them; characters like so delightfully and revoltingly squashed beneath the acclaimed and loved by a wide range of audi- One of the things this show succeeds at is T-Dog and Patricia exist as non-entities, lacking any wheels of the getaway car have provided memorable ences; and this year it’s back for an eagerly an- introducing new characters and engraining decisive action or even dialogue, making me wonder talking points and a triumph in digital effects. ticipated second season. them into the story without the audience realis- why they are there in the fi rst place? For me it feels The farm setting has received a lot of fl ack for By the end of the  rst season the land of ing they’ve not been there since the beginning. like the writers have really struggled to create strong, being the cause of stagnation within the show, but Westeros had been plunged into war, the great Our  rst look at Stannis Baratheon, another interesting, or even just likeable characters. Lori in I’m more tempted to point the fi nger at the massive Houses had begun scheming their way to the claimant to the throne, is at a beach on his is- particular has been a source of controversy; not only pacing problems that dogged this season as a result top, viewers were reeling from a few mind- land fortress; at night him and his mysterious is her attitude to gender roles incredibly sexist, but of the hiring and fi ring backstage. Whilst I feel The numbingly shocking deaths and everyone new advisor Melisandre, a priestess of a strange she is so erratic in her views and behaviour regarding Walking Dead is still falling short of its true potential loathed Jo— rey. new religion, have the giant statues of the Seven Shane and Rick that she is often hard to follow, and as a result of this. However, season 2 has still made almost impossible to understand. And the less said for compulsive viewing, and I have high hopes for the As ‘ e North Remembers’, the  rst episode (the oŠ cial gods of Westeros) burnt. In this one about Carl the better. future. The dramatic step up in action and number of the second season, begins we are shown the scene we see just how far Stannis, a sullen yet Nevertheless, when the writers got the of plot threads after Glen Mazzara’s takes over as domino-like aš er e— ects of last season.  ere decisive man, is willing to go to get the throne characterisation and story arcing right they got show runner has made me even more anxious for are now  ve men calling themselves King, each he believes is his right. it spot on. Their divergence form the canon of the season 3, Rick’s ominous declaration that “this isn’t with their own claim to the throne whether  e second episode, ‘ e Night Lands’, comic books has been refreshing, for me, series a democracy anymore” looks like the dawn of a new it be through blood, promise or warfare.  e shows us more of Daenerys, the exiled prin- antagonist Shane Walsh (who was killed off six era for the show, the new ‘ricktatorship’ and the eponymous north men, led by newly crowned cess, and her struggle to reach a safe haven in issues into the comics) stole the show, his rapid introduction of the eagerly anticipated characters of King of the North Robb Stark, are cutting down the deserts of a distant land. It also  nely es- downward spiral into primal survival mode allowed an the comic book, will hopefully guarantee that season through the Seven Kingdoms aš er defeating tablishes the Iron Islands and their Viking-like intriguing exploration into the psychological effects 3 will be even more turbulent and thrilling. of the breakdown of civilisation. His compulsive the Lannisters in several battles; theirs is a war outlook on life, we  nally see Ayra in her escape and totalitarian approach to the apocalypse drove of vengeance and honour as those who have from the Lannisters clutches and there’s plenty seen the  rst season will know. more blood, sex and ruthless politics. Sophie Smith Back up North, past the Wall, we see Jon  is is a series full of sharp twists, extremely Snow and the Night’s Watch making their way unsavoury events (such as the end scene of the further into the snowy wilderness that is the  rst episode) and a whole host of characters domain of Wildlings and White Walkers. who look, feel and act real; characters you can  e Lannisters, richest of the Houses, hold get involved with and fear for their lives in this the capital; a hot coastal city, roiling with  lth dangerous world. and refugees from the battles. Into this rats nest Seven hells, this is a series that you need to Tyrion Lannister, the imp, has been sent by his watch. father to help govern the Kingdoms and make sure that the young King Jo— rey doesn’t do any- Luke Dobson 30 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk April Issue 2012

Kenway (his birth name however is Ratohnhaké:ton). The new majority of cutscenes have never quite lived up. With 200 more assassin is drawn into the ever-raging fi ght between the Assassin’s bones in each character the movement and overall graphics promise and the Templar’s when white colonialists invade his home. The to be vastly improved in AC3 which should hopefully make game is set to chronicle thirty years of Connor’s life. gameplay seem even more fl uid. So what’s new? W e ’ r e Remember the famous ‘leap of faith’ that made you feel as still a though you were on a rollercoaster as you jumped from a high while away building? Well, with AC3 it’s been upgraded so our assassin can now from the do a ‘leap of faith’ onto a moving object. offi cial release t feels like Straying away from the beautifully crafted buildings of date, October 31st, I’m forever Renaissance Italy, Assassin’s Creed 3 takes Connor into the Frontier but so far AC3 is Iw r i t i n g land of early America where climbing the Sistine Chapel is replaced shaping up to be about one with clambering up trees and sneaking across snowy branches in just as good as, A s s a s s i n ’ s the series’ biggest landscape to date. The weather is also focused if not better than, Creed or the on much more in the game, this time giving extreme snow, rain its predecessors. other but I feel it and fog that the player will have to adapt to play around. Also, Either way I’m sure can’t really be helped. integrated into the game will be the ability to hunt and kill animals you’ll hear more from The new instalment of in order to trade and earn more money; though there is the us once we get our Ubisoft’s popular series was offi cially confi rmed by the company possibility of the animals hunting you instead! hands on a copy. back in February of this year and was soon followed by the debut One of the biggest fl aws with the previous Assassin’s Creed trailer hitting the internet on 5th March. All one and a half minutes games was the fi ghting mechanics. The games were about an LJ Taylor of footage comprise of a cinematic only, much like previous debut assassin but when said assassin got in a fi ght it could tend to be trailers from the series, but it is unclear whether the clip will feature rather unsatisfying. Ubisoft promise to have redone the combat within the game. mechanics for their latest release and will include new weapons With Assassin’s Creed 3 we will skip just under two hundred such as Connor’s Native American inspired tomahawk and the years, fi nding ourselves in the heart of the American Revolution addition of a musket for those longer ranged attacks. (1753) and in control of a new assassin. Leaving behind Ezio, the I’ve always found that Assassin’s Creed games don’t live up to my protagonist in the past three games, Assassin’s Creed 3 follows expectations when it comes to the visuals. Revelations’ cinematic a young man, half-English and half-Mohawk, known as Connor trailer was breathtakingly beautiful but gameplay graphics and the

’m going to get the big questions out of the addition initially stunk of a cop-out for a shooter way right now. Is Mass Effect 3 worth your audience, but the multiplayer is defi nitely worth Itime and money? Does the ending make me your time. The matching is quick and effi cient, want to riddle this review with expletives? Has the layout is simple, it has just enough variety to yet another single-player game been ruined by be interesting, but keeps everything balanced, the forced addition of multiplayer? In order, the and best of all, playing the multiplayer has a n s w e r s are: defi nitely, *censored*, single-player benefi ts. It is non-essential, but and surprisingly, no. useful; the best kind of pointless addition. ME3 is not without its As the third game in a trilogy, a review of Mass Uranus”. ME3 still has the probes, but it is much Okay, I’ve avoided it long enough; let’s talk fl aws, but it has solid Effect 3 requires comparisons to the fi rst two easier to fi nd valuable spots as you can scan ending. The fact that the story is so well done, gameplay and games. Mass Effect (insert invisible “1” here) is multiple planets at a time. It still resulted in the and the universe so well developed, makes the a virtually one of my favourite games of all time, and I felt galaxy feeling much smaller than it did in ME1, way the ending is handed to you all the more unmatched narrative, that Mass Effect 2 was, in many ways, a crushing though, where you could pilot a shuttle around of a kick in a particularly uncomfortable place. though you will only disappointment of a sequel. So, if you were much random worlds. For a series of games based around choice, truly appreciate more impressed with ME2, take my comparisons Other than the above, ME3 does not deviate where every little thing you did was recorded the latter if you’ve with the appropriate amount of salt. Mass Effect much from the formula; very generic cover- and often referenced later in the game (or even played the fi rst 3 had three signifi cant gameplay changes that based shooting intermixed with extremely well- in subsequent games), to have the ending boil two. If that was are worth discussing, two of which were vast written and voice-acted dialogue contained in down to one single decision that is identical, all you wanted improvements, one of which was less so. an epic galactic story. Mass Effect probably irrespective of anything you’d done to get to that to hear, go Those of us that favoured powers over has some of the best realized characters in any point, felt like a cheat. Even worse, the ending buy it already. shooting in ME2 will remember that it was narrative ever, and the way it handles them is provides no closure; no answers, no results, no O t h e r w i s e , extremely annoying due to the shared cool- always realistic. The two homosexual romantic tying up of all the loose ends. For those of us that read on. down timer, which forced you to use your gun options, for example, are not defi ned in the least spent three games growing attached to many of way more than you wanted to. ME3 drastically by their orientation. It is mentioned once in these characters, it leaves a bitter taste to know reduces this timer to the point where I really conversation and never brought up itself. If you nothing of their fate. The saving of the galaxy is only had to fi re my weapon in particularly hairy pursue them, you have plenty of personality to small consolation. moments of combat. This is a bigger deal for the base it on, not just their love of your private bits. I hate to end on a downer, but that is how the power-focused classes, but everyone will enjoy While I will spoil nothing, the story deserves game is. It is hours upon hours of fun questing breaking out the fancy abilities more often. more of a mention. Characters from both previous supported by a strong story, and then it falls The other rather signifi cant positive change games make appearances, and everyone’s apart in the last ten minutes. My advice is this: was the morality system. The familiar paragon/ personality has grown in a very natural fashion. buy it, play through it, taking your sweet time renegade bars are still there, but they now stack, Hard choices are made, and you will see your fair before doing the fi nal mission, and then, when rather than opposing one another, so a player share of sacrifi ce in the name of the greater good the big ultimate choice is given to you, stop. Just is no longer punished for playing honestly and (the most heartbreaking moment in the game is save your game and turn it off. Imagine in your choosing the good/evil option as appropriate, about a third of the way in). Even with the horrid head what your choice would have been, and instead of deciding at the beginning which way ending, this is still one of the best stories ever what all the consequences would be. It will be to go, and then sticking with that throughout. written, and is all the more powerful because more satisfying. A tiny step forward was the new resource you experience it, rather than just reading or Of course, you could always just wait mechanic. ME2 had players scanning planets watching. until summer, when Bioware has promised and launching probes. This was tiresome and As I mentioned, the multiplayer is surprisingly explanatory ending DLC. dull, no matter how many times you “probed good. As a single-player trilogy up until now, the Adam Pazdor

