Bangor Students’ Union’s English Language Newspaper ISSN 1755-7585 Issue No. 208 October Issue 2009 And the walls came INSIDE: tumbling down... Willow sits on a bench Latest T.V. reviews Arts Centre gets the go ahead but where will our Union go? By Georgia Mannion make a signi cant contribution to the eco- “Although we’re going to work through the the project due for completion in 2012, has nomic regeneration of the area and to our implications, the project will bene t a huge been neatly glossed over. How fair it is to year on from the closure of e- young peoples’ future" number of students”. ough this doesn’t en- move the Union potentially during the aca- atr Gwynedd our Students’ Union When asked what had caused the delay tirely answer our question, at least it shows demic year when students rely so heavily on remains somewhat un-bulldozed. in information, Mike Goodwin, Director of the University is thinking about it. it is another query with no answer. Creative ABecause of complications with nances, the Estates & Facilities said “Funding was the e second issue no one has brought up Although we know more than we did University wouldn’t buy somewhere to relo- main issue but we’re very pleased and ex- is that the Students’ Union currently houses last week the future for us and our Union cate the Union to. Instead, it was suggested cited to have received a vote of con dence Academi and Amser/Time, two of Bangor’s remains cloudy. It’s easy to be swept along Corner it move to Rathbone, which was not meant from the Welsh Assembly so the plans can limited selection of clubs. In any other city with the excitement of the new build but to house students this year. As plans to cap de nitely proceed. We’ve not yet concluded the loss of two bars might not be such a huge even easier to let our needs be lost in what the number of students next year were in the where the Students’ Union will move to; it’s loss but here, they are integral to sustaining Prof. Jones is calling a “tremendously ambi- pipeline, the University allegedly accepted something we’re still working on, however, Bangor’s nightlife. Not all of us have the en- tious project and is one of the most excit- more students than it could cater for, open- we’re not just looking at Rathbone. We’re ergy for Hendre or the stomach for Octagon; ing initiatives of its kind in Europe, if not ing halls which were meant to be closed this taking into account the impact it will have this begs the question, where will we go? For the world.” John Jackson, President of the year (Rathbone and Reichel) and o ered on the students and plan to work through it students arriving from Manchester, Edin- Students’ Union said “ e past 12 months more places in JMJ to students whose rst with the Union.” burgh or Belfast the lack of evening options have been a period of great uncertainty for language is not Welsh. e Arts Centre’s grant is one of a is already quite bemusing and something the Students’ Union, and whilst we don’t yet e facts were woolly and the gures number of grants given by the Welsh As- which can easily put people o when Uni- know the full details surrounding the new sticky and that is not a great combination. sembly this year to fund projects such as versities as close as Liverpool o er a much build, we have been given assurances that we Finally, this week it was unveiled that the a ordable housing, schools and children’s more lively scene. will be involved and consulted throughout University are receiving £15m from the hospitals. No plans have surfaced to replace our the development process and that we will be Welsh Assembly to build the Arts & Innova- Bangor’s future, therefore, is looking clubs, and it seems the issue is being taken given su cient alternative accommodation tion Centre and the fog on the facts seems bright as ever, but one or two things seem to less seriously than other implications of the and facilities in the interim period. Obvi- to have li ed. Professor Mervyn Jones, the have slipped our collective minds. plan and begs the question – is the Univer- ously the interim period is not ideal, but I University’s Vice-Chancellor, said “ is Firstly, the University are spending a total sity really taking our needs into account? am determined to ensure (and will strongly Dear Steph will be a centre where science meets the of £30m on the Arts & Innovation centre at Much as the Centre will bene t students recommend to my successor that s/he en- arts, where students will learn new design the same time as looking to close the Wrex- and the wider community there are still un- sures too) that we can still provide as much and Lucy skills to solve real-world problems, improv- ham campus. When asked how this re ects answered questions. e fact that none of as possible of what we do at the moment - or, ing their job prospects and providing local on the University Mike Goodwin replied the current students will gain anything from who knows, maybe even more!”