E New Normal

Bangor University Students’ Union February 2014 English Language Issue No. 237 Newspaper FREE @SerenBangor Seren.Bangor.ac.uk - SOCIETY OF THE YEAR 2013 - SEREN BRINGS BACK THE 90S INTERVIEW: CERYS MATHEWS TRAVEL WITH BANGOR

e New Normal

£30 million development complex to rejuvenate St.Mary’s site 600 room residential site will replace Normal Site halls by BECKI WATSON refurbish some of the older buildings large proportion of the halls are taken, will be refurbished with common other halls of residence over recent on the site in addition to constructing and there’s also post-grads and peo- rooms and large kitchens, and every times, will also be adapted into the angor University is set to build new ones. Speaking to Seren about the ple with special needs who need the block will have their own social ar- complex. Facilities at the site will in- a £30 million housing develop- project, Pro-Vice Chancellor Carol rooms. So once you’ve accommodated eas for students to meet. esite will clude a cafe bar, an outdoor sports ment that will transform the Tully talked about the reasons why the all of those people, there’s only about primarily feature two di erent types facility, a gym with the same speci- Bdisused St. Mary’s halls into a new stu- university have decided to create more 100-150 rooms le for returning stu- of buildings; a townhouse style of cations as Maes Glas, and a shut- dent residential site. student accommodation: ‘Every year dents.’ building, which will bene t return- tle bus service and electric bike In response to growing demand we get a lot more applications from e new site will have 600 new ing students as they will have the scheme as part of the university’s from second and third year students second and third year students who rooms, incorporating many di erent opportunity to apply for ats in groups commitment to sustainable travel. who wish to move into university halls want to come back into halls than we types of accommodation with a focus of 6 or 8, and more traditional blocks of residence, the development will can accommodate, as we guarantee on student community. e original of student accommodation. Bryn Ei- Continued on page 5 every rst year a place, so already a Victorian and Edwardian buildings thin, which has been isolated from

February Issue 2014 | Seren 3 CONTENTS 31

BECKI WATSON 36 EDITOR [email protected] It’s that time of year again... Seren are bringing back the 90s! For the sixth year in a row, Seren are putting on 90s Night at Academi, a night celebrating the best decade there is. One of the biggest nights in Bangor, you don’t want to miss out! Plus, this year we’ve collaborated with Bangor’s fancy dress shops to get you a discount on your costume, so you have no excuse not to dress up! To nd out more, have a look at page 23 for more details, or check our 8 Facebook page for the latest info. In celebration of 90s Night, you’ll nd many of our sections this issue 14 remembering the best of the 90s, from tips on how to get the perfect 90s look in Health and Beauty (gotta love that glitter eyeshadow), to the lms, books, music and TV we adore from our childhood. Aside from all the 90s mania, we 14 have all the information you need News 4-7 to know ahead of the Sabbatical Comment 8-9 Elections in our Union pages, and on Comment, we take a closer Politics 10-11 look at the latest drinking craze to Science 12-13 33 sweep the nation: NekNomination. The team have really put their all Environment 14-15 into this issue, and I couldn’t be Interview 16-17 prouder of how it has turned out. If you like what you see and want to Union 18-19 get involved, we always welcome Societies 20 new members! For more information, email us at [email protected] 90’s Night 22-23 27 gor.ac.uk to nd out how you can TV 24-25 be a part of our team. Similarly, if you really can’t wait Film 26-27 for 90s Night and fancy helping us out with the organisation, let us Music 28-29 know. We’d love the help; bringing Books 30-31 back the 90s is no easy task! I hope you enjoy the issue, and I’ll Fashion 32-33 see you at 90s Night! Health & Beauty 34-35 Arts & Culture 36-37 #Bangor90s Games 38-39 The views presented hereinafter Food 40-41 do not represent the views of Seren Travel 42-43 Bangor, Bangor Students’ Union or Breaktime 44 Bangor University. Sport 45-48 41 Seren is printed by NWN Media.

THE TEAM Editor Becki Watson Food Harriet Weller Deputy: Content Nicola Hoban TV Ida Vaisanen Deputy: Design Becci Jameson Film Jack Nicol Secretary Ali Keshtmand Music Tom Bickerdike News Charlotte Parker Books Amy Blackwell 39 Environment Will Johnson Fashion James Holman Callum Hulme Heather Boyles Scott Willey Science Edwin Pynegar Treasurer Luke James Tamara Ansah Charlotte Faye Wright Harriet Weller Comment Sinnead Towey Barrett Peter Clarke Wyatt Warner Joe Keep Arts and Culture Megan Townsend Travel Steph Yeabsley Gemma Simmons Ailish Bumpus Tom Shelton Health & Beauty Sara Williams Sport Kevin Gri n Alison Cross Tom Emlyn Williams Andy Wells Politics Emily Houlston- Design LJ Taylor Chris Glass Eleanor Hirst Felicity Walker Jones Al Hulley Matt Cox Aled Meredith CONTRIBUTORS 4 Seren | February Issue 2014 NEWS In Brief Bangor student lm is BBC Bangor wins £500k grant for Fresh new facility THE School of Electronic Engi- neering at Bangor University has been awarded a £500k grant to create a unique new facility. e Centre for Lifetime and Reli- ability Testing (CLARET) will be the rst of its kind in Wales and will en- able businesses to test a huge range of plastic electronics, space-related equipment and solar cells. Glyn Farger, the Business Develop- ment Manager for the Claret project, said: “ e new CLARET Laborato- ries will support high-level research at the School as well as allowing the School to work with local businesses on research and development for new and exciting plastic electronics.”

Pontio selects rst artist-in- residence INTERNATIONALLY renowned Media student lm is a ‘fresh documentary feature’ artist Bedwyr Williams has been chosen as Pontio’s rst artist-in-residence. Film provides insight into student’s personal struggles He is expected to begin work this e inspiration behind this lm idea as they feel embarrassed, with many may not otherwise get. It is easy to month by exploring Bangor Uni- came from the struggles Phil has expe- medics branding the symptoms as submit your work, however not all are versity’s collections, including the rienced regularly in his adult life. With those of stress, despite being two very chosen to be shown online. ‘Crossley-Holland’ collection of over no previous documentaries highlight- di erent conditions. “When the BBC phoned, I initially 900 world music instruments, and the ing this topic, there was a clear niche Phil spoke about why he chose to do missed the call. However, I noticed I university’s Natural History museum. audience here that would bene t from such a personal story of his life. “I’ve had a voice mail. I was very shocked! Bedwyr’s previous work o en merg- any information available. been studying Media and Film since I wasn’t sure at all if I would get in, so es art and life with an ‘idiosyncratic’ by CHARLOTTE PARKER [email protected] Opportunities arose on the Media college, so making my own documen- when I found out I did, I was over- twist that is instantaneously sympa- course than enabled Phil to be able to tary is something that I’ve been asked joyed. thetic and relatable. He recently rep- make this possible. Not only was this to do in my course o en. Mostly, I “It’s a great sense of achievement resented Wales at the Venice Bienale Bangor student has had the chance to show their work on a great chance to build on his degree, enjoy making ctional short lms; and rehabilitation for me to know 2013 in which he explored themes of but it also led him to be able to con- however, it felt like the right time to that people are watching and relating the microscopic and the astronomic. BBC Fresh. Phil Coleman, a AMedia and Film Studies student, has front his demons whilst possibly help- do a documentary about my anxiety to my lm, I feel like I’ve done some- e Pontio Arts and Innovation ing others at the same time. problem.” thing good. People keep telling me Centre will open in September 2014. made a documentary exploring the di culties of su ering with anxiety at- Anxiety is a feeling of fear and wor- BBC Fresh TV and Online is spe- how much they have related to it and tacks. e ‘fresh documentary feature’ ry that can onset suddenly. It a ects cially designed to give new directors I’m so glad that they could connect to shows everyday tasks that become around one in ten people and may a chance to air a one-hour documen- my lm in that way. It’s a very special Local AM visits challenging and problematic, when be inherited through our genes. Most tary. Aimed at people who show an feeling”. su ering from this condition. people, who su er from any form of interest in this eld, this development Rhyl work anxiety, won’t seek out medical advice gives people an opportunity that they programme Bangor reach top 20 in international eco WELSH Assembly Member Mark Isherwood returned to Rhyl o ces of public services provider A4e to hear management league how the UK Government’s Work Programme is gaining momentum Vice Chancellor Professor John G y e ar.” integrating sustainable practice into and supporting more and more peo- Hughes said: “I am delighted that e university also has a new sus- everything we do, through our re- ple into employment. Bangor’s demonstrated commitment tainability policy, as well as being in- search, our teaching and our own sup- Speaking to jobseekers and sta , to taking positive action in promot- volved in a broad range of research ply chain.” the Welsh Conservative member for ing sustainability and achieving con- and development projects with indus- e Students’ Union has reached the North Wales was interested to hear tinual environmental improvement is try concentrating on the three pillars nal of e Ecologist Green Impact how the back-to-work scheme had by TOM BICKERDIKE achieving international recognition”. of sustainability – People, Planet and Communications Challenge Award progressed since his rst visit in Sep- [email protected] Bangor was recently named the Prosperity. with a lm about the creation of a tember 2012. “greenest” university in Wales in the Dr Einir Young, head of Sustainable “One Minute Garden” at Ffriddoedd A er the visit, the AM said: “It angor University has been 2013 UK People and Planet Green Development at Bangor University site - many of the Students’ Union was great to visit the A4e team in placed within the top 20 in an League. had this to say: “Our e orts in driv- clubs and societies took part. e their new Rhyl premises and to see international league table of Ricky Carter, Environmental Man- ing environmental improvements competition features Students’ Unions Bsustainability. how the performance of the Work ager in the Estates and Facilities and resource e ciencies throughout from across the UK performing “eco- Programme in our region is getting It has reached 19th place in a league Department said: “”We are making the organisation are really beginning stunts” and lming them, to encour- stronger and stronger”. featuring 301 universities from 61 great progress, and this latest news is to show dividends. However, we are age sustainability initiatives. Bangor’s countries. is initiative was launched extremely encouraging as we seek to aware that this is just one aspect of Students’ Union is a previous winner by Universitas Indonesia in 2010, to achieve the internationally recognised the sustainable development agenda. of e Ecologist Prize. highlight sustainability and environ- ISO14001 Standard for our Environ- Under the new sustainability policy mental management. mental Management System later this we are now focusing our e orts on February Issue 2014 | Seren 5 NEWS In Brief Man airli ed a er 50 drop

A MAN fell 50 whilst scrambling on Tryfan, injuring his leg. Chris Lloyd of the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation said that the man was “well-equipped and wearing a helmet”. He added: “It’s possible he knocked himself out, but he was able to call 999 a er he came to”. Twelve members of the Ogwen team, along with 10 members of the RAF’s mountain rescue team, went to the man’s aid. He was airli ed to hos- pital, but only a er the RAF search and rescue helicopter attended to another incident on Snowdon. Mr Lloyd described the weather as “reasonable”, but “a bit greasy under- f o o t ”. Buildings on the St.Mary’s site that are scheduled to be demolished or refurbished Police Photos by LJ Taylor investigate Amlwch car vandalism POLICE have launched an in- e New Normal Continued vestigation a er four vehicles were damaged in Amlwch. is includes he development of the St. that the additional space created on However, local councillors have ap- ally committed to giving an added scratched paintwork on doors and Mary’s site will lead to the clo- the site will lead to the expansion of peared positive about the new pro- value to the project as well, so there wings of vehicles parked on Mona sure of the Normal Site Halls student facilities, such as more train- ject; Cllr Gwynfor Edwards, who will be things like student placements, Street. One vehicle was damaged Twhich, despite the close student coming space for the Athletics Union, in represents the Deiniol ward, said: ‘It’s internships, not just for ourselves, but between 11.40pm on 17th January munity, are not to the same standard addition to the facilities that will be a purpose built site and any develop- for Coleg Menai and other schools in and 9.30am on 18th January. e as the other accommodation available created on the St. Mary’s site. ment like this needs to take place on the area.’ three others were damaged between at Bangor. It is also hoped that the creation of a brown eld site. It will be similar to Providing that planning permission 11.15pm on 18th January and 9am on However, despite the likely demo- a new student residential site will ease places like Swansea and Aberystwyth, is granted by the council at the end of 19th January. lition of the Halls on Normal Site, local concerns over student housing which have student villages, and it will March, Professor Tully hopes for work Anyone with any information is ad- Professor Tully remains optimistic in the city. Most recently, a local resi- help free houses in the city for Ban- to begin this spring with the demoli- vised to call PCSO Gwyn Rowlands at that Normal Site will remain a hub of dent group aired concerns that the city gor residents.’ Professor Tully has also tion of buildings that are not being Amlwch Police Station on 101. Alter- student activity, as the facilities such was tuning into a ‘student ghetto’, and stated that the building contractors kept on, with the contractors aiming natively, they can call Crimestoppers as the sports hall and the library will planning permission for a housing are keen to bring bene ts to the local to complete the halls development for anonymously on 0800 555 111. most likely remain there to support development on the old Jewson site community as well as students: ‘One the new intake of students in Septem- the schools of Education and Sports was refused by Bangor City Council of the good things about the company ber 2015. Science. In fact, Professor Tully hopes on the grounds of overdevelopment. we’re working with is that they’re re-

Celebrity chef Inquest held into Menai bistro gets go jump death ahead COUNCIL o cials have con rmed plans for the opening of a bistro in “Bright and artistic”, Pauline was diagnosed with schizophrenia Colwyn Bay will go ahead. Celeb- short life as “well-lived, lled with killed almost instantaneous. Police over the barrier and fell to her death.” rity chef Bryn Williams announced laughter, mischief, artistic creation joined members of the coastguards He was aware of the fact she le a he was going to open a bistro at the and caring for others”. and paramedics on the rocks and the note and indicated she might have new Porth Eirias water sports centre Pauline’s body was noticed by a Ban- body was airli ed to Ysbyty Gwynedd. harmed herself. However, he added: last September. However, legal issues gor University student on a rocky is- Pathologist Dr Mark Lord told the “It is di cult to ascertain the inten- have delayed the opening for the last land at the base of the bridge during inquest that blood tests revealed she tion of those who have mental health 5 months. by TOM BICKERDIKE late a ernoon on May 20 last year. had taken a variety of drugs pre- issues and I prefer to steer away from Mr Williams, from Denbigh, said: “I [email protected] Miriam Unterhuber was walking scribed by doctors. However, he added speculating what was in this young didn’t want to go through my whole across the bridge with her boyfriend, that the results were not altogether ac- lady’s mind.” career and not cook in Wales. I le n inquest at Caernarfon has when she noticed a brightly coloured, curate and should not be interpreted Pauline’s friends and family have when I was 20 and I haven’t cooked heard how a teenager killed patterned bag, a pair of boots and a that she had taken an overdose. honoured her memory by hosting a here since. For me it would be a herself a er falling 100 from jacket on the ground. She looked over Coroner Dewi Pritchard-Jones told celebration of her life as well as her shame if I didn’t cook back in Wales.” Athe Menai Suspension Bridge. the railings and saw the body below, the hearing: “Unfortunately I have had work at Hendre Hall. On show were He also owns a restaurant in Prim- Pauline Swatridge, 15, from Felin- before running to the Tafarn y Bont in many deaths in that locality. e bar- a selection of her artwork and short rose Hill, London. heli, was described as “bright and ar- Menai Bridge to contact the police. riers are so it’s almost impossible for lms; there were also performances tistic”, but was diagnosed with schizo- Pauline is believed to have sustained anyone to accidentally fall over them. from musical groups she admired or phrenia. Her parents described her multiple injuries and would have been My belief is this young lady climbed was involved with. 6 Seren | February Issue 2014 NEWS In Brief Welsh weather warning Police appeal for witnesses to armed robbery

POLICE are appealing for witnesses a er two men carried out an armed robbery at a shop in Kinmel Bay. ey entered Lifestyle Express on Towyn Road, just before 8pm on 3rd February and took a large amount of money from the till. A erwards, they are believed to have travelled down Dinas Brown Avenue. Police have released a description of the two men. e rst is described as having a tall, large build and was wearing a hooded top and jeans; the second man is described as having a medium build and was also wearing a hoodie and jeans.

Green Grass of More homes damaged as storms set in once again Home welcomes legend

FOR the rst time in his career, Welsh residents warned to prepare for more ooding and strong winds Tom Jones will be performing in North Wales. Natural Resources Wales advises people to stay away from coastlines e Welshman will return to his also evacuated their seafront homes. that the next couple of weeks could date with the weather and tra c news. homeland this summer for his rst Winds of up to 70mph have been bring even more misery as high tides Businessman George Clarke trav- outdoor concert in the area, a er predicted by the Met O ce, particu- will continue to pose a risk of ooding elled to Bangor from Cheshire on almost a decade since his last per- larly in the exposed western areas of to many areas. Friday 31st January and encountered formance in his home town of Pon- North Wales. Large waves have been Prestatyn has been hit worst with treacherous road conditions. typridd. crashing the coastlines causing dis- ood barriers being demolished by “ e wind was howling against the Sir Tom, who is now based in Los ruption on the roads. high waves. Most of the coastal path car as I travelled along the A55. e Angeles, is delighted to be headlin- by CHARLOTTE PARKER [email protected] Residents have been warned of the has been cordoned o for safety rea- constant rain made for poor visibility, ing at the Access All Eirias Concert combination of strong winds and high sons. making the journey longer and rela- in Colwyn Bay on 25th July. orth Wales is being told to tides, and have been advised to stay Mid Wales has also su ered over tively unsafe.” “Coming back to Wales to perform prepare for more ooding away from the coast as well as prom- the last month with Aberystwyth be- Snowdonia National Park o cers is always a treat, and in the fantastic over the next couple of weeks. enades. ing le in misery. Over 600 students have been joining forces with Natural location of Eirias Stadium we’re going NSevere oods le devastating disrup- An NRW Spokesman said: “People have le their seafront homes and are Resources Wales to drop sand bags o to put on a hell of a show.” tion at the beginning of the year, dam- are strongly advised to stay clear of currently living in alternative accom- in di erent towns across the coastline. e star, who has recently appeared aging homes and the coastline. promenades and sea fronts as they modation. Football also su ered from the wet back on our screens in the new series 40 ood warnings have been issued could be swept away by large waves or Along with the heavy storms that are weekend. Colwyn Bay’s game against of e Voice, last performed a gig in by Natural Resources Wales (NRW), hit by debris”. expected, snow has also been suggest- Harrogate and Airbus’ game against Wales in 2005 in front of 20,000 fans for the rst two weeks of February. e Conwy experienced the highest re- ed for some areas. Bangor, Betws-y- Bangor were both postponed due to in Pontypridd to celebrate his 65th current warnings are amber- meaning corded waves on Saturday 1st Febru- Coed, Colwyn Bay and Llandudno are waterlogged pitches. birthday. ‘be prepared’ for ooding. ary, measuring in at 8.8 metres. Angle- just some of the areas that were fore- Due to the severity of damage Pr- Many coastal communities have be- sey also su ered from the high tides cast to have snow over the last week. estatyn endured, their football team’s gun preparing for the worst by board- with Trearddur Bay being measured at A er a number of road incidents, game against Chester was also called Lord of the ing up windows and doors as well as 5.9 metres. drivers are being warned to take time o . Manor drops laying sandbags. Many residents have Natural Resources Wales has warned on their journeys and to keep up to Anglesey land claim Return for Bangor pleasure boats THE Lord of the Manor of Tre os Boat trip service hoped to be nished and ready for the summer on Anglesey, a businessman named Stephen Hayes, has dropped a 10,500 company remain unnamed at this ated at Bangor’s pier if the structure versity, thinks there will be mixed re- acre land claim that had previously point. was upgraded. views about these proposed trips. le homeowners concerned. He spoke of how he has had meetings Councillor John Wynne Jones was “Boat trips in the summer would be A er writing to 4000 Anglesey resi- with the company owners and they are the chair of Bangor City Council in a good idea, a nice day out for the local dents to tell of the fact that he had very eager to come to Bangor to begin 2011, and at this time he estimated residents and could bring some mon- registered his rights, Hayes retracted plans with Barry Davies, Gwynedd the refurbishing of the pier would cost ey into the area. However with Bangor his claim, saying it was worthless and by CHARLOTTE PARKER Council’s Maritime Manager. around £2 million. being heavily populated by students, he had been falsely led to think oth- [email protected] “We need to do everything we can to He said: “As it is now, we all walked I’m not sure many of them would like erwise. is relieved many residents make this happen; let’s get boat trips upon it and we all think that it’s ne the idea. e price would have to be who were concerned that house sales, angor could be seeing the re- going from Bangor this year”. and great but underneath that struc- reasonable and the destinations would loans and mortgages would be return of Pleasure Boat Trips this He added: “It’s something where ture is eroding. We’ve got to paint it need to be appealing.” stricted and that the claim might lead year. everyone needs to work together as a and give it some corrosion protection”. As of yet there are plans for immedi- to drilling for shale gas on their land. BGwynedd Councillor Nigel Picka- community to try to do everything we When the pier was refurbished in ate renovations to take place. e boat Among those relieved were the 800 vance stated that a company has come can to get this there”. the 1980’s, no maintenance plan was trips will not take place until these people who attended a meeting on forward in order to hopefully start e Marchog Ward Ccuncillor add- devised for the future years. reports have been seen, and a public the subject on 3th February. boat trips again this summer. e ed that the boat service could be situ- Jess Hazley, student at Bangor Uni- consultation will then be launched. February Issue 2014 | Seren 7 NEWS Headlines from the 1992 1990 1991 Mandela Released Maggie Resigns WWW 11th February 2nd November 7th August Disney Delight Royal Divide AFTER 27 years in prison, Anti- Apartheid campaigner Nelson Mandela MARGARET atcher con rms that AFTER two years of developed proposals, 12th April 19th March has been freed. His release came a er she will be standing down as Prime August ‘91 saw one of the biggest techno- Minister. Her Cabinet refused the back- logical developments of all time. e World EURO Disney Resort opened AFTER being heavily cov- the relaxation of apartheid laws that in- its doors for the rst time this cluded li ing the ban on leading black ing in her second round of leadership Wide Web was created by Tim Berners-Lee ered in the media, Prince in order to interconnect computer networks. year. Now known as Disneyland Andrew and Sarah Ferguson’s rights party the African National Con- elections. Paris, this resort is the most vis- marriage is over. e couple gress. ited in Europe, and is home to have agreed to part ways ami- two theme parks, thirteen ho- cably. tels, a golf course and a railway station. 1993 1994 1995 Good Morning Power Up Death of an Icon 1st January 28th August 8th April EAMONN Holmes and Anne Davies NIRVANA frontman Kurt Cobain came into our homes for the rst time RED, Black, Yellow, Pink and Blue commits suicide. A er a number of this year. GMTV was aired for the rst were the favourite colours of many attempts to take his own life, Co- Ctrl, Alt, Create time. Despite losing over 2 million children in 1993. e Power Rangers bain’s body was found with a gunshot 24th August viewers in the rst 6 weeks of broad- appeared on our screens for 8 years wound to the head. He was aged 27. ey’ll Always Be casting, the show lasted seventeen showing 20 seasons of 17 di erent FOUR years a er the creation of years and was presented by over 100 themed stories and two theatrical ere For You the World Wide Web, another presenters. lms. 22nd September revolutionary improvement was made. Windows 95 was the latest WITH 236 episodes and over 52 mil- edition to the Microso Family. lion viewers tuning in to see the nal is development brought com- episode, Friends really has become a puter users accessibility to many television phenomenon. Set over ten new features including the famous 1997 series, these 6 characters were well ‘start’ button. known in every household throughout the 90’s.

