The Courier - May 2015 by Aber Student Media

Founded 1948

May 2015

Year 65 Edition 7

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Hundreds of students descend for Summer Ball

FREE

Mark Williams re-elected as Ceredigion’s MP 03

With Example, So Solid Crew and local acts headlining the 2015 Summer Ball, it was set to be a night to remember. Aber Student Media looks at the highs, the lows and the sicklysweet cocktails...

Does Greggs deserve a slice of the market? 07

Read more > Opinion page 9 > Arts page 10

Example on the main stage in the Great Hall last Friday

Photo: Tomos Nolan

TWO RABBITS FOUND DEAD IN STUDENT HALLS

Graduates: Why we’re going to miss Aber 13

University is ‘conducting a thorough investigation’ of reported incidents involving dead rabbits in Pantycelyn Andrew Simpson Editor TWO rabbits were allegedly found dead in a shower room in Pantycelyn Halls last month. The incident is said to have involved two rabbits being killed and left in a shower with blood left smeared across a corridor. A photo, seen by The Courier and deemed too graphic to print, was also posted on Facebook showing a man in a bath holding a dead rabbit. A second photo is said to be in

news

03 opinion

the possession of staff members at the university. A source told ASM that a trail, of what appeared to be blood, was discovered in a Pantycelyn corridor. Staff, in concern for a student, followed the trail into a shower room, where two dead rabbits were found in one of the showers. Since investigating this incident, Aber Student Media have uncovered a number of other alleged events, one confirmed by a Students’ Union staff member as involving a washing machine.

07 arts

The staff member, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “Two dead rabbits were found by the Pantycelyn porters/cleaners and their blood was smeared on a wall. “In another incident, a guy posted a picture of himself on Facebook having a bath with a rabbit corpse. There was a dead rabbit found in a washing machine a while ago. No one knows whether it was dead or alive when it went in. “People are claiming these are unrelated incidents, but I find that hard to believe.”

10 lifestyle

13 features

Rebecca James > Read more page 3

The Extinguisher

20 puzzles

Leanne Wood talks about Plaid in Westminster 19 21 sports

The Courier

Editor Andrew Simpson editor@aberstudentmedia.com

News Editor Jonny Haseldine news@aberstudentmedia.com @abersmNews

Features Editor Emily Rowe features@aberstudentmedia.com @abersmFeatures

Opinion Editor Ffion Murphy opinion@aberstudentmedia.com @abersmOpinion

Lifestyle Editor Sarah Thornhill lifestyle@aberstudentmedia.com @abersmLifestyle

Arts Editor Nadine El-Amami arts@aberstudentmedia.com @abersmArts

Sports Editor IIlltud Dafydd sports@aberstudentmedia.com @abersmSports

Photography Manager Alex Tanton

December 2014

IT HAS BEEN a great privilege to be the Courier Editor for the final edition of this academic year. With the resignation of Katie, I was coopted in by the ASM Committee for the role and it has been a fun ride this past week putting the paper together. Being part of ASM has been an incredible experience over the last three and half years, and to end my time with the society by producing The Courier, is a great way to finish. The past few weeks have been filled with elections fever, and the subsequent surprising result. However, it’s important to take note of the democracy going on at university, with the Students’ Union vote on Bibles being the first ever student-wide vote to take place,

it’s certainly a step in the right direction for student engagement. ASM has launched two surveys online in the last month, one on the general election and a second on student opinions on sport at Aberystwyth. These were a great success, and something new for us to try out. We’re here to provide a way that students can get their voices heard and to bring the most important news to the student population. This is another tool for that, and we hope you found it beneficial. You can find the preliminary results of the sports survey on the back page. As the end of term draws near, it’s time to reflect on the amazing time we have had at Aberystwyth (and try to avoid the whole exams

thing). I’ve had the best years of my life here at Aberystwyth, and it will be difficult to leave in September. You can find a few students’ quotes on why they love Aberystwyth (on page 22) and also their future plans after graduation (on page 18). ASM recently received the Gold Welsh Language Award, and came in second for the biggest contribution of the year. Our Secretary, Cameron scooped up the Volunteer of the Year award and most of the senior management received varying levels of colours. We’re all immensely proud of what we have achieved this year at ASM and hope that the society will continue to grow. I would like to thank the content team for pulling together over

Find everything from this issue and much more online! Visit aberstudentmedia.com for up-to-the-minute news, guides to what’s on in and around Aberystwyth and the latest scores from all the local teams.

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the past week to get this edition out, despite commitments to dissertations and exams - it would not have been possible without your commitment. I’d also like to say a big thank you from myself to the committee, contributors, members, alumni and readers of ASM for your involvement this year, it’s been amazing to watch and be a part of. Finally, I’d like to give a bit of advice to everyone that is still here next year: get involved with Aber Student Media as the opportunities that are available to you, the people you will meet, and the benefits you will gain for future life are invaluable. I wish everyone the best of luck for the future, and every success in wherever life takes you.

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Each edition of The Courier will feature a photo of the month, to be voted on by the editors of the newspaper. This months’ photo was submitted by Tomos Nolan. This photo was taken last year at the Aberystwyth Cycling Tour Series. This year’s Tour is on the 22nd May.

photography@aberstudentmedia.com @abersmPhotos

Advertising Manager Joel Hughes

The Extinguisher 20

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Graphics & Design Manager Tomos Nolan

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Aberystwyth Student Media is the integrated student media organisation for Aberystwyth. We produce www.aberstudentmedia.com, The Courier, Bay Radio and Bay TV. We operate independently of the Students’ Union and University; all of our content is produced by Aberystwyth students on a voluntary basis. We’re always looking for new members, and whatever you’re interested in, Aber Student Media is the place for you! To find out more, come to our fortnightly meetings (check out our Facebook page for details), or drop by our office on the ground floor of the Union. If you’ve got any queries about joining, or any other questions, you can email our Secretary, Cameron, at secretary@aberstudentmedia.com Any opinions expressed in articles in this newspaper are solely those of the contributors and are not to be attributed to the Aberystwyth Student Media committee, Aberystwyth University Students’ Union or Aberystwyth University. The acceptance of advertising by The Courier is not an indication that The Courier, its editors or contributors or anyone associated with The Courier either supports or opposes any activity in which the advertiser may participate. The Courier is published by Aberystwyth Student Media, an unincorporated association. Union Building, Penglais, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DX. © Aberystwyth Student Media 2015.

NEWS May 2015

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The Courier

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Students vote in favour of bibles motion in first all-student vote Andrew Simpson Editor STUDENTS have voted in favour of a motion regarding whether bibles should be in student halls in the first ever all-student vote. On the 30th April, Aberystwyth Students’ Union opened the first ever all-student vote to decide whether it should be Union policy to call on the University to allow students to optout of having bibles placed in university halls of residences. An all-student vote is where each and every student has the chance to say how and what they want AberSU to do next. It came about after the Union’s Postgraduate Students’ Officer Julia Corcoran called for a vote on whether to put the amended motion to a referendum of the entire student body, which subsequently passed. The amended motion resolved to: 1. Discuss with the University changing the current system, so that an option is given in the accommodation application process to allow students to opt out to spiritual texts. All of these changes should be in place for the next academic year beginning September 2015 if possible. 2. Conduct a wide-ranging survey with the cooperation of the University on this issue. The results of the all student vote were for a ‘Yes’ vote gaining 300 votes, against a ‘No’ Vote of 175. This made a total of 475 votes which is sufficient

for it to become binding for the Students’ Union as it exceeds to minimum requirement set out in the new democratic structure of the Union. A Students’ Union statement said: “We designed this structure over the summer hoping it would increase engagement and allow a higher proportion of students to participate in deciding the policies of our member-led organisation.”

University ‘deeply concerned’ by reports of dead rabbits Continued from the front The Students’ Union source continued: “I think names have been handed to the police but I don’t know who.” The incident with the washing machine was said to have taken place on Wednesday, 29th April, although when contacted, Dyfed-Powys Police said there were no calls between 28th and 30th April relating to it. However, the University have confirmed that a “thorough investigation” into the incidents is already underway, with staff “ready to instigate disciplinary proceedings”. A spokesperson for the university said: “The university is deeply concerned and disappointed by the reported antisocial behaviour of some Pantycelyn residents. “The alleged harming of animals, and the destruction of University

property, is wholly unacceptable. Aberystwyth University prides itself on being one of the safest places in the UK to be a student, and this kind of behaviour is exceptionally rare within our community. “The university is conducting a thorough investigation of the reported incidents at Pantycelyn Hall and is ready to instigate disciplinary proceedings as appropriate. “The University urges anyone with any information about these allegations to come forward and assist with these investigations.” “Aberystwyth University strives to create a safe and inclusive environment for all our students to learn and reside, and is saddened by the destructive actions of these individuals. “The university will not be commenting further on this matter.”

“475 students voting is a higher number than any attendance at a democratic meeting, and so we are delighted that we have managed to open up democratically to this extent.” With the result, the Students’ Union will follow the aforementioned motion by discussing with the university an opt-out system for bibles in student halls, and also hold a survey across all halls of residences to gain further views.

Aberystwyth ranked 87th again Cameron Smyth IN THIS year’s Complete Univeristy Guide, Aberystwyth University has been ranked 87th, the same as last year. Universities throughout the UK are assessed on everything from student satisfaction to research quality, entry standards and spending. It was found that Welsh universities had some of the lowest entry standards, however, they did have students with good honours and graduate prospects. Aberystwyth gained an overall score of 569. It was complimented for its ‘spectacular’ views. The university had also come in the top 200 universities in the world for Agriculture, English, Geography and Politics in the World QS Rankings 2014. The university was also noted

Tomos Nolan for being “well-respected for computer science, history, psychology, and theatre, film and television studies”. With the National Library of Wales located next to the campus, it gives the university access to a vast array of academia. The guide also noted the central hub which provides a wide range of facilities including laundrettes, bike storage, a communal space for clubs and societies, and a cafe. Lastly, the guide also mentioned a couple of notable alumnae including Prince Charles and First Minister Carwyn Jones.

News Editor

Jonny Haseldine @abersmNews

Lib Dems retain Ceredigion seat AFTER a tight and sometimes controversial election campaign, Liberal Democrat incumbent Mark Williams was Mark Williams returned as the Photo: Liberal Member of Par- Democrats | Flickr liament for the Ceredigion constituency. Williams beat Plaid Cymru’s Mike Parker with a reduced majority of 3,067, down from 8,324 in 2010. He is now one of only 8 Liberal Democrats in the House of Commons and the only Welsh Liberal Democrat in Westminster. The turnout was 69.16%, an increase of 4.36% from 64.8% in 2010. Speaking in his acceptance speech, Williams stated, “It’s a great honour once again, I’m delighted with the result. This is my fifth election in this county, and my most challenging one.” He added: “My challenge is to keep working as Ceredigion’s man in Westminster. I will represent everyone, regardless of whether they voted for me or the other candidates.” Speaking to The Courier back in March he expressed his uneasiness of being in the coalition, stating: “I haven’t been in my comfort zone, I’ve always seen myself on the progressive centreleft of British politics; therefore to find yourself sitting on a bench in front of the Tories is not helpful. It’s during debates about Europe when you sit there and hear the Tory Party making the case for a referendum, which I think would be a disaster particularly for this part of the world because we are beneficiaries of Europe, and indeed the UK as a whole – that I’m reminded the Tory Party hasn’t changed.” The result was announced earlier than expected at 2:15 am with the result not being as close as many expected. After the first count to verify the overall turnout, Plaid Cymru sources had suggested they were down by 1,800-900 votes and had all but given up on winning the seat. UKIP polled well in some areas, especially in the very south and north of the county. Parliament re-convenes on Monday 18th May.

The Courier

Town

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May 2015

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Bakery to open in town

Andrew Simpson JOBS have been advertised for a Greggs Bakery in Aberystwyth, indicating that a new store is due to open soon. The advertisement is for five new team members and two new senior team members to join the Greggs at Aberystwyth. Greggs is the largest bakery chain in the UK, and specialises in everything from sausage rolls to doughnuts. Students have welcomed the news, with second year student Matthew Warwick saying: “I’ve always enjoyed treating myself to something from Greggs when out and about, and so to have one here in Aber is great news. I’ve missed some of their cream doughnuts.”. Others, such as 3rd year student Tom Davies were indifferent: “To be honest, I don’t really care about it”. > Reactions: page 7

Cllrs Brenda Haines, mayor of Aberystwyth, and Wendy Morris, immediate past mayor, Cllr Ellen ap Gwynn, Leader of Ceredigion County Council, and Allan Lewis, Ceredigion’s head of economic and community development collecting the award.

‘Resilient’ Aberystwyth celebrates Great Town award after storms Andrew Simpson and Jonny Haseldine THIS May Bank Holiday saw Aberystwyth come out in force to celebrate the Academy of Urbanism Award for ‘Great Town’, which Aberystwyth received following its resilience after the storms last year. The day included the closure of Baker Street, allowing for a number of stalls, live music and streets acts which were performed throughout the day. Described by the Academy as “a modest town that punches above its weight”, Aberystwyth

pipped English rivals Beverley (Yorkshire) and Bury (Lancashire) to win the award. This was primarily due to its leading work in promoting its location, economy and livability. According to the Academy the key to the result swinging in Aberystwyth’s favour was the “attitude judges encountered towards creating and sustaining local partnerships, exemplified by the town’s response to the storms that devastated the seafront at the beginning of 2014”. The five-stage process by which the award was judged started with the nominations stage where any member of the public could contribute.

The Academy then shortlisted 50 places across five categories, which were then voted down to three finalists in each category by Academy members. They then visited and assessed each of the 15 finalists before the final vote. Mayor Brenda Haines said: “The Academy of Urbanism came to look at the town in August, and by then we had more or less got the town back to normal, and perhaps even better. “We were pleased to be in the last three, and that would have been an honour anyway, but when they announced our name it was fantastic.”

Council’s attempt to go green breaks its own planning guidelines Maisie O’Brien Tomos Nolan

Council say ‘no’ to logo AT A RECENT Aberystwyth Town Council meeting, it was decided to oppose the newly proposed application by Starbucks to place a large-scale logo on the side of the coffee shop in Aberystwyth town centre. Starbucks, which resides at number 47 Great Dark Street, was greeted with some contention upon its opening last year. The movement to place a logo was first attempted before Starbucks opened, however it was withdrawn before then after complaints were raised due to the scale of the planned logo. A later application was defeated, with the Development Control Committee of the County Council stating the logo would “cause harm on the visual character of the area”. This latest application was defeated as well, although the vote to oppose the application was not unanimous.

