gair rhydd Monday April 15th 2013 | freeword - Est. 1972 | Issue 1002
The NUS Debate £130,000 worth of benefits
£40,000 worth of
NUS represents 95% of British Students - it is
legal unit
through the NUS
Costs £52,000 per year
NUS attempted to ban
, such as the elected officer team and independent wholesalers NUS attempted to close Cardiff University’s
Opinion look at the fall-out of the Six Nations
p8
Science review the In this week’s Team Talk, Sport chat to potential for p26 p17 Momed dark matter
2 / Editor’s Note
gr News 4–6 Opinion 7–9 Politics 12–13 Science 16–17 Societies 18–19 Taf-Od 20–21 Puzzles 22 Listings 23 Sport 24–28
EDITOR Chris Williams CO-ORDINATOR Elaine Morgan CREATIVE DIRECTOR Luke Slade SUB-EDITOR Tom Parry-Jones NEWS Kendal Archer Tom Eden Anna Hickman Bethan Jones OPINION Alice Briggs Nick Evans Alex Greig COLUMNIST Liam McNeilly POLITICS Thom Hollick Rachel Lewis SCIENCE Rhiannon Davies Alexey Underwood SOCIETIES Beth Lyons LISTINGS Beth Gregory TAF-OD Tomos Lewis SPORT Ross Martinovic James Shapland
Want to help make the paper? As we move into the last term with exams, essay deadlines and dissertations, we’ll still be printing gair rhydd and need people to write articles for us! If you’d like to get involved, come to one of our meetings below, or send a message to editor@gairrhydd.com. April 15th, 5:10pm, CF10 April 22nd, 5:10pm, SU fourth floor April 29th, 5:10pm, SU fourth floor May 7th, 5:10pm, SU fourth floor May 13th, 5:10pm, SU fourth floor Proofreaders wanted! Got a keen eye for grammar? Or just enjoy free pizza on Thursday nights?
GAIR RHYDD AND QUENCH MAGAZINE ARE PUBLISHED BY UNIVERSITY UNION $"3%*'' 1"3, 1-"$& $"3%*'' $' 2/ t REGISTERED AS A NEWSPAPER AT THE POST 0''*$& t ("*3 3):%% 3&4&37&4 5)& 3*()5 50 &%*5 "-- $0/53*#65*0/4 t 5)& 7*&84 EXPRESSED ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE 0' 5)& 16#-*4)&34 t ("*3 3):%% *4 83*5TEN, DESIGNED, TYPESET AND OUTPUT BY STUDENTS OF CARDIFF UNIVERSITY
Come up to the office every Thursday for free pizza and proofing.
gair rhydd would like to thank the following for their articles and help in making this issue: Contributors Sophie Gregory, Helen Griffiths, Xander Mayweather, Max Eshraghi, Alistair Corless, Idris ap Gwynedd, Sophie Charles, Jasmine Losasso, Jemima Walker, Bridget Taylor, Michelle Coffey, Jack Parker, Sophie Howells,
David Mason, Bryn Savill, Rob Whitham, Felicity Holmes-Mackie, Miriam Abuelzein, James Cheeseman, Angharad Hywel, Andy Roberts, Rachel Farquhar, Zhongyu Tian, Sarah Munro, James Wilcox, Jony Price Proofreaders No one. We kept all the pizza for ourselves.
3
Monday April 15th 2013 | @mediacsu
News in brief
Words by Chris Williams
Argentina:
A dog lover has been fooled into spending $150 on what he believed to be a toy poodle. After taking it to the vet, it was found to be a ferret filled with steroids. A ferret would normally cost around $75 in Argentina, making the purchase a rip-off, while the toy poodle would cost $1,000, much more expensive than the $150.
UK: After having its licence removed in September last year, London Met will be allowed to recruit non-European Union students. While it will be placed under a probation period for 12 months, it is a great step forward for the troubled university and international students, many of whom lost their right to study because of the UKBA order.
UK:
The Rolling Stones have announced a second date in Hyde Park after their first gig sold out within the first hour of being released. This comes just a few weeks after they were announced as headliners for this year’s Glastonbury Festival.
China:
A craze that looks to be the weirdest trend the internet has seen – yes, worse than milking and worse than planking – appears to have gripped China. The art of putting stockings on dogs’ hind legs has taken China by storm.... and is, frankly, hilarious.
Korea: The tension in North Korea is heating up as the country has warned foreigners in South Korea to “take evacuation measures in case of war”. The situation on the peninsula has become more and more volatile in recent weeks, with North Korea’s threatening rhetoric worrying nations around the world.
In this week’s issue... Science report on use of Microsoft Kinect in diagnosis of mood disorders p17
Opinion weigh up the pros and cons of the BBC’s latest class survey p7
CUTV nominated for top award at 40th NaSTA awards p5
Politics report back from the Political Studies Association conference at City Hall p13
Cardiff University Hockey Club make it a double with men’s and women’s success in Welsh Cup p24
4 / News
Cardiff students to vote on News editor Tom Eden looks at the arguments for and against the Students’ Union’s membership of the National Union of Students
S
tudents will be able to choose whether Cardiff University Students’ Union remains part of the National Union of Students (NUS) with a referendum being held over three days. The referendum, which will take place from April 16th–18th, is the result of a unanimous vote from the Ministry of Change and has caused passionate campaigning from students supporting both sides. Supporters of keeping our Student Union as a member of the NUS have united to argue for a ‘yes’ vote, whilst opponents who believe that we would be better out of the organisation have formed a ‘No to NUS’ campaign. The NUS is an organisation of 600 students’ unions across the UK. Through this they seek to represent the interests of more than seven million of their students. The NUS’ mission, according to their website, is “to promote, defend and extend the rights of students and to develop and champion strong students’ unions”. Their three key values are stated to be ‘equality’, ‘democracy’ and ‘collectivism’. In 2012, there were nine com-
parable votes at universities about NUS affiliation. Of those universities, six were existing members of the NUS and all six chose to remain with the NUS with an average 85 per cent ‘yes’ vote. None voted to leave. From those not previously affiliated, one voted to join and two voted not to join. The debate about our affiliation has focused on both the commercial and the political wings of the NUS, with arguments about cost and representation prominent in both sides’ promotions. Affiliation to the NUS for this academic year (2012/13) cost the Students’ Union £51,816.30 (or 2.15 per cent of its budget), and in addition to this, there are a wide range of tangible and intangible costs and benefits from being a member of the NUS. The motion that was put to the Ministry of Change claimed that “the money we save [from not having to pay the affiliation fee], for example, could give every sports society £1,000 every single year, hire more staff or giving students improved events”. The ‘yes’ campaign challenge the idea that the cost of affiliation is a good reason for leaving and cite a cost breakdown from
the NUS that shows that, for this initial cost, we get £130,000 in commercial benefits alone. Southampton University’s Students’ Union commissioned a review of the financial impact of joining the NUS. This report estimated that they could save around £32,000 by remaining unaffiliated.
Six out of nine unions voted to remain with the NUS – none voted to leave A great deal of the discrepancy between the claimed financial costs and benefits arises from the difficulty in quantifying the savings for the union achieved by NUSSL – the NUS’ purchasing consortium, which acts as a singular buyer for universities affiliated with the NUS in an effort to reduce costs. One perk of this, highlighted by the ‘yes’ campaign, is a ‘free beer’ policy, with £40,000 of cost-price alcohol given to us for free. They argue that any other organisation or wholesaler would not be able to achieve this. Despite this, the ‘no’ campaign
argues that there are many alternatives to having our products supplied to us by this NUS purchasing consortium. Local and independent wholesalers, which would not charge any affiliation fee and would not restrict or control what products can be sold, have been suggested. This is underpinned by the argument that our union is large enough to secure contracts for products at a lower price than through the NUS. A cost-benefit analysis undertaken by an elected officer of Durham University in 2011 highlighted several key factors. It indicates that the most visible benefit to NUS affiliation is the discount awarded in shops across the country to those with a student card of an NUS-affiliated university. They do note that some people have been able to get student discount without an NUS student card, but that officially most retail outlets require this. Research carried out by the NUS shows that 94 per cent of students polled believe NUS offering a student discount card is either a ‘Positive’ or ‘Very Positive’ thing. The NUS Extra card, which provides further discounts such as half-price Spotify Premi-
The cost of NUS affiliation The estimated benefit of Southampton University Students’ Union not joining NUS The claimed financial benefit to Cardiff University Students' Union of NUS affiliation In 2012, nine Students’ Unions voted on NUS membership. The six who were already part of NUS all voted to stay Of the three who were not affiliated, one chose to join while two remained unaffiliated.
The NUS represents 95% of all higher and further education unions in the UK
“ A new NUS policy to tackle ‘lad culture’ was created from research conducted on only 40 women
Cardiff Students’ Union is an integral part of NUS. Through membership, students can only access benefits and discounts that far outstrip the affiliation fee, but also gain the power of a national voice to represent their views and interests. With membership comes huge opportunities to access the support, training and opportunities to change students’ lives for the better. It is for these reasons and many more that I very much hope that Cardiff students will see the case for membership of our national union, and the benefits that brings, both individually and collectively
”
Liam Burns, NUS President
5
News 4–8
Monday April 15th 2013 | @gairrhyddnews
Union’s NUS membership um, would not be able to be sold by the Union – something the report says makes £4.50 for the Union from every £11 card sold. It has also been pointed out that there may be a large amount of money wasted by the NUS. The ‘no’ campaign pointed out that, last week, 600 NUS delegates were staying in Hilton hotels, rather than opting for cheaper alternatives. A further consideration would be the cost of leaving, with supporters of the ‘yes’ campaign saying that many of the services that the NUS provide would have to be researched and replaced, and the cost and manpower is potentially dangerous at a time when our union is on a very tight budget and having to make redundancies. The debate about the financial implication has drawn criticism from some. Megan David, the incumbent Welfare Officer, commented on a discussion about the legitimacy of the £130,000 benefit on Facebook, saying “Im [sic] concerned that we seem to think that we are able to put a cost on having a union to defend the rights of students...” This expression of frustration at a financial price being put
on the role of the NUS reminds many of the other side of union affiliation. As mentioned previously, the trio of values the NUS state they embody – equality, democracy and collectivism – are based on the political ambition of the organisation. The NUS, like Cardiff University Students’ Union, is run by elected student officers, with decisions being made by NUS officers, students’ union officers and students. Similar to the financial aspects of membership, the representation part is both widely praised and criticised. The ‘no’ campaign argues that the NUS are unrepresentative of students for several reasons. Firstly, there is the accusation that it is controlled by a party political agenda and a disproportionate amount of time is spent by power groups within the NUS fighting among themselves rather than fighting for students. Other accusations come in the form of criticism of its leadership and its policies – that, ultimately, too few people know who the NUS president is and what the NUS does. They also claim that it dictates to our union and to Cardiff’s students; for example, when
there was an attempt to limit the freedom of speech available to our student media by trying to implement a no-platform policy – refusing a platform for far-right organisations. There is a new policy by the NUS to tackle ‘lad culture’, but this, it is argued, was created from research conducted on 40 women. Furthermore, this year, they have moved to try to ban pole dancing societies and themed nights out. Those arguing to keep Cardiff in the NUS believe that many of the things that the NUS do and provide are irreplaceable. There are a large number of NUSrun campaigns to represent the views of minorities, such as the LGBT+, ethnic and disabled student communities. This extends to the provision of free legal help to students. A recent example of this was when the NUS gave legal help to international students at London Met University, who were at risk of being sent home after the university was stripped of its right to sponsor students from outside the European Economic Area, after evidence of abuse was found. The NUS also supplies training for the elected officers at students’ unions, both full- and part-
time, throughout the academic year. However, as pointed out in the report by Durham’s elected officer, NUS affiliation does not “cover the [financial] costs of these officer-training activities”. The Durham report also makes clear that “the NUS, given its sheer size, is the most effective form of representation” that we can benefit from at a national level. Cardiff University students make up 1.2 per cent of the students nationwide, so the argument from the ‘yes’ campaign states that our voice would be far smaller and weaker without the NUS – while the ‘no’ side believes this makes it less focused on students in Cardiff. There is a Welsh wing of NUS – NUS Wales – whose work was cited by the Welsh Education Minister as a key reason for not raising tuition fees for Welsh students.