Tony at Number 10 A Nation In Mourning 1998 1996 2nd May Ghetto Gospel 31st August FOLLOWING a landslide of win- Star Shot LADY Diana dies due to injuries she sus- ning votes, Tony Blair becomes tained in a car crash that took place in 13th September the new Prime Minister of the UK. Paris. e previous Royal Family was in e Labour Leader was the young- her car, when the driver lost control in the RAPPER and actor Tupac Amaru est Prime Minister since the early Pont De L’Alma tunnel and ploughed into Shakur was a victim in a drive-by 1800’s. Blair went on to be the La- a wall. Diana later died of her injuries. shooting in Las Vegas. A er su ering bour Party’s longest serving Prime gun shot wounds to his hand, thigh, Minister, holding the position for pelvis and chest, he died due to inter- ten years. Sinking Ship nal bleeding Shatters Sales Prepare for the Potter What If I Told e Millennium Bug 1st March 30th June You... 31st December 31st March ONE of the biggest scares in the techno- AFTER being released in 1997, Titanic THE wizarding word sets to put all logical world had to be the Y2K scare. broke all Box O ce records. Upon its fans under its spell. ‘Harry Potter the ON this day, one of the is shocked the world when switching release in March, Titanic became the Philosophers Stone’ was released on highest grossing sci- over to the new millennium could be a rst lm to earn more than $1 billion this date and tipped to be one of the lms of all time was re- possible issue for all technological piec- worldwide. On the weekend of April greatest fantasy novels of all time. To be leased. e Matrix was 1999 es of equipment as they were expected 13th -15th 2012, the lm was re-re- followed by various sequels and a very so successful, a video to all reset themselves causing uproar leased in 3D. It then became the sec- successful lm franchise. game and 2 sequels were amongst users. Companies and organi- ond lm to cross the $2 billion thresh- released, and even now sations had to spend billions of dollars old during its 3D release. fans are trying to per- on upgrading their systems and chang- suade writers and direc- ing their codes so they could t the new millennium in amongst their dates and by CHARLOTTE PARKER tors for a fourth instal- [email protected] ment. calendar systems. 8 Seren | February Issue 2014 COMMENT Bangor, you have been #Nek-nominated by SINNEAD TOWEY integration. However, I personally do not condone the current manor he new student drinking game of excessive drinking, as there are which has taken two lives has so few rules it is easy for people to reached Bangor. take the activity well out of hand. As T e new phase is made up of peo- my view on drinking relates to this ple lming themselves while doing ri- extremely well, I appreciate the ac- diculous stunts and downing a drink, tivity of drinking and neknominate, uploading the lm onto social media, however the excessive drinking does and then nominating other people to cause for concern for the safety and “out stage” their attempt and continue health of my members.” the game. Captain of the men’s swimming e “neknominate” craze, also team, James Holman has said, “Fol- known as “neck and nominate” is lowing the deaths of two people due thought to have originated in Perth, to neknomination, people should re- but thanks to social media it has since ally consider the health implications gone global. of this activity. Particularly sports Some of the most concerning clips men and women who should already which have been posted to the viral be aware of the health an implication Facebook group include a man down- drinking involves.” ing a beer, nailing his testicles to a table and then downing another beer. THE UNION ON ere have also been clips of people eating animals in order to out stage NEKNOMINATIONS the people who nominated them. One attempt shows a male from South “Nobody likes to be the kill joy of Wales, drinking a beer before eating the latest craze, and there is certainly a “1 day old baby chick” and then an element of choice involved, choice drinking half a litre of vodka. to take part, choice in the amount of In Ireland, two young men have risk you take. What people need to died due to the new drinking craze. remember is it’s not always the con- e body of the youngest victim, sumption of alcohol that is the prob- named as 19-year-old Jonny Byrne, lem. Sometimes it’s the e ects and was recovered from the river at Mil- how what you’ve consumed can im- ford Bridge in County Carlow. Ac- pair your judgement on what you do cording to reports on social media, next. We recommend that you steer he died a er jumping into a river a er clear and we certainly don’t want to downing a drink, as part of a nomina- see our clubs and societies taking tion. part. Stay safe,” said the head of So- Ross Cummins, 22, was found un- cieties & Community Ash Kierans. conscious in a house in Dublin in the early hours of Saturday morning; his death is also believed to be as a result #RAKnominations of neknominate. Annie Ryan, a law student at UCD A er hearing about the death of has said; “It’s really crazy over here in two people due to the new drink- Ireland we are all getting seriously sick ing activity, a South African male trying to better one another. ere has altered his version of the trend was a student the other day that drank by posting an alternative approach a pint of WD40 and so to better him a online. In his video, the male drives lad mixed petrol with beer! It’s ridicu- around a poverty stricken area, at a lous.” set of tra c lights, a homeless man approaches in attempt to clean the vehicle for money. e South Afri- “NEKNOMINATIONS” IN can male winds down his window BANGOR and hands the homeless man a sand- wich, a chocolate bar and a bottle of ere have been a few neknomi- coke. nate videos that have surfaced among is “random act of kindness” has some of the sports teams here in Ban- also gone viral with thousands of gor, but thankfully not of an extreme people replicating the act and post- or dangerous nature. ing the videos online. e videos have mostly shown in- e fact of the matter is, as long as dividuals drinking a pint of a desired people have the technology available cocktail, but not participating in any to them , individuals will choose to harmful activities whilst doing so. post what they wish. I’m sure the ere have been mixed views here thuggish and animalistic behaviour in Bangor among students. shown by some will unfortunately Some students believe that the be- carry on, no matter how many haviour re ects negatively not only on deaths have taken place. the person involved and the Univer- I also think that some decent sity of the Student, but it also re ects people will use these neknomina- on the national identity of the partici- tions in the “banterous” way they pants. were intended to originally portray. doing the dirtiest pints possible to outdo each Todd has said, “Like most things, moderation “I think this neknomination, or whatever it is Drinking is a huge part of many students’ lives other. But once you are nominated unexpect- is key. I have heard some terrible stories of ne- called is bloody ridiculous and it may just rein- and will stay that way no matter the opinions of edly, you do experience that ‘Oh no’ feeling, but knominations and I would never condone drink- force a reputation abroad of the British and Irish others. It was only a matter of time before the it’s great fun and personally, as a third year, it is ing to a harmful extent or participating in any of that they both drink to excess and with excesses binge drinking nature of students made it onto a funny distraction from the mountain of work I the dangerous activities that some people have. attached.” said Reece Lloyd, French and German social networking sites. RAKnominations are a have!” said third year student Kevin Gri n. However, I have also seen examples of neknomi- with Italian student here at Bangor. great idea. People shouldn’t really need self-rec- nations being nothing more than a bit of friendly On the other hand some student here at the ognition for random acts of kindness but none fun amongst friends.” university believes that neknominations, in the the less, it is working as a pro-active counterpart SPORTS TEAMS ON Olie Racey, captain of the men’s hockey team right context, can be used as harmless fun. “Ne- to some of the childish and dangerous forms on has also commented on the new craze. “My knominations, despite their disadvantages, are a NEKNOMINATIONS neknominations that are happening at this mo- thoughts on neknominate are mixed; the social great way to start some pre-drinks! I think it’s a ment in time. cohesion that it brings is a positive to the social funny pass time, especially seeing your friends e captain of the women’s rugby team, Iona aspect to the club which does give better team 8 Seren | February Issue 2014 February Issue 2014 | Seren 9 COMMENT COMMENT Bangor, you have been #Nek-nominated Train Prices Not Fare by SINNEAD TOWEY integration. However, I personally do not condone the current manor he new student drinking game of excessive drinking, as there are which has taken two lives has so few rules it is easy for people to reached Bangor. take the activity well out of hand. As T e new phase is made up of peo- my view on drinking relates to this ple lming themselves while doing ri- extremely well, I appreciate the ac- diculous stunts and downing a drink, tivity of drinking and neknominate, uploading the lm onto social media, however the excessive drinking does and then nominating other people to cause for concern for the safety and “out stage” their attempt and continue health of my members.” the game. Captain of the men’s swimming e “neknominate” craze, also team, James Holman has said, “Fol- Ida is an international student working in known as “neck and nominate” is lowing the deaths of two people due liasion with the international o ce . Every thought to have originated in Perth, to neknomination, people should re- issue she’ll write about her experiences in but thanks to social media it has since ally consider the health implications Bangor. gone global. of this activity. Particularly sports Some of the most concerning clips men and women who should already which have been posted to the viral be aware of the health an implication Facebook group include a man down- drinking involves.” ing a beer, nailing his testicles to a Foreign people can’t juggle studies and a job – it’s that stand on a train for hours because they didn’t table and then downing another beer. THE UNION ON there are simply so few jobs available in rela- include enough carriages on a notoriously busy ere have also been clips of people by CALLUM HULME tion to the number of students here. Students train line, we can at least be a bit more comfort- eating animals in order to out stage NEKNOMINATIONS very year we nd ourselves reading what are more reluctant to spend, especially on over- able, perhaps? Interests the people who nominated them. One s Valentine’s day approaches, I’d like feels like the same news story, reworded or priced train tickets, if they know they would Or maybe fancy new pre-recorded messages attempt shows a male from South “Nobody likes to be the kill joy of to raise an issue many people face rehashed, about the increase in train fares rather invest in necessities and vital living costs. apologising for constant delays and late arrivals? Wales, drinking a beer before eating the latest craze, and there is certainly while studying abroad. I, like many andE ticket prices. e annual rise sees our train I have had a few horror stories of my own when Recently I found my attempt to book a train an element of choice involved, choice Aothers, am dating a foreigner. My boyfriend a “1 day old baby chick” and then fares increase at an average of 3% a year, with it comes to rail travel, as I’m sure many of you ticket, to see my sister for her birthday, shot drinking half a litre of vodka. to take part, choice in the amount of is an American. January of 2014 seeing an increase of 2.8%; the have. e rail companies use the excuse of con- down. etrainline.com wanted £68 for an open In Ireland, two young men have risk you take. What people need to When people think about people from smallest increase for four years. stant annual rises in fares as a way to, ‘protect return – almost a quarter of my remaining studied due to the new drinking craze. remember is it’s not always the condi erent nations dating, it doesn’t seem too Campaigners are still in protest to the increas- current levels of reinvestment in the transport dent loan – just to see her for the weekend. e body of the youngest victim, sumption of alcohol that is the prob- complicated. In my case the cultural di er- es, as the rises do not fall in line with the annual network, delivering greater capacity and more Trips home, at around £38, are also out of the named as 19-year-old Jonny Byrne, lem. Sometimes it’s the e ects and ences between me and my boyfriend are not wage growth of 0.7% - leaving honest workers reliable services.’ question, and trips to the local cinema, which was recovered from the river at Mil- how what you’ve consumed can im- that major. Finland even has a nickname ‘Lit- increasingly out of pocket when it comes to their Over the summer, I had to commute to Man- comes to almost £7 on the train, are few and far ford Bridge in County Carlow. Ac- pair your judgement on what you do tle America’. Still dating a person from an- commute expenses. chester in order to work every day. I wish I could between. cording to reports on social media, next. We recommend that you steer other country is more complex than it rst Where does this leave us as students, then? say that the trains were reliable, but they were far Continuous rises in rail fares could see univer- he died a er jumping into a river a er clear and we certainly don’t want to appears. It’s not until then you understand Many people at University can’t juggle their from it. More o en than not, I found my train sities like Bangor isolated and with very little to downing a drink, as part of a nomina- see our clubs and societies taking that you don’t really date a person as much as studies and a job at the same time, and with the not arriving at all, never mind late. do without travelling further a eld. is could tion. part. Stay safe,” said the head of So- their entire culture. student maintenance loans not increasing to If their services are still this unreliable a er result in losing potential university applicants Ross Cummins, 22, was found un- cieties & Community Ash Kierans. People enter a relationship as a repre- accommodate the rising cost of student living, years of fare rises and supposed ‘reinvestment’ as they may take into account unfair rises in rail conscious in a house in Dublin in the sentative of their own personal background, many of us will be increasingly put o from rail then what exactly are they investing our money costs, the lack of employment opportunities and early hours of Saturday morning; his which includes things like values and beliefs. travel altogether. into? an increasingly meagre maintenance loan. death is also believed to be as a result #RAKnominations When two people from the same country are In Bangor’s case, it’s not so much that many New carpets? So that when we’re forced to of neknominate. in a relationship, you could claim that they Annie Ryan, a law student at UCD A er hearing about the death of share a culture and language if not the ac- has said; “It’s really crazy over here in two people due to the new drink- cent, despite their di erences in other things. Ireland we are all getting seriously sick ing activity, a South African male When people from di erent countries date, trying to better one another. ere has altered his version of the trend Facebook, and this Art Thing you become aware of the e ect your cul- was a student the other day that drank by posting an alternative approach So actually, I end up getting real bummed Smiths (just kidding (maybe)). tural environment has on things you never a pint of WD40 and so to better him a online. In his video, the male drives by ALI KESHTMAND out when I see a good idea through a Facebook Now, you aren’t a pleb if you don’t like art. Too expected. Even though my boyfriend and lad mixed petrol with beer! It’s ridicu- around a poverty stricken area, at a trend, because if anything, it just makes it all the many people get a superiority complex at the I grew up in quite similar environments in lous.” set of tra c lights, a homeless man ’m not a fan of this art sharing trend... but more certain that it’s going to be forgotten soon. “museum goer” image they give. ey’re not. our respective countries, we face di erences approaches in attempt to clean the I like art. Maybe I’m cynical, but I’m of the People will shoot it up, then go look for a hit But I think art can be special to people, if intro- every day. vehicle for money. e South Afri- rm belief that Facebook trends that aim somewhere else; case in point for this art ting. duced the right way. So if you want to see wheth- In terms of socializing, my boyfriend is “NEKNOMINATIONS” IN can male winds down his window toI make big changes rarely (never) work. Even It’s nice to see on Facebook, and it’s nice to feel er you are in fact into art, beyond the IDEA of very American. He talks to everyone and BANGOR and hands the homeless man a sand- KONY 2012, with its awesome marketing cam- sophisticated by sharing some art, but it’s not being into art, go into a museum and look at makes friends easily. Like a true Finn, I feel wich, a chocolate bar and a bottle of paign, was promptly forgotten for Gangnam very… real is it? It’s just people taking advantage some paintings, ‘appreciating’ (or not) whatever my personal space violated when a stranger ere have been a few neknomi- coke. style, the Olympics, the anniversary of Zyzz’s of a trend to seem more interesting. Kind of like you want about them. Feel really good? Do it even glances at me. When my boyfriend pays nate videos that have surfaced among is “random act of kindness” has death, etc. enjoying e Smiths; nobody actually likes e more! Feel bad? Don’t beat yourself up. me a compliment, my rst reaction is to be- some of the sports teams here in Ban- also gone viral with thousands of little. Oh, this old thing? Despite our many gor, but thankfully not of an extreme people replicating the act and post- similarities we still represent the polar oppo- or dangerous nature. ing the videos online. sites in the classic subjects of gun ownership e videos have mostly shown in- e fact of the matter is, as long as V- Inspired and taxation. dividuals drinking a pint of a desired people have the technology available Luckily those things are very trivial. Even to them , individuals will choose to though I admit my life would be easier if my cocktail, but not participating in any by TAMARA ANSAH ware of the signs of being in one and are una- harmful activities whilst doing so. post what they wish. I’m sure the boyfriend spoke Finnish, the fact that you thuggish and animalistic behaviour ware of where they can access help. learn about the other person’s culture as well ere have been mixed views here eam V is a national volunteer leadership shown by some will unfortunately As an inspiring youth movement Team V will as the person himself every day de nitely in Bangor among students. programme, which is delivered by a youth carry on, no matter how many focus on positive actions to facilitate local discus- enriches my life. His country is massive and Some students believe that the be- volunteering charity called V Inspired. deaths have taken place. sions. is February, the month of love, Team V outspoken and mine is small and silent but haviour re ects negatively not only on T e Aim for Team V leaders is to spend time leaders will organise pop-up events across the I also think that some decent luckily we still t under the same roof. the person involved and the Univer- helping other young people engage in campaigns people will use these neknomina- country encouraging young people aged 16-25 Were you born to be on stage? One World sity of the Student, but it also re ects in their communities and campaign on a wide tions in the “banterous” way they to re ect on what makes a healthy relationship day approaches and people from di erent on the national identity of the partici- range of social issues. and inform people on how to access support if pants. were intended to originally portray. cultures (including British!) are welcomed to doing the dirtiest pints possible to outdo each Todd has said, “Like most things, moderation Team v’s latest campaign, ‘Love is..?’, harnesses needed, giving them the con dence to make the “I think this neknomination, or whatever it is Drinking is a huge part of many students’ lives come and share their talent. One World Day other. But once you are nominated unexpect- is key. I have heard some terrible stories of ne- a network of six hundred young people to aiming best decisions for themselves and those closest to called is bloody ridiculous and it may just rein- and will stay that way no matter the opinions of celebrates the university’s cultural richness edly, you do experience that ‘Oh no’ feeling, but knominations and I would never condone drink- put young adult relationships under the spotlight. them. force a reputation abroad of the British and Irish others. It was only a matter of time before the and it’s open to all Bangor students/sta , it’s great fun and personally, as a third year, it is ing to a harmful extent or participating in any of We all have a right to supportive, healthy and Our aim is to have around 100+ pop-up events that they both drink to excess and with excesses binge drinking nature of students made it onto as well as the local community. Audition is a funny distraction from the mountain of work I the dangerous activities that some people have. ful lling relationships; yet nearly 75% of girls taking place all on one day, Saturday 15th Febru- attached.” said Reece Lloyd, French and German social networking sites. RAKnominations are a held on 5pm at Wednesday 12th February at have!” said third year student Kevin Gri n. However, I have also seen examples of neknomi- and nearly 50% of boys have reported some sort ary, engaging with thousands of young people and with Italian student here at Bangor. great idea. People shouldn’t really need self-rec- Rathbone Hall. nations being nothing more than a bit of friendly of emotional partner abuse and a staggering 81% feeding into a social media campaign to create an On the other hand some student here at the ognition for random acts of kindness but none If you can’t make that day, don’t worry. You fun amongst friends.” of all young adults experiencing abuse never ac- online buzz, putting healthy relationships on the university believes that neknominations, in the the less, it is working as a pro-active counterpart can still drop in on one of the rehearsals. For SPORTS TEAMS ON Olie Racey, captain of the men’s hockey team cess support. High pro le campaigns have been agenda. is includes an event here in Bangor! right context, can be used as harmless fun. “Ne- to some of the childish and dangerous forms on more information please email internation- has also commented on the new craze. “My set up, such as the Home O ce’s ‘ is is Abuse’ To stay up to date with promotions leading up to knominations, despite their disadvantages, are a NEKNOMINATIONS neknominations that are happening at this mo- [email protected], check the Interna- thoughts on neknominate are mixed; the social campaign. e campaign has provided a shock- the 15th & the event, like & follow your local team https://www.facebook.com/TeamVBangor great way to start some pre-drinks! I think it’s a ment in time. tional Student Support website or ring 01248 cohesion that it brings is a positive to the social ing reminder that anyone can nd themselves in V social media pages! https://twitter.com/TeamvBangor funny pass time, especially seeing your friends e captain of the women’s rugby team, Iona 388430. aspect to the club which does give better team an abusive relationship, yet many people are una 10 Seren | February Issue 2014 POLITICS In Brief Sixth Form Colleges Funding “Slashed” JAMES Kewin, deputy chief ex- ecutive of the Sixth Form Colleges Association, expressed fears a er presenting a survey published this week which highlighted current cuts to post-16 education funding - men- tioning that it would lead to an edu- cational “road-to-nowhere.” 48% of Sixth Form colleges have cut courses, and 78% have had to cut sta ng. ese cuts came a er the government spent £62m establish- ing nine new free schools, which between them enrol just 1,557 pupils. e survey was released prior to Education Minister Michael Gove’s speech at e London Academy of Excellence on the 3rd February, in which he said that he intended to tear down the “Berlin Wall” between In Defense of Striking Educators state and private education in Eng- room is accentuated, while the moti- this system highlights this reliance entirely on the university classroom, land. by PETER CLARKE vation behind strike action is clouded on them, and the risk teachers take since the classroom is not anchored to and ,for the most part, dismissed. in striking against privatisation and the university building. Students are few weeks back , a group of his- e response from the history stu- our rising tuitions fees should earn encouraged to email work, to request Pubs may stay tory students at Warwick Uni- dents at Warwick present a question them great respect, as administra- feedback. One line of thought may versity organised their own worth asking - are these students re- tions tend to cater to us students as be, “hey, my work is due on this date open for World Alectures in response to their temporar- belling against privatisation by self- actual individuals, while teachers are when teachers are striking, but we ily absent tutors, who were on strike organising their lectures, or are they interchangeable; either part-time or have a ‘turnitin’ system, and I’m sure Cup, PM Says for a few lectures. crossing the picket line and under- full-time equivalencies. You have to lecturers aren’t likely to penalise our Teachers at Warwick were on strike mining the teachers’ protest? A er all, wonder if (touch wood) tuition fees grading due to their striking. ” IN a post on Twitter, David Cam- for a plethora of reasons, and the im- the cost of student tuition has tripled rise again, when students’ positions It is fair to assume that the students eron stated that there is to be an of- mediate reasons for the protests in at Warwick were not acting in solidar- cial “rethink” regarding licensing recent weeks, according to Sally Hunt ity with their teachers. Instead they permissions for pubs ahead of the (general secretary of the union rep- Teachers are absolutely necessary were either unaware of the risk our 2014 World Cup. resenting academics), was to request for an education system. teachers are taking for themselves and He intervened just days a er Liber- further negotiations to improve the us, or intent on showing a disregard al Democrat minister Norman Baker pay rise o er of employers from a for the teachers. I heard today from said that pubs will not be granted minimal 1 per cent. Warwick univer- in recent years, so surely a missed shi further towards consumers of one of my tutors that a strike was hap- permission to stay open late to tele- sity, similarly to universities all across lecture adds insult to injury for the university more than they already are, pening on February 6, and I think if vise England’s World Cup, a decision the country, have of course been ar- students. However, as students , we would the students in Warwick still be the strike does occur I’ll use the spare which lead to widespread outrage ranging strikes for years and decades, should ask ourselves whether one or proud of their undermining of their time to catch up on the reading list. I among England fans and pub propri- though in recent years this has been two missed lectures is worth fretting teachers’ action? can chat to my tutors about the lec- etors alike. A nationwide consulta- to protest Michael Gove’s continued over when contrasted with the risk A er looking at what is being fought tures missed during o ce hours, no tion - involving pub tradesmen, po- privatisation of the education system. that our teachers take, and what they against, the e ect of a strike on stu- problem. lice forces and local councils - is set I feel it necessary early in this article to are standing for. dents is minimal. By causing a disrup- I think in light of these protests we to be held in the near future, though highlight these motivations for strike Teachers are absolutely necessary tion in order to highlight the neces- need to appreciate our teachers, and exact dates have yet to be con rmed. action, as when there is mentioned for an education system, this point is sity of the worker, the teacher in this step away from the idea that they’re At least one England match will strike action, or protests, the words not really up for dispute - the War- case is the purpose of strike action, simply gureheads in front of pow- not kick-o until 11pm, and more carry a great deal of negative conno- wick students self-organised for a few so the disruption to the classroom is erpoint presentations, because we all late matches may be on the cards, tations. In the case of teacher strikes, lectures, not an entire semester. e minimal. Completing work for and know they’re far more than that. depending on England’s World Cup the immediate disruption of the class- teachers temporar ily stepping out of attending lectures is not dependent performance. Peers Reject Compulsory Sex Education 5 12% 75m 1000 The number of UK The percentage of The amount of mon- The amount, in THE House of Lords voted against universities that did university courses ey, in pounds, that will pounds, that English a law set to introduce compulsory not have their funding that were cut in 2012. be saved by cutting maintenance grants sex education in schools as a foundation subject with 142 voting in cut in 2011. the National will be cut by next favour of the change and 290 voting Studentship Program. year. against. e legislation, which would have a ected English state schools, was set to replace current sex education with a more all-encompassing cur- riculum, which would include infor- £350,000,000 mation ranging from the importance of consent to same-sex relationships, The amount of grant money that Universities Secretary, as opposed to the current model of sex education in the UK, which fo- cuses mainly on pregnancy and STI prevention. David Willets intends to cut. 10 Seren | February Issue 2014 February Issue 2014 | Seren 11 POLITICS POLITICS In Brief Flying the flag In Brief Sixth Form Colleges International students talk politics Syrian Refugees Funding To Be Granted “Slashed” Asylum JAMES Kewin, deputy chief ex- DEPUTY Prime Minister Nick ecutive of the Sixth Form Colleges Clegg has announced that Britain Association, expressed fears a er will become a safe haven to an esti- presenting a survey published this mated 500 Syrian refugees. e move week which highlighted current cuts is heavily endorsed by the Labour to post-16 education funding - men- Party and has won the support of tioning that it would lead to an edu- UKIP leader Nigel Farage. cational “road-to-nowhere.” Despite these plans, the coalition 48% of Sixth Form colleges have government has refused to sign up to cut courses, and 78% have had to cut the o cial U.N. High Commission sta ng. ese cuts came a er the for Refugees Sanctuary Program, government spent £62m establish- which aims to settle 30,000 Syrian ing nine new free schools, which be- refugees in Western countries. tween them enrol just 1,557 pupils. However, Nick Clegg emphasised e survey was released prior to the monetary contribution of Brit- Education Minister Michael Gove’s ain to help victims of violence in speech at e London Academy of both Syria and other Middle-Eastern Excellence on the 3rd February, in countries, saying “ e £600 million which he said that he intended to we have provided makes us the sec- tear down the “Berlin Wall” between In Defense of Striking Educators ond largest bilateral donor of hu- manitarian aid in the world.” state and private education in Eng- room is accentuated, while the moti- this system highlights this reliance entirely on the university classroom, land. by PETER CLARKE vation behind strike action is clouded on them, and the risk teachers take since the classroom is not anchored to and ,for the most part, dismissed. in striking against privatisation and the university building. Students are few weeks back , a group of his- e response from the history stu- our rising tuitions fees should earn encouraged to email work, to request MPs’ Catering Pubs may stay tory students at Warwick Uni- dents at Warwick present a question them great respect, as administra- feedback. One line of thought may versity organised their own worth asking - are these students re- tions tend to cater to us students as be, “hey, my work is due on this date Complaints open for World Alectures in response to their temporar- belling against privatisation by self- actual individuals, while teachers are when teachers are striking, but we COMPLAINTS made by West- ily absent tutors, who were on strike organising their lectures, or are they interchangeable; either part-time or have a ‘turnitin’ system, and I’m sure minster politicians regarding cater- Cup, PM Says for a few lectures. crossing the picket line and under- full-time equivalencies. You have to lecturers aren’t likely to penalise our ing have been published following Teachers at Warwick were on strike mining the teachers’ protest? A er all, wonder if (touch wood) tuition fees grading due to their striking. ” a Freedom of Information request IN a post on Twitter, David Cam- for a plethora of reasons, and the im- the cost of student tuition has tripled rise again, when students’ positions It is fair to assume that the students eron stated that there is to be an of- by e Independent newspaper. e mediate reasons for the protests in at Warwick were not acting in solidar- complaints, which date from 2012- cial “rethink” regarding licensing recent weeks, according to Sally Hunt ity with their teachers. Instead they permissions for pubs ahead of the 2013, include a rant against an “infe- (general secretary of the union rep- Teachers are absolutely necessary were either unaware of the risk our rior” co ee machine and the change 2014 World Cup. resenting academics), was to request teachers are taking for themselves and He intervened just days a er Liber- for an education system. of practice which no longer allows further negotiations to improve the us, or intent on showing a disregard I Won e Lottery visitors to take copies of the menu as al Democrat minister Norman Baker pay rise o er of employers from a for the teachers. I heard today from Booth is right about that, unfortunate- never got to see the results ourselves souvenirs. said that pubs will not be granted minimal 1 per cent. Warwick univer- in recent years, so surely a missed shi further towards consumers of one of my tutors that a strike was hap- by IDA VÄISÄNEN this piece published by Ilta Sanomat, ly. Still, nothing is as straightforward but did get told o a erwards for not Despite the fact that prices at West- permission to stay open late to tele- sity, similarly to universities all across lecture adds insult to injury for the university more than they already are, pening on February 6, and I think if says that there is no reason for Finns as it might seem in a single article. Be- doing as well as we could’ve. I also re- minster’s restaurant are cheaper than vise England’s World Cup, a decision the country, have of course been ar- students. However, as students , we would the students in Warwick still be the strike does occur I’ll use the spare to be provoked. Behind the criticism cause of their ingrown silence people member the atmosphere of conform- most nearby restaurants, this did which lead to widespread outrage ranging strikes for years and decades, should ask ourselves whether one or proud of their undermining of their time to catch up on the reading list. I once heard a joke in which a Finn you can clearly hear Booth’s fondness might not seek help for their problems ity. All the times that I, a relatively not stem the complaints, a majority among England fans and pub propri- though in recent years this has been two missed lectures is worth fretting teachers’ action? can chat to my tutors about the lec- meets a talking elephant. Instead of towards the Nordic countries and the before it’s too late. e a ermath has good student, remember getting told of which centred on the “poor” ser- etors alike. A nationwide consulta- to protest Michael Gove’s continued over when contrasted with the risk A er looking at what is being fought tures missed during o ce hours, no asking the elephant relevant ques- Finns. Still, the original piece has le tion - involving pub tradesmen, po- tions,I like how the talking elephant many internet users very upset in their already been mentioned. o were for the most bizarre reasons vice. e restaurant is currently able privatisation of the education system. that our teachers take, and what they against, the e ect of a strike on stu- problem. But what about the apple of our such as drawing sunglasses for a sun to o er low prices as it is subsidised lice forces and local councils - is set I feel it necessary early in this article to are standing for. dents is minimal. By causing a disrup- I think in light of these protests we came to be, the Finn is only interested Nordic passive-aggressive manner. blue eyes, our top-ranked education? during art class. You were allowed to by UK taxpayers at the rate of £1.3m to be held in the near future, though highlight these motivations for strike Teachers are absolutely necessary tion in order to highlight the neces- need to appreciate our teachers, and in what the elephant thinks of Finland. In his article Booth mentions Fin- When I was a kid, I was told that be- be creative as long as you were creative a year. exact dates have yet to be con rmed. action, as when there is mentioned for an education system, this point is sity of the worker, the teacher in this step away from the idea that they’re I nd the joke very tting because as a land’s high murder and suicide rates, ing born in Finland is like winning the in the approved way. At least one England match will strike action, or protests, the words not really up for dispute - the War- case is the purpose of strike action, simply gureheads in front of pow- small country we are desperate for the alcohol abuse, social incapability, and lottery. We had so many things to be e same conformity continues not kick-o until 11pm, and more carry a great deal of negative conno- wick students self-organised for a few so the disruption to the classroom is erpoint presentations, because we all world’s approval. Now our fragile egos even Finland’s crown jewel, our top- thankful for education-wise, like free now when us kids look for jobs. e late matches may be on the cards, tations. In the case of teacher strikes, lectures, not an entire semester. e minimal. Completing work for and know they’re far more than that. have been shaken. ranked school system (it has to be our New Campaign education (didn’t make school any less requirements for the simplest of tasks depending on England’s World Cup the immediate disruption of the class- teachers temporar ily stepping out of attending lectures is not dependent In a piece written for e Guard- crown jewel now that we have sold performance. ian, British journalist Michael Booth Nokia.) boring), free school meals (that still grow faster than the amount of tour- Group Urges kicks the proverbial hornet’s nest by Most of the points he makes are didn’t make them taste any better), ism commercials, leaving young peo- giving his honest opinion about the nothing new to the Finns. It just hurts free books, free everything. We got to ple between no work experience and Young People To Peers Reject Nordic countries. Even though Nor- to hear them from somebody else. I be the ungrateful and unappreciative no work because they don’t have the way, Sweden, Denmark , and Iceland have to agree that even though Booth’s children of an independent democra- required experience. Vote Compulsory Sex get their fair share of criticism - the points are accurate, they don’t, in my cy where we would top every interna- Still , you have to make sacri ces in ‘BITE the Ballot’, a new campaign 12% part of the article addressing Finland slightly biased opinion, tell the full tional school ranking. Another reason order to keep up , as the world looks group dedicated to encouraging 1000 is quite short - it has already spawned story. to be thankful. And proud. upon Nordic countries in their search Education 5 75m young people to vote in UK elec- The number of UK The percentage of The amount of mon- The amount, in an equally critical piece about Britain Yes, we do drink a lot. We also tend to Am I proud? Of course I am. I feel for the perfect society. As a resident of tions, is slowly but surely gathering THE House of Lords voted against universities that did university courses ey, in pounds, that will pounds, that English by a Finnish journalist. bottle up our feelings for years and suf- privileged to have been part of this Denmark, Michael Booth should also celebrity supporters. a law set to introduce compulsory not have their funding that were cut in 2012. be saved by cutting maintenance grants Saku-Pekka Sundelin, the author of fer quietly until we snap and kill either appreciated school system. I can still know that. Both Eliza Doolittle and Tinie sex education in schools as a foun- cut in 2011. the National will be cut by next ourselves or someone else. Michael remember taking those rate tests. We Tempah have made public state- dation subject with 142 voting in ments in association with ‘Bite the favour of the change and 290 voting Studentship Program. year. Ballot’, which was founded by Mi- against. Helsinki, Finland chael Sani, who is both an actor and e legislation, which would have a campaigner. a ected English state schools, was Doolittle, speaking about her own set to replace current sex education political inactivity as teenager, said with a more all-encompassing cur- “It’s important to teach kids to regis- riculum, which would include infor- £350,000,000 ter to vote, as it gives you the voice to mation ranging from the importance express those issues.” of consent to same-sex relationships, The amount of grant money that Universities Secretary, Only 44% of 18-24 year-olds voted as opposed to the current model of in the 2010 General Election. sex education in the UK, which fo- cuses mainly on pregnancy and STI prevention. David Willets intends to cut. 12 SEREN | FEBRUARY ISSUE 2014 SCIENCE In Brief Comet Hunt THE European Space Agency’s comet-chasing Rosetta space probe woke up from over 2 years of hiber- nation last month, much to the relief of space scientists and astronomers. e probe, which is now near the orbit of Jupiter, will rendezvous with the comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko later this year, in an attempt to unlock the secrets of comets and their role in the Solar System’s formation. Many scientists think that the water and organic materials involved in forming life on the early Earth could have come from outer space, ‘piggy- backing’ on comets such as Churyu- mov-Gerasimenko. Part of Rosetta’s mission will be to investigate that possibility. For now though, the researchers involved are just happy that Rosetta phoned home safe and well. $1m Equation New River Dolphin Discovered A RESEARCHER from Kazakh- by LUKE BARRETT from the larger population. DNA tests the species Lipotes vexillifer – the Chi- droelectric dams e dolphins are top stan claims to have solved one of showed that the population of dol- nese baiji which itself is now extinct. predators so they eat a lot of sh, they the world’s toughest maths prob- team of scientists from the phins were genetically distinct from e baiji was declared “functionally are known to rob shing nets so sh- lems – but his solution’s proving Federal University of Ama- their dolphin cousins.River dolphins extinct” a er survey mission in 2006 ermen tend to dislike them and people tricky to check because it’s written zonas in Manaus, Brazil have are considered one of the world’s rar- failed to nd a single specimen.Ex- shoot them. e discovery of the new in Russian. Adiscovered a new species of freshwater est animals. ey are believed to be perts in Brazil said that they observed Araguaian Boto is not only fascinat- Mukhtarbay Otelbayev claims to river dolphin in the Amazon, known distant relatives to the sea-dwelling around 120 of the Araguaian animals ing, as any new creature is, but serves have solved the Navier-Stokes ex- as the Inia araguaiaensis or the Ara- dolphins and have long beaks that al- over the course of a 12 week study, and as just another reminder of how little istence and smoothness problem, guaian Boto. e species is thought to low them to hunt for sh along the riv- estimate that there could be as few as we still know about all the creatures to do with the equations used for have evolved over 2 million years ago. er beds. According to the IUCN, there 600 le across the whole river basin. within the rainforests of South Ameri- everything from designing aero- How is it that these creatures have are only four known species, and three e Araguaia-Tocantins basin suf- ca. ere are still thousands of areas of planes to weather forecasting. eluded human discovery for so long? of them are on the Red List, meaning fers huge human disturbance, since rainforest that have never been stud- e problem’s considered so im- Living in the Araguaia river basin, they are critically endangered. e the 1960s, the Araguaia river basin ied, meaning that there could poten- portant that the Clay Mathematics a major river in Brazil, they were as- Araguaian variety is the rst new dis- has been the site of human develop- tially be thousands or even millions of Institute in the USA has o ered a sumed to be Amazon river dolphins covery of a true river dolphin since ment including agriculture, ranching plants and animals that we still do not million dollar reward to the rst (Inia geo rensis) that had broken o 1918, when scientists rst described activities, and the construction of hy- know about. person to solve it. Despite the worldwide interest, however, the solution can’t yet be checked because it’s only in Rus- sian. Mathematicians are currently collaborating to translate Otel- bayev’s paper as quickly as possible. Even if he has got it right, though, he’ll still have to wait a bit longer yet for his money – the Clay Insti- tute says that the proof has to remain unchallenged for two years before it’ll pay out. Blue-Eyed Boy SPANISH scientists used DNA found in a 7000-year-old wisdom tooth to learn about the appearance and diet of European hunter- Should Diet Pills be Illegal? gatherers. to the deaths of 60 people worldwide in the UK today is known as ‘Orlistat’, Attempts from pharmaceutical com- Genetic analysis of the DNA, by CALLUM HULME – 4 coming from the UK in the last 18 sold under the brand name ‘Xenical’. panies to perfect a diet pill have failed from a fossil found in a remote cave months alone. is is, however, very unpopular as in the past and continue to fail today. in the north-west of Spain, showed or many of us, the idea of a pill Campaigns now exist to remove one of the most common side-e ects e technology hasn’t been perfected that he had dark hair and skin but that can help to burn away fat DNP from the market entirely. Fami- is diarrhoea. and most, if not all of them, are of also blue eyes – a combination only and make weight loss a much easierF task sounds perfect - a ‘weight- lies of the deceased have lobbied the Two other drugs available in the serious detriment to the consumer’s rarely found in today’s Europeans. government in attempts to re-classify UK, which are not recommended by health. He was also probably lactose in- loss pill’ that could help maximise the DNP as a class C drug – something the NHS, are the appetite suppressants In the wake of the most recent deaths tolerant and found starch hard to e ects of a trip to the gym or aid us in that campaigners believe would large- phentermine and diethylpropion. caused by the latest failed attempt at a digest. People only evolved to be our strict dieting plans. ly deter potential consumers from in- ese two drugs have been around ‘diet pill’, the government is starting able to eat milk and starch a er the Some people, it would seem, have vesting in the drug. since the 1960’s and are still available to take notice. e families of the de- dawn of farming – which happened found such a thing – or at least, they DNP came onto the market in the via prescription from private doctors ceased want an end to false and o en in Europe around 1000 years a er believe they have – in the form of wake of drugs such as sibutramine and ‘professional slimming clinics’. A deadly ‘weight-loss’ pharmaceuticals the caveman died. DNP. DNP is drug marketed as a fat- (Reductil) and rimonabant (Acom- failed attempt to illegalise them over a and with their campaigns gathering e study also suggests that art- burning pill, sold online and imported plia) – both of which had experienced decade ago sees them hanging on by supporters and national attention, it ists would have to rethink how they into the UK for consumption by the lengthy trials, and were removed from a thread, their reputations tarnished, could only be a matter of time before portrayed early Europeans. Many paying customer. market once dangerous side-e ects and they are only legally supplied to these drugs are removed from the depictions show hunter-gatherers e reality is more disturbing. DNP began to surface. members of the Obesity Management market, reclassi ed as class C drugs, as blond-haired and fair-skinned is actually a fertiliser, packaged and e only NHS-approved ‘diet pill’ Association. and illegalised. – which this one de nitely wasn’t! sold under false pretences, and has led FEBRUARY ISSUE 2014 | SEREN 13 SCIENCE Science @ Bangor Cigarette Messages TWO researchers in the Business School have been working on a novel way to encourage people to quit smoking – by putting a health warning not just on the box, but on the cigarettes themselves. Dr Louise Hassan and Prof. Edward Shiu ran an experiment in which they wrote on each cigarette either that smoking it would cost, on average, 11 minutes of life, or a message listing the toxic contents of cigarette smoke. ey found that when asked about their intentions to quit, smokers who’d been shown either of the cigarettes with messages on were more likely to say they were going to do so soon than those shown the ordinary cigarettes. eir work is particularly relevant because of the move in many coun- Future Predictions tries towards plain packaging, mean- by EDWIN PYNEGAR that told you where to drive was pretty smartphone design. of the column he wrote that in to a ing that tobacco companies are likely much unknown – imagine not having e Millennium Bug, Y2K, whatever blender, mixed it with water, and ate uckerberg might still have been start putting their branding on the to rely on map books or the A to Z! you wanted to call it – it was the ulti- the resulting concoction live on stage. cigarette itself. in fourth grade, and a “social (Does anyone still have those, by the mate in tech scare stories. At the turn If you’re going to have to eat your network” was something found way?) American telecoms giant AT&T of the millennium, the computers words, you might as well do it in style. inZ a telephone book, but in 1992, an predicted satnavs in 1993 in an adver- were all going to go crazy by thinking Right? episode of Seinfeld pretty much pre- tising campaign, several years before it was 1900 and thereby bring down First going on sale in 1993, voice Invader dicted the existence of the social net- the rst one actually made it on the civilisation as we know it! ( e prob- activated remote controls were sup- work we all love (or love to hate). He market. And they didn’t just get the lem was a relic from the earliest days posed to be the next big thing in Detection called it “the phone machine”, but got concept right – the design too looks of computing when, to save memory home entertainment. All you do is tell everything else pretty much spot on, pretty much like any satnav you might space, programmers had only used the the TV what you want to watch, and THE School of Ocean Sciences and even down to red noti cations. And have in your car today. last two digits of the year.) Actually, there it is – on the screen! While you Natural Resources Wales are working why would the phone machine be so At the size of a brick and weighing of course, everyone was OK, but not can still buy these on Ebay, they never together on a project to detect non- popular? “It’s very important for hu- really took o – probably because no native species entering Welsh seas. man beings to feel they are popular couch potato is quite so lazy that a Most non-native species are not and well liked amongst a large group ...THE INTERNET WILL SOON GO voice activated remote control would harmful, but a few cause damage by of people that we don’t care for.” Ouch. be that much of an improvement over “taking over” – outcompeting native Check out the video here… http://bit. SPECTACULARLY SUPERNOVA AND IN 1996 a normal one… marine life and damaging habitats. ly/1blc7yi CATASTROPHICALLY COLLAPSE... In the 90s virtual reality promised is leads to declines in species im- e Simpsons wasn’t just an iconic endless possibilities, and not only for portant to shermen such as oysters piece of 90s pop culture – it was also gaming – in the future, promised its and crabs. a great source of predictions of the evangelists, you’d be able to “go” to e researchers are planning to future. Many of those episodes from in at around 500 grams, it certainly without quite a bit of work from the New York or Tokyo or a tropical beach work closely with the shing industry back then have eerie ash-forwards to won’t be challenging the iPhone 5 in tech community. And it showed just from the comfort of your own living to develop a reporting system against our lives today. 1995’s ‘Lisa’s Wedding’, the design stakes any time soon – but how vulnerable modern life would be room! Sounds amazing – so what hap- the invasive species. At the sites where supposed to be set in 2010, shows Lisa it was still way ahead of its time. e to computer meltdown. pened? Well, there’s the small matter they work, the shermen will monitor and Marge using a “Picturephone” to world’s rst smartphone hit the mar- “I predict the Internet will soon go of motion sickness – cutting out all “settlement panels” attached to buoys communicate – something looking ket in 1994 It was called Simon, sold spectacularly supernova and in 1996 external cues, as when you’re wear- for early signs of the invaders. very much like Skype – and her fu- by IBM, and had a touchscreen (black catastrophically collapse.” Not quite ing a virtual reality headset, makes By encouraging early detection, it’s ture ancée makes phonecalls into his and white, of course), email, and pre- (regardless of how much we might it many times worse. And wearing a hoped that the costs of dealing with watch. e creators didn’t get every- dictive typing. And you could even get want it when there’s a deadline fast helmet that makes you look like Da such problem species will be kept thing right though – the Picturephone “apps” for it, in the form of memory approaching). is wasn’t just the pre- Punk was, well, pretty da . But watch much lower. still has a rotary dial on it, something cards you could buy and then plug in, diction of a crank though – Robert this space – they might not be as dead only found in museums now… giving it extra capabilities. Simon was Metcalfe was the inventor of the Eth- as people thought. A VR headset for “Have you ever crossed the country a business op, but even now IBM is ernet cable, so presumably someone gaming, the Oculus Ri , is apparently – without asking for directions?” In still making money out of it, through who knew a thing or two about the coming out next year. GeneticTime the early ‘90s the idea of a computer the patents it still has relating to Web. ree years later, he fed a copy Machine SCIENTISTS studying seals in Fruit Flies Detect Cancer Antarctica have found that genetic by CALLUM HULME Reports. cent events, has proven not to be such machine with similar sensitivities to variation in populations can develop ere are metabolic di erences be- a problem in the case of fruit ies, who odours as that of the fruit y. is much more quickly than previously hanks to the work being done tween cancerous and healthy cells, share the same olfactory sensitivities machine o ers a non-invasive, easy- thought. by Researchers from the Uni- says Strauch, and they emit slightly and abilities as dogs. to-use way of screening patients for Researchers from the School of versity of Konstanz, Germany, di erent odours. Much too subtle for Using Bioluminescence has become cancer, and could be employed as Biological Sciences studied the DNA Tand the University La Sapienza in human noses to detect, it has previ- routine in the realms of genetic modi- regularly as simple check-ups at the of an extinct group of elephant seals, Rome, Italy, it seems that a newer, ously been discovered that dogs, bees cation, as it provides clear con rma- doctor’s. nding that genetic diversity within much easier way of detecting Cancer and fruit ies are more than capable of tion that the desired or targeted gene In the event that this machine is populations can “crop up” quickly and may soon be gracing our hospitals. picking them apart. has been found. In the case of the fruit successful in implementing such a easily in good conditions. e experiments, involving fruit Dogs, with a bit of training, can dif- ies, they can be genetically modi- detection system, it could potentially is suggests that populations of ies, are showing great promise, and ferentiate between a range of cancers, ed so that their antennae, which are catch cancer very early and increase species threatened by environmental a progress report was published and including Melanoma, bladder, pros- known to have over y olfactory the chance of successful treatment change such as global warming might commented upon by lead scientist tate, lung, breast, ovarian and colorec- senses, can glow di erent colours in and survival rates. Could the future of be able to cope better than expected - Martin Strauch from the University tal. e problem arises from their in- the presence of certain cancerous cells. Cancer detection really be as simple as because this kind of genetic diversity of Konstanz in the journal Scienti c ability to communicate these results to Scientists have used these results Red, Green or Blue? is the “raw material” for adaptation humans, something that, in light of re- to create a sort of ‘scienti c nose,’ a and evolution to new environments. 14 Seren | February Issue 2014 ENVIRONMENT MARINE MASSACRE Faroe Islands’ annual blood bath