CEREDIGION council may have to seek retrospective permission following the installation, by contractors, of more than 200 solar panels to its offices in Aberaeron in April. The building in question is where the council makes decisions on planning applications. The council admitted that the solar panels, which produce 49.5 kW, at its Penmorfa office do not conform to their “permitted development” guidelines, and have instead blamed the contractors who in-

stalled them. It cost around £62,000 to design and install the panels, which don’t meet the guidelines by being 1m away from the roof ’s edge and, as a result, require planning consent. The local authority said it had recently invited tenders to provide optimum solar photovoltaic alternatives at both its Penmorfa and Minaeron buildings in Aberaeron, in order to maximise energy generation and carbon reduction at all its buildings. The council said meetings had been held with the unnamed con-

tractors prior to the installation, and that the general location of the panels was agreed. They insist the contractors made the error and will be paying to correct what it calls an “oversight”. A spokesman for Ceredigion county council said the contractors were informed prior to the installation it would need to conform to the permitted development requirements. He said: “Clearly, the system installed at Penmorfa does not conform with the permitted rights and when this oversight became visible

the contractor was immediately informed of this. The contractor is now currently considering how to rectify the situation at their own cost. The contractor failed to check planning requirements prior to installation, even though they were clearly set out in the tender documents. “The solar panels will now need to be re-installed within parameters that meet permitted development or the installation as it will require a retrospective planning permission. Either option will be entirely at the contractor’s expense.”

IBERS scientists provide specialist advice for inaugural charity fire ride Jo Jones SCIENTISTS at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) gave specialist advice to a team of charity bike riders who visited the sports and exercise laboratories on 5th May. The inaugural ‘Fire Ride’, which will be completed by a team of Wales’ Fire and Rescue Service personnel, will cover 1,350 miles and stretch across the Welsh landscape to link all 152 Welsh fire stations. The event is planned to last two weeks from 22nd May – 4th June. All service personnel are welcome to participate in the Fire Ride, with hundreds

anticipated to show their support and join in for sections of the route. There are rides for extreme sports and endurance enthusiasts, as well as sections for casual participants joining for the fun, the atmosphere, and to help a good cause. Meanwhile, the core team of Service personnel who will be completing the full 1350 miles have visited IBERS for advice. The scientists at IBERS assessed each member of the core Fire Ride team. Dual X-ray absorptiometry was used to assess body composition, and each member had their aerobic capacity measured. This helped the scientists to give advice on how to best prepare for the event; on energy and fluid replacement strategies; and

on individual pacing and recovery advice. Iwan Cray, County Commander for Ceredigion & Carmarthenshire, said: “The support we have received from Dr Rhys Thatcher and his team at IBERS has been exceptional. It has been great to see the sector leading, knowledge and understanding of sports science being applied to the core riders of the Fire Ride Team. This assistance and direction from Aberystwyth University will undoubtedly put the riders in good stead for the challenge that lies ahead.” It is hoped the Fire Ride will raise £15,000 for the Fire Fighters Charity and Wales Air Ambulance. To donate, visit www.justgiving. com/teams/fireride2015.

May 2015

aberstudentmedia.com/news

Alex Tanton

Staff members striking over Freshers’ weekend last year

Jo Jones SELECTIVE bonuses for nonstriking staff have caused confusion amongst University employees. The strike in question, which took place over Fresher’s Weekend last year from 19th-22nd September, was in protest at the cut in pensions for University support workers. The closure of AUPAS, the final salary pension plan, meant a 50% or higher cut in pensions for employees at the lower end of the pay scale, such as security guards, administration staff, and library assistants. The university council decided to close the university pension scheme in June 2014. The unions involved in the Fresher’s Weekend strike included UNISON, Unite, University and College Union, and Prospect. Simon Dunn, the UNISON regional organizer for

University

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Anger over £50 ‘thank you’ bonuses for non-striking staff

the strike, said at the time, “All we want is a fair system, where half of the staff aren’t treated like second class citizens.” Although the majority of union members agreed to strike, some staff still worked over Fresher’s Weekend and have each been rewarded with a £50 bonus. They received confirmation along with a thank you letter from deputy director of the Human Resources department, Heather Hinkin, promising the bonus payment along with April’s pay. Those who took part in the industrial action consider these ‘thank you’ bonuses unfair. Roger Bevan, the UNISON union area organizer for Wales, has condemned the University’s actions as insensitive, stating that “Our members are rightly incensed. It is never an easy decision to take industrial action, and we only did so after try-

The Courier

ing to convince the university that this was not necessary.” Mr Bevan has met with other trade unions representatives to discuss the matter, and has called for the withdrawal of the bonuses. He considers selective rewards for non-striking staff as an incitement by the university for staff not to participate in their unions’ activities. He and other trade union representatives will seek advice from a solicitor. The university has not replied to Mr Bevan, but a spokesman has stated, “This ‘thank you’ was for staff who worked on this crucial weekend and we recognise their contribution. We wish to thank staff who contributed to our Freshers’ Weekend activities and often acknowledge team contributions like this via a range of recognition processes.”

@abersmNews

Aberystwyth University students Anna Gautam, who is from the Nepalese capital Kathmandu, and Katharina Hopp from Germany

Students raising money for Nepal earthquake appeal Andrew Simpson Editor A SERIES of fundraising events are being held in the aftermath of the Nepal earthquake. The earthquake took place on the 25th April and has killed more than 7,000 people. The earthquake recorded a magnitude of 7.8Mw and is said to be the most powerful disaster to affect Nepal since 1934. Anna Sharad Gautam, 22, from Kathmandu, whose family were affected in the earthquake, is one of two students at Aberystwyth who are hoping to raise money to help the aftermath. Miss Sharad Gautam said: “My plan is to think beyond the immediate event and raise funds to build better homes, especially in the villages outside Kathmandu. It is the older buildings in Kathmandu and the surrounding villages, often houses built of mud, that have collapsed.” Katharina Hopp, 23 is the other student who is holding the events, which include a cake sale, film night and a beach barbecue.

Unions call for more transparency over vice-chancellor’s pay Maisie O’Brien FOLLOWING Aberystwyth University’s continued refusal to disclose how Professor April McMahon’s wage is decided, unions have called for universities to stop hiding behind “shadowy committees” when deciding the vice-chancellor’s pay. Professor McMahon, Aberystwyth University’s vice-chancellor, as revealed by Cambrian News last year, took a £9,000 pay cut to keep her job following 2 years of substantial pay rises. The university refuses to answer questions over whether the pay cut was related to concerns over performance, following falling student numbers and declining league rankings. They defended Professor McMahon’s 9.6% pay rise in 2013, which grew to £252,000 and includes pension contributions, by saying it was performance related. However, they have since refused to comment as to whether the cut from

£228,000 in 2012/13 to £219,000 in 2013/14 was also performance related – and have also been unwilling to say how her pay is decided. A spokesman from Aberystwyth University said, “Pay of the senior officers is a matter for the remunerations committee.” The Cambrian News requested minutes from the remunerations committee for the last two years under the Freedom of Information Act to try and establish the reasons behind Professor McMahon’s pay rises, and subsequent cut. However, these minutes were heavily redacted and show no detail of how the decisions on her wages were decided or the level of pay – despite the figure being available in the university’s annual accounts. The university’s grants and the fees of the students at Aberystwyth University pay for her wage. The university said it would not release the information, classing it as “personal data”. Last year, the University and College Union wrote to Vince Cable in an attempt

to persuade him to make universities reveal why senior staff receive the pay they do and why it’s decided behind closed doors - with figures rarely released. The UCU General Secretary, Sally Hunt, stresses the need for top earners’ wages to be transparent as universities cut costs, pensions

and drive down staff pay. She said: “We want to see proper minutes from remuneration committees made publicly available, complete with detailed justification behind any rise in pay.” She believes that only with the introduction of agreed standards for “open and transparent governance” in universities will see trust in the system restored. Last year, it was revealed that Professor April McMahon earns over £200,000 more a year than the average staff member at Aberystwyth University - with 347 workers earning less than the living wage, which caused an uproar amongst the unions. With many describing the situation as the development of a “class divide” at the university following staff walkouts over an “unacceptable” pay rise of 1%; the scrapping of a final-salary pension scheme for two of its lowest paid workers; and continued redundancies during a “challenging financial situation” for the institution.

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OPINION May 2015

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Opinion Editor Ffion Murphy

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GRIEVING

Grief in the Facebook age

Our generation is glued to the internet –but is it stimulating an unhealthy way of processing grief? Sarah Thornhill Lifestyle Editor OUR GENERATION are glued to their phones, never off their computers or tablets, and constantly watching TV. But is this the reason that people are now mourning and memorialising people, (friends, family, coworkers, school acquaintances) that have sadly passed away, online. Why does it have to be so public and on the deceased person’s profile? Why do people need to comment on their profiles, when they know that they won’t get a reply? Is it a form of comfort for them? People grieve in their own ways and there is no right or wrong way to approach grief; especially if someone so young and dear to you has died. But does it have to involve people posting on their profile? Facebook gives you the option to memorialise the person’s profile, or delete it completely. To do so, you have to contact them saying that your loved one has died, and preferably give them proof of death. If you choose to leave it as a memorial, they will add ‘Remembering’ before the person’s name. The profile will remain unchanged; and all friends

“Would you want someone to update their Facebook status the day you die saying that you are dead?” and family, who were already able to contact the person in question, can still share stories or photos on their timeline. If you choose to have it memorialised, then the profile is completely frozen and no one can log in unless you have left a legacy contact (someone to look after your memorialised account). A legacy contact is unavailable in the UK. Whichever you or your family/friends decide to do, you have to request it. If you don’t request it nothing will change. Facebook also say that if families are not willing to make a memorialised page, then they can create a group to use that as a platform of exchange, instead of the individual’s profile. I don’t know how many of my family

would be able to do this for me if the time came. Maybe there should be an easier way to delete your profile? I realise that this is a pretty depressing topic, especially in a time when most of the readers of ASM are more interested in exams; graduation, drinking, and travelling. That is understandable. But it is worth thinking about. The amount of times I see people update their statuses to something along the lines of: ‘RIP Grandpa’ or ‘RIP my cat’, is enormous. It is often even in reference to people the people making the status don’t know. I realise that people doing this are obviously incredibly upset, and have the right to post on their Facebook whatever they want to,

but is it really necessary? Would you want someone to update their Facebook status the day you die saying that you are dead? I personally wouldn’t. It doesn’t exactly scream tasteful. I guess that a memorial profile is a way of keeping their memory alive and it is kind of like they are still there. But they aren’t. By posting things to their profile like you are expecting a reply, and saying that they have really helped you through your day is weird. The obsession with technology may be preventing us as a generation to process traumatic times like this in a healthier way. For example, you could have conversations with other people that knew the loved one you are grieving over. Having a conversation, well one-sided conversation, with the deceased will not bring them back and it will probably not help you get over them. As horrible as it is, they are not coming back and you need to live your life to the fullest. They, most likely, would have wanted you to. I am not saying don’t think about them - I just think that doing it on their profile probably isn’t the best of ways to do so.

Oh, what a bloody dilemma! Christopher-Cameron McNaught ON SATURDAY 9th May, Hull City FC took on Burnley FC at the KC stadium in the Barclays Premier League, in which a Burnley side went into the game already facing relegation and Hull on the verges. In a game that didn’t reflect upon the score sheet, Hull City will feel that they should have got more out of their 21 shots on target. It took just over an hour for the only goal of the game to come, in which Danny Ings finished from close range after a poor touch from Robbie Brady led to the striker pouncing on the oppurtunity. Now you may be wondering why this belongs in the Opinion section of this newspaper. Hopefully the following will answer your question. Michael Dawson could do nothing but watch as the he stood on the sidelines for Burnley’s corner. Referee Martin Atkinson told the central defender to leave the pitch as there was a tiny amount of blood coming from his nose and landing on his shirt. FA regulations state that a player that is bleeding must be removed from the pitch; can return once it has stopped; and that the player must not return on the pitch, with clothing that has blood on. This is due to health and safety reasons, which is 100% understandable. However, Dawson wasn’t bleeding dramatically. There was a ‘spec’ of blood on his shirt which Steve Bruce added after the game, could have been “wiped away with a handkerchief ”.

Before I carry on, I have to say I am a Manchester United fan with no real passion or hatred for Burnley or Hull, but I can’t help but feel that Hull have been hard done by this. Dawson isn’t by any means a small bloke and can deal with a tiny amount of blood. I completely understand the Health and Safety regulations behind this matter, but I feel that this rule should be revised. By the time Burnley could have set up the corner, Dawson could have wiped up the blood, changed his shirt and be back marking Danny Ings, commanding the defence. This rule is not ridiculous, but needs revision or standardising. If rugby were like football, nothing would get done. You wouldn’t exactly see George North leaving the pitch to change his shirt after a scratch. Players leave the pitch in football for blood related incidents like they do for injuries, which in many cases is necessary. However, a sub-class or revision of this rule should be created for clothing and minor blood incidents. Play should be halted, so player’s like Dawson can get a replacement shirt as quickly as possible and then play can resume. This may not be the most glamorous fixture in football, but it could mean rather a lot to Hull City. With a trip to Tottenham and the visit of Manchester United, in which one of them has to be a win, relegation looks hard to avoid. Unfortunately, it is unlikely for anything to happen as this is not front page news. If this same thing were to happen in a Cup Final, the story would be the same but on a different scale.

Why do we need a Greggs?

Cameron Smyth

SO I WAS In the ASM office the other day, and found out that a Greggs is coming to Aberystwyth. WHY?! We do not need a Greggs! Heard of Y Popty? Briwsion? Hot Bread Shop? Or even 24-hour Spar? We have enough local places, thanks. I personally don’t want this. Now I know that in this wee article I’m going to sound like Joey from Friends when he complains that everything is changing. But, why on earth do we need not only another bakery, but a Greggs too? There are several bakeries around town that are not only local, but really good quality. Everyone loves a good bakery, it smells of goodness when you go in. Greggs won’t. I know that chains have been coming to Aber more and more gradually. With a huge Tesco and Marks and Spencers coming, and the Tesco Express already having arrived this academic year, we are moving towards that way. But I just don’t want to lose what we have. Y Popty is down at the end of my road, and I have to say, I absolutely love it. They are so friendly, and what they make is brilliant. When they have a cheeseburger pastry I am first in the queue. There won’t be that same feeling in a Greggs. I’ve been to Greggs in Reading, and it’s too much about business. What do you want? Here you go. Job done. I want to be going in and be welcomed. That’s what you get with the local bakery. If you were wondering, it’s planned to be opposite Poundland, next to HSBC. When I first came to Aberystwyth in September 2012, I’d go to a bakery or the other local places that we have around in Aber. Times have changed, though. I’m just worried that we are losing the niche aspect of Aber. We’re a small town, and we should embrace it. So please start going to the local bakeries, or butchers, get a Morgan’s bap or a smoothie from Crimson Rhino. You’ll be surprised how cheap it actually is at those places, and trust me - it’s worth it.