The NUS spends more time fighting within itself than for students Those who would like us to leave the NUS believe that our Union’s own elected officers are
a suitable alternative to the NUS. They say that they represent, protect and defend Cardiff Students better than the NUS due to their familiarity with local and relevant issues that affect our students. There is undoubtedly a polarised and passionate conflict of opinions and arguments that have defined this debate. However, between 9am on April 16th and midday on April 18th, you will be able to have your say. You can vote online at www.cardiffstudents.com by logging in with your student details. In line with Union practice, 10 per cent of the student body must vote. Your voice will be heard and the consequence of the vote either way will be of huge importance to the future of your Student Union. Please vote. With thanks to Ryan Hunter and Harry Thompson for information on the ‘No to NUS’ and ‘Keep Cardiff in the NUS’ campaigns respectively. While all information contained within this article has been investigated to the highest possible level and has aimed to present it in an objective manner, not all information has been independently verified.
CUTV nominated at ‘NaSTA40’ Sophie Gregory & Helen Griffiths News Writers
Last weekend, Cardiff Union TV attended ‘NaSTA40’, the 40th National Student Television Awards where they received a nomination for Best Broadcaster. They were also shortlisted to the top six for Best Sport Video and Best Video for Music. The annual event is hosted by a different student TV station every year, and this year was the turn of XTV (Exeter University’s Television Station). Over 400 students turned out in force in Exeter on Friday, April 5th, travelling both from the surrounding areas and from more exotic climes, such as Glasgow and Essex. This gave the weekend a great feeling of being a national event. The weekend was jam-packed with events, kicking off with the NaSTA Annual General Meeting, in which all stations had input into how the National Student TV Association is run. The wacky and wonderful ‘Golden Bodge’ took place on the Saturday morning, and involved different stations collaborating to make short, one-take films – no editing allowed! As is always the case with NaSTA events, one of
the highlights is having the opportunity to socialise with other stations. For many, it was the first chance to meet other student TV makers from across the country. Throughout Saturday, there was a large choice of workshops to attend, presented by industryexpert speakers who were all sensational. Attendees were able to engage with sessions that were tailored to their specific areas of interest. One truly inspirational speaker was Chris Cook, Lead Studio Director of BBC One’s News at Six and News at Ten, and also The Andrew Marr Show. He was able to give an insight into the reality
of working for the BBC and in a news capacity. Steve Hughes, a profound director whose credits include Doctor Who, Doctors and Land Girls, spoke about directing and producing TV drama and film, while other speakers gave advice on how to begin a career in media and in independent production companies. There were also workshops led by industry professionals who began in student TV; it was especially interesting to hear how student TV helped to kick-start their career. The awards ceremony itself was a black-tie event, which started with a drinks reception, followed by a three-course meal.
“
CUTV are so proud to have dedicated, talented members who have contributed all year round, helping us to be listed as of the leading student TV stations in 2013
The awards up for grabs ranged from ‘Best Freshers Coverage’ to ‘Best Animation’, giving a chance for all aspects of student TV to be appreciated and for members to showcase their best work from the past year. The results were judged by TV industry professionals such as senior TV executive Tim Marshall, BAFTA nominated screenwriter Lisa Holdsworth, and Channel 4 presenter Rick Edwards – who is, incidentally, going to be hosting Cardiff Student Media’s very own awards on April 27th. It was a wonderful ceremony, and while CUTV didn’t receive a winner’s trophy, they achieved a nomination for the main award of Best Broadcaster. They were also short listed in the top six for Best Sport and Best Video to Music. Sophie Gregory, CUTV Controller, said of the nominations, “CUTV are so proud to have dedicated, talented members who have contributed all year round, helping us to be listed as one of the leading student TV stations in 2013.” To quote the awards ceremony hosts, comedians Dan John and Glynn Jones, ‘Students make the best telly!’
6 / News
Spotted: Sexism Kendal Archer News Editor In previous issues of gair rhydd, the issue of the ‘Spotted’ pages has been discussed. The Facebook pages were created and used mostly around exam period, when the University’s libraries are in frequent use by many students. The pages allow students to message the creator of the page and anonymously post comments, as the page was originally intended for, about fellow students they had been eyeing up in the library. However, some students believed that the pages got out of control when people began posting hurtful comments and criticisms. Some students even voiced concern that they felt too intimidated to visit libraries for fear of comments that might be made. As a result, many of the pages were stopped or at least censored after warnings from the Students’ Union. However, the appearance of the new page, ‘Spotted: Sexism on Campus’, has proved that student awareness of what is going on around them, and their ability to post these events in a public place, can help raise awareness and combat sexism. The page posts comments from students from universities across the country including Ex-
eter, Warwick, Loughborough and Leeds. An example of things posted on the page are comments about student life that people interpret as sexist, or at least representative of unequal favouring to either male or female students. For example, an Exeter student wrote: “just read the Exepose’s (Exeter University’s student newspaper) 8 page spread on the Rugby Varsity match between Bath and Exeter. Absolutely no mention of the ladies’ result. I was genuinely interested. A side column would have done. Awful.” A male student from Loughborough posted: “talking to some girls on a night out, we all seemed to get on okay and then one of them asked me if I wanted to go back with her to her hotel for the night and she grabbed me rather inappropriately. I politely declined. Thinking I had done the right thing and pleased with myself for taking the high road the girl then decided to say ‘You’re a shit guy, all guys want to sleep with someone, are you gay?’ ” The page voices opinions of both male and female students, posting stories that could likely be applied to both sexes across universities nationwide. Many of the stories are lighthearted, and in general, the tone of the page is interesting and thought provoking. There are times, however, when posts seem
gratuitous and excessively embellished. For example, an Edinburgh University student posted: “I’m on a train […] and there’s a man sitting with his young daughter (about 3 or 4) a metre away from me. He just said to her, ‘so where will you go then darling, Oxford or Cambridge?’ The child didn’t understand the question, so he said, “Oh f*ck it, you'll end up as a bloody hairdresser anyway, that’s the option for stupid b*nts’.” Whilst stories like these seem over the top, they are in the minority. On the whole, the page points out sexism from both male and female perspectives. Living in an age of social media and sites such as Facebook and Twitter that can make everyday events prominent among certain groups in a single post, the page gives a platform to students who are concerned about sexism. It could even be said to help combat sexism by raising awareness. Generally, the response to the page has been positive and is certainly an improvement on the criticisms experienced on the library ‘Spotted’ pages. As we concluded in our previous articles, the content of the page is mostly decided by the page’s creator, but the ‘Spotted: Sexism on Campus’ seems to have been received positively so far.
Dean of Medicine finally cleared of research misconduct Chris Williams News Editor
The Dean of Medicine has been cleared by a University panel of any misconduct relating to his research. gair rhydd reported in issue 983 that Professor Paul Griffiths was under investigation for allegedly manipulating images relating to cancer research, along with other members of his research group. The Professor, who has been investigated before, was entirely cleared of any wrongdoing during an internal investigation by Cardiff University. A three-member panel, chaired by a former Cardiff Circuit Judge, said that the was ‘no case to answer’ in relation to allegations that Professor Morgan manipulated images in a number of academic research articles. However, a former employee within the research group had allegations of image manipulation upheld in four instances. “Throughout this episode, I have maintained my innocence, and that of my research team, in the face of allegations of research misconduct. “I am pleased that the Independent Panel has rejected all allegations against me and concluded that there was no case to answer. “The episode has been extremely upsetting – not only for me personally, but also for friends, family, colleagues - and particularly, my research team. The University has examined more than forty published articles in relation to my research
group and no additional findings of academic misconduct were made.” He also said, “it is matter of deep regret that the actions of one individual has had such a profound effect on the academic reputations of my colleagues and myself.” Reporting on the story, BBC News said that Professor Morgan believed there was a need to investigate the allegations to ensure high academic standards are maintained. A University spokesperson added, “The University’s procedure is compliant with guidance issued by the UK Research Integrity Office, to which the University subscribes.” The panel reported that noone, including other co-authors, peer reviewers or journal editors had found the discrepancies on the images prior to publication. It equally found that Professor Morgan was unaware that the unnamed individual had included manipulated images in articles. The conclusion was that the former University employee should take sole responsibility for the four instances in which misconduct allegations were upheld. The panel has recommended that protocols be put in place to ensure that original image files are accessed prior to articles being submitted. A University spokesperson said, “Cardiff University accepts these findings and recommendations and will now take action to put in place procedures to ensure that incidents of this sort do not recur.”
WH Smith replaces Union shop Anna Hickman News Editor National retailer WH Smith will be opening a shop in the Union within the next few weeks. It is set to join with the Union Shop on the first floor of the Students’ Union. This is in order to provide a more varied array of products, and a higher level of service to students, whilst also retaining and recognising loyal Union Staff members. The joining of the two was judged to be a win/win offer that would re-invigorate the shop whilst allowing investment in student services as opposed to a total shop re-fit. The brand image, experience and buying power of WH Smith were also
recognised as beneficial for students in an area that has historically struggled to deliver either the best service or best value to students. Kieran Ghandi, the Union Development and Internal Affairs Officer said of the change, “at the
Kendal Archer
English Literature 3rd Year “I think it’s a shame because the Union shop was individual. Also where will the Union sell Cardiff University merchandise?”