he online strategy game, League of Legends you can complete the game for free competitive edge in this gaming community was released during autumn 2009 and is by unlocking everything apart and it has been regarded as one of the most Ta game which requires the player to have from the skins, however this unfriendly communities in the online gaming quick refl exes and excellent teamwork abilities. may take a very long time. universe, as some players can be somewhat Overall, the game itself is very simple but also In actual, live gameplay, negative to others who have had a particularly complex at the same time, for reasons which will there are a whole host of bad game. This is a major problem with the be explained later. different champions with different game at the moment but it should not put you The main aim of the game is to destroy the roles during the battle, from off an otherwise fantastic game. enemy nexus, however it is not all that simple beefy tanks designed to take objectives apart from the to complete. Defending the nexus are three damage to the little appreciated supporters t o w e r s and the nexus such as lanes of towers which are dangerous when you who contribute signifi cantly in unseen ways. the jungle buffs, dragon (which gives Raymond Ho approach them, it is therefore essential that you Each time a game begins the champion starts additional gold and experience to gather the minions (creeps) that are spawned at level 1 and progresses to level 18, gaining a the champions) and fi nally Baron throughout the game, in order to build a strong new skill each level. Each role comes together in Nashor, a giant pink worm coming team to aid you in overcoming the enemy nexus. mass team fi ghts where tactics and positioning out of the ground which when killed The summoner is a device which allows level are paramount. Tanks are placed at the fore and gives the team a huge buff, gold and progression in the game. Each individual player the squishy magic casters and ranged physical experience. Team fi ghts can and will begins at level 1 and can play games up to damage dealers, also known as ‘carries’, in the happen around these objectives. level 30 where they can earn infl uence points back trying to kill the other team. The game is very colourful with to buy champions and runes to customise them The game rewards careful gameplay and champion abilities having varied during play. Do not worry about not having capitalising on the mistakes the other team effects and colours, which may cause any champions when you start, there is always makes, such as being out of position or going confusion at times but once seen a the free champions of the week. For those too into the jungle between the lanes and getting few times, can easily be recognised. impatient to earn these points, Riot points can ambushed. Killing the minions or creeps with the The controls used when playing the be purchased with real money and can be used killing blow is the main income for the players in game are quite simple, where players to buy champions straight away, where you can the battles and these allow the buying of items are required only to use the mouse and also buy different skins for the champion as which will help the character be more effective. four keys to do almost everything in game. well. Although this can be a pricey way to play Killing champions on killing sprees will give Overall, this is an easy game to pick up but the game, it is entirely up to you whether you the killer additional gold as will assisting in the can take time to master. purchase them and it must be emphasised that kill. That’s a lot of kills there. There are other A word of warning though, there is a April Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 31

Is Android Eating Apple?

versions. However, when Android came into the market software and versions, whereas the layout on every one of them they used innovation to their advantage but they made (with respect to their make) is different. For instance, Sony a smart move in making their software very economic Ericsson’s Arc’s look is completely different from Samsung’s in nature. Galaxy SII. There are newer updates and versions available o I saw the HTC One X (the An Android phone, be it LG, Motorola, Samsung, HTC or on every Android device these days, all boasting exciting and latest phone in the Android Sony, can all be charged from the same charger. In fact, the surprising features making them attractive and innovative day phone range with the most other day I used my old Nokia express USB cord attached with by day; yet still affordable. However, the iPhone sticks to the S my Sony Ericsson Android charger and ended up charging my same software, with only minor increments in fresh updates. recent Android software known as Ice C r e a m Sandwich) at the local 3 store and, to be phone without a glitch! Yet when it comes to the iPhone you It took them until iOS5 to have just some of the features honest, like any other smartphone user who’s also a fan of need an Apple charger and if we talk about price differences Android had carried for years. Android (known by many as a ‘F-android’) it’s my dream between an Android phone’s accessories compared to the Android remains the affordable choice phone. I mean, who puts a quad-core 1.5 Ghz processor in a ones needed for an iPhone, it’s obvious which one is almost for people, yet Apple remains the phone? Probably a genius; it is seriously stronger than your criminally expensive. Today, one can buy an Android-enabled biggest brand. One could say that average laptop. smartphone for as low as £80 but for an iPhone you need a Android has the most chance of According to statistics, nearly a million Android devices are few hundred pounds. Not cool. dominating the smart phone market activated every day. The Apple iPhone 4S became a super If we look at the Applications markets; iPhone had a in the future. To be fair, everyone in hit with the highest sales of any smartphone when it was stronghold when games like ‘Temple Run’ and photo-sharing this fast world deserves an affordable launched yet we still see Android with the highest market apps like ‘Instagram’ were myths for Android, until they and easy to use device. share; it’s becoming the People’s favourite. were released on the latter recently. Today, Play Store or We cannot blame a legend’s demise for the loss of market the Android App Market has more downloads than any other share when it comes to Apple but the fact that this company market that exists in the digital world. Nayab Khan was monopolizing on the IOS and its ever-new updates and Most importantly, all Android phones run on the same

Facebook Purchases Instagram ith almost every phone Zuckerberg then went on to state, more clearly, that “We don’t plan on doing many more of having an integrated these, if any at all” in reference to buying a company for so much money. Facebook’s previous Wcamera these days, purchases, location-based social network Gowalla towards the end of last year and Hot Potato back everyone is taking pictures of in 2010, cost them tens of millions - nowhere near to the 1 billion mark of Instagram. everything at anytime. That’s one So why has Zuckerberg’s Facebook purchased Instagram, an app which is free to download, out of the main reasons why camera of everything that social media has to offer? apps have become so popular on Not too long ago Facebook updated their policy on photos making it so that the moment you smartphones with one in particular posted a photo on the site it became their property, presumably this is what will happen with any becoming a favourite among users; Instagram photos if the app is integrated into the social Instagram. networking site itself. However, Facebook have stated that Providing more than just photo they have no plans to do this with the recently acquired editing tools, Instagram allows users company and instead look to advance Instagram and its to set up an account and then put services as an individual separate from Facebook. different fi lters on their photos to give Instagram themselves were also keen to state that being them a new look and feel whether bought by Facebook did not mean that the brand we be that be something vintage or simply going anywhere. something to enhance them. Your photos are then uploaded to your Instagram profi le and A number of users have criticised the fact that Facebook’s can be viewed by your followers who can then ‘like’ a photo or comment on it. mobile app, on all platforms, is not up to scratch for that Up until recently, the beginning of this month, Instagram was only available to iOS users; those of such a big company and so it has been speculated that who own an iPhone, iPod touch or an iPad. Only available on Apple’s operating system Instagram the purchase of Instagram could have something to do with managed to rack up 30 million users and then it was unleashed on Android users and within just improving their mobile application. It is still unclear though the fi rst 12 hours of being available on the Android market had signed up over 1 million users. whether the company actually intend to use Instagram in a Just a week later it was announced that social networking giant, Facebook, had purchased way that would enhance Facebook or whether they do wish Instagram for $1 billion. The most interesting thing about this reveal was that Facebook have to simply do, as they say, and improve Instagram and get it never purchased anything so expensive before, and according to owner Mark Zuckerberg the available to even more people across a number of different company probably never would purchase anything like it again. A statement on his Facebook read platforms. “This is an important milestone for Facebook because it’s the fi rst time we’ve ever acquired a product and company with so many users” and continued, “But providing the best photo sharing experience is one reason why so many people love Facebook and we knew it would be worth LJ Taylor bringing these two companies together.”

very so often I’m fl icking through the desktops on my other housemate, you’ll iPhone and realise that there’s really nothing at all be glad to know it was Eexciting on there and subsequently end up browsing checked off moments after the App Store. A couple weeks ago I came across a cute being added. little app named ‘Pair’, I clicked on it to explore it a little Being specifi cally more. At this point the main selling point was that it wasn’t created for iPhone, or at actually for sale, it was free. least it is at present, Pair It didn’t take long for me to discover that Pair, just has Facetime integrated another of the hundreds of social networking apps available into it making a video call on the iPhone, was specifi cally designed for people in a long because Aaron fi nds it hilarious to erase everything I with your loved one pretty distance relationship. So naturally me and Aaron (Seren’s draw as I draw it. easy from within the app. Editor), who live in the same house, Pair-ed (mostly for the There is an option within the app to send a notifi cation One of the main things hilarity of it). to the other’s phone to tell them that they are thinking to remember about Pair Pair has been a delight so far with it’s particular highlight of you. For example, my phone is constantly popping up is that you may only being when I originally invited Aaron to ‘pair’ with me and with the message ‘Aaron is thinking of you’ which I imagine ‘pair’ with one partner his phone presented him with the message “LJ wants to would be cute should you be using Pair for its intended at a time, though in the use Juliet with you”. We still don’t know exactly what it purpose. Your location can also be sent over GPS to your settings there is an option meant by that. Pair partner, I imagine this probably isn’t for the best if to ‘Unpair’. So what exactly can Pair provide that simply messaging, you’re paired with a stalker, nor is it useful when you live in For a free app Pair or another social networking app, can’t? While the the same house as them. is defi nitely worth the messaging on Pair is pretty much the same as it is on Probably Pair’s biggest feature is the ‘Thumb Kiss’ which download. Even if you anything else the app does integrate a few cool features to requires both partners to be on the app at the same time. don’t intend to use it for help you feel closer to your loved one, or housemate in the Placing your thumb on your screen brings up a print on its intended purpose, next room. Photos can be taken from within Pair which will your partner’s which when covered with their thumb will like us, then it is pretty be sent to your Pair-ee and also stored into the app under cause both phone’s to vibrate. entertaining. the ‘Moments’ tool. Also, saved into moments will be the Pair also stores information like your anniversary and pictures you draw each other which can be drawn and sent both of your birthdays which I can only assume would notify on the app too. Not only can one partner draw a picture you on the day and means that you have no excuse for not LJ Taylor and send it to the other but there is a live sketch option in sending cards! The shared tasks option is also pretty nifty. which both can draw on the same canvas at the same time. It allows you both to add tasks and either of you can check It’s not exactly my favourite feature but that’s mostly it off once it is done. Our shared task was to terrorise our 32 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk April Issue 2012 Food and Drink Recipe Central: North Wales strikes gold Seafood Gnocchi lodyn Aur – meaning Golden Flower – isn’t naturally olive-y, it’s gone bad.) is the fi rst Welsh rapeseed oil, ‘Welsh Blodyn Aur is expanding. It recently nocchi are little potato dumplings, whose Romans and has since been adapted by various Bgrown, Welsh pressed and Welsh bottled.’ launched a brand of crisps, ‘Jones o Gymru’, name supposedly derives from the Italian cultures, including Italy, Poland and Croatia. The Blodyn Aur is the brainchild of farmers’ Llyr featuring fl avours such as welsh mature Gword ‘nocchio’, meaning a knot in wood. Roman gnocchi was actually drastically different Jones, Bryn Jones and Medwyn Roberts, as well cheese and onion, salt and vinegar and sea Nocchio is also credited by some for being to the ubiquitous, manufactured dumpling found as Geraint Hughes, a former student of Bangor. salt (in both cases the salt comes from Halen behind the character Pinocchio, but given his today – they favoured semolina based dough The oil is pressed near Llanfi hangel Glyn Myfyr, Mon, the featured sea salt from Anglesey.) A propensity to lie, such trivia should be taken with mixed with eggs, unlike the modern day potato near Corwen. They sell their bottles in 250ml partner of Jones o Gymru is currently located a pinch of salt. recipe. Gnocchi is available in most supermarkets and 500ml glass bottles, as well as larger 2.5L in the university, researching blight resistant Gnocchi was fi rst introduced to Europe by the now and is relatively cheap. and 5L plastic bottles. It is currently stocked in potatoes. Keep an eye out for the Sarvari all ASDA stores across Wales, but can also be Research Trust. You can fi nd the crisps in the bought online from blodynaur.com. Belle Vue and Welsh ASDA stores, as well as Rapeseed oil is part of the culinary zeitgeist Welsh Tescos from June onwards. – in the 2003/2004 season, 36 million tonnes Rapeseed oil is lauded by chefs across were produced worldwide but by 2011, that Britain, with Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux had increased to 58 million. To give some Quat’ Saisons using it heavily in its kitchen. perspective, the U.K was responsible for just There are many reasons as to why it’s so 60000 metric tonnes in 1975 but by 2009, its popular amongst chefs and cooks; rapeseed oil production levels had risen exponentially – it has about half the saturated fat found in olive currently stands at a little over 2 million tonnes oil and a particularly high fl ash point, meaning p.a. Features that make rapeseed oil so popular it can handle high temperatures without include its nutty fl avour, as well as its lightness in blazing. This makes it a very diverse oil, perfect comparison to heavier oils such as olive. In this for salad dressings (interestingly, it’s absolutely particular case, everything is Welsh. The seeds great drizzled over a seafood gnocchi. Who are sourced from local farms and interfered knew?), roasting potatoes or as a substitute for with as little as possible – nothing is extracted butter in dishes like apple crumble. or added to the oil, yet it still has a shelf-life I really can’t speak highly enough about the of at least nine months. Personally, I think this benefi ts of rapeseed oil, in particular this Welsh is one of its most impressive attributes; unlike one. What could be better than swapping an rapeseed oil, olive oil turns rancid if kept in a imported Italian or Greek olive oil for a locally bottle for more than three months (one way to grown and pressed oil that is not only good for test if your olive oil has turned rancid is to smell the country but for your health, too? it. According to oliveoiltimes.com, if it smells like crayons, peanut butter or anything that

