Freshers Guide 2013 by Waterfront

Issue 229 20.09.2013

Welcome to Swansea

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20 September 2013 waterfrontonline.co.uk

Surviving your first year contents

freshers’ guide to SURVIVAL

little over three years ago, I made the momentous decision to raid Ikea, stuff my poor Nissan Micra to the extent that negotiating corners was difficult, and take myself off to a grotty house in Brynmill. Rent was cheap, mice were plentiful, and at night I could lie in bed and look for patterns in the ceiling mould. Secretly, I was terrified. I’d already flunked out of uni once before (the less said about that the better – I apparently still owe them £30 for a broken toilet seat) and I didn’t want to risk it again; the flunking, that is, not the toilet seat. Luckily, choosing Swansea was the best decision I’ve ever made. So here I am, sat at my desk at work, reminiscing about the times I had and the hints that I picked up along the way. I do this for you, you freshers with your unused overdrafts and your livers just waiting for a beating from your new friends Jagermeister and Tequila, so that you can concentrate on the interesting stuff that’s yet to occur, not the stuff that you should really learn first hand. irst, let’s talk money. An overdraft is not real money, it is the equivalent of fly paper to banks – once you’re stuck in it, you are doomed to die in a sticky mess. Invest in key items like a pair of decent shoes and a proper coat that will keep you warm and dry. Swansea might look beautiful in the brochures but you will thank me when

By Catrin Lewis it’s pissing down with rain and you’re toasty warm with dry feet. econd: Go to your lectures. I don’t care if they’re at 9am, or if it’s drizzling and you’ve got a hangover that could fell a bear – you are at university for a reason. Sticking to the freshers’ mantra of “fuck it, 40%” is not a good plan. If you want a decent degree, you will start putting in the work now. I managed to drink so much in my second year that I damaged my stomach lining, lost a stone, and seriously worried my mum and housemates. However, because I’d put in a decent amount of work in my first year, I already had a good amount of knowledge I could draw on and passed the year with a 2:1. By the way, if anyone finds my dignity in Sin City, please send it back to me.

hird: University is your time to learn about yourself. My involvement in the Students’ Union, The Waterfront and societies meant that I had a whole world of new experiences I wouldn’t have had otherwise. I met new people with different experiences and backgrounds, I participated in new and exciting things and I made friends for life. Don’t sit in your room every night: get out there and enjoy your freedom. However, don’t sign yourself up for so much that it’s to the detriment of your work and friends. Choose wisely. There is so much more that I could cram into this article – don’t waste all your time on boyfriends and girlfriends; explore the city; do not drink yourself into a stupor every night; get work experience in your chosen field – but I don’t want you to be wasting your time in your new room reading my article. I want you to be outside, meeting people and enjoying yourself, tagged on Facebook in photos you purposely block from your mum. I may have graduated in July, but Swansea will always be close to my heart. Make your time count, freshers, because it’ll be gone before you know it. •Meet your new housemates: Check out www.swansea-union. co.uk for links to the official facebook page of each each hall or block on Singleton Campus, the Student Village and Ty Beck.

5 > What I’ve learned. Second and third year students share their tips. 6 > Campus guide and map 7 > Your guide to Swansea University 8 > What’s On during Freshers’ Fortnight 11 > Join a society and expand your horizons 12 > Map and guide to the Freshers’ Fayre 14 > All about Swansea Students’ Union 15 > Swansea’s nightlife and attractions 17 > Eating out guide 18 > Your guide to the careers fair and careers service 20 > All the help and advice you’ll ever need 21 > Going out - and getting home safely 22 > Charlotte Peters outlines her aims and ambitions for Sport Swansea 23 > Looking back: 2012-13 24 > Freshers’ guide to sport at Swansea University

Write for Waterfront Would you like to learn journalistic skills like writing, interviewing, editing and designing? Waterfront always welcomes new volunteers. Get in touch and find out what you can contribute. Email editor Kay Byrne at: editor@swansea-union.co.uk+ Top, Fresh ‘n’ Free 2012, above, Aniball 2012. Have fun but remember to study as well!

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What I’ve learned : students’ top tips

freshers’ guide to SURVIVAL

Emily Jones 2nd Year International Relations “Freeze bread. It lasts much, much longer!”

Laura Mullins 2nd Year Ancient & Mediaeval History “Don’t bother wearing fancy clothes and shoes to Sin City. “And maybe consider bringing an umbrella.”

20 September 2013 waterfrontonline.co.uk

Swansea University Bucket List Samantha Booth asked around the university to find out what things people recommend you do before leaving Swansea. Here is a handful of them: Visit at least three of the main bays on Gower. Visit both of the Joe’s Ice Cream parlours. Walk up Kilvey Hill and take a photo from the top. Take a surfing lesson at Caswell Bay. Go for a picnic on Singleton Park. Cycle to Mumbles, rain or shine! An afternoon of drinking and chatting on Fulton House lawn. Go to the Grape and Olive for a pint whilst looking at the view. Attempt the Beast at Uplands Diner. Conquer the Sin City stairs. Join a society and attend the socials. Go to the Cardiff v Swansea Varsity. Vote in the students’ union elections. Watch the Swansea Airshow Bonfire night on the beach watching the fireworks at St Helens Rugby Ground. Join a student media outlet: The Waterfront, Xtreme Radio or SU-TV Chris Melvin, Material Engineering Doctorate student: Watch the sun sink into the ocean and then go for a midnight swim at Llangennith. Josh Hale, Research Methods in Physcology student: Volunteer with Discovery as it’s awesome! Natasha Marsh, second year Media Studies student: Kilvey Hill is a must, it’s sooo beautiful at the top

Laura Sanderson 3rd Year Geography “1) Calculate your weekly budget and try to stick to it. It makes life so much easier. 2) Buy second hand books, use the library or share with friends rather than spending money on new ones. 3) Buy a door stop. Prop your door open and introduce yourself to your housemates.” William Murphy 3rd Year Ancient History “Don’t be nervous. You are all starting this together.”

Zahid Raja Swansea University Students’ Union President “1) If you’re finding it difficult, university and union staff are there to help you to take care of yourself. 2) Bills first, beer later. 3) Noodles are tasty no matter what anyone says. 4) Don’t worry about feeling homesick - chances are the person next door is feeling exactly the same!” Glenn Sullivan 3rd Year Physics “You’re never going to be a fresher again, so make your year count!” Compiled by Gemma Parry

Rosie Hunnam, graduate and previous Students’ Union staff: Find the secret café in ILS2

T an o S d po M rt um s bl Villa es g /G e ow

9.4

To Sports Village (pedestrian access)

Singleton Hospital

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Bus, Cycle & Pedestrian Access

M En ain t ra nc e

MAP 4

T Ce o C nt ity re

Porters’ Traffic Control Lodge

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Traffic Control Barriers

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Abbey Meadow

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Singleton Park

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Finance Building Singleton Abbey Singleton Abbey, Stable Block Keir Hardie Building James Callaghan Building Law Library Mosque Library and Information Centre Faraday Building Faraday Tower Talbot Building Wallace Building Margam Building Glyndw ˆ r Building Vivian Tower Sports Science Motion Laboratory Grove Building Grove Building Extension Richard Price Building Amy Dillwyn Building Haldane Building Fulton House Union House Energy Centre Digital Technium Taliesin Annexe Taliesin Arts Centre Egypt Centre Institute of Life Science 1 Llyˆr Building Institute of Life Science 2 / Centre for NanoHealth Porters’ Traffic Control Lodge

Kilvey Preseli Cefn Bryn Rhossili Penmaen Horton Oxwich Langland Caswell

Adult Continuing Education American Studies AquaCulture Biological Sciences Business Childhood Studies Classics, Ancient History & Egyptology Computer Science Criminology Cymraeg/Welsh Economics Engineering English French Geography German Health Science

Hispanic Studies History Italian Law Mathematics Media and Communication Studies Medicine Physics Politics and International Relations Psychology Social Policy / Work Sports Science War and Society

17 2.1 17 8.2 22 17, 18 13 23 3.1 18 32 15 17 23

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2.1 2 2 32 32 17, 18, 32 32 17, 18, 32 17 7 2 17 17 30 23 3.1

Academic Registry Admissions Office Alumni Office Art Gallery Bank Bars Bookshop Cash Points Catering Office Careers and Employability Central Administration Chaplaincy Centre Conference Office Crèche / Nursery Dental Surgery Disability/Special Requirements Office Disability Office - Assessment and Training Centre Discovery - Student Volunteering Egypt Centre Estates Department Finance Department Human Resources International Development Office International Student Advisory Service Law Library Library and Information Centre Marketing Media Resources Health Centre Money Advice & Support Office Mosque Occupational Health & Emergency Centre Post Office Postgraduate Office Refectory Department of Research and Innovation ResidentialServices Shops Staff Development Unit Student Counselling Service Student Support Services Students’ Union Theatre (Taliesin) Transcription Centre Travel Shop Wellbeing Services

Services / Facilities

3 4 3 14 8.3 3 12, 33 11.2 4 11.2 11.2 11.2, 11.3 4

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication. However, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions, or for any matter in any way connected with, or arising out of the publication of this information. Published by the Marketing Department, Swansea University. Copyright February 2012.