Students’ Union we are always looking for business ventures that will generate new or improved revenue to fuel the high quality student activities and services we provide.” Students can also be assured that substantial negotiations
Thom Hollick Politics 3rd Year
“It was the first retail chain anywhere in the world. This is pretty symbolic of wider moves to privatise the entirety of UK higher education.”
have taken place to ensure student friendly prices. Ghandi went on to praise the move: “we have built up a fantastic partnership and relationship with WH Smith. We will have a broad and tailored product range, featuring local and inter-
Alex Greig
English Literature and Philosophy 2nd Year “As long as it is as cheap as it was before, I don’t think it will make any impact.”
national brands, combined with a new shop design. We have also ensured that the pricing structure within the shop remains sensibly priced for all of our students. Come and check it out!”
Ed Lecorgne
English Literature and Ancient History 3rd Year “It will probably be more expensive and won’t have the variety I’m used to.”
7
Opinion 7–9
Monday April 15th 2013 | @gairrhyddop
For & Against
A class divided
Xander Mayweather and Max Eshraghi consider the BBC’s recent class calculator and whether this updated class system is a good thing
T
For
he class system has been reinvented, and it’s about time too. The BBC uploaded the new short survey over a week ago, and since then, almost everyone I know has taken part in it. This demonstrates one thing - as much as we may harp on about wanting to move away from class divide, become unified and close the gap between rich and poor, we are all inherently interested in it. Frankly, we will not be able to close any gaps of wealth whilst we still have this interest. I don’t agree with having a class system at all, but it’s clear that this country still wants to define itself by its wealth and social standing. As this is the case, I can’t help but think that this new class system is a good thing. The old class system was outdated. Working, middle and upper class hardly come together to create a coherent representation of modern day Britain. Even when you begin to throw in Upper-middle class and other such bridging classes, things don’t really get covered. This new system takes cultural tastes and social circles into account, as well as the traditional monetary and familial aspects of class. The new system, with its many levels, will begin to narrow the class divide - the first step in ridding ourselves of it for good. By having many tiers, people will
feel less separated than with the previous very distinct classes. More than this, (other than the potentially dubiously named ‘Elite’) the names of the class system do less to label people as richer or poorer. This is undoubtedly a good thing which will improve relations between class as those people who do place importance upon the class system, will find themselves able to associate with a wider range of people than before. Having taken the not-so-recent extended version of the class system test (one which takes around 20 minutes and takes into account aspects such as food and musical preferences) it is clear that this system is far more detailed, more accurate and more useful. It can tell you why you fit into the class you do, how you compare to the rest of the country through all sorts of graphs and charts and insightful information. No, I don’t feel the need for a class system, but seeing as we clearly live in a society that cannot do without one, this is a much better alternative to the highly outdated model that has been separating us for generations. Hopefully with a more accurate idea of why we fit into the categories that we do, we can begin to work on what it is that differentiates us as people and move towards a greater amount of equality. XM
T “
Nowadays if we do drag up the class system, I suspect it’s often to legitimise our own superiority or to serve as the butt of a joke
Against
he reception that the Great British Survey has received demonstrates what many already knew. We are a nation obsessed with the class divide. But equally many know that class is not important and hasn’t been for a very long time. That makes this new system devised by LSE a largely pointless exercise in a practice that should have been laid to rest long ago. Simply it’s purposeless. In the past social divisions were perhaps more pronounced but in recent history and even as far back as the post-war years, the population of Britain have undergone a social shake-up. Today in 21st century Britain, class divisions are one of the last things on people’s minds. The word ‘antiquated’ springs to mind. Nowadays if we do drag up the class system, I suspect it’s often to legitimise our own superiority or to serve as the butt of a joke. It seems we are not above branding ourselves with inane titles like ‘elite’ and ‘traditional working class’. But it’s an exercise in division at a time, particularly now, when solidarity is so important. At the risk of mimicking a Red Ed phrase, we should strive for the unification of a ‘One Nation’ Britain, and not be hung up on whether it’s pronounced ‘Bucket’ or ‘Bouquet’. Even from a political standpoint, usually the sector that rel-
ishes these studies, it’s largely useless. There hasn’t been a straight ‘working class/Labour’ ‘middle class/Tory’ split for some time and this attempt to replace it is not going to help political parties identify a demographic to target. With parties so similar the field is wide open and no amount of social labelling is going to help us pinpoint who is voting for who. Everyone is voting for anyone. How does a political party target the ‘Technical Middle Class’ as opposed to ‘Emergent Service Workers’ anyway? Even just from an analytical standpoint, the survey is a bit suspect. A total of 161,458 people from around the UK completed the survey with the majority (86%) living in England while 8% live in Scotland, 3% in Wales and 1% in Northern Ireland. They champion this as a ‘very large sample that allowed them to analyse the connections between the different capitals’. But correct me if I’m wrong, those percentages aren’t indicative of the national statistics are they? We British have liked to identify ourselves with a particular class that we recognise as accurate and our own. But ultimately this survey can’t even manage to create an adequate description of the British system. I don’t imagine the ‘Emergent Service Workers’ will form a class consciousness that many will be able to identify easily. The media storm incited by this ‘Great British Survey’ is thoroughly undeserved. ME
8 / Opinion
Match day from both perspectives Opinion look back at the final game of the Six Nations and ask what it was like to suffer crushing defeat or to experience such euphoria. Alistair Corless and Sophie Charles let us know
A
s a proud Englishman, watching the Welsh steamroll their way to a record victory over my home nation was painful. Whilst most of my friends living in England could simply turn off the TV, have a sulk and forget about the harrowing 80 minutes they had just witnessed, I could not erase the result from my memory quite as fast given my location. Like the English forwards at every ruck in the Six Nations decider, I was also outnumbered by Welshmen. After choosing to wear a very bright white England rugby shirt circa 2003, I stuck out like a sore thumb amidst the sea of jubilant red that filled the ground floor of Walkabout where I watched the game. As what seemed like half of Wales began to celebrate around me, I held my head in my hands and wondered how I had got into this horrible position. After making plans and getting excited about the Wales vs England game for some time, I woke up on the morning of the match very optimistic about the day that lay ahead. My housemates and I had decided to go into town early in order to guarantee that we would A) get in somewhere to watch the game and B) have plenty of time to drink enough so that defeat for either set of supporters would be easier to swallow (and yes if
G
rowing up in England, I was always proud to proclaim that I was Welsh to my peers. However, when I moved to Cardiff, the Welsh insisted that I am English, despite my parents’ heritage. Just to clarify - I am Welsh, Wales is the country I call home , so naturally, it entails that entails that I love rugby! At home I didn’t have much choice but to watch the matches with my brothers and Dad. But since coming to university I’ve looked forward to watching Wales play, initiating nostalgia and the hope to spot a player around Cardiff, of which I am pleased to announce that I have managed three so far.
you’re wondering it did help). Even though the match did not start until five o’clock, that evening the atmosphere in Cardiff was already electric when we arrived in Walkabout for 12.30. In the 4 and a half hours that filled the time between our arrival and kick off we sat, drank and began to get more and more anxious as the tension mounted throughout the club. Sadly for me, within 60 minutes of the game gone my hopes of an England grand slam had vanished. Following the final whistle I spent the rest of my day and night shaking hands, slagging of Steve Walsh and slurring ‘The best team won’ to any Wales fan who would hear it. Although it was ultimately awful to be in the capital of the country that had just trounced my own nation to become Six Nations champions, the fact that Cardiff was buzzing did help take the edge off what had happened during the game. After living in Cardiff for the last two years it has been incredible to witness the passion that the Welsh fans have for their country and for rugby as a sport. As an England fan I do however believe that watching Wales being crowned Six Nations champions is getting a bit boring and I hope that when watching the competition’s climax in my third and final year in Cardiff, I will be the one cheering for a change! AC
I am proud to call myself Welsh everyday, but this day was special When the dates were released for the Six Nations I was sure to book off work straight away for March 16th. I headed into town, wearing my Welsh shirt and dragon earrings to watch the match in a bar with my family. I work in this bar and I have never seen it so busy. Nor have I ever experienced such
an atmosphere since arriving in Cardiff almost two years ago. As Cuthbert scored the first try in the second half, the whole room exploded into cheers. Just over ten minutes later he did it again, bringing everyone into hysteria. Hugging, jumping, screaming, you name it. When the final whistle blew, there was a huge sense of accomplishment, elation and pure delight. I can only begin to imagine what it would have been like to experience this in the stadium. It must have been phenomenal. Admittedly, I thought that the evening might have turned into a bit of a raucous occasion but everyone was in such high spirits and my English friends were keen to join in with our celebrations too, despite the occasional banter. I am proud to call myself Welsh every day, but this day was special. Not just down to the result but because of the manner in which the Welsh put on a spectacular performance, showed key team spirit and pride in their country. SC
Everyone has an opinion. Email us your ideas at opinion@ gairrhydd.com
Margaret Thatcher: why she won’t be missed Idris ap Gwynedd Opinion Writer
If you google ‘Neath Port Talbot history’, the first result that comes up is Neath Port Talbot Country Borough Council’s webpage dedicated to describing the history of Neath. A corpus study would reveal lexemes like ‘manual’ ‘colliery’ ‘tinworks ‘min-
ing’ and ‘steel’ appearing in abundance. I am from Neath, I am working class and let me begin by stating that this is not a ‘ding-dong, the witch is dead’ article, nor is this a ‘oh, the working class is so hard-done-by’ rant, it’s an attempt at justifying why the death of Margaret Thatcher has been met with such fervour in working class communities such as mine. In traditional working class areas, there was joy and pride to be found in both skilled and unskilled manual labour, communities built up around pits, quarries, and works. Everyone was ‘in the same boat’, so to speak and because of this, there was mutual respect and support from peers. Working class communities were by no means perfect, but they were stable. However, it became apparent by the 1970’s that the reins of the nation were firmly in the hands of the Working Class. The
nation’s economy relied on natural resources produced through labour in areas like Powys and Durham and therefore, Trade Union leaders had a firm say in the running of the country. This did not sit well with the upper-middle class and an entire Government was spurred into putting the plebs back in their place and re-establishing the distribution of power where it belonged, with the bourgeois. Legislation was placed that left the wages of miners and other workers slashed, leaving them financially handicapped and with only two options: work for peanuts or strike. The history of the miners’ strike is as deeply ingrained in our history as Alfred the Great or Shakespeare and will receive no coverage in this article. However, what will be covered are the after-effects of the middle-class savagery and fragmentation of the middle class.
The aforementioned notions of community and togetherness were shattered, replaced instead with individualism and personal gain. Whereas before there had been pride in manual labour, there was, and still is: mass unemployment and an unknown resentment borne of frustration, aimed at other members of the community instead of the legacy of a Government that betrayed a generation. For most, this betrayal is embodied by one person, Margaret Thatcher, she was the figurehead of a Government that hamstrung the working class. Here we face a dichotomy, one person does not push legislation through Parliament, it takes hundreds of people to enforce such dramatic change to a country. However, it was evident that Margaret Thatcher chose to be in the position she was in, she saw herself as a moral crusader and therefore, does her name deserve the torrent of ha-
tred it has received? It has been argued that students and young people are not ‘entitled’ to criticise Thatcher’s time in office because they weren’t ‘there at the time’, if that’s the case then everyone under the age of 70 should probably give Mr. Hitler the benefit of the doubt. I personally don’t believe death should ever be celebrated but when a person such as Margaret Thatcher, whose name embodies so much betrayal and hatred to so many, dies, it is more than flesh that dies, it is everything they stood for. When we think of death in these terms, it’s understandable why people have raised a drink and celebrated. I personally feel that this exercise in catharsis is merely a distraction from the current onslaught against society’s most deprived going on in Parliament as we speak.