. businesses with innovative new talent. It will The 2009 Maes Glas Fitness Challenge 16.17 Visualisations FINAL ISSUE Bangor University Arts & Innovation Centre 123 4th Nov - 5th Dec Issue Date: 20th of August / 2008 Are you up for it? www.maesglas.co.uk (01248) 382 157 or call in for details [email protected] 2 October Issue 2009 EDITORIAL www.seren.bangor.ac.uk Freshers’ Issue 2009 Contributors: Jez Harvey Emily Collins Dominic Vince Aimee Robyn Carter Anna Donigan Michael Onyekwere Rachel Davies Paul Dicken Victoria Osten Thom Flint Nick Major James McAllister Spencer George Tom Hecht Stephanie Williams Lucy Orchiston Thomas Owen Gareth Edwards Nik Hughes Joe Beardwood Stephanie Ellis Alex Close Hello again! Elizabeth Bowley Nick Lee This issue we have lots of lovely new sub-editors joining our ranks. Say hello to Louise, Kayley Roberts Martyn, Rachel and Stacey as well as our Social Sec Aimee. This time we’ve had loads of Emma Daniels contributions (as you can see) so thanks to everyone who sent things in. David Horn I reccommend the interesting Comment articles, the Travel section, the Creative Corner Kim Pemberton and (as always) Willow Does. Of course I think the whole paper is amazing (in the way Christiane Zander that pushy parents think their children are amazing at everything) but those are the bits Rebecca Farrell I’ve especially enjoyed this time round. Callum Ryme Last time I told you the music that got us through, this time I’d like you to know that I Katie Dyer never want to hear a Cheryl Cole song again. I may be scarred for life after Aaron’s unre- Emma Dorman lenting barrage of Xfactor music. Esther Milton I feel like I should have an insightful message for you but it’s 7:56am, Bangor is getting Jenny Reed light, cleaners are pushing brooms around the SU Media Room and I have been here for Tom Pike 21 hours now without a whisper of a sleep so please forgive me. Heather Torrance All that’s left for me to say is thank you again to everyone who helped create this issue, Luke Davies I hope you’ll continue to contribute and please get in touch via [email protected]. Leighton Owen ac.uk, poke us on facebook, or tweet us on Twitter (@Serenbangor). Nick Cowan Gemma Ellis Dwight McCarthy Peter Williams If Eisenstein can do it then I’m sure I can do it. Mitchell Bradley-Wil- liams Georgia Xx Joey McNally Nick O’Hara PS. Apologies for another rubbish picture but it’s diffi cult to fi nd a picture of yourself from Rhiannon Thompson facebook when you are on your own and not doing something either incredibly embarassing or damaging to. Photography: Aaron Wiles Special thanks to: Jez Harvey Jess Hughes Emma Louise Wake- THE SEREN TEAM fi led Editor Georgia Mannion RECYCLE Gemma Ellis News Liz Stevens Here at Seren, there’s Proof reading: Features Stacey Gannon nothing we love more The Sabbs Music Aaron Wiles than Mother Nature and Film Louise Cotteril d’you know what she Travel Rachel Stretton loves? Recycling! After you’ve fi nished Sport Martyn Singleton with us, can you put us in your blue Design Team: Dan Turner box and make sure we get made into Jo Caulfi eld something else? Thanks very much. 3 October Issue 2009 www.seren.bangor.ac.uk NEWS It seems Student Loan Chaos students do Love Bangor ere has been a positive response to the recently launched Love Ban- gor scheme; with approximately 1000 cards already sold to stu- dents. Although the cards guaran- tee students discounts on the High Street and beyond, it also involves them in a wider scheme, that of the Bangor Pride initiative, which is looking to improve and regener- ate the city. Speaking to the local media at a Bangor Pride meeting, Gwenan Hine, assistant registrar of the University, reiterated the positive response of the scheme, and the positive impact it hopes to 148,000 students still pennyless after fi nance shambles have on the local community. he start of this academic year was lack of loan made her life di cult, but not much they can do to make it easier pen, but that is not the point.