Bangor University Students’ Union May 2015 English Language Issue No. 248 Newspaper FREE @SerenBangor seren.bangor.ac.uk SUMMER BALL EUROVISION 2015 LET’S TRAVEL! Jolly good fellows from le to right - Myrddin ap Dafydd, Gru Rhys, Huw Stephens University names honorary fellowships by PHILLIP SUTCLIFFE ans. e book of the latter earned him diversity promoter Meirion Prys Jones, dents and of the University, it’s also an for his contributions to pharmaceuti- MOTT a nomination for Welsh Book of the for his services to language across Eu- honour to highlight and reward oth- cal science. Year, while album Hotel Shampoo and rope; and head of Bangor-founded ers connected with Wales or the Uni- Bangor graduate Shireen Chambers, n the upcoming Graduation Week, collaboration Neon Neon have both family jeweller Nicholas Snowman, for versity who are excelling in their own Executive and Technical Director of musician Gru Rhys and DJ Huw won music prizes. his services to business. chosen elds, and making a valued the Institute of Chartered Foresters, Stephens will be honoured for Huw Stephens, the youngest DJ to Vice-Chancellor Professor John C. contribution.” will be awarded an Honorary Fellow- Itheir contributions to music and the ever work at BBC Radio 1 and co-host Hughes had the following to say: Several Bangor alumni are also being ship for her services for ecology and arts by Bangor University. e Honor- of BBC Radio Cymru’s C2, is a writer “Bangor University has achieved honoured. Recent Bangor University forestry. Another Bangor graduate, ary Fellowships will be awarded dur- and broadcaster, and founded and great results in several areas this last retiree Dr David Roberts, who worked Jeremy Howell, is a professor at the ing ceremonies across 11th–17th July. curated C a r d i S ŵ n , a contemporary academic year: the University has at the university for 35 years as a regis- exclusive University of San Francisco Gru Rhys, both a solo artist and music festival. He is to be awarded for been ranked in the top 100 Universi- trar, is to be awarded for his services to and will be receiving an Honorary Fel- member of Super Furry Animals, re- his services to the Welsh music indus- ties in the world for its international the institution. Dr Roberts lives locally lowship for his contributions to Sport cently supplied the scores for Dylan try. outlook, and rated in the top 20 in the and is the author of Bangor University Science. omas biopic Set Fire to the Stars and Also honoured are: Publishing house UK for student experience in addition 1884-2009. Bernard Taylor CBE, who American Interior, his own portrayal of Gwasg Carreg Gwalch founder Myrd- to having achieved excellent results in is the Chairman of Cambridge Labo- 18th century Welsh explorer John Ev- din ap Dafydd, for his services to the Research Assessment Exercise. As ratories Ltd and was Chief Executive Welsh literature in Llanrwst; linguistic we celebrate the success of our stu- of Glaxo Worldwide, will be honoured THE TAP & SPILE BANGOR’S FAVOURITE BUSINESS May Issue 2015 | Seren 3 CONTENTS 28 AMY BLACKWELL EDITOR 21 [email protected] Hi guys! This is me welcoming you to another issue of Seren for 30 the nal time! This is my last issue as editor, my swan song if you will! I would like to take this opportu- News 4-5 nity to say how much I’ve enjoyed my time at Seren, from my humble Politics 6 beginnings as the Books Editor last Comment 7 year to my term as Editor, this time 7 has been incredibly special for me. Union 8 6 It’s so odd to look back at the last year, to remember how nervous Societies 9 I was when I started as Editor and Business Awards 10-11 look at myself now and how con - dent I have gotten in the role and Summer Ball 12-13 how much I’ve grown as an editor Eurovision 14-15 and as a society chair. I want to say one massive nal thank you to my Science 16 team, those who have been with Environment 17 me in Seren from day one, those who aren’t with us any more and Film 19 the ones who have just joined the TV 20 ride. Thank you for making my ex- perience so special. I have made Games & Gadgets 21 some amazing friends through Seren and for that I am so grateful. Music 22 As per we have some cracking Books 23 content for you this issue! Page 6 gives you a view of the general Arts & Culture 24 election the day after it happened, Fashion 25 pages 10 and 11 announce the win- ners of this years Seren Business Health & Beauty 26 Awards, page 24 talks about Fox Food & Drink 27 news and boobies, on page 27 is a recipe for a fantastic lemon drizzle Travel 28 cake and on pages 30 and 31 we Sport 30-32 announce the winners from the AU dinner. I hope you enjoy the issue! I hope everyone has done well in 17 their exams and assignments and I hope you are nishing the year on a high! I wish everyone a fantastic summer! I wish the rst years good luck in second year and I and I am praying for the second years go- ing into third year (you can do it! Don’t lose faith!). It’s my last Seren but I won’t be leaving Bangor just yet, I have another year to get my head around leaving the city that has steadily become my home over the past three years, but with all my heart I wish my fellow third years well in whatever they decide to do. Class of 2015 good luck and goodbye! 