The Courier

Opinion aberstudentmedia.com/opinion

May 2015

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GENERAL ELECTION

The good, the bad and the downright ugly Jonny Haseldine IN CASE you’ve been living under a rock since Christmas (or just Borth), last Thursday saw the General Election take place. The reasonably unexpected result has produced all manner of reactions amongst voters: from jubilation, to surprise to downright hostility. I, like many other people, choose not to talk about personal politics most of the time. For starters, it’s nobody else’s business who I voted for or why I chose to vote in that particular way. For the record, I voted here in Ceredigion so it’s safe to assume that I didn’t vote for either of the main two parties. It will take weeks, if not months, for the reality of Thursday’s outcome to sink in, especially within the Labour Party, who have got big decisions to make. In the meantime though, this is what I have learnt/discovered over the last few days. 1. Yes, first-past-the-post (FPTP) is really really crap, and there should be a more proportionate voting method, but it isn’t in the interests of either of the main parties to change the system. Our system is crap, but, at the same time, we should be celebrating the fact that anybody 18+ has the right to vote regardless of their gender, sexuality or

ethnicity. It is ridiculous that, in the 21st Century, there are people across the world still fighting for those rights. On a personal level I believe that not voting is an entirely counterproductive exercise. After all, the majority win because they have a voice. The voiceless need to be given a voice. However, at the same time, to demonise somebody because they have chosen not to vote is both wrong and insulting to that person. If asked, a significant number of those who didn’t vote will probably give a reasonably informed answer, probably that they don’t agree with the system. Arguably, the only way to change a system is to be part of that system in the first place, but don’t demonise somebody for expressing an opinion. Similarly, everyone is entitled to disagree with how others have voted. However, telling people - “You voted Tory? You heartless twat, what’s wrong with you?” is not exactly the best way of winning over swing voters in the marginal seats that are needed if Labour has any chance in 2020. 2. We live in a democracy where we have a right to voice our opinions and articulate this through protest. By all means, go out onto the

streets and protest, but have the courage and conviction to do so. Go out and protest because you b e l i e ve a policy is bad and has an adverse impact on you. Be proud that you are fighting for something and show your face. Don’t hide behind a balaclava or cause pointless vandalism - it’s just unnecessary. Don’t go out with the intention of deliberately causing vandalism and destruction - think about your actions. Your mess will most likely be cleaned up by the relevant council. A council that has, more than likely, been hit with massive budget cuts, meaning that it is unable to distribute money to areas that need it most. I think most of us would agree that we would rather see that money going towards, for example, health and social care, rather than having to clean up needless vandalism. Be angry, but use that anger wisely and productively.

The political makeup of Wales after the General Election

FREE SPEECH

Let’s talk about... A ‘war on free speech’? Cameron Smyth

YOU MAY HAVE heard that, on Sunday 3rd May, a shooting took place in Texas. It was reported by The Independent that ‘two gunmen have been shot dead in Texas after attacking an anti-Islamic event exhibiting cartoons of the Prophet Mohamed; in what the organiser has called an act of “war on free speech”’. A ‘war on free speech’? Really? Let me please put this into context. The event was organised by Pamela Geller, president of the American Freedom Defence Initiative (AFDI), a hate group that has funded antiIslamic campaigns around America. The event offered a $10,000 prize for the ‘best’ artwork or caricature depicting the Prophet Mohammed. Now, I must make it clear that the shooters didn’t actually kill anyone. An officer was shot in the leg, police then reacted and fired back; killing

the shooters. I also must make it clear that I do not think that the act of the shooters should be condoned. I strongly disagree with their actions, but this is not what I think we should focus on. Now there’s two parts to this. The event that the AFDI organised, and their response after with the “war on free speech” are the two points I want to focus on. So what’s wrong with a drawing contest? Nothing. What’s wrong with drawing the Prophet Mohammed? Everything. It is extremely offensive to draw the Prophet Mohammed; as it is not allowed according to Islam, and they consider that to be extremely offensive, as you should not envision him. Not only to draw him, but on top of that to make a competition, and get others to join in, is disgusting. It is gross. If you know that a huge number of people will be offended doing what you do, why do it?

After all, you are only actually offending innocent people. What’s wrong with being a Muslim? Nothing is wrong with being a Muslim. So why offend them? There is no legitimate reason to. Hence why it is completely stupid, immoral and unjust to hold an event such as this. After the event took place, The AFDI described this as an act of “war on free speech”. Excuse me? Free Speech is, of course, extremely important. I fully recognise its importance, being part of a media organisation after all. I truly do think that free speech is important, especially when it comes to holding individual responsible to others. I’m not going to start going into the speech restriction laws that were put in place in 2001 in America. However, a war on free speech is not what this really is. As a term “war” is being used inaccurately as there are certain definitions

and requirements that make a war, which this event does not meet. Free speech is also difficult to define ridgidly, especially when the action is offensive in the first place. This event does not count as an act of war, simply a violent stance against Muslim’s beliefs. Shooting should not have been an option here, yet it is understandable why these people were driven towards what we saw in Texas; especially after years of anti-Muslim actions, not only in America. Those two shooters firstly do not represent the whole Muslim community. But to make this accusation is unfathomable, it’s like suggesting that all white people represent Christianity, and always drink tea. It’s ridiculous. It was an attack on the individuals who decided that disregarding another religions beliefs was acceptable in twentyfirst century society. I understand

this is a distressing turn of events, with gun crime in America at an all time high. However, when you know that you are holding an event such as this; you should expect backfire. Excuse the pun. Remember, in the Bible, where Jesus was mocked by those that did not believe in him. He was also crucified by the Romans. Do we think that it was okay for the Romans to do this? No. So why is it acceptable to mock others for their religious beliefs? In an idealised world, we would all get along and hold pow wows about all the great ideas in the world and share in them together. Unfortunately, we are destined to have a minority, in ever sector of life, that wishes ill of other, rather than just accepting. So I call upon people now to not agree with events such as this and use the term “war on free speech” accurately.

May 2015

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Opinion

If Jamelia had her way, plus-sized women wouldn’t be allowed to be trendy Maisie O’Brien TOWARDS the end of April, in an appearance on Loose Women, Jamelia made some controversial comments about high street shops normalising obesity by stocking plus sizes clothes. In the same breath as saying she supports people being themselves and that everyone should have “access to lovely clothes”, she goes on to say that it’s not right to “facilitate” unhealthy lifestyles. She suggests that high street shops should stock a limited number of plus size clothes and that there should be an increase in specialist shops selling these types of clothes. While many reactions have focused on her comments in relation to overweight women, it’s important to remember that she also directed her comments to people who are size 2 – the size that models tend to be. In fact she targets all women who fall into her idea of what an unhealthy lifestyle is – and yet she fails to define what exactly she means by “the average woman”. I think it’s evident that Jamelia has never had to try and shop for clothes over size 16, if she had then she would be aware that shops already present a limited stock for larger women. If she did then she would know that shops already limit their stock of plus size clothes, and some styles of clothes especially certain styles of hot pants aren’t made for above a size 12. Women’s fashion also doesn’t really make sense size wise, as one size doesn’t fit all for women; all styles are different sizes depending on body type, and depending on the shop. A size 12 in Topshop isn’t necessarily a size 12 in somewhere like H&M or New Look, so when Jamelia is talking about the “average” woman she’s really oversimplifying the issue that some women have when buying clothes. Since anything over size 12 is technically plus size, by calling for plus size stock to be limited you’re probably going to end up putting unattainable limits on who can or cannot be classed as “average”. Instead of shaming women for having body types that don’t fit into your view of what “average” is we should encourage women, particularly young girls, to be comfortable in their own skin and to be confident in who they are. Ultimately it’s important to let young girls know that they

won’t always be the size that they are, and that’s it’s okay to seemingly put on weight as their body develops and grows. At the end of the day weight fluctuates; more muscular women will apparently be overweight according to the body mass index; and, curvier women will obviously weigh more than those who are smaller. The sooner we start normalising this idea, especially for young girls, the better. We also need to stop trying to pressure young girls to look a certain way. It happens all the time, and by limiting the clothing options for certain girls continue to undermine their confidence and growth. Demonising a portion of the population, who are already insecure and trying to grow, is not the correct way to help these women grow and develop. Teaching girls that they can’t be trendy if they’re not a certain size isn’t going to limit the amount of girls resorting to unhealthy practices, as they struggle to be seen as acceptable in society’s eyes. Losing weight can actually be a really expensive and long process, which only becomes easier if you have the support of your peers and your family. It’s seen as unacceptable for young teenage girls to try and lose weight even if they have made the decision themselves, and yet here we are having a discussion about limiting the clothes available for girls over a certain size. Why are we telling girls to not diet, but at the same time we still encourage them to fit into a specific type? Jamelia’s calls for specialist shops will only go to further alienate people who struggle with self esteem issues hinging around their weight and body type - something not everyone can actually control. It’s not like there aren’t already certain shops out there that cater to larger people anyway. Specialist shops already exist for plus size women, like Evans, and they seem to often forget that the people who want to wear their clothes might want to be trendy. This is just one example of the discussion about different body types and fashion, where overweight people tend to be demonised and everyone tries to impose this singular idea of a “healthy weight” or a “healthy lifestyle”. But what exactly is healthy? And why do we always try and fit women into one size that we label “average”?

The Courier

Is Jamelia trying to say that this woman doesn’t look fierce in these dresses?

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An awfully average annual affair... Jonny Haseldine MAY… Summer Ball happened on Friday evening. Overall, it was pretty good, but nothing special. The problem with such an event is that it will, on the whole, never satisfy everybody. The problem with Aberystwyth being in the middle of nowhere is the difficulty it creates when attracting acts for a reasonable price. Example was reasonably good, but nothing particularly amazing. I would imagine he wasn’t particularly cheap to book – he probably did pretty well for 45 minutes of average work. For what the evening was, £40 was probably slightly too expensive. I’d rather pay more for a better standard. I can’t really complain about the night overall because I did have quite a good time. Didn’t enjoy the overpriced ‘cocktail’ bar though. Basically £4 for what was essentially flavoured, sickly sweet water. 2.5/5

The Courier

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SUMMER BALL

ARTS May 2015

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“Are you still here?” Alex Rees Assistant Editor

Main Stage IN A FEW short months, the Great Hall in the Arts Centre will be used for graduation ceremonies for every department at the university, an incredibly dignified moment for all of the students involved. For the Summer Ball, Example used it to put dozens of future graduates on the dancefloor into a headlock. With control of the decks given to DJ Wire for the hair-raising set, Elliot Gleave (e.g., or for example - see what he did there?) took command of the well-dressed masses, bouncing around in neon yellow Nikes and asking the crowd to jump as high as they can in their heels or their dress shoes and eventually, asks them to kiss whoever’s next to them, and headlock them soon after. “Are you still here?” Example regularly yells. Fatigue and alcohol claim more than a few, since it was after 1:30am before Gleave finally took to the stage, but chart-toppers like “One More Day” (subtitled “Stay With Me” so as not to be confused with the other, lesser known “Stay With Me”) and “10 Million People” kept most around. He surveyed the crowd in front of him, and up in the stands, foul-mouthed and pumped to deliver a show for the last big event of the year to the Great Hall, its capacity at nearly 1000. Is Example a rapper who sometimes sings, or a singer that sometimes raps? On Friday night, his stage presence and the beats were more important. The music is club filler at its clubbiest and fullest; but club filler where, to its credit, the genres are mixed faster than at the cocktail bar outside. It’s Ibizacore, it’s snappy pianobased loops, it’s the maximalism of Eurodance and it’s somber lyrics in songs mixed with expensive beats, a combination that goes down so well these days. “All The Wrong Places” is a trance anthem for people who like their trance like they like their hard cider; simple and familiar. It’s a cupcake with an irresponsible amount of sugar and dubstep is the cherry. Example has never been to Yoko’s, but he knows what it takes to get the Yoko’s faithful on their feet, and off their face.

Blackhouse Surprise! UK hip-hop is still great. So Solid Crew, the grime and garage supergroup whose single “21 Seconds” hit Number 1 in the UK fourteen years ago, are still representing the rap scene in the UK, running the stage at Black House with all the energy they had back in 2001, when “Snapchat” meant texting on a flip phone. (Maybe.) The smell of smoke machines and cocktails filled the main room of the Union. Around 10pm, The Joker and Mr. Bean led the dance to scratch artist JFB, lifting their rubber masks to down more cocktails. That, roughly, set the tone for the evening. Like Example, So Solid Crew started late. They didn’t fill the main room, but the front row were always with them; “It’s All Gravy” star Romeo picked up phones from the crowd during the set, filming them, filming himself, as Skepta hits “That’s Not Me” and “Doing It Again” revealed a few

It’s rare that a group who have one hit bigger than any other will start their set with that song. Wheatus, of “Teenage Dirtbag” fame, wait until the very end of their shows, the performance sometimes lasting 10 minutes or more to allow for stage-diving and solos. So Solid Crew were on an entirely different schedule from the start; after all, it’s only 21 seconds before they’ve got to go. Welsh Acts Emma Swindells opened the night on the Cwtch live stage, generally more laid back than the other ones; for every drum & bass sample at Black House, there were two guitars here. It was a tough set for Swindells - punters passed through on their way to the bar or other stages at the beginning of the Ball but her clear voice impressed and many ended up staying, her covers of “Budapest” and “Iris” highlights from her set and the first drunken singalongs of many drunken singalongs to come. If awards are being handed out for style, third act on at the Cwtch, Welsh rockers Y Reu, might take it. Frontman Iwan Fon paced the stage, head low to the ground, in the manner of a bandleader with decades more experience. Drummer Cai Grufydd appeared shirtless save a leather jacket Alex Tanton vest, a far cry stylistically from Lloyd Steele on Yr Eira performing in the Cwtch at Summer Ball. keyboard - musically, their sound was engagingly varied, die-hard fans in the audience, who as well; sometimes despondent rapped along to every word. Gwynedd punk, sometimes dreamy Addressing their captive audience experimental. in the Union’s main room, Harvey From the young and vibrant Y and Romeo made quick friends Cledrau, whose sound was the most with Aber natives by describing the summery at the Summer Ball, to roads the Crew had to drive down the suited four-piece Yr Eira, Welsh to get here. “... I risked my life to voices held their own well against come here, so you’d better rave to more expensive bookings, on the this!” And rave they did. night.