POPULATION ROSE FROM 5 TO 6 BILLION

by GEMMA SIMMONS of their cultural heritage however; the ommended against the consumption over the past few years regarding ani- death toll seems to be rising each year. of the whale meat saying it is too toxic mal rights, the minister of sheries re- very year, in the Faroe Islands, In the 2013 season, between July and for human consumption, with chil- cently announced that as of May 2015 one of the biggest massacres of November, 1104 pilot whales and 430 dren and pregnant women being most all persons taking part in the hunt cetaceans known to man takes Atlantic white sided dolphins were at risk to the ill e ects of the meat. must pass a course in laws and correct place.E Known as ‘the drive’ or ‘grind’ killed. At the forefront of conservation ef- killing procedures in order to obtain the massacre involves small cetaceans In recent years, the hunt has at- forts is the Sea Shepherd Conservation a killing license. Without this license, being herded towards the shore. Ceta- tracted international criticism from Society. e invaluable work that the participation in the hunt will be illegal. ceans are then dragged up onto beach- many animal welfare organisations. society has been involved in world- e course involves training in the use es, by placing hooks in their blow- However, some claim that the hunt is wide is o en very controversial but of grind tools, such as nostril hooks holes, before being slaughtered. e not a threat to the sustainability of the successful. ey travel to the Faroe Is- and spinal lances and the use of the whale meat is then shared between the whale population but it is more the lands every year to educate, investigate grind knife and grinding hook will no villagers for use as food. sheer brutality of the hunt that attracts and intervene, preventing this massa- longer be permitted in order to reduce e cetaceans slaughtered are mostly attention. As well as a ecting animal cre. As part of their 2014 ‘grindstop’ the su ering of the animals. pilot whales; however, other small ce- rights, the hunt also entices attention project sea shepherd will be travelling Sea Shepherd will be speaking at taceans are also o en taken. e hunt from the medical profession. In 2008, around the UK on a speaking tour. Bangor University on the 20th of Feb- has a recorded history since 1584, so two chief medical o cers strongly rec- A er attracting so much attention ruary 2014. Faroese people defend the hunt as part 2030 CLIMATE TARGETS DECIDED

HURRICANE MITCH KILLS 20,000 PEOPLE by ALISON CROSS in other countries. drive many species into extinction away from nuclear into renewables. Environmental and green groups and European leaders’ commitment to All of the proposals put forward by nd n the 22 of January, the Eu- spoke out, stating the new targets had tackling it. A 40% greenhouse gas tar- the Commission will be reviewed by ropean Commission outlined a lack of ambition and was a “danger- get is not nearly enough, and the 27% the European Council in March. It their new climate and energy ously low” emissions cut. e climate renewables target – which comes with is not expected that formal legisla- Opolicy until 2030. e binding target commissioner, Connie Hedegaard an opt-out clause - is unambitious.” tive proposals will be agreed before was set at a 40% reduction in carbon said that despite the economic climate, Europe will also produce 27% of its 2015, as this is when a crunch meet- emissions from the 1990 levels. e the 40% target was a signi cant ad- energy from renewable sources by ing of world governments will gather target is an improvement on the one vance. 2030, compared to its 2007 target of in Paris to decide a global framework set for 2020, a cut in emissions of 20%, An RSPB climate campaigner said: 20% of all energy coming from solar, for avoiding dangerous levels of global which was virtually reached by 2012. “We are very disappointed with the wind or other renewables. e UK is warming. Every major developed and e 2030 target would have to be European Commission’s announce- keen to use nuclear energy as a way to developing economy is expected to achieved "through domestic measures ments on climate and energy today. A meet these new targets. While in Ger- set out its own binding national emis- alone", meaning that member states dangerous gulf is opening up between many, the world leader on renewable sions target within the next year, for will not be allowed to o set their re- the reality of climate change, which power and the EU's biggest economy, the United Nations talks to go ahead ductions by paying for carbon cutting threatens to cause huge su ering and is implementing a radical energy shi in 2015. February Issue 2014 | Seren 15 ENVIRONMENT In Brief 60 SECOND FLASH GARDEN PURPLE TOMATOES THE John Innes Centre, has developed purple tomatoes that are genetically modi ed to produce anthocyanins, the pigments in blueberries and blackberries. Anthocyanins are thought to o er protection against certain cancers, cardiovascular disease and age related degenerative dis- eases; studies will look at the possible positive e ects on humans. Earlier tests show that purple tomatoes have anti-in ammatory e ects and slow cancer development in cancer-prone mice, as well as double the shelf life of normal tomatoes. Bangor students showing their green ngers is research is very exciting but the current widespread views on GM by AL HULLEY will be further recycled by Bangor As Snowdonia and Snowdon are both Band. e event carried on through- crops create barriers for researchers. University’s Estates Team, as they will very iconic symbols of North Wales, out the day and was led by STAG and It is the widespread opposition in th n 13 January a collaboration be shredded and the wood chip will a mountain was constructed, to rep- HOGSoc. Activities involved making the EU that caused Professor Cathie of societies joined forces. e be used to form footpaths at Treborth resent Snowdonia's mountainous bird feeders, potting plants and edu- Martin to look to Canada where the goal was to promote environ- Botanical Gardens. e two planters landscape, using membrane supplied cating students about current envi- regulations are more supportive of mentalO sustainability, for a UK wide were constructed from wooden pallets by estates and fallen branches. is ronmental a airs. It was a fantastic GM crops, “they look at the trait Uni competition. In 60 seconds Ffridd which were donated by HOGSoc. e membrane will be reused around the project, collaborating the student not the technology .... asking if what site laid host to a garden, the aim of plants for the two planters were sup- university in order to minimise weed body, wider university and local com- you’re doing is safe and bene cial, not which was to improve aesthetics, en- plied from Holland Arms (a local gar- growth. A slate path was also central munity. ‘Is it GM and therefore we’re going to couraging a healthy outdoor lifestyle, den centre), maintaining local trade. in representing Snowdonia for two reject it completely’”. Tomatoes are during exam period. Students from a All the compost used was peat-free reasons, the path represented the Scan this code to nd the 4th most popular fruit in the UK variety of backgrounds and interests because of the importance of conserv- uvial environment of North Wales, the video and vote: and these purple alternatives could le their revision behind making the ing peat bogs, which act as a major moreover linking into the Slate min- have widespread health bene ts for vision of a Flash Garden become real- carbon sink. e topiary tree which ing industry, which much of North all. Could purple ketchup be the way ity. was planted by the Vice Chancellor Wales was built on. forward? e projects aim was to increase was supplied by estates. ree wooden e SENRGy green societies were sustainability awareness, therefore it benches were constructed from un- heavily involved in the project, HOG- was important the garden was envi- wanted felled trees. Soc being at the forefront. HOGSoc CLIMATE ronmentally friendly. For this reason, e garden was designed to repre- provided the majority of materials as wood was salvaged from the local tip. sent the Snowdonia landscape, high- well as the labour. For the competition FUNDING Also 40 Christmas trees (supplied lighting the biodiversity issues sur- the garden’s creation was captured by by Gwynedd council), were recycled rounding coniferous monoculture Student Cut lms and the music per- LOST from local households. ese trees against native broad-leave woodland. formed by Bangor University Brass SINCE climate change ‘sceptic’, Owen Paterson took over as Environment Secretary in 2012 the amount of money spent preparing the UK for the impacts of climate change has been halved. e funding is desig- GRAND CANYON YOUNGER nated for use in nding ways to protect the UK from the increased risk of oods and increased frequency of droughts and heat waves expected THAN THOUGHT with future climate change. Speak- ing a er the last International Report on Climate Change in 2013, Paterson said it could not be taken seriously, as the predicted temperature rise was only modest. is is contradictory to all the warnings issued by climate change scientists who claim that signi cant funding will be required to help the UK adapt for future change.

STUDENTS HIT BACK AT RHODODENDRON ON the rst Sunday of every month the Bangor University National Trust by CHRIS GLASS aspect of the canyon, which has never yon to create the recognisable features ment known as the 'Hurricane' seg- Society (BUNTS) partakes in a varie- been fully understood until now, is the seen today. ment was found to be formed 70 mil- ty of conservation activities. Recently he Grand Canyon is part of the canyon’s age. e Grand Canyon can be split into lion years ago, with the 'Eastern Grand Colorado River basin and has the National Trusts Cra wyn estate Earlier studies into the age of the ve main segments, all of which have Canyon' being formed 25 million years was the focus, with the main activ- been sculpted and moulded Grand Canyon have suggested that di erent ages. e latest studies con- ago. e two segments of the Grand Tover millions of years by the Colorado ity undertaken being Rhododendron the canyon is around 70 million years ducted into the ageing of the canyon Canyon known as the 'Marble Canyon' removal. e purpose of the exercise River, creating one of the Seven Natu- old. However, a paper that has been used a technique known as thermo- and the 'Westernmost Grand Canyon' ral Wonders of the World. e canyon was to ensure native species had the recently published by the journal ‘Na- chronology. is process measures were the youngest at 5 -6 million years greatest chance of ourishing in their was rst explored by Major John Wes- ture Geoscience’ puts the age of the the changes in the structure of rock old. When these two segments were ley Powell in 1869 and since then, has natural environment. e Rhododen- canyon as only 5-6 million years. e mineral crystals as they cool through carved, the whole of the Grand Can- dron plants were pulled up from the been extensively studied through all study conducted does not simply state time. Deeply buried rocks cool as they yon system and the Colorado River disciplines. e natural process of riv- ground and the soil removed from that the whole of the 277 mile long come closer to the surface as erosion was joined forming the recognisable their roots, thus hindering rhododen- erine erosion has caused the extensive canyon, which reaches depths of up removes overlying layers of material. canyon seen today. e Colorado Riv- exposure of nearly two billion years’ dron growth, preventing the out com- to one mile in some places, has been By looking at the changes in rock crys- er is still causing erosion of the canyon petition of native species and subse- worth of geology, allowing a greater carved out by the river just six million tals, deductions can be made into the at a rate of around 1mm per year and understanding into the geology of the quent loss in biodiversity. BUNTS years ago; instead erosional processes age of each segment of the canyon. has been for the past 500,000 years. next meet on Sunday 1st February. land to be discovered. However one six million years ago shaped the can- e results show that the oldest seg- 16 Seren | February Issue 2014 INTERVIEW CERYS INTERVIEW MATTHEWS

Cerys Matthews Singer, songwriter, author, broadcaster and 90s rocker Cerys Matthews is a woman of many talents and passions. After heading to Bangor in December for the latest stop on her ‘Hook, Line and Carol Singing’ tour, Seren Editor Becki sat down with Cerys to nd out about the inspiration behind her latest projects, and why she wants more people to just make a load of noise.

by BECKI WATSON forming songs in Welsh, including which I think has roots in Welsh folk less of whether they’re con dent or We’ve enjoyed music for centuries some traditional Welsh folk songs. music and that’s how it goes on, the if they think they can’t sing, it doesn’t before there was a huge business, You were here last year playing How important is it to you to stay links are often more interesting to in PJ Hall. How do you enjoy being connected to your Welsh identity me than the di erences. I’ve also in Bangor, and what’s it like as a in your music? been singing Welsh music forever. MOST OF THE STUFF WE HEAR ON venue? I went to an English-language Sec- It’s where I’m from so it informs ondary school and I didn’t know THE RADIO NOW AREN’T VOICES It’s a big venue and it has it’s own everything I do, from the start I col- very many Welsh speaking Welsh ANYWAY, IT’S ALL AUTOTUNED... characteristics soundwise because lected songs from everywhere, be- people as I grew up in Swansea, of that. It’s always interesting doing cause if you’re interested in your but I dated a drummer called Dicko a sound check but people come in culture then it’s often the case that who was very active on the Welsh and change the sound. It has such you’re interested in culture as a language scene, and I would learn matter. Most of the stu we hear on and when you know that people great character, with all that wood whole, and even if you start scratch- to play all the classics on guitar. It’s the radio now aren’t voices anyway, are recording stu just to appeal to and it’s beautiful, and nice people ing the surface you’ll nd that most actually lovely now to record them it’s all autotuned, or it isn’t even the youngsters because they know that run it. But more than that I’ve spent songs aren’t exactly what you think and play them all over the world main artist singing on the record. It’s they’ll make more money out of a lot of time in Bangor myself, having they are. For example, there’s Molian- and get people speaking Welsh. just nice in our lives where we spend them, that doesn’t particularly inter- fun and I have friends living here, so I nwn, which we all know from school, so much time on our machines to est me. I like music for the sake of it, do love coming back to Bangor. and you think it’s a real Welsh song, put them down for a minute and and for the journey it takes you on. Was this part of the idea for your make a hell of a noise. songbook, to preserve these IF YOU START SCRATCHING THE Welsh classics? Was this part of inspiration be- You’ve said in the past that you hind your new songbook, ‘Hook, SURFACE... MOST SONGS AREN’T It’s not actually about preserving like music best when you can ‘hear Line and Singer’, to celebrate the them, i just love them so much and the humans in it’. With advances in collaborative aspects of music? EXACTLY WHAT YOU THINK THEY ARE... I have so much fun with them and recording and technology do you their histories and singing them, I think this is something that’s be- I think some of the best times you thought it would be good to put ing lost in music these days? can have is when you’re sat with your them in one book. I’ve been collect- family and friends making a rowdy but the tune is actually an American ing them for a long time, so by put- I think that is the case a bit, but I noise, and you’re not worrying about You’ve released a number of tune, which happens quite a lot. As ting them in one book it encourages like the fact that the music I love the what you look or sound like, and the singles and albums with you per- well, there’s House of the Rising Sun, people to make some noise, regard- most predates the business of music. beauty of these songs stand on their February Issue 2014 | Seren 17 INTERVIEW “SOME OF THE BEST TIMES YOU CAN HAVE ARE WHEN YOU’RE SAT WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS MAKING A ROWDY NOISE, AND YOU’RE NOT WORRYING WHAT YOU LOOK OR SOUND LIKE...”

own no matter what sort of versions kept touching up the carp that we you do. It makes you feel good, It’s kind of tongue in cheek, and kind were catching! THE singing. of a carry-on from the book. It’s just having fun with music and encouraging people to know that the only What was the conversation like As well as this, your music has mystery to music making is when when you met Bob Dylan? SIX featured a lot of di erent genres you stumble, and it often is stumble, HAVE YOU EVER HAD over the years, from the indie-pop across a turn of phrase or a melody I’ve met him a few times actually. A NICKNAME? of Catatonia, to folk and ballads in that touches you or other people, I think we all have something to do Squeaky, because my your later work. Does experiment- and how and why it touches you to on this earth, so I don’t usually take voice is so high. ing with di erent styles keep you such a degree is so mysterious, but heroes, but I just think he is extraor- inspired as an artist? the rest is just making a good noise, dinary, both as a song collector and FAVOURITE MOVIE? or just noise in general. The whole an artist. It just goes to show now that he’s having major world hits in Any of the old classics, like his 70s, with the likes of Adele cov- Casablanca or Place in the THE IDEA OF SINGING IN THE SAME ering his songs. He keeps surprising you as well, with releasing a Christ- Sun WAY FOR TWENTY YEARS, I THINK mas song like ‘Must be Santa’, you FAVOURITE BAND? THAT WOULD BE TOUGH TO DO. wouldn’t have thought a few years ago that Bob Dylan would release a Artsists like Leadbelly, Bob Christmas song. He’s just incredible, but i’m not gonna tell you exactly Dylan, Louis Armstrong or De nitely, I enjoy moving on, the tour is essentially just making noise what we talked about! idea of singing in the same way for with people, so I’ve got people from Michael Jackson twenty years, I think that would be around the country singing two dif- tough to do. I’ve always listened to ferent songs at the same time, as You sing songs in Welsh and in THREE ITEMS YOU’D TAKE di erent kinds of genres so I don’t well as getting people in Derby and English, which is something peo- even think about it too much, but Pocklington singing in Welsh. ple really love about you, but do ON A DESERT ISLAND? what’s interesting about recording you prefer one language over the An instrument of some is that it takes on a life of its own. I’ve other? likened it to trying to nail a snake to One of your hobbies that you’ve kind, chillies, and a huge a board; it’ll just wriggle all over the talked about before is shing. I actually sing in French on the tour, tome of books, like place, you have to let it go and let Who taught you to sh, and have as well as Spanish and German, so I it nd its own way. You can’t pin it you taught your children to sh? just love languages. But the Welsh Shakespeare down, that would defy the point of language is just so beautiful, and it. I like the journey of experiments. I have a shing expert called Dave, the songs are so exquisitely written, CAN YOU SPELL THE FULL who was a reman in Cardi , who’s like ‘I’m not going to love you until taught me y shing, coarse shing the two sides of the shores meet’. It’s VERSION OF LLANFAIRPG? The name is kind of a clue, but and shark shing, and also took me also a great feeling to be singing in what can people expect from your to Ian Heaps who taught me and my Welsh to a Welsh audience, and Ban- I can say it, and sing it! ‘Hook, Line and Carol Singing’ then three year old daughter pole gor is the rst Welsh gig on my tour, WHAT WOULD YOU WEAR tour? shing, but it was a bit soon, as she so it’ll be amazing. TO SEREN 90S NIGHT? I used to kick against 90s What was it like performing with someone as wonderful and in u- fashion, so a gold stetson ential as Tom Jones, who’s also a fellow Welsh singer? and a silk green Chinese tunic that I used to wear He’s still the best singer I’ve sung with by miles, he's such a natural vid Bowie a lot. I’ve always liked not This has been a pretty busy year musician, and a huge music fan him- just current music, but whatever you for you, from performing in the self. We have very similar tastes, so can nd, I’ve always looked and lis- BBC Proms, your work with BBC it’s always great to meet up. But to tened and loved. Radio and your new book, but sing classics like ‘Baby It’s Cold Out- what can we expect from you in side’ and ‘What's New Pussycat’ with Is there a current band you’re 2014? him was amazing, he’s just incred- enjoying listening to at the mo- ible and a lovely chap. ment? We have the Dylan Thomas cen- tenary coming up, so there’s a few I love White Denim; they’re not documentaries I’m involved with In many ways, Catatonia was the quite experimental, but they're shift- for that, but on the whole, I feel like soundtrack to our youth, so what ing around, and you can hear them I want to do some gardening. It’s kind of music did you listen to trying to keep thinking and doing been quite a mad year, and I haven’t gardened in ages. When we signed the record deal in 1995, I bought a TOM JONES IS STILL THE BEST house in Cardi that had a fty-foot, south facing garden, but that’s long SINGER I’VE SUNG WITH BY MILES, gone, and I haven’t had a garden HE SUCH A NATURAL MUSICIAN since, apart form in America, but it’s compeltely di ferent over there. But we’ve just bought a house now that we move into at the end of the tour growing up? things that aren’t straight forward. and it’s got a little tiny garden, I can’t What I can’t bear is when you hear wait to put rhubarb in it and a bar- A lot of Bob Dylan, my father was a bands that keep banging on with becue! There’s also my radio show, fan too, as well as Billie Holliday and one idea, it’s just not interesting to which is my baby, cos i just love jazz. I grew up in the 80s, so my sister me. But that’s the thing about music, programming that with so many was listening to Wham and Duran it’s subjective, and it’s other people’s beautiful, mad di erent genres and Duran, but I didn’t like the sound, cups of tea, and that’s great. recordings. the production, although I liked Da- 18 Seren | February Issue 2014 UNION

Photo by Pippa Beston (PhotoSoc) Student Union Landlord Awards n Tuesday 4th of February age students to think before renting, Whilst we recognise that not all e winners of the 2014 Awards We are pleased with how the awards Bangor Students’ Union host- and to encourage students to take part students get a good deal whilst rent- were; went this year, and we will be working ed the rst ever Bangor Land- in our housing campaign, positively ing, by creating friendly competition over the upcoming weeks and months lordO Awards Ceremony. Landlords contributing to the Students’ Union’s among landlords we can establish a Value Deal of the Year – Manon to devise a way to improve the awards have long called for a positive ap- work on raising standards and in- precedent of what’s expected from Gri ths next year – from new categories, to proach to housing from students, and creasing awareness for students. students as minimum standards. Responsive Landlord of the Year – boosting awareness among students the Students’ Union rmly believes in A home t for study is vital whilst Year a er year of nominations we’ll Mr & Mrs Horne with increased publicity, engaging promoting the good about housing at University. If a home is damp, cold, be able to tell landlords what students Small Landlord – Roy Roberts with local media and the local com- in Bangor. Doing this means that we uncomfortable, it’s likely to a ect stu- like and don’t like about the entire Large Landlord/Managing Agent munity, and of course doing more to can positively engage with landlords dents’ studies and their attainment process of renting. We want to cel- of the Year – Kate Roden engage landlords with the process. and students, whilst trying to push up whilst at University – and we cannot ebrate the work and e ort put in by standards and the quality of the rent- allow such a basic need such as hous- landlords across Bangor that do pro- A full list of winners, runners up ing experience in Bangor. ing to negatively impact on attain- vide students with high quality hous- and nominees will be available on the e aim of the awards is to encour- ment. ing and a positive experience. Bangor Students’ Union website.

