Bangor Students’ Union’s English Language Newspaper ISSN 1755-7585 Issue No. 214 October Issue 2010 ConDemning Us To A INSIDE: Bleak Future? Find out how you can ght against an increase in fees Snapped with Seren: Photos from your nights out Get the Look with Bangor Students Angry with Cuts to Education Serens’ fabulous and research departments struggling as comed a proposal by ex BP chief-exec- lieves world class universities need the fashion page a consequence. utive Lord Browne, to radically review increase in money to retain their status Andy Trigg To protest the cuts, the National Un- the higher education system. He rec- and that the universities won’t raise fees University life is set to get a lot tough- ion of Students (NUS) and the Universi- ommends li ing the cap on the current by a great deal anyway. er for students studying - or hoping to ty and College Union (UCU) are jointly £3,290 tuition fee, allowing universities Aaron Porter, the President of NUS, study - in Britain’s universities. With organising a national demonstration, to choose what they charge. e con- warns of the dangers that the plans education cuts looming and the pos- ‘Fund Our Future: Stop Education Cuts’ troversial plan means that the higher risk, “If adopted, Lord Browne’s review sibility of the cap on tuition fees being which will take place on Wednesday charging institutions will force students would hand universities a blank cheque abolished, students borrowing money 10 November 2010. ousands of uni- from lower income backgrounds, into a and force the next generation to pick up may soon become unavoidable. e co- versity students are going to take to the limited choice of universities. Accord- the tab for devastating cuts to higher alition government’s plan to slash hun- streets of London in protest to the 25% ing to UCU calculations a three-year education. e only thing students and Brilliant news for dreds of millions of pounds from the cuts in education spending, with Bangor degree with annual tuition fees of £6,000 their families would stand to gain from education budget runs the risk of uni- Students Union among the institutions would cost a total of £38,286, including higher fees would be higher debts.” Bangor’s Rowing versity closures and many job losses. It also supporting the movement. maintenance loans and interest pay- could also mean fewer university places e coalition government has wel- ments. Lord Browne states that he be- Continues on Page 3..... Team Email: [email protected] or call- 01248 371 450 07841 369 249 www.freshstudentliving.co.uk 2 October Issue 2010 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk Editorial Hello hello and welcome to Seren’s snazzy new look! Contributors This month we had loads to tell you, from news Anna Hatfi eld about a possible rise in tuition fees to how to shop Abbi Ryan in Bangor for under £10. We wanted to get you involved so our centre-fold is dedicated to your Polly Daszkiewicz photos in our ‘Snapped with Seren’ feature. Feel Stef Black free to tag Seren in your photos, we want to see Luke Dobson where this paper ends up, the stranger the better! Steven Freeman Louis Waters Make sure to check out our fashion page which Heather Boyles is looking particularly good this month then get Becky Sage an opinion of‘The Social Network’ in the Whats On section. On a serious note I urge you all to read the National Demo article and Emma Gregory join Seren and the Union in London for a big old march! Rosie MacLeod Alyssa Millmore You may have noticed we have a brand new team here at Seren, so you can Stuart Roberts now send your articles and photos to them too, and as always you can get Peter Weale involved by coming along to meetings on Tuesdays 6.15pm in the Students’ Lauren Evans Union. Our next issue will be a chunky 32 pages so get involved there is sure to Matt Cox be room for your articles! Nayab Khan Until next time, enjoy Seren, make sure to protest - ohh and whip your hair back Barnaby Guildford and forth! Pauly Davies Gemma x The Sabbs The Seren Team Editor: Gemma Ellis Whats up: Jennifer Crase News: Andy Trigg Travel: Rowena Nathan Features: Nicole Nally Sport: Martyn Singleton Creative Corner: Nayab Khan Secretary: Aaron Wiles Music: Joe McNally Treasurer: Tom Knott Whats On: LJ Taylor Social Sec: Hayley Neill Whats In: Kaden Wild and Aaron Wiles Design: Dan Turner RECYCLE ME! Hello hello hello! Welcome to Seren which is now made from 100% recycled paper. Get in on the action and recycle