Nadine El-Amami @abersmArts

The Good, the Bad and the Interesting Jay Appleseed

Alex Tanton

Arts Editor

ANOTHER year, another successful Summer Ball. This year’s was a definite mixed bag, but more on the positives. The weather didn’t help at all, but overall, it was an awesome night. If you missed it, here’s a breakdown to get you hyped for next year’s, or, if you did go, a reminder of what happened. The Good: Black House returns with a bang, with an absolutely funky stage, littered with neon and oozing with hype. Headlined by So Solid Crew, our friends over at SWING CITY, Fraktal and Rawkus, alongside Ed Solo and JFB, smashed the Union’s main stage throughout the night. Over at the Cwtch stage, the live acts were no slouch either. Notable acts include Emma Swindells, who provided a beautiful acoustic set, and Noughts & Crosses, who managed to fill out the Cwtch Bar with their simple, energetic covers of favourites, kept up the crowd’s energy through the night, even letting a lucky gal join them onstage. And last but not least, the Main Stage over at the Arts Centre lived up to the hype, with Example clearing out the rest of the Ball as soon as he hit the stage. And boy, did he live up to the hype. Absolutely pumped up set. Honourable Mentions go to the Vegas Casino, which was a wonderful addition to the Ball. From the Prosecco everywhere, to the slot machines to the roulette, it added a touch of warm glitz to what was a rainy Ball. Also to the Arts Centre dancefloor, which played amazing cheese throughout the night, a much needed break from the Main Hall and the Union. If they keep that going as a monthly gig, we might have a new crowd favourite on our hands. The Bad: The catering choice was quite limited; only the usual burgers, hot dogs, and pizza over at the Underground, plus a few stalls over at the fun fair that served sweets. Kudos to the team - the

food was decent, but a little variety would go a long way. While we’re on the subject, the Funfair. While the rides are the tried-and-tested favourites, one can’t help but feel like the whole thing is empty, with three rides including the Terminator (the bench thing). Dodgems would have definitely been a plus here. The wine bar vanished! Quite understandable, since it was halfway replaced by the Vegas tent, the cocktail bar over at the Arts Centre, and the Indoor Beach over at the Picture House. But having a dedicated wine bar over the wooden terrace of the Arts Centre, or even in the Vegas tent, would have been a wonderfully classy touch. Speaking of which, the Indoor beach was quite lacklustre, with a lot of people genuinely missing out on it because it was such a simple setup: a tropical bar in the Picture House. The Interesting: Fun fact: there was indeed a Roaming Magician in the building named Ted. He mostly did card tricks, but his main sell is his charm, of which he had tons to spare. The Katy Perry Tribute was, according to a lot of the partygoers, a mixed bag. Composed of the singer plus two dancers, the act definitely had the vibe spot-on, however her singing apparently needed some finetuning. Personally, she took those well-known hits and made them her own, which is more than what can be said for most tribute acts. Overall, a wonderful starter to what was a smorgasbord of hype and talent. Y Reu, one of the Welsh live bands, definitely had the talent, but personally, they needed a bit more of that Welsh charm to carry them through their set. One to watch out for, though. And there we have it, a quick breakdown of the Summer Ball 2015. Overall, it was a pretty good night. Definitely sets the bar for next year’s Ball.

May 2015

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The Courier

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LIVE MUSIC

Ben Howard: A disappointment Sarah Thornhill Lifestyle Editor I WOULD never have said I was Ben Howard’s biggest fan. Neither would I have chosen to have seen him live. But, when my mum said she no longer wanted her ticket, I couldn’t say no. I went in to the gig with low to no expectations of it being anything compared to some of the other acts I’ve seen before. Sometimes,s no expectations are a good thing, because there is always the chance of being pleasantly surprised. This wasn’t one of those cases. We arrived just in time for Howard to come on stage. Nothing bad could be said about the atmosphere; the crowd were extremely excited, the arena was busy and vivacious. However, when Howard came on stage he proceeded to simply sit down. His energy was comparable to that of a support act. The lighting was so dark you could barely see him; which could have been done to create an artistic ambience, and amplify his voice. That would have been a completely valid decision... if the audience

could hear what he was saying. Whilst Ben Howard’s vocal aesthetic is certainly leaning towards ‘crooned mumbles’, his lack of pauses between words and shocking diction was frustrating at least, and a joke at most. This was made even worse because his guitar and the other instruments in his band were louder than his microphone. On the upside, his backdrop graphics were really funky. But funky graphics don’t make gigs worth going to. As well as this, he didn’t play any of his well known tracks such as ‘Only Love’ or ‘Diamonds’. He did play ‘Keep Your Head Up’, ‘Rivers In Your Mouth’, ‘She Treats Me Well’, ‘I Forget Where We Were’, ‘Back Flies’, ‘Esmerelda’ and a cover of ‘Hideaway’. I realise that most of these songs are from his new album, which he was promoting, but you would expect artists like him to play his most popular songs, even if they are older. Considering he won a Brit award for ‘Best Breakthrough Artist’, you would have thought his live set up would be better. Besides that, I think, even at the highest level of intoxication, I wouldn’t have been

LAST week, the Arts Centre was presented with three of the five dances from the National Dance Company Wales’ Spring Season 2015. The varying styles that the choreographers incorporated made for a diverse evening of dance from this prestigious company, although a common theme of relationships and interaction was evident. Here is a description of each of the dances shown. Walking Mad- by John Inger A strong opening to the production, Walking Mad by Scandinavian choreographer John Inger explored relationships and the contrasting emotions that come from having them. Set to the soundtrack of the Bolero, Inger used nine dancers in solo, partner and group dances to present relationships with oneself or between people. Feelings of celebration, loneliness and fear so closely interwoven in this 20 minutes piece were highlighted using an extremely versatile set comprising of a wall, which allowed the dancers to move through doors, climb and use it as a horizontal and vertical plane. This and the vibrancy of costume and colour meant that

the journey this performance took never ceased to excite. They Seek To Find The Happiness They Seem– by Lee Johnston The mood significantly changed in Lee Johnston’s They Seek to Find Happiness They Seem, which was also an exploration of relationships. However, it focused on the separation and isolation b e t w e e n couples and was presented in a sombre and delicate, yet desperate fashion. Unlike Walking Mad, the interaction between the pair of dancers (Matteo Marfoglia and Natalie Corne on this evening) was kept at a minimum; the couple never had any eye contact – even when making physical contact – until the last moment of the piece, which made it extremely poignant. A more subtle approach of the presentation of a relationship shown in its minimal lighting and no set, this performance used many movements in unison or conversely the two dancers on

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NEW RELEASE

Titus Andronicus return Alex Rees Assistant Editor

able to enjoy the gig – though not for lack of trying. People seemed to feel my pain, as I heard a lot of people complaining, and some people even left midway. It seems quite a few artists of late are losing their following due to how vastly different they are live and on their albums; and fans don’t want to pay for it anymore. I’m just glad my ticket was free...

National Dance Company of Wales Spring Programme Georgia Goody-Miceli

NDCW opposite side of the stage having ‘lost’ each other. This showed the pair’s longing to be together, but a lack of an emotional connection, leading to a feeling of complete isolation throughout, especially at the end of the piece. Tuplet – by Alexander Ekman An intensely exciting and enjoyable dance to end with was Tuplet by Alexander Ekman, a choreographer who frequently incorporates rhythm into his work, so decided to centre a whole piece on the element.

This dance featured six dancers who all performed various examples of rhythms; be it improvising individually to create a wall of sound accompanied by movement, or working in unison to create movement informed by words, conversation or sounds. This dance interchanges the eleven dancers in the company on different nights, allowing room for change in the piece every time it is performed and the amount of effort both physically and mentally that it took to perform was astounding. This piece was very gripping; my only wish was that it was longer, as I did not want it to end.

FOR MANY, WATCHING David Cameron’s slow drive to Buckingham Palace to establish a majority government was accompanied by an internal funeral march. Before lunchtime on May 8th, Farage, Miliband and Clegg had all faced the music. Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP are dancing on their own. How much longer do you think I can stretch this analogy? In this tumultuous election season, it’s nice to hear that there are still punks out there, fighting for themselves and only themselves, still swinging their fists in the pit like everyone in Fugazi isn’t in their 50’s, that aren’t Russell Brand, or, actually, from the UK at all. This week, New Jersey punks Titus Andronicus (who, let’s be honest, are quick to remind you they’re from New Jersey) announced their fourth full-length and their second named for a line from Shakespeare, The Most Lamentable Tragedy. It follows Local Business, that would’ve had a nuclear explosion on the cover if not for a label intervention. Back then, the 2012 presidential race was in full swing, and Titus fans called out for an album that reflected the anger of contemporary America in its sound after their incredible and raw Civil War-inflected sophomore The Monitor; what they got was disappointing for some. Now Titus are back, playing five nights at Brooklyn’s Shea Stadium and sharing their first track from the new album, “Dimed Out.” It’s a return to the frustration and energy of their debut The Airing of Greivances, itself a Seinfeld reference. If the band is one thing, it’s unashamed. And it seems that frontman Patrick Stickles doesn’t seem to have got the memo about punk being succinct and punchy; The Most Lamentable Tragedy spans three vinyl LPs, twenty-nine songs, and ninety minutes. “Dimed Out” is the opening salvo, loud as anything, with an oddly fitting feature from violinist Owen Pallett, who you can just about hear over the noise. Pallett’s In Conflict was one of last year’s perfectly orchestrated albums, and his appearance on this track gives it what it needs to sound fresh, in the face of the huge number of guitar bands that seem to have sprung out of the ground fully formed since Titus’ last outing. From “Your life is over” on The Airing of Grievances to “I bow down not to masters, gods, nor managers” The UK general election has made its final, lumbering steps towards the endgame. In the US, it’s just getting started. Will Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders use the triumphant “Dimed Out” in their campaign videos, a nuSpringsteen anthem to catch the youth vote? It seems unlikely. But Stickles is going to keep fighting either way. The Most Lamentable Tragedy is out July 25th on Merge Records.

The Courier

May 2015

Video games

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Five video games to look out for this year Will Harrison 2014 was not a brilliant year to be a gamer. Serving as the first year for the newly introduced eighthgeneration consoles, there were some high expectations among gamers for a number of releases. Unfortunately, the year passed by with a real mix of events, ranging from unexpected successes, to absolute disappointments. Massively hyped titles, such as Ubisoft’s Watch Dogs and Bungie’s supposedly genre-redefining Destiny, were released to only mildly positive acclaim. Despite the slight disappointment induced by such releases, fortunately titles such as Monolith’s MiddleEarth: Shadow of Mordor and The Creative Assembly’s Alien: Isolation provided us with two surprisingly great games. So what can we expect from 2015? The good news is that a lot of titles that have been hotly anticipated for some time are now nearing completion. The bad news? A lot of these titles haven’t been given an official release date yet, and have only been vaguely slated for 2015 release. While it is hard to say exactly what lies in stock for gamers in 2015, the outlook is pretty positive. Here’s why: 1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – CD Projekt RED – 19th May – PC, PS4, Xbox One Wild Hunt will be the concluding adventure in the saga of Geralt of Rivia, the grizzled monster-slaying protagonist of the The Witcher series. For the first time the series will feature a fully open world, announced to be “20% bigger than Skyrim” by developer CD Projekt RED. The Witcher 3’s predecessors were known for their elaborate story-telling and meaningful decisions, and I’m sure Wild Hunt will not disappoint in this field. Throughout the first two games our hero, Geralt of Rivia, has striven to maintain his neutrality amid increasingly turbulent politics that he is unwillingly drawn further and further into. The Witcher 3 will no doubt include some of the most morally dubious decisions in the series, along with boasting massive consequences based on player decisions. The combat has apparently been fully reworked to go hand-in-hand with the massive open world the game will have to offer, improving on the flaws in The Witcher 2’s combat. The screenshots released so far have been breathtaking, and if the world is truly as large and rich as CD Projekt RED claims, lovers of fantasy and roleplaying games should be in for a real treat with The Witcher 3.

Game play screen shot from upcoming video game - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

2. Batman: Arkham Knight – Rocksteady Studios – 2nd June – PC, PS4, Xbox One Rocksteady have been hard at work on Arkham Knight since 2011, having started development immediately following the release of Arkham City. From what we saw at last year’s E3 conference, Arkham Knight looks absolutely stunning and will significantly build on the open world feature introduced in City. Players can expect to be confronted with a plethora of missions and sidequests, while also being rewarded with re-vamped and improved combat. Arkham Knight will also be the first game in the series to feature the Caped Crusader’s iconic Batmobile. Rocksteady have also announced Arkham Knight to be their final game featuring the DC Comics superhero, and will also be the first in the series to be based exclusively on next-generation consoles. As a result, we can stay optimistic that Arkham Knight will be their most ambitious and bold game yet, and conclude the series with a powerful ending. Arkham Knight was recently granted an ‘M for Mature’ rating from the ESRB. This will make Arkham Knight the first of Rocksteady’s games to only be rated for players 17 and older. To explain the change in rating, Rocksteady have stated that they want Arkham Knight “to deliver a true end with no compromises, and it takes us to some dark places”. Players will be able to step into the boots of the Batman and battle against the forces of returning villain Scarecrow, as well as a new villain: The eponymous, yet currently anonymous ‘Arkham Knight’, this summer on PC, PS4 or Xbox One. 3. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain – Kojima Productions – 1st September – PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One This game truly looks amazing. The Phantom Pain features extreme detail in its characters and animations, most of which have been painstakingly motion

captured and rendered in the highest quality. The previous two major cinematic trailers, released at E3 in 2013 and 2014, arguably portray some of the most realistic looking characters in gaming history. The Phantom Pain will also feature an open world for the first time in the series’ long history. Voice actor Troy Baker suggested that, in comparison, it will make Skyrim look “like an afternoon playpen”. Combining this vast open world with the intense tactical stealth action the series has become known for is a recipe for something really special. While previous entries in the series have been confined to linear environments, The Phantom Pain allows players, for the first time, to freely roam and infiltrate as they see fit. This is to say nothing of the intricate plot that continues from 2010’s Peace Walker, and 2012’s Ground Zeroes. Based on the trailers released thus far, and on the words of game director Hideo Kojima himself, the latest entry in the Metal Gear franchise will deal with highly controversial themes as we see protagonist ‘Big Boss’ descend into villainy. 4. The Legend of Zelda – Nintendo – TBA 2015 – Wii U Only formally unveiled during E3 2014, very little has so far been revealed about the new upcoming Zelda title. However, as with other entries in the franchise, what we can expect is a great deal of adventuring, a vast amount of puzzles, and the return of Link’s horse Epona. It has also been stated

that development of the new game has proceeded with the intention of making many elements of the gameplay “Unique” compared to other instalments in the series. As a result, we can be fairly sure that the new Zelda title will not only return fans of the series to familiar gameplay, but offer something altogether new and different from previous games in the franchise. While a definitive release date has not yet been announced, the latest news regarding this subject emphasized a 2015 release, most likely in the last quarter. 5. Final Fantasy XV - Square Enix – TBA – PS4, Xbox One It would be perhaps unwise to launch into a lot of detail about the gameplay you might expect to experience from XV. Having been in development for so many years now, many aspects of the gameplay and setting have changed significantly over time. What can be said is that the game currently looks superb graphically. The collection of trailers released since the formal announcement of XV have shown some fairly wacky, yet dynamic combat, as well as the stunningly visceral city of Lucis, a major setting in the game. What we do know about XV is that in many ways it will return to the roots of the franchise. There will be a massive open world to explore, with the player driving a car in certain sections as well as the possibility for the return of a staple form of transport in the series: airships. XIII received notable criticism for its linear, corridor traversing setting. XV clearly sets out to remedy this by containing such a large world to explore. It is unclear at present when exactly it will be released, though a playable demo known as Episode Duscae was released on March 20th. We can optimistically hope for a release in the final quarter of 2015, though this is by no means a guarantee. An extended article can be found online, with further information, and a list of additional great looking games that are coming out this year.