Swansea University Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP +44 (0)1792 205678 info@swansea.ac.uk www.swansea.ac.uk

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Academic Areas

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Student Residences

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Buildings

Key

Credit: OpenStreetMap

Singleton Park

Baby Changing Facilities

Catering Facilities

Public Telephones

Taxis

Bus Stops

Staff Car Parks

Visitors Car Park (Pay and Display)

Swansea University Campus

freshers’ guide to SWANSEA UNI

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20 September 2013 waterfrontonline.co.uk

A centre of excellence for almost 100 years

FTER you have got over your bout of freshers flu and settled into your accommodation, you will want to start exploring what your new university has to offer. Swansea University has been around since 1920 as a research-led institution, and currently has around 15,000 undergraduate and post graduate students. The university community offers a great balance between teaching and research, and a quality of life that you will be hard pushed to find elsewhere. After all, where else are you going to find a university so close to the beach, and where Bonnie Tyler lives right around the corner? The university is built on the edge of Singleton Park, overlooking Swansea Bay and is located on the edge of the Gower Peninsula. The campus is a ten minute bus ride away from Swansea city and, of course, every student’s favourite street in Swansea, Wind Street, the nightlife capital with dozens of bars. The university has seven separate colleges; the College of Arts and Humanities, the College of Engineering, the College of Human

By Gemma Parry and Health Sciences, the College of Law, the School of Management, the College of Medicine and the College of Science. Each college has a home building on campus, where you’ll be able to find your lecturers, personal tutors and general information about your course. There are also loads of services and facilities to keep you occupied when you aren’t learning or drinking, including a library, cafes, the Taliesen Arts Centre, (including a cinema) and the Egypt Centre, where students can volunteer to add a little extra

experience to their CVs. There is also a doctor’s office at the bottom of Penmaen accommodation flats and a dentist’s at the bottom of Horton accommodation flats, so you can keep your health and teeth in good check while you’re away from your parents. The university is currently building a second campus on the eastern outskirts of the city, set to be completed in September 2015. The new Science and Innovation campus will be built right on the beach and will include purpose-built facilities for students, university staff and businesses. As a third year student, I can tell you that Swansea University is a wonderful place to learn, live in and pretty much enjoy. At least it has been for me. I’m sure that all of your lecturers and individual colleges are anticipating your arrival, even if you turn up to your 9am lectures hung-over. Which, in your first year, is pretty much guaranteed. Make yourself at home and enjoy your time here at Swansea. •For more info about the university, go to www.swansea.ac.uk

Singleton Abbey, where Swansea Univesity was first established.

You’ll find a warm welcome at Swansea University. Use our campus guide to help find your way around and if it all gets a bit too much, rest a while on the balcony of Fulton House (weather permitting!)

Finding your way around campus

AMPUS is where you’ll spend most of your academic time and, if you’re living in halls, where you’ll be for most of your first year. Fulton House is a hub for a lot of activity and here you will find a Costcutter supermarket, Cafe Blas, the Post Office and Fulton Outfitters. On the second floor of Fulton House is the university refectory and the Fusion cafe where you’’ll find good value lunchtime meals. Behind Fulton House, over the enclosed footbridge, is Union House where you will find the Swansea University Students’ Union offices. Diva’s nightclub sits on the first floor of Union House and is home to the Tooters and OMG nights on Friday and Saturday nights respectively. JC’s Bar, the place where everyone knows your name, is on the second floor of Fulton House. The library is an important campus destination. As assignment dates loom and essays need writing, you’ll find this becomes your new home. All the halls of residences for oncampus accommodation are located at the back of campus, with Penmaen and Horton being the newer blocks and Cefn Bryn and Rhossili at the back. The halls are often named after places in the Gower region. There is also a Minor Injuries Unit at Singleton Hospital, located on campus. Unfortunately this is only for small

By Jon May treatments and there isn’t an X-Ray facility. The nearest A&E department is at Morriston Hospital. There are nine coffee shops in total on campus. The university-owned caffeine outlets serve Starbucks. The Taliesin Arts Centre on campus shows performances and a selection of world cinema films. The beach is literally a stone’s throw away and many societies will organise beach barbecues during good weather. The boating lake offers crazy golf and swan pedalos during the summer and the Pub on the Pond next door offers some great lunchtime offers. A relaxing way to spend a summer’s afternoon is spent sitting on the balcony on Fulton House just watching the world go by.

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20 September 2013waterfrontonline.co.uk

The ultimate guide to Freshers’ Fortnight

freshers’ guide to WHAT’S ON

HIS year, Swansea University Students’ Union and Student Swansea Events have possibly made the best Freshers’ Fortnight in history. With nine exclusive venues to choose from and a whole two weeks of both day and night time events, the beginning of your university life will be your most memorable By Olivia experience yet. Rosenthal Kicking off on arrivals weekend (20th September) with Swansea’s most infamous cheap night out, Tooters, and finishing two weeks later with The Freshers’ Finale, you won’t have a moment to sleep, let alone think of lectures. The Freshers’ Ball on Sunday, 29th Sept has a great line-up of John Newman, Ella Eyre and Swiss Lips. If you haven’t already, make sure you head to www.swanseaunion.co.uk to purchase your Freshers’ wristband, as this will be your ticket to every event in these two weeks. Remember, there are three different packages to choose from, the best and most exclusive being the Platinum Package. For £199 you get entry to over 300 events across the coming year, which means you are technically paying only 70p per event. These include not just the “Freshers Wristbands” but also “Halloween 2013”, the “Snow Ball”, the “Summer Ball” and Swansea Students’ favourite, “The Welsh Varsity”. You’ll also get to queue jump for every weekly event at Swansea all year. There are only 500 of these available though, so get them quickly or you’ll be saving your pennies for tickets to the Summer Ball in 2014! The Gold Package is a new addition to Swansea University’s Freshers’ bundle. This secures you tickets for all the BIG events at the university for 2013/2014, as well as being your “Freshers’ Wristband” for the two weeks of carnage to come. At a discounted price you’ll get into everything from The Freshers’ Finale to Varsity next year for only £115 – a saving of 50%. Again, there are only 500 packages available so get them quick! And not to forget, our most humble bundle – “The Freshers’ Wristband”, the one ticket you actually DO need in order to get into anything at Freshers’ Fortnight for free! This year, you can save 60% and get your key to every event for just £49. So if you really can’t use your bus pass money for a Platinum Package wristband, you can still enjoy your Freshers’ Fortnight for an incredible price. Just so you know, all profit made from these events goes straight back into your students’ union to make your university experience the best ever. Don’t forget to head to the website for any more information (www.swansea-union.co.uk) or for any issues with the website or your online account please email web@ swansea-union.co.uk

Freshers’ Fortnight acts: clockwise from top left, John Newman, Ella Eyre, hypnotist Tony Lee, MC DRS, Hot Dub Time machine, Toddla T, Swiss Lips, Ebony Day.

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20 September 2013 waterfrontonline.co.uk

Diary of events <> FRI 20 SEPT: Tooters Diva’s. Two rooms, two DJs, two pounds for two drinks! Tooters is the cream of student nights. Our beloved union’s flagship night provides you with a mix of student anthems and commercial chart all the way to dubstep and r’n’b. <> FRI 20: 131 Sin City. Friday Nights Just Got Bigger! Ready yourself for a brand new Friday night session! 131 combines the biggest and best of new indie tracks around and an atmosphere like no other. <> FRI 20: Monsters Of Rock Wales’ newest rock night Every Friday night for the last 11 years, the top floor of Sin City has played host to a weekly Rock Show. This year, we introduce the new kid on the block; Monsters Of Rock! Expect Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Iron Maiden, Pearl Jam, Steel Panther and of course Metallica. <> SAT 21: The Social Club Diva’s. Freshers only. The Social Club does exactly what it says on the tin. From sports teams to societies, The Social Club is hosted by a different group each week with their own spin on it. This week, it’s Freshers only and we’ve got the best drinks prices in Swansea and two DJs blasting out the party tunes. <> SAT 21: Sink’s Welcome Back Party Sin City. After a hot summer, we’d like to welcome you all back to Swansea in style. Sink Swansea is a night that fuses together art and music and isn’t pigeonholed with a genre of music. Expect to hear party vibes from across the musical spectrum all night long. We love live shows and have played host to some of the finest Hip-hop acts from across the UK and as far as America. Names such as Mikill Payne, London Zoo, Stig of the Dump, Lazy Habits, Ms Dynamite, Jurassic 5 Legend; Akil the MC. From that to the likes of Benga, Rusko, Nextmen, Marco Del horno B2B Last Japan but to name a few. We also have a team of local artists that lay down some of the freshest visuals in the form of live art, week in week out. <> SUN 22: Fresh&Free (Freshers Only) Voted Freshers 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 Best Event! At Fresh & Free, we get all you freshers into our Fulton Lawn Marquee as you compete against rival halls. With your free freshers’ t-shirts as your ticket, join up with your fellow residents whilst partying in the largest capacity venue in Swansea. Our resident DJs from all our venues will provide the music, whilst the infamous Summer Ball Bomb Bar returns to wreak havoc on you Freshers. This is the immensely

insane Freshers’ Fortnight kick-off. <> MON 23: Swansea Skool Disco Oceana. Skool Rivalry Has Never Been Bigger. Join in with the biggest Playground fight in town as our annual Skool Disco returns. We bring the biggest and best schoolday anthems and naughtiest classroom behaviour! <> TUE 24: Flux: Welcome Festival Diva’s. THE Indie night at Swansea. With new resident DJs playing an incredible back catalogue of artists ranging from Foals to Simian Mobile Disco, exclusive bootlegs and white labels, finally an answer to your Indie fix. We are your night, we play what you listen to in your room, on your iPod or the radio, mixing it with a fantastic venue and atmosphere every Tuesday. <> TUE 24: Open Mic Night SPECIAL GUEST: EBONY DAY JC’s Coffee Side. Your opportunity to take to the stage and perform for the music-loving bar crowd. Open Mic has been a huge success over the past two years, so much so that a number of regulars went on to perform at the sell-out Summer Ball, alongside names such as SubFocus, Wretch 32 & Nina Nesbitt. Whether you’re a crooner, a beatboxer or just sh*t hot on the Boron, there’s always a crowd waiting for you to perform. <> WED 25: Comedy Night Diva’s. Just don’t sit at the front!! We invite some of the UK’s biggest and best upcoming comedy performers to bring you a night of laughter and awkward ‘too soon?’ comedy stylings. <> WED 25: Welcome To Wind Street Every Wednesday, Wind Street becomes a hive of energy with students taking over each and every bar as they head towards the university’s sporting home. To introduce you to the strip, we’ve teamed up with our official PlayOn Wednesday partners to bring you a night packed with incredible drinks offers, entertainment and a guaranteed wild Wednesday! <> THUR 26: Sports Day A day full of activities both on and off the beach. Whether you’re experienced in the range of sports we’re showcasing, or an amateur in everything; this is an opportunity to spend your day enjoying all the sport that Swansea Bay has to offer. <> THUR 26: Rock & Roll Bingo Diva’s. Bingo - But not as you know it. Rock & Roll Bingo makes its way to Swansea every Thursday at 8pm. Grab yourself a bingo card and listen in as rather than call out numbers, we play clips of music. Play for a line or Full House and if you think you’ve won,

