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 (got- ta 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 informa- tion, 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-resi- dence. 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”.