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain featuring online game play.

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ABERYSTWYTH

The arts scene Rebecca Jones ABERYSTWYTH Arts Centre and the National Library of Wales are likely the most wellknown institutes in the town to host a multitude of art events, and these are always of a very high standard. Current exhibitions at the Arts Centre include the BP Portrait Award exhibition and the ‘Britain From Above’ exhibition; featuring aerial perspectives of Britain’s key landscapes and buildings. In the summer, the Centre will play host to the annual ‘International Ceramics Festival’, a major event in the ceramic arts calendar. Meanwhile, the National Library of Wales recently had an exhibition on the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, whilst currently on view are painted works by the highly regarded Welsh artist Shani Rhys James. The Library, as is evidenced, often seeks to express the best of Welsh art and artists, so is a great place if you’re looking to immerse yourself in Welsh artistic culture. Near the seafront sits the Ceredigion Museum, which displays mostly local historical artifacts, including an impressive collection of old paintings. These beautiful paintings largely depict the rural locations and seascapes of Ceredigion, building upon its cultural history as a seafaring area. The museum is hosting an exhibition, ‘On Board’, until June 28th, as well as the exhibition ‘Sail Away’, beginning May 22nd and finishing August 2nd. The first features a collection of these paintings, whilst the second consists of artifacts and photographs expressing this seafaring history. Of course, there is also Aberystwyth University’s own School of Art, of which I’ve been a student for nearly four years now. The gallery hosts exhibitions from both local and non-local artists, as well as the teaching staff, who are also art practitioners. Every May, all third year Fine Art students take part in a final year exhibition, which opens this year on May 16th and is displayed throughout the building. This is a fantastic event that promotes the up and coming artistic alumni of the university. Certainly, for me, it is a privilege to have seen some of my best friends get the chance to display the hard work of a three year degree.

LIFESTYLE May 2015

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The Courier

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Lifestyle Editor

Sarah Thornhill

@abersmLifestyle

Why we’re going to miss Aber...

ABERYSTWYTH. A sleepy town tucked away in the heart of Wales. It’s fair to say that the majority of us come here with not a huge idea of what to expect. Most of us come from cities (or at least, big towns) and have a bit of a shock when we realise quite how... cut off it really is! Having said that, once you adjust, you realise that there is actually quite a bit to get involved in and you’re quickly falling in love with one (or many) of the little quirks! We spoke to some of this year’s graduates about what their favourite parts of Aberystwyth are, and what they’re going to miss the most. It’s no surprise that the top answers we got were about the beach, the sea and – most unsurprisingly – the sunsets. Not many students get to study and live at the seaside! It can leave some a bit homesick at first, with one

student saying: “At first I was worried that I’d get lonely and would be constantly homesick, but Aber has become like a second home to me, my friends like a second family, and I’ll miss both it and them so much when I leave”. It has the tendency to do that – a home away from home. One of the other main responses we got were about the people themselves. One person, who asked to remain anonymous, said “Having come out as bisexual in my second year, I’ve never felt safer or more accepted than here in Aber – both in the univeristy and in the town itself ”. Even with high-profile societies such as AberPRIDE and events including Aberration, it’s great to hear that people feel comfortable enough to be who they really are without fear of rejection – and how accepting others are here, whether students or locals. What a fantastic place to spend three years.

Adam Runacers Sport and Exercise Science

I like that there is something for everyone as Aberystwyth has a range of sports clubs and societies, and I second Will’s point, too, that is probably the best thing about Aber. Cameron Smyth International Politics

It has a great and very friendly atmosphere. You can walk down the street and often see someone you know, it has such a great community feel. Also there are Deathstars! Not just that, the sports and societies create a sort of family that help you get through and enjoy university life. Emily Rowe English

All the stresses and trials of student life seem worth it for one sunny day in Aberystwyth!

ChristopherCameron McNaught Geography

My time in Aber has been fantastic. I have met so many people; become friends with so many of them and created memories to last a lifetime. Over my three years in Aberystwyth, and four years of being a student, I have learnt so much; not only academically, but about myself. Aber has helped me make the step into maturity. The Aber experience is like no other, and to make the best out of it you have to engage with everything that Aber offers – good or bad. This way you learn. I have had the time of my life here and I will take the memories and friendships with me throughout life. Will Woodcock Business Finance

I like the tightknit community that Aber enjoys, where you always bump into people you know.

Jonny Haseldine

International Politics

Aber is just a fantastic place to be - full of friendly people, beautiful scenery and, of course, the sunsets. Oh, and RON the seagull! Alex Stuart

Computer Science

An Osprey and red kite center on our doorstep, constant events, wonderful landscape and, of course, those sunsets. It’s a photographer’s paradise! Andrew Simpson Regional and Environmental Policy (MA)

I’ve had an incredible four years at Aberystwyth, and it will be a sad day when I leave in September. I won’t just be leaving a place where I have studied, but a place that I have called home. The memories and friendships will stay with me, though, for a lifetime.

The Courier

May 2015

Student living

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lifestyle@aberstudentmedia.com

TRY SOMETHING NEW

Get into stargazing Jessica Lewis

WITH the first eclipse since 1999 inspiring people across the UK to admire our night skies, I am here to share my favourite places that provide spellbinding views of our neighbouring galaxies. Although the sky at night is at its prime during the winter, don’t feel disheartened as there are plenty of extraordinary sky events taking place over the upcoming months. Throughout the summer, there will be a chance to see some remarkable and inspiring wonders of the sky. If you are new to stargazing, or just don’t know where to start, there are some upcoming events to keep your eye out for. With Venus set to grace our skies on June 6th, the planet truly shines on July 10th as it heads back down towards the sun. This is a perfect opportunity to head outside and see our beautiful sister planet. Another unearthly event is due to happen on June 30th, with Venus and Jupiter seeming to only be a short distance away from each other. Venus being remarkably shy, this could make for an excellent opportunity to free your diary’s and head down to a suggested stargazing spot for an eye catching affair. August 12th brings us the impeccable Perseid meteor shower. With last year’s moon glowing so bright it became somewhat of an irritant to those wanting a dark sky to watch the action, this summer the moon is due to be a few days before new, therefore hopefully providing a clear darkened night for the incredible display. With many more incredible events happening this summer, what better way to make the events a little more memorable than to take to some of the suggested spots with your binoculars and take in the incredible spectacle our galaxy has to offer: Bwlch Nant Yr Arian Bwlch Nant y Arian is an outstanding forest recreation centre Alex Tanton

in the heart of Mid Wales. This year they have put on events for new and aspiring stargazers to admire the alluring, mesmerizing and deeply divine sky at night. With the recreation centre only being 9.8 miles out of Aberystwyth, it is an easily accessible location for any keen locals to check out the striking consolations and what possible comets could be shooting about. Aberystwyth Cliff Railway Although this location is almost centre to the town, on a clear night the sky is covered in a blanket of stars. It does come with quite a hike but the view really is remarkable. As it is a darkened area a torch and suitable walking shoes are advised so this location is prefect for the more adventurous stargazers. Whether you’re a student of Aber or a resident constitution hill is a fantastic place to admire the night sky. Borth Coastal Walk With Borth being 7 miles North of Aberystwyth, local stargazers can take to the open plan coast and soak in the glorious sights that the night sky has to offer. This location is not only beautiful in the day but, providing the Welsh weather permits it, is truly beautiful at night. With the coastal walk being 6.5 miles long, it provides an excellent length of pathway to set up shop and appreciate the view. Borth consti stars There are many more incredible stargazing locations across Wales and the UK. For any keen stargazers, the Dark Sky Discovery website (http://www.darkskydiscovery.org.uk/) is brilliant for keeping up with events and finding out all the best locations. You can also catch up on all the stargazing you missed over winter by tuning into Stargazing Live on BBCiplayer or YouTube. So get out those dusty binoculars, and marvel at the wonders of our universe.

@abersmLifestyle

TECHNOLOGY

Are smart watches worth it? Andrew Simpson Editor WITH the latest technology fad becoming the use of a smartwatch - what’s all the fuss about? And, is this something that is worth getting, or just another gimmick. With Apple Watch finally going on sale, I still can’t find myself getting that excited about it. The watches have been branded as the next big thing in technology, and something that will revolutionise the watch and personal technology. I will admit, these smartwatch devices are pretty powerful - they can send text messages, allow you to access apps such as Facebook, give directions, log how much you walk and even track your heart rate. This is great, this is cool. But, can’t we already do most of this on

a smartphone? I get that’s pretty nifty that it can all be done from a small portable device which we can have on our wrist, but will that stop us from using our phones? I doubt it and, in fact, most of the features I mentioned still require you to have a smartphone within close proximity to the watch in order for them to work. For example, the smartwatch cannot act as a phone unless your actual phone is in range - making the ideal aspect of running with no devices somewhat obsolete. So they’re smart, but not THAT smart. They are another device that is linked via Bluetooth, but this time, rather than being a portable speaker, they are a portable visual display. As an outdoorsman, I can see the benefits of having something like this - taking it along while hiking

up a mountain could be incredibly useful. Tracking how far you have gone and where you are by just checking your wrist could revolutionise hiking to an extent. Elsewhere, they could prove useful in cycling or going to the gym for the various heart rate and health monitors that can be enabled. Then again, you could do all this on your smartphone or a much cheaper fitness tracker technology that are becoming increasingly available. Speaking of price, smartwatches can be surprisingly cheap all things considered. The Sony Smart Watch, which is android compatible, comes in at £99. The Apple Watch, on the other hand, is looking to be more in the £400+ after its recent April release. I’ll admit that it would be cool to have a play with a smartwatch, but I’m quite sure the novelty would disappear quite quickly. This device, I feel, is more for the tech fans than the general consumer.

ASM Lifestyle team’s day trip to Cardiff Rebecca Jones, Will Salmon and Sarah Thornhill ON MARCH 15th, we decided to venture to the city that serves as a beacon of cosmopolitan light in the eyes of many an Aberystwyth University Student; Cardiff. We felt this would be the biggest and most exciting of our weekly ‘Lifestyle’ related challenges, and were all looking forward to what the day would bring. Just a few hours down the road, but a world away, the Welsh capital, Cardiff, is an ideal destination for a day out or even a weekend away from the Aberystwyth bubble. Will looked at ticket prices and it was only about £10 for a return on the bus - which is a steal, so we went for it. After breakfast, we then went on a mission to find where the bus stop was to take us to Cardiff Bay. The bus gave us a pit stop tour including the Millennium Centre. It is a beautifully striking building, with poetic words by Welsh poet Gwyneth Lewis famously immortalized in giant lettered form upon the front. Here, regeneration has replaced the docks from where South Wales’ coal was exported around the world with fancy restaurants, bars and coffee shops. There are also some iconic Welsh landmarks here, including the Wales Millennium Centre, which frequently plays host

to touring West End shows, plus the National Assembly’s Senedd building. After taking a leisurely stroll through the bay area, we made our way to the food court. Eventually, we settled on an American themed diner. The restaurant, named ‘Eddie’s Diner’, happened to feature on an episode of Doctor Who, a TV series which formed another part our exploration of Cardiff (more on that in a bit). A round of proper burgers, cheesy fries and American drinks went down a treat, so this diner is a definite recommendation. The diner was decorated in 50’s American style, complete with jukeboxes and waitresses in vintage uniforms. The prices here were reasonable and the burgers were tasty, although, we didn’t think much to their cheesy fries – there wasn’t any real cheese, just an artificial sauce! After lunch, we had a walk along the prom towards a Norwegian church and the Doctor Who experience, which only costs £12 to get in with an Aber card. This gives you an hour’s personal viewing of the filming of a scene and entry to the museum. They said you need at least three hours in total so if we had gone there we wouldn’t have been able to go to the shops and Sarah wanted to go to Primark, so we went to the shops.

The city boasts some real local gems, particularly vintage clothing shops and cafes. St David’s meanwhile, is filled with a multitude of famous high street shops. If you are a shopaholic, then Cardiff will more than meet your needs, selling everything from arts and crafts, books, jewelry and makeup, clothing, and everything in between. We ate at the Red Hot World Buffet, which is an incredible allyou-can-eat restaurant boasting a huge selection of global cuisines. There is so much choice it feels almost ridiculous. Almost. There was a traditional British Sunday roast, sushi, Indian and Chinese dishes, Italian pizza and pasta, Mexican and an American-style barbeque. The dessert selection was also huge, with different puddings, an ice cream parlour and waffles. Everything was both good quality and good value, with the meal setting each of us back around £14. We left feeling satisfyingly full and headed back to the bus. On the journey home, we all agreed that Cardiff is a great city to spend a day exploring. If you’re considering a visit, bring along a group of friends and have a fantastic day of culture, shopping and food. A visit to Wales’ exciting capital is to be recommended to all Aber students.

May 2015

The Courier

Student living

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lifestyle@aberstudentmedia.com

@abersmLifestyle

Seven ways to beat exam procrastination Holly Hayward YES, IT’S THAT time of year again, when you’re sitting in a revision lecture wishing desperately that you’d actually paid attention in lectures and attended your seminars. You suddenly realise that you do actually need to know stuff for your exams, resulting in a mad panic at the overload of ‘revision’ you need to do. Just the sight of the long list of topics to catch up on makes your heart beat faster and feels like a full workout; resulting in you immediately needing a break; and it’s really easy for this short break to turn into a full day of procrastination. So here are seven possible ways you’re procrastinating, and potential solutions to the problems:

or pair of shoes you ‘needed’ so desperately, once you have completed your exams to the best possible effort you could have put in.

Problem Two: You keep getting hooked on funny YouTube videos Solution: We’ve all been there. You start off listening to a song, then think a particular vlog looks interesting in the sidebar, and soon you find yourself watching someone prank call pest control, and the whole notion of revision has just completely slipped your mind. Instead of letting this happen, allow yourself to watch perhaps two videos for every successful 40 minutes of work you do.

Problem Four: You keep checking suddenly becomes unbearable and you get a sudden urge to give your student house a Facebook Solution: No, nothing new and exciting has happened on your newsfeed since you refreshed the page five minutes ago. It’s not essential you like Amelia’s new profile picture, or that you know Dave is in Cambrian having a casual drink, or the girl you never liked at secondary school has just got engaged. It may sound drastic, but if Facebook is your biggest procrastination problem, it’s probably best to just deactivate your account, even if it’s only from the hours of nine till five each day.