Opinion 7–10
Monday April 15th 2013 | @gairrhyddop
9
Gideon causes controversy Jasmine Losasso reports on the backlash from George Osborne’s attempt to justify Tory cuts by linking it to the Philpott case
L
ast week, George Osborne implied that the recent trial of Mick Philpott is linked to the benefit system that fuelled his immoral lifestyle. On Thursday, Philpott was given a life sentence for killing six of his children in a house fire in Derby and is set to serve a minimum of fifteen years in jail. Philpott and his wife Mairead set fire to their house in a failed attempt to frame Philpott’s former lover Lisa Willis, who had moved out of their family home earlier in the year with her five children. Philpott was unemployed, lived in a council house and received more than £8,000 a year in child benefit. But is it right for Osborne to be “playing politics” with the deaths of six children? Although he did not directly link the deaths to the welfare state, he suggested that there may be some sort of connection between the two. Osborne claimed that “there is a question for government and for society about the welfare state – and the taxpayers who pay for the welfare state – subsidising
lifestyles like that, and I think that debate needs to be had.” Predictably, the Daily Mail has also directly linked the Philpott case to the welfare state. Osborne, the Mail and others are simply using the incident to legitimize Tory cuts. Philpott has a history of violence and abuse, particularly of women, whom he appeared to treat as possessions. He carelessly brought about the deaths of six innocent children. The judge at his trial claimed he had no “moral compass” to restrain him, but did not suggest that his actions had been driven by welfare or benefits. Equating such a man with the benefit system is an attempt to indirectly vilify others who rely on welfare in order to legitimate conservative cuts that are frankly demoralizing. Pamela Nash, the Labour MP for Airdrie and Shotts highlighted that Osborne’s remarks are “deeply offensive to all those who are really struggling to live on benefits at the moment through no choice of their own, but mostly it’s disrespectful to the memory of these children.” Furthermore, the
Middlesbrough MP highlighted that the debate over the welfare system is a separate discussion to the Philpott trial: “It should not be had in the context of the most appalling crime of a father killing his six children”, he claimed. The fact that six children lost their lives to the hands of a careless and evil man should not be used for Osborne’s political agenda. This month new legislation will cut fifteen per cent off a person’s housing benefit if they have a ‘spare’ room. Parents who have their kids at the weekend, parents whose daughter or son work for the armed forces, and disabled people who need a spare room for equipment, are not exempt from this rather unsettling law. The welfare minister told a parent whose three children stay with him half the week that he would lose the spare room as the kids could just sleep on the (presumably enormous) sofa. The conservatives claim this law will affect 660,000 households. Only rather awkwardly, there aren’t 660,000 spare smaller houses for people to relocate to. In Hull, 5,500 people have been told to
When is sexism sexism? Jemima Walker
Opinion Writer Looking at Obama’s comment in context, I think that we can say with a relative degree of confidence that it was not founded in any real sexist attitude: Obama is notoriously passionate about gender equality, particularly in the work place. A prominent example of his drive towards absolute gender equality is his signature of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, a bill which other major US politicians, mentioning no (Mitt Romney) names, openly state they would not have signed had they been in Obama’s position. In light of this, perhaps it’s easy to mindlessly leap to the same conclusion as democrat and former Governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson, when he says “maybe i’m a Neanderthal, but I thought the comment was harmless... political correctness has reached a point where it’s out of control.” Well, Bill Richardson, you seem to have hit that nail right on its head. I think you probably are, as you so fittingly put it, ‘a Neanderthal.’ Here, whether Obama intended his comment about Ms. Harris to be a sexist jibe or not becomes void. The truth of it is, in commenting on the US attorney
general’s appearance and relative attractiveness specifically as a female, the comment automatically becomes sexist, working on a far broader scale than it was intended in highlighting the ongoing struggle women still face in the work place. Obama calls Ms. Harris “brilliant, dedicated and tough”; all highly valued qualities in a US attorney general. However, by going on to say that she also happens to be the ‘best looking attorney general’ in the country, Obama essentially strips Harris’ brilliance, dedication and toughness of its’ value. In the aftermath or this comment, Obama stated that in no way did he mean to “diminish the attorney general’s professional accomplishments”, but in listing her good looks in a way that causes them to seem of equal importance to her real “professional accomplishments” this is exactly what he is doing. The same kind of inane view expressed by Bill Richardson is shared by Gretchen Carlson of Fox news, who wishes that we “wouldn’t be so constantly PC on the issue because it’s true, she’s attractive, so what?’ The thing is, Gretchen, women have fought long and hard to be judged on the same criteria as men. To be
judged on their intelligence and drive, not by their appearance or merely as an attractive ornament in an often male dominated and orientated workplace. In being “brillant, dedicated and tough”, Kamala Harris is being judged against a backdrop of power and intelligence. However, in being ‘the best looking attorney general in the country’ she is being judged against a backdrop of appearance and beauty. A setting which you simply would not find any male of the same profession being judged within. I doubt that Obama is a bigoted sexist on a mission to objectify women, and by no means am I trying to portray him as one. Nor am I suggesting that every time a male pays a female a comment there ought to be uproar. If the president wants to tell the attorney general en route to an event that her hair looks great, that’s OK. The issue here is that Obama made this comment in a professional environment, and it is not OK to comment on Ms Harris’ appearance with regards to her success as attorney general, because in this professional environment appearance based on gender should not feature as a merit.
chase 70 one-bedroom properties. Worryingly, the welfare reforms are not just about cuts to benefits. The Tories are privatising the NHS and stopping legal aid for people in debt. A freeze on the tax-free personal allowance will create an £83 cost for the 4 million middle-income pensioners living in this country and a £285 loss for the 360,000 people who are set to retire next year. What is worse is that despite these merciless cuts, that will ultimately impact on the living standards of so many, the top rate of income tax dropped on Saturday from 50p to 45p for people with incomes of more than £150,000. As a result, millionaires will get average tax cuts of £42,000. In 1983, Neil Kinnock informed the population of the problems that would strike certain sectors of society if the conservative party was re-elected: ‘I warn you not to be ordinary. I warn you not to be young. I warn you not to fall ill. I warn you not to get old.’
10 / Columnist
by Liam McNeilly
O
ne week on, Margaret Thatcher’s death continues to dominate the news agenda. For the people reading this, the majority will not have lived through Thatcher’s premiership, and as such the suggestion that we are not qualified to comment on the many issues that can be raised as a result of Thatcher’s time at number 10, and the impact of Thatcherism more generally, has been aired regularly. ‘You weren’t there, you didn’t live it, you don’t know what you’re talking about’, is a sentiment that has been echoed by many in the media and in particular through social networking. Whilst I disagree entirely, I can appreciate why this might resonate with some of the older generation. There have been many teens that have embarrassed themselves with comments over the past week or so, ranging from the unbelievable (Who was she?) to those where it is strikingly clear the publisher is a tad misinformed or guided by hearsay. But why should they be the sole representation for those growing up after Thatcher’s own party had ousted her from Downing Street? I’d like to think that the students here are intelligent, educated people, who are all capable of making their own judgements on events that have preceded them. Suggesting that our age devalues our comments and opinions is simplistic at best, and patronising at worst. Should we all forget that history even occurred, and all focus exclusively on the present? Of course we shouldn’t, and whilst Thatcher’s legacy is flaunted in the face of the millions of people that her policies crippled, we should all, regardless of age, be allowed to question the status quo of Thatcher-mania that emerged in the mainstream media. On the day of her death, the BBC six o’clock news rebranded itself in the form of a Conservative Party political broadcast. Admittedly, the following day provided more balance and sought the voices of the communities that Thatcher destroyed, but nevertheless this seemed an afterthought - it was certainly pushed to the back of the queue. The programme spent 25 minutes
discussing the legacy of Margaret Thatcher, with opposition marginalised to a great extent. For someone who is so often described as dividing the nation, there was very little acknowledgment of the other side of the divide. There wasn’t any more than the briefest of mentions for the other news of the day. The latest assault on the vulnerable was announced - the restructuring of disability living allowance, which will leave an estimated 600,000 people with disabilities worse off. This news was cast aside with the glorification of everything Thatcher thrust in to the limelight. Is it any wonder that those opposed wanted their voices heard. In a case of horribly cruel irony, it was also announced by the European Union that the Welsh Valleys are amongst the poorest regions of Europe. Few would look past Thatcher when explaining the decimation of those communities, where the impact of Thatcherism is still there for all to see. This isn’t a case of few petty disagreements over the finer points of Thatcher’s policies. This was a Prime Minister who, in her refusal to take a stand against apartheid, called Nelson Mandela a terrorist whilst making friends with Augusto Pinochet. Controversy followed her. Thatcher may be arguably the most popular Prime Minister that there has ever been, one recent poll suggests that she is, but I would argue that there is an even greater case that Thatcher inspires the most hatred towards any Prime Minister. And this brings me back to my original point. Whilst many are too young to remember Margaret Thatcher in government, her legacy lives on and the effects and the chances are, everybody has been subject to that legacy in some shape or form. Her deregulation of the City, whilst not necessarily the sole reason, laid the foundations for the economic situation that we find ourselves in at the moment. Part of a dog-eat-dog, survival of the fittest culture that allowed money to talk without considering the implications to others. At some point in their life, everyone at university will have been subject to Thatcher’s notorious anti-gay policy of Section
28. It wasn’t until 2003 that the clause, which criminalised the ‘promotion of homosexuality’ by local authorities, was repealed. From my own experience of education, both primary and secondary, this is something that still hasn’t been shaken off entirely. Just last September, after years of struggle, the truth regarding the Hillsborough disaster was finally confirmed, and with it the role that Thatcher played was exposed. As she conspired to sweep the innocent victims under the carpet, she took the opportunity to smear the city of Liverpool, a city that her cabinet had discussed evacuating and leaving to decline, in the process. This example, yet another cruel irony as her funeral now falls in the same week as that of the Hillsborough tragedy anniversary. Her willingness to support the version of events portrayed by the Sun newspaper and the South Yorkshire Police is something that will never be forgiven by many. Thatcher is still as relevant as ever to British politics and to British life. Her legacy is all around us, and her impact remembered vividly. All that has died is an old lady, not Thatcherism or the legacy of it. When this is the case, I don’t personally see the point of celebrating her death in the way that some have as it ignores the bigger picture. But having said that, I can understand why some do, in the same way that some now see it
as more appropriate than ever to glorify her politics. The emotion that she ignites in others is that strong, and we shouldn’t be discouraged from showcasing those emotions, regardless of our age or circumstances. As Glenn Greenwald pointed out in his superb Guardian piece,
“That one should not speak ill of the dead is arguably appropriate when a private person dies, but it is wildly inappropriate for the death of a controversial public figure, particularly one who wielded significant influence.”