Ingredients Method

1 fi nely diced onion Heat a frying pan on a medium heat and gently sweat the 1 fi nely chopped clove onion and garlic in oil until translucent. Meanwhile, boil a of garlic kettle and transfer 25ml to the stock cube and dissolve. Put 250g cooked seafood the remainder in a saucepan with a good pinch of salt and A handful of spinach bring up to a simmer. Add your stock to the onion and garlic 500g of fresh gnocchi mix and gently boil until the quantity has reduced by half. 100ml natural yogurt Add in your seafood and spinach. Put a lid on the pan and 1 fi sh stock cube leave until the spinach has wilted and the seafood warmed dissolved in 50ml water through. Chopped soft herbs - Add your gnocchi to the water. They’re cooked once they dill, parsley or tarragon fl oat back to the surface of the water. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the gnocchi to the seafood mix and pour in the Serves two yogurt. Season with the herbs, a big squeeze of lemon and a grind of pepper before serving.

How to make your own gnocchi

If you’d like to make your own gnocchi, boil 500g of peeled and diced new potatoes (in season right now) until tender then drain well. Mash thoroughly to get as smooth a texture as Competition! possible before seasoning with salt (soft herbs – basil, dill etc. - are a great addition at this point, just make sure they’re fi nely chopped) and adding 200g of plain fl our. Using your hands, Have your chance to win Jones o Gymru crisps by answering knead the mixture together to form a ball of dough. Knead for a few minutes before rolling out into a thin sausage shape (about 1cm thick) and cut into 2cm long pieces. Cook as instructed this simple question – what colour is the rapeseed fl ower? in the recipe. DiŸ culty: Email your answer to [email protected] . The fi rst 5 correct answers will be the winners.

Full Afternoon Tea £5.90* *with 15% off voucher Enjoy the full afternoon tea experience with a hot drink and a three tiered stand featuring the sandwich of your choice and a selection of sweet treats Full Afternoon Tea For bookings: Gostyngiad o 15% Due to popularity it is advisable to book in order to avoid disappointment 15% Off 01248 388686 relaxed seating, unique eating Valid from 2pm to 5pm, 16th April to 1st May 2012 [email protected] On presentation of this voucher only 32 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk April Issue 2012 April Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 33 Food and Drink Food and Drink The Produce of North Wales North Wales he BBC is currently running a food series, fronted by food critic Giles Coren, called who made the 550 mile round trip down to Smithfi eld Market in London, bringing legions of Recipe Central: T‘Our Food’. In the second episode, Coren and his investigative team travelled to North cattle with them. From turf to surf, and the world-renowned sea salt extracted from the shores Wales, covering Welsh mountain sheep, the black cattle of Anglesey and mussels farmed of Anglesey, favoured by Heston Blumenthal amongst others. Foraging, a food festival in on the shore of the Menai Strait’s. Conwy and a Llandudno smokery all combine to draw a food map of North Wales. strikes gold Inspired, I decided to do some researching of my own. North Wales is pregnant with Yet one page in a newspaper doesn’t do the food culture of North Wales justice; there good ingredients and food heroes tirelessly working the rich yet rugged land of Snowdonia are the cockle pickers of the Dee estuary and the North Wales Brewery near Abergele, to Seafood Gnocchi lodyn Aur – meaning Golden Flower – isn’t naturally olive-y, it’s gone bad.) is the fi rst Welsh rapeseed oil, ‘Welsh Blodyn Aur is expanding. It recently and its surrounding areas. I started my search in Anglesey and the heroic efforts of men name but a few. nocchi are little potato dumplings, whose Romans and has since been adapted by various Bgrown, Welsh pressed and Welsh bottled.’ launched a brand of crisps, ‘Jones o Gymru’, name supposedly derives from the Italian cultures, including Italy, Poland and Croatia. The Blodyn Aur is the brainchild of farmers’ Llyr featuring fl avours such as welsh mature Gword ‘nocchio’, meaning a knot in wood. Roman gnocchi was actually drastically different Jones, Bryn Jones and Medwyn Roberts, as well cheese and onion, salt and vinegar and sea Nocchio is also credited by some for being to the ubiquitous, manufactured dumpling found as Geraint Hughes, a former student of Bangor. salt (in both cases the salt comes from Halen Food People behind the character Pinocchio, but given his today – they favoured semolina based dough The oil is pressed near Llanfi hangel Glyn Myfyr, Mon, the featured sea salt from Anglesey.) A propensity to lie, such trivia should be taken with mixed with eggs, unlike the modern day potato near Corwen. They sell their bottles in 250ml partner of Jones o Gymru is currently located Drovers a pinch of salt. recipe. Gnocchi is available in most supermarkets and 500ml glass bottles, as well as larger 2.5L in the university, researching blight resistant Flintshire Leeks t would be remiss to talk about food in North Wales without pay- Gnocchi was fi rst introduced to Europe by the now and is relatively cheap. and 5L plastic bottles. It is currently stocked in potatoes. Keep an eye out for the Sarvari he humble leek is Wales’ most famous vegetable. Legend has it that all ASDA stores across Wales, but can also be Research Trust. You can fi nd the crisps in the ing homage to the extraordinary efforts of drovers. By defi nition, King Cadwaladyr and his soldiers were instructed by Saint David to don droving is the practice of moving livestock over large distances bought online from blodynaur.com. Belle Vue and Welsh ASDA stores, as well as a leek on their helmets to identify themselves during a battle that took I Rapeseed oil is part of the culinary zeitgeist Welsh Tescos from June onwards. T by walking them “on the hoof”. These men started their journey in – in the 2003/2004 season, 36 million tonnes Rapeseed oil is lauded by chefs across place in a leek fi eld. Anglesey and encountered trouble once they reached the Menai were produced worldwide but by 2011, that Britain, with Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux In Flintshire, farmer Charlie Lightbrown has 160 acres of com- had increased to 58 million. To give some Quat’ Saisons using it heavily in its kitchen. Strait. The stretch of water that was alluded to by Napoleon as pletely naturally grown leeks - no heat coverings - that he one of the toughest to navigate in the world was crossed by the perspective, the U.K was responsible for just There are many reasons as to why it’s so and his team hand harvest from late July through to May. 60000 metric tonnes in 1975 but by 2009, its popular amongst chefs and cooks; rapeseed oil drovers and their livestock with great diffi culty. They lined the water production levels had risen exponentially – it has about half the saturated fat found in olive His leeks are sold under the name The Really Welsh Trading Company, who sell with boats in the form of an auxiliary runway and accompanied the currently stands at a little over 2 million tonnes oil and a particularly high fl ash point, meaning their produce to Tesco and Waitrose in Wales, as well as small wholesalers. p.a. Features that make rapeseed oil so popular it can handle high temperatures without swimming cattle across to Bangor. From there, the interminably long Amongst all those leeks, Charlie and his team fi nd the time to harvest pumpkins walks were eased a little by pig fat, or ‘bloneg’, which the drovers’ include its nutty fl avour, as well as its lightness in blazing. This makes it a very diverse oil, perfect and caulifl ower. comparison to heavier oils such as olive. In this for salad dressings (interestingly, it’s absolutely would macerate their feet in to avoid blisters; to this day, some refer particular case, everything is Welsh. The seeds great drizzled over a seafood gnocchi. Who to residents of Anglesey as ‘Moch Môn’ or pig men. This is mainly a are sourced from local farms and interfered knew?), roasting potatoes or as a substitute for reference to the islanders association with pig farming but seems resonant to the use of bloneg. with as little as possible – nothing is extracted butter in dishes like apple crumble. Anglesey Sea Salt or added to the oil, yet it still has a shelf-life I really can’t speak highly enough about the According to the Llanrwst and District Historical Society, Anglesey drovers’ carried an Anglesey Penny, a forfeit he island of Anglesey is home to what is widely regarded to be http://wearenotfoodies.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Re-growing-baby-leeks.jpg[17/04/2012 14:10:02] of at least nine months. Personally, I think this benefi ts of rapeseed oil, in particular this Welsh some of the best sea salt in the world. Heston Blumenthal uses coin that they would carry in order to avoid being attacked on the road. The penny was completely worthless. is one of its most impressive attributes; unlike one. What could be better than swapping an Halen Môn in his three Michelin star restaurant, The Fat Duck. The introduction of the Welsh railway system largely brought about the end of droving in North Wales. Accord- rapeseed oil, olive oil turns rancid if kept in a imported Italian or Greek olive oil for a locally T bottle for more than three months (one way to grown and pressed oil that is not only good for According to their website, Barack Obama of U.S president fame likes ing to the last known registry of drovers, there were 78 in Bangor and 54 in Menai Bridge. test if your olive oil has turned rancid is to smell the country but for your health, too? their salt which is good enough for me. They currently supply Marks it. According to oliveoiltimes.com, if it smells and Spencer as well as the Waitrose in Menai Bridge, plus the farmers’ Butchers like crayons, peanut butter or anything that market held in Anglesey. It is pretty expensive in comparison to cheap he efforts of these men gave Wales a reputation for its meat. This has continued to the present day with table salt but by virtue of being made so locally, it’s worth the extra Wales still producing some of the best meat in the world. In Conwy, award winning butchers Edwards money. Tof Conwy have won several awards across Europe and sell Sea salt is actually surprisingly easy to make. All you need to do is their sausages, on occasion, in Bangor’s Tesco and Morrisons. collect some sea water, strain it through a cheese cloth (or a very fi ne A great, traditional recipe using Welsh beef is Lobscows, a de- sieve) to remove the sediment and then boil it in your largest pot, stirring occasionally, until 90% of the content rivative of Scouse, a meat and potato stew. Lobscows is said to has evaporated. Pour into a shallow roasting pan – it will be reminiscent of wet sand at this point – and leave be a ‘cymrifi cation’ of the Norwegian dish ‘lapskaus’, commonly uncovered for 3-5 days. Stir occasionally and the end result should (emphasis on the should) be sea salt. eaten on ships. As North Wales was once the centre of the world for slate, the term and dish quickly became a common way of us- ing local meat (typically beef). Ingredients Method Llandudno Smokery ext we travel along the coast to Llandudno, home to the 1 fi nely diced onion Heat a frying pan on a medium heat and gently sweat the Llandudno Smokery. I tried some of their smoked duck breast 1 fi nely chopped clove onion and garlic in oil until translucent. Meanwhile, boil a of garlic kettle and transfer 25ml to the stock cube and dissolve. Put Nat Blue Sky Café last year and can’t speak highly enough of Foraging 250g cooked seafood the remainder in a saucepan with a good pinch of salt and it. Like the sea salt, the smokery’s produce is expensive but the follow- he OED defi nes foraging as the act of searching ‘widely for food and provisions.’ Here in North Wales, you A handful of spinach bring up to a simmer. Add your stock to the onion and garlic ing facts should be enough to convince you of its merits – 500g of fresh gnocchi can take courses in how to forage for your own ingredients: www.originaloutdoors.co.uk offer courses for mix and gently boil until the quantity has reduced by half. - Their smoked Anglesey sea bass was featured on ‘Something for 100ml natural yogurt Add in your seafood and spinach. Put a lid on the pan and £55 that includes an overview of the laws and regulations that need to be adhered by, the availability of 1 fi sh stock cube the Weekend’ last year; T leave until the spinach has wilted and the seafood warmed produce as dictated by seasons, short walks to various foraging points and fi nally, the preparation and eating dissolved in 50ml water through. - They won silver at Wales The Taste Awards 2011 for their smoked of your catch. Chopped soft herbs - Add your gnocchi to the water. They’re cooked once they salmon; dill, parsley or tarragon The Menai Strait is a great, if demanding place to start. The Guardian ran an article three years ago, docu- fl oat back to the surface of the water. Using a slotted spoon, - Their smoked duck won bronze the previous year; transfer the gnocchi to the seafood mix and pour in the menting the experiences of one of their reporters’, ‘a large bucket with mussels, cockles, clams, winkles, whelks and - They have a stall at the Anglesey farmers’ market, with smoked Serves two yogurt. Season with the herbs, a big squeeze of lemon and a oysters’ being the ultimate reward. Before you go rushing in, contact a local fi sherman for advice on when to grind of pepper before serving. goods ranging from salmon to smoked sausage, from cheese to go. Foraging on the Menai Strait is legal but double-check if you plan on going. chicken. How to make your own gnocchi Alternatively, use one of the many oyster and seafood purveyors on Anglesey instead.