Problem Five: You’re spending too much time making/eating/buying food

Problem Three: You keep stopping Solution: Revision week isn’t the time to work every five minutes to choose a decide you’re going to become a culinary new song genius and attempt to make your own

Problem One: You keep getting Solution: Instead of listening to individual chicken pot pie, complete with home-made distracted by online shopping songs, try listening to a full album. This way, pastry. Stick to simple, quick meals that Solution: With a limited number of shops, online shopping is very popular among us Aberystwyth students. Especially during revision time, the pull of new clothes may be too strong to ignore, resulting in wasted hours trawling through pages and pages of potential purchases. But no more; simply use the equation ‘½ hour revision = £5’ – at the end of the day you can spend accordingly to how many hours of work you’ve put in. Or you can bribe yourself with that new dress

you don’t have to keep stopping to change the song, and at the same time you also have a built in timer; you must work solidly without any distractions until the album comes to an end. It sounds tough, especially if you’re like me and can’t stay focused for very long at all, but my flatmate and I found this method highly effective last year during revision week. The relief you feel when the music stops playing, accompanied with the sense of achievement, is brilliant.

don’t require a lot of preparation. Also, don’t mistake boredom for hunger; I’m guilty of it, too. As soon as I hit a certain point, the first thing I want to do is raid the fridge. Have snacks near you to avoid wasting time choosing what you fancy.

Problem Six: You’d rather clean the kitchen than revise Solution: Even though you’ve lived in the filth for four months without caring, it

deep clean. You can’t focus on work in an untidy environment, can you? So you spend the next two days washing, hovering and dusting. Just no. If it is absolutely imperative to clean the house, get everyone to join in. Each take a certain room or a certain job, and you’ll have it done in no time.

Problem Seven: You’ve started binge watching a new series Solution: We’ve all been there. You’re about to get down to some serious revision, when you suddenly become alerted to the fact that the new series of Suits has just been added to Netflix. Or you decide now is the perfect time to start watching Lost; your housemate has been banging on about it for ages, so it must be worth it. Or maybe the new Game of Thrones series is coming out, and you desperately need to re-watch the last series in preparation. Whatever the reason, if you’re not careful, binge watching the series may become inevitable. To combat this, limit yourself to a few episodes before bed as a reward for a successful day of revision. So there you have it; seven simple solutions to seven procrastination problems. > Share your tips on our website www.aberstudentmedia.com

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POSTGRADUATE EDUCATION

Thinking of further study? A survival guide to a Master’s degree Rebecca Jones WAY BACK in December 2013, I was in the first term of my final year of undergraduate study, jumping the last hurdles of the three year BA course in Art History I had begun as a nervous eighteen year old. The dissertation was well underway, I was on course to receive First Class Honors and, although sad to leave, I had ultimately been looking forward to the end of University and the beginning of a new journey. Yet, as those first couple of months rolled by, I was becoming increasingly concerned over just how prepared I felt to enter the outside world of job hunting. The more I thought about it, the more I believed that I could learn and grow from a fresh University experience. I simply did not feel wholly ready to leave behind the environment which had nurtured my confidence and which I felt I had so much more to give to and gain from, both socially and academically. I decided that a year of postgraduate study would be the most fruitful option. The experience, I felt, would provide another year to learn and

grow, to become more professional and well versed in the area of Art History, and thus hopefully better my chances of landing an Arts related job. Whilst filling in the application forms, I questioned myself so many times. Was I making the right choice? Would I regret it by missing out on a better opportunity? In the end, I ignored these doubts and finally sent the application in by the early New Year of 2014. Once the summer results came, my predicted First Class Degree became a reality and I was accepted onto the MA, much to the amazement of a girl who believed she would be lucky to get a 2.2 in her first year. So, what have I learned so far on the MA journey? Well, firstly, I certainly don’t regret the decision to pursue the degree. This is something which I feel is crucial because if you can walk away without regret no matter how the experience pans out, then that is a triumph all its own. It is always important to remember that, no matter how tough an experience is, there is always room to learn from it and to mature. You have

likely already experienced the challenges of undergraduate study, and this should be used to help you adapt to the intensity of an MA course. Indeed, when I write that the course is more intense, I’m not writing lightly. It begins to feel like two years’ of study packed into one tightly squeezed year. Moreover, whilst the undergraduates who embody the freedom you once owned skip out of the lecture hall by June, free of coursework, you are required to complete the rest of your MA over the entire summer if you are a full-time student. An important consideration is organisation. If you think of

organisation as the world cup of the undergraduate experience, then it becomes the holy grail of postgraduate study. For me, organising my extra-curricular experiences - such as volunteering and societies - alongside my work has been a particular challenge. Meanwhile, the MA workload is so great that you can begin to slip out of focus, so it is important that it remains an organised priority. This takes me on to my next point; think carefully about when and why you undertake postgraduate study. I began mine straight after my BA, and this I feel has had both positive and negative repercussions.

As previously mentioned, the workload is much more intense and as such, undertaking an MA straight after a three year course requires significant determination. It would have been nice to have a break after all that study to refresh my mind and to prepare myself better for the course. Therefore, I would recommend you consider carefully if an immediate postgraduate study is for you, or if it is wiser to leave it for a later time of your life when you have gained other experiences. Lastly, remember that the course is aimed at those who want a more challenging, in-depth look at the subject; to better their knowledge and responses to the subject, and to feel better prepared to incorporate what is learnt into a professional career. As such, it is wise to take the course (especially with the larger yearly cost in comparison to a year’s undergraduate study) primarily if you plan to use it for professional growth. Don’t let that put you off though, as people undertake study for different reasons. If you have a passion for the subject and are willing to work hard, then that is a key prerequisite.

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Travel

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May 2015

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Lacrosse on tour: a trip to Catalonia Sarah Thornhill Lifestyle Editor OVER EASTER, many university sports teams took flight to Europe to take advantage of the sports tournaments, good weather and cheap drinks. Aberystwyth was not an exception. I was one of the lucky individuals who took part in this opportunity to escape the ‘Aber bubble’. We took the bus to Salou, which is an experience I wish to never repeat. The first two full days we had there were supposed to be spent playing mini lacrosse games against other universities. We went on the first day; leaving the hotel at 9am; and only being given a 10 minute game of mixed lacrosse. We left the sports complex around 4pm. There were minimal staff and a complete lack of organisation. Feeling like we had wasted a day, we did not return the following day, and hit the beach instead. The beaches were a beautiful golden colour, and, considering the time of year, the sea was not completely freezing in temperature. Salou is unlike anywhere I have been before. It is very touristy, which is obviously where it receives most of its income, and as a result it is slightly

tacky. However, there are some extremely nice places, especially on the seafront to eat and drink - with some funky and modern décor. On the last night a few of us decided to eat out at one of these funky restaurants. I had a delicious goats cheese and spinach pizza. Between us, we ordered a 5l cocktail, which was also extremely tasty, and we were all a little tipsy by the end of our meal, mainly because we were given extra shots and another mini-cocktail between us on the house. On our final full day we went on our chosen excursion. I chose to go to Barcelona, which is about an hour from Salou. The rest of the Aber Lax group chose to go on a boat party, apart from a few who didn’t chose any, and went back to the beach instead. I soon hit Barcelona on my own. When I say alone, I mean I didn’t go with anyone I know, although it was an organised trip. We were all given 6 hours to do what we wished in Barca, so long as we arrived where we were dropped off in time for going home. Determined to go to the famous Gaudi’s house and the church that isn’t finished (Sagrada Familia), I headed to tourist information. The lady was extremely

helpful and marked on a map where I had to go. Armed with this map, I navigated myself through their metro (much easier to work out than the tube), alighted and followed the signs to Gaudi’s gardens. These signs directed me up a hill, which had multiple escalators built in to it. When I reached the top, the views were breathtaking, as you can see the whole of Barcelona. The house was also very pretty, costing only a nominal 8 euros to get in, although you have to wait in a never-ending queue to get served, and the signs to ticket points are scarce, unless you come through a main entrance. Having little time I didn’t wait around in the gardens, I headed to the main street to catch the bus the TI lady told me I had to get on to get to the church. It took me about half an hour, five people, and a lot of stress to find the bus. When I got on I had a really bad feeling I was going the wrong way, which was confirmed by a friendly local pointing at my map, but the bus would go around in a circle; right? Wrong. The bus driver kicked me off near the street Diagonal (the longest street in Barca), and another local told me I was nowhere near the church and I had to get on a metro (again). After not eating since breakfast, and all this getting lost, I decided to stop for a much needed lunch break; and asked once again for directions. I headed back to near the marina to soak up the atmosphere with a gin and tonic. The manager of the restaurant assured me I was within walking distance of the church, and would definitely make my bus, so I decided to give it one last push. I made it to the church and it turned out I had to prebook tickets for tours. Alternatively, I could have paid for a ticket to go on a tour at 5pm, which was too late because I had to be back on the bus for 5pm. So, sadly, I had to just be satisfied with looking at the church from the outside, and I truly believe it will be beautiful once it is finished. I got back on the metro and ended up going the wrong way,

Josie Nemeth but on the right line, so I had to get off at the next stop and get back on. I got back to the place where I first got on the metro and had a walk along the marina - up to what looks like another church. I managed to barter for a can of Fanta Lemon for 35 cents. My last 35 cents. I only just made the bus back to Salou, because I saw people walking with hotel wristbands on. It turns out I was waiting at the wrong roundabout. I made it out of Barcelona alive. All in all, I am glad I went to Salou. I think for what we paid we got a fairly good deal, even if I did come back with laryngitis from drinking too much alcohol. However, I doubt I will be rushing to go back. I definitely intend to go back to Barcelona, because I feel I have a lot left to see and need more than six hours to see it. It was good to be away with lacrosse, especially those who are graduating, because it is an opportunity I may not have again.

Moving in a different direction to the land of the maple leaf Will Salmon CANADA: home to moose, maple syrup, mountains and from this summer; me. Yes, after three years of university I am upping sticks from Blighty and heading across the Pond on a two year Canadian working holiday. ‘Why?’ I hear you ask. Well, one of the main reasons for the move is to finally close the 3,500 mile gap between my girlfriend and I after a two-year, transatlantic, long-distance relationship. I am also excited by the prospect of working and experiencing life in another country, and all the opportunities this will

bring. Those who know me well will tell you that I love to travel; indeed, it’s one of my favourite things in life. Being based in Toronto will suit me as it will mean some of North America’s top tourist destinations are within my reach. For instance, the world-famous Niagara Falls is just an hour out of town, while places like Ottawa, Montreal and the Europeaninspired Quebec City are easily accessible. The U.S. border is also close by, making trips to New York and Chicago a real possibility. Of course, a move to the other side of the Atlantic Ocean also has its downsides. The three and a half thousand miles

“The reality won’t kick in until we have to say goodbye”

between my girlfriend and I will be replaced by the same distance, a five hour time difference and a seven hour flight between myself and my family and friends back in England. I’m already nervous about this, but the reality probably won’t really kick in until we have to say goodbye at the airport security checkpoint. I’m sure I will miss the little things about living in Britain, too; people using the same sayings as me, proper tea and biscuits, bacon sandwiches and quality BBC telly. Nevertheless, it’s important that I stay positive and remember that this is part of the adventure – after all, I can’t stay in my small Westcountry hometown forever. I’m looking forward to showing visitors from home the sights in my new city, and getting fully involved in different aspects of Canadian life

and the new experiences this will bring. To apply for a Canadian w or k i n g holiday visa, patience is a must-have trait. Safe to say, the process was long and complicated, with a months-long wait for the initial limited quota of work permits to become available. Having finally secured a provisional place on the International Experience Canada initiative, I then had to wait again before hearing that I had been approved by the immigration authorities. Now, I have to liaise with BUNAC (Bunac Travel

Services Ltd), who are organising my working holiday, in order to prepare for my arrival in Toronto.

“I am looking forward to getting involved in all aspects of Canadian life”

On top of this, I have to find flights and insurance – this international moving business doesn’t come easy, nor does it come cheap!

Despite the hurdles, I am feeling optimistic as I look forward to making the move in a few months’ time. This working holiday will provide me with a fantastic opportunity to learn about, and see more of, this beautiful country. Now I best get to work, and start learning the words to O Canada.

FEATURES May 2015

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Graduates: what’s next in life? Andrew Simpson Editor YOU’RE finishing up your exams, preparing to leave Aber... but what’s next in life? There are a lot of options - whether it be continuing study, taking a year out or jumping straight into the world of work; there is plenty to think about. If you’re like me and not quite ready to leave Aber, then there’s always the options of staying on and doing a Masters. Chances are, it’s not too late to apply and see about getting a place on a course. The main issue, of course, is financing it. There are some scholarships available, but not as many as there used to be. You could try to get a bank loan or a part-time job. With the part-time job, you could double up and do the job while doing the Masters over two years - two more years in the bubble! Alternatively, you may find yourself wanting to study further and also wanting to move on from Aber. Again, there are still courses you can try applying for, you just need to look out there. There are also short courses which could be a useful option for some who are trying to learn specific skills for a future job. A gap year is another option, and one that I regret not taking. There will be minimal opportunities in our lives where we won’t be tied to a full-time job. This could be a once in a lifetime opportunity to go and try out something new. Whether it is literally backpacking across Europe, or looking at the various programmes that are out there. Maybe go and teach English in China? Work with those in need in India or Africa? There are bundles of different opportunities out there

- you just need to look. Getting a job can be daunting. There are so many different things to apply for, but what is the right thing to apply for? Are you qualified enough for it? Are you too qualified for it? Competition can also be rather fierce for many jobs, particularly graduate jobs. The advice I can give is to get everything set regarding applications. A well-polished CV, practice answers to questions for both online and in person interviews, sign up to LinkedIn and make sure you have references agreed with previous employers or tutors. Once you have all this, then you’re ready to start applying for pretty much anything that takes your fancy. If you don’t try, then you don’t get. If the job hunt isn’t going well, then there’s always the option of looking for an internship or short placement. These can be paid or unpaid depending on the company but are a great way to build up experience. Things like this are not always advertised, so ask around and send emails to companies enquiring if you can come in and do some work for them. It’ll help improve your CV and hopefully lead you on to more opportunities. All in all, it’s a scary prospect leaving Aber and the bubble and, as much as we sometimes get annoyed by it, it is still one of the best places to have studied in terms of student experience. Whatever you decide to do, don’t panic - there’s time to make a choice. Don’t be idle either though, keep looking on the web for opportunities, there are so many out there, hopefully, you’ll soon stumble across something that is perfect for you.

The Courier

Alex Tanton

Features Editor Emily Rowe

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“Next year, I’m going to Liverpool to get a job but also to be somewhere that I can play drums all the time. I can’t wait to be in a city, I grew up in an even smaller Welsh town, so it feels like a natural progression.” Joel Hughes, Advertising Manager

“Aberystwyth has been great. It’s given me a year abroad, chances to play rugby, meet great people from across the world and also a chance to have a go at journalism. Next I’ll be heading to Cardiff to study a Master’s in Broadcast Journalism in September.” Illtud W. Dafydd, Sports Editor

Alex Tanton

“I have mixed emotions about leaving Aber! 3 years of your life is quite a considerable amount of time at our age yet as sad as I am, I am extremely excited to get out and explore. I am heading to Australia after Aber for 12 months and I can’t think of anything that could be more different. Aber has taken me through a journey in which I have come out the other end more mature, more confident and more knowledgeable (good job really). However, as far as I go, Aber will always have a place in my heart.” Christopher-Cameron McNaught, Radio Manager

“Aber has been a wonderful experience. Full of memories and friends that I will keep for years to come. It’s shown me that even the smallest of places can have the biggest of dreams. So taking that into consideration a masters in management is the next step for me and hopefully my own business will come after that! Thank you to everyone who has supported and helped me in the past three years! I wish you all the best.”