just shout ‘ROCK & ROLL BINGO!’ to win a plethora of prizes. <> THUR 26: Sin Savers Sin City. If Harry Potter knew about Sin Savers - he’d never have gone to Hogwarts. Swansea students’ most favoured and cheapest night of the week; Sin Savers. With £1.80 double & mixers & £1.60 pints, Sin Savers provides the perfect night out on a budget. Resident DJ Daz hosts with his unique set of ‘Anything & Everything goes’, so whether you’re a bass addict, chart lover or 80’s cheese fiend, there is always something for you at Sin Savers. <> FRI 27: MTV Blackout Marquee. As Featured On MTV We’ve teamed up with entertainers MTV to bring you a once in a lifetime night; Blackout. Advertised nationwide via the music television channel, prepare yourself to be dazzled with entertainment, light shows, lasers, visuals, interactive performances and a few surprise guests on stage brought to us by MTV! We won’t reveal too much on this one, as we want you to experience the thrills first hand, but we’ll just instruct you to wear all black clothing. <> FRI 27: Tooters Diva’s. Don’t let the party stop, head to Tooters once Blackout has blacked out to take on the two drinks for two pounds! <> FRI 27: 131 Sin City. With the biggest and best Indie tracks of our generation, we kick off the party with unbeatable drinks offers on all night. <> FRI 27: Monsters Of Rock Sin City. Head to Monsters Of Rock and roar to all your favourite rock anthems! <>SAT 28: The Social Club SPECIAL GUEST: HOT DUB TIME MACHINE Diva’s. This week the sports teams host! So as well as the cheapest drinks in Swansea, you can look forward to a competitive evening. From Beer Pong to Ring Of Fire, the sports teams know how to party and will show you freshers exactly how. Collect your queue jump tickets off your Captains.

guests! SPECIAL GUESTS: JOHN NEWMAN ELLA EYRE SWISS LIPS Marquee. THE event of Freshers 2013 – The Freshers’ Ball is the perfect opportunity to wear ‘That Dress’ or ‘Suit Up’ as we entertain you with an evening you’ll never forget. We’ve got a host of musical acts to set the playlist for you, a casino to get all James Bond at and try your luck in, two huge bars, the infamous bomb bar, free photo-booths for you and your friends to document the occasion in. and much much more. There is no better way to celebrate your start at university and the memories and friends you are about to create and engage with. The Freshers Ball is a true celebration and welcome to Swansea University! <> MON 30: #Freshbook Oceana. The Greatest Social Network Night In The Universe; Welcome to #Freshbook! A Swansea University original, we present to you the most innovative t-shirt night out in years! With a free Follow Me t-shirt, you’ve got your blank ‘profile’ ready to head out with fellow networkers. Write on eachother’s ‘walls’, give someone a mention, see who follows you! <> TUE 1 OCT: Flux Diva’s. At Flux we want to give you the very best live music too. If you love Jake Bugg, Bloc Party, the Maccabees or Battles, we’re on the lookout and will be bringing you bands that you can say, “I saw them when they were small. <> TUE 1: Open Mic Night JC’s Coffee Side. The stage is set for another night where YOU are the lineup! <> WED 2: Coffee House Sessions JC’s. A brand new exciting live music session. The creation of Radio 1’s Huw Stephens, The Coffee House Sessions see the most exciting up and coming artists performing live on campus during the day. Hand picked by the Huw himself, you can sit back, enjoy a coffee and listen to a guaranteed future star.

<> SAT 28: Sink Birthday Special SPECIAL GUESTS: TODDLA T DRS Sin City. Expect to hear party vibes from across the music spectrum all night long as we kick off our 2 year celebrations! Along with our special guest performance, we’ll be dishing out the cake and sweets all night long!

<> WED 2: The Take Over The Take-Over is the first interuniversity battle to take place on Wind Street. The challenge? Get together the biggest group of people you can, all in the same fancy dress. How to win? Get yourself into our official venues with your crew and take over! Whether it’s Gladiator Jousting, Impossible Wall Climbs or the Bucking Bronco, the strongest, biggest and loudest teams will win the prize of the year!

<> SUN 29: Freshers Ball Featuring a host of very special

<> WED 2: Tony Lee X-X-X Hypnotist Diva’s. TONY LEE returns to Swansea

with his hilarious and close to the bone hypnosis stage show. This is seriously not one to miss as you watch your new found friends mysteriously opt to get on stage and take part in some outrageous stage games with no recollection! Not for the faint hearted, this event will have you in stitches as Tony dishes out his bananas, squirty cream and of course, Tequila! <> THUR 3: Sin Savers Sin City. Did We Mention: There’s Free Toast! Swansea students most favoured and cheapest night of the week Sin Savers. <> THUR 3: Rock & Roll Bingo Diva’s. Rock & Roll Bingo returns to its weekly slot from 8pm. Grab your bingo card and wait for the music to run. Get a line or a full house and shout; ‘Rock & Roll Bingo!’ <> FRI 4: Tooters Diva’s. The big finale of Tooters Freshers Editions is a busy one. Our 2 DJs will be making sure you get ready to finish Freshers properly. Remember, just 2 quid for 2 drinks. <> FRI 4: 131 Sin City. The best Indie tracks on the scene at the moment! 131 is all about the good times and the cheap drinks!! <> FRI 4: Monsters Of Rock Sin City. The new face of Friday night rock returns. If you love your music tough, rough and loud, be sure to join the dynasty that is Monster Of Rock. <> SAT 5: The Social Club Diva’s. Societies take the club over! Your local student watering hole event of the week returns. This week we give societies the keys! So, on offer could be anything from quidditch with the Hogwarts Society to salsa and rhumba dancing with Dance. <> SAT 5: Sink Sin City. Sink is different to your average student night. Not only do we have absolute bangers brought to you by our residents specialised in HipHop, DnB, Breaks, Dubstep and everything else, we also have kick-ass artists producing simply stunning pieces of work via graffiti, magic markers, paint and photography. The Art Showcase is a real focus on our artists and we’ll be showing off some incredible skills all night, teamed up with the naughtiest music policy in town! <> TBC: Freshers Finalé We like to finish off Freshers’ in style - and this year, we’re doing it BIG! At a secret location on campus, we’ll be holding a brand new sign off to Freshers’. An event like no other seen at Swansea University, we’ll reveal locations and further details throughout Freshers’ Fortnight.

thewaterfront

20 September 2013 waterfrontonline.co.uk

Join a society and expand your horizons

freshers’ guide to SOCIETIES

HE time has finally come. You’ve arrived, your bags are (mostly) unpacked and hopefully you’re settling in nicely, writes Jon May. Your Freshers’ year is an amazing experience and although you will have a bit of work to do when you’re not partying all night, you’ll still have some down time to try and fill. Joining a society or a sports club is a great way to meet people who are like-minded. You’ll find friends, relationships and a whole new group of people you can go out (or stay in!) with and it’ll be a great way to spend any free time you have left. While a lot of it can be about going out and partying, it’s also a support network and a place where you can turn to for help and advice from people who are passionate about the same things you. It’s also a place you can gain employability and skills. Being on a society’s management commitee looks great on your CV and will enhance your employment prospects.. There are more than 80 societies and there will definitely be one for you. From religious groups to subject-based clubs, the choice is vast, but if there’s a burning passion you have and there’s not a society for it, start one yourself! The Students’ Union Awards

ceremony is a time when hard working societies and individuals are rewarded for their efforts. The winners are nominated by students and a shortlist is whittled down and the winners chosen by the Trustees of the Union. The Choral Society was voted winner of Swansea University Students’ Union Best Society Award 2013, having also won in 2012. The Choral Society was also winner of NUS Wales Best Society 2013, so had a really successful year. In 2013, volunteers on your student newspaper, The Waterfront

picked up several awards for their contribution to student media and coverage of the Students’ Union Full Time Officer elections. Try something new. Try something you’ve never done before. You only live once and getting stuck into societies will mean you meet new people, you’ll get more confident if you’re a bit shy and you’ll have a great time whilst doing it.

•Turn to page 12 to see the societies and sports clubs you can join at Freshers’ Fayre in the marquee outside Fulton House on 24th & 25th September.

Chris Flynn, Jon May and Samantha Booth, just three of the Waterfront volunteers who were rewarded at last year’s students’ union awards.