If you’d like to make your own gnocchi, boil 500g of peeled and diced new potatoes (in season right now) until tender then drain well. Mash thoroughly to get as smooth a texture as Competition! http://www.donaldrussell.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/s/m/smoked-salmon-unsliced_2.JPG[17/04/2012 14:17:50] possible before seasoning with salt (soft herbs – basil, dill etc. - are a great addition at this Farmers Markets point, just make sure they’re fi nely chopped) and adding 200g of plain fl our. Using your hands, Have your chance to win Jones o Gymru crisps by answering Events knead the mixture together to form a ball of dough. Knead for a few minutes before rolling out here are a number of farmers markets that happen all over North Wales, many of which sell the into a thin sausage shape (about 1cm thick) and cut into 2cm long pieces. Cook as instructed this simple question – what colour is the rapeseed fl ower? produce described here. The Anglesey Farmers’ Market is the closest; it runs every third Saturday from in the recipe. Conwy Feast 2012 DiŸ culty: Email your answer to [email protected] . The fi rst 5 T10am at David Hughes Secondary School. It’s quite small but sells Welsh lamb, chocolates made in Wales as well as goods from the Llandudno Smokery. he Conwy Feast festival will take place on the 27th and 28th correct answers will be the winners. In Llandudno Junction, there’s a farmers’ market on the last Wednesday of every month from 9am at the October. Highlights include the Aled and Bryn Williams, as well Conwy RSPB Reserve. as Hywel Jones, all of whom have represented Wales on the T Elsewhere, Pwllheli hosts a market from 10am on the fi rst Saturday of each month at the Glasfryn Farm BBC’s ‘Great British Menu’. Bryn won the fi sh course round of the GBM Shop and in Dolgellau, there’s a market on the third Sunday of the month in Eldon Square, starting at 10am. series that celebrated the Queen’s 80th birthday; he cooked a dish Full Afternoon Tea £5.90* of turbot with oxtail. *with 15% off voucher Aled Williams, alumni of Coleg Menai, is currently head chef of the Enjoy the full afternoon tea experience with a hot newly opened Cennin in Beaumaris, Anglesey. drink and a three tiered stand featuring the sandwich Also in attendance is Bryan Webb, chef patron of North Wales’ of your choice and a selection of sweet treats only Michelin-star restaurant, Tyddyn Llan in Denbighshire. It is the Full Afternoon Tea highest rated restaurant in Wales according to the Good Food For bookings: Gostyngiad o 15% Guide and ranks 36th overall. A set three-course lunch there costs Due to popularity it is advisable to book in order to avoid disappointment 15% Off £25.50 01248 388686 relaxed seating, unique eating Valid from 2pm to 5pm, 16th April to 1st May 2012 Search Conwy Feast 2012 for more information. [email protected] On presentation of this voucher only

http://www.kevadamson.com/cms_uploaded/showcase_images/321_orig.jpg[17/04/2012 14:24:56] 34 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk April Issue 2012 Travel London to Europe for £1? As long as you don’t mind travelling by coach... t is an affordable trip that almost sounds too good to be true, especially for cash- C’est cheap: Britons will be able to reach Paris for £1, Istrapped students looking for a European holiday this year. A journey from London to Paris, Boulogne, Brussels or Amsterdam could now cost as but it will take 10 hours little as £1 per person... as long as you don’t mind a long coach journey. As fl ight prices rise ever higher, thanks to increased Air Passenger Duty, budget coach The £2.5million fl eet of coaches will offer free wifi and will link up in London with other company Megabus has stepped in to fi ll a gap and offer cheap European travel for those services from around the country. who have time on their hands. Many of the routes, which begin in April and were released for sale a month ago, have Daytime and overnight services from Victoria Coach Station in London will cost from sold“ well, prompting the company to investigate the potential for a regular sleeper” coach £1, plus a 50p booking fee. service between the UK and Europe. The London to Paris trip takes 10 hours, with coaches travelling to Brussels lasting nine The 15-metre, double-decker vehicle would have 48 seats and tables for use in the hours, before heading onto Amsterdam, which adds another three hours to the journey. day, which would convert into 43 bunks on overnight services. But Megabus has worked out that the £1 journey, plus the booking fee, costs about Megabus already operates a sleeper service between London and Glasgow, with small, 0.5p per mile (0.7p on the London to Brussels route), making it by far the cheapest mode curtained bunks so passengers can rest overnight. of transport available. Sir Brian added: ‘Our new routes to France, Belgium and the Netherlands have already Sir Brian Souter, chief executive of Stagecoach, who owns Megabus, said: ‘We launched been extremely popular. Based on our experience in the UK, we are also very excited megabus.com in Scotland nine years ago and it has already about the potential for sleepercoach services across the Channel and look forward to transformed intercity travel in the UK and North America. continuing to develop our concept vehicle.’ ‘For too long, people in many parts of Europe have been So with this amazing deal what are you waiting for, Bonjour le Paris. paying too much for their coach travel. Our new network offers families, students and tourists great value fares and high-quality coaches. ‘These services will deliver a long-overdue shake- Hayley Horswill up to the over-priced European coach travel market.’