his year the Students’ Union cussions around attendance monitor- University, ensuring that students re- are very common, it can still be a ta- ary, which will establish a precedent has placed an emphasis on ing, online accessibility of services and ceive the support that they need, and boo subject. People who experience for promoting and supporting events mental health and the support information, and will be engaging in that mechanisms in place to support mental illness o en face stigma and and initiatives that will promote talk- Tavailable to students to ensure that future discussions around reasonable students are not burdensome. discrimination in the workplace, so- ing about mental health, encouraging they can continue with their studies adjustments for examinations and Time to Change Wales is the rst cially and within families. is can both sta and students to talk posi- whilst receiving support, are aware mitigating circumstances. ese are in national campaign to end the stigma make life with a mental health condi- tively about mental health and what of the services available, and that we addition to the work that we will do as and discrimination faced by people tion more di cult than the symptoms we can do to tackle mental health can begin to break the barriers to talk- part of this pledge to support sta and with mental health problems. Time to themselves. We should all commit to stigma and discrimination in society, ing about mental health, reducing any students at our institution. Change Wales is funded by Comic Re- eradicating the existence of stigma by starting with attitudes in our own stigma and discrimination that exists. Our message on mental health has lief and the Welsh Government, and is and discrimination in society. institution. So far the Students’ Union has run been a broad approach to address the delivered by Hafal, Gofal and Mind. Bangor Students’ Union and Ban- a Time to Change (Mental Health) barriers faced as individuals in society, e campaign is needed because gor University will sign the Time to Week, have engaged with sta on dis- but also the barriers faced within the although mental health di culties Change Pledge on the 19th of Febru- February Issue 2014 | Seren 19 UNION SU SABBATICAL ELECTIONS It’s that time of year again, when people wave giant ags outside Main Arts, plaster the university with poster campaigns, and give you free cupcakes on the way to lectures, all in the hope of gaining your vote. But what’s it all about? With the Students’ Union elections coming up soon, Seren is here to give you all the information you need, as well as the names of the candidates you’ll be seeing a lot of over the next few weeks. WHY SHOULD I CARE? Student politics can sometimes at Bangor. The Sabbatical O cers to the wishes of the students here everything from essay feedback to checking out the candidates to see come across as a bit boring, but the are the students elected to run the in Bangor. They have direct contact university funding for student facili- who you think would be best for the outcome of the Sabbatical Elections Students’ Union for a year to make with the higher-ups at the univer- ties. With your student experience at job. Plus, who doesn’t love a bit of have a huge a ect on your time sure that the SU is run according sity, and can in uence decisions on stake, it’s de nitely worth your time democracy? HOW DOES IT WORK? There are four roles open for elec- the Course Rep scheme; VP Sport Serendpity, and other projects with- directly to students. vote, the lowest ranked candidate tion: SU President, who co-ordi- and Healthy Living, who runs the in the local community. Voting is done online, and votes is eliminated and their votes trans- nates and leads the sabb team and Athlectic Union, liaises with BUCS, Once the nominees have declared are counted using the AV system, ferred to the next preference. This speaks on behalf of students to the and promotes healthy lifestyle their candidacy, they can begin cam- where you must rank the candidates continues until a candidate passes uni and local community; VP Edu- campaigns; and VP Societies and paigning up until the voting closes, in order of preference; once voting the 50% plus one threshold, or un- cation & Welfare, who works with Community, who co-ordinates and which includes debating their is completed, all of the rst prefer- til there is only one candidate left, the uni on academic, welfare and assists all of the societies in the SU, manifestos with other candidates at ences are counted and if no one and they will become the Sabbatical social problems, and co-ordinates as well as organising events such as Question Time, and going out to talk has achieved 50% plus one of the O cer for the next year. WHEN IS IT HAPPENING? Now that the nominations have 2PM on Wednesday 12th Febru- the o cal start of Campaign Week and 5th March, with voting clos- begin their term as Sabb on 16th been declared, candidates may be- ary, and printed publicity material (when you’re most likely to be able ing at 2pm on the 5th. The newly June. gin their campaign. Their nal mani- will be ready for collection at 9am to get free stu on College Road). elected Sabbs will be announced on festo designs must be handed in by on Wednesday 26th February, Voting will take place on the 3rd, 4th the same day from 4pm, and they’ll THE CANDIDATES PRESIDENT VP SPORT AND HEALTHY • RHYS TAYLOR LIVING • DAVID BLANEY • JESSICA MCCREERY VP EDUCATION • NICOLA PYE & WELFARE VP SOCIETIES AND • ADAM BARNARD COMMUNITY • MARTYN CURZEY • IONA MCINTYRE • WILLIAM JOHNSON • TOM HEYNES • JAMES REDMOND • LYDIA RICHARDSON • ADAM SHARPLEY • MARK STANLEY 20 Seren | February Issue 2014 SOCIETIES In Brief Film Screenings ALL our screenings take place at the Academi Cinema room on ursday nights, with the lm beginning at 6:10pm. You can like our facebook page “Student Cut Films” for updates on screenings, but if you want to get involved with production, feel free to email [email protected] for more info! • 6th Feb – e Wolverine • 13th Feb – About Time • 20th Feb – e Alan Partridge Movie • 27th Feb – Hedd Wyn by TREF ALUN also be setting up stalls your friends to carry out tasks for you! • 6th March – Blue Jasmine RAG COORDINATOR Ynys around campus to sell Last but not least, if all these events • 13th March – Despicable AG. Raise and Give. It’s a tra- M ô n tickets too. If you’re still sound like child’s play to you, on Me 1 & 2 dition that goes generations a n d not Harry Pottered out by Monday 24th February, at 6pm in the • 20th March – We’re having back through Bangor Univer- G w y n e d d the end of the Feast, have no fear Main Arts Lecture eatre we’ll be a vote! Rsity’s history. e concept is simple – Mind and St. Da- we’re hosting a Harry Potter Pub Quiz hosting an information evening about • 27th March – Tarantino run events to raise money for charity. vid’s Hospice as our local charities in the Belle Vue at 2000 on Monday two of our biggest events of the year. Marathon Back in the day, the once annual Rag and Prostate Cancer UK and Chil- 24th February. Jail Break, which will run Friday 4th • 3rd April – Arizona Dream Parade asked shops along the High dren with Cancer UK as our national We’ll be having some sponsored April through Sunday 6th April, is Street to pay insurance to RAG so charities. We’d now like to ask for events such as Cu Couples on Sat- where you try to make it as far away their storefront would not get egged, your support once again. urday 22nd February, where you as you can from Bangor in 48 hours Serendipity 2 and in 1973, Bangor RAG pushed a is year “RAG Week” is actually and a friend will be sponsored to be without spending a penny on travel bed all the way from the old Students’ 10 days long – running from Friday handcu ed together for 12 hours. We costs. Challenge yourself and your SERENDIPITY will be Saturday 21st February through Sunday 2nd have lots of activities and challenges friends in teams of twos or threes in 15th February in PJ Hall from 10am Union building to Liverpool city centre. March! Our greatly received Harry planned as well as a scavenger hunt to this sponsored event and see if you - 2pm. Plenty more clubs and socie- Potter Feast is making a comeback. keep you on your toes throughout the can get as far away as people have in ties for you to sign up to think about Gone are the days of such frivolous antics as our old friend Health and For one night only, PJ Hall will be day including KaRAGoke in e Me- the past. Last year’s winners got to So- all the ones you might have missed at transformed into Hogwarts’ Great nai in the evening, which will be open a in Bulgaria! Serendipity 1! Plus some live demo’s Safety came more prominent. Saying that, Bangor RAG is still as alive and Hall. We’ll be serving a sit down buf- to everyone, not just those cu ed to- ese are just a few of many activi- in the outer quad! Come along and fet, holding an auction of themed gether. ties we’ve got planned! For further say hi! active as ever as a project within Stu- dent Volunteering Bangor. is year, merchandise, awarding prizes for the It doesn’t matter if you’re short and information about any of our events, we’ve moved into the 21st century, as best costumes, and providing Harry yellow or not, everyone is welcome or to sign up for a sponsored event, GeogSoc’s we opened the selection process for Potter-themed entertainment and an to attend our “Minion” Auction on please e-mail rag.manager@bangor- our four supported charities for the owl with which to take your picture. Wednesday 26th February (location students.com and keep an eye on our year up to the entire student body, Tickets are only £15 and are avail- TBC – watch out on Facebook!). Why Facebook, ‘RAG Prifysgol Bangor – 10th able from the SU Reception, RAG not volunteer your skills as a minion Bangor University RAG’ and Twitter, 2014 is the Geographical Society’s through the use of an online voting system. You as the student body chose Committee Members, SVB Promo- for others to bid on. Or you could be @BangorRAG. 10th Anniversary! is semester we tions Committee Members, and we’ll really despicable and bid money for have lots of exciting events, socials and academic talks planned in order to celebrate this major benchmark for your society. Important dates for your diaries! (watch out for further ones)

• Academic talk from Dr Be- than Davies: 11th of March • Sport Relief SENRGy Sta vs Student football match: 19th of March (TBC) • Academic talk from Dr Dan Venables 23rd of March • SUMMER BALL: 9th of May (TBC) oppaFeel! Uni who are kindly supporting this year’s Normal Site and Wheldon building. One World Boob Teams na- UBT campaign. To end our week we also have a ‘Boob tionwide are asking stu- country checking their Kristin Hallenga, Founder of Cop- ball’ Dodgeball tournament, in asso- Cdents to take-up the ultimate New boobs regularly. paFeel! said “I envisage a world where ciation with the SU, taking place on Day Gala Year’s resolution, it will only take up Chat with your local Uni boob checking is a standard part of a Sunday 9th. THE One World Day, 28th March, ve minutes of your time every month Boob Team. ey will be active all person’s routine, like brushing your At 1pm we have a special presenta- is a celebration of the university's cul- and one day could potentially save over campus in the next few months teeth! Start a habit of lifetime today tion from our Boobette Organiser, tural diversity and is open to all. e your life. to remind students to get a coppin’. and let’s stamp out late and mis-diag- Sophie, our stall being present at the event is free but, as we have done in What is it? I hear you scream. Quite Expect Boob Ball, club night takeo- nosis of breast cancer”. Healthy Living Week on 12th Febru- the past, we will ask for a donation simply we want you to check your vers and boob costume bingo! Uni Here at Bangor University we are do- ary will follow this. Finally to round for charity. is year, we’re looking boobs. It is that easy. Every month Boob Teams have a whole host of ac- ing many events this February in order o the month we will be once again for performers to take part in events give your boobs the once over, there tivities up their sleeves in order to get to promote our cause. We’re starting joining the SU in order to put on a throughout the day. is no right or wrong way to do it. Just you boob aware. o with our Boob Week fundraising; special ‘Boob Night’ down at Academi Our auditions are on Wednesday get coppin’ a feel of your hooters to Uni Boob Teams are also inviting during this week, one big event hap- for CoppaFeel! and FeBRAry. 12th February from 5 until 7pm in learn what is normal for you so if you students to sign up to CoppaFeel!’s pening is our ‘Tits, giggles and poetry’ If you fancy a being a Boob Team Rathbone Hall, College Road. detect a change you can go and get it free SMS reminder service, which evening taking place on Tuesday 4th. Leader next year recruitment will start So what are waiting for? Dust o checked out. sends you a free monthly reminder Boob Team has joined together with at the end of March, follow us on Face- your dancing shoes, step away from CoppaFeel! are on a mission to en- to check your boobs. It’s easy to join, the Comedy Society and the Book book and Twitter - @coppafeelpeople the karaoke machine and come and sure all breast cancers are diagnosed simply text BANGOR to 70500. If you & Quills Society, in order to put on for updates on how to apply! have fun with us! at the earliest stage possible. At which need an extra incentive to sign up a night of entertainment and laugh- Visit coppafeel.org/uniboobteams to For more information just email treatments are more e ective and sur- merely show your SMS con rmation ter. is will be followed by various nd out how to join a team or nd out Manuela at internationalsupport@ vival rates higher, and the best way of message to a UBT member to receive cake sales taking place across Bangor what your boob team is up to. bangor.ac.uk or ring 01248 388430. doing that is to get everyone in the a 20% discount code for boohoo.com University sites including Main Arts,

20TH FEBRUARY AT ACADEMI!

seren brings back... 20TH FEBRUARY 20TH FEBRUARY AT ACADEMI! This year marks the 6th anniversary of SEREN’S annual 90’s extravaganza! To prepare you for AT ACADEMI! the night we thought we’d jam-pack this page with all the information you could ever desire and if you do nd yourself wanting more then just check out the Facebook event: http://bit.do/seren90s In fact, you should check out that page anyway! TICKETS!

£3 SONIC SERVICE This year tickets will be on sale at a variety of locations such as: SU RECEPTION • ACADEMI SHOP MOJOS • FOXY • SPARX We’ll also have a stall at Serendipity 2 (15th Feb) and in Main Arts foyer (Date TBC). And of course our special Son- ic Service will return nearer to the date, where he will deliver seren brings back... straight to your door! FANCY A DISCOUNT? HERE AT SEREN WE’VE ARRANGED SOME PRETTY FAB DISCOUNTS FOR YOU, OUR READERS! Mojos: 20% off costume hires Sparx: 10% off everything in store Foxy: 10% off with £10 spend *DISCOUNT ONLY AVAILABLE WITH PRODUCTION OF A VALID TICKET, EACH TICKET MAY BE USED ONCE IN EACH PARTICIPATING STORE. 24 Seren | February Issue 2014 TV In Brief Game of Thrones: UK air date set

THE new season of Game of Thrones is set to air on Monday April 7th at 9PM on Sky Atlantic. The anticipated fourth season premieres in UK less than 24 hours after its US premiere. The new actors joining the cast this season include Mark Gatiss as Tycho Ne- storis. Gatiss is currently appear- ing in BBC’s Sherlock. 24: New series to be lmed in London SCENES for the new season will be Blackadder, show us the way! shot in various locations in Febru- ary. 24: Live Another Day is the rst by THOMAS BICKERDIKE der’s character is somewhat weak were the ones where Baldrick be- work about life in the trenches. The new series of the show for four and feeble, nothing compared to comes an MP (where we nally learn only research I did was watching the years. Unlike the previous seasons ichael Gove recently criti- the evil gure we have come to his rst name) and when he acci- whole of Blackadder Goes Forth. I did where 24 episodes were shown cized this much loved sit- know and enjoy. dentally burns Dr Samuel Johnson’s not get the best mark for it, but at in real-time representing an hour Mcom about its depiction of Blackadder II was a greater success dictionary, leading to Blackadder least my teacher had a good laugh in Jack Bauer’s life, the new series the First World War and how “left- for many reasons: Ben Elton became having to rewrite the whole book and understood my humour. will take place in only 12-hour wing academics” were using it “to a co-writer, Blackadder became overnight. It is hard to believe that Blackadder long instalments. The series will feed myths” and damage patriotism, more suave and evil and Baldrick The nal series, Blackadder Goes is over 30 years old, but it is, in my premiere on Sky 1 in May. by clearing Germany of any blame. became more stupid. In addition Forth portrayed life in the trenches opinion, the yardstick for any histor- How? It is a useful and also very they brought in a completely new during the First World War. Ben El- ical comedy. As Blackadder himself amusing learning tool. Well it was cast, including Miranda Richardson ton once said that if there was ever a once said: “I want to be remembered Orders pour in for for me… Thank you Rowan Atkin- and Stephen Fry. The standout per- subject that needed satire it is peo- when I’m dead. I want books written son and Richard Curtis. formance is that of Richardson as ple going blindly to war. It is a hard about me. I want songs sung about ‘Capaldi Crombie’ I will be honest and say that the Queen Elizabeth, portraying her as topic to make a comedy about, yet me. And then, hundreds of years rst series, The Black Adder, was not spoilt and childish, yet also power- they do so in a bold yet respectful from now, I want episodes of my life coats a huge success. The funniest mo- ful and enjoying the sight of people way. In many ways, the nal episode to be played out weekly at half past ment was in the rst episode when having their heads cut o . when they go over the top provides nine by some great heroic actor of A FULL episode hasn’t been aired Blackadder accidentally kills his Blackadder the Third has Blackad- what is perhaps the greatest nale the age.” yet, but the 12th Doctor has al- uncle – Richard III. History is there- der as a butler serving the loud- in TV history. It stops being a com- So Mr Gove, are you saying that ready been a trend-setter. After fore re-written and instead of Henry mouth Prince Regent (Hugh Laurie), edy in the last few minutes and be- the war did or did not start because the mixed reactions caused by the Tudor taking to the throne we have who himself is a complete arse. The comes poignant. some bloke called Archie Duke shot Doctor’s new look, fans rushed to Richard IV (Brian Blessed). Blackad- two best episodes from that series I once did a piece of year 9 course- an ostrich because he was hungry? Crombie’s London, Manchester and Edinburgh stores to nd a matching jacket to the Doctor’s. Enquiries about made-to-measure versions with the Doctor’s red silk lining have also been made. A cost of a single tailor made jacket comes closer to 3000£. Sky Atlantic the only channel showing new HBO shows in UK

BSKYB has extended its exclusive deal with HBO running until 2020, preventing rival satellite operator BT from poaching HBO product. With the extended deal, new HBO programmes including True De- tective and Looking, will continue to premiere exclusively on Sky. by LJ TAYLOR sister, Elena must hide a secret; she’s Eventually convinced by close records or new ground for that mat- a werewolf. And not only that, but friend, and werewolf, Logan (Mi- ter, the opening few episodes have Dancing on Ice re- n an industry where the vampire she’s the only female werewolf in chael Xavier), Elena returns to thus far been enjoyable and intrigu- stock price has exploded in recent existence. Stonehaven. This is where we meet ing. After years of seeing Laura Van- turns? Iyears it is not surprising to see yet We soon discover just how much the rest of the pack and even if you dervoort as a fan favourite in smaller another supernatural tv show hit Elena is struggling to keep the wolf had nothing else nice to say about roles (Smallville, Haven, V) it’s great ACCORDING to head judge Robin our screens. Syfy’s new show Bitten, at bay in her desperate attempt to Bitten you cannot deny they’re an to see her at the helm of her own Cousins, the show could return af- however, tosses vampires aside, to live a normal life and Bitten, based attractive bunch. It’s not long before show. Her supporting cast aren’t ter the current series. Dancing on nally give us a breath of fresh air, in on The Women of the Otherworld it starts to become clear why Elena is half bad either! And as the obses- Ice is set to nish after this year’s favour of werewolves. book series by Kelley Armstrong, so against returning home; the tall, sive Haven fan that I am it’s great to nale after Jayne Torvill and Chris- The show introduces to Elena Mi- brings us into Elena’s life just as it’s brooding werewolf Clay (Greyston see her make an appearance beside topher Dean announced they chaels (Laura Vandervoort), a Toron- about to be turned upside down Holt). Steve Lund once again. were quitting. “The format can to photographer, who lives a seem- once again. After a woman is found Whilst all is not revealed straight As of yet the show hasn’t been work without Jayne and Christo- ingly perfect life along with her mauled in the woods the head of away it is easy to understand that picked up by a UK channel but it’s pher”, Cousins reportedly told the marketing mogul boyfriend, Philip Elena’s old pack, Jeremy (Greg Bryk) there was a bad breakup between looking likely that Syfy UK will end Daily Star Sunday, adding: “The McAdams (Paul Greene). But in TV calls everyone home in order to the two at some point in the past up broadcasting it later in the year. question is whether they would land things are never quite as they hunt down the rogue ‘mutt’ respon- and it looks as though this could be want it to.” The show’s future re- seem, are they? Between shooting sible. And of course, Elena is less quite a focal point in the rst season. mains open. photos and lunching with Philip’s than impressed by this news. Whilst Bitten is not set to break any February Issue 2014 | Seren 25 TV

Season of friendship

by NICOLA HOBAN Watson and then leaning in for an- joy as we were given Sherlock and with his performance in The Sign of in their replace?! Exceptional act- other kiss. There was a lot of love in John hugs, a very heart-warming Three, and Martin Freeman was the ing from Lars Mikkelsen by the way, BC’s Sherlock fans waited this episode. We even got a Gavin speech given by John to Sherlock perfect Watson as always. Fans loved you made me dislike your character somewhat patiently for two – sorry, I mean, Greg Lestrade and as a bomb ticked down, and an in- Watson’s love interest Mary Morstan, more than I did Moriarty. Byears to nd out how Sherlock Sherlock hug. credibly touching best man’s speech played by Freeman’s real-life partner Speaking of which, I cannot wait Holmes survived his fall in the sea- What I really loved about this sea- by Sherlock to John. We even had Amanda Abbington who did a won- to see what season four will bring, son two nale, and when The Empty son was the way that the writers re- them rescuing each other a couple derful job, making us fall in love with which is apparently going to be Hearse aired on New Year’s Day they ally focused on John and Sherlock’s of times – aww! her and then BAM! Plot twist: her aired Christmas 2014 (tears of joy were not entirely disappointed. relationship. After having been sep- This season had fans laughing, dark past is revealed, she hurts our from Sherlockians worldwide). It will For they were not given one ex- arated for two years and with one crying, screaming, reaching for the boys and yet we still love her and no doubt be thrilling and emotion- planation of how our hero survived believing that the other was dead, alcohol and for the most part lov- everything turns out rosy (we’re go- ally traumatising so there’s that to his fall, but several – ranging from there was a lot of work that had to be ing it. I know a few people were not ing to be getting a baby!). We saw look forward to. I’ll just be here wait- Sherlock bungee-jumping o of the done to x this friendship. And while happy with how the season was be- the boys in action once again as they ing patiently until Sherlock graces roof, smashing through a window it seems that this season was direct- ing written, but personally I thought solved cases, and we were even giv- our screens once again – probably and kissing Molly Harper in a move ed by fan ction (which fans have it was brilliant. The acting was su- en a very creepy villain in the form watching the show over and over that left several with weak knees, to been assured that it was not), you perb – Benedict Cumberbatch was of Charles Augustus Magnussen, until its back, if I’m being honest. Moriarty and Sherlock giggling and could practically, and in my case lit- spectacular all the way through as who may I say BLEURGH! Who licks conspiring together to trick John erally, hear the fans screaming with usual but he particularly shined other people’s faces and urinates

THE MOST LOVABLE 90’S COUPLES RECOMMENDS:

Ida adores... Amy adores... Sara adores... Nicola adores... Heather adores... ALLY AND BILLY CORY AND TOPANGA MONICA AND CHANDLER TJ AND SPINELLI KELLY AND ZACK FROM ALLY MCBEAL FROM BOY MEETS WORLD FROM FRIENDS FROM RECESS FROM SAVED BY THE BELL

The relationship between Billy Boy Meets World rst aired in 1993 Looking back on the 90s it’s fair to Any kid who watched Recess grow- Zack Morris was the mischievous, and Ally was truly the centre- and from the moment they met say that Friends gave us one of the ing up cannot deny that they liked blond haired protagonist who al- piece of the Ally McBeal-series. we knew Cory and Topanga were greatest on-screen couples of all the pairing of TJ and Spinelli. These ways seemed to be winding up Billy, Ally’s childhood sweetheart, meant to be. They were without time – Monica Geller and Chandler two cool kids were best friends principal Belding. Kelly was the suddenly dumped her right be- a doubt the greatest television Bing. Unlike the constant roller- who got up to some pretty wacky classic, popular, hot girl. As far fore they both started law school. couple of the 90s, no other Disney coaster that was Ross and Rachel, adventures with the rest of the as Zack was concerned Kelly was Years later they ended up work- Channel couple compares; that infor 10 years we watched Monica gang, and while we never actu- the girl of his dreams, and he was ing in the same rm with Billy cludes Troy and Gabriella. Topanga and Chandler’s relationship grow ally had them become boyfriend always devising ways to win her now a married man. To make was a fabulous female role model, from awkward friends who were and girlfriend (I mean, they’re just over. This seemed odd to a young things more complicated, Billy’s she takes the lead and is totally ba- ‘never that close anyway’ to par- kids) we did get several hints that girl, because Zack was clearly the wife Georgia also joined the team dass, which she shows by instigat- ents and partners. They gave us they shared a mutual crush – heck, hottest boy at the school, and the later on. Even though Ally claims ing the couples very rst kiss in sea- some deeply emotional moments we even got a kiss surrounded by subject of many rst crushes - un- throughout the series to be totally son one and then even proposes at of TV as well as the usual laughs - pretty pink rainbows in The Experi- less of course you preferred his over Billy, the source of many of graduation ve seasons on. I can from Monica’s proposal to discov- ment episode, and while they act- jock friend Slater. The couple were her anxieties lies in Billy’s pres- not wait for the spin o Girl Meets ering they couldn’t have kids - but ed grossed-out after the incident, likeable, despite playing very ste- ence. Not including a momentary World and for more of my favourite they gave us plenty of laughs too I think we can all agree it was only reotypical roles of the hot guy and relapse Billy and Ally stay as quite television couple of the 90s. and it was thanks to all of these an act to protect their tough repu- girl, and fans were rewarded with innocent something-more-than- moments that their relationship tations. a marriage in Las Vegas in a later friends until the bittersweet end. seemed as real as any in real life. lm. 26 Seren | February Issue 2014 FILM In Brief

Best Original song nominee eliminated

A NOMINEE for Best Original song at the Academy Awards has been disquali ed for breaking cam- paigning rules. e song, “Alone yet not Alone” from the lm of the same name, has been removed due to the songs composer, Bruce Broughton, alerting colleagues to the submission Rise of Animation while the nominations were being by JACK NICOL Titanic became the highest grossing named the Disney renaissance, a time considered. lm of all time grossing $1.8b world- that restored public interest in Dis- he 90s kid is facing a small wide. It was especially, though, a time ney, relying upon mostly well known phenomenon, a mid life crisis, for revolution in animation. 1995 saw stories. Although the period started whitewashing plot for wacky Jesse Eisenberg where the Internet looks back the release of Pixar’s Toy Story. Being in 1989, it is mostly considered a 90s characters, sidekicks and pop culture Tupon its childhood with wide eyed references. Mythology and history the rst full length computer animated occurrence. What the Little Mermaid cast as Lex Luthor nostalgia. is belies a deeper politi- feature lm revolutionized technology began was continued by a series of had been dumbed down and even to cal landscape. e 1990s was a time of within the lm industry at the time, critically acclaimed lms, including an extent editorialized for marketing mass change; the fall of the USSR, the but much more it changed how ani- Aladdin, e Lion King, Pocahontas, purposes. in Batman vs. failure of the rst Gulf War and the Yu- Technology became a theme for lm goslavian Civil War, mass-market glo- and anime in particular. If the 80s saw Superman balization, multiculturalism and the Japan come to terms with isolationism, JESSE Eseinberg, of e Social Net- rise of neo-liberalism. Great changes social strife and nuclear bombings in work fame has been cast as Lex Lu- happened within new alternative me- TAKES APART THE UNIVERSE OF CINEMATIC Grave of e Fire ies and Akira, then thor. Others who had been tipped as dia, grunge, hip hop and rave all found VISUALS...ALLOWING US TO SEE IN A NEW WAY the 90s saw anime deal with Japan in front runners for the role were Bryan a place within pop culture, all aided a new world, a technological world. Cranston and Joaquin Phoenix. Ei- by the rise of interconnectedness. e None more so than Ghost in the Shell. senberg won a best actor nomination rise of popular media, especially that mated lms were viewed to the extent e Hunchback of Notre Dame, Her- e lm is set in a cyberpunk future for his work in e Social Network. of home market consumables a er the that Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun- cules, and ending in 1999 with Tarzan. where technology and humanity have Jeremy Irons has also been cast as Al- more austere 80s, came into its own. Times said that it “take[s] apart the Beauty and the Beast (1991) was the merged together. Police operative fred, Batman’s butler and con dant. e era saw partisanship move from universe of cinematic visuals, and put rst ever animated lm to receive a Motoko Kusanagi is a cybernetic AI, a political stage to consumer products it back together again, allowing us to Best Picture Oscar nomination. is and throughout the lms is unsure of - ‘Sega do what nintendon’t’. Advertis- see in a new way.” Pixar continued this era of animation really gave some ar- what humanises her. e antagonist Zac Efron ing became increasingly important, as trend of not only animation, but also tistic credit back to animation a er is a unique AI who challenges any as- did buzzwords that really meant little, lmmaking in their own right, somewhat was considered a dark age for sumption of what it is to be human, Con rms talks how many people knew what ‘blast thing not wholly considered possible. the medium. Many other companies called the “puppet master”. e lm is processing’ was, or what ‘bits’ were? It appealed not only to children but attempted to jump on the bandwagon notable for in uencing a good many for Star Wars: But dammit they were important. due to a stellar script was able to ap- and create revenue from animation. Western Sci- lms, not least e Celebrity culture became a cult, peo- peal to any age group. e lm never Unfortunately this didn’t work, and Matrix. Around a similar time Prin- Episode VII ple cared about what, who, where and held back to really engage with actual the nest example is e Iron Giant. cess Mononoke came into existence, why, especially teen interest magazines emotion. As an example, think back to A lm that deserves more plaudits a story unlike any other from Studio like Sassy. the point when Buzz Lightyear truly than it garnered at the time, a lm by Ghibli and director Hayao Miyazaki. ZAC Efron con rmed a desire to Films became an especially impor- accepts that he is a toy. He stands on a the same creator as the Incredibles, Set in the 16th century, although the take a role in JJ Abrams revival of the tant medium, seeing many important landing, and he’s minuscule. Two min- but lacked the backing from a rec- trope of Humanity as the real monster classic space opera. It has not been changes. Dogme 95 developed an ‘art utes previous he had a massive ego, so ognized animation company. How- is averted: the story actually goes to con rmed as of yet, but the meeting house’ movement. Started by Lars assured of who, and what he was. ever towards the end of the 90s early great lengths to avoid it and human- has been con rmed by the actor him- Von Trier and omas Vinteberg, it e era also saw a revival of Disney. 2000s Disney cation became an issue. ize its antagonists. It’s a lm, and com- self. So far Jesse Plemons, Chiwetel rejected technology, piously maintain- e period of the 90s has since been Many critics claimed that they were pany that revolutionized lm and the Ejiofor, Benedict Cumberbatch, Sul- ing the story and character above all. way we perceive animation as an art. livan Stapleton, Liam Mcintyre and Simon Pegg have all been linked with the new episode in the franchise. Disney have announced a new tril- Upcoming Releases ogy a er buying all the rights to the franchise for £2.49b.