While you fulfil life’s true potential, we’ll make sure your property does too.
Tenant-finding, property management, and overseas landlord specialists. 02920 668585 cpshomes.co.uk
12 / Politics
Cardiff pro-life and pro-choice protests Politics writer Bridget Taylor discusses the abortion debate and the recent Cardiff protests
R
ecently, pro-life and pro-choice groups have been locked in a 40-day protest conflict on Cardiff high streets, a contrast in beliefs that was referred to as “a powerful sight”. The debates have been related to recent discussions on abortion limitations, an issue that has featured prevalently in the mass media over the past year. Within this context, the ‘40 days for life’ group faced staunch opposition from the Cardiff Feminist Network and Socialist Party, as their aim is to “access God’s power through prayer, fasting, and peaceful vigil to end abortion”.
“The contrast was a powerful sight” Abortion is one the key political divides in the US, and as we know, it has been legal since the landmark case of Roe v Wade 40 years ago. In August last year, we saw Todd Akin’s biologically confused attitudes that, “If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down”, which caused outrage among women’s groups, and was a catalyst in bringing women’s issues to the forefront of the US election campaign. However, abortion has also become a widely debated issue in
the UK recently. Health Minister Jeremy Hunt expressed his support for halving abortion limits from 24 weeks to 12 weeks, Women’s Minister Maria Miller supported a reduction to 20 weeks and MP Nadine Dorries has also headed a high profile anti-choice campaign. Although most abortions in England and Wales happen before 10 weeks, there is evidence to suggest that the current limit should not be shortened since some medical conditions cannot be detected before 21 weeks gestation. In the Republic of Ireland, attitudes toward abortion are even stronger because there is a larger citizenship of Catholics. A legal proceeding referred to as ‘Case X’ held that an abortion should be allowed if a woman’s life is at risk, but another widely held belief is that it should happen only if the foetus’ heart has stopped. In a case involving Savita Halappanavar in the Republic of Ireland, she was unable to get an abortion and died as a result of complications. There has been a strong history of advocacy for a women’s right to choose when and whether she wants an abortion, but complications can run deeper than simply the medical procedure. Many are in a position where it is an economic necessity not to have a child just yet, since
they cannot comfortably provide appropriate care. Other reasons can be a lack of education, or access to contraception. Also, some abortions are a result of an act of sexual violence, and therefore the choice to have child to begin with was not the mother’s own. Evidence prior to the legalisation of abortion suggested that a ban does not necessarily stop abortions, and instead they can lead women to seek out abortions elsewhere, which can in some cases be even more danger-
ous.
Complications can run deeper than simply the medical procedure In the US, the Donohue-Levitt hypothesis, widely known from the book and documentary Freakonomics, suggested that a steady decrease in crime in the ’70s and ’80s could have correlated to Roe v Wade, since a large proportion of children were not
born to homes where they were not planned. They further suggested that if they had been born in a vulnerable position then they were more likely to resort to crime, but because they were never born, this generation of crime simply did not happen. However, they added that they were not entirely taken from the population, and the mothers likely had children at a later date, planned, and in a more financially comfortable situation.
UN approves Arms Trade Treaty Bridget Taylor Politics Writer
On April 2, the 193-member UN General Assembly approved the historic global Arms Trade Treaty. This treaty has been a long time coming, and is frighteningly essential, in a world where the global trade in bananas is more strictly regulated than that of arms. Each year, enough bullets are made to kill every person in the world twice, and every minute someone loses their life in armed conflict. The treaty aims to halt the illicit trade in arms likely to be used for violations of international law. It would establish global standards based on existing international law, which includes international human rights. Unfortunately, the treaty could not halt the arms trade entirely, only the trade that is considered incompatible with humanitarian objectives. Nations could not be bound to stop trading weapons completely. For all the talk of ‘irresponsible’ arms dealing, the UK does not have an unblemished record
in this respect; the government supplied ammunition and defence vehicles that were used in the assault on peaceful protestors in Libya. It begs the question, what would responsible arms dealing be? In 2006, 153 governments voted at the UN to start work on developing a global Arms Trade Treaty. However, it is clear that not every nation supports a rigid and compelling treaty. The USA pulled out of negotiations last year to stop the treaty from going forward, even though the majority of nations were in favour. The US has one of the worst gun crime records in the world. There is a lot at stake in these negotiations, especially to ensure that human rights are enshrined within the Treaty. The US still remains sceptical, and Oxfam and Saferworld have argued that the treaty has been so weakened to appease the US – and other big arms manufacturers in China and Russia – that it is in danger of becoming meaningless. Their report says that the draft ATT does not cover all conventional weap-
ons or ammunition. Countries would only be obliged to stop selling arms if there was an ‘overriding risk’ that they might be used for human rights abuses, a threshold deemed too high and too vague. The draft treaty does not cover ‘gifting’ of arms, and allows countries to continue selling weapons if they come under the terms of an existing contract. The legislation, once passed, would also be controlled by national governments, not international law, so there would be no
international sanctions for breaking the treaty. Instead, all governments would need to publicly report on their arms sales so they can at least be held accountable for their actions. Even once the treaty is agreed, it will only be binding if a set number of states introduce national legislation to ratify it, so it is essential that it be deployed quickly. There needs to be greater consideration of the humanitarian dimension: the illegal arms trade fuels poverty and slows the
development of infrastructure. $18 billion a year is taken out of Africa’s economy due to armed conflict, and is largely the reason they are missing their Millennium Development Goals. Fewer arms increase the possibility of negotiation and peaceful resolution to conflicts. The use of weapons to destroy livelihoods is often a frustrated response to the lack of government support. Visit the Amnesty International website to find out more (www.amnesty.org.uk).
Politics 12–13
Monday 15th28th 20132013 | @gairrhyddpol Monday April January | @gairrhyddpol
13
Cardiff hosts PSA Conference 2013 Politics editors Thom Hollick and Rachel Lewis report on their experiences at the Political Studies Association annual conference at Cardiff City Hall
T
he Easter holidays saw academics from all over the world descend on Cardiff to attend the 63rd annual Political Studies Association conference. City Hall played host to delegates from 85 different countries, who came to debate and discuss a vast range of topics, across the field of politics. From March 25th to 27th, sessions were held allowing researchers to present their papers to a room of experts for comments and criticisms. Panels were held on topics from political participation, democracy, and economic crises, to European governance, the media, and political ideologies, and a lot more besides. The academic conveners for the conference were Professors Roger Scully, Richard Wyn Jones, and Dr Stephen Thornton, all of Cardiff’s School of European
Languages, Translation and Politics, but many more of our university’s other fine minds were also in attendance to present papers and chair discussions. Cardiff students from the Politics and Journalism departments were also invited along to provide support and coverage of the event, attending the talks and writing up reports for the PSA website.
The academics were also introduced to the culture and politics of Wales One of the standout panels was a discussion about the future of the press in the wake of the Leveson report. The panellists considered how phone hacking had been a pretext to the enquiry, yet we faced a situation where the entire ethics of the journalism industry and 300 years of press freedom had been put into question. Also, these ethics were
being questioned by politicians, the precise actors that the press are supposed to function as a check and balance against. As well as the opportunity to discuss and debate their respective fields of interest, the academics were also treated to an introduction to the culture and politics of Wales. Monday night saw a tour of the Senedd in Cardiff Bay and a reception for the delegates by the Welsh Assembly Government and Opposition. Guests were treated to the typical wine-andcanapés affair, as they mingled around making the acquaintance of other academics and cosying up to the editors of some of the most prestigious political journals. On Tuesday night, delegates were invited to the National Museum of Wales for the annual conference dinner. An excellent menu of traditional Welsh fare (leek soup, roast lamb... you get the idea) showcased the best of
our national cuisine, while the grand surroundings of the museum’s central lobby demonstrated the impressive Edwardian architecture of Cathays park.
Cardiff students were also invited along to provide coverage of the event The before-dinner speaker was the First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones. He warmly welcomed the delegates, and spoke engagingly on our nation’s history, and how it has informed our political culture today. It really is a fascinating story; how at one point Welsh was spoken throughout most of England and parts of Scotland too, until eventually fragmenting as the British Isles began to grow more Anglo-Saxon. Wales the nation has never really had a modern state of its own, so for a long period the lan-
guage was the sole remnant of its distinctive cultural identity. And yet it endured against all odds, until it was finally recognised by the UK government as being of equal importance to English and granted special protections in the 1993 Welsh Language Act. As far as the politics go, the case of devolution in Wales is an intriguing one for academics and non-specialists alike. Carwyn Jones is no Welsh nationalist, but he was rightly proud of how cross-party co-operation has, from 1979 to the present, gradually built a consensus in the whole country in favour of devolution. The whole conference was an excellent experience, as it allowed a big swathe of the international academic community to experience Welsh politics (and Welsh hospitality) first hand, but also as it was a great opportunity for students and staff to engage with some very informative and innovative political debates.
Varsity Da S AT U R D AY 2 0 T H A P R I L – B O AT R A C E SPORT
VENUE
TIME
Novice Women
River Taff
12.15pm
Novice Men
River Taff
1.15pm
Senior Women
River Taff
2.15pm
Senior Men
River Taff
3.15pm
W E D N E S D AY 2 4 T H A P R I L WELSH INSTITUTE OF SPORT SPORT
VENUE
TIME
Badminton
Talybont
11.30am
Tae Kwon Do
Dojo
11am
Netball
Main Hall
11.30am
Men’s Fencing
Upper Hall
1.30pm
Ladies Fencing
Upper Hall
1.30pm
Ladies Basketball
Main Hall
1.30pm
Men’s Squash
Squash Courts
1.30pm
Ladies Squash
Squash Courts
1.30pm
LOOK OUT FOR THE BIG RED VARSITY BUS A #TEAMCARDIFF
ay Games SPORT
VENUE
TIME
Men’s Basketball
Main Hall
3pm
Men’s Volleyball
Talybont
2.30pm
Women’s Volleyball
Talybont
2.30pm
Men’s Football
WIS – Main Pitch
12pm
Ladies Hockey
Hockey Astro
2.30pm
Men’s Hockey
Hockey Astro
4pm
Ladies Rugby
Pontcanna - Pitch 1
1pm
Freshers Rugby
Pontcanna - Pitch 1
2.30pm
IMG Football
Pontcanna - Pitch 2
1pm
Ladies Football
Pontcanna - Pitch 2
2.30pm
Men's Lacrosse
Pontcanna - Pitch 3
12.30pm
Ladies Lacrosse
Pontcanna - Pitch 3
2.30pm
Ultimate Frisbee
Pontcanna - Pitch 4
11am
American Football
Pontcanna - Pitch 4
12.30pm
Golf
Vale of Glamorgan
11am
Tennis
Cardiff Lawn Tennis Club
12pm
AROUND CAMPUS ON MONDAY 15TH APRIL! # W E L S H VA R S I T Y
16 / Science
Lasers cure cocaine addiction Cocaine addiction is known to dull activity in the prefrontal cortex, a region of the brain thought to be involved in social behaviour and decision-making. Science writer Michelle Coffey reports on the development of a technique that could cure cocaine addiction by applying laser light to this brain area.