London’s Top 10 Hidden Gems ondon has more than its fair share of must-see sights and instantly rec- Dennis ognisable landmarks, but hidden down the side streets and tucked away Severs’ Lin urban backwaters is a scattered collection of equally fascinating, lesser House known icons. Throw off the crowds and get to know an unfamiliar but intriguing side to London with my top ten. In this entrancing Chloe Williams 7. Georgian house, visi- Chelsea Physic tors fi nd themselves in Garden the home of a family of Huguenot silk weavers 1. Endlessly rewarding who, leaving half-eat- for the green-fi ngered, en meals and candlelit the plain curious or those rooms strewn with pos- eager to discover a slice sessions, remain audibly just beyond reach. ‘Silent Night’ of botanical enchantment 4. tours on Monday evenings are enchanting. in central London, this Dulwich Picture Gallery Where: 18 Folgate St E1 delightful, walled gar- Underground: Liverpool St den was founded by the As much an excuse to soak up the village charms of Dulwich Apothecaries’ Society in Village as to admire some exquisite European masterworks, Brixton Windmill the 17th century. this gallery is a southeast London charmer. Join a free guided A glorious sight, this superbly- tour to the permanent collection (3pm Saturday and Sun- restored windmill is an eye- Where: 66 Royal Hospi- day), catch the latest temporary exhibition and admire the catching reminder that much tal Rd SW3 lovely garden or Christ’s Chapel (open 1.30pm to 3.30pm of the town is a mosaic of once Underground: Sloane Tuesdays). 8. pastoral villages. The windmill is Square Where: Gallery Rd SE21 open in the afternoons for a few Train: West Dulwich days a month between April and October, usually at weekends. Temple Church It’s best to pre-book the (free) Chinese Pagoda tour, but you can also just pitch Kew Gardens Endlessly rewarding for the up on open days. green-fi ngered, the plain cu- Where: West end of Blenheim Kew’s 163-foot-tall ten-storey rious or those eager to dis- 5. Gardens, off Brixton Hill SW2 pagoda, designed by William 2. cover a slice of botanical en- Underground: Brixton Chambers in 1762, is an excel- chantment in central London, lent copy of a ta (pagoda), de- this delightful walled garden Estorick Collection of spite having an even number of was founded by the Apoth- Modern Italian Art fl oors (Chinese pagodas have an ecaries’ Society in the 17th odd number). The pagoda can- century. 9. Britain’s sole gallery devoted to not usually be climbed, but can Italian Art, the Estorick draws be admired from the outside. Where: 66 Royal Hospital together a riveting collection Rd SW3 of Futurist masterpieces from Where: Kew Gardens TW9 Underground: Sloane Umberto Boccioni, Giacomo Underground: Kew Gardens Square Balla, Carlo Carra and others. Where: 39a Canonbury Sq N1 Underground: Highbury & Islington

6.Monument Michelin House Completed in 1677 Blurring the line between art and designed by Sir nouveau and art deco, this as- 10. Christopher Wren and Horniman tounding building was built for 3. Dr Robert Hooke, this Museum Michelin between 1905 and memorial to the cata- 1911. The iconic Michelin Man strophic Great Fire is (Bibendum) is celebrated in the an immense 60.6m-tall exquisite modern stained glass Doric column of Port- (the originals were removed land Stone. Corkscrew during WWII and vanished) – your way up the 311 pop into the lobby to lap up the spiral steps for glorious gorgeous tiling. views. With its heavenly gardens, graceful Victorian conservatory and eclectic dis- plays, the Horniman Museum is a gem. The aquarium, honey bees and Where: 81 Fulham Road SW3 Where: Monument stuffed walrus are always a hit with kids, while adults can marvel at the Underground: South Kensing- St EC3 splendid collection of musical instruments and the 19th-century Apostle ton Underground: Monu- Clock, where Jesus’ disciples fi le past him (with Judas turning away at the ment last moment) daily at 4pm. Where: 100 London Rd SE23 Overground: Forest Hill April Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 35 Travel I’m in Miami b*tch!

y interest in travelling to Miami started when I became a fan of the TV series MMiami Ink. The TV show depicted Miami as a beautiful place full of beautiful people where where eating your lunch is again accompanied the sun shone all day everyday. As a wrestling by lovely views. The mall contained a mixture certainly golden and the seawater was clear. fan, when it was announced that Wrestlemania of indoor and outdoor restaurants, shops and People were sunbathing in bikinis and swimming 28 would take place in Miami Florida, I had to market stalls as well as people selling sight shorts as well as tourists walking along the take the chance to go to place I had always seeing tours and Miami merchandise. beach in everyday clothing. South Beach is dreamed of going. Day two was by far the busiest day we had certainly an attraction of Miami. The trip started with a 3-hour drive down to planned and we took the chance to visit South After spending three nights at the Holiday London, Heathrow airport to catch a direct fl ight Beach, the place where Miami Ink was fi lmed. Inn, it was time to move onto our second hotel we left with the sun still shining and people still to Miami the next day. To say the holiday started Getting to our destination was easy. We paid the Hyatt Regency, still in downtown Miami. smiling. Everything about Miami is beautiful and at the Ibis hotel located at the airport may be $2 each and sat on a local bus for 30 minutes. This hotel was slightly more expensive than still at night with everything lit up; the scenery an understatement but it’s true. The fl ight was This allowed us to see our further surroundings the Holiday Inn but the standard was no better of the city is stunning. Even a small tropical scheduled to leave at 11:35am on 27th March leading to South Beach as well as getting us to and the views were rubbish. Our room was storm on the Saturday of our visit couldn’t stop and Virgin Atlantic provided a great service our destination for a bargain price. South Beach behind the back of another building so the Hyatt the enjoyment. On our trip we were unable to and even got us into Miami an hour before our (Miami beach) is located in the South of Miami Regency cannot compare to the views offered visit Bayfront Park due to it being closed to a scheduled arrival. When arriving in Miami, what and was by far a lot warmer than downtown from the Holiday Inn. previous event and this is something I would Miami Ink had showed us was true. The weather Miami was. The area consisted of many After seeing things that I really wanted to want to do if I ever got the chance to go to was great, the views where great and the restaurants again all accompanied by views of see before getting into wrestling fan mode the Miami again. Miami is a place for people of people where lovely. The Holiday Inn based in the beach and blue skys. As a fan, I managed to rest of the trip contained wrestling events. The varied ages and is full of young to old people downtown Miami was our fi rst stop and the view fi nd the Miami Ink tattoo shop and spent about 2012 Hall of Fame ceremony and Monday Night and even though I’ve said this before, I will say from our hotel window was simply beautiful to ten minutes stood outside simply in awe. When Raw were held at the American Airlines Arena in it again. It is a beautiful city with amazing views wake up to. During our fi rst trip out onto the I entered the shop, I felt like I had achieved downtown Miami and Wrestlemania 28 was held to look at anytime of the day. If you get chance streets of Miami we were greeted with a slight something that I had wanted to do for years. at the Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens. Being to visit Miami then I would certainly recommend rainfall but it only lasted ten minutes and even Even though I didn’t meet anyone from the in Sun Life Stadium was a once in a lifetime the place and hopefully I will get to go at least that couldn’t damper our arrival. show, or get a tattoo, I walked into that shop experience and being part of a 78,363 people once more! Our fi rst full day in Miami saw us visit Bayside and that was enough for me. crowd was simply breath taking. shopping mall situated near the port of Miami. South Beach was beautiful. The sand was My trip to Miami ended on April 4th 2012 and The mall is surrounded by the local harbour Amy Westlake This issue of Seren has Around the made it to... Miami, Florida world with 4,244 miles away from Bangor! his picture has been taken at the Port of Mi- ami, which is situated in Miami Sade County, Miami Flordia. It has been taken in between TBayside shopping mall and the American Airlines Arenea. Bayside is a great spot for shopping it has a a great mix of stores and enough to keep you going all day! WIN!  e Port of Miami is connected to downtown Mi- If you become the person who takes Seren ami via Port Blvd and separates Downtown Miami the furthest ‘Around the World’, then you and South Beach. In 2010 the port recorded that 4.3 will win a fantastic meal for 2 at a selected million passengers had travelled through and it is be- restaurant in Bangor, including a bottle of wine! lieved that one in seven of the worlds cruise passen- gers start in Miami. Miami beach which strecthes the All entries made will automatically be entered into full length of Miami, is approximatley 8.5 miles long the draw.  e winner will be announced via email aš er from North to South. Miami Beach has also been the  nal Seren of the year! So get going, and see how one of America’s pre-eminent beach resorts since the far we can get Seren ‘Around the World!’ early 20th century. 36 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk April Issue 2012

Classics Bangor student publishes e-book: Power Within (The Lazarus Children)