London Film Critics Jack Ryan: awards sees 12 Years Lone Survivor Out of the Furnace Inside Llewyn Davis Shadow Recruit a Slave triumph Release: Jan 12th Release: Jan 29th Release: Jan 24th Release: Jan 16th WHAT YOU EXPECT: Full-blooded WHAT YOU EXPECT: Vengeance. WHAT YOU EXPECT: Grimey cold WHAT YOU EXPECT: Boo Rus- American explosive action, function- Blood. e Deer Hunter and Snatch. blue colours, Coen Brothers, Folk sia, boo. Old School spy lms, and STEVE Mcqueen’s 12 Years a Slave ing as a recruitment ad for the US mili- Good performances from critically ac- Music and Bob Dylan. Snappy witty post 9/11 fear references. Flawless continued its march towards next tary. Explosions and a heroic America claimed actors. Blue-collar values, bad writing, held together by tight perfor- military research to a typically Tom months Academy Awards by winning triumph. luck and Americana. mances from regular faces. Clancy standard. Film of e Year, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress. Alfonso Cuarón What it is: A story of camaraderie, What it is: Pretentious hard luck sto- What it is: Pretty much that. Coen What it is: Like everything Tom won director of the year for Gravity, unison and friendship. Unsure of pro ry. It doesn’t fully come o , although Brothers are on key here. e whole Clancy’s name is attached to, this Cate Blacnhett was named actress of or anti war position of the lmmakers. the performances are to a very high cast is great, and the writing is fan- lm is awlessly researched, al- the year for her performance in Blue First two acts are very solid if slightly standard. e lms plot is a large ex- tastic. It deviates from a traditional though that level of realism in the Jasmine and Judi Dench won Brit- a gore fetish. e visceral nature of the position dump pushed along by con- Coen lm consisting of a Noiresque techniques and equipment does not ish Actress of the year. John Hurt cinematography puts the viewer in venience, and it relies far too heavily convoluted plot, as there isn’t actually quite stretch to its politics. It’s not also presented Gary Oldman with an place, but the lm doesn’t quite know on the Deer Hunter. A large cast of a plot to the lm, but more a series bad, it’s a nostalgia lled, post 9/11 award for excellence in acting. e whether it wants you to be excited or high quality actors, Christian Bale in of demoralising events. at doesn’t spy lm, that relies on old enemies in awards also saw Jason Solomons lead appalled at the level and severity of particular puts in a very good shi . mean it isn’t a typically Coen charac- Russia. Branagh’s performance as a tributes to late actor Phillip Seymour the injuries. Brutal, but con icted. For e score is phenomenal, and easily ter study. It’s beautifully melancholic tongue in cheek bad guy is enjoyable. Ho man. those who enjoyed Black Hawk Down the best part of the lm. and leaves a lingering thought in the e lm is stuck in between Bond it’s a good enjoyable lm in a similar mind, requiring a second viewing. and Bourne. It’s nostalgic and fun, mould. but nothing groundbreaking. February Issue 2014 | Seren 27 FILM

Steve Rogers’ struggle to adapt to the e Winter Soldier. e antagonist is well and Dominic Cooper will also re- ual e ects. e Russo brothers’ ethos by LJ TAYLOR contemporary world, two years a er set to be a lot more deadly than just prise their roles from e First Aveng- is apparently that if they can build it ghting o aliens in 2012’s Avengers. a master assassin out to kill Cap, he er as love interest Peggy Carter and and a stunt can be done then it will e’ve come a long way since Still working for S.H.I.E.L.D., the is Rogers’ best friend Bucky brain- Howard Stark, father of Iron Man. e be. Hopefully this will give us a much the events of e Aveng- man from the past nds himself in the washed and turned into a tool to kill. pair appeared in the last movie during grittier, fast-paced and realistic movie ers. We’ve seen the e ects middle of a mysterious new plot that Whilst trailers and photos thus far the 40s and it’s unclear whether they in comparison to the CGI ridden or theW Battle of New York have had on puts the world at danger yet again. have yet to reveal or insinuate the are going to be subjected to ashback sequel of last year. billionaire superhero Tony Stark and Partnering up with fellow agent Nata- Winter Soldier’s true identity it feels as duty for e Winter Soldier. We’ve still a few months to go and we’ve seen the God of under, or, sha Romanov (Scarlett Johansson) aka though it is going to play a huge role e second trailer for the lm was plenty more time for things to be re- try to forgive his tyrant brother Loki Black Widow, Cap must discover what in the emotional aspect of the movie. released this week and once again vealed but so far Captain America: for his actions. is April, however, it’s is going on in time to save his home. Once we discover it’s Bucky, that is. shows just how action packed a ride e Winter Soldier is shaping up to time for the First Avenger to step up e movie sees the introduction of e movie, directed by Anthony and it is set to be. e First Avenger was be one of, if not the, best Marvel lm and defend his newfound home from popular Marvel character e Falcon Joe Russo, will also see the return of fun and a great origins story for the to come our way. In fact, it went down yet another threat. (Anthony Mackie) who must assist Samuel L Jackson as Nick Fury and Cap, all the patriotism seems to have so well with Marvel execs that Captain e Winter Soldier marks Chris Captain America and Black Widow. Coby Smulders returning as Agent seeped away though ready for a much America 3 has already been given the Evan’s third (technically fourth) out- Captain America’s second instal- Maria Hill. It also sees newcomer darker sequel. Perhaps one of the most go ahead with Chris Evans and the ing in that star-spangled suit and the ment sees our hero pitted against pos- Robert Redford as Alexander Pierce, a interesting and exciting things about Russo brothers at the helm. Cap’s second solo movie. e movie is sibly the deadliest assassin to ever live; senior S.H.I.E.L.D leader. Hayley At- the lm is that it rarely relies on vis- set for release on 4th April and follows by NICOLA HOBAN it was such a good lm! Christian Bale the role of a hit man for the mob, and had you laughing within the rst min- Jennifer Lawrence playing Irving’s def- merican Hustle was one of the ute as he tried to x his hideous comb- initely deranged wife Rosalyn Rosen- most anticipated lms to come over and aunted his rather large beer feld. out in recent months, and it’s belly – not the most attractive version is lm is outrageous, shocking, Ano wonder. Starring Jennifer Law- of Bale, I must say. and although it is described as a drama rence, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, e plot of the lm itself follows con and not a comedy, there’s no deny- Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner and man Irving Rosenfeld (Bale), who with ing that it is hilarious – from the 70s Robert de Niro, the lm was always his alluring partner Sydney Prosser clothes, to the characters, to the situ- going to be a good watch. (Adams), is forced to work for - let’s ations they get themselves into. Each Being a huge fan of each of these ac- just say it – crazy FBI agent Richie of the performances is superb, and yet tors, I decided to go and see the ick in DiMaso (Cooper), as he tries to bring while I adore every one of these actors, the cinema. I wasn’t prepared for how down corrupt politicians through the Jennifer Lawrence really shines for me. long it was going to go on for – two art of a good con, including tricking What can I say, I love her. hours and 30 minutes or so – which family and community-orientated A lm made for all audiences (as is partially my fault for not checking man, Mayor Carmine Polito (Ren- long as you’re above 18), when it’s re- the lm length beforehand. However, ner). e lm also has a short Robert leased on DVD it will certainly be one I didn’t really mind the length because de Niro appearance with him ful lling that is going in my lm collection. Philip Seymour Ho man Obituary by BECCI JAMESON viewers and especially at the awards. him a fresh set of fans with his por- Ho man was nominated four times trayal of cryptic Gamemaker Plutarch hilip Seymour Ho man has for Best Actor in a Leading Role Oscar Heavensbee and was set to star in the died at the age of 46 of a sus- and won in 2005 for his role as real life next two instalments of the series. Ac- pected drug overdose. US author Truman Capote. e actor cording to Hollywood Reporter, the PHis body was found a er a friend described the role in the New York actor has nished lming for the rst alerted the emergency services who Times as ‘like being some kind of depart of Mockingjay and only had a arrived swi ly at Ho man’s home tective where you’re on the search for week’s lming le for the second. in Greenwich Village, New York. A a secret that will unlock the character.’ Jennifer Lawrence described him as spokesman for the New York police Ho man’s breakthrough came in “such an incredible actor”. said investigators found two small the nineties with roles in e Big Leb- Ho man’s e Ides of March co-star, bags which were suspected of con- owski (1997), Boogie Nights (1998) George Clooney said: “ ere are no taining heroin. Ho man rst became and guilty pleasure, Twister (1996), words... It’s just terrible.” addicted to drugs and alcohol shortly where his penchant for the strange Kevin Spacey expressed his loss in a er leaving the Tisch School of the and eccentric became apparent. His this tweet: “A tragedy to lose as su- Arts. At the age of 22 the actor entered most memorable roles include Along premely talented an actor as Philip rehab and was clean for 23 years until Came Polly (2004) as a rom-com side- Seymour Ho man. An unspeakable A Life in Numbers a relapse in 2013. kick, e Talented Mr. Ripley (2000) loss for lm, theatre & all who knew 1 Best Actor Oscar for Capote, 2005 He was known as a unique and in- opposite an unsettled Matt Damon him. RIP.” 3 Supporting Actor Oscar nominations triguing actor who went above and and e Boat at Rocked (2009) Ho man is survived by his partner, 51 feature lm releases, 1991-2014 beyond to portray a wide range of as a pirate radio DJ known only as costume designer Mimi O’Donnell 29 dramas, 21 comedies, 1 animation dysfunctional and sometimes down- e Count. Ho man most recently and their three children, Cooper, Tal- 3 real life characters played: Lester Bangs, Truman right unlikable characters. ese roles starred in Catching Fire; the sequel to lulah and Willa. Capote, Art Howe have been well received by critics, e Hunger Games. is had gained 28 Seren | February Issue 2014 MUSIC In Brief Radio One’s Big Weekend in Glasgow BBC RADIO 1’s annual Big Week- end will be held at Glasgow Green. The event will take place between 24th-25th May; the rst con rmed artists are Rita Ora and Paolo Nu- tini. The news was announced on Nick Grimshaw’s Breakfast Show live from BBC Scotland. The Big Weekend is now in its 11th year and is Europe’s largest free tick- eted music event. In the build-up to the event, BBC Radio 1 and BBC Learning will open up Radio 1’s Academy from 10th- 16th May, to inspire local 16 to 19 Beyoncé: Beyoncé year olds. It will include a series of by AMY BLACKWELL post-natal depression with the cer- they’re not good songs. Other titles The visual side of the album is radio shows, master classes and tain element of Beyoncé “swag” that appeal more, my particular favour- no other word but stunning.The Q&As. eyoncé surprised fans every- she is known and loved for. For this ites are ‘Pretty Hurts’ and ‘No Angel’ amount of thought and precision Over 60,000 tickets will be avail- where on 12th December last I applaud her. This is Beyoncé taking but then maybe my inner feminist is that has gone into each video is able across the two events. Byear when she released her herself in a new direction; this is her biased. The gem of the album has to evident, there is not a single throw- album ‘Beyoncé’ on iTunes without making a stand towards all expecta- be ‘Flawless’ which features Nigerian away among them. The video to the e Who to Reunite any prior advertising. The album tions of herself and women every- feminist writer Chimamanda Ngozi more “poppy” track ‘Blow’ in particu- contains fourteen tracks and eight- where. This is not her writing to sell. Adichie talking at a TED talk about fe- lar is diverse, interesting and plain ROGER Daltrey and Pete Town- een visual accompaniments, includ- In terms of musical quality some of male socialisation and male-female gorgeous. shend, bandmates in The Who, are ing bonus videos; ‘Ghost’, ‘Yonce’ and the tracks - as on any album - can inequality. The track recognises the The album by no means lives up to reunite this year to make a new ‘Grown Woman’ as well as credits. become tedious to listen to, even work and success of women telling to expectations of Beyoncé, not one album. Daltrey told NME, when an- Other artist featured include Jay-Z, though there is an important mes- listeners to “bow down” and “don’t song is the same as the one before nouncing the line-up for the annual Drake and Frank Ocean. sage; ‘Haunted’ for example is over think I’m just his little wife” whilst si- and each has an element any woman Teenage Cancer Trust gigs which “Perfection is a disease of a na- six minutes long but its contents multaneously mocking the notion of can relate to. NME describes the al- he is curating, that Townshend has tion.” The message behind her new are crucial to the albums message “ awless” women “I woke up like this bum’s style as “dark, post-dubstep been working on new material. album is one that is incredibly rel- - “working nine ‘till ve just to stay / We awless... ladies, tell 'em.” The tinted future R&B” which I feel de- He said: “Pete’s got hundreds evant and hugely important. The alive.” Some songs disappointed mixture of audio-clips and musical scribes its musical aspect perfectly. of songs, so the only question is songs on this new album are un- me, for example ‘Mine’ and ‘Drunk talent makes the song great to listen As the lady says herself the album is whether we get around to it, but like most that she has produced in Love’ from which I expected a lit- to but the video is what makes it, for “all the grown women out there” he wants to make an album and I’m before; presenting current issues of tle more musically due to their fea- without Beyoncé’s slightly mad facial and raises and inverts issues faced by always ready and raring to go. We’ll social poverty, equality and sexual turing artists; Drake and Jay-Z re- expressions the ironic element of the us everyday. see.” discrimination, marriage and even spectively. Though that isn’t to say track could be lost. Reign on Queen B! It will be The Who’s 12th album, their rst since ‘Endless Wire’ in 2006. Peppers to headline Isle of Wight Festival RED Hot Chili Peppers are set to headline this summer’s Isle of Wight Festival, held at Seaclose Park from 12th-15th June. They will perform on the Main Stage on Saturday 14th June, with Bi y Clyro headlining Fri- day 13th June. Other acts on the bill will include The 1975, Calvin Harris and Rudimental. It will be the Pep- pers only live performance in the UK this year. The Peppers recently performed their classic hit ‘Give It Away’ at the Super Bowl half-time show with Bruno Mars at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Dur- ing the build-up, they denied rumours that they would cover Led Zeppelin’s ‘Dazed & Confused’. Bye Bye Bieber? THE White House has said it will re- spond to a petition demanding the You Me at Six: Cavalier Youth deportation of Justin Bieber from by CHARLOTTE WRIGHT and is about the band’s growth into voke di erent emotions throughout, BROCO, Mayday Parade and McFly. the United States. The petition cur- adulthood. They have a more ma- from uplifting to slow and mellow. 8/10 rently has over 200,000 signatures, ou Me at Six achieved their rst ture outlook on life now they’re into Not all reviews of Cavalier Youth meaning it will be reviewed by UK number one in the album their twenties. As the lyrics in ‘Fresh have been positive, with some slat- White House sta . Ycharts this month with their Start Fever’ suggest, “Welcome to ing You Me at Six by declaring they On 31st January, Bieber’s private brand new album, ‘Cavalier Youth’. the future, dream a little bigger”, the are a band that only “screaming sixth jet was detained and searched after Released on January 27 the band band intend to carry on storming the teen year old girls would enjoy”, and police o cers reportedly smelled hit the top 40 charts with two singles charts and selling out venues. This the album does gain interest from marijuana. Earlier that week, he o the album, “Lived a Lie” and “Fresh is also suggested in ‘Hope For The young listeners, Cavalier Youth is def- was charged with assaulting a limo Start Fever”. The band sticks with Best’ with the line, “You gotta keep initely not just aimed at their teen- driver and recently faced charges for their genre of pop punk by the way the dream alive, or else it will die.” age fans but also at the twenty-plus drunk driving and street racing; he of their catchy ri s, occasional gang The band is very much keeping their range and is easily relatable. was later released on bail. His house vocals and inspiring lyrics sung by dream alive. Best songs o this album: Fresh was searched recently after he al- frontman Josh Franceschi. The album seems to tell a story of Start Fever, Room to Breathe, Hope legedly threw eggs at a neighbour’s The Surrey-based band say that the youth, maturity and living without For The Best and Wild Ones. house - the result is still unclear. album title means ‘carefree youth’ regret. Cavalier Youth seems to pro- For fans of: Paramore, Lawson, DON February Issue 2014 | Seren 29 MUSIC Spice Girls vs. Backstreet Boys Two of the 90s’ most infamous bands, but who was better? We let Sara, our Health and Beauty Editor, and Nic, our Deputy Editor for content, put their cases forward...

Green Day: Dookie

by SARA WILLIAMS late ‘90s, the Spice Girls had a huge by NICOLA HOBAN after forming their group in 1993, in uence on me and my friends; the the band are still going strong in re- h, the Backstreet Boys. One of o, I'll tell you what I want, what diversity of the band meant that cent years – they released an album the most loved boy bands of I really really want! no matter who you were you could just last year entitled ‘In A World Like the 90s – and let’s just say it, In terms of song lyrics no one identify with one of them (growing A This’. So while bands like Boyzone Y there were a lot of them. But these can deny that while they may not be up I always thought I was Sporty are coming back for a reunion, let guys will always be one of my fa- profound in the 17 years since their Spice; it turns out I’m not, I’m Posh!) us not forget that the Backstreet vourite boy bands – my walls were by THOMAS BICKERDIKE release they have certainly become meaning no one was excluded from Boys never went away, even at a plastered with posters of the band iconic. Between 1996 and 2000, the being their fan. The Spice Girls were time when boy bands were consid- he punk scene in the 90s was and its members and I think it’s fair Spice Girls conquered the charts always about projecting positive ered dead and they probably should dominated early on by Nir- to say that my sisters and I drove our all over the world with their feel messages for females, be this in how have done. vana, but after the release parents nuts playing their songs re- So while bedroom walls may no T good songs and in uenced fashion you looked or what you wanted to and success of their second studio peatedly. throughout the late ‘90s. They came do with your life. longer be wallpapered with band album ‘Kerplunk’ in 1992, record With hits such as ‘Everybody’, ‘I along when the British charts were Yes they were often a little bit sexy memorabilia, it’s fair to say that you labels were starting to pay atten- Want It That Way’ and ‘As Long As being dominated by boy bands for the audience they had, (and near- gotta love ‘em, most likely as a guilty tion to Green Day. They eventually You Love Me’, plus heart throbs in such as Boyzone and Take That and ly 20 years on it’s quite funny think- pleasure. agreed to sign with Reprise Records the shape of Nick Carter, these guys injected it with some much needed ing about myself singing innocently after a good connection with rep- were destined for the boy band ‘girl power’. along to ‘2 Becomes 1’), but they also resentative Rob Cavallo. This led to Hall-of-Fame – I’m pretty sure there When the Spice Girls rst came to taught many young girls to embrace their major record label debut – the is one, lled up with bands like Boy- prominence I was 6 years old, and I who they were no matter if you’re a internationally successful ‘Dookie’. zone, Take That, A1 and Westlife. can admit with no shame that their Baby, Sporty, Ginger, Posh or Scary The rst single released, ‘Long- The Backstreet Boys will always live debut album ‘Spice’ was the rst al- Spice! view’, begins with a bass line from on in the hearts of young girls and bum I ever owned. Growing up in the Mike Dirnt which is somewhat mes- merising. This continues throughout the song, which is interrupted Steps and Chesney Hawkes - by loud bursts from Billie Joe Arm- strong. It concentrates on topics in- Where are they now? cluding boredom, masturbation and During the 90s, we listened to them and loved them. Then they faded into obsecurity. Nowadays when you here smoking cannabis, as demonstrated with lyrics such as: “No time for the hear them, you probably wonder “Where are they now?” Well, here’s what’s happened to two of them... motivation/Smoking my inspiration”. ‘Welcome to Paradise’ is all about the band’s experience of leaving home, but moving into an abandoned house in their hometown Oakland, CA. The style is as if Billie Joe is writing home to his mother. The main hit single on this album is, of course, ‘Basket Case’, still one of their most popular songs. It is inspired by Billie Joe’s anxiety problems, including consulting a shrink and a whore. He famously said: “The only way I could know what the hell was going on was to write a song about it.” The song begins with Billie Joe playing guitar and singing, before an explosive bit of drumming from Tré Cool. The fourth single released was ‘When I Come Around’, supposedly about a breakup between Billie Joe and his girlfriend Adrienne Nesser. laire, Faye, Lisa, Lee and, of Steps reunited in a 4-part documen- n 1991 at the age of 19, Chesney ic Relief in 2011, as well as a number It has a simple iconic ri running course, “H”. Steps’ rst ma- tary for Sky Living in July 2011. The Hawkes became a household of programmes on ITV; he fractured throughout. This is one of the songs jor hit was ‘5, 6, 7, 8’ in 1997, following year, they released a new name with his appearance in Bud- his ankle in preparation for Danc- they played at Woodstock, which C I led to an infamous mud ght. which has received some longevity. album “Light Up the World” and their dy’s Song and his one-hit wonder ing on Ice in 2012 and was replaced Do you remember your teachers at own fragrance. They took a break last ‘The One and Only’ which spent ve by Chico. He received criticism that ‘Dookie’ is only 40 minutes long, primary school getting up on stage year after touring to concentrate on weeks at number one. Unfortunately year from the people of Hastings af- but it was enough to cement Green and dancing to it wearing cowboy solo projects. Faye took to musical he was unable to achieve the same ter they claimed he was not famous Day as an act to be aware of. In ’95, hats, wanting you all to join in? That theatre; Claire designed her fashion success with his other songs. ‘I’m a enough to open a Christmas ice rink; it won the Grammy Award for Best only reached #14 in the charts. Re- range and has begun work on a solo Man Not a Boy’ peaked at #27; his they were expecting Suggs from Alternative Album. Other notable cord producer/songwriter Pete Wa- album; Lee has been running mara- 2005 hit ‘Another Fine Mess’ peaked Madness. He now writes material for hits of theirs during the 90s in- terman admitted he wanted to cre- thons and managing his wife’s band; at #48. other musicians; last year he released cluded ‘Hitchin’ a Ride’, ‘Redundant’ ate a modern version of ABBA. Their H appeared in the Joseph and the So, where is the one and only a new single, ‘Caught Up In Circles’, and ‘Good Riddance (Time of Your best chart position was #1 in January Technicolor Dreamcoat, as well as Chesney Hawkes now? Well, in 2009 and performed at the Rewind Festi- Life)’. Their next three albums did 1999 for their cover of the Bee Gees’ pantomime, and recently deleted his he appeared in a cherry picker over val. He is also involved with a number not achieve the same success that ‘Tragedy’. However, they split up on Twitter account (you all know why). the Celebrity Big Brother house and of charities. ‘Dookie’ did, but they would reignite Boxing Day 2001. Plans for a new album and tour for everyone had to worship him. He He also supposedly performs at their popularity in 2004 with ‘Ameri- After time apart from each other, this year have yet to be announced. also featured in Let’s Dance For Com- University Freshers weeks. Ahem… can Idiot’. 30 February Issue 2014 | Seren BOOKS BOOK NEWS Seren Reviews: Charlie Perks of The The Chaplin Being a Dream The Bell Last CHARLIE Chaplin’s only novel is being published for the rst Wall of the time. Footlights is the prequel Jar Llanelli to his famous lm Limelight and follows the alcoholic clown Cal- Flower Celt vero. e novella is being pub- Train lished in a collection with some of Chaplin’s screen writing by an Italian lm restoration company called Cineteca di Bologna. e book is dark and carries a sense of nostalgia according to Guard- ian journalist Alison Flood. e book is said to deal more with the relationship between artist and audience than the lm and with the meaning of true art.

Austen Snippet

SCHOLARS have found a sam- ple of Jane Austen’s handwriting and are attempting to gure out by CHARLOTTE FAYE WRIGHT by WYATT WARNER by AILISH BUMPUS by TOM EMLYN what it means. e text is on a WILLIAMS small scrap of paper and looks to THE Perks of Being a Wall ower MARIO Vargas Llosa tells the true KEEPING my mental health in check ROBERT Lewis’ 2005 novel, the rst be a sermon or a prayer, perhaps follows intelligent freshman Charlie story of Roger Casement in e Dream has been di cult, but something that of a trilogy, is a noir a air that is part copied for the author’s brother nightmare and part burlesque. e di- Reverend James Austen and was through his rst year of high school. of the Celt: a book whose themes deal helped get me through things was the discovered in a rst edition copy Charlie befriends a group of seniors frequently with nationalism, written writing of Sylvia Plath; particularly her lapidated South-Walian protagonist, of ‘ e Memoirs of Jane Austen’ who introduce him to music, partying by a Peruvian about an Irishman work- novel e Bell Jar. e Bell Jar is a semi- Robin Llewellyn, is an alcoholic pri- written by nephew James Edward Austen Leigh. e text is believed and drugs. e book leads up to dis- ing in Africa for the British. Roger biographical book about a girl called vate investigator that spends the dura- to say “Men may get into the habit covery of Charlie’s mysterious past. Casement was a British consul in the Esther Greenwood, who is interning tion of the narrative ostensibly work- of repeating words of our Prayers ing on a case, but really drinking his by rote, perhaps without thor- In this classic coming of age book, early 20th century, sent to places like at a popular magazine in New York oughly understanding.” Which Charlie addresses his letters to an in Africa at a time when the Western who becomes increasingly depressed. way round the seedier pubs of Bristol. scholars believe to have in u- anonymous friend, which makes us world was angling to add them to their rough troubles with her family, her e stock tropes of Chandler-esque enced her novel ‘Mans eld Park’. e snippet will be on display at realise how much of a sensitive char- empires. His struggles with his part in social life and her love life she feels crime ction form the basis of the the Jane Austen House Museum acter he is. the system and the idea that his team detached from a life that seems to be novel’s framework, but a deeper exis- at the end of this year to celebrate tential angst lurks under the expected the bicentenary of Mans eld e book identi es with the strug- might not be the good guys a er all rushing by her. As if she were stuck Park. gles of teenage life, addressing issues culminated in his role in the infamous under a glass bell jar. trilby, trench coat, and incisive quips of depression and sexual abuse. e Easter Rising. en, with his secrets I actually read this whilst on holiday, that we expect from a hard-boiled Library book has been criticized for its heavy revealed and his allies gone, Casement which is far from the trashy novels I crime novel. storylines being too much as it is fo- fought for his life against a nation to usually indulge in on the beach, but I e plot goes to some very dark Hardship cused at teenagers and young adults. which he had once been a hero. was enthralled by the emotional and places - Robin is chewed up and almost destroyed both by the conse- CHILDREN’S author Lemony e recent lm based on the book When reading some of the horrors enchanting language. Of the many Snicket whose real name is Dan- is a completely di erent point of view that Roger Casement had to see and negatives thoughts that I have felt, the quences of his own actions and by the iel Handler has said that “librar- and the book deals with a lot more experience, there were times that I book expertly describes each and eve- sleazy underbelly of Bristol itself. ians have su ered enough.” He will thus be funding e Lemony troubles than the lm actually reveals. almost had to stop because they were ry one of them. He progresses from pint to pint to- Snicket Prize for Noble Librarians Although the book starts o a little so intense, but the book kept me en- e narrative itself speeds up and wards the narrative’s ruinous conclu- Faced With Adversity, an award sion, nihilistically excusing his vices. of $3,000 to remind people of the slow it very much picks up half the way thralled. slows down with the mood of Esther. hard work librarians do daily and through making it a di cult one to put e book tells of Casement’s entire ere isn’t a single dull chapter. It is Despite all this, there is an undeniable to emphasise the importance of down. life; from the wide-eyed optimism of neither positive nor negative about the humour present, albeit of a very black librarians. “It seems like a better way to channel my money to li- is compelling read is full of his rst journey to the cynical pride subject of depression and social anxi- sort, which stops the darkness from brarians than my previous strat- depth and emotion and dilemmas of his last, the reader identi es with ety, but clearly lays out the reality of becoming too overbearing. egy, which was incurring exor- Robin somehow never stops resist- bitant late fees,” said the author. that Charlie has to face throughout. the man’s growth and struggles and these illnesses, describing many situ- is comes a er widespread book roots for him as much as for any Harry ations that were quite uncomfortable ing the forces against him, so he is not banning across the US which has For fans of: e Fault in Our Stars Potter or Bella Swan. A historical g- to read. an entirely hopeless character. included Snicket’s own ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events” for appar- and Looking for Alaska by John Green, ure Roger Casement may be, but e I would recommend this classic to e novel is an entertaining, unique ent violence and horror. e Catcher in the Rye By J. D. Salinger Dream of the Celt is anything but a his- anyone struggling through feelings exploration of noir tropes, with an and Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan. tory book. that they cannot explain. ironic edge, and is well worth a read. February Issue 2014 | Seren 31 BOOKS Seren’s Bedtime Stories

BOOKS THAT SHAPED OUR CHILDHOOD... A Series of The Famous Tracy Harry Potter Roald Dahl Unfortunate Five Beaker Events

by STEPHANIE by NICOLA HOBAN by ELEANOR HIRST by EMILY YEABSLEY HOULSTONJONES by AMY BLACKWELL

I HAVE a confession…It will haunt ENID Blyton was one of my favourite I HAVE fond memories of my I DIDN’T just like Tracy Beaker. I WAS always the child that liked me for my life that I didn’t begin to authors growing up. ‘ e Famous Five’ childhood and one author that really I wanted to be Tracy Beaker. I can’t the weird things, my favourite ani- read the Harry Potter books until the series are the rst books I remember shaped my love of reading (which is imagine how my mum must have felt mals was the octopus and I had a rst lm in 2001. However, e Phi- reading. I’ve always loved reading, and helpful, me being a literature student) when I asked if I could be a foster kid strange obsession with the taste of losopher’s Stone was published in 1997 I started this series at a particularly was Roald Dahl. Roald Dahl: Britain’s “because it seems fun.” Being a fos- pritt stick. So it comes as no surprise making it a 90s book and I believe young age. is series constructed my beloved author of the BFG, e Twits ter child seemed like nothing but an to me that Lemony Snicket’s oddly that as 90s kids we are the “Harry early childhood years, where I was ei- and Fantastic Mr. Fox. I remember endless sequence of shenanigans and morbid ‘A Series of Unfortunate Potter” generation. Harry Potter has ther immersed in the adventures of Ju- having a large combined brick of a trips to McDonalds. It wasn’t until I Events’ ended up being one of my fa- become a worldwide phenomenon. I lian, Dick, Anne and George with their book with all of Roald Dahl’s stories, reread the books that I realised that vourite books series of all time. e feel as if I grew up with Harry, Ron, dog Timmy, or pretending to have ad- which I still have today, that I used I had glossed over Tracy’s feelings of dry melancholic language was right Hermione and the rest. ere was ventures of my own around the house. to read over and over again. Looking abandonment and loneliness. I mainly up my sarcastic-minded alley. For me nothing I wanted more than to wake I mean, what little kid didn’t want to back on his stories, he conveys quite focused on how much McDonalds she the series had just the right amount up in Hogwarts, drink pumpkin juice solve crimes, hunt for treasure, and important moral messages, for exam- ate, and all the fun dares she did. My of adventure, humour, mystery and and learn how to do magic. e Har- pretty much get up to all sorts of mis- ple the clichéd, but important ‘it’s okay mum disapproved of McDonalds, and creepy uncles. I loved and cherished ry Potter books are so popular with chievous antics? While I read a lot of to be di erent’ message; the ‘standing my brother’s dares tended to involve all of the books by my favourites are adults and kids alike, that I doubt it books growing up, ‘ e Famous Five’ up for what you believe in’ message me being very quiet while he did his ‘ e Ersatz Elevator’ and ‘ e Penul- is just me who is still waiting for their will always be one of my favourites. and also the ‘it doesn’t matter what you homework. To this day, she still holds timate Peril’. I have read and re-read Hogwarts acceptance letter… look like’ message. a special place in my heart. the series countless times. I love it. 32 Seren | February Issue 2014 FASHION FOR THE LADIES River Island - £40.00