“Coming home with stories of bonfires on a beach right on your doorstep and all the quaint eateries and cafes you just HAVE to show your parents and mates, I’ll miss that. Aberystwyth has changed me so much for the better; I’ve got nothing but love for my Student Media family, I’ll miss them most of all. Now I’m off to Europe and beyond to teach English, all inspired by the excellent support and awesome vibes in this little gem of a Welsh town.”

“Don’t come to university for a degree. Come to find a passion that you can show enthusiasm towards, to lead a society, to make life-long friends, to explore your subject area’s deepest depths. I’ll leave with a year spent working abroad in Germany, a year presiding over AberPhotoSoc, a year spent as the IMPACS institute representative. It all happened because I came to university not just to learn, but to live.”

Rhian Hughes, Chair

Daniel Oldham, ASM Member

Alex Stuart, ASM Member

The Courier

Features

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May 2015

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GREEN BAY

How do you get students to be more green? Andrew Simpson Editor WHEN considering what the next Green Bay column would be, I was trying to think about how we can really make a difference as students at universities. So, I found myself on the NUS website and their Students’ Green Fund. This a programme that endorses student-led initiatives and sustainability projects, by providing funding to students’ unions to create projects that develop proenvironmental behaviour. So far, the Green Fund has helped 25 projects across a number of students’ unions. These projects have advanced thinking about proenvironmental behaviour change within universities and higher education. My degree has opened my eyes to

behavioural change and the merits and concerns with regards to the different methods that have stemmed from it. Many things take time, and need to be installed into the every day to have an effect; or they will just be undertaken for a few weeks and then be forgotten. The projects that the Green Fund have already undertaken have developed such ideas as greening halls and homes, to providing sustainable disability transport and creating growing spaces for students to use. If we take the example of growing spaces, we can take a look at the Lancaster project that has grown

Photos by Tomos Nolan from an acre growing site to six acres with the support of the Green Fund. These growing sites are spread across the Lancaster University campus and enable students to engage with sustainable

food production. It is said that some 3000 students have engaged and participated with this project. It’s programmes like this that really do make a difference; they change our everyday attitudes and behaviour. We see the sustainable food growing, and we think that this is something that we should be involved with. This can later allow for further proenvironmental behavior as it makes you think more about ‘being green’

and hopefully, after three years of sustainable eating habits, you might just take that away with you after you leave. So, I ask you to find out more about the Green Fund, and to come up with a worthy project that you can lobby to our Students’ Union to apply for funding. The university is moving towards more sustainable practices, and having something that is student-led will definitely help, and also outline that this is important - and it really is.

SOCIETY SPOTLIGHT

Interview: Nomadic Players Nick Saunders WE INTERVIEWED the Nomadic Players Drama and Theatre Society, at the site of one of their May performances, with current president, Kieran Davies, and incoming president, Alex Grey. So for starts, the Nomads were very recently nominated for best society of the year; why do you think that was? Kieran: I think it’s down to the vast amount of members we have brought in this year, as well as the number of successful shows we’ve pulled off so far. Alex: For me, personally, it’s the fact we’ve had several successful shows, the fact that we are a friendly and welcoming society full of great hard-working people. It’s also the fact we manage to pull people in from multiple different courses, be it Drama, English, even some sciences, which is always interesting. Kieran: Yeah, myself as Mathematics, Dan Hodgekiss (recent lead in Takin’ Over the Asylum) is Zoology, Kath Stannard (production manager) is Law. A fairly diverse crowd. Not to mention diverse shows. This year you’ve done Of

Mice and Men, Charley’s Aunt, Takin’ Over the Asylum, and Unprotected – all fairly different plays with different challenges - is there a limit as to what style of show to do? Kieran: Yeah, and we did God of Carnage, and our shorts as well. This year we’ve shown we can pull off a vast range of shows from comedies to intense plays, classics, immersive, as well as complex and distressing themes within plays. Alex: I suppose in theatre there’s always a limit, but mainly in terms of sets I guess! Unprotected is perhaps the most different style people will see this year; it’s unlike anything that’s been done for a long time. Takin’ Over also had its challenges, having to focus on quite a delicate subject of mental illness and how it’s perceived. Charley’s and Of Mice and Men still had challenges for the time period, which is a bigger challenge than some may believe. Kieran: Yeah, like Alex said, we’ve had challenges such as the mental illness themes; true life stories in Unprotected; a vast array of accents and periods, but I feel we’ve overcome each obstacle impressively well, which is a huge credit to each and every one of our members.

So obviously, these shows have a massive amount of work in them and the performances must be a fantastic highlight, what are the other big events of the year for Nomads? Alex: The 15th anniversary was a big event, even if we had a show, it was still a nice event to introduce several new Nomads (including myself) to the kind of things we do. And of course the awards, to really recognise the hard work from everyone in the society, be they the actors, directors, tech team and so on. Kieran: Yeah the huge event is the Nomad Oscars which rewards all the hard work the members have done, we have the standard awards like Best Actor and Best Show as well as some amusing ones like Best Ad-lib, and the one to really recognise the hard work of members and what they’ve done for the society across their whole time at University with awards like Lifetime Achievement Award. Like Alex said, with this year being our 15th Anniversary, every social has aimed to be big and each of our events, shows included, have the goal of celebrating this huge occasion. So you’ve more than doubled the average

seven year society life span? 15th birthday, a big year for Nomads. Kieran, how would surmise how this last year has been for Nomads and Alex, how would you sum up the next year for Nomads? Kieran: It’s been inspiring, this year saw a completely new generation of Nomads come to the stage and each of them have been amazing to work with, we’ve had a lot of problems on our way through the year, but the shows have been amazing and the improvement we’ve seen in each member has been outstanding! Also I’ve seen once again this year that if ever a Nomad has problems, the society is always there in full force to support them. Alex: It was great to be a part of the society this year, we hope to keep up the welcoming atmosphere, put on even more fantastic shows that are more diverse than ever. It was amazing to see the society nominated for Society of the Year, but I’m sure my committee will agree with me when I say that next year, we will be the Society of the Year. > Further society spotlight can be found on our website: www.aberstudentmedia.com



May 2015

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Jonny Haseldine and Maisie O’Brien

taxes. That is the key question as far as I am concerned for the next stage in our development. If we are going to improve our economy then the widest range of possible levers available from a tax perspective and borrowing powers are essential. So, the next stage in our development requires parity with Scotland and that is why we have put that question at the heart of our election campaign. Parity in terms of resources but, crucially, also powers as well. We would like, and I published a series of ideas in a paper last summer called Bring our Government home which outlines a model for moving towards writing our own constitution and allowing the citizens to shape the Welsh constitution and I would like to see us moving in that direction and obtaining the powers that we need to shape society in the direction that we want to. Jonny: The local campaign literature here in Ceredigion states that the Liberal Democrat candidate, Mark Williams, has voted with the government 97% of the time. However, if there is a Labour majority come May 8th and Plaid Cymru play a role – would there not be a similar situation whereby you sided with Labour the majority of the time? Leanne: No, I have said that we are not prepared to prop up a Conservative government and neither are we prepared to prop up a Labour government intent on pursuing Tory policies. So our

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‘Wales deserves to be on par with Scotland’

WITH the pollsters predicting that the General Election was likely to result in a hung parliament, the role of the smaller nationalist parties became increasingly important. This increased role has meant that their leaders have become more familiar and recognisable to the general public. Jonny and Maisie met up with one of those leaders – Leanne Wood, Leader of Plaid Cymru. Maisie: Do you think that basic ideas about consent and sex education should be taught as part of the core curriculum in a subject like PSHE from an early age? Leanne Wood: Yes I do and I’ve put forward in the past an argument for a comprehensive generational hate crime strategy which looks at hate crime in the widest possible definition from consent through to racism and homophobia – any kind of crimes or discrimination against people because of certain characteristics. I think that if a programme of education of that kind was introduced at a very young age to people in school then that has got the best chance of challenging stigmatising and discriminatory attitudes and behaviours. Jonny: When it comes to the generation who weren’t brought up around the Welsh language, especially in areas of South Wales

who have a reluctance to vote Plaid as they don’t believe they represent them – how would you change this? Leanne: Well I think that our candidate in Ceredigion, Mike Parker, is somebody who is in a prime position to challenge the myths that have surrounded Plaid Cymru for many years. Mike has moved in, he is an Englishman, a proud Englishman, but he is very connected to Welsh communities and younger people and people who are connected with green politics. So he is able to speak to a wide range of people in this constituency and take up a range of issues that are perhaps not stereotypical Plaid Cymru issues. Maisie: What powers, in particular, do you think that Wales needs in order to become more independent and, following on from that, would you support the idea of a federalised UK? Leanne: I think there are dangers with federalism in that if all elements of a federal system were of equal size and wealth then it could work. Given that there are such disparities between the different countries that make up the United Kingdom, a fully federal system without taking account of those imbalances would be problematic. In terms of the powers that Wales needs, we need, immediately, powers over the criminal justice system, full powers over energy generation and the ability to raise

price for supporting a minority Labour government would be that they reconsider their position on austerity and we have highlighted the priority of trident replacement. Furthermore, the question of rebalancing power of wealth parity with Scotland which would deliver £1.2 billion to the Welsh block grant is something that we would demand they reconsider before we would be prepared to give them our support. Maisie: You talked about women in your speech earlier and you obviously want more women to be involved in politics, but how would you encourage more women to get involved in government? Leanne: I think if we want to see things change then we have all got to be prepared to play our part in making that change happen and so I think the time is up now on us looking at the problem and whinging about it. We have got to be prepared to roll up our sleeves, get involved in political activity to shape the change that we want to see and I would appeal to all women, all people really, who are not happy with the current setup to get behind Plaid Cymru; join us, get involved in being active for us, even stand for positions for us because Wales won’t change unless people change their attitudes towards doing things like that. Jonny: You talk a lot about the problems in Westminster. In

terms of Cardiff Bay, does there need to be a reassessment of attitudes and understanding that there is a rural Wales as well and that needs to be dealt with, not just the south of Wales? Leanne: You’re spot on there. Just last week I was in Bangor University making exactly that point that what we can’t afford to do is replicate the mistakes of the British state whereby London and the South-East overheat to the detriment of areas away from that centre. There is a danger that we would repeat those mistakes with South-East Wales overheating to the detriment of the rest of the country and so we’ve got to make great effort to re-distribute power and wealth within the country as well as within the United Kingdom. That’s why we’ve been so critical about the Welsh Government’s decision to spend a £1 billion of the entire borrowing capacity on fifteen miles of the M4 when there are infrastructure projects, transport projects elsewhere in the country that need urgent attention. Jonny: Have you got a message for students across the UK – If you could say anything, what would it be? Leanne: Make your voice count. Make your demands heard and make sure that politicians in the next parliament cannot ignore you…by voting Plaid Cymru. [This interview took place before the General Election.]

The Courier

May 2015

The Extinguisher

CELEBRITY

What’s next for Louis Walsh? AFTER Simon Cowell told Louis Walsh that he is no longer needed on the hit TV show, The X Factor, Walsh has come out immediately with alternate plans. After 11 years on the show, the Irish-man has been let go because he is fecking annoying, apparently. Stormy The Dolphin spoke to The Extinguisher after seeing Walsh sail back to his homeland, stating that Louis looked rather miffed. Reports have stated that Louis’ alternate plans could be rather a step down and not quite on the level of The X Factor. Rumours have it that a popular TV network has been in touch with Louis to star in an upcoming show called The Ex-Factor: Survival. Other people involved include ex 1D and acquaintance of Louis, Zayn Malik. Following his departure from the hit boy-band, Zayn has struggled with life outside of 1D and needs something to do. The premise of the show is that old hosts and contestants of the show will team up to survive as

they are dropped off at Dovey Junction with NO luggage. The vast Welsh landscape would require contestants to survive by any means necessary. Most of the filming for Series 1 has taken place, and so Series 2 will consist of Louis and Zayn amongst others. So, here’s what you can expect from Series 2: • Rhydian gets mistaken for local man and gets offered first gig in 3 years • Gary Barlow has a 2 week sleep in a cave • Sharon Osborne gets intoxicated and causes a fight in a kebab shop over Cheesy Chips • Tulisa gets locked inside Borth Animalarium whilst looking for shelter • Chico starts a Zumba Class at The University • Kelly Rowland seeks the Big Apple but ends up in New Quay leading Dolphin Tours • Diana Vickers forgot to get off the train

• •

Same Difference get extremely lost in ‘The Storm’ We will have to see what happens when The ExFactor: Survival hits a screen near you.

LOCAL

Royal Pier Under Pressure AFTER going into administration, holiday-giant Butlins has taken a shine to Aberystwyth’s Royal Pier stating that it is a “great location for new developments.” In their plans, Butlins has said they want to install a water-slide off the back of Inn On going into the sea. Also, on Thursday nights it will be kids night! The small ones will be able to take over the dance floor the same music that you are used to on Friday nights. Following the revolt from the bouncers back in December, Butlin’s future security policy states that any ‘trouble makers’ will be sent down the ‘slide of no return’ that will take individuals to the end of Borth and will be banned from the ball pit. The current owners will be happy to know that karaoke will be kept on a schedule in which Tom Jones long lost forgotten Aunt, Nerys will be the new host of Sing Along Sunday’s. Great news!

‘Stormy’ the dolphin attends R.O.Ns funeral IN TERRIBLE news that will shock the nation, R.O.N, the gender-neutral seagull was found dead in a bin. That’s right, dead. R.O.N was a dedicated columnist for The Extinguisher and earlier this year had been appointed the position of Guellelic Language Officer in the Students’ Union. Reports from the Aberystwyth Fish & Chips Alliance had noted R.O.N’s absence from recent meetings which dedicated member Steffan Fry stated that, it was unlike R.O.N to miss out on some free chips. Days later, GoPro footage from student sources showed R.O.N meeting up with known criminal ‘The Squirrel’. The duo were last seen fighting over an unknown issue in which R.O.N was seen attacking The Squirrel’s nuts and then fleeing the scene. This was the last time that R.O.N was seen alive. A statement from the local gull police stated that they have

spoken to ‘The Squirrel’ regarding the issue in which he stated “that fwhawkin gull is a massive tit and he was robin me”. No further information was revealed and the investigation continues. R.O.N’s funeral was held last week in which local baybe ‘Stormy’ the Dolphin attended the ceremony that was held outside Chip Box on the seafront R . O . N ’ s favourite plaice to eat. Stormy was seen doing several jumps in the air and squawking in commemoration of R.O.N Local reports have said the Stormy was last seen in New Quay looking lost following on from the funeral.