hood.  e story follows Charlie as Upcoming Releases she learns to control her powers and run from harm aš er being betrayed by the people she cares for most.  e book follows a new and exhila- rating idea that keeps you on the edge of your seat, the cleverly de- veloped characters help to include you in the emotional journey and, for a  rst publication, is witty and exciting.  e chapters allow a gen- tle separation from Charlie’s life, intertwining her past and dream sequences for a di— erent pace. How- ever, whilst Power Within is a bril- liant read, you may be leš feeling nlike the mediums of television or  lm, the world of  e third in the Rivers of London series (which we’ve cov- books is a constantly moving wave of new and excit- ered before in Seren), Ben Aaronovitch’s Whispers Under like you need more and for some the ing produce, be it heš y hardbacks or pocketable pa- Ground, will be eagerly anticipated by fans of the previous wait may become a little too much. ower Within is a fantasy novel Uperbacks. Of the books due to be released in the next month two books. Aaronivitch’s witty, exhilarating style usually Power Within is the  rst in a trilogy written by Bangor University there are, amongst many others: a scienti c look at the myths makes for a great read; great for reading whilst travelling. and at only 77p is a bargain. Recom- student Chantelle Causer. Ch- we are sold about sex through the media (
e Sex Myth by  e books follow the rising career of Peter Grant, the only mended for anyone who loves Harry Pantelle is studying in her third year Potter, Lord of the Rings or Game of Dr Brooke Magnanti), an intriguing look at how our minds apprentice magician in Britain. In this world there is a very are so creative (Imagine: How Creativity Works by Jonah small branch of the Metropolitan Police which deals with of Media and Journalism BA and has  rones. Lehrer), a new Darren Shan novel and many, many more. magical crimes; ran entirely by Peters mentor, the mys- published her  rst book to the Ama- Here are just a few of the ones that I think will be terious Detective Chief Inspector  omas Nightingale. zon Kindle. It is the story of Char- Alison Kennedy more popular, whether it be because of their place  ey’ve already dealt with the magical children of the lotte, ‘Charlie’, a student that sud- in a series or just because they look damn good.  ames and a killer spirit taking form of Mr Punch through denly gained elemental powers aš er First o— we have a new one from that ever proli c author the dis gured faces of the people it possessed.  is time a tragic incident during her child- Stephen King,
e Wind something is happening in the tun-
rough
e Keyhole.  is Russell Kane is a well known comedian himself nels beneath London, something is particular novel is a part and this, his debut novel, is already garnering great very wrong in the Underground. Classic of the Month of his Dark Tower series
e Humorist also deals with a reviews due to his witty writing style his months classic is one of only rich people during that time but is more of an add- murderer but the perpetrator the de ning books of Ameri- could, whilst  nding out that Gatsby on than a main sequel. is the main character, Benjamin can literature in the 20th cen- has known Daisy for a long time and  e main character of the series, Roland, tells a sto- White. Benjamin has had a giš he has weilded since his Ttury, nay one of the de ning books of has turned her into an obsession. ry from his early days as a Gunslinger and how he told childhood; he understands humour at its deepest level America and literature in  at is the very briefest, the eponymous fairytale to a frightened young boy. and is able to make anyone laugh. He is, however, cursed general.
e Great Gatsby slimmed down version A few years ago Wolf Hall smashed onto the critical and best- by the fact that he himself has never laughed or smiled. is, in my humble opin- of the plot I could give. selling lists across the nation and Bring Up
e Bodies is Hilary  e author, Russell Kane, is a well known comedian him- ion, a work of genius.  is book is  lled with Mantel’s sequel.  e story picks up with  omas Cromwell, self and this, his debut novel, is already garnering great When I  rst read it in subplots and meanings the hero of Wolf Hall and famous historical  gure, now one reviews due to his witty writing style and highly in- Sixth Form I have to beyond which a  rst, of Henry VIII’s most trusted advisors. It’s a time of great tur- volving story.  is is de nitely one to look forward to. admit that I disliked second or third reading moil as England has split from Rome and the King plots to be Robin Hobb is well known amongst fantasy fans, hav- it, a lot.  is happens could ever take you. It’s rid of Anne Boleyn in favour of his new love Jane Seymour; ing written several independent series’ all set with- with many of the books a book for returning to, it is bound to be as thrilling and intelligent as its predecesor. in the same world,  e Realm of the Elderlings. you’re forced to study to sink into like a luxu-  e lord of British thriller writing Ian Rankin is bringing us Her latest, City of Dragons, is the third in  e Rain during your academic rious bath of literature. the second in his new series,
e Impossible Dead, which focus Wilds Chronicles; this set of novels focuses on a career and, for many, I’m not being OTT here, on DI Malcolm Fox, a copper who investigates bent coppers. group of malformed dragons and their human keep- your views never re- well maybe I am but Praise has been heaped on the previous outing as lighter than ers as they journey on a quest to  nd a legendary city. ally change. Gatsby, trust me: this book is like his Rebus novels whilst still retaining the crime thriller aspect  is book in particular  nds the group locating the on the other hand, be- a  ne whisky or a pitch expertly. If anything this could be a great gateway for people city, one fabled to be a paradise for dragons and their came one of my favour- perfect piece of music; into the grim world that Rankin can conjur in his other novels. keepers alike.  eir discovery, though, soon reach- ites mere months af- it is a work of art, which Another writer who has almost dominated a particu- es the ears of many other people across the land and ter  nishing the exam I had on it. isn’t surprising considering how Fit- lar genre for much of his career is Bernard Cornwell. the new found paradise could soon be despoiled. For those of you who don’t know the zgerald wrote on a typewriter. Each Dealing with historical  ction, Cornwell has written plot: we follow the narrator, Nick, as time he made a mistake in spelling or the long running Sharpe series, a trilogy based around Next issue we will be printing a list of great books he meets and interacts with his beau- plot he’d start from the very beginning, the Grail Quest and many others. Death of Kings is to read over summer. If you have any sugges- tiful cousin Daisy who has married improving the story layer by layer. sixth in his Saxon Tales, a series which tells the sto- tions, or would like to contribute in any way, get into old money and makes friends If you’ve read it you’ll know what I’m ry of Saxon warlord Uhtred of Bebbanburg. In this in touch! Email us: [email protected] with Jay Gatsby, a seemingly eccen- taking about. If you’ve never picked it tale we see Uhtred  ghting o— persistent Danish at- tric new moneyed man.  ey jape up, go do it. Now. tacks on the old kingdoms of Mercia and Wessex; a around 1920’s America in the way must have to Cornwell fans or historical geeks alike. A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin lsewhere in this paper there dividual kingdoms until the Targayrens, dragon riders, con- into so much more by making not one single one of his characters a is an article concerning the quererd the land three hundred years before, uniting it. stand-out good guy or a complete villain; those who you may think are second series of Game of By the time the  rst book begins there has been a rebel- completely black or white are shown to have motives for doing what E rones, HBO’s hit fantasy show lion due to the insane actions of the last Targaryen king. they do - they act human and are very capable of the best and worst of us. which does gritty like only HBO We still have seven kingdoms but it is now ruled by a di— er- Implied in the story is a mass slaughter of a bunch of bas- programmes can do.  is time, ent House, the Baratheons, from the capital of Kings Landing. tard children, incest, torture and cruel injustices galore.  is is however, the grittiness was already  is land is one of extremes, from the north where there ex- a capricious world made worse by the fact that it’s a time of war. all to present in the source mate- ists a wall to protect the realm from supernatural enemies long  e characters we follow generally hail from a powerful House and, as rial, George R.R. Martin’s A Song thought dead, to the sun drenched shores of Dorne in the south. they play out their battles, the normal folk get caught up and generally of Ice and Fire series of novels. Ok, setting done. What really makes these books are the characters, killed. It’s a fantastical view at our own medival culture and it is not pretty. A Clash of Kings is the sec- and in A Clash of Kings they evolve from simply characters you may One thing which I’ve somehow missed out up until now is the ond novel in the series and love or hate into actual people bent on revenge or greed or power. scheming politics which drive all of the action. From the machina- forms the basis for this cur- At the end of A Game Of  rones the land had been leš in tions of the (by readers) well loved Tyrion in negotiating Court life rent season of the HBO show. a state of turmoil and we pick up in Clash with  ve distinct whilst his equally scheming sister the Queen tries to stop anything he Aš er the end of the  rst season I ummed and ah- Kings declaring themselves to be the true ruler of Westeros. attempts, to the Baratheon brothers negotiating their armies whilst hed over whether or not to read this second novel, thereby spoiling the Some have honour and vengeance on their side, such as Robb trying to get the other to bow; this book drags you in and keeps a TV show. My bookish sentimental mind won the struggle and I plunged Stark; others, such as Stannis Baratheon, have their own ide- hold. You will throw it in anger and horror and you will love it. headlong back into the manic, bloody world that Martin has created. as of stern justice and rightful ownership of the throne. All of What is this world? Well, it comprises, mainly, of the land of them, and the Houses they are allied to, will do anything to win. Westeros. A medieval-like place, this land was once seven in- Still sounds like just another fantasy doesn’t it? Martin turns this book Luke Dobson April Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 37 Sport

Matt CoombsEnd of Season Excitement Marred by Tragedy s fans of Bolton Wanderers and with representatives from both teams, again and in the midst of the horri c seemingly at the peak of their physical fraternity. Twitter has been alight with Tottenham Hotspur marched as well as a fan, who works day to day incident that occurred at White Hart  tness, actually are. good luck messages, for Fabrice Mua- up towards White Hart Lane as a cardiologist, operating eŠ ciently Lane, this never seemed possible. Back in the Premier League, the mba and Stiliyan Petrov, as well as con- Afor the FA Cup Quarter Final on the that saved Fabrice Muamba’s life.  ere Unfortunately, events transpired at Bulgarian, Aston Villa mid elder Stili- dolences for the family of Piermario 17th of March, their minds would was, however, a point where it didn’t the Stadio Adriatico, Pescara on the yan “Stan” Petrov was diagnosed with Morosini. In the days where have been  lled with excitement for look good. A de brillator was used 14th of April, which led to the death of acute leukaemia, an aggressive cancer you can get into a  ght for the match ahead. Aš er all, a place at multiple times whilst Muamba was still Italian footballer Piermario Morosini. of the blood or bone marrow.  ere wearing the wrong football Wembley was at stake. Nobody in the on the pitch and , speaking aš erwards, In a very similar sequence of events to were emotional scenes at Villa Park shirt in the wrong part of stadium would have been prepared for the Bolton Wanderers team doctor those that happened at White Hart lane during the game against Chelsea town, it is comforting to what was to come in an event which stated that his heart had stopped for a just weeks before, Livorno mid elder on the 31st of March, when see that the majority simultaneously shattered the football- staggering 78 minutes. Piermario collapsed on the  eld of play. there was a standing of football fans care ing community and brought it closer Remarkably, good news was to fol- He attempted to get back to his feet but ovation during for the game as a together. Shortly before the match was low. On the 19th of March, Fabrice failed and the doctor present at the the 19th minute whole and that abandoned on 41 minutes, Fabrice Muamba’s heart started to beat again, game has said that Piermario was dead of the game (Stili- there is evidence Muamba, Bolton’s 24 year old, Congo- independently of medicine, and two before the ambulance had arrived. yan’s number for Villa) along of a “football lese mid elder collapsed on the pitch weeks later, a photo emerged in the  ere have been calls from national with messages of goodwill dis- family”. with nobody else around him. press of him sat up in bed, smiling. football governing bodies as well as the played on the scoreboard. It quickly became apparent that he Even more recently came the news worldwide organisation FIFA for more  e main thing that struck had su— ered a cardiac arrest and it was that Fabrice had been discharged from stringent health checks for players, al- me in the aš ermath of all of these the lightning fast reaction of the medi- hospital to recuperate at home.  ere though it seems hard to understand incidents is the support that has cal team present at White Hart lane, is now talk of Fabrice playing football how susceptible these athletes, that are come from the entire footballing

Rob Young Grand Slam Wales Take Six Nations Crown he 2012 RBS 6 Nations champi- land and then Wales on the road to the like the proverbial carrot, he draš ed in sure which led to a disappointing third Welshman’s “second favourite team”. onship posed several questions World Cup  nal, they were expected the guts of the wildly successful Saxons place  nish for the boys in green, their Wales sport a pack which is expected to following so soon aš er the to have a fairly successful Six Nations into the England squad to replace the table position identical to the rapidly form the basis of the 2013 Lions team TWorld Cup at the end of 2011. Could campaign in 2012.  ey got o— to a players who wouldn’t be around for the declining France side. and a back line containing Jamie Rob- Wales continue to improve under War- good start with two predictable victo- next World Cup in 2015. Players like Yet again Italy and Scotland were erts, Leigh Halfpenny and the indomi- ren Gatland? Could France maintain ries over the “Wooden Spoon” nations, Chris Robshaw, Brad Barritt and the the only two teams competing for the table George North, the attacking pos- their run of form that took them to the Italy and Scotland. However, they were new England golden boy Owen Farrell Wooden Spoon, which this year went sibilities are numerous. Combine this World Cup  nal? Could Ireland play undone aš er a demoralizing draw shone on the international test stage, to Scotland, a side which is seemingly with their clinical  nishing, the Six Na- consistently well without their talis- against a poor Ireland side at the Stade while hidden gems Ben Morgan, Ge- unable to  nish their opportunities tions should have been an easy run for mans O’Driscoll and O’Gara? Could de France and lost heavily to while Italy still su— ers from the Wales team – however they man- England re-aŠ rm their reputation as a Wales and England – the same “Yet again Italy and Scotland were the only two a chronic lack of world-class aged to play far below the standards  rst-rate rugby nation in their new era? countries they had dumped out teams competing for the Wooden Spoon” players though have enough expected of them, making very close And who would win the wooden of the World Cup six months spirit to push the likes of games of the Ireland and England  x- spoon between Scotland and Italy? before,  nishing fourth in the table. o— Parling and Lee Dickson cemented England and France – at least for sixty tures.  eir quality shone through and Aš er France were pulled up so tan- Aš er a disastrous World Cup the their places in the side for years to minutes. they won all of their games, though it talizingly close to winning the World new head coach, Stuart Lancaster, was come. Despite a rusty start, England Wales have improved dramati- will be interesting to see how Wales Cup in 2011, having beaten  rst Eng- given the unenviable task of restoring performed incredibly well to place cally under Warren Gatland’s tenure, would perform without their standout pride in the second overall in the tournament with through his willingness to push his players, a test that Ireland are failing England shirt their only loss being to eventual Grand team harder than most in training and badly. – one that he Slam Champions Wales. his introduction of new techniques However, there is another question excelled in. Ireland’s form has proven to be such as cryotherapy. He has formed a that must be asked – what heights can With the per- shaky without O’Driscoll’s leading in- side of players that plays very attractive this Wales team reach if they can win manent job ” uence and O’Gara’s solid kicking abil- r u n - ning rugby, an at- a Six Nations Grand Slam without dangled in ity, with their new  gurehead Jonathan tacking side which has even hitting their best? front of him Sexton regularly cracking under pres- become every non-

Wales celebrate their victory.