22 The views presented hereinafter do not represent the views of Seren Bangor, Bangor Students’ Union or Bangor University. #248 Seren is printed by NWN Media. THE TEAM Editor Amy Blackwell Science Chris Glass Health & Beauty Emily Rimmer CONTRIBUTORS Deputy Content Stephanie Environment Richard Dalison Creative Corner Liam Shipton Rhys Taylor Dan Parker LJ Taylor Yeabsley Music Hedd Thomas Arts & Culture Phillip Mott Lydia Richardson Jordan Glendenning Bethan May Deputy Design Ida Väisänen TV Ryan Jones Fashion Eleanor Hirst Mark Stanley Cristopher Crane Heddwen Creaney News Emily Houlston- Film Hannah Travel Kayla Jones Nicola Pye Jack Greenhalgh Kelly Norman Jones McFadyen Food & Drink Callum Muirhead Amy Beech Laura Sutton Sian Roberts Politics Kate Benn Games Joe Keep Sport Scott Willey Owen Jones Jenny Grice Kit Heeley Comment J.P. Bebbington Books Jack Upton 4 Seren | May Issue 2015 NEWS In Brief Opera chorus coming to Bangor AN award-winning opera company will be performing in Bangor this summer. e Welsh National Opera Chorus are set to perform in Bangor Univer- sity’s Pritchard-Jones Hall on June 20th. e announcement follows award success for the chorus. e Bangor concert is just one in a list of concerts that the company will per- form around Wales this coming sum- mer, with the company performing in Newport, Swansea, and Brecon. e company, which comprises of 40 members, will perform works by Brahms and Schubert, as well as no- table operatic classics, including ‘ e Witches’ Chorus’ from Verdi’s Mac- beth and ‘Anvil Chorus’ from Verdi’s Il Trovatore. e company will be conducted by Welsh National Opera Chorus Master Alexander Martin. Tickets are available from the Pon- tio website (www.pontio.co.uk) and also from the Box O ce, who can be contacted via phone at 01248 382828. Additionally, they can be purchased directly from Welsh National Opera (www.wno.org.uk). Cost of rent “pushing Bangor grad becomes many into poverty” Opposition shared houses in the county is £368 per ity of the shared accommodation being in due to the increase of purpose built stu- month. According to the research, cur- houses of multiple occupation (HMO’s) dent accommodation across the city, and leader in South rent prices are nearly a third higher than in Bangor. Mr Goodwin said: “Statistics Gwynedd Council’s plans to cap student in 2010, when the average was £280 a can o en create a misleading picture as housing numbers by 10% will not go far Africa month, and 3.3% up on the 2013 average Gwynedd is a large county. enough. price of £357. “ ere is some limited evidence of “ is demonstrates the need for more SOWETO-BORN Bangor Universi- by IDA VÄISÄNEN Across local authorities in North Wales, rentals in shared accommodation in the housebuilding and rent controls in Wales ty graduate Mmusi Maimane, 34, has [email protected] the average room rent was £325 for Flint- larger towns of the county such as Pwll- to ensure that tenants can a ord and gain become the leader of South Africa’s shire, £277.33 for Anglesey and £264 for heli and Porthmadog.” access to quality and a ordable housing.” main opposition party, the Demo- wynedd is the most expensive Denbighshire. ere are no gures for Bangor University Students’ Union Ffrancon Williams, Chief Executive of cratic Alliance Party. part of North Wales to rent a Conwy due to the small sample size. President Rhys Taylor claimed the cost Cartre Cymunedol Gwynedd (CCG) Maimane is the rst black leader of room. Estate agent Tim Goodwin, director of renting in the city was “pushing many housing association said it is accepted that G e statistics for the cost of private rent- the Democratic Alliance (DA), the of Williams and Goodwin e Property students, and others, into poverty.” there is a shortage of a ordable homes main opposition to the African Na- ing, compiled by Rent O cers Wales, People, put the high prices down to a dis- Taylor said: “ ere is currently an across Wales.