“It was unlike R.O.N to miss out on some free chips”

PUZZLES May 2015

EASY

The Courier

MATH PUZZLES

Try to fill in the missing numbers. Use the numbers 1 through 9 to complete the equations. Each number is only used once. Each row is a math equation. Each column is a math equation. Remember that multiplication and division are performed before addition and subtraction.

MEDIUM WORDSEARCH

HARD

ACCOUNTANT ACTOR BANKER BARBER CONTRACTOR COOK

DANCER DENTIST ENTREPRENEUR EXECUTIVE GEOLOGIST INVESTIGATOR

JOURNALIST MANAGER PHARMACIST SOLDIER WAITER

SPORTS

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Sports Editor Illtud Dafydd

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Belgians lie in the way of Wales’ unbeaten run Lewis Owen COLEMAN’S men look to exorcise ghosts of the past in front of a full capacity Cardiff crowd. It has been over 11 years since the Welsh public’s interest in the exploits of their national football team has managed to reach such an exhilarating crescendo. Back then, it was Mark Hughes’ battlehardened veterans who had led a breathless charge for glory in the Euro 2004 qualifiers, capturing the imaginations of Welsh football fans in their droves. During those halcyon days of optimism and expectation, Wales became the best supported side in the whole of Europe, as a series of stunning results, most notably a famous home win over footballing aristocrats Italy, propelled the Red Dragons into the final play-off stage and a date with destiny against Russia. Despite having stumbled over the line somewhat during the

second half of the group stage, a defiant goalless draw in Moscow during the first leg was enough to convince a buoyant crowd of 74,000 who turned up for the return leg that, at long last, glory beckoned. After an agonising litany of near misses, it seemed that Wales’ 45 year wait in footballing purgatory was coming to an end. The footballing gods, however, are rarely swayed by such sentiment. A devastating 1-0 defeat dashed Welsh dreams yet again, and thus another entry was added into the ever burgeoning chapter of Welsh football history entitled ‘Glorious failures’. Watching on at home as a tearful 13 year old (my Dad and younger brother had snaffled our only tickets), I experienced my first proper taste of sporting heartbreak that evening. The anguish was slow to subside. As the Cardiff City Stadium prepares for a 33,000 sell-out on June 12th, the first for a Welsh

international since the visit of England four years ago, the bullishness of the Welsh squad about their prospects of extending their unbeaten run is palatable, however they will be wary of underestimating their Belgian opponents. Indeed, the Belgians are undergoing something of a footballing renaissance of their own at the moment, having recovered from the nadir of the mid-2000s to become a respected European powerhouse in their own right. Currently ranked the third best side in world football, Mark Wilmots’ team is sprinkled with stardust, and have the rare combination of youth and ample experience on their side. No-one encapsulates this new spirit of Belgian artistry better than Eden Hazard, recently voted the PFA Player of the Year for his role in propelling a relentless Chelsea to a league and cup double. Blessed with a dazzling array of pace,

technique and agility, the former Lille player has, at the age of 24, firmly established himself as one of the best players in world football in my opinion. For once, José Mourinho might not have been indulging in hyperbole when he claimed, in response to reports that Real Madrid were casting covetous

glances at his playmaker, it would cost ‘£100 million per leg’ to prise Hazard away. Welsh football has endured more false dawns than we would care to remember, but Chris Coleman’s men seem better equipped than ever to banish the ghosts of the past. Maybe, just maybe, this time will be different.

DIGS FINAL

Nail-biting finale for DIGS Cup Illtud Dafydd Sports Editor

AFTER two long DIGS seasons in the Bundesliga, Toke City and CPD y Geltaidd headed into the Friday night Aber Town Cup Final confident with a calm Aberystwyth evening welcoming both sides to Park Avenue, home to Aberystwyth Town FC. In a final which took over two hours of football and, as described by DIGS Officer Morgan Nock, “will undoubtedly go down as the best ever”, there was a red card and a nail biting shoot-out in front of a green smoked filled DIAS stand as Gwion Llwyd scored Y Geltaidd’s fourth and winning penalty. The first shot on goal was attempted by Y Geltaidd’s captain Matthew Evans, who would later go on to score the injury time equalizer and would be sent to the stand for his celebration with the omnipresent green machine of the Geltaidd Street Elite (The

GSE). Just over half an hour of play had been played, before Toke City’s first worthwhile chance; man of the match and striker Jack Thomas broke through Y Geltaidd’s defence, but his shot was saved comfortably by Gwyn Rosser. The biggest chance of the open first half fell to Tom Davies as John Weathers dropped the ball in the Toke penalty box, but Davies failed to pounce on the fumble. It was a good first half, with enough chances as Jack Thomas caused Hopcyn Matthews and Steffan Williams problems running the channels well, but the over-riding feeling that one goal could change the game for the better was as present as the GSE’s singing. As the second half kicked off, the floodlights at Park Avenue were turned on, and within five minutes Y Geltaidd claimed a penalty, first year student Carwyn Eckley’s effort was parried away with ease by Weathers. The penalty save invigorated Toke City, led by Alban Fernandez, as they scored 3 unanswered goals in the following half an hour of play. The first would come through Sean Dinning, the second shortly after and the third, from substitute James Thomas. Toke City held the 3 goal advantage with five minutes of normal time to play, but including a long period of additional period, Y Geltaidd would bring them back level. Firstly, Carwyn Eckley scoring with a lob, then Eckley claiming his second, making right from the spot after his earlier mistake and after 8 minutes of injury time had been

played, captain Matthew Evans scored one of the finest goal Park Avenue has seen all season, despite one of Europe top goals scorer’s, Chris Venables, efforts. An overhead kick, outside the over-stretching arm of John Weathers, his celebration, along with the rest of his team in the DIAS Stand saw him sent to the stand by referee Tony Bickley. Extra-Time came, with Carwyn Geraint taking over the captain’s armband and both sides were feeling the two hours of play.

Penalties were needed; Joseph Byrne missed Toke City’s fourth, and it was all up to midfielder Llwyd. He stepped up and calmly stroked the ball passed John Weathers, and his, along with his team’s and the GSE’s, celebrations overflowed to the field. In an end-to-end final it was a perfect example of DIGS football, Morgan Nock saying afterwards “I couldn’t have asked for a better final game” and Matthew Evans lifted the Aber Town Cup for CPD Y Geltaidd.

3-3 [2] - [4] Toke City F.C: John Weathers (GK), Dylan Thomas, James Davies, Joseph Byrne, Alban Fernandez (captain), Jack Thomas, Alex Avery, Ianto Jones, Sean Dinning, William Fuller, Dan Knott. SUBS: Dave Montgomery, Michael Goni-Matthews, Jack Potter, Roc Breathrach, Gilbert Foster, James Thomas

CPD Y G: Gwyn Rosser (GK), Sion Saynor, Steffan Williams, Hopcyn Matthews, Gruff Jones, Gwion Williams, Matthew Evans (captain), Carwyn Eckley, Tom Davies, Ynyr James, Garem Jones. SUBS: Iwan Jones, Carwyn Geraint, Gutun Lake, Jac Davies, Marc Bowen, Lewys Wyn

ATT: 315

May 2015

The Courier

International

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GRAND NATIONAL

AP McCoy Tribute - Box Office from First to Last Alasdair Park ON THE SATURDAY of The Grand National, in early-mid April every year, millions up and down the British Isles flock to the bookmakers for a flutter, to place a bet for a number of different reasons. Some only bet because they have partaken in a sweepstake at work, others on the name of the horse, and some for the colours being worn by the smaller than average men (and women - tip of the cap to Katie Walsh). The one constant factor in deciding where to put your money, apart from the institution that the race has become in the sporting calendar, was because Anthony Patrick McCoy is on-board. Born in Moneyglass, County Antrim, Northern Ireland on 4th May 1974, he has grown into the defining sportsman in his

chosen discipline. Pub discussions about who’s better than who over a pint of the dark stuff wouldn’t last very long if the chosen sport up for discussion was jump racing. Far less glamorous than the ubiquitous Barclays Premier League, but far more strenuous on the bodies and minds of the gladiators who choose to make a living going over eight feet high fences between thirty to forty miles per hour. With dwindling crowds and dwindling prize money, it is not a sport for a faint hearted. On January 12th 2008, AP fell and broke the middle vertebrae in his back; an injury that his doctor believed would take 16 weeks to heal. Thanks to Kriotherapy, he was back in the saddle at Sandown for the first of six rides a week before the Cheltenham Festival, the show of shows for those in the know on

the Sport of Kings. A record breaker and a pace setter ever since his first British winner aboard Chickabiddy at Exeter on September 7th 1994, it was no surprise to find out he also holds the ‘Krio’ record amongst professional sportsmen and women, plunging into the cold-room for more than three minutes at -148 degrees Celsius. McCoy is a nice man behind the gaunt face and the winning glare. At the Grand National Meeting in 2010, this reporter went to the Thursday meeting with his parents. Before one of his races, I asked him for his autograph. He replied, “I’ll come back in a minute”. That is where the signature searching would end with many top athletes, consumed in their self-importance, but AP came back, signed my autograph and when I said thank you he answered, “My pleasure, no trouble”.

If you want to know his statistics, try Google, this is not an article regurgitating facts and figures. What needs to be said more than anything is that he realised the role he played in racing, as it’s figurehead, and ambassador to break through the glass ceiling to wider acclaim. It was very fitting that he remained Box Office to the last in the Bet365 Gold Cup Chase at Sandown this past Saturday. The footage of ‘The Greats’ is now in the Archives, and mostly in Black and White. This was history in colour, more often than not the yellow and green of trainer JonJo O’Neill and owner JP McManus. The racing public will pine for one more race, another pump of the fist, another grin flying past the winning post for the illusive winner number 4,349. Don’t Push It.

CHAMPIONS CUP

Galacticos clinch third consecutive trophy in the Champions Cup Erik Olsson THE EUROPEAN Champions Cup 2015 was signed off with a physical and intense encounter between Toulon and Clermont Auvergne at Twickenham on Saturday May 2nd. It marked the end of the first season of the new installment of the annual top-tier European club competition after replacing Heineken Cup. It

also marked the second all-French final, and the second final between Clermont and Toulon in three seasons. It was always going to be an entertaining game. Clermont versus Toulon. Top 14 no. 2 versus no. 1, involving three nominees for European Player of the Year. (Clermont’s Fritz Lee and Nick Abendanon, and Toulon’s Steffon

Armitage). The battle of the French No. 9 shirt: Morgan Parra versus Sébastien Tillous-Borde. Mathieu Bastareaud’s raw power versus Wesley Fofana’s flair. Leigh Halfpenny’s boot versus Nick Abendanon’s running game. In the end, it was the ultra-physical force of Toulon’s ‘Galacticos’ that grabbed a historical third consecutive trophy. The experience of its pack, fronted by the Souther Hemisphere Test foursome of Carl Hayman, Juan Smith, Ali Williams and Bakkies Botha, provided the crucial fundament for success. Intent on leaving on a high before retiring, their exceptional triple act brought Toulon back into the game after the early Wesley Fofana try. Clermont MOTM: Nick Abendanon The final produced some moments of magic, of which Nick Abendanon’s magical chip-andchase try stood out. The South

African-born full-back with two England caps to his name was awarded European Player of the Year on Tuesday. In his first season in France, he has been an influential figure in taking Clermont to yet another European final. He also tops the Champions Cup charts with the most metres made, and most beaten defenders. Toulon MOTM: Steffon Armitage Steffon Armitage, last season’s player of the year, had yet another phenomenal game, contributing with his beastly presence at the breakdown. Of the total seventyeight turnovers Toulon produced in their European campaign, Armitage made an impressive twenty-two. As commentators and coaches continue to discuss a possible call up for England, Armitage once again proved in the final the consistency and expertise he would bring to the English camp. Particularly his performance

against Leinster off the bench, when he made the Irish Test trio of Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip, and Devin Toner look like junior players at the breakdown, was immense. If his performances do not call for a call up under ‘exceptional circumstances’, nothing will. Erik Olsson’s Tournament XV: 1 - Eddy Ben Arous, Racing Metro 2 - Benjamin Kayser, Clermont Avergne 3 - Mike Ross, Leinster 4 - George Kruis, Saracens 5 - Devon Toner, Leinster 6 - Juan Smith, Toulon 7 - Steffon Armitage, Toulon 8 - Fritz Lee, Clermont 9 - Maxime Machenaud, Racing Metro 10 - Brock James, Clermont 11 - George North, Northampton 12 - Wesley Fofana, Clermont 13 - Mathieu Bastareaud, Toulon 14 - Drew Mitchell, Toulon 15 - Nick Abendanon, Clermont

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DIGS

Nail-biting final for DIGS Cup > page 22

Tribute AP McCoy Tribute - Box office from First to Last > page 23

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Student sport survey: Over 70% of respondents were dissatisfied

Rebecca James

Illtud Dafydd Sports Editor IN ABER STUDENT MEDIA’s first Student Sport Survey, 70.5% of respondents said that they were dissatisfied with the University’s commitment to sport. The survey, with 95 answers from a wide range of sport clubs, (Aberystwyth University’s Swimming & Waterpolo with 8 respondents; Men’s Rugby with 7; and Tennis and DIGS Football 6) was available to fill online for a week. 62.1% of those that filled in the survey were not committee members with their given club.

Aberystwyth in sport...

Alex Tanton

Asked which University sport facilities they use, 38 use the Astroturf as club members, and 30 used it on a personal level, Blaendolau pitches were used by 25 respondents within their clubs whilst the swimming pool and the gym at the Sports Centre were used by 20 people who answered the survey. The Sports’ Cage, Pantycelyn Field and the 3G pitch were used by many clubs. When asked for their opinion on the TimAber brand, the “branding for all sports clubs” at the Students’ Union there were both positive and negative opinions voiced. It was described as a “great way to

integrate clubs” in one answer, but “rubbish, old [and] needs rebranding” by another, with others saying that they “don’t know what it is”. Another respondent said that “I like the brand but not the purple colour”, someone asked “Why purple? Ridiculous decision” and another respondent advised that “We all [TimAber clubs] change to purple and yellow or red as this seems to be the most universally used colours” so “to be an united team”. Many improvements to Tim Aber were voiced such as “The brand need[s] to [be] advertised more at the Uni, so even if students don’t take part in a sport, they

should be encouraged to support their teams”, with one respondent advising “I would like them [fixtures and results of TimAber] publicised in the Union, on Facebook and Twitter”. Respondents were asked to give any further comments regarding Sports at Aberystwyth University, and the answers, as expected with such an open question, were hugely varied yet specific. General points such as “Aberystwyth University does not support student athletes according to the effort and time they put in representing the University at

their sport” and “If the sporting provision of the university increase there will be more success in BUCS and also lead to a greater student intake”. There is a particular focus on facilities, one answer is “The investment in facilities has been poor” and “facilities are terrible and expensive. Not an attractive or inspiring aspect of the University”.

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> Further details of the ASM Student Survey on our website: www.aberstudentmedia.com