Nathan Reynolds Carlos Tevez:  e Saga Continues oberto Mancini continues to insist that dominating the City dressing room, or rule with on his goal against West Brom with a magni - to win, aš er Ruddy palmed away a Yaya Toure the title race is over and the trophy will an iron  st and assert his authority over that star- cent hat-trick.  e  rst, a fantastic strike from the strike. His hat-trick was comfortably rounded be adorned with red ribbons come May. studded squad. Much to his credit Mancini did right hand side of the penalty box that swerved o— when he jumped on a poor backpass and side However,R if Carlos Tevez puts in a few more per- the latter, and his decision won him many acco- stepped the Norwich ‘keeper to roll the ball into formances that match the quality of the one he lades from his colleagues. Indeed Tevez’s pres- an empty net. Although his celebration of the golf put in at Carrow Road, Mancini may be forced to ence did not seem to be missed on the pitch as swing may well rankle with a few Citizens sup- reconsider his comments. the Citizens ” ew through the  rst half the season, porters, if he continues to put in top perform- Whether Manchester City secure their  rst playing scintillating free-” owing football. Aguero ances it’s diŠ cult to imagine that he won’t win the Premier League title or not, it is likely that the seemed to  ll Tevez’s boots e— ortlessly and if he support back over. Carlos Tevez saga will come to de ne their sea- didn’t, Balotelli would. Yet, it is in the last leg of  e debate as to whether Mancini has under- son in some way or another.  e man who struck the title race, famously referred to by Sir Alex Fer- mined his own authority by allowing Tevez to forty-four goals for City last season looked to be guson as “Squeaky Bum time” that the mettle of a return to the side will continue to split opinion. the man to lead Mancini’s assault on the Premier side is really tested. It is now that clubs competing Once political reasons are cast aside, the football- League and secure his place as a Citizens legend. for the top honours need all their best players  t ing reasons make perfect sense. At a time when  at was, until one night in September, where, and in form. As City struggled to re- capture their players begin to choke, as the pressures of the run in a Champions League tie in Munich, Tevez re- early season football, perhaps, Mancini had little in take their toll, a manager would, perhaps, be fused join the match from the subs bench. Man- choice but to bring Tevez back into contention. foolish not to include a player of Tevez’s quality cini’s handling of this situation was always going Tevez’s initial return can be described as lit- in their side. Indeed the Argentine may well play to have strong implications on Man City’s sea- tle more than a slow burn, but few can argue he cruelly away from Norwich ‘keeper John Rud- a big part in deciding where the Premier League son. Let the Argentine o— , and risk player power exploded into life at Carrow Road, following up dy.  e second, a header that he had little right crown ends up this season. 38 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk April Issue 2012 Sport