HANDBAGS

ours you are going to need in order look cheap and wear easily. By JAMES HOLMAN for them to co-ordinate with your clothes. I would personally recom- If you are feeling more adventur- was inspired to do this article by mend that you buy a range of di er- ous, then why not go for a bolder my girlfriend who I rec ently spent ent bags in di erent colours so that colour? Burgundy, blue, purple and I the day searching for a handbag you can change them daily to suit cream are all great choices when it with… at nausea. what you are wearing. However, we comes to bags, but be sure to be are students and some bags can be wearing colours that work with the There are so many di erent types extremely expensive. Therefore, it is bag colour, or else you may start to of bag, in so many di erent colours a good idea to buy a couple of bags look like you are at a UV rave. that it became immediately appar- that are versatile. ent to me that it would be quite Tip: To avoid having to route easy to get this wrong. Black is a great bag colour to co- through your bags to nd your ordinate with as it goes with so phone, just make sure you buy a Firstly, small handbags that bare- many other colours. It always looks bag with a pocket designed to stop ly t your phone and purse in, let sophisticated and never goes out of this problem. alone any uni work are not what's fashion. A woman’s wardrobe just in at the moment. It's all about a big wouldn’t be a woman’s wardrobe handbag. You know what I mean, without it. the ones that you have to search through tirelessly to nd your Brown is another colour that works phone before it stops ringing. well with soft, neutral tones whilst Debenhams - £55.00 providing you with an elegant ap- Another important thing to con- pearance. A dark tan colour would sider with handbags is what col- be preferable as lighter browns can Debenhams - £45.00

Debenhams - £65.00

River Island - £30.00

LADIES JEWELLERY

By BECCI JAMESON from any poor imitations. brought about even more chunky Rings Bracelets jewellery, this time with an almost Chunky rings are always good to Bracelets are also remaining e all have that perfect piece primary school theme, Accessorize add to any out t and are usually very chunky but the thin plain bracelet is of jewellery that goes with are o ering a Make Your Own neck- a ordable. Gold coloured is a great a favourite of mine. Topshop o ers Wyou no matter where you lace made of brightly coloured let- a thin cu for £6.50 with gold col- are or what you are wearing. Wheth- ters. At £12.00, it does seem a little er it is understated or over the top, expensive but it is only a little fun. genuine or fake, chunky or petite, a lovely piece of jewellery can really Earrings lift your mood and your out t. The best thing about earrings is Jewellery often has a very personal the diversity; there connection to the wearer, things Necklaces are simple studs to such as family heirlooms and items Personally, I prefer a small, under- face-framing ear- substitute for real gold which can with emotional value behind them. stated necklace which can be in- rings. Studs can be be overpriced. New Look o er four Some women prefer to wear a lot of credibly versatile. Such as the black easy to accessorise tribal designs for £7.99, the rings are jewellery while others are ne with and gold ower pearl rope necklace and are great as gifts, handmade and come in a variety of small studs; it is all about individual from New Look, at studs usually come sizes. expression. £5.99 it is very af- in threes which is For something a little more be- Accessories don’t have to break the fordable and adds handy for women spoke, Accessorize have a Sterling bank either. There are many great a bit of class to any with several lobe piercings. Matalan Silver Sirroco Mop Ring which is a lit- retailers in Bangor that o er unique out t. Even plainer o er three pairs of studs for £5.00 tle more expensive at £12.00 but you jewellery for everyone. It is impor- than that is a chain such as this black and silver look set. do pay for the quality. The ring con- ouring. While New Look o er some- tant to get a good price but also be necklace from H & Aztec is still going strong and tains a beautiful opaque stone with thing more eye catching, a gold li- aware of anything too cheap as it M which is a sim- these silver face-framers from H & simple carving around the edge. A gree cu will put you back £6.99, it is will degrade quickly and won’t last. ple gold coloured M lengthen the face for as little as classic. available in black, coral and cream, it It is better to go for something with- chain for £3.99. £3.99. has a leather look nish and will add in a larger price range to get away 2014 has to the perfect chic out t. 32 Seren | February Issue 2014 February Issue 2014 | Seren 33 FASHION FASHION FOR THE LADIES River Island - £40.00 FOR THE GENTS

HANDBAGS MEN’S SHOES don, trekking boots should be saved but I manage to nd the time ours you are going to need in order look cheap and wear easily. By JAMES HOLMAN for the mountains and not worn as a to wear them so I am sure you will too. By JAMES HOLMAN for them to co-ordinate with your daily shoe. Throw some inexpensive Again, black and brown suede look clothes. I would personally recom- If you are feeling more adventur- o it's a new year, you have re- pumps on and some slim jeans and the best and go with the most. Topman - £32.00 was inspired to do this article by mend that you buy a range of di er- ous, then why not go for a bolder ceived your new clothes for you will instantly look and feel more my girlfriend who I rec ently spent ent bags in di erent colours so that colour? Burgundy, blue, purple and SChristmas and wear them with up to date. If you don't like boots then have a Ithe day searching for a handbag you can change them daily to suit cream are all great choices when it such pride that you don't even con- look at getting some new brogues or with… at nausea. what you are wearing. However, we comes to bags, but be sure to be sider what's going on down below... I If you are a fan of looking smarter plain smart shoes, River Island have are students and some bags can be wearing colours that work with the mean your feet. when you are in Uni or walking around a great brown pair in at the moment There are so many di erent types extremely expensive. Therefore, it is bag colour, or else you may start to the town then leather, (or what looks which can be worn with black or dark of bag, in so many di erent colours a good idea to buy a couple of bags look like you are at a UV rave. The shoes that are being worn on like leather for us students) is what you blue trousers. Otherwise, opt for black that it became immediately appar- that are versatile. men's feet in Bangor are such an is- are looking for. Chelsea boots are the if you want to look smart. ent to me that it would be quite Tip: To avoid having to route sue that I felt compelled to write an ar- best shoe at the moment and I live by easy to get this wrong. Black is a great bag colour to co- through your bags to nd your ticle about it. Now I don't blame them, that statement. They look very smart So there we are, get yourself to the ordinate with as it goes with so phone, just make sure you buy a after all, Paris, the capital of fashion and are perfect for keeping your feet high-street and treat yourself to some Firstly, small handbags that bare- many other colours. It always looks bag with a pocket designed to stop is renowned for the choice of men's warm now that it is so cold and wet. new shoes. Remember there's no such River Island - £50.00 ly t your phone and purse in, let sophisticated and never goes out of this problem. shoes being famously bad. So let's get Black and brown can be interchanged thing as too overdressed. alone any uni work are not what's fashion. A woman’s wardrobe just one up on them shall we? to go with almost anything in your in at the moment. It's all about a big wouldn’t be a woman’s wardrobe wardrobe, just make sure that you are handbag. You know what I mean, without it. Now I don't care what Versace says, either wearing slim or skinny jeans the ones that you have to search running trainers are not to be worn with them as bootcut or straight trou- through tirelessly to nd your Brown is another colour that works with jeans. If you are a fan of a more sers engulf the boot and you want it phone before it stops ringing. well with soft, neutral tones whilst Debenhams - £55.00 comfortable shoe, then pumps from to be seen. I am also a big fan of suede providing you with an elegant ap- Topman or River Island are as good Chelsea boots, these aren't completely Another important thing to con- pearance. A dark tan colour would as any. This goes the same for hiking appropriate for Bangor as the weather sider with handbags is what col- be preferable as lighter browns can boots, Bangor is indeed positioned is so wet that suede can get damaged on a steep hill, but this isn't Snow- Debenhams - £45.00 Topman - £32.00

River Island - £45.00 River Island - £55.00 Debenhams - £65.00 PRINTED T-SHIRTS River Island - £30.00 If however, you are wearing denim jeans or coloured chinos, then By JAMES HOLMAN you need to take more care. A white print top will always work but LADIES JEWELLERY it isn't very adventurous. Why not try something a little more bold rinted T-shirts are the easiest to wear for us chaps. Whether you pairing denim jeans with a grey or red top? This will add more depth like a plain white top with a small print on it or more colour, to your wardrobe and you won't look like just one of the crowd in By BECCI JAMESON from any poor imitations. brought about even more chunky Rings Bracelets there are so many to choose from and it is di cult to make mis- Bangor. For chinos, it really depends on the colour of trousers that jewellery, this time with an almost P Chunky rings are always good to Bracelets are also remaining takes when it comes to how you wear them. you have chosen. If you have a speci c colour in mind, then search e all have that perfect piece primary school theme, Accessorize add to any out t and are usually very chunky but the thin plain bracelet is the internet to see what colours go with what, this is a great way to of jewellery that goes with are o ering a Make Your Own neck- a ordable. Gold coloured is a great a favourite of mine. Topshop o ers With this in mind, I know that I don't have to tell you how to wear work your wardrobe. Wyou no matter where you lace made of brightly coloured let- a thin cu for £6.50 with gold col- these tops, therefore I am just going to suggest ideas that I nd work are or what you are wearing. Wheth- ters. At £12.00, it does seem a little Topman - £18.00 well. Here is a selection of my favourite printed T-shirts at the moment: er it is understated or over the top, expensive but it is only a little fun. genuine or fake, chunky or petite, a If you are a fan of black skinny jeans, then there isn't a printed tee lovely piece of jewellery can really Earrings that you could pick up that won't work with them. White tops will lift your mood and your out t. The best thing about earrings is create a current monochromatic look and navy blue will give your Jewellery often has a very personal the diversity; there look a sophisticated edge, but with such versatile trousers, anything connection to the wearer, things Necklaces are simple studs to goes. such as family heirlooms and items Personally, I prefer a small, under- face-framing ear- substitute for real gold which can Topman - £18.00 with emotional value behind them. stated necklace which can be in- rings. Studs can be be overpriced. New Look o er four Some women prefer to wear a lot of credibly versatile. Such as the black easy to accessorise tribal designs for £7.99, the rings are jewellery while others are ne with and gold ower pearl rope necklace and are great as gifts, handmade and come in a variety of small studs; it is all about individual from New Look, at studs usually come sizes. expression. £5.99 it is very af- in threes which is For something a little more be- Accessories don’t have to break the fordable and adds handy for women spoke, Accessorize have a Sterling bank either. There are many great a bit of class to any with several lobe piercings. Matalan Silver Sirroco Mop Ring which is a lit- retailers in Bangor that o er unique out t. Even plainer o er three pairs of studs for £5.00 tle more expensive at £12.00 but you jewellery for everyone. It is impor- than that is a chain such as this black and silver look set. do pay for the quality. The ring con- ouring. While New Look o er some- tant to get a good price but also be necklace from H & Aztec is still going strong and tains a beautiful opaque stone with thing more eye catching, a gold li- aware of anything too cheap as it M which is a sim- these silver face-framers from H & simple carving around the edge. A gree cu will put you back £6.99, it is will degrade quickly and won’t last. ple gold coloured M lengthen the face for as little as classic. available in black, coral and cream, it It is better to go for something with- chain for £3.99. £3.99. has a leather look nish and will add in a larger price range to get away 2014 has to the perfect chic out t. River Island - £18.00 New Look - £9.99 River Island - £22.00 34 Seren | February Issue 2014 HEALTH AND BEAUTY GET THE 90S LOOK... KELLY KAPOWSKI (£2.64 – Superdrug), then MIGHTY MORPHIN’ sponge and allow to fully dry. blow dry your hair completely. POWER RANGERS 3. Using a narrow piece of by SARA WILLIAMS sponge or a paint brush carefully 2. A er the hair is completely outline the shape of your cho- dry take medium sections of hair rowing up in the 90s we sen Power Ranger’s visor around elly was the quin- all wanted to be a Power tessential 90s girl from the very top of your head your eyes. Each Ranger had a and curl them around LARGE Ranger right? Well here’s speci c shape correspondent next door. Wheth- aG simple and cost e ective way erK she was unintentionally Velcro rollers. e purpose of to their speci c dinosaur ‘zord’. the rollers is not to curl the hair of achieving your childhood making Zack and Slater dream! ‘It's morphing time!’ ght for her, leading the but to add height to it in a way 4. Fill in the shape with Bayside cheerleaders, or that will appear so er than back- black face paint to create a vi- combing. (Pack of 12 various 1. Choose which Pow- sor image. If you’ve chosen just standing around in er Ranger you want to be: If those corridors that they sized rollers - £1 – Poundland) the black Ranger widen the you’re going with the original white line to separate the shape hung out in a lot, Kelly you can choose from black, always looked stunning. 3. So ly blow-dry the roll- from the rest of your face. ers until the hair around blue, yellow, pink, red or green. One of the key aspects (Face Paint - £2.19 – Sparx) of Kelly’s looks was her them is warm to the touch. 5. Finish o by applying white or silver face paint hair. To get the full vol- 2. Carefully apply the face ume look of the 90s… 4. Spray a small amount of hair- to your lips to nish o your spray (Garnier Fructis Hairspray paint all over your face using a D.I.Y Power Ranger helmet. 1. Begin by put- Bamboo Crystal Volume - £2.69 ting a volume – Superdrug) on to the roots of mousse all the your hair, above the rollers. Do way through not spray all over. Allow to cool damp hair. I down for approx. 10 minutes recommend depending on hair thickness. Garnier F r u c t i s 5. Unroll the curlers slowly Style Big and brush through with n- Vo l u m e gers or a wide toothed comb. Mouss e 6. Finish the look o with a quick sweep of bronzer for a California tan, pink lip- gloss and a bright eye-shadow for that unpolished 90s look.

applying fake ones. e 90s were all hair in time for your event that’s mirror next to a hard surface. GINGER SPICE about bright colours so try experi- KURT COBAIN/ great, if not consider painting Balance your elbow ion the sur- en given the nick- menting with coloured mascara 90S GRUNGER some on. Simply get paint in the face for balance and it will be name of ‘Sexy Spice’ rather than the traditional black. hair colouring of your choice easier to align the pencil to your urt Cobain is a rock icon, and using a damp sponge dip the eye, this will help avoid too due to her stage out- but his image is part of a O ts, pair this beauty look with 6. Apply a rosy pink cheek blush sponge in the paint and then dab many eye – pencil collisions. to create that ‘English Rose’ e ect. wider iconic look that rose lightly over the area you want to a Union Jack dress to have the fromK the streets of Seattle. Much boys ‘zigazig ahing’ all night. become bearded. Consider add- 5. For a grunge look it doesn’t 7. Finish the look o with like punk before it, grunge was ing a second layer in a similar matter if the line of your eyeliner about rejecting the mainstream 1. Apply primer and founda- sparkly red lip-gloss, prefer- colour to add depth to the look is messy. For the best look apply a BRING BACK... ably out of a squeezy tube for images of the time and allowing quick line over the top and bottom tion. Geri had light skin so you young men and women to ex- may need to think about apply- an authentic 90s experience. 3. For a true grunge look make- rim of your eyes before blending press themselves as they wished. up is not necessary, but for a fancy again with your index nger. Af- ing foundation slightly lighter Getting this look is sim- than what you usually wear. dress out t eyeliner and eye-shad- ter blending repeat this process ple and requires few steps. ow is a must. Begin by applying twice more before applying one a dark shadow all over the top of nal complete line. is last line 1. Grunge hair is usually un- your eyes, to create a subtle look should be a tidy one as it will 2. Apply light eye-shadow all kept. While it is o en see to be over your eye before applying a use your index nger to smudge add the nal depth to the look. long the look can be achieved the eye-shadow across the en- dark charcoal cover all over the with short hair. Start o by not crease of your eye. Apply a small tire length of your eye rather 6. For an extra bit of fun con- washing your hair 24 hours before than continually applying colour. sider using a temporary hair dye amount of silver eye-shadow to going out and using a heavy styl- the inside corner of each eye. or spray in your hair in colours ing wax style your hair, the aim 4. Eyeliner can be daunting such as blue, red or even pink is to create hair that looks untidy. 3. Apply liquid liner across for rst timers! Top trick to ap- and be ready to rock out in Read- plying eyeliner try and apply a ing as well as Cobain ever did. the lid, starting from the inner 2. If you can grow some facial rim and angling out for a half inch beyond your eyelid. Wait for the rst coat to dry before reapplying to thicken the line. 4. With a kohl pencil go over the outer edge of your lower rim. Blend with a smudge brush or so ly with your ring nger. 5. Apply two coats of thick mascara to create impact eyelashes without the hassle of February Issue 2014 | Seren 35 HEALTH AND BEAUTY WASH OF SHAME?

by SARA WILLIAMS PETROLEUM JELLY MAYONNAISE! BABY OIL/ OLIVE OIL/ SALT/ SUGAR VASELINE VEGETABLE OIL t’s happened to nearly everyone: you make an extra special Cheap to buy (£1.85 – 250 ml Another good way of removing Oil is actually easily broken down If you nd some e ort to make your costume Boots Own Brand Petroleum face paint is to use heavy mois- using other types of oil as they at- patches are refus- Ias authentic as possible, only to Jelly), petroleum jelly is a good ture based creams such as Nivea. tract each other and separate from ing to budge add wake up in the morning with your option for removing face paint A cheap and o en more on hand your skin cells. Using cotton wool some salt into bed covered in body paint. On o your face. It’s not lled with version of this is to use mayon- and baby oil is a guaranteed way your oil mix- top of this you only have a short chemicals and will therefore not naise. Apply it to of ridding yourself of any paint ture; this will time to make yourself look half damage any sensitive areas of you skin and leave residue le on your skin. For an create a natu- way respectful before your lec- your skin. To use, keep hair away for a minute, then all over body wash apply the oil ral scrub that ture starts. Here are some tips on with a hair band, cover your face simply wipe the to a dampened face cloth and rub will remove the how to rid your body of the paint. with the jelly and slowly wipe mayonnaise gently over the skin and rinse. DO most stubborn Heavy make-up such as face away using a face cloth using and paint right NOT pour directly onto skin as of paint stains. paint is oil based therefore it re- warm water and circular motions. o . Simple! this is likely to create slippery sur- sists the traditional washing up faces in showers and bathrooms mechanisms of soap and water. Oil and can be dangerous. Olive or is even immune to most make-up Vegetable Oil can also be used. removers as they are soap based. BRING BACK...

L’OREAL KIDS SCRUNCHIES BODY GLITTER HAIR SPRINGS HAIR MASCARA It was THE product of the 90s. Hair scrunchies, the lazy stu- Body glitter, it was the bee’s Do you remember hair springs? Of all the beauty products I It guaranteed ‘no tears’ and yet dent’s dream. All you had to do knees for all teenage girls grow- ey were very small springs bought as a child this is the one I your eyes stung worse than most was pull your hair up as high ing up in the 90s. Either in a bottle which were decorated on either hold in my heart with too much shampoos when you got into as you could and fasten it with or (my personal favourite) when end with colours or fake jewel- nostalgia. At the time I thought them! School swimming lessons these simple fabric mechanisms, you had it deodorant style roll- lery. I remember going to school they were the coolest thing in were never the same when this the brighter the colour the better. on bottle. Unlike sparkle dust of one day with a few in my hair, the world, with just a few (count- product came around, and our Scrunchies made a return to the the 21st century body glitter actu- by the end of the week I liter- less) strokes of a mascara brush parents su ered our endless wh- catwalks during many Autumn/ ally applied large chunks of glitter ally had tens in there, which I you could change your hair col- inging to get ‘the pink one be- Winter shows in London in 2013, to your body, and o en it had a ended up discovering at bedtime our to whatever you wanted. cause it smells much better than most prominently in Vivienne faint perfume to it as well to make for days a erwards! It became Pink, blue green? Nothing was my stupid blue one.’ If you feel Westwood’s. ere easy to get hold you feel that extra grown up. You a playground challenge to see out of bounds. Looking back I nostalgic this product is still avail- of as many styles are available in could nish o the look by ap- who could ll their head with the now realise how bad the cov- able to buy in Home Bargains. Claire's Accessories (Price ranges plying a liberal spray of glitter most which lead inevitably to ex- erage and colours really were. from £2.00 - £4.50 for pack of two) spray to your hair and you were tremely painful hair knots and all set to disco the a ernoon away. (in more extreme cases) haircuts! 36 Seren | February Issue 2014 ARTS AND CULTURE Nineties Issue special: how prominent are the 90’s in Modern Culture?

Venue Cymru: Scrooge! Our Arts and Culture Editor, Megan Townsend, discusses the revival of “90’s pop culture” in the modern day.

by MEGAN TOWNSEND the rebellious days of the 1980’s be- Thanksgiving” aired in November ings really seemed to slip away, leav- that would have seemed alien 20 came a thing of the past , and all the 1990. Bart comments on the crass ing room for a mass-media, mass- years ago. n some areas of society, we can anger dissapated from the decades commercialism of the Thanksgiv- consumerist society, made even So if we really think about the ef- see the revival of nineties culture prior, a new mass-commercialism ing day parade, as he turns his head more possible by technological ad- fect the 90’s had on our culture and Ifar clearer than others. For exam- took hold, shaping the society and away from the television the screen vances, like cable television, expan- the revival of popular culture, was ple in the fashion industry: Grunge creating modern phenomenon like shows a giant in atable balloon sion of home video, even the quality there any real revival? Or have we is back, power dressing is back...crop celebrity culture & our modern real- of Bart Simpson oating past. The of broadcast had a massive impact. simply adapted to the new concepts tops and versace, de nitely back in ity TV. Simpsons is a great example of a Even more than that was the inven- the 1990’s introduced to us? Is the fashion. There’s even a revival of cult In fact culture itself became a piece of media that alludes to mass- tion of the World Wide Web, with the nineties more evident in our fashion nineties lms and television shows, consumable product, with a new consumerism, but is also a vital part rst website being created in 1991. tastes? In TV and the media? Or is it as the new generation of young mass-society as its market. Taking of it, with merchanising and adver- Though it didn’t have the vast evident in the way it changed us as adults, born in the 1990’s are burst- us from individual communities to tising by the Simpsons is still prev- reach it has today, the Internet was a society? ing into the market as buyers, the one massive society all discussing elant even today. still a massive breakthrough in the market is reacting in kind giving the pretty much the same subjects. It Don’t be mistaken, pop-culture 1990’s and quickly took hold of us- Check out more thoughts on people exactly what they want, with pretty much means that the main- didn’t actually start in the 1990’s, ers. What this did was take an al- how the 90’s has changed us the revival of 90’s food products like stream media and word of mouth it always existed. We can see this ready in ated global “community” at: http://www.buzzfeed.com/ BN’s & Sunny D. (You’ve more than are indistuinguishable, and people in William Shakespeare, who pro- and gave them another avenue to microsoftoutlook/12-ways-the- likely already read about all of these will discuss events on television in duced commercially viable plays stay together, creating a way to be world-has-changed-since-the-90s earlier in this issue of Seren.) The the same way they talk about events for cash payouts in order to ensure in contact with anyone on Earth, thing is the essence of the 90’s is going on in their own lives. the biggest audiences every single from this inital movement came making a comeback in our cultural The rise of pop-culture was per- night. everything we really know today. lives as well. haps best commentated on dur- However, during the 1990’s the Facebook, i-message, email, Twit- “Pop-culture” is the main form the ing early simpsons episode “Bart vs real anti-goverment, anarchal feel- ter - all from this brand new concept 90’s revival seems to come in. As How would Scottish Independence a ect British Culture?

Seren looks into exactly how much the potential break of Scotland from ...... the UK will change British culture.

by MEGAN TOWNSEND tion, like the original Britons. If we of years The British Isles would no though we take it for granted, our Scotland would really equate to. fastforward around 500 years we longer be a large expansive nation two nations are incredibly close in England and Wales existing in one n issue that’s really on every- now have the United Kingdom, con- but instead a varied one. This could distiction: we live on the same tiny public realm whilst Scotland exist in ones minds (or should be) is sisting of England, Wales, Northern surely be good for both countries, island, we have the same business- a completely separate one. Would Athe possible independence of Ireland & Scotland (of course you generating tourism in order to visit es, same media. Would that commu- we no longer feel what it means to Scotland from the rest of the United all already know that.) Scotland, un- the border between the countries, nal feeling with Scotland & the rest British? Would it even equal to the Kingdom. der Scottish minister Alex Salmond independence in order to consolo- of Britain cease to exist following independence of both England & Its hard to forget that Scotland has aim to vote later on this year as to date Great Britain’s debts, making the vote of independence? Would it Wales? been independent before, prior to whether or not Scotland should be cuts less necessary for both coun- now be a completely independent James I’s ( James IV of Scotland) as- independent. What many of us are tries. nation like Ireland for example, with Find out more about Scottish Inde- cension to the English throne, both wondering is exactly what would The problems however are distinc- a completley di erent community pendance 2014 at: England & Scotland were sovereign this change entail? tion. What would new border con- than our own? http://www.scotreferendum.com/ states, with their own parliments, This of course is new and exciting. trols mean? What currency would What would happen to the great laws & judiciary. Following the com- What history it would make if Scot- Scotland now use? Surely without British institutions like the BBC?. bination of the crowns came a new land were to be made independ- being part of Great Britain, standard What people aren’t really consider- concept of Britain being a whole na- ent. For the rst time in hundreds currency could not be GBP? In fact, ing is the cultural loss that losing February Issue 2014 | Seren 37 ARTS AND CULTURE What’s going on in Bangor?

Venue Cymru: Scrooge! ATIONAL treasure Tommy musicals can be. Sumptuous sets by David Lyndon provide both Steele skips across the stage in and costume design are used to thought provoking and moving Na manner that belies his age, their full potential to illustrate Vic- moments. marking the end of Scrooge. Not only torian London and the squalor ex- The rest of the cast, slick cho- have you enjoyed the perfect anti- perienced by many of the capital’s reography and a rich score also dote to the January blues, but also residents during the 1800s. combine to create an emotionally witnessed a better-late-than never Steele’s showmanship and like- charged two hours. dose of Christmas cheer. ability shine through and allow him Read full review here: With a grateful audience on their to portray Scrooge as a man to be feet and the nal strains of the pitied and praised in equal measure http://www.northwalespioneer. show’s signature tune Thank You and cheered on in his spellbinding co.uk/news/129828/review-show- Very Much playing, it is left to the journey and eleventh hour attempt biz-legend-tommy-steele-dazzles- 77-year-old veteran rock and roller at changing his miserly ways. in-scrooge-at-venue-cymru.aspx and musical performer to order Strong support comes in the form them to cease their standing ova- of Steve Hansell as downtrodden For more info on Scrooge: tion and go home. clerk Bob Cratchit and Barry How- Scrooge’s arrival at Venue Cymru ard as Jacob Marley The Ghosts of https://www.venuecymru.co.uk/ this week, following its celebrated Christmas Past and Present played whats-on/Scrooge-2014.html run at London’s Palladium, is a by Abigail Jaye and James Head coup for the region’s theatregoers respectively and the eerie Ghost Don’t Miss... and a reminder of how good live of Christmas Yet to Come played

azz evenings at Teras Lounge in Main Arts! A night of ne food Coming up... mellow music and smooth wines awaits. Takes place on 28th JFebruary at 7:30pm, tickets £8 or £5 with a valid student card.