List of societies ACS Amnesty American Studies Ancient Studies Anime & Manga Baking Bar Beer Pong Biochemistry Bioscience Bright Future BSL Brony Business Catholic Chess Chinese Choral Christian Union CLASH Conservation Conservative Future Coppa Feel Criminology Dance Debating Drama Disney

Economics Enactus Engineering EWB English Fashion Film Swansea Gaming Geography Geology German Glee Gospel History Hitch Human Rights Hong Kong Hogwarts Indian Iranian Investment Islamic Students Jewish Konetics Kuwait Labour Law LGBT + Live Music

Marvel Mech + PD Mental Wealth Malaysian Maths Musicians OTC Pagan Pakistani People & Planet Photography Physics Poetry Pole Fitness Political IR Roleplay Scandinavian SciFi Socialist Students Spanish SU CS Scouts St Johns LINKS SU-TV Unicef Wargaming Xtreme Radio Y Gym Gym Yoga

For more information, see the societies page on www.swansea-union.co.uk

A non-drinkers’ guide to Freshers’ Fortnight F

RESHERS’ fortnight is renowned for being two weeks of drinking madness. Clubs open up their doors to students and entice them with 2-4-1 offers on shots. Sounds like heaven? Not for me. In my first year, I hated Freshers’. Whilst all my flatmates were going out drinking, I stayed in the flat and played Minecraft. Not the most exciting time, eh? Well, thankfully, I found some friends who were like me, and we ended up having a fantastic time in my second year. Not every student enjoys clubbing. If you’re one of them, then this is the guide for you. There are so many other things to be doing during Freshers’. Bonfires on the beach are one of my favourite evening activities. Grab some mates, go down to Swansea bay, gather some driftwood and there you have it! A magical evening for you and your mates. Or what about a trip to the Mumbles? It takes a good hour to walk there and back, so plan to spend a day there, looking around the shops, grabbing

By Charlotte West some food… Dick Barton’s fish and chip shop is on the way back to the uni – stop off there and eat dinner watching the tide come in! And of course there’s town. Who says Wind Street is only for clubbers? Peachy Keens is just opposite Odyssey and offers great value for money all-youcan-eat food from around the world. Or, for something a little closer to campus, there is the legendary Pub on the Pond. Their choc-omonster sundae was definitely a huge temptation in my first year for my friends and me! If you’re lucky enough to go there in season, you can even grab a ride on the swan boats before lunch. The most amazing part of the

Freshers’ experience for me, though, had to be Freshers’ Fayre. It gives you an opportunity to go and take a look at the hundreds of societies this uni has to offer. I find it utterly amazing that we have such a huge range of great societies here. They are the best way to meet new people. Join as many as you can afford. Don’t just go for your course or your religion or your hobby… Try something new. Who knows who you could meet or what you could end up doing? This is my main point – going clubbing is not the be-all and end-all of university. You don’t have to go clubbing to meet new people and make friends. If that’s what your flat enjoys doing, but you don’t, don’t feel you have to go to fit in. That’s not what I did. I found friends in other places – who turned out to be the best friends a girl could ask for – and I couldn’t be more grateful. I joined the newly-formed Hogwarts Society for example – now one of the biggest on campus – and met some really fantastic people there. If I hadn’t joined that, I wouldn’t have met

Enjoy a bonfire on the beach. Mo, the new President of the Baking Appreciation Society. I love baking! I may never even had known about it if I hadn’t joined that society in the first place. Then there’s the Geology Society, which allowed me to meet people in the years above me – something which turns out can be extremely useful. They even influenced the choices I made for my third year modules. So, there you have it folks. Freshers’ isn’t all about getting pissed. It’s about meeting new people, gaining new

experiences and getting involved with the university as a whole. I’ve had an absolutely fantastic time at university, and now going into my third year, I can say that I have never set foot in a club in my life. Yet I still have a set of the most amazing friends and have had some of the greatest experiences of my life. (Not to mention, I have saved a bundle of money by not drinking much!). Don’t be afraid to stand out and be different. I did, and I couldn’t be happier.

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20 September 2013 waterfrontonline.co.uk

Find your way around The Freshers’ Fayre

freshers’ guide to FRESHERS’ FAYRE

stands 1. Karate + Boxing 2. Aikido + Tae Kwon Do 3. Kick Boxing + Jiu Jitsu 4. Karting + Equestrian 5. Archery + Rifle 6. Fencing + Triathlon 7. Running + Cycling 8. Mountaineering + Hiking 9. Life Saving + Rowing 10. Swimming Social + Swimming Performance 11. Canoe + Surf 12. Sub Aqua + Wind Surfing 13. Sailing + Kite Surfing 14. Welsh National Pool + Snow Riders 15. Men’s Hockey 16. Lacross + Volleyball 17. Badminton + Tennis 18. Squash + Intramural Football 19. Men’s Football 20. Cricket + Women’s Rugby 21. Ultimate Frisbee + Golf 22. Men’s Rugby Union 23. Medics’ Rugby + Basketball 24. Women’s Hockey 25. Women’s Football + Rugby Leage 26. Netball 27. American Football + Cheerleading 28. Kukri

28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56.

Gospel + Choral Anime + Baking Appreciation Beer Pong + Guides & Scouts Hogwarts + Disney Broney + Marvel CLASH + SUCS Film + Sci-Fi Live Music + Musicians Glee + Fashion Gaming + Role Play Pole Fitness + Yoga Chess + URNU OTC + Pagan CathSoc + ISOC Jewish + Christian Union Shoreline + Dance UNICEF + Amnesty International St. Johns Links + Hitch Engineering Without Borders + Afro-Caribbean Kuwait + Malaysian German + Spanish Chinese + Indian Scandinavian + Y Gym Gym British Sign Langauge + American Studies History + Ancient Studies Geology + Egyptology Bioscience + Geography Physics + BigSoc Economics + Business

57. Coppafeel + SUCES 58. SumSoc + Investment & Finance 59. Engineering 60. Chemical Engineering 61. Mechanics & PD + Criminology 62. Law + Bar 63. English + Dead Poets 64. Photography + Xtreme Radio 65. TV Station + Waterfront Newspaper 66. MedSoc + Wilderness Medicince 67. LGBT+ People & Planet 68. Mental Wealth + Human Rights 69. Socialist + Labour 70. Politics + IR & Conservative Future

71.

Bright Futures + Debating

If you miss the two days, you can still join societies at any time of the year, by logging onto swansea-union.co.uk and browsing through the list of societies and buying membership. If you have any questions about sports, please conact Charlotte Peters on sportsofficer@swansea-union.co.uk and for societies, contact Ceinwen Cloney on societiesandservices@swansea-union.co.uk

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20 September 2012 waterfrontonline.co.uk

@The Marquee, outside Fulton House, Sept 24 & 25 (10.30am - 4pm)

The Freshers’ Fayre is your chance to find out all about the societies and sports clubs on offer before signing up for membership.

exhibitors’ stands Endsleigh Play Football O2 Swansea Market Subway Ten Pin Bowling The Gym Group Santander Uplands Diner First Cymru

Dr Who Chiquitos Milkround Swim Wales Spice 2 Go Traveline Cymru Wilkinsons The LC Virgin Media Domino’s

key Sport stands Society stands Exhibitors’ stands

freshers’ guide to the STUDENTS’ UNION

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20 September 2013 waterfrontonline.co.uk

Students’ Union adds so much to your university experience T

HE day I arrived at Swansea University two years ago, I remember doing several things. I cried. A lot. I ate burnt toast and cold beans. And I went out and got very drunk with my new flatmates. The first nightclub we went to was just opposite my new hall of residence. It was called Diva’s nightclub and you will still find it there in the students’ union today. At that time, I knew nothing about the students’ union and I did not know how involved in it I would soon become. The very first thing most students would want to know about their union is how they become members. It’s really quite simple. When you enrol on a course at Swansea University, you automatically become a member of your students’ union. Swansea University Students’ Union is quite special. We hold two Guinness World Records for having the most Smurfs in a room at the same time and having the most skeletons in a room at the same time. The union is also the NUS Wales Higher Education Students’ Union of year for 2013, has the NUS Wales Society of the year for 2013, (which is the Choral Society) and was awarded the NUS Wales community relations award for 2013. Our previous International Officer, VRSA Mahaboob Basha, won the Higher Education Students’ Officer of the year for 2013, and one of our own Waterfront journalists, Chris Flynn, won Student Journalist of the Year for 2013.

time officers and a team of staff and volunteers. Your full time and part time officers are voted into office by students during yearly elections, and they work to voice your concerns to the university and the union. Your full time officers are as follows: President - Zahid Raja Societies & Services -Ceinwen Cloney International - Eva Donoghue Women’s - Rosie Inman Sport - Charlotte Peters Welfare - Becky Grimes This year, the union will be reformed by president Zahid Raja, who said: “I want to leave having placed the organisation in an ideal condition ahead of students beginning to occupy the bay campus. “I will be launching a new three-year strategic plan for the organisation, with a view to putting students’ voices at the heart of everything we do. I will be developing the union’s capacity to lobby the university to make the changes that students want. “Your union is there to support you and to make sure your university experience is the best it can be. Welcome to Swansea and your Students’ Union.” You’ll find the students’ union offices in Union House, which is behind Fulton House. •www.swansea-union.co.uk

Long story short, we’ve won a lot of awards. The union works to provide students with services that they would not be able to find elsewhere and to make your university experience even better. Societies from Hogwarts appreciation to the Law Society, sports clubs, places to get advice, places to drink, places to eat, you name it, the union has it. The beauty of the union is that it allows students to have their own say in the way things are run. There are currently six full-time officers, 12 part-

By Gemma Parry

Pictured above, Swansea University Students’ Union full-time officers: From left: Women’s - Rosie Inman, President - Zahid Raja, Sport - Charlotte Peters, Welfare - Becky Grimes, Societies & Services - Ceinwen Cloney, International - Eva Donoghue.