Scientists have found that applying laser light to the prefrontal cortex of rat brains could eliminate cocaine addiction. It is hoped that this discovery could eventually be developed into a therapy to treat human patients with compulsive addiction to the drug. Severe cocaine addiction is known to dull prefrontal cortex activity, the region of the brain associated with decision-making and social behaviour.
Researchers engineered neurons to become lightsensitive National Institutes of Health (NIH) researchers genetically engineered neurons to become light-sensitive by implanting them with rhodopsin proteins
that were switched on and off by laser light. Lead researcher Antonello Bonci explained that once the laser had switched on these neurons, the compulsive cocaine-seeking behaviour in the rats had gone. The treatment was found to work both ways, as switching off the genetically enhanced neurons transformed normal rats into cocaine addicts.
the way for human clinical trials. Although laser treatment of brain cells is too dangerous for human subjects, the therapy could be adapted using magnetic stimulation. This would be administered externally, posing no harm to trial subjects.
The treatment works both ways – switching off the neurons initiated addiction
The therapy could be adapted for human patients using magnetic stimulation The discovery is particularly exciting because the brain activity of the rats mimicked that of human compulsive cocaine addicts, so adapting the treatment for use in human populations could be feasible. This highly promising development paves
1.4 million
6.6%
of British 16–24 year olds are addicts
cocaine addicts in America
ratory failure. If left untreated, cocaine addiction can have fatal consequences. The group will begin clinical trials shortly, with a few sessions per week to stimulate the prefrontal cortex of addicts, attempting to restore activity to the brain to prevent patients from actively seeking cocaine.
An estimated 1.4 million Americans are addicted to cocaine and use of the drug has rocketed recently in the UK. Approximately 6.6 per cent of British 16–24-yearolds are addicts, up from 1.3 per cent 15 years ago. The health implications of the drug are critical, including high risk of stroke and heart attack in people under 35, seizures, headaches and respi-
75% of people who try cocaine become hooked
Study pinpoints crucial Down Syndrome protein Jack Parker
Science Writer American scientists have identified a protein in the brain that may be responsible for the development of Down syndrome. Genetic modification of the protein may have future possible clinical applications in the treatment of the condition. Researchers at the SanfordBurnham Medical Research Institute in California have identified a protein thought to play a key role in the development of the defects associated with Down syndrome. The study, published in Nature Medicine on March 24th, 2013, showed that mice deficient in the protein SNX27 exhibited characteristics parallel to those displayed by mice with
Down syndrome; specifically, they had fewer glutamate receptors, which have been shown to be vital for memory formation and normal brain function.
Humans with Down syndrome exhibited diminished SNX27 levels Down syndrome, a condition caused by the presence of a triplicate copy of chromosome 21, gives rise to a number of cognitive, behavioural and physical abnormalities. This extra copy of chromosome 21 causes excessive production of a molecule which blocks the action of the protein SNX27, giving rise to the characteristic defects of Down syn-
A triplicate copy of chromosome 21 is involved in Down Syndrome
drome. With these results in mind, the researchers undertook studies on the human brain, finding that humans with Down syndrome also exhibited diminished SNX27 levels. Professor Huaxi Xu of the Sanford-Burnham Institute said: “We believe lack of SNX27 is at least partly to blame for developmental and cognitive defects [in Down syndrome]”. Professor Xu’s team also genetically increased production levels of SNX27 in the brains of SNX27deficient mice, observing the return of normal brain function and increased numbers of glutamate receptors, and repaired memory formation was seen in mice with Down syndrome. The
team stressed, however, that there is still a lot of work to be done before this can be safely carried out in the human brain.
The extra copy of chromosome 21 blocks the action of the protein SNX27 Carol Boys, chief executive of the Down Syndrome Association, said: “this particular study is of interest; however, the genetic causes of Down syndrome are very complex and we are still a long way away from the development of therapeutic treatments that might lead to improvement to cognition in people with Down syndrome.”
Science 16–17
Monday April 15th 2013 | @gairrhyddsci
17
Entertainment technology used to diagnose mood disorders Sophie Howells
Science Writer A recent development in computer programs could partially relieve doctors of the difficult task of diagnosing depression. The programs use technology, such as Microsoft’s Kinect, to track body language, recognise facial expressions and analyse movement. This can help determine whether or not a person is displaying overt signs of depression, such as fidgeting, a dropped gaze or less smiling.
The programs use Microsoft’s Kinect to track body language A team at the University of Canberra tested one of these program’s ability to accurately detect symptoms when compared to standard methods of screening, such as questionnaires. The program showed 90 per cent accuracy when observing and
analysing a sample of 60 people who had previously been diagnosed with depression. Stefan Scherer, University of Southern California, says “presently broad screening is done by using only a checklist of yes/no questions or point scales, but all the nonverbal behaviour is not taken into account”.
fewer replies and retweets were more likely to be depressed. The same was true for those who posted tweets later at night and included the word ‘I’ in posts.
Cardiff University Counselling Service offers a computerbased course
Social networking websites may also give healthcare professionals clues about states of mind
This is not the first development in technology that could potentially take the place of trained professionals and employees. Many services within the NHS and other institutions now use computer programs to carry out tasks once only completed by humans. GP and dental surgeries are beginning to offer touch-screen computers, which allow patients to check themselves in, avoiding the need to queue. Cardiff University Counselling Service offers a computer-based course, ‘Beating the Blues’, which teach-
Other research has shown that social networking websites such as Twitter may also give healthcare professionals clues about individuals’ states of mind. A team at Microsoft Research, Washington, studied 69,000 Twitter posts from a sample of 489 individuals previously diagnosed with depression. It was found that those who received
es skills in managing stress, depression and anxiety, reducing the need for therapy sessions.
It may encourage more individuals to seek support There are both positive and negative aspects to the use of technology in health services; for example, it may release professionals to treat other patients, saving money and time. Computer-based diagnoses may encourage more individuals to seek support, by avoiding feelings of stigma or judgement that may arise when speaking to another human. However, the decline in face-to-face contact with professionals may have the opposite effect for some individuals, who value the empathy and support of another person.
New evidence suggests dark matter may exist David Mason
Science Writer New research into dark matter particles has yielded further observations indicating their existence is genuine. A dark mattersensitive telescope attached to the International Space Station has observed potential evidence of dark matter particles colliding. The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) was attached to the International Space Station in 2011 and has been collecting data from that point onwards for a period of around 18 months.
The AMS is an attempt to try and discover more about dark matter During its active period, the
AMS has recorded potential evidence for the dark matter particles colliding with one another. This has been achieved by monitoring the number of electrons and positrons, their antimatter counterparts, that fall onto detection plates. It is theorised that when dark matter particles collide, they should be reduced to positron and electron particles, raising the ratio of positrons to electrons in space.
This has been achieved by monitoring the number of positrons that fall onto detectors In a paper published in Physical Review, the AMS team indi-
cated that the presence and behaviour of excess positrons fits with the theory, suggesting the presence of dark matter collisions. Importantly, positron and electron particles have been detected as coming from all directions, with no specific concentration or variation over time. As such, a more conventional source for these particles, such as the collapse of a star, is unlikely as this would show a directional concentration. There has however, been no official publication of findings yet. The project’s lead spokesman, Professor Samuel Ting of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has this week spoken at a seminar at the European Laboratory for Particle Physics. He reminded the conference
that the results show an indication, not a proof, and stated “we will publish things when we are absolutely sure”. The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer is one of several attempts by researchers to try and discover more about dark matter. Several laboratories work with concentrations of underground gases, and the Large Hadron Collider hopes to produce dark matter particles in its accelerator.
The Large Hadron Collider hopes to produce dark matter particles in its accelerator The visible matter in the cosmos is believed to represent less than 20 per cent of the universe’s
The atoms that comprise everything visible are believed to represent less than 20% of total matter total mass. The other 80 per cent is comprised of ‘dark matter’, invisible to conventional telescopes, and remains undetected. Theories as to what constitutes dark matter remain inconclusive. We know relatively very little about the state of the universe – much potential may yet be locked behind the mystery of dark matter. While the currently observed behaviour fits theories, many further years of study will be needed to ascertain any kind of proof.
18 / Societies
Bringing the Olympic legacy to Cardiff Bryn Savill & Rob Whitham
Societies Writers The interest in Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM) at an undergraduate level appears to be ever growing; this year alone Cardiff Sports & Exercise Medicine Society (CSEMS) has held two student conferences, a sports strapping course and a pitchside trauma course whilst new undergraduate societies are establishing themselves throughout the UK. CSEMS’ President, Liam West has recently founded a nationwide Undergraduate Sports & Exercise Medicine Society (USEMS). The void in SEM education at UK medical schools has been highlighted extensively. The issue has been included within a number of entries into the BJSM Blog Series, “Undergraduate Perspective on Sport & Exercise Medicine”. It is clear that the demand for SEM education at the student level is increasing;it is unsurprising that students are using their own initiative in order to create new opportunities. As CSEMS VicePresidents, we set out to help maintain CSEMS’ reputation as the most active undergraduate SEM society through the organisation and hosting of the December conference which consisted of an Olympic theme. The Cardiff Olympic SEM Conference 2012 was primarily aimed at healthcare students and those recently beginning their post-graduate training. We held a firm belief when conceiving the concept of the conference that following the highly successful London 2012 Olympics, this was our chance to help inspire a generation of SEM physicians. However, the selection of high profile speakers also meant there were delegates from multiple disciplines including SEM consultants, GPs, sport scientists, physiotherapists and sport therapists. The conference was an acclaimed success, with over 240 delegates coming from all corners of the UK. There were 22 presentations by speakers representing different fields , addressing both the holistic approach to athlete care and the importance of physical activity in the prevention and treatment of disease. The Olympic theme was focused on by some of those at the forefront of the medical services at London 2012, including: Mrs Caryl Becker (Chief Olympic Physiotherapist for the BOA), Mrs Rosie Mew (Lead Physio-
therapist for ParalympicsGB) and Dr Rod Jaques (teamGB doctor), whilst the legacy of London 2012 was tackled by Dr Mike Loosemore. A wide range of other subjects were covered, such as: Entry Routes into SEM for Medics & Physiotherapists, Treating the Disabled Athlete, Cardiac Screening & Arrhythmias in Athletes, The Sporting Shoulder, Resistance Training in Young Athletes, Doping & Sport, Boxing injuries, Performance Nutrition, Exercise Prescription, Physical Activity and Breast Cancer, Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Clinical Practice, Advances in Knee Surgery, and a Sport Taping practical. The format of the day allowed delegates to listen to keynote speakers in the morning then select one of the five workshops in the afternoon. Representatives were also present from several national bodies and associations who endorsed the event to answer questions. There was also a charity raffle, which proved to be a success, raising over £250 for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, a charity which uses the power of sport to promote social change in underprivileged communities around the world. Feedback from the speakers was positive; one commented that “the conference was superbly well organised, the content covered all bases within SEM, and it was much better than many bigger national conferences. An amazing effort from two students.” Likewise, the delegates were complimentary of the conference, saying that it was well targeted at both medics and physiotherapists and that CSEMS “should do more of these events in the future!”. The dean of Cardiff Medical School also complimented CSEMS for putting on such a well-received event. All in all, the Cardiff Olympic SEM Conference 2012 was a resounding success and it is pleasing to see such great student enthusiasm for SEM. CSEMS is planning on hosting an Exercise Medicine symposium in June, check out CSEMS’ website on CampusGroups if you’d be interested in coming.