Hanggai Bangor Symphony Orchestra

anggai is a unique cabaret being performed at Hendre Hall on February 8th. he University Symphony Orchestra is joined by young Czech violinist Kateřina Founded by Beijing-based punk rocker Ilchi, Hanggai mix traditional Mongolian Marešová for a performance of Mendelssohn’s beautiful and exciting Violin Con- Hthroat singing with rock instruments. Hanggai’s gorgeous music has won it many T certo. The programme also includes Beethoven’s magni cent Eroica Symphony, fans all over the world. Their reinterpretations might make liberal use of traditional and we celebrate St David’s Day with a rare performance of Grace Williams’s Castell instruments like the morin khuur (a horse-hair ddle) and the tobshuur, a local two- Caernarfon, originally written for the Investiture of HRH the Prince of Wales in 1969. stringed lute, but Hanggai have made the leap from folk phenomenon to crossover A season ticket ensures your seat at every concert excluding those marked as excep- pioneers — without losing their soul. There’s rebellion in the air and re in the belly tions. The show will feature Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 in E at major, ‘Eroica’, Men- reminding us very much of the wild yet poetic art of The Pogues. Built from, and meant delssohn: Violin Concerto & Grace Williams: Castell Caernarfon Student tickets are for, Mongolia’s wide-open spaces, this music will make you homesick for a place you’ve £3. These are available to buy online, over the phone or in person. These can only never been. 9:00pm on the 8th Februrary, Hendre Hall, Talybont ,Tickets available be redeemed on the door with an accompanying NUS card. 7:30pm on 1st March on the door, £12 or £10 with a valid student card. 2013, at Prichard Jones Hall, Bangor University. 38 Seren | February Issue 2014 GAMES GTA Top Seller ROCKSTAR’S long awaited and highly rated Grand Theft Auto V has topped the sales chart for 2013. The game, to date, has sold 32.5 million copies beating rival games such as The Last of Us, Call of Duty: Ghosts and FIFA 14. It has led its publisher, Take Two, to be the best selling publisher of 2013 too. Next-Gen War THE FIERCE battle between next generation console rivals, XBox One and Playstation 4 heated up this month. There is certainly no loved lost between the two consoles and this month XBox have taken a blatant cheapshot at their by LJ TAYLOR rett’s return to his home city; aptly posedly an experienced thief. Mid- tract guards. One example of this competitors after reportedly named The City. With his home now development it was decided that would be the water arrow which o ering $100 of instore credit to any e’ve become accustomed to controlled by evil dictator The Bar- the reboot would be made for the Garrett uses to put out torches and gamer who trades in their PS3 and Hollywood churning out re- on and the poor battling a deathly recently released next gen consoles; shroud himself and enemies in dark- purchases an XBox One. Sony have Wmakes of classic movies but plague whilst the rich indulge to the Playstation 4 and XBox One, as ness. Like most games these days retaliated with a cheeky graphic in the gaming world we’re not quite their heart’s content Garrett decides well as current-gen and PC. Thief allows its players to upgrade suggesting that you could save as used to it. This month, however, to ip things into his favour. As with a lot of games these days their arsenal through in game pur- $100 by just buying their cheaper will see the rebirth of the nineties/ The game, which was rst an- Thief gives the player quite a bit of chases. product, the PS4, rather than an noughties game series Thief, a rst- nounced in 2009 with the work- choice in terms of how they play the Thief certainly looks like an inter- XBox. Who will be next to strike? person action game that emphasises ing title of Thief 4, has undergone game, which direction they take their esting enough game to play and stealth. a number of design changes since character. The game does however will likely attract old fans of the cult First looks at the game show obvi- development began. Eidos Mon- try and focus on the stealth aspect classic series that came before it, but ous elements of the popular Assas- treal’s team have experimented with and even though enemy characters it looks unlikely to break any new WWE 2K15 sin’s Creed series and fellow stealth aspects such as the player charac- will try to kill Garrett it is expected ground or capture the hearts of gam- game, 2012’s Dishonored. And so it TAKE-TWO have announced their ter and their perspective, originally that you don’t even let them see him. ers across the world. Though there’s immediately begs the question of followup to last year’s WWE 2K14; working within a third person world Garrett carries a number of weap- a good chance it could ll the space whether this is anything new or just WWE 2K15. The company bought though that idea was apparently, ons and tools to assist him in his between gamers completing Assas- a knocko version of already popular the rights to the wrestling franchise unfortunately, scrapped. After some thieving activities. His three primary sin’s Creed: Black Flag and the next franchises. from THQ, who have been creating negative feedback from fans the tools are a blackjack, a claw to grap- in that series which will no doubt be Cross the Victorian Era with steam- the annual game for years, early EXP system initially intended for the ple within the environment and a released by the end of the year. punk and you have the setting for last year. Whilst it’s still early days game was removed with the reason compound bow which is not only Thief which follows master thief, Gar- it is looking as though the next being that Garrett was already sup- used to attack enemies but to dis- instalment could be coming to next-generation consoles only. It is expected to be launched in the Fall, as usual, ready in time for Christmas shoppers. X Box Zumba PUBLISHERS of X Box One’s Zumba Fitness game claim that they have helped gamers lose 25 million stone since the game’s release. The game, to date, has sold over 10 million copies. Flappy Bird A NEW mobile gaming experience seems to have taken o , and over the UK’s smartphones. Flappy Bird, from Gears Studios, is a relatively by MATT COX set in the 70s and 80s. for characters to sneak (or not, if the setting. In doing so, it opened up Indeed, Metal Gear Solid 5 is so whim takes you) around in, with the a huge period of in-between time old game that all of a sudden seems rom the release of the original to have become popular. It’s a pret- huge in its conception that it cannot player able to call on planes, heli- in which new games could be set. Metal Gear over 25 years ago, t into one game. Metal Gear Solid 5: copters, motorbikes and other ve- Through PSP titles, this time period ty simple game that only requires the Metal Gear series has en- the player to tap on the screen F The Phantom Pain is due out either hicles for transportation. The series has been explored. MGS5, however, thralled gamers worldwide – and late this year or early next, while its has also adopted a stable of modern looks to be examining the downfall and make the bird y. The game is once it evolved into 3D form and available on all smartphones and is predecessor, Ground Zeroes, is due videogames, regenerating health. of the Big Boss character, closing the landed on the original PlayStation out in March. A shorter, budget title The most controversial of these proverbial loop and bringing the se- a free app. Apparently our Editor ran in 1998, the series led a new gen- down her phone battery playing it, (priced at around £20), this 70s-set changes, though, has been the re- ries’ timeline back to zero; the very eration gamers through a vast and outing will make the agonizing wait placement of fan-favourite voice rst game in the series, Metal Gear, it’s just that good. Apparently. She often confusing universe of twists, got 17 points. Pathetic. for The Phantom Pain a little easier, as actor David Hayter (who portrayed where Big Boss was the antagonist turns and lengthy, ponti cating well as introducing long-time MGS both Solid Snake and his father, Big to Solid Snake’s rookie hero. Even cutscenes. 2008’s Metal Gear Solid 4, fans to the overhauled gameplay. In Boss) with Kiefer Sutherland, who putting aside the stunning innova- however, represented the end point a series that has innovated not only will also be providing motion-cap- tion in gameplay that MGS5 promis- Games @ WGA for the series…or so we thought. its own genre but the entire indus- ture for the game. Yes, Kiefer Suther- es (through both Ground Zeroes and After a decent-but-not-great hack- try for two decades, MGS5 is pushing land. You know, Jack Bauer from 24? The Phantom Pain), the downfall of ONCE again video game writing and-slash spin-o (Metal Gear Ris- boundaries again – the boundaries Rarely are two things so awesome the beloved hero, Big Boss, has the has been honoured at the annual ing), and a reasonably good PSP of what gamers expect as well as combined into one super extrava- potential to be one of the most com- Writers Guild Awards. This year Neil title (Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker), the boundaries of the PS4 and Xbox ganza of awesome, so that alone pelling storylines in gaming history. Druckman, from Naughty Dog, won the twisted genius of series creator One. Last year’s trailer for the game should be something of a treat. Ground Zeroes is due out in March, the video game writing award for Hideo Kojima has returned to helm a and little bits and pieces we’ve seen 2004’s MGS3, which covered the while the larger game, The Phantom the script of popular PS3 exclusive huge, home-console, next-gen title, since have revealed a lot of changes: origins of Big Boss and was set in Pain, is due out early 2015. game The Last of Us. starring Big Boss - father of the series’ rst and foremost, MGS5 will feature the 1960s, brought the series back main character, Solid Snake – to be a massive, open-world environment from its ultra-modern early 2000s 38 Seren | February Issue 2014 February Issue 2014 | Seren 39 GAMES GAMES GTA Top Seller Croft on PS4 ROCKSTAR’S long awaited and FOLLOWING on from 2013’s Tomb highly rated Grand Theft Auto V has Raider reboot, Crystal Dynam- topped the sales chart for 2013. The ics have re-released the game for game, to date, has sold 32.5 million the next generation consoles. The copies beating rival games such as updated version of the game, called The Last of Us, Call of Duty: Ghosts Tomb Raider: The De nitive Edition, and FIFA 14. It has led its publisher, was released on 31st January and Take Two, to be the best selling rst week reports put sales gures publisher of 2013 too. for the PS4 at 69% against the X Box One. Next-Gen War THE FIERCE battle between next Walking Dead generation console rivals, XBox One TELLTALE Games have teased and Playstation 4 heated up this the continuation of their Walking month. There is certainly no loved Dead video game series. An im- lost between the two consoles age was uploaded 3rd February, and this month XBox have taken a which suggested that Season 2 blatant cheapshot at their by LJ TAYLOR rett’s return to his home city; aptly posedly an experienced thief. Mid- tract guards. One example of this Episode would soon be on its way. competitors after reportedly named The City. With his home now development it was decided that would be the water arrow which There is no scheduled release date e’ve become accustomed to o ering $100 of instore credit to any controlled by evil dictator The Bar- the reboot would be made for the Garrett uses to put out torches and as yet, however it could be a few Hollywood churning out re- gamer who trades in their PS3 and on and the poor battling a deathly recently released next gen consoles; shroud himself and enemies in dark- weeks at least as Telltale also have purchases an XBox One. Sony have makes of classic movies but by JACK NICOL cated in Windows. tar Worpanel analyst, says that the even comes with a new controller. W plague whilst the rich indulge to the Playstation 4 and XBox One, as ness. Like most games these days The Steam box isn’t a true compet- sale of PC games is actually increas- It’s a rather adventurous piece of the next episode of their other in the gaming world we’re not quite retaliated with a cheeky graphic their heart’s content Garrett decides well as current-gen and PC. Thief allows its players to upgrade game series, The Wolf Among Us, suggesting that you could save as used to it. This month, however, raditionally PC gaming has itor to Windows or Games console. ing. “Console game shoppers have equipment. It has a “super-feedback to ip things into his favour. As with a lot of games these days their arsenal through in game pur- It is a games console to run Steam switched £3 million of their spend- haptic response” with “dual linear ac- out this week. $100 by just buying their cheaper will see the rebirth of the nineties/ The game, which was rst an- Thief gives the player quite a bit of chases. been done at a desktop, on games, with its very own controller. ing to PC.” That’s around a 76% in- tuators” – in other words it has two product, the PS4, rather than an noughties game series Thief, a rst- nounced in 2009 with the work- choice in terms of how they play the Thief certainly looks like an inter- Tan expensive tower PC, but But that isn’t all it does. It allows the crease in Steam sales. However a ma- touchpads either side where you XBox. Who will be next to strike? person action game that emphasises ing title of Thief 4, has undergone game, which direction they take their esting enough game to play and now Valve is looking to change that. stealth. Valve is bringing Steam to your HDTV user to install their very own soft- jority of these sales will have been in would normally nd joysticks. The SW In nity a number of design changes since character. The game does however will likely attract old fans of the cult ware, change the hardware and run Windows, meaning that a sudden idea is almost like two touch screens. First looks at the game show obvi- development began. Eidos Mon- try and focus on the stealth aspect classic series that came before it, but via a Linux OS. You may wonder why ous elements of the popular Assas- Linux? Simple answer, Microsoft has another OS. It has been described by change to Linux would render 90% But there is one important change; DISNEY has begun treal’s team have experimented with and even though enemy characters it looks unlikely to break any new the company as a co-operating sys- of your purchased games unplay- there are ridges on each one, giv- WWE 2K15 sin’s Creed series and fellow stealth aspects such as the player charac- will try to kill Garrett it is expected ground or capture the hearts of gam- the Xbox to take care of, why would development on a followup to game, 2012’s Dishonored. And so it they allow easily accessible, and tem, mixing the game distributors able. However this is where in-house ing the user an awareness of where their popular and innovative In- TAKE-TWO have announced their ter and their perspective, originally that you don’t even let them see him. ers across the world. Though there’s immediately begs the question of cheap games undermine their own platform with an interface devel- streaming comes into play, the idea the neutral zone is. It gives feedback nity game. Disney In nity 2 will followup to last year’s WWE 2K14; working within a third person world Garrett carries a number of weap- a good chance it could ll the space whether this is anything new or just dedicated gaming platform. We saw oped for TVs. It seems unlikely that being you run Steam on your big that a at screen cannot. However, reportedly feature characters from WWE 2K15. The company bought though that idea was apparently, ons and tools to assist him in his between gamers completing Assas- a knocko version of already popular with Windows 8 an integrated app it will make an impact on the large fancy tower that most likely runs the whole control does have rather both the Marvel and Star Wars the rights to the wrestling franchise unfortunately, scrapped. After some thieving activities. His three primary sin’s Creed: Black Flag and the next franchises. store that sells games. If Windows mainstream market right now, and Windows, and stream in through a inconvenient button positioning. Universes. from THQ, who have been creating negative feedback from fans the tools are a blackjack, a claw to grap- in that series which will no doubt be Cross the Victorian Era with steam- continue to go this way then Valve maybe not even for a few years. cheaper living room computer. While Looking at Valve’s track record, you the annual game for years, early EXP system initially intended for the ple within the environment and a released by the end of the year. punk and you have the setting for need a contingency plan. There are Microsoft seem to be moving to- this seems like a nice idea, the major would have to place your trust that last year. Whilst it’s still early days game was removed with the reason compound bow which is not only wards the tablet and phone market, stumbling block is that streaming is it is a good piece of tech. They have Thief which follows master thief, Gar- being that Garrett was already sup- used to attack enemies but to dis- some major stumbling blocks, such it is looking as though the next as Linux only having a market share away from tower PCs, the traditional currently not so great. There are ma- built up a reputation as a loveable Watch Dogs instalment could be coming to of 2.05%. However, there are argu- home of Steam. With this decline in jor issues with video compression company that has consistently deliv- next-generation consoles only. It is the sale of hardware people have and input lag. ered brilliant products. However the MUCH anticipated Ubisoft ments to be made that due to a low- game Watch Dogs has not been expected to be launched in the Fall, er OS footprint of Linux there may be claimed that PC gaming is dead; this The only issue is that PC gaming success of the Steam box will be on as usual, ready in time for Christmas is a myth. Xbox live has around 47 has meant leaving the comfort of the user experience and price. abandoned despite rumours that certain performance increases, more the company had decided to cancel shoppers. speci cally on Steam’s Linux; the million active users, Valve 54 million the living room. This is the market active users. Jules Williams, a Kan- that Steam is looking to tap into. It the title. The original rumours came kind of things that cannot be repli- after Ubisoft reportedly led an express abandonment on the X Box Zumba trademark. A spokesman for the company however has cleared PUBLISHERS of X Box One’s Zumba things up stating that Ubisoft never Fitness game claim that they have had anything to do with the and helped gamers lose 25 million stone they are not working on reinstat- since the game’s release. The game, ing the trademark. He stressed to date, has sold over 10 million that none of this would a ect the copies. development of the game which is expected to be shipped out for a Flappy Bird 30th April release this year. A NEW mobile gaming experience seems to have taken o , and over XBox Gold by LJ TAYLOR be addicted. One of the best things you needed to know how to nd those energy cards and nonsense the UK’s smartphones. Flappy Bird, IT IS expected that Microsoft from Gears Studios, is a relatively by MATT COX set in the 70s and 80s. for characters to sneak (or not, if the setting. In doing so, it opened up about Pokémon was how it felt as you way through that Zubat infested trainer cards. No, Pokémon cards Indeed, Metal Gear Solid 5 is so whim takes you) around in, with the a huge period of in-between time s a 90s kid I spent a lot of though it gave you so much choice cave? Ask your friends of course! And were all about who had the best col- will soon announce Games with old game that all of a sudden seems rom the release of the original Gold, a scheme similar to Sony’s to have become popular. It’s a pret- huge in its conception that it cannot player able to call on planes, heli- in which new games could be set. time at my friend’s and one as a player. You put together your then there was the real innovation of lection and making up the rules as Metal Gear over 25 years ago, t into one game. Metal Gear Solid 5: copters, motorbikes and other ve- Through PSP titles, this time period day I went round and was team, you chose which Pokémon to Pokémon; the Game Boy link cable you went. I once traded a shiny Ma- Playstation Plus, for their XBox ty simple game that only requires the Metal Gear series has en- A One console. It will allow the player to tap on the screen F The Phantom Pain is due out either hicles for transportation. The series has been explored. MGS5, however, introduced to perhaps the most in- catch and the only thing you really which enabled you to not only bat- champ for a useless Pikachu. What a thralled gamers worldwide – and late this year or early next, while its has also adopted a stable of modern looks to be examining the downfall uential game of our generation; had to do the same as your friends tle your friends but to trade Poké- stupid child. gamers with an XBox Live Gold and make the bird y. The game is once it evolved into 3D form and account to gain access to free games available on all smartphones and is predecessor, Ground Zeroes, is due videogames, regenerating health. of the Big Boss character, closing the Pokémon. To be speci c: Pokémon was beat the gym leaders; and obvi- mon. Though who are we kidding? Pokémon still has a special place landed on the original PlayStation out in March. A shorter, budget title The most controversial of these proverbial loop and bringing the se- Red. A few hours taking turns on the ously the fun with that came from The cable was mostly used when in my heart. It is one of those things downloaded online to their con- a free app. Apparently our Editor ran in 1998, the series led a new gen- sole. It is a scheme already running down her phone battery playing it, (priced at around £20), this 70s-set changes, though, has been the re- ries’ timeline back to zero; the very family’s GameBoy and I was hooked. boasting how far you had gotten so we wanted to start a new game but that as a 90s child I look back on eration gamers through a vast and outing will make the agonizing wait placement of fan-favourite voice rst game in the series, Metal Gear, By the time my parents had arrived far. keep our level 100 Charizard who we fondly and am proud to see still go- on the XBox 360 and has featured it’s just that good. Apparently. She often confusing universe of twists, games such as Halo 3 and Assassin’s got 17 points. Pathetic. for The Phantom Pain a little easier, as actor David Hayter (who portrayed where Big Boss was the antagonist to collect me, we were stuck trying For us, the children of the 90s, it was had grown attached to! ing strong, even if I hate all the new turns and lengthy, ponti cating well as introducing long-time MGS both Solid Snake and his father, Big to Solid Snake’s rookie hero. Even to defeat the second gym leader, all about the original 150 Pokémon If video games had been allowed Pokémon. It has truly stood the test Creed 2. cutscenes. 2008’s Metal Gear Solid 4, fans to the overhauled gameplay. In Boss) with Kiefer Sutherland, who putting aside the stunning innova- Misty, and my friend let me take the (or 151) and it was considered blas- in school then we would have sat at of time, spanning many a genera- however, represented the end point a series that has innovated not only will also be providing motion-cap- tion in gameplay that MGS5 promis- Game Boy home to have another go. phemy when the million more we the back of classes and battled the tion, yet it will always belong to us. Games @ WGA for the series…or so we thought. its own genre but the entire indus- ture for the game. Yes, Kiefer Suther- es (through both Ground Zeroes and Lucky me (though my Mum wasn’t now started to be released, though ubiquitous Pidgeys and spent lunch- No other generation will ever be able Steam Music After a decent-but-not-great hack- try for two decades, MGS5 is pushing land. You know, Jack Bauer from 24? The Phantom Pain), the downfall of impressed, they had just bought me I have to admit I was partial to a bit time sat in a corner battling our to talk of how they sat on the front ONCE again video game writing and-slash spin-o (Metal Gear Ris- boundaries again – the boundaries Rarely are two things so awesome the beloved hero, Big Boss, has the a PlayStation One as an early birth- of Pokémon Gold (or Silver) and Sap- friends. Alas, our video games were row just to see the Pokémon movie, VALVE have announced the has been honoured at the annual ing), and a reasonably good PSP of what gamers expect as well as combined into one super extrava- potential to be one of the most com- day present and here I was hooked phire (or Ruby) was alright too. saved for hometime, but to ensure no other generation will truly un- introduction of an integrated mu- Writers Guild Awards. This year Neil title (Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker), the boundaries of the PS4 and Xbox ganza of awesome, so that alone pelling storylines in gaming history. to a tiny screen full of mythical crea- These days parents often com- our generation wasn’t deprived from derstand the importance of a shiny sic player, Steam Music, which will Druckman, from Naughty Dog, won the twisted genius of series creator One. Last year’s trailer for the game should be something of a treat. Ground Zeroes is due out in March, tures)! plain that their kids don’t leave their our 150 true loves the Pokémon card Charizard and no other generation allow gamers to listen to their own the video game writing award for Hideo Kojima has returned to helm a and little bits and pieces we’ve seen 2004’s MGS3, which covered the while the larger game, The Phantom The world of Pokémon was some- video games, and forfeit any social game was introduced and soon took will experience the same chill down music as they play games. The beta the script of popular PS3 exclusive huge, home-console, next-gen title, since have revealed a lot of changes: origins of Big Boss and was set in Pain, is due out early 2015. thing completely new and it didn’t interaction; the Pokémon games over the nation’s playgrounds. I don’t the spine at the sound of that now is now open for those who join the game The Last of Us. starring Big Boss - father of the series’ rst and foremost, MGS5 will feature the 1960s, brought the series back take long for the whole school to however promoted it! I mean, what think anyone really understood how famous theme tune. Steam community group. main character, Solid Snake – to be a massive, open-world environment from its ultra-modern early 2000s else were you supposed to do when to properly play the game, with all 40 Seren | February Issue 2014 FOOD AND DRINK Time for a Little Romance in Bangor Too cook or not to cook Cooking up some Romance Eating out this Valentines deals such as Two-For-One cocktails Valentine's day, grab your “kiss the cook” apron and im- by SCOTT WILLEY By WYATT WARNER or a small city, Bangor has a and a two-course set menu for £12.45. hey say the way to a man's heart is through his press your date with one of these easy-to-make yet classic e food is well prepared and slightly date night recipes. wide variety of places to eat stomach, and guys, that's true for women as well. out, from chains to bistro-cafes more adventurous in its menu than TEverybody loves a good home-cooked meal, so this andF restaurant-bars, so why not take other comparable chains. Feral Cat has a sophisticated atmosphere, with Fettuccine Alfredo impress that lucky other half of yours and take them out this year? its cocktails it can o er that something special for Valentine’s Day in Serve that special man or woman a 1815 is an independent café-res- Bangor. dish as rich as the experiences you've taurant near the High Street that has However, if you are looking for shared and as smooth as your conver- a small menu of fresh and locally- straightforward food with a more sational skills. sourced meals. e signature dish of 1815 is their tapas, which allows homely feel, then I would suggest taking a romantic walk towards the Ingredients: you to pick and choose from a range pier and trying out e Tap and Spile, · Pasta. Traditionally fettuccine, but of di erent items, including pates, a pub serving arguably the best pint use whatever kind you like—individ- cheeses, patatas bravas, and Spanish in Bangor. e Tap and Spile does uality is attractive! All pasta is di er- meatballs to name a few. Your selec- simple food – but it does it extremely ent so use as much as you think you tions are then served on a platter of well. A mixed grill will only set you need for two people. fresh salad, fruit, and vegetables and back £5.95, yet it is still quality food · A quarter of a cup of butter accompanied by warm bread. e ta- with huge portion sizes. Admittedly, · 300 ml double cream (for a less pas is a great meal for sharing, com- this is not ne dining – you order at fatty dish substitute half and half or ing in platters for one, two, or three ter until it's melted. the bar and collect your own cutlery whole milk) Cook the pasta according to the in- people, each person having three Now stir in the cheese until it's - but do not turn your nose up at this · 1 cup freshly grated hard cheese structions on the package and drain. selections. e sharing element adds melted and season with salt and pep- great pub, voted Best Value in Seren’s like Parmesan or Romano Don't rinse the pasta though, or the to the eating out experience, and is a per to taste. Local Business Awards 2013. · Salt and pepper to taste sauce won't stick as well. great idea for a Valentine’s Day meal. Serve over the pasta and top with I have merely scratched the surface · Chopped parsley, coriander or Pour the cream into a saucepan Fat Cat is a chain of restaurant–bars the chopped herbs. of Bangor’s eateries, with other op- chives to taste over medium heat and stir in the but- founded in Bangor by two alumni. In recent times, Fat Cat has been re- tions including the independent Blue branded to become ‘Feral Cat’. Hav- Sky Café, Chinese restaurant Noodle Chocolate Mousse Melt the chocolates together over ing said this, very few changes have One, or the universities very own low heat or in the microwave and taken place, and the menu is largely ne dining Teras Lounge. Bangor has Maybe the most quintessen- cool. the same. Personally I would recom- a wealth of options available for any tial Valentine's Day dish ever. Add the rum, egg yolks, co ee and mend any of the burgers, which use budget, meaning there is somewhere It's rich, luxurious, and best of butter. good quality mince and come with a for everyone to eat out and enjoy a all, simple to make. (Be aware Beat one cup of the cream until it variety of inventive toppings such as brilliant meal this Valentine’s Day. that this recipe includes raw egg) can stand up by itself and fold it into bacon, onion and mushrooms in a You may already have your favourites, the chocolate mixture. Do the same cheese sauce. Although at rst seem- yet there is always more to explore so Ingredients: with the egg whites. Be careful not to ing more expensive than other op- why not try somewhere new this year · 200g dark chocolate stir the mixture too much, your goal tions locally, Feral Cat o ers many to impress. · 60g milkchocolate here is to mix everything while keep- · A quarter of a cup strong co ee ing the air in. · 1 Tbsp. butter Divide the mixture between bowls, · 1.5 Tbsp. rum (optional) glasses, or whatever else you're serv- · 2 fresh eggs, separated ing it in, and chill in the freezer or · 100 ml double cream fridge for at least 2 hours. · Whipped cream (optional) Serve, topping with whipped cream if desired.

Eating our way back to the 90s What bettter way to to embrace the 90s than remembering the foods we loved as child, read on as we relish in those e-numbers and neon coloured foods of our childhood?

Sunny Delight Salad Faces A traumatic mo- I remember growing up ment in my childhood my parents were faced with Chewits Well who didn’t like to was the day they took a bit of a challenge trying to Chewit Chewit? And if the drink that’s golden get six kids to eat their veg- the adverts of a T-Rex goodness powered me etables. So my mum made a roller skating on double- through many a school game out of it – she would decker buses weren’t day, Sunny Delight, o ll the table with plates of enough to sucker you in, the shelves. e very ar- boiled eggs (not a vegetable then surely the yummy ti cial sunshine yellow but I’m not complaining), synthetic fruity taste did! drink, rumoured to have shredded carrots, cucum- I loved Chewits, I can still turned children yellow ber, lettuce, tomatoes (yes, hear the jingle ringing in due to its chemical cup- it’s a fruit but stick with me my head ... if only I could board ingredient list was on this)… you name the be reunited with a pack- a regular in my lunchbox. vegetable it was on that ta- et, my nostalgic child- I am very happy to have ble. She would then have us hood vision would be seen in recent years its re- all create a salad face out of complete! emergence on our shop- the food and we weren’t al- ping shelves, hopefully a lowed to make another face little less chemical lled, until we’d nished eating bringing me back to my the rst – this was a great glowing childhood days. and creative way to get us to eat our veg, and soon enough we actually liked it! 40 Seren | February Issue 2014 February Issue 2014 | Seren 41 FOOD AND DRINK FOOD AND DRINK Time for a Little Romance in Bangor Did someone say Pancakes? With Shrove Tuesday just around the corner, aka the day when you have the excuse to stu yourselves silly with pancakes, Seren is here Too cook or not to cook to give you the de nitive guide to help make your Pancake Day ‘ ipping’ perfect. So grab your spatulas and start preparing for March 4th. Cooking up some Romance Eating out this Valentines by HARRIET WELLER deals such as Two-For-One cocktails Valentine's day, grab your “kiss the cook” apron and im- by SCOTT WILLEY By WYATT WARNER or a small city, Bangor has a and a two-course set menu for £12.45. at’s Flipping hey say the way to a man's heart is through his press your date with one of these easy-to-make yet classic e food is well prepared and slightly date night recipes. wide variety of places to eat stomach, and guys, that's true for women as well. out, from chains to bistro-cafes more adventurous in its menu than TEverybody loves a good home-cooked meal, so this andF restaurant-bars, so why not take other comparable chains. Feral Cat Amazing! has a sophisticated atmosphere, with Fettuccine Alfredo impress that lucky other half of yours ow time to ba e you, and in diameter and 2.5 cm thick and and take them out this year? its cocktails it can o er that some- challenge you as we intro- weighing 3 tonnes. I think we might thing special for Valentine’s Day in Serve that special man or woman a 1815 is an independent café-res- duce you to some of our fa- need some more lemon and sugar! taurant near the High Street that has Bangor. Nvourite pancake records. Fancy doing something a little dif- dish as rich as the experiences you've However, if you are looking for shared and as smooth as your conver- a small menu of fresh and locally- Reckon you are a speedy ipper? ferent for charity this year, then why straightforward food with a more sational skills. sourced meals. e signature dish en try beating this guy… In 2012, not attempt to race this guy? Mike of 1815 is their tapas, which allows homely feel, then I would suggest Brad Jolly, an Australian broke the Cuzzacrea in 1999, became the of- taking a romantic walk towards the Ingredients: you to pick and choose from a range pancake tossing record, making 140 cial fastest pancake ipping mara- pier and trying out e Tap and Spile, · Pasta. Traditionally fettuccine, but of di erent items, including pates, ips in just 60 seconds! thon runner, managing to complete a pub serving arguably the best pint use whatever kind you like—individ- cheeses, patatas bravas, and Spanish Or think you make them big? en the Casino Niagara International in Bangor. e Tap and Spile does uality is attractive! All pasta is di er- meatballs to name a few. Your selec- think again, in 1994, the largest pan- Marathon in a mere 3 hours, 2 min- simple food – but it does it extremely ent so use as much as you think you tions are then served on a platter of cake was created in Rochdale, Man- utes and 27 seconds. Now that takes a well. A mixed grill will only set you need for two people. fresh salad, fruit, and vegetables and Finding Pancakes in Bangor chester by the Co-operative Union, whole lot of co-ordination! back £5.95, yet it is still quality food · A quarter of a cup of butter accompanied by warm bread. e ta- f you don’t fancy ipping your Tickets are just £5 for the whole day so this Pancake day. Ltd, measuring a whopping 15.01 with huge portion sizes. Admittedly, · 300 ml double cream (for a less pas is a great meal for sharing, com- own pancakes this year then why head to their website to nd out more. If you want to have a Pancake Day this is not ne dining – you order at fatty dish substitute half and half or ing in platters for one, two, or three not check out what North Wales Fancy something a little more spe- Adventure this year, then why not ter until it's melted. the bar and collect your own cutlery whole milk) Cook the pasta according to the in- people, each person having three hasI to o er. cial this year? en head down to Ban- head to the Dutch Pancake House Now stir in the cheese until it's - but do not turn your nose up at this · 1 cup freshly grated hard cheese structions on the package and drain. selections. e sharing element adds is year the elegant Anglesey Estate gor’s very own Creperie Café, located hidden in the Conwy Water Garden. melted and season with salt and pep- great pub, voted Best Value in Seren’s like Parmesan or Romano Don't rinse the pasta though, or the to the eating out experience, and is a of Plas Newydd, on March 2nd will be in Upper Bangor, o ering the best and is hidden gem uses fresh local pro- per to taste. Local Business Awards 2013. · Salt and pepper to taste sauce won't stick as well. great idea for a Valentine’s Day meal. hosting a Pancake Party in its beauti- biggest crepes in Bangor, from as little duce and seasonal ingredients, to cre- Serve over the pasta and top with I have merely scratched the surface · Chopped parsley, coriander or Pour the cream into a saucepan Fat Cat is a chain of restaurant–bars ful grounds, o ering you the oppor- as £2.50. With a huge range of savoury ate its 65 di erent pancakes which can the chopped herbs. of Bangor’s eateries, with other op- chives to taste over medium heat and stir in the but- founded in Bangor by two alumni. tunity to decorate, toss and munch and sweet lings, alongside equally as be enjoyed every day except Mondays tions including the independent Blue In recent times, Fat Cat has been re- on those tasty pancakes to the breath delectable hot drinks and wa es, this from 11:30am to 5:30pm Sky Café, Chinese restaurant Noodle branded to become ‘Feral Cat’. Hav- taking backdrop of the Menai Straits. cosy café has something for everyone Chocolate Mousse Melt the chocolates together over ing said this, very few changes have One, or the universities very own low heat or in the microwave and taken place, and the menu is largely ne dining Teras Lounge. Bangor has Maybe the most quintessen- cool. the same. Personally I would recom- a wealth of options available for any tial Valentine's Day dish ever. Add the rum, egg yolks, co ee and mend any of the burgers, which use budget, meaning there is somewhere It's rich, luxurious, and best of butter. good quality mince and come with a for everyone to eat out and enjoy a all, simple to make. (Be aware Beat one cup of the cream until it variety of inventive toppings such as brilliant meal this Valentine’s Day. that this recipe includes raw egg) can stand up by itself and fold it into bacon, onion and mushrooms in a You may already have your favourites, the chocolate mixture. Do the same cheese sauce. Although at rst seem- yet there is always more to explore so Ingredients: with the egg whites. Be careful not to ing more expensive than other op- why not try somewhere new this year · 200g dark chocolate stir the mixture too much, your goal tions locally, Feral Cat o ers many to impress. · 60g milkchocolate here is to mix everything while keep- · A quarter of a cup strong co ee ing the air in. · 1 Tbsp. butter Divide the mixture between bowls, Going bananas for · 1.5 Tbsp. rum (optional) glasses, or whatever else you're serv- · 2 fresh eggs, separated ing it in, and chill in the freezer or · 100 ml double cream fridge for at least 2 hours. gluten-free pancakes · Whipped cream (optional) Serve, topping with whipped cream if desired. ‘Crempog’ Recipe By CHARLOTTE FAYEWRIGHT eel like embracing Wales this Pancake Day? en why not try your hand at making a traditional Welsh pancake, the Crempog? icker than the Don’t despair if you are gluten free as we have the average pancake, this mouth watering delight is served up on special perfect recipe for you that will have you ipping in no time. occasionsF and are cooked on a griddle pan but are simple to make. Ingredients Eating our way back to the 90s 1 banana Ingredients 2 eggs What bettter way to to embrace the 90s than remembering the foods we loved as child, read on · 275g plain our ? as we relish in those e-numbers and neon coloured foods of our childhood · 450 ml warm buttermilk Mash bananas up and break eggs in to a bowl, whisk together until frothy. · 2 eggs Add 1 teaspoon to a frying pan and add the mixture, ip pancakes once the Salad Faces · 30g of butter melted and cooled underneath starts to brown and cook on otherwise. Sunny Delight · 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda A traumatic mo- I remember growing up Add honey for a little extra sweetness. Only 250 calories and full of lots of · A pinch of salt (11/2tsp) and drop of vinegar (1tbsp) ment in my childhood my parents were faced with Chewits protein and potassium, so what are you waiting for! Well who didn’t like to · 75g of caster sugar was the day they took a bit of a challenge trying to Chewit Chewit? And if the drink that’s golden get six kids to eat their veg- the adverts of a T-Rex goodness powered me etables. So my mum made a roller skating on double- Stir the butter into the warmed buttermilk until melted, then pour the milk through many a school game out of it – she would decker buses weren’t and butter into the our and beat well and then leave the mixture to stand for day, Sunny Delight, o ll the table with plates of enough to sucker you in, at least 20 minutes the shelves. e very ar- boiled eggs (not a vegetable then surely the yummy Beat the eggs into a separate bowl then add the sugar, bicarbonate of soda, ti cial sunshine yellow but I’m not complaining), synthetic fruity taste did! salt and vinegar into the bowl and stirr thoroughly drink, rumoured to have shredded carrots, cucum- I loved Chewits, I can still Pour this mixture into the our and milk mixture and beat well to form a turned children yellow ber, lettuce, tomatoes (yes, hear the jingle ringing in smooth batter due to its chemical cup- it’s a fruit but stick with me my head ... if only I could Grease the pan or griddle using butter and heat board ingredient list was on this)… you name the be reunited with a pack- Drop the batter, a tablespoon at a time onto the heated pan or a griddle and a regular in my lunchbox. vegetable it was on that ta- et, my nostalgic child- bake over a moderate heat until your pancake looks golden brown on both I am very happy to have ble. She would then have us hood vision would be sides, then keep warm and add your favourite toppings. seen in recent years its re- all create a salad face out of complete! We recommend the traditional topping,; a thing coat of butter followed by a emergence on our shop- the food and we weren’t al- sprinkling of sugar. ping shelves, hopefully a lowed to make another face Have yourself a very Welsh Pancake day! little less chemical lled, until we’d nished eating bringing me back to my the rst – this was a great glowing childhood days. and creative way to get us to eat our veg, and soon enough we actually liked it! 42 Seren | February Issue 2014 TRAVEL Seren Down Under Moving Abroad... Why?