STUDENT FORUMS

Student Forums are monthly meetings held to decide union policy. Anyone can attend and any Swansea University student can submit a motion to be voted upon. The forums are also a chance to find out what your full-time and part-time officers have been getting up to. You can submit a motion or a question online at www.swansea-union.co.uk/union/forums

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20 September 2013 waterfrontonline.co.uk

Pic by Alex Livet

Clockwise from top left, Mumbles Pier, Meridian Tower, Rhossili Bay, statue of Dylan Thomas, Swansea train station.

Pic by Alex Livet

freshers’ guide to SWANSEA

Swansea – inside out

WANSEA’S famous poet, Dylan Thomas, called it a ‘lovely, ugly town’. It is also often described as ‘the graveyard of ambition’. (That’s because apparently once you come to live here, you can’t bear to leave. And that’s in spite of the rain! ) Whatever your opinion of Swansea, it’s easy to have a great time here with excellent nightlife, great scenery and more than 50 beaches to choose from. Let Samantha Booth guide you around town ... Nightlife Write this in your diary, every week: Monday at Oceana, Tuesday at Divas, Wednesday at Odyssey on Wind Street, Thursday at Sin City, Friday at Divas or Sin City, Saturday Sin City. Wind Street Wednesday nights on Wind Street (pronounced to rhyme with wine) are ones never to be remembered! Located in the city centre, this street offer dozens of bars and waiting for you at the end of the night is the students’ union’s Wednesday student night at Odyssey nightclub. Wind Street also has several restaurants such as Nando’s, Chiquito and Wetherspoons. Oceana Swansea’s biggest nightclub on Kingsway has five themed bars, two clubrooms and VIP facilities. Each room is styled to reflect an iconic city from around the world. It can accommodate over 3,000 customers, but get there

Pic by Gareth Lovering

room, on your iPod and online. Noah’s Yard North of Swansea University is the Uplands, where there are many student bars and restaurants. A particular favourite is Noah’s Yard. It is most recognisable for its adjustable sign – every day the bar uses magnetic letters to write something different! It is an Italian inspired cafe and has a Jazz Club on a Monday.

By Samantha Booth early to avoid the queues at the bar. Sin City Thursday night Sin Savers is the alternative student night out in Swansea. As well as playing new and classic indie and rock tunes, they have hosted gigs with big names such as Ben Howard, The Twang and The Blanks. Sin holds many different student nights from Saturday Sink to Friday’s new ‘Monsters of Rock’. Let’s not forget the one thing that draws students to Sin City: the drinks are mega cheap! Diva’s The students’-union-owned nightclub on campus. On a Friday night, Tooters takes over Union House with some of the cheapest drinks around. Indie comes at ‘Tuesday! I’m in Flux‘ with Tooters drink prices and playing what you listen to in your

Glories of Gower

Uplands Tavern - Also known as The Tav, this special pub has a mix of local and touring bands. There is an Open Mic night every Monday. Also, it is renowed as the late famous poet, Dylan Thomas’ snug! Many pubs in the Uplands area are known for their poetry scene as well. LC2 You may think you are past the days of splashing in water, but Swansea’s leisure centre, the LC2, has a water park like no other with lots of slides and rides. A definite cure for a hangover! Wales’ National Pool If you enjoy swimming without the slides, Sketty Lane leisure centre has an Olympic length pool. It costs £2.95 or an annual student membership costs £186. Swansea Museum and National Waterfront Museum Swansea is lucky to have two excellent museums both telling the history of Swansea and Wales and entry is free.

THE Gower Peninsula is around a 15-20 minute drive from Swansea city centre and has 50 coves, beaches and bays. It was Britain’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and The Independent labelled it ‘the supermodel of British beaches’. Surfers from all over the country travel to ride the waves of the Gower. Even beginners learn on the flat, wide beach of Caswell Bay. Visit spectacular Rhossili Bay on the 118 bus, from Swansea Bus Station, for breathtaking views over the Bristol Channel over a pint at The Worm’s Head Hotel. It’s also the perfect place to woo your post-freshers’ date with

GETTING around Swansea city centre can require a degree in its own right, writes Jon May. With the one-way streets and out-of-date SatNav systems sending you through roads that no longer exist, you might be in luck if you’re coming to study Geography. We’ve picked out a few highlights of the beautiful city and some of the most important places. For example, Wind Street is the main party central area in Swansea. Safety is first and foremost though. Whilst Wind Street is a great haven for revellers, it’s also the second most violent street in the UK. If you feel uncomfortable, leave or alert the many security staff and police officers patrolling the area. The train station is to the north of the city on High Street and the bus station is behind the Quadrant shopping centre. The 24-hour Tesco, Lidl, Primark and the Swansea Indoor Market are good places in town to grab a bargain. There are two multi-screen cinemas, the Odeon in Parc Tawe and Vue on York Street. They both offer the two-for-one Orange Wednesdays deal. The nearest full Accident and Emergency department is at Morriston Hospital about 30 minutes north-east. You can catch the number 4 bus to Morriston (the purple bendy bus) and it stops outside. Meanwhile, Swansea Police Station is just north of the city centre on Grove Place. Hopefully you’ll never have to visit. If you like culture, there is the Swansea Grand Theatre the Dylan Thomas Centre on Somerset Place, or the university’s own Taliesin arts centre.

the romantic sea views. Oxwich Bay is one of the Gower’s most popular beaches, with two and half miles of golden sand and sand dunes. It is a safe beach for swimming (except of in front of slipway for boats) and is good for watersports, including diving, sailing, water-skiing and windsurfing. Three Cliffs Bay (pictured left) is one of the Gower’s most picturesque beaches. This bay is popular with climbers and you can walk underneath the cliffs through archways. However, do not swim at Three Cliffs Bay at high tide as there are strong rip currents. Always check the weather and tidal

conditions before swimming or partaking in other water activities for your own safety! The Mumbles, the gateway to Gower, is the treasure of Swansea. The large village holds the ruins of Oystermouth Castle and has a pier and a lighthouse. You can walk, cycle, drive or catch the train or bus to the Mumbles and when you arrive be sure to visit the amusements, Joe’s Ice Cream Parlour and charity shops in this area, for some bargains. There are lots of nice shops and cafes too. Catherine Zeta-Jones has a property in the Mumbles, so keep your eye out!

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20 September 2013 waterfrontonline.co.uk

Fry-up or fine dining?

freshers’ guide to EATING OUT

WANSEA is a diverse and amazing place to eat out. There really is a place to eat for every occasion and places that are well worth discovering. This piece is an attempt to tell of Swansea’s greatest eateries, and not the everyday chains and fast food joints that Swansea, like many other cities, has. If you are looking for a bit of posh nosh, then I recommed the Grape & Olive restaurant. It’s impossible to miss, as it is on the top floor of the huge tower in Swansea marina. Apart from the views, the food and drinks menu have real class. They do a fixed price lunch for £7, but the evening menu is pricier. See swansea. grapeandolive.co.uk/ If you haven’t got the money for that, I recommend Truffle, on Brynymor Road. It serves a mixture of Italian/ Mediterranean posh and home-style grub that tastes great. What is even better is that you can get three courses for £22 and you can bring your own wine and beer (they do serve soft drinks and coffee/tea though). See www.truffle-swansea.co.uk Swansea is home to many Indian restaurants, mainly situated down St Helen’s Road. Swansea is also home to a

By Chris Flynn hybrid Indian takeaway called Spice 2 Go. You’ll probably hear about them as they are big with advertising to students. The best way to describe them is that they are to curry what Dominos is to pizza. It’s good value and tastes really good, despite being a solely takeaway venue. www.spice2go. com As a student, you will most likely be hungover at least once in your university life. I recommend that after a heavy night out, you venture to Uplands Diner for one

Local delicacies to try

Pic by Zingyyellow

Pic by Scott Dexter

AFTER you’ve tackled The Beast at the Uplands Diner, it’s time to try a real Swansea breakfast, writes Samantha Booth. This contains fried cockles and laverbread (a type of seaweed) as well as the bacon and sausage. Don’t believe me? Then take a trip to Swansea’s fantastic indoor market in the Quadrant shopping centre and you will see stall after stall selling cockles and laverbread. Ask the lady on the counter how to cook it. Once breakfast is out of the way, it’s time to start thinking about an ice cream. Swansea is well known for its ice cream parlours. There are five in the

Left, Welsh Cakes, below, Joe’s Ice Cream, below left laverbread and cockles.

Pic by TAWalker

Mumbles area alone. The undisputed King of them all is Joe’s ice cream. You won’t ever have tasted anything like it. Even on a rainy day, the queue for Joe’s is out of the door down at Mumbles, but it is worth it! Check it out either on St Helen’s Road in the city, at Parc Tawe, or at their parlour in the middle of Mumbles. Other good places for ice cream are Fortes and Castellamare at Limeslade, Verdis in Mumbles and Ripples on the seafront in West Cross. If you don’t like ice cream, try a cup of tea with another local delicacy, Welsh Cakes. They are flat, round scone-like cakes filled with currants and mixed spice and baked on a griddle. Yum.

Whatever you fancy – Swansea’s got the lot!

of the best breakfasts in Swansea. They have various food challenges which are an experience, including The Beast, but I’ll let you find that out for yourself. There are a lot of pubs that do food in Swansea. The Wig near Brangwyn Hall has great food and steak eating challenges that are really filling and good value. The Eli Jenkins in the town centre does decent pub grub which is fantastic value with two lunch main courses for £6. In my opinion, there are few takeaways in Swansea worth ordering from in all honesty. The quality varies dramatically. I haven’t tried them all but there are a few takeaways which I’ve always had a good meal at, including the Golden Swansea Chinese on Alexandra Road and Thai Kitchen in Gorseinen (it’s worth ordering with a few people as they won’t deliver under £25). Sohow on St Helen’s Road is a good new Chinese restaurant and takeaway. You can take your own wine and prices are very reasonable, and they give a 10% student discount as well. Cosmo is a good pan-Asian all-you-can eat buffet restaurant on High Street, and Peachy Keen’s offers a similar deal on Little

Wind Street. Luna Grill near Sin City night club does a great kebab on their impressive charcoal grill, as well as having a very classy seating area at the back of the premises. If you fancy a decent fish and chips, the best place in my opinion is the Sketty Park Fish Bar (the 82a bus from campus goes there, as they don’t deliver).