Pride and Predudice: The Opera Felicity HolmesMackie
Societies Writer The story of Pride and Prejudice barely needs an introduction as it has become so well-known and well-loved; if you haven’t read the book then you’ve probably seen the film. No opera adaptation has been composed before, which is somewhat surprising considering both the suitability of the characters and the dramatic peaks in the plotline. With this foundation of popularity alongside a highly adaptable story, the production had high standards and expectations to live up to but seemed likely to be warmly received by an audience. The latter was certainly what struck me about the performance by Cardiff University Operatic Society; the audience were pulled along into the action of the story and never withheld a giggle (or indeed roaring laughter) when it suited. Only a fast-paced and lively production could extract such enthusiasm from an audience. The opera and cast supported each other very well which was perhaps due to the composer also taking the role of stage director. It appeared to be a highly collaborative effort which shone through particularly well in the whole chorus numbers. These large dance scenes were especially good in the balance between the detailed pockets of action with the wider hum of activity surrounding these. It is very easy for chorus members to lower their guard and feel hidden by scenes with lots of activity,although I’m pleased to note I didn’t notice one member
doing so. The chorus supported an array of skilled cast members. Jessica Cale was perfectly cast as Lizzie Bennet with a sensitive balance of attitude and self-possession and the exact singing voice I would imagine Lizzie herself to have. Mr Darcy (Rhys Morris) and Miss Bennet made an amusing and endearing couple onstage, contrasting and conflicting very well together especially in their dance scene. Mrs Bennet (Catherine Mottershead) was as comically embarrassing and flustered as she should be and Mr Bennet as benevolent and bumbling. Another pair worth noting is the girlish, amusing duo that was Kitty and Lydia (Carol Jones and Jessica Mabin). The characters fitted their comic operatic role better than I had expected and were played by actresses with a clear knack for comic timing and over-the-top glee. Unfortunately beautiful voices were lost at times due to a large orchestra and the acoustics of the theatre but the cast certainly tried hard to counteract this and it perhaps could not be helped. I would also note, however, that at times scene changes were slow and could be remedied with just a few more maids and butlers to move props and furniture. The overall impression of the show was exceptionally impressive and immensely enjoyable. The comedy of the production was outstanding and stayed true to the characteristics of Austen’s writing. I, as a somewhat novice viewer of opera, was at first unsure how the subtle comedy and biting
satire of Austen’s writing would work in an operatic setting. The genre stereotypes as one suited to passionate exclamations, obvious villains and weapons brandished at sobbing maidens, however, by the end of the production I was utterly convinced that opera suits satire and wit just as well as it suits passion and melodrama. I call to mind the roaring laughter at the line ‘dinner is served’, sung in the most dramatic way possible which appeared to playfully satirise the form of the production itself; the cast managed to maintain dead straight faces, adding superbly to the effect. The composer-director certainly deserves credit for a lively and witty production of a well-loved story and for living up to the novel’s drama and comedy. The cast, crew and orchestra should also be very proud of creating an experience for their audiences and should be commended for their obvious hard work in bringing the production together and performing it in such an enjoyable manner.
19
Societies 18–19
Monday April 15th 2013 | @gairrhyddsoc
ISoc review their best year yet Mariam Abuelzein Societies Writer
We’ve reached the end of a fantastic year with ISoc and what a year it’s been. We made a great start with Freshers’ week where we doubled our membership. Charity Week followed, where an impressive £9,255 was raised for the Islamic relief orphan project. This was a fantastic sum of money, and the most raised by any Islamic society from Wales and the West England region. One of the highlights of our year was Islamic Awareness Week. We were able to deliver a hugely successful week, made up of students from all backgrounds and many esteemed speakers, including Yvonne Ridley who shared her inspirational story to Islam. The Q&A event provided the opportunity for thought provoking discussions and thus dispelling misconceptions about Islam. Furthermore, we’ve had a record number of students sign up for our Arabic and Qur’an classes, from which we received very
positive feedback from the students with 93% rating their experience of the classes 8+ out of 10. There have also had great mix of social events throughout the year including our regular sports (football and basketball), restaurants trips, Trade Justice Awareness Week, go karting etc which allowed us to socialise in an environment which respected our values. This year wouldn’t have been as awesome as it has been without our dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers who put in all their energy into making our events a huge success. We thank the volunteers for their honest feedback and valuable input of our events as it helped us identify areas we could improve on for next year. A huge thanks must go to them and everyone who attended and took part in ISoc events. Our committee this year has been exceptional. We worked really well together as a team and formed a close bond that allowed us to achieve huge heights. I really enjoyed working with all the members and I will miss them
greatly. I wish them all the best in the future. This year we had a fantastic relationship with the Students Union, through working closely with the SU officers we managed to establish a new prayer room at the Students Union for which we are so very grateful. We thank the Students union for their support including Harry Newman, Adam Curtis and the whole team who were all very supportive and attended many of our events you will all be greatly missed and we wish you all the best in the future. Looking to the future we now have an all new committee except myself, with very active individuals who I am sure will continue to make Cardiff ISoc something special. Our vision for ISoc next year is to continue to serve the welfare of Muslims students at Cardiff University. We will also continue to provide a good education about Islam for Muslims and non-Muslim alike. Mariam is ISoc’s Head of Education
Aisha Personal experience Sabir My experience of ISoc this year was simply AMAZING. To have a direct involvement this year in the running of the ISoc was such fun, whilst at times a busy experience. The highlights for me of this year were the Charity Week Eid Extravaganza Dinner and Islam Awareness Week as a whole. The ISoc had such great opportunities to host some fantastic speakers and events such as Yasmin Mogahed and the upcoming FOSIS Qur’an Camp. I feel truly blessed to have been part of the ISoc; it has brought me closer to my religion and has allowed me to make such lovely friends throughout my three years at university. I wish nothing but the best to the new committee A great ending to a great year.
Maths conference comes to Cardiff
A
conference open to all students and staff is being held on Saturday, April 27th at the School of Mathematics. The conference is designed to bring people who have mathematical elements to their degree (e.g. Computer Science, Engineering, Biology), and those interested in mathematics, to-
gether for a day of diverse talks. These talk will include the use of mathematics in video games, the supersonic car Bloodhound SSC and speed cubing. A Q&A Employers panel will also be taking place where delegates can direct questions to the panel about careers. This is in addition to a variety of networking opportunities that will be available throughout the day .
The conference is run by the Institute of Mathematics and is held twice a year. It will be a while before Cardiff University are the hosts again. Registration is particularly affordable as the Maths Society are providing halfprice admission for the first 160 students, with prices starting at a mere £5. For more information about the conference, or if you are a
non-student wanting to attend the conference, visit the following web page: http://www. ima.org.uk/conferences/conferences_calendar/early_career_ mathematicians_conference_ spring_2013.cfm For discounted student prices, login to Campus Groups and visit the Maths Society page (http:// groups.cardiffstudents.com / mathsoc), where the the link to
the Conference event page can be found on the left hand side. With ticket prices from as low as £5, the conference is a great opportunity to add something unique and highly attractive to your CV.
HONOUR R LL. Nominations are open for
OUTSTANDING STUDENT OF THE YEAR Do you know a student who has enhanced the lives of others in the university or within the wider local, national or international community? Nominate an exceptional student for the prestigious 'Honour Roll' Award Email welfareofficer@cardiff.ac.uk for more information or download a nomination pack at cardiffstudents.com
ENRICHING STUDENT LIFE AWARDS 2013
22 / Puzzles
sudoku
Each Sudoku has a unique solution that can be reached logically. Enter numbers into the blank spaces so that each row, column and 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.
Easy
kakuro
Fill in the grid so that each run of squares adds up to the total in the box above or to the left. Use only numbers 1–9 and never use a number more than once per run (a number may recur in the same row, in a separate run).
Intermediate Steve has been given another devilish riddle by Leather Sherlock Holmes. Steve must work out what the seventh rung of the following pyramid is. Can you help?
1 11 21 1211 111221 312211 13112221 Steve takes one pill A and one pill B from the ones that are left in the labelled bottles. This leaves one pill in bottle A and 3 in his hand. If Steve splits the remaining four pills in half, he can take the bottom halves first, guaranteeing two A halves and two B halves. Safe!
Last week's solution:
Listings 23
Monday April 15th 2013 | @mediacsu
MUSIC
Lower than Atlantis Tuesday 16th April at Cardiff Student Union. 7pm. Tickets £12.50. Bleed from Within Wednesday 17th April at Clwb Ifor Bach. 7pm. Tickets £8.25. Violas Wednesday 17th April at Buffalo. 7.30pm. Tickets £4. Money for Nothing – A Dire Straits Tribute Friday 19th April at The Globe. 7pm. Tickets £10. Saturday 20th April at Clwb Ifor Bach. 8pm. Tickets £10.
THEATRE
Go Back for Murder Tuesday 16th - Saturday 20th April at the New Theatre. Tickets from £8.50. Ghost The Musical on until Saturday 27th April at the Millenium Centre. Tickets from £17.
CLUBS
Bump n Grind Monday 15th April at Undertone. 10pm – 4am. TIckets £3. The Lash Wednesday 17th April at Solus. 10pm – 3am. Tickets £3 in advance, £4 on the door. Comeplay Saturday 20th April at Solus. 10pm - 3am. Tickets £5.