by JOE KEEP that point. Add on top the being in a You’ll meet them in such random There are also the other interna- the indigenous people lived like, and di erent country and you’d imagine ways, such as Fran and I, who met tional students as I mentioned, who then use the folklore of the culture to ver the course of my time that it was the most stressful event purely through the chance that we come from every corner of the globe. see how it has helped to shape the studying abroad, I’ve been you’ll encounter. have come to the same international You’ll nd yourself immersed in cul- country. Oasked if I’m enjoying myself, I am here to let you know though, university, but a friendship that is tures that you didn’t even expect to Aside from the people, you also dis- as well as other questions, like ‘Why that is not the case. The main thing stronger than most you will have nd. It may seem like a lot to take in, cover so much more about yourself. would you even want to do that?’ I to remember is that there is a huge in life. Then you have those people but, it’s the best and easiest way to The experience of travelling and be- think that people nd it hard to com- group of international students who you’ll meet on your travels (or when do so. Surrounding yourself in the ing able to fully immerse yourself in prehend the feeling of wanting to a culture, whilst not having to worry move, especially after two years of ...you could happily live outside of the UK...throw yourself about where your next lot of money university and settling in there. That, in at the deep end, survive and come out the other side comes from, is amazing. You’ll nd compared to how people see mov- with a smile on your face and a camera full of memories out that, despite what you initially ing to university. you will treasure forever. thought, you could happily live out- The idea of moving away from side of the UK, and are fully able to home is a scary prospect, something have done the same and are just you just go on a social night out). cultural side of a country or of other throw yourself in at the deep end we all have undergone and survived. looking for that friendly face to grav- They appear as strangers, but, with- people makes you, in my opinion, a and survive and come out the other We all had that checklist, which went itate towards. Once you have done in a handful of days, you’ve already far more rounded person. Also, by side with a smile on your face and something along the lines of: make that, you are basically sorted and found out everything about each absorbing the culture, you get to a camera full of memories you will friends and try to do all those things have a set of friends you will treasure other and are planning the next out- explore the whole of a country, go- treasure forever. our parents have done for us until for life. ing together. ing to the far out caves to see what Travel During The 90’s Travel nowadays sees backpackers travelling to far o places for a sense of adventure, the ‘party holiday’ and package trips to places such as Dubai and countries in Africa. But what was it like in the 90’s? BENIDORM GREECE TUNISIA FLORIDA MAGALUF

ONCE Benidorm was a small village, STILL popular with visitors today NOWADAYS people think nothing of UNBELIEVABLY during the 90’s it was MAGALUF, Mallorca is known for its now it is better known for its hotel Greece is celebrated for its sun, blue travelling to Africa thanks to the rise just as good value to take a holiday white sandy beaches and notori- industry, beaches and skyscrapers. seas and history. However, during of safari holidays and interest in Af- to America than it was to stay in the ous Magaluf party strip. Whilst still The initial popularity is thanks to the 90’s it was the islands of Greece rican culture. However in the 90’s it UK. (Thanks for that opportunity par- visited for a ‘party holiday’ in the the explosive market of the pack- - such as Rhodes, Kavos, Crete and was a di erent situation for most of ents...) Top of everyone’s lists was no 90’s, Mallorca itself was another suc- age holiday during the 90’s which Corfu - which were ooded too by the continent. Tunisia is on the North surprise... Orlando, Florida. Home of cess of the package holiday, visited largely hit places such as Benidorm visitors desperate for a part of the coast of Africa just outside of Europe. Disney World. Orlando has two nick- by families and couples alike not and other regions of Spain such as sunshine. Separate from the pack- Tunisia became known for its golden names - “The City Beautiful” and “The necessarily looking for a chance to Torremolinos. Benidorm still attracts age holiday, the Greek islands were beaches, sunny weather and ‘a ord- Theme Park Capital of the World.” party. Unfortunately, the image of visitors today and even has its own a chance to experience real culture. able luxuries.’ Something for everyone. Mallorca now has been a ected by TV show. its nightlife. February Issue 2014 | Seren 43 TRAVEL Study, Work or Travel Abroad With the Help of Bangor University Have you ever wanted to go abroad? Study while sight seeing? Have you ever wanted to spend a year or even just a Summer travelling? What better time to do this than while a student at Bangor University! tunity to really make the most of Studying a year or semester in a perience” to your degree title, show- Travelling anywhere in by LUKE JAMES BARRETT your student experience. di erent University; with this option ing your adaptability; very sought Why go abroad? Spending time in you can travel to a foreign Univer- after by employers! Europe makes you eligi- angor University has a depart- another country is an opportunity to; sity and the credits you take will be ment dedicated to sending stu- enhance your employability, devel- transferred back to Bangor Universi- Work for a year; this option is more ble for ERASMUS fund- Bdents to study or work abroad. op skills and experience a classroom ty and will be counted in your overall dependent on you, the University ing, that is to say you can There is an array of di erent Universi- setting will never provide. Have fun degree. This is an option you would will help you with any problems but ties from all corners of the earth that, and travel to amazing places, learn have to take in your second year and you are responsible for nding the get up to 375 euros per as a student, you have the opportu- another language, experience new the location has to be compatible work placement. month while studying or nity to go to! Studying or working cultures, gain a global perspective with your course. Summer programs; Courses o ered abroad as part of your degree is the on your subject, return more moti- A Plus 1 year; this is the most versa- during the summer period so as not working in Europe. opportunity of a lifetime. vated, independent and con dent tile option; you can travel to any Uni- to interrupt your academic proceed- If you have ever wondered about and creative lifelong friendships. versity that Bangor is partnered with ings, this option includes fully fund- Travelling the rest of the taking a gap year or a trip over the What is available? There are many and study any subject area you want! ed trips to South Korea, an opportu- summer and have regretted not di erent opportunities and options The credits you take will not a ect nity that should not be passed by! world you may be able to doing so, then a study abroad pro- to ensure there is a programme to the grade of your degree but it will claim more funding from gramme would give you the oppor- suit you. add “with a year in International ex- student nance.

Athens Marina Bay - Singapore You can make enquiries now for 2015-2016 applications now and all applications must be submitted by October 2014. You can nd more information online at myBangor or you can go to the international exchange o ce - in Rathbone Building - and ask for one of the exchange o cers. Seven Weeks in Korea A Student Experience by TOM SHELTON impressive array of international ex- sity organising plenty of excursions. change opportunities. Touring the De-Militarised Zone – an I touch your nose?” was I taught English to Korean univer- the most heavily militarised border an unusual proposition sity students for three weeks and on Earth, was brilliant, especially for then took academic and cultural the illicit photos of North Korea. We “Cfrom 24 year-old Jini, but modules. I chose a geography class also lived as monks at a Buddhist one I certainly couldn’t refuse. Kore- run by an eccentric Russian profes- temple, explored ancient World Her- ans love Western fashion, music, and sor who sent us out to research the itage Sites, and ung mud at the big- physical appearance. Indeed, one in Seoul clubbing scene and Gangnam gest mud festival in the world. 77 South Koreans have had plas- Style – not your typical module. Seoul, the sprawling metropolis of tic surgery – often to appear more I also hoped to achieve basic con- 25 million people, is exploding with Western. My big Western nose was versational Korean after a beginner’s things to do. Every great city has the centre of attention. Jini’s wails language class. I can just about gar- world famous night clubs, excellent This experience, along with many more o ered by Bangor’s International Education Centre, is not to be missed. Get out there and explore the world, students of Bangor!

of surprise and awe as she daintily ble my way through the alphabet, museums, and brilliant restaurants stroked my well-de ned nose were and order a beer and Korean BBQ. and drinking holes. Seoul has this in surreal. She couldn’t help but come I thought I’d mastered asking for abundance, as well as thousand year back for more. chopsticks; but after seven weeks old Royal palaces, folk villages, cafés This bizarre moment was just one I’d unwittingly mastered a simi- with pet sheep, street dance World of many experiences I treasure from lar sounding phrase – the Korean championships, “norebangs” – the seven weeks at Dankook University equivalent of sticking your middle famous karaoke rooms, and the big- in South Korea during the Summer nger up. gest indoor theme park on Earth. of 2013. This summer programme Aside from teaching and learn- And for the record: I ate dog. ing, there was plenty of time to ex- He was a puppy called Rex. is just one of Bangor University’s plore Korea, with the host univer- THE SEREN CROSSWORD

ACROSS

7. 7,000 year old caveman found to have what colour eyes? (4) 8. Student Cut Film are having a lm marathon of which cult director? (9) 10. Key ingredient for banana gluten-free pancakes (6) 11. How many thousands for a coat like Peter Capaldi’s Doctor? (5) 12. Tough girl with a great hat from Recess (8) 13. Main character of e Bell Jar (6) 14. Which early noughties game series is being remade? (5) 16. Teenage Mutant ___ Turtles (5) 17. e money preparing the UK for climate change has been ___ (6) DOWN 1. What Spice can you dress up as with the help of our Beauty pages? (6) 2. e best shiny Pokemon card you could possibly get (9) 3. Genetically modi ed tomatoes have turned ___ (6) 4. New student halls, St. ___ (5) 5. Robert Metcalfe invented which cable vital for nineties interent connection (8) 6. Seven students went to South ___ to teach English over the summer (5) 9. ___ anniversary for the Geographical Society (5) SUDOKU! 10. New river dolphin discovered by a University in which country? (6) BEFORE 15. e rst Harry Potter book was published in 199_? (5) MEDIUM

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE Look at the ‘identical’ photos - HARD AFTER can you nd the six di erences? February Issue 2014 | Seren 45 SPORT 90s Sport - e Five Nations

What happened then?

HERE is a list of the memorable football occasions throughout the decade of the 90s in preparation of Seren’s upcoming 90s night! 1992 THIS was the year for the 1992 UEFA European Championships, taking place in Sweden. It boiled down to a nal between the countries of Denmark and Germany. e champions ended up being Denmark who defeated the Ger- mans in a well fought 2-0 victory with Jensen and Vilfort scoring the decisive goals. 1994 A look back a few years to our favourite decade - the 90s! 1994 saw in the FIFA World Cup. Hosted by the USA, it proved to be England and France dominate the Five Nations during the 90s an interesting tournament. It came down to a nal between Brazil and Italy. In what was a tight and intense by KEVIN GRIFFIN tition). England won the competition winning thirteen and losing een. able decade with two Five Nations a air, it nished 0-0 and ended up thirteen times with ve Grand Slams. He led the Welsh side to their only victories, have had a few great play- going to extra time. With no rther s this is the last issue of Seren Ireland won it eight times with one Five Nations win during the 90s in ers, most notably David Sole. Sole goals scored, it nished with Brazil before 90s night, I have de- Grand Slam being achieved. Scotland 1994. played for Scotland between the years winning 3-2 on the dreaded penalty cided my contribution to be won the competition six times with On to the England side, having en- of 1986 until 1992. He captained shootout. Aabout the Five Nations, a rugby union two of those including a Grand Slam. joyed a very successful decade in the them to their 1990 Five Nations title. tournament in the 90s, which became Finally, France won the Five Nations 90s, a huge name for England in the roughout his international career, the Six Nations in 1999. It ran from nineteen times with six of those wins late 80s and majority of the 90s was he made 44 appearances, winning 1940 until 1999 and became six when including a Grand Slam. Will Carling, a centre who captained 22, losing 20 and drawing 2 of those 1996 Italy joined the competition. ere To be speci c to the 90s, England the national side on many occasions. matches. 1996 saw the second UEFA Eu- was a time in the years of 1910 to and France were particularly domi- He won 72 caps for the national side. Onto the nal Five Nations team, ropean Championships of the dec- 1931 where the Five Nations ran but nant throughout the decade sharing Of these 72 starts, he took part in a France. France have always been ade. Hosted this time by England. it changed to the Home Nations a er seven title wins between them, Eng- side responsible for 53 victories, 18 praised as a great side. Of all the play- England were knocked out by Ger- France dropped out. land having four and France winning losses and one draw. He was in the ers to play for France in this time, I many in the semi- nals, and ended Although the competition was in- three. Wales won it once, Scotland side who won all four of their Five have chosen Fabien Pelous to be one up with a nal between the Czech troduced in 1940, the rst time it won it twice and Ireland not at all Nations titles in the 90s. of the French’s most outstanding play- Republic and Germany at Wemb- was played was in 1947 because of during this decade. For Ireland, who had a woeful dec- ers. Having made his debut in 1995 ley Stadium. It nished 1-1 a er 90 the Second World War. England Some of the biggest names in Rugby ade, although there are no stand out and retiring in 2007, he made 118 ap- minutes and Germany went on to and Wales were crowned champions Union played at this time. Jonathan captains during this time, the most pearances for France at either lock or win it through the old golden goal. that year when they drew on points, Humphreys, playing in the hooker well-known has to be Keith Wood, number 8. Out of these 118 appear- points di erence not existing back position, among many others, cap- who now works as a freelance jour- ances, he partook in 79 wins, 38 losses then. Wales won the competition tained the Welsh side between the nalist for the BBC and covers the Six and a draw. eighteen times with ve of those wins years of 1995 – 2003. During his time Nations as the Irish pundit. He made So that sums up my look at 90s Rug- including a Grand Slam (achieved as captain, he played nineteen, won 58 appearances for the Irish national by Union’s Five Nations competition. when a particular country win all of six times and lost thirteen. Between side scoring 75 points while playing Leave comments on the website your 1998 their matches throughout the compe- the years of 1991 and 1995, Ieuan C. in the hooker position. favourite or best rugby player of the 1998 was the year the France Evans captained the side 28 times, Scotland, who enjoyed a respect- 90s! hosted the FIFA World Cup. A er an enthralling tournament, Brazil once again made the nal. this time they were to face France. However, they fell short again and lost 3-0 to the French. 46 Seren | February Issue 2014 SPORT Superbowl Inspires Bangor Muddogs Dance prepare for Edinburgh Xmas Show Success by KEVIN GRIFFIN

ust before the Christmas holidays, Bangor University’s Dance society held their winter show in JP theatre.J ey organised two shows in one day for the 15th December. An a ernoon one that started at 1pm and an evening show that com- menced at 6pm, both running for three hours each. e show was split into two halves. In the rst half, it consisted of Beginners Tap, Bur- lesque, Advanced Ballet, Beginners Jazz, Bollywood, Irish, Beginners Lat- in & Ballroom, Advanced Street and Flashmob. e second half included Beginners Ballet, Advanced Latin & Ballroom, Belly, Contemporary, Ad- vanced Tap, Flavas, Advanced Jazz Bangor Muddogs look forward to a successful end to the season and Beginners Street before nishing the Seahawks. Robert has described the Muddogs’ some of the players’ inexperience. o with a well don Finale featuring by KEVIN GRIFFIN In Bangor, the Super Bowl means season as a fairly mixed one. e team Despite this, the team seem to be in every dancer. one thing to those who pay no atten- has done well to grind in some top a good place and are seeking to nish A message from BU Dance Captain unday 2nd February brought tion to the sport in general: pubs are performances against a superior op- the season on a high and rightly so! Hannah Smithson read: “BU Dance about a date held in most Ameri- open very late! Local pubs such as Yel- position, including a very unlucky e team have, as Robert Chambers has had an absolutely fantastic start cans’ calendars. e Super Bowl hadS come round once again and the low and Varsity, who were showing defeat at the hands of the league lead- puts it, three very winnable games le to the year. We’ve taken part in some the Super Bowl, were open until ve ers. e team is mostly made up with and to top it all o , a cup derby match great events and raised money for pubs were open until the early hours! o’clock in the morning! However, the some players coming in with very against none other than Aberystwyth both Hope House and Children in e Super Bowl this year was between number of Erasmus students at Ban- little, if not no, experience playing University. e team are said to be Need along the way. I’d like to thank the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver gor University meant that the pubs the sport. is has resulted in some feeling con dent about the upcoming Student Cut Films and Stage Crew Broncos. had good crowds. ‘rookie mistakes’ being made by some cup game and will do all they can to for making today (Sunday 15th De- If there was phrase or word to de- As a university, we have our very of the more inexperienced players. get a win over our rival team. cember 2013) possible, along with scribe this match it would be a “com- own American Football team – the Despite these weaknesses, the team e team are always looking for the photographers, but especially a plete blowout”. e Super Bowl is Bangor Muddogs. As the American remain optimistic for the second half people to play, even if they have ab- HUGE thank you to every single one what American Football fans live for Football team, it was their duty to go of the season, with the younger play- solutely no experience in the sport. It of the dancers for all their hard work and to have such a bad performance to Yellow and enjoy the Super Bowl. I ers learning from mistakes made in does not matter who you are or where and commitment they’ve put into by the Denver Broncos put a dent in got into contact with the club’s treas- the rst half of the season. you come from, as long as you show making this an amazing show!” the occasion. It was devastating to urer, Robert Chambers, about their During the course of the rst half of commitment and a will for the club to To go on with a great year for the many looking forward to a thrilling plans for the Super Bowl as well as the season, the team came up against do well. Dance society, they have a competi- occasion, especially the Broncos fans. their season for the University. really tough opposition who exploited tion to go to! Travelling to Edinburgh e game nished a massive 43-8 to on the 8th February 2014, 78 dancers will compete for Bangor Univer- sity in the Edinburgh Uni Modern Dance Society’s Dance O . ey will Squash win Local Championship compete against thirteen other universities including Imperial College by ANDY WELLS glesey, was closely fought at the top London and the University of Dur- and the rst team did well to see o ham. All in all, there is predicted to hristmas came early for the some strong opposition. ey eventu- be around 500 competitors in a three Bangor University Squash ally nished the winter season with day competition. I speak for everyone Club (BUSC) as the rst team just two defeats from the twelve games at Bangor University when I say good Csealed the squash club’s rst ever lo- played. luck to the Dance society! cal league championship with an all- e spring season will welcome the important 4-1 victory over Bethesda 1 promotion of Bangor Vets from Eryri on 19th December. League 2 for what could be a heated Did e match was won with a mighty ef- derby with the students. Commisera- fort from David Parry, Shaun Sullivan, tions go to the relegated Llewod Lla- you Rhys Parry, James Killingbeck and ngefni who nished the season with- Steve Newstead. out a win and will now face Bangor know? Rhys Parry, rst team captain, com- University 2 in the second division. IF YOU’RE a fan of running, then ments: “I cannot take much of the Credit is also due to Ed Clarke, Lau- there’s a 10k race (6.2 miles) on e credit as this would’ve never happened ren Casling, Andy Wells and Ryan Great Orme this Sunday! It costs with such a committed and strong Bedwell who played their part during £15 to sign up and you can enter on team. All I can say is that we have a lot the course of the season. Congratula- the day. You can sign up for the race to live up to in the next season!” e of the team that achieved this fantastic who supported us.” tions BUSC and best of luck for the at this link: http://nwrrc.co.uk/nick- club captain, Shaun Sullivan, adds: feat for the club and a huge thank you e Eryri League, which is competed spring season! beer-10km-event.html “It’s a great delight to have been part must go to all who played and to all for by teams across Gwynedd and An- February Issue 2014 | Seren 47 SPORT 100% Pass Rate Swim for for Jitsu Club Charity Amy’s aim: £300

t’s come that time of year once again. Last year we had Comic Relief, which to be honest was alwaysI my favourite, but this year it is Sport Relief (they alternate every other year). I’m not generally a sporty person. In high school, physical education terri ed me. I do play some sport, like lacrosse here in Bangor, but I have never done anything like this before. On the 22nd March this year I will be taking part in the Sport Relief Swimathon at Bangor Swimming Pool to raise money for so many amazing charities both in this country and abroad. ese include: Age Concern and Tros Gyn- nal, which supports young people with mental health problems as well as various crime charities and projects for young people. When sign- ing up for the Sport Relief Games you get the choice of three events; swimming, cycling or running. My personal goal is to complete a 2.5k Swimathon, which is one hundred lengths of Bangor’s swimming pool, you can opt to do more or less. I am now in training for what is probably going to be the worst day of my life, Jitsu club pass grading with ying colours as familiar faces visit but I am strangely looking forward to it. My inspiration was the moti- by FELICITY WALKER inter club training, as well as a hint to lier than usual, which really put the low, who achieved their orange belts. vation to get t and healthy whilst what was to come at the Atemi Na- pressure on for the club members, Joseph Giles and Felicity Walker, who raising money for an amazing cause. n late September, the Bangor Jitsu tionals in November. e rst of the especially the novices. A quick visit achieved their green belts and Joe Dal- My target is to raise £300 for Sport club welcomed in the new aca- TJF nationals for the academic year, from some of the club’s old boys, Lew- zell who was awarded his light blue Relief and I am currently on £191. demic year and it is safe to say that the event is always one of the most ea- is Fisher and Craig Smoothy, gave the belt, making him the club’s new high- If you would like to sponsor me you theI semester did not disappoint. Full gerly anticipated by the club and this new club members some invaluable est grade under Sensei. Joe Dalzell did can go to my.sportrelief.com/spon- of plans fresh from their summer ac- year was no exception. e club again pregrading training opportunities and not only pass his light blue grading, sor/amyblackwell or if you would tivities, the club set about preparing improved on their numbers from last the older club members a welcome but was also awarded the honour of like to get inolved yourself just go to for Serendipity and welcoming their year, taking nearly 20 people to the blast from the past. ‘Top of the mat’. A special award given sportrelied.com and sign up! new members, eager to see what the event and many of the clubs Jitsuka Under the driven leadership of Sen- to the Jitsuka, who displayed the best club was all about. e club’s stall had got through to the semi nals and sei Gabriella Rossetti, the club mem- attitude, mat presence and level of a fantastic amount of interest, with re- nals for their categories. e event bers who could make the grading technique during the grading, Joe was cord numbers of sign ups that didn’t also presented the opportunity for certainly lived up to the Bangor Club unanimously chosen. e club spent just translate to massive numbers on club members who attended the sum- reputation. A er weeks and weeks the evening at the regions rst post the mats for the taster sessions, but a mer International to catch up with the of hard work and determination, the grading celebrations, hosted by the huge increase in numbers all semester Jitsuka from other clubs around the club attended the grading and came Preston club. long. UK they had met there. back with a 100% pass rate. e club e club is now looking forward Venue is Bar Uno In October, the club attended their e return from the nationals sig- would therefore like to congratulate to the challenges that the new se- rst regional for the 2013/2014 year nalled the start of the truly serious the following people: Martin Ayre, mester and new year of 2014 brings, with incredible attendance numbers, training for the club, as the Decem- Kennedy Bowers, James Killingbeck, beginning rst with some strict t- Doors open 7.30pm both from the Bangor club and the ber grading began to approach. e Patrick Chan, Tate Jack, Sami Carroll, ness training a er their well deserved rest of the North West region. e December grading is the rst grading Roberta Græ Excell, Ludger Hart- Christmas rest. n Tuesday 11th February, the Squash win Local Championship eligible novices can take, making it a ley and Sabine Hildebrandt, who all Gaelic ladies football club event was a huge success and gave the new members a brilliant rst taste of fairly nerve-wracking time. is year achieved their yellow belts. Farzad will be hosting a very unique typeO of fundraiser in the form of Blind the grading was scheduled weeks ear- Abdollahzadeh and Bradley Critch- Date! If you are familiar with the old game show, one person questions three others and decides on who to take out for FeBRAry Fundraisers a date. For just £2 per person, anyone can take part in this fundraiser as all proceeds go towards Breakthrough by KEVIN GRIFFIN e netball society are hosting their are encouraged to go down and sup- compete in a black bra, black shorts Breast Cancer. It will take place in Bar own fundraiser in the form of a net- port a great cause! and black socks. In what will be a no Uno, as it has done successfully for s part of raising money for balling tournament in Maes Glas. It As well as netball, the Rugby Union doubt hilarious occasion, they will the past two years. It is a night full of FeBRAry, many Athletic Un- cost £2 for each person to enter and and Rugby League men’s teams are head down to the netball fundraiser surprises and, who knows, you could ion Clubs are hosting fund- there will be cakes on sale! ey are also hosting a charity match for the a er the match. e game will take end up meeting the woman or man Araising matches. e main purpose encouraging people to make teams of same cause. Both Rugby teams are place at the Treborth elds. of your dreams! Contestants will ask is to raise awareness for breast cancer no less than seven people per team, pitting the freshers against the senior Both events can be found on Face- questions to three blind dates, one of and raise money for Breast Cancer a maximum of two netballers is al- members of the squads. e freshers book and will take place on Sunday these three will be picked and they get Care. lowed. So no matter how much ex- must wear a pink bra, pink shorts and 23rd February 2014. to go on a date with them in the ‘Love perience you have with the sport, you pink socks, where the seniors must shack’! To participate, e-mail psuead@bangor.ac.uk. Success for Squash! page 46 SPORT Bangor crash out of cup to Airbus

01 Field 25’, 79’ Date: Friday 18th September 2013 Main: Bangor miss a chance to equalise Inset: Idzi bids farewell to City Venue: Nantporth, e Book People Stadium Photos by LJ Taylor Bangor miss chance to advance in Welsh Cup Idzi bows out of Bangor for nal time

by LJ TAYLOR Bangor throw ins down the le wing. chance of beating Airbus’ Coates. fence started to tire and Field was able with his long commute up from Car- It only took a matter of minutes for e visitors continued to dominate to give Airbus the winning goal; 2-0. di for every match. angor City’s cup hopes were things to heat up though with Airbus possession and Bangor were lucky to Jamie McDaid was brought on for Whilst it wasn’t the result Idzi was dampened this week when they dominating possession and coming remain just 1-0 down. the homeside in the hope that he hoping for on his nal appearance he crashed out of the tournament extremely close to scoring in the h A er the break Nev Powell brought could replicate his performance that was subjected to a round of applause Bat the hands of Airbus. minute. Everything became scram- on striker Jay Colbeck, just signed on gave Bangor the win at Airbus last from the fans who thanked him for It was an energetic crowd that bled in the Bangor box and the ball loan from Wrexham, in hopes of bol- year. e young player managed to his service to the club. Unlucky for Lee turned up to Nantporth on a wet and was cleared to Les Davies who seemed stering his team’s attack. give the Citizens their best chance in his defence didn’t seem to be there for dreary Tuesday evening but their Ban- to be grabbed and pulled back by an In fairness Bangor felt a little more the game but couldn’t quite take ad- him when he needed them but overall gor team were a long way from the un- Airbus player. A chorus of boos and energetic in the opening of the sec- vantage. he put in a pretty decent performance relenting side that battled to hold on angry City fans took over Nantporth. ond half with Les Davies and Damian It was a disappointing result for Ban- for his last. to an all important draw at Aber last e homeside rarely looked close to Allen leading attacks down the right gor but a deserved win for the Wing- Bangor have managed to sign Nant- month. taking control of the game and a slip wing but to no avail. Everytime City makers. wich keeper Jack Cudworth, just be- e match began slowly, with City up from Declan Walker led to Airbus’ managed to get hold of the ball they e match marked Lee Idzi’s nal fore the transfer window closed ready playing in red as Airbus’ away kit Tom Field netting the ball just before struggled to keep it and shots were outing as Bangor’s number 1. e to replace Idzi. would have clashed with the referee, the 30 minute mark. City tried to hit taken in desperation from all the goalkeeper and the club have agreed and play was messy with a series of back in the next few minutes but the wrong angles. to part ways due to personal circum- shots were poor and had very little With ten minutes to go City’s de- stances which could have a lot to do