Pic by Thomas Guest

Top, Swansea has lots of curry houses. Above, try The beast breakfast at the Uplands Diner.

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20 September 2013 waterfrontonline.co.uk

Employability award (SEA) A DEGREE is important to getting a great job, but employers look for much more than a degree when choosing which graduates to employ. What exactly do you want to do when you graduate? What kind of work would suit you? The Swansea Employability Award helps you to:

Swansea Careers and Employability team. From left, Lucy Williams, Work Placement and Employment Coordinator, Pauline McDonald, Head of Careers and Employability, Rebecca (Becca) Vaughan, Careers Adviser, Chris Baillieux, Work Placement and Employment Coordinator, Jennie Drewson (Careers Adviser), Gareth Hill (Careers Adviser), Linda Palmer (Employer Projects Coordinator), Bev Jenkins (Receptionist/Administrative Assistant)

freshers’ guide to CAREERS

Start planning your career T

HE Careers and Employability Service is available in the library and online, to give you advice and practical help in finding work and planning your career, writes Jo Davies. Our helpdesk is on the ground floor of the library in the central hall. It’s open throughout the year (not just term-time) from 9am – 6pm Monday to Friday (10am – 6pm Tuesday). Our website at www.swansea.ac.uk/ careers is a gateway to a wide range of careers information together with details of all our services. Find us on Facebook too at www.facebook.com/ SwanseaUniversityCareers. Advice from the Careers Team Getting your head around career ideas may seem daunting to start with, but we offer a supportive environment where you can gain access to impartial careers and employability information, advice and guidance. We can help with any career related topics you want to discuss, such as: •using your degree •where to find jobs •CVs •work experience •application forms •preparing for interviews •postgraduate study – and lots more. To make an appointment for an informal chat with an adviser you can book online at www.swansea.ac.uk/careers/ Makingappointments/. If you are unable to come and see us, you can use our

confidential e-guidance service at www. swansea.ac.uk/careers/advicebyemail/. International Students Careers and Employability services are available to all our students, and for students from outside the EU there’s a special section on our website to help with issues relevant to you at www.swansea. ac.uk/careers/internationalstudents/. Events coming soon Don’t miss the Careers and Employability Fair with over 50 exhibitors on Thursday 3 October in Fulton House Refectory and Café West from 10am – 3pm - your chance to talk to people you may want to work with! •Workshops prior to the Fair: Making the most of YOUR Careers & Employability Fair 30th September and 1st October. •There are three additional workshops on the day of the fair 12:30 - 13:30 Americamp - Working and travelling in the USA 14:00 – 15:00 PwC - An introduction to Psychometric Testing 15:15 –16:15 Enterprise Rent-a-Car - The Power Of Social Networking For more information and online booking, go to http://swansea.prospects. ac.uk/index.html. The Employers’ Talks and Workshop Programme starts w/c 14th October. Visit www.swansea.ac.uk/careers/

careersfairevents/ for news of what’s happening when, and book online for events that you’re interested in. Jobs | Placements | Internships | Earning money while you study | Volunteering In the Jobs section of our site at www.swansea.ac.uk/careers/ jobsvolunteeringopportunities/ you will find our database of vacancies notified direct to Careers and Employability including jobs for after you graduate, immediate graduate vacancies, work experience placements, voluntary work and temporary casual jobs in the Swansea area. As well as our own database, you’ll find links to many other sources of jobs and work experience opportunities. It’s never too early to start building up your experience and skills to gain a competitive edge. For more ideas on work experience, visit www.swansea.ac.uk/ careers/workexperience/. Work hard, play hard ... Take advantage of all the opportunities to make the most of your experience as a student here at Swansea because time flies, and you’ll be graduating before you know it. We look forward to seeing you whenever you need information or advice from Careers and Employability. Below, the careers helpdesk in the library.

•Find out more about yourself: what you value in life, your personality type, learning styles, what jobs might suit you; then market yourself by creating a CV and covering letter. •Gain experience through: work placements, internships, volunteering, positions of responsibility relating to clubs and societies, to name a few possibilities. You can complete the SEA at your own pace, and it will be recorded on your Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR). To find out more, register and participate in the SEA go to www.sea.swansea.ac.uk.

Week of Work & Paid Internships

For queries about WOW and SPIN, contact Lucy Williams or Chris Baillieux. TWO work experience programmes organised by the Careers and Employability Service in association with the Swansea Employability Academy: •WOW: Unpaid work placements providing the chance to undertake a week of work relevant to your potential career interests. •SPIN: paid 6-8 week internships over the summer vacation period. Applications for WOW and SPIN open on 23/9/2013 and close on 1/11/2013. For queries about WOW and SPIN, contact Lucy Williams or Chris Baillieux, Work Placement and Employment Co-ordinators, at: workplacements@swansea.ac.uk and visit www.swansea.ac.uk/work-placements/. We also work in partnership with GO Wales (Graduate Opportunities Wales) which offers a range of work experience and training academies throughout Wales. For more information visit www.gowales.co.uk or contact Careers and Employability.

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20 September 2013 waterfrontonline.co.uk

Careers & employability fair – 3 Oct 2013 O

UR annual Careers Fair is your chance to come and talk to representatives of a wide range of different types of employers all in one place, writes Jo Davies. It takes place in Café West and Fulton Refectory, Fulton House, between 10am and 3pm on Thursday, October 3. Many of the people you will meet at the stands are young graduates who have been through the recruitment process and training programmes quite recently, so they are understand your perspective and can explain the opportunities available. Graduate training programmes often have closing dates between October and January for final year undergraduates, so the Fair is an ideal opportunity to talk to people and gather information before you apply. Careers advisers will be on hand to give you tips and advice on improving your CV, so bring a hard copy along with you. If you haven’t written a CV before and would like some help, get a draft CV ready and bring it along. To make the most of the day it would be a good idea to: •Research the employers you wish to speak with and think about the questions you would like to ask them. •Update your CV. •Be open-minded – you will meet employers whom you may never have

considered. Do not assume that employers will look for graduates with specific degrees. Many employers consider graduates from any discipline as they are interested in the wide range of skills you have gained during your time at university. •Find out what employers look for in applicants. •Ask the employers about their work experience placements/internships. Think about it as a networking event. You will be meeting employers in a relatively informal setting, but even so you need to do some preparation, think about the questions you need to ask and consider how you want to present yourself. 1. Do you offer a graduate training programme and, if so, what does it involve? 2. What type of previous skills, experiences and attitudes do you look for in candidates? 3. What is a typical working day like? 4. How do I apply and what activities are used in your recruitment process? 5. How many positions are available? 6. What degree subjects and degree classification do you require? 7. How do you view postgraduate qualifications and do these override the need for a first degree classification / UCAS points? 8. What development opportunities will be

Careers & Employability Fair : Thurs 3 Oct

Map of stands

available within your company? 9. Where are you located? 10. What support/training will I receive on the job? 11. Is there a way to bypass the on-line system to submit an application if I don’t have the stated UCAS points? 12. What is your advice for a successful application and interview? 13. What is the best way for me to develop my commercial awareness and knowledge about your company? 14. What makes an excellent candidate stand out from others who apply? 15. How would you see this company developing over the next five years? 16. How would you describe the working culture in this company? For detailed information, please visit our events information page at www.swansea. ac.uk/careers/careersfairevents/.

List of exhibitors We’re delighted that PwC is sponsoring our Fair this year. PwC is the UK’s largest professional services organisation, which recruits into business areas such as Actuarial, Assurance, Consulting, Deals, Tax and Technology. For information about careers with PwC, please visit www.pwc.com/uk/careers.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Aberystwyth university ACCA Age Cymru PRIZE DRAW: Americamp & Invasions Jobs Complete a short Andover Nursing Services Ltd Army survey form at the Arriva Train Wales fair and you could Assystem UK Ltd win a Unibus term Augusta Westland ticket worth £175! Bank of England Big Ideas Wales Bouygues UK Bright Futures Swansea CGI Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) CIMA City Electrical Factors Civil Service Fast Stream - ALL SCHEMES Coastal Housing Group Colchester Zoo - Action for the Wild Dawnus Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water Enterprise Rent a Car Fujitsu Gapforce Glatfelter GOWales ICAEW Morgan Advanced Materials Network Rail NWIS (NHW Wales Informatics Service) OSTC Wales Ltd Parachute Regiment PCI (UK) formerly Anderson Brecon (UK) Ltd PRA International Projects Abroad Public Defenders Service PwC RAF Renishaw Plc Royal Naval Reserves HMS Cambria / Royal Navy / Royal Marines SMU - Swansea Metropolitan University Swansea University - Careers & Employability - Work Placements Swansea University - Careers & Employability Service Swansea University - ELTS (English Language Training Service) Swansea University - Student Recruitment - Post Grad Swansea University - Study Abroad – Int Development Office Tata Steel Europe TeachFirst The University of Law Ultra Electronics Nuclear Control Systems

thewaterfront

20 September 2013 waterfrontonline.co.uk

How to stay healthy, safe and solvent Y

OU’VE reached university. Firstly, pat yourself on the back. It’s a long way from being born, going through school, finishing your A-levels and moving half way across the country to the city at the other end of the M4, writes Jon May.

freshers’ guide to STAYING SAFE

There are a few things you should really bear in mind so you can actually get to the other side of the university process without going broke, starving to death or succumbing to alcohol poisoning. 1. Get a proper coat. I’m not joking. Swansea is the wettest city in Britain (according to the Met Office) and making sure you don’t actually drown on the way to lectures is a must. Get some proper jumpers, it can get chilly here too. 2. Drink responsibly. That doesn’t mean “don’t spill any”, although wasting it is a shame. Tooters (Friday night in Diva’s) and Sin Savers (Thursday night in Sin

•Take up a sport

City) offer free soft drinks. No excuse not to switch and have the odd coke without the vodka every now and again. Your head will thank you the next morning. 3. Don’t fall out with your new flatmates. Or sleep with them for that matter. You’ve got to live with them for the next year and being a stubborn mule about who has left their dirty plate in the sink will just make you enemies. Take a relaxed and open-minded attitude to the people you’re living with. You won’t like all of them, but try to be nice even if you do dislike someone. 4. Eat healthily. I know this is sounding like a moaning mother’s column but it is really important you see some kind of vegetable get inside your body. Too much drinking and not enough fruit and veg will put you at risk of getting scurvy (no lie!) - Swansea has an indoor market that can provide all manner of fresh and local produce as well as Tesco having a wide

•Drink responsibly

•Learn to cook

variety of exotic fruit. Whilst shopping exclusively in Iceland is cheaper, you will pay for it in the end.

an appointment if you’re not registered. There is an NHS General Medical Practice on campus.