ART & CULTURE
12 April – 4 May at Gallery 10.
24 / Sport
Men’s hockey retain Cup in style Andy Roberts Sport Writer
CARDIFF .............................. 5 SWANSEA UNI ..................... 2 In the first ever all-university Welsh Cup final, holders Cardiff University faced Swansea University, with the latter having already won the Shield the previous day. After only three minutes and in their first attack, Nick Pestana struck home for the top of the circle to give Swansea the lead. The game was proving to be the quickest of the weekend by far with Swansea more than
matching their higher-ranking opposition. The pace began to settle down, with Cardiff starting to take control of the middle of the pitch. Swansea, however, were still quick on the break and caused some anxious moments in their opponents’ defence before Cardiff’s Phil Wilkinson rounded Swansea goalkeeper Mike Gerrard and slotted home to bring the scores level. Cardiff maintained the pressure, but could not capitalise on a number of penalty corners awarded to them. Wilkinson scored his and Cardiff’s second with four minutes of
Rachel Farquhar Sport Writer
the half remaining, when a cross from the right was parried out to him by the defending goalkeeper. With no further goal action before the break, the teams turned around with Cardiff having a 2–1 advantage. Cardiff started the second half where they left off, and another penalty corner after 41 minutes saw Cardiff skipper Charlie McCartney deflect home from close range. Swansea realised that they needed to reduce the increasing gap quickly, but a number of attacks came to nothing. Their cause was not helped by a yellow card awarded to Jonathan Cardy, but Cardiff could not capitalise on their numerical advantage. With 12 minutes left, captain Rory Thorburn pulled a goal back through a well taken pen-
alty corner, before Cardiff almost immediately restored their twogoal advantage through Todd Freedman. A minute later, Jack Carr rounded off a scintillating run by sweeping the ball home on his reverse side to increase the lead to 5–2. Swansea threw everything into attack in a last-ditch attempt to rescue the tie, but their efforts were to no avail, leaving Cardiff University Men's Hockey to retain the Cup. CARDIFF: Andy Hughes, Ultan Watson, Will Teagle, Danny Wills, Rob Williams, Kieran Morris, Todd Freedman, James Howard, Dom Cooke, Jack Carr, Tom Beak, James Croft, Charlie McCartney (c), Jon Best, Phil Wilkinson
Buhagiar glances Cardiff to glory Andy Roberts Sport Writer
CARDIFF .............................. 1 RHUTHUN .......................... 0 Cardiff’s Women’s Hockey XI added to the success of the men’s team with a narrow 1–0 victory over North Wales side Rhuthun. With Rhuthun playing their second final of the weekend, following victory over Swansea University in the Shield the previous day, holders Cardiff Uni-
versity were the first team to exert any type of pressure when winning the first penalty corner of the game after four minutes. The ball was mistrapped, however, and cleared to safety. Rhuthun were quick to get up to speed in what was a step up from their Shield match and soon caused the students some anxious moments with sustained attacks. The game switched from end to end, with neither side able to make the telling last touch count until Cardiff's Janieve Bu-
Next stop London for fundraiser Rachel
hagiar deflected a cross into the circle past Rhuthun ’keeper Ruth Evans. Rilla Cotton had a chance to increase the lead following a quick break out from defence, but her shot went narrowly wide. Leading up to the half-time break, Cardiff increased the pressure forcing a number of penalty corners, which all went uncoverted. Early in the second half, a yellow card awarded to Rhuthun's Catrin Roberts finished with the resultant penalty corner opportunity being wasted. A further yellow card to Elan Iorwerth left Rhuthun with nine players, but the students of Cardiff could not capitalise on their numerical advantage. The Uni were increasingly becoming the stronger of the two teams, and despite the occasional foray into the opposition half, Rhuthun were coming under mounting pressure. The pressure paid off when an unfortunate tackle by Evans resulted in a penalty stroke being awarded aginst her. However, she soon redeemed herself by saving well low down to her right.
On Sunday, April 21st, I will be running the London Marathon to raise money for St Ann’s Hospice in Manchester. Both of my grandparents passed away at St Ann’s from cancer and I therefore know first-hand how important their work is in providing care for thousands of patients suffering from life-limiting illnesses. Not only does St. Ann’s provide palliative care for patients, but also support for those who are dealing with bereavement. As part of my training, I participated in the Reading Half Marathon and completed the course in a time of one hour and 51 minutes. Despite being only half of the distance I will be running on Sunday, the race left me feeling exhausted and has encouraged me to train even harder over the past few weeks. I have had little experience of long-distance running, so my goal is to make sure I run the entire course without walking or stopping. My original aim was to raise £500 for this amazing charity but, so far, my donations have exceeded that and I would be hugely grateful for any further sponsorship. All of the money raised will be given to St. Ann’s in memory of Al and Mary Fisher, my grandparents. After countless bouts of shin splints, sprained ankles and early morning runs, I am still very thankful for my place in the Marathon and proud that I can do it for a charity so close to my heart. I plan to keep up my fundraising by running the Cardiff Half Marathon in September but, for now, I am just focusing on completing those 26.2 miles!
*Donations to Rachel’s fund can be made by visiting: justgiving.com/rachel-farquhar
Cardiff were awarded another penalty corner right on the final whistle, but they were unable to score leaving them to run out winners at 1–0. CARDIFF: Alice Wills, Amy Hayes, Rachel Dunning, Jennifer Tilbury (c), Rae Allen, Lottie Wilkinson, Nicole Morrow, Rilla Cotton, Naomi James, Sarah Barratt, Janieve Buhagiar, Lucy Mattocks, Catherine Macaulay, Hannah Orchard
Sport 24–28
Monday April 15th 2013 | @gairrhyddsport
English Language kick off for Red Nose Day Sport writer Zhongyu Tian reports on the English Language department’s sporting efforts to raise money for Comic Relief
O
n Saturday, March 16th, the Cardiff University English Language Department organised a charity football tournament to raise money for Comic Relief, with matches between the International Foundation Programme (IFP) and the Bridge Programme. On the big day, each programme was represented by two teams of players who faced off against each other. Although the Bridge Programme’s teams started out by thrashing their IFP opponents, eventually IFP launched a surprising fight-back to take home the trophy. In the opening match, the Bridge Blues got off to a flying start, knocking four goals past Aziz Alshammari’s IFP Team, largely thanks to the outstanding performance of marauding defender Shaun Tiddy. The next match was between the Bridge Oranges and Mashoor Alhoban’s IFP team, who ended up neckand-neck. In the following match, even though Mashoor’s IFP team had to play two consecutive matches without a break, they did not seem fatigued. Instead, they quickly broke the deadlock after a great passing move involving Saaed, Assad, Badr, Omar and
Huy. Although the Bridge Blues fought their way back into the tie, Mashoor’s IFP team extended their lead, partly due to a goalkeeping howler. The Bridge Blues tried in vain to draw level and had a great opportunity to equalise at the death when defender Sam used brilliant deceptive movement to break through, but there was no team-mate in support.
The tournament raised a grand total of £156 for Comic Relief After that, the crowd enjoyed one of the performances of the tournament as Aziz’s IFP team gained a measure of redemption for their earlier thrashing at the hands of the Bridge Blues by beating another Bridge team, the Bridge Oranges, 3–0. The crafty midfield triumvirate of Muhammed, Rahid and Nasser did the damage with consecutive passes that bamboozled the defenders while Areej, the only female player in the whole tournament, was proving a handful with her intelligent forward runs. In the last couple of minutes, the Bridge Oranges employed an all-out attacking tactic,
but even this did not make any difference to a very one-sided game. The result meant that the winner of the match between the two IFP teams would be crowned champions, with the Bridge Blues praying for an unlikely draw. In the end, Mashoor’s IFP team beat Aziz’s team with a stunning 3–1 victory. Although the Bridge Blues players rediscovered their form in the last match to win 4–1 and claim the Bridge Programme bragging rights, this did not alter the overall standings. Mashoor’s IFP team were the inaugural winners of the English Language Department tournament. Mashoor, the captain of the winning team, claimed that every player deserved a huge pat on the back for their performance and that, at the end of the day, they were just happy to help raise funds for a good cause. In the end, the tournament raised a grand total of £156 for Red Nose Day and Comic Relief. Compared with some other activities, it might not sound like too much, but every little helps. We hope that the success of the tournament this year can inspire more people to take part in such events and get them on board to raise more money for charity in the future.
Korfball reach final four in Norwich Sarah Munro & James Wilcox Sport Writers
On the second weekend of March, Cardiff University Korfball Club travelled to Norwich to compete against 15 of the top korfballing universities in the UK. The first team arrived at the University of East Anglia’s Sportspark ready to take on Edinburgh in their opening match. The squad was expecting tough opposition from the side who were seeded second in the northern qualifiers and went out all guns blazing. Cardiff took a two-goal lead in the opening minutes, courtesy of Rebecca Fitch, and maintained this for the remainder of the game. The last five minutes were extremely tense as Cardiff went all-out in defence, but the Welsh team held on to win 8–7. Having beaten their strongest opposition, the team was in high spirits. As long as Cardiff won the next two games, they would avoid reigning champions Nottingham in the quarter-finals. After the result of the first game, Cardiff started complacently against Bristol and entered half time with a narrow lead at 3–2. Coaches Ramzi Barbir and Ruth Campbell made some tactical substitutions and their side pulled together in the second half to win the game 8–3.
The squad achieved the highest BUCS finish for Cardiff since 2001 With just Sheffield remaining, and two wins under their belt, Cardiff were confident of finishing top of the pool. This was a very physical game, but Cardiff kept their discipline to take a three-goal lead into the break and hold on to it right up to the final whistle. Niamh Sully and Jessica Matthews scored four goals between them to win the match 7–4 and
Photo: Ali Alkarbi
25
book a quarter-final match against Oxford. Cardiff were keen to prove that they deserved to be in the top four without resorting to another shoot-out like the last time the two sides met. The team soon dispelled any notion that this game would be as close as the last. Cardiff racked up an impressive score of 12–2, not allowing Oxford to put anything on the scoreboard until the last five minutes. The next day, Cardiff returned for the semi-final against the hosts, UEA. They expected a tough game and were not disappointed as UEA stormed to a 21–5 victory and went on to beat favourites Nottingham in an electrifying final. From the ashes of their defeat, Cardiff’s Dave Haddock salvaged some dignity with his monumental goal against England international Charlie Vogwill. Cardiff then headed into the third-place play-offs against Birmingham to compete for a medal. It was a close affair for the majority of the game with both sides staying roughly level, but Birmingham showed their class and pulled away to seal third place and leave Cardiff with a well-deserved fourth. The team would like to thanks their excellent coaches, Ruth and Ramzi, for their dedication and support. Congratulations to every member of the squad, who trained hard all year and achieved the highest finish for Cardiff in BUCS Korfball since the gold medal-winning team of 2001. The University has four teams that compete in local and regional leagues. The club is always looking for new members and no previous experience is required! CARDIFF: Ruth Campbell, Ramzi Barbir, Jordan Evans, Roddy Slater, Kieran Davey, James Wilcox, James Smith, Dave Haddock, Sarah Munro, Niamh Sully, Grace McKay, Rebecca Fitch, Jessica Matthews
Windsurf Club blowing away the competition Jony Price Sport Writer
Cardiff University Windsurf Club (CUWC) is stronger than ever this year, with some of their advanced members taking titles at competitions across the United Kingdom