me when you are done! 3 October Issue 2010 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk News Continued from page 1..... Vince Cable, Liberal Democrat Nick Clegg signed a pledge during to raise the start date to which years. and the Secretary of State for Busi- the election to vote against raising students pay their loans back to Vince Cable told MPs that ness, Skills and Innovation MP the cap on university fees. Nick £21,000, up £6,000 on the current he is “open to suggestions” Vince secretary, told the House of Clegg once made a personal video gure. An interest charge in which but if the report is passed then Commons that he approves of the aimed at students which delivered the government currently pays to changes to the student fees idea “We are considering a level the message that student fees were lend the money (currently 2.2%) may be implemented as soon of £7,000. Many universities and “wrong,” and that he would op- would be required to be paid back as 2012. With objections from colleges may well decide to charge pose them. as well as the cost of in§ ation. many Lib Dem MPs and stu- less than that, since there is clearly John Leech, the Lib Dem MP Maintenance loans would be set dents’ unions, the outcome scope for greater e¥ ciency and for Manchester Withington, said: at a § at rate of £3,750 rather than of the report still hangs with innovation in the way universi- “I signed the NUS pledge and the current system which is means high speculation. ties operate. Two-year ordinary supported our manifesto, which tested. Maintenance grants would degrees are one approach.” promised to vote against any rise also be increased from £2,906 to Cable is under scrutiny from in tuition fees. I am going to keep £3,250. Lord Browne would like other Lib Dem MPs, accusing him that promise. is is a political red to see loans written o¨ a er thirty Andy Trigg of betraying e Party. Both Vince line for me.” years, instead of the current sys- Cable and Deputy Prime Minister Lord Browne also proposes tem which stands at twenty- ve Red Ed To Take Labour Mission Complete As All irty Into A New Era ree Chilean Miners Are Rescued hey spent over two months un- e second miner to take derground with very little food, the seven-hundred metre drink and light, but all of the journey to the surface was Tthirty-three trapped Chilean miners forty year old Mario Sepulve- emerged from the “Phoenix” capsule da. Living up to his expecta- to cheers of joy and tears of happiness tions, Sepulveda soon had the when rescued last week. e mission, crowds and rescuers singing once deemed impossible, proved other- songs as he handed the Presi- wise in a § awless operation which saw dent a present - a rock from all miners safe and sound in less than the mine where thirty-one of twenty four hours. his colleagues still waited to e world watched in anticipation be rescued. A er embracing as the “Phoenix” capsule rose from his wife, Sepulveda was heard beneath the ground carrying Flor- asking, “How’s the dog?” faith, the compromise, the honesty, the encio Avalos, the rst of the thirty One a er one, miners came up in solidarity of the Chileans in those sixty three trapped miners. Chosen for his the “Phoenix” capsule to join their fam- nine days makes us very proud,” strength and expertise, Avalos – the ily in emotional reunions. e last of All thirty three of the miners were group’s underground cameraman the miners to be rescued was the Fore- taken to the local hospital for medi- t ten past ve on the evening of reputation of Labour as modern party looked composed as he was reunited man of the mine, Luis Urzúa. Smiling cal checks. e health concerns facing the 25th of September, Ed Mili- for the people. with his tearful wife and seven year old and waving to the 2000 strong crowd them are due to the muggy and damp band was announced as the new And modern is what Ed Miliband is. son. Also joining the celebration was he said, conditions which can cause serious A Chilean President Sebastian Pinera - he “We have done what the entire world breathing problems. Doctors are also leader of the Labour Party. With a mar- With a long term partner and a child, gin of 1.3% over his brother David, the Ed Miliband is the rst political lead- also wasted no time in embracing the was waiting for. e seventy days that concerned about the e¨ ects of the lack favourite to win the contest, Ed Mili- er to be living with family out of wed thirty-one year old miner. we fought so hard were not in vain.