5. Chicken Soup. Kind of linked to eating healthily; try and stay healthy. You’re going to get Freshers Flu (lots of people coming from across the country turns all the nightclubs into petri dishes) so stock up on emergency food in case you can’tmake it to the shops.

8. Learn to cook. Your mum might have shown you how to open a can of soup and how to operate a microwave, but this does not make you a culinary expert. Learn how to make some substantial dishes. If you invite someone over for a date and you serve them a microwave meal, it probably won’t end well.

6. Explore Swansea. The only way to truly get to know a city is to get lost in it. Take a smartphone so you can get home if you get lost, but walk around where you live, get to know the shortcuts, the nearest chippy and where the corner shop is. 7. Register with the doctor. It sounds pretty low on your priority list, but take five minutes out of your day to find out where your nearest doctors’ surgery is and register. If you’re ill you can then go there. You might find you can’t get

•Get a proper coat

9. Sort out your finances. Having £1,200 wired to your account is the best thing ever. Until you realise after rent, bills and outgoings, it only leaves £10/week. Plan your budget and stick to it. 10. Join the gym or take up a sport. There’s a 24-hour gym in town and for £12.99/month you can fight the flab. Just because you have the option to sit at home watching Jezza Kyle all day eating takeaway, doesn’t mean you ought to!

•Explore Swansea

•Eat healthily

All the help and advice you’ll ever need Advice Service Centre The Swansea Students’ Union Advice Service Centre offers free, independent and confidential advice and representation to all Swansea University students. It is situated on the left hand side of Fulton House and is open MondayFriday 10am-4pm. The advisors can help you with matters relating to academic, housing, family & personal, employment, consumer rights, benefits, health, representation, debt/money advice, and uni accommodation. You can contact them on 01792 295821 or at advice@swansea-union.co.uk

University Health Centre

This is an NHS General Medical Practice, based on the university campus and providing friendly, comprehensive medical services focussing on the needs of students. It is on on the ground floor, Penmaen building. The surgery is open throughout the year Monday to Friday (except Bank

Holidays) from 8.30am - 12.30pm and 1.30pm - 6pm Open Access surgeries: no appointment necessary, Monday - Friday 9am 11.30am Services include advice on contraception, pregnancy, sexual health, HIV / AIDS, sports medicine, and a travel clinic, as well as emotional health. For further details and information on how to register with the practice visit their website: http://www. universityhealthcentre.co.uk/ Telephone: 01792 295321

Dental Surgery

Kee Dental Care offers a full range of NHS and private treatments. It is open to all students; NHS spaces are available to students who register at the start of the academic term in September 2012. (NHS spaces are limited to the first 1,000 students to register from the start of the academic year.) All patients under the age of 25 living in Wales are entitled to free dental examinations.. Surgery hours: Mon - Thurs: 8.30am -

1pm 1.30pm - 4.30pm and Fri: 8.30am - 3.30pm Location: Horton House 01792 602222 Ext. 2222 Emergency dental advice (out of hours): 0845 4647 Email: info@keedentalcare. co.uk Website: www.keedentalcare.co.uk

medical condition or other specific need.

Student Support Services

Money Advice and Support Office

All students at Swansea University benefit from access to the Student Support Services Department, which provides information, advice and support on a wide range of issues. Services offered are:

Residential Services

University residences and the union/ university run SAS Lettings.

International Student Advisory Service Provides a range of support services for Swansea’s international student community.

Disability Office

Support for students with a disability,

Wellbeing Service

The Wellbeing Service helps people feel better within themselves and function more effectively as members of the University.

For guidance on all areas of student funding, including grants, loans, bursaries and benefits. They can also help you manage your money more effectively.

English Language Training Service

English Language Training Services can help you improve your English language skills. Student Support Services can be contacted on 01792 602000 or email student.services@swansea.ac.uk. •You can find how to contact each service by visiting the university website at http://www.swansea.ac.uk/ undergraduate/student-services/

thewaterfront

Going out and about ... Taxi fares in Swansea

On a typical night out, a taxi from the student village at Hendrefoilan to town is about £8-10. In the daytime, a taxi from campus to the bus station is about £5-6, writes Sam Booth.

Bus travel

An adult day pass is £4.50, which gives you access to all bus services in Swansea. A single is £2.25 and a return is £3.60. You can also buy a student pass from the travel centre, which works out at around £1 per day. The main bus station is in the city centre at the back of the Quadrant shopping centre and next to Tesco. There are many services that run to the east and west of Swansea. From the student village into town, there are several bus routes. The 82A, which runs approximately every 20 minutes in the week during term time, takes you to campus before 6pm, then into town after the hour. If you arrive at campus, the number 4 bus runs from university to Morriston hospital with useful

stops such as town and the train station on the way. The bus stop at the end of the student village has several services into town, such as the 21A and 20A. For more information, visit http://www. firstgroup.com/ukbus/south_west_wales/ or enquire at the travel shop in Fulton House.

Walking

From the student village to campus is about a 30-40 minute walk. A walk from campus to the Mumbles can take over an hour, but you have to do it at least once whilst you are in Swansea. The marina is around a 30-minute walk.

Trains

Swansea Railway Station is situated just outside of the city centre on High Street, with trains to Cardiff, Camarthen and northern and southern England. You can catch the purple 4A bus to right outside the station or it is about a 20 minute walk from the city centre.

... and getting home safely Taking a taxi

Walking home

1. Only get into a licensed cab. To find out more about this and a full list of cab firms and taxi ranks check the student union website. 2. Check the potential price of the journey before getting in. 3. Do not give money upfront - only once you’ve reached your destination. 4. Check that the taxi has a meter, and that it’s running throughout the journey 5. If you are alone, sit behind the driver. If possible get a black cab with a screen, as they are safer for lone passengers. 6. Keep your info safe. When ordering a taxi, make sure that no-one can overhear your address. 7. Keep in contact. Arrange to text or call someone when you reach your end destination safely. 8. Trust your instincts. If you feel threatened at any time, ask the driver to stop somewhere safe that you can get out in a public place. If the driver refuses to stop, call the police. 9. Don’t tell any taxi driver you are going back to an empty house. 10. Don’t get into a taxi with strangers.

1. Avoid walking alone. Ring a taxi or arrange for friends to pick you up. 2. Walk near crowded streets with good lighting. Walk toward oncoming traffic to see where cars are coming from. 3. Avoid short cuts, unlit areas or near parked cars. It’s better to use longer paths that you know are safer. 4. Have keys in your hands and inside your pocket. When you reach your door, you should have your keys ready. 5. Do not walk with headphones on or talking on the phone. 6. Walk with confidence. Keep your head up. If you get lost, head for the nearest store or restaurant to ask for directions. 7. Carry a personal alarm. The SU can give you a personal alarm for free. 8. Choose comfortable footwear to walk home in. If you are walking home from a night out, take flat shoes in your bag. 9. Know what to do in a worst case scenario. The SU runs self defence classes throughout the year, which can be useful in making you feel more confident in that situation.

22 I SPORT

thewaterfront 20.09.13

Interview

Charlotte Peters’ aims and aspirations for 2013-14 SWANSEA University’s 2013-14 Sports Officer, Charlotte Peters, has outlined a vision of increased participation and independence for Swansea University sport. The new sports officer, elected in at the end of the last academic year, has participated in a large variety of sports, from school football teams to representing the South West in basketball, and subsequently understands the importance of involvement at all levels. Additionally, she will be working towards establishing more proficient coaching and refereeing standards within the university in order to increase independence and stability. Having already made her mark on Sport Swansea on the playing front, including her role as netball club captain and her participation in Varsity 2012, Charlotte is keen to further her involvement by helping others. “The role is very varied,” she explained. “The huge amount of diversity really appealed to me.” The summer break has been a busy one for Charlotte, who is determined to set her plans in motion ready for

by Ned Bristow waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk

the start of the academic year. “The summer has consisted of a lot of planning and meetings to get the ball rolling, and obviously Freshers’ week has been at the forefront. “We have a new way of distributing Sport Swansea membership, and some exciting opportunities for our members to partake in throughout the year are also in the pipeline. “As always, we will continue to work out ways we can once more help our clubs to climb up the BUCS [British University and College Sports] tables.” Aside from participation levels and BUCS success, Charlotte also strives to continue making progress in the ongoing struggle with the administrative side of sport at Swansea University. “Facilities and their fees are massive issues that I am trying to address this year. Unfortunately, it isn’t something that will be sorted overnight. “I am currently conducting the research that, fingers crossed, will enable an improvement for our students in the future.”