CanNathan Reynolds the FA Cup save Chelsea and Liverpool’s Poor seasons? ay the  š h will be a date and the experienced Jamie Carragher, excite Liver- pool fans. something that the club has since apol- Referee Martin Atkinson adjudged the clearly marked in the diaries in the 24th minute, led to the the lat-  e two London clubs ogized for. ball to have crossed the line, and gave a of Liverpool and Chelsea ter  ring the ball against Tim Cahill had a lot to live up to as they Both teams struggled to maintain goal, incensing the Spurs fans and play- fans,M aš er both teams secured their only for the rebound to drop to Jelavic took to the Wembley turf possession in the early, sparring peri- ers alike. place in the FA Cup  nal. While the who calmly stroked the ball home.  e in the sec- ond of the ods of the game. Eventually it was Chel- On 56 minutes Spurs were back in decision to play the semi- nals on the replay suggested the Everton forward sea who settled, yet Spurs who looked the game, as Scott Parker beautifully hallowed turf of Wembley may still be was marginally o— side, Everton lead more dangerous on the break. Chelsea slid Adebayor through on goal between a disappointment to some, the mouth- 1-0 nonetheless. carved out the Chel- watering prospect of two  erce derbies It was clear that Liverpool needed the  rst gen- “Referee Martin Atkinson adjudged the sea centre in the semi- nals of the competition to  nd another gear as Gerrard and uine open- ball to have crossed the line” backs, only would surely have excited the majority. Carroll missed the target, either side of ing of the game as Kalou found space for the Spurs man to be brought down  e Saturday belonged to Liverpool, halš ime, Carroll’s, a header that would on the Chelsea leš , his ball in behind by the on rushing Petr Cech.  e ball as a late Andy Carroll header ensured have been sure to  nd the back of the Ekotto had too much pace for Juan fell to Gareth Bale who tapped the ball that they would be returning to Wem- net during his days in a Newcastle Mata who failed to make a connection. in from eight yards out. Cech perhaps bley in little under four weeks time, shirt. Liverpool’s best chance of pin- Spurs’  rst real chance came through lucky to stay on the pitch, the reason while the Sunday provided one of the ning their city rivals back was always Van Der Vaart as his Header, from six given that he did not deny a goal scor- most controversial semi- nals in the going to be down the right hand side, yards, struck the knee of John Terry on ing opportunity, Spurs prepped for the competition’s history, eventually won where Stewart Downing was provid- the Chelsea goal line and was even- turnaround. by Chelsea. ing an e— ective outlet. As Liverpool tually cleared; Spurs were in control. Tottenham failed to make their mo- Perhaps for the  rst time in recent turned the screw on the blue half Van der Vaart came close again in the mentum count and on the 76th minute history there was little to choose be- of Mersey side, the goal eventually 39th minute.  e Dutchman, search- Ramires made them pay. A clever clip tween Everton and Liverpool before came. Andy Carroll’s misguided ing for Adebayor, sprayed the ball over Ledley King in the Tottenham the Merseyside derby kicked o— . Liv- header reached the area that forward from midway in the Chel- backline, from Juan Mata, put Ramires erpool came into the game in turgid Downing had occupied for most sea half; his pass eluded everyone one on one with Cudicini, and the Bra- form, while Everton, sitting one place of the game, yet it was the ever- before striking the post. zilian  nished cooly with a deš ” ick ahead of their city rivals in the league, reliable Sylvan Distan that picked Despite Spur’s e— orts, it was the over the keeper. arrived in their typical post Christmas up the ball. His under hit back semi- nals. Chelsea,  nding blue side of London that took the Four minutes later, Frank Lampard splendour having lost just four since pass sent Lewis Suarez through on some steady form under “In- lead, against the run of play, with a all but put Chelsea in the  nal with a the turn of the year. goal, the result was inevitable,as Suarez terim Head Coach” Roberto Di goal that will live long in the mem- wonderfully struck free kick from well  e game began aš er a minutes si- poked the ball past Howard with the Matteo had enjoyed many fond memo- ory of the Chelsea fans. Lampard, who outside the area. Drogba again rolled lence for those who tragically lost their outside of his boot; sixty two minutes ries in the stadium prior to the game, picked the ball up midway into his Gallas and powered toward the Spurs lives in the Hillsborough disaster, af- gone, one each; no less than Liv- the most recent their success in the o w n half, played a pinpoint pass goal only for the defender to trip ter that both sides had early erpool deserved. competition against Port- to Drogba on the edge of him on his travels. Lampard opportunities to edge Everton’s attempts smouth in 2010. the Tottenham pen- stepped up to hit the their team ahead. Jay to re-gain the lead Tottenham, alty area, free kick and his Spearing  red over were ultimately t h o u g h the Ivorian e— ort swerved and the bar from 15 in vain as Osman l a c k i n g rolled Wil- dipped past Cudi- yards for Liverpool, and Jelavic pulled the ‘big game’ expe- liam Gallas, and cini in the Spurs goal; before a Leighton comfortable saves rience, have s m a s h e d 4-1 Chelsea. Baines free-kick from Brad Jones, showed plen- a power- Chelsea, with sailed harmlessly either side of ty of times ful volley the Barcelona over Brad Jones’ bar another Car- through- past Car- game in mind, at the other end; relief roll strike that out the lo Cudicini made changes, for the reds third choice driš ed wide of season that in the Spurs substituting Ram- keeper. Phill Neville’s lovely the post.  ree min- they are capable of goal. ires for Florent one two with Leon Osman down utes from time however he  - competing with anyone.  ere were only four minutes played Malouda and it was the Everton’s right hand side allowed him nally got his goal, as his ” icked header  e minute’s silence, for the in the second half when the big mo- Frenchman who  nished the scoring in to cross an to Jelavic who’s tame bicycle from a wide Bellamy freekick eluded Hillsborough disaster and the Livorna ment of the match arrived. A scramble the 93rd minute. Again Mata ” icked a kick was easily caught by the Liverpool everyone, including Tim Howard in mid elder Piermario Morosini who in the Spurs box from a Chelsea cor- ball over Ledley King and Malouda slid stopper. the Everton goal, to send Liverpool tragically collapsed and died in a Serie ner, was eventually struck towards goal the ball past the Tottenham Goalkeep- Everton struck  rst, a breakdown of through to the  nal.  e prospect of B game the day before, was sadly dis- by Juan Mata, only to be blocked by er, to con rm a meeting with Liverpool communication between Daniel Agger another cup win at Wembley sure to rupted by a minority of Chelsea fans; the bundle of bodies on the goal line. in the  nal on the 5th of May. Varsity 2012: Bangor Victorious in Spirited Battle angor took the spoils at this year’s Varsity, shootout went in Bangor’s favour. Regardless, the a 2-3 lead in extra time as the game moved from defeating a spirited Aberystwyth contin- intense nature of the day’s  nal match provides an end to end in excellent fashion. Aber’s hearts were Result of the Day: gent with the  nal score at 19-13. insight into the tournament as a whole.  e ma- broken, however, as Bangor snatched an equalizer  is has to go to BAs the day progressed the scores remained jority of ganes were closely fought and the spirit with the last kick of the game, before going on to Women’s Hockey, close with neither Bangor or Aber  nding them- on show was fantastic as Bangor fought for to se- claim victory in a tesne shootout. who went from 0-1 selves able to gain a solid hold of the lead. With cure their third Varsity Trophy. down to a dominant just an hour to go the scores were completely even Talking Point: 7-1 victory so quickly for the  rst time all day and, although they didn’t Game of the Day: With Rugby such an integral part of both Uni- that it was a struggle know it, the last round of games were destined to As I’m certain everyone who witnessed it versities sporting lives, it was a source of great to post goal reports break the tie. An heroic Aber  ght back in the last will agree, the Womens Football at Treboth was debate that the pitch at Treborth was deemed before the next was game of the day - Men’s Football - proved incon- something special. Aš er gaining a two goal lead, unplayable. Although the de cit was too great for scored. An incredible siquential as, despite  ghting back from 2-0 down it seemed that Aber’s resurgent pressure would the game to have altered the overall outcome, the performance from to lead 2-3, a late equalizer was conceded and the pay o— . Equalizing late in the match and taking travellers remained understandable agreived. my team of the day. Bucs table week ending 13/04/2012 League Cup Indiv. Total 1 Loughborough University 1507.5 856 1803 4166.5 59 Liverpool John Moores University 305.5 88 8 401.5 60 Worcester University 265.5 100 438 399.5 61 Bangor University 307 70 220 399 62 University of East Anglia 278.5 93 26 397.5 63 Manchester Metropolitan University 246 60 71 377 149 Scottish Agricultural College 0 0 0 0 For Bangor’s complete Bucs scores and tables visit: visit http://dft.ba/-bangorbucs or scan the QR code to the right April Issue 2012 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk 39 Sport Nathan Reynolds Can Bangor City Retain ‹ eir Crown? Reading Return angor City have the chance fashion Neville Powell’s men were in a Smyth, at  e Gnoll. Matty Collins the last time the two sides met. Both Thomas Knott to claim the Welsh Premier similar situation last season when the had pulled one back for the home side teams come into the game with just one 1-0 victory over Nottingham League title for the second time two teams met in a title decider, where just aš er half-time, before City went on defeat in their last  ve, but Nev Powell Forrest was enough to con- Bin as many years when they take on Bangor needed to win to be champi- to win the game in a comfortable man- will be hoping that the psychological  rm Reading as the  rst club TNS on Saturday.  e task is simple, ons, though on that occasion the game ner. TNS meanwhile, secured a narrow edge is with Bangor aš er their win in Apromoted into the Premier League this beat TNS at Park Hall and be crowned was contested at Farrah road. Bangor 1-0 win away similar cir- season, following their four-year ab- champions. Any other result would won the game 1-0 to win the title for win at Bala “Nev Powell will hope the psychological cumstances sence. Mikele Leigertwood wrote him- win  e New Saints the trophy. In eerie the  rst time in sixteen years. Town thanks edge is with Bangor.” last season. self into Reading lore when he forced Saturday’s show- to a power-  e game home a chance with just nine min- down sees both ful header from Sam Finely with twelve kicks o— at 3.30pm at Park Hall and utes leš on the clock. As news spread teams head into the minutes leš on the clock. League secre- with so much at stake both sides will be around the Madejski Stadium of West game on the back of tary John Deakin had taken the trophy hoping for strong support. While for Ham’s 1-1 draw at Bristol City, those important victories. to Maes Tegid in anticipation of TNS TNS the opportunity to win their sixth in the stands, at least, knew that a sin- Bangor beat Neath winning the crown, but Bangor’s win title in front of their own fans would be gle goal would see their team back to in impressive fashion means the destination of the title will the perfect end to the season, Bangor the top-” ight. Despite a nervy ending winning the game be decided in a nail-biting  nale on have the chance to remain Wales pre- to the match, Reading held out and, 3-1, courtesy of goals Saturday. mium football side; surely an opportu- whilst there is still work to be done to from Les Davies, Pe- TNS will be con dent going into the nity they won’t pass up without a  ght. claim the Championship title, the hard- ter Hoy and Mark game having beaten the Citizens 3-1 Bangor celebrate after last season’s win over TNS. est job is done. Women’s Hockey: Promotion, Cup Runs, and 166 Goals Scored Thomas Knott above and scoring an abundance of for their money.” In a season of great early in a  xture before coming back the scoresheet was able to sneak in one goals in the process – Bangor’s 1-0 loss achievement it’s always diŠ cult to pick to hammer home several, in this case of the six scored in response to the op- ollowing their excellent season at the semi- nal stage was, of course, a out a favourite game and aš er a mo- past an unfortunate Manchester team position’s opener. and, in particular, the 7-1 ham- disappointment, but it was also displays ment of thought we decide on, at least, who found themselves at half time, a Unfortunately, Ellie graduates this mering of Aberystwyth at this great hope for the team’s future, post- a favourite moment: a mid-air goal line Fyear’s Varsity, I spoke to Bangor Wom- promotion. Of the other cup exit at the clearance, which Ellie admits to hav- en’s Hockey leš defensive mid elder, hands of Newtown, whilst still proud ing “no idea how I saved it.” However Ellie Connolly.  is year has been one of the performance, that the team had it happened, it certainly helped keep of the most successful in the club’s his- o n l y “Having scored 166 goals, reached two semi- Bangor’s tory and, playing in four competitions, the day goal dif- their hard work has paid dividends. b e f o r e • nals, gained promotion in one league, and f e r e n c e Having scored 166 goals, reached two b e a t e n secured a fourth place • nish in another, far into semi- nals, gained promotion into their op- they’ve been a force to be reckoned with.” positive BUCS’ Northern 2A league, following p one nt s n u m - a perfect ten in ten season, and secured in the league was a little harder to swal- bers. From 166 goals scored though, a comfortable fourth place  nish in low – “It was annoying,” Ellie says with you might expect even the most de- their other league (North Wales Divi- a smile, clearly proud of the team’s suc- fensive minded of players to nick one, sion 1) they’ve been a force to be reck- cess despite the exit. and that’s how it’s worked out for El- oned with. Despite being knocked out When considering the future of the lie. Again, she claims uncertainty as of two cups at the semi- nal stage, El- team, this season’s new arrivals would to how it happened, although by this Ellie has been a mainstay through this impressive campaign. lie sees the positives in both of the cup perhaps be the logical starting point point I’m beginning to doubt it – she run performances, believing their per- and there are few worries there. I asked is, aš er all, a regular starter in one of goal up and facing a team with no sub- year and, although she has great faith formance in the BUCS Northern Con- Ellie how she felt things might go: “ is the university’s most successful teams, stitutes. Such has been the attitude of in the future of the team she declares ference Cup Semi-Final loss to be the year we’ve been incredibly lucky and having missed one game this season this team throughout the season, the that she “will miss it, for sure.” Given team’s best of the season. Which is fair, have had some incredible new players,” through injury.  e goal was scored odds making little di— erence, as even the team’s record with her in their XI, considering the team progressed to was the response. “If every season is like in a game that appears to be de ning a player with more interest in goal line she will surely be missed herself. the  nal (Liverpool) was experiencing this one they’ll give the big guns a run of the season, aš er going a goal down clearances than getting her name on its own perfect season in the division Anthony Giles F1 Reaches Shanghai Oosthuizen Bounces Back ercedes’ Nico Rosberg ed between Button and Hamilton, with stop strategies; especially given that it Alan Washburne claimed his  rst grand the former edging it by  ve. Whilst was during Button’s third and  nal that ollowing his play-o— loss at whilst he produced nothing like the prix (on his 111th attempt, the McLaren team-mates battled for his issues occurred, whilst Rosenberg, the hands of Bubba Watson’s shot that had cost him the Masters and noM less) in Shanghai last weekend. second place, Rosberg’s, Michael Schu- electing a two-stop strategy, went on super-shot in the Masters last so amazed the gol ng world, his vic- McLaren-Mercedes drivers Jenson macher, was forced into retirement af- to claim the top spot. Button believes Fweek, runner-up Louis Oosthuizen tory was solid and move him to second Button and ter a pit-stop that had the  nal stop gone according returned to action and claimed vic- place in the European Tour Race to Lewis Ham- “Ultimately, the race was decided by the error leš to plan he would have been de nite tory in the Maybank Malaysian Open. Dubai. ilton joined him without contender for  rst, as there would have teams’ pit-stop strategies.” His three-shot victory came as a sur- Watson, who with his wife has re- him on the a tightened been “cars that I wouldn’t have been prise to many who had expected his cently adopted a three year old son, podium and for the second time in nut on his right front wheel. Pit trouble racing” giving him “a nice clear track play to su— er as a result of both travel withdrew from the Wells Fargo Cham- three years Mercedes claimed it as their also caused problems for Button who, to hunt down Nico.” Although he con- and the disappointment of his recent pionship at Quail Hollow, explaining own. Whilst Rosberg crossed the line despite going on to claim his place of cedes that winning the race would still loss. Oosthuizen himself admitted, “I that he needed to spend time with his 22 seconds before his nearest rival, the the podium, lost nine seconds as a re- have been a diŠ cult task, it’s unfortu- thought I would be more tired” and, family. race for second place was hotly contest- sult of problems with the rear of his nate that the  nal stop eliminated any car. Following the true chance of him doing so. race Lewis Ham- Of his victory, Rosberg said, “Re- ilton moved into markable feeling, very good, very hap-

the World Cham- py, very excited. It’s been a long time THE AU REVIEW Sunday Evening 6-7 on Bangor’s Student Sound: pionship lead, two coming for me and the team also. It’s points ahead of his amazing, and it’s really nice to see how team-mate with quickly we are progressing, I didn’t ex- 45 and 43 points pect to be that fast.” During a season respectively and that McLaren team principal Martin Rosberg, despite Whitmarsh believes will be decided on his win, is in sixth. who can best “limit the mistakes,” the Ultimately, the progress of Rosberg’s team could be Join Storm FM’s Harry Bradford (Mid-Aš ernoon With Harry Bradford) and race was decided cause for concern in the hunt for the myself as we discuss the week in sport both inside and outside of the University. by the teams’ pit- World Championship title. Each week will feature a guest captain and plenty of music and discussion. NEWSPAPERS MAGAZINES GROCERIES STATIONERY ICE CREAM

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