Unlike most of her predecessors, Charlotte has had an opportunity to contribute to a completely new-look Wednesday night. Following the closure of Odyssey nightclub last year, PlayOn Wednesdays – arguably the biggest night of the week – will have a new home from September. Charlotte has been working with the Ents department to rehome the weekly event, and confirmed that it will remain on Wind Street. However, she could not reveal the new location. “For now, just be assured that even though they will be different, Wednesday nights will still be your trusty midweek friend – although Thursday mornings will not!” Charlotte’s thoughtful aims as sports officer suggest a brighter future for Swansea’s sport. By kickstarting a ‘grassroots’ project of increased involvement all across the university, it is hoped that sustained success will follow in due course. The development of Swansea University’s sports clubs is a longterm, continued aim, but Charlotte plans to pool together all available resources in an attempt to bring

AIMING HIGH: Sports Officer Charlotte Peters wants mass participation this year. home more success in BUCS and Varsity competitions. “This year, I hope to utilise resources within the university, students’ union, community and other external sources to help with the continual progression of raising the profile of our clubs. “As clichéd as it sounds, I want

to be remembered for improving what Swansea University and Sport Swansea offers, both for current and prospective students.” Charlotte’s manifesto states that all sports will receive equal backing, and she wants everyone to get involved, be it as casual beginners looking to try something new, or Varsity heroes.

waterfrontonline.co.uk

SPORT I 23

2012-13 Season Review

Sports Review 2012-13: Medals, Olympians and Millennium Magic by Max Stevens waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk

Sport Swansea back and bigger than ever for 2013-14 by Tom Nightingale waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk

SWANSEA University enjoyed a year of sporting success last year, culminating in a great 21-13 win for the men’s rugby team over fierce rivals Cardiff at Varsity 2013. 2012-13 saw numerous medals won by both individual and collective representatives of Swansea University at a number of regional, national and even international events. Last year also saw Swansea University record their highest ever BUCS points total – their score of 1148.5 beating their previous high of 1058.3 by almost 100 points. SWANSEA’S season got off to a great start before the students had even returned to university with two students winning medals for Great Britain at the 2012 Paralympic Games. Matt Whorwood took home bronze in the 400m freestyle (S6), and David Smith won an individual silver medal and team bronze in the sport of boccia. November proved to be a good month for swimming with the swim team earning promotion to the BUCS top division following success at the Surrey Team Gala. There was more success to come

Sport Swansea

for Swansea University swimming as Georgia Davies (below), who had represented Great Britain at the Olympic Games, won two gold medals at the BUCS short course swimming championships, breaking two BUCS records in the process. Swansea also impressed on the athletics track, securing their highest ever finish at the Braids Hill competition in Edinburgh. Women’s hockey 1sts enjoyed a very successful first semester, remaining unbeaten in both the league and the cup, going into 2013.

SWANSEA continued their success into the new year, with more students receiving international honours and university sports teams and individuals continuing to impress. In February two first-year students received their first caps for the Welsh U20 Men’s Rugby Union squad. March saw Josh Osbourne bring home gold in the superheavyweight class at the BUCS boxing competition. April saw two Swansea teams celebrating double success as the

men’s hockey side won the Western Conference 2B and the Welsh Shield and the women’s volleyball team also completed a league and cup double It was a strong finish to the season for the men’s badminton team as they easily won their league and narrowly missed out on doing the double with defeat in the BUCS Conference Cup final. There was also further success for the swimming team as they finished second overall at the BUCS long course event, an improvement on their third placed finish the season before.

DAVIES’ DELIGHT: Georgia Davies won two golds at the BUCS short course.

BOXING BRILLIANCE: Josh Osbourne won gold in the BUCS superheavyweight class.

VARSITY VICTORY: The rugby union team celebrate their sensational win.

AS always the highlight of the sporting year was the Welsh Varsity against arch-rivals Cardiff, which took place in the capital for the third year in a row. There was to be joy for Swansea as they won the Varsity Cup for the third time in five years in front of 14,000 fans at the Millennium Stadium. Swansea had to work hard to overturn a 10-0 deficit at the interval, scoring 21 points against Cardiff’s three in the second half. Fly-half Ianto Griffiths was Swansea’s top points scorer, including one kick from half-way

to start the Swansea come-back from 13-5 down. Captain John Vaughan was delighted: “To play in front of 14,000 people in your national stadium and win, it’s a fantastic feeling”, he exclaimed afterwards. Despite their victory in the showpiece event at the Millennium Stadium it was a poor show from Swansea University in the overall shield, as they lost 22-7. The wins for Swansea came in women’s badminton, American football, women’s football, fresher’s rugby, men’s football, women’s volleyball and golf.

SPORT Swansea is the professional sporting brand which oversees all Swansea university’s sports clubs. It works closely with the university’s Students’ Union to offer the best sporting experience possible, and membership is now live for staff and students! There are so many benefits to joining Sport Swansea, so sign up for the new year at Swansea University. These benefits include:

The ability to join as many sports clubs as desired; free entry into BUCS leagues and tournaments; discounted Varsity ticket; freeof-charge equipment hire; free squash and tennis racket hire at the Sports Village; discount at Mango Bikes; being automatically entered into monthly prize draw for tickets and memorabilia including box ticket seats at Ospreys matches; 25% off all beach and watersport sessions until June 2014, and many more. Please note the Sport Swansea membership does not cover your gym membership, which must be purchased separately. Membership sign ups and a full list of membership benefits can be found at www.swansea-union. co.uk/sports. Membership can be collected from the arrivals Fayre, or from both days of the Fresher’s Fayre. After Freshers’ week, membership can be collected every day 12-2pm from Sadie Thwaites [Sports Administrator] in the Sport Swansea Office at the front of Fulton House, or from Charlotte Peters [Sports Officer] on 3rd floor of Union House. So whether you’re a fresher or a returning student, a great way to get involved in Swansea University sport for 2013-14 is through Sport Swansea.

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Issue 229

waterfrontonline.co.uk All of our articles throughout the year can be found on our website, it’s updated regularly so check it out today !

20 September 2013

FRESHERS’ GUIDE TO SPORT AT SWANSEA UNIVERSITY

Inside This Issue Season Review

Our look at a great year for Swansea sport in 2012-13

p23 Interview

Sports Officer Charlotte Peters outlines her plans

p22 Sport Swansea

VARSITY 2013 SHOWDOWN: The rivalry with Cardiff University is a big part of Swansea University’s sporting calendar, culminating in Varsity at the end of each academic year. SWANSEA University has a fantastic sporting pedigree, and one that will be easier than ever before for students to take advantage of in 2013-14. At Freshers’ Fayre and throughout the year, Swansea students will have the opportunity to sign up for any of the approximately 50 sports teams that Swansea University has to offer. Students will have the choice of aikido, American football, archery, badminton, basketball, boxing, canoeing, cheerleading, cricket, cycling, equestrian, football, fencing, golf, hiking, hockey, jiujitsu, karate, karting, kickboxing, kitesurfing, lacrosse, lifesaving, mountain biking, mountaineering, netball, rifling, rowing, rugby league, rugby union, running, sailing, snowriding, squash, sub aqua, surfing, swimming, tae kwon do, tennis, triathlon, ultimate frisbee, volleyball and windsurfing. Most of these sports compete

by Tom Nightingale waterfrontsport@swansea-union.co.uk

against teams from other universities through British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) leagues, cups and events. BUCS has been the governing body of higher education sport since 2008. Swansea has been in the top 31 every year since the introduction of BUCS, and last year equalled its highest ever position as officially the 25th best university for sport in Great Britain, which it also achieved in 2009-10 and 2011-12. BUCS games in most of these team sports take place on a Wednesday afternoon, when the university timetable is suspended every week to allow for sporting activity. However, certain team and individual competitions take place over the weekends, such as the BUCS Short Course Swimming Championships.

Primarily, perhaps, Swansea University is known for its rugby union, boasting a number of famous alumni in the sport, such as Welsh internationals Rhys Priestland of the Llanelli Scarlets and Alun Wyn Jones of Swansea side the Ospreys. As well as the five men’s and three women’s football sides which compete in BUCS competitions, the university’s internal football competition, the Intramural Football League, also runs throughout the year on Wednesday afternoons (weather permitting) at Ashleigh Road playing fields. The Intramural League also has an Ents Cup competition, the final of which has taken place at St Helens rugby ground in the last two years. All of Swansea University’s sport has been overseen by Sport Swansea since its conception in September 2012 from within the Students’ Union. The university’s Sports Officer

for 2013-14 is Charlotte Peters, and you can see our interview with her overleaf. Undoubtedly the biggest event in Swansea University’s sporting calendar is the Welsh Varsity against arch-rivals Cardiff. The event has grown year-in year-out and now takes place over a week with a majority of the sports taking place on a single day. The Varsity shield is awarded to whichever university wins the most sports matches over the course of the event. However the biggest single Welsh Varsity event is the rugby union match, which has been hosted in prestigious sporting venues such as Cardiff Arms Park, the Liberty Stadium, and in the last three years at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium. The 2013 match was a thriller, and was won 21-13 by Swansea in front of a crowd of over 14,000. So if you only go to one event this year make sure it is Varsity!

Sport Swansea - get involved for 2013-14

p23

Final BUCS 2013 1 2 3 4 5

Loughborough Durham Birmingham Bath Exeter

5499 3419 3135 2724 2667

24 Sheffield Hallam 1236.5 25 Swansea 1148.5 26 St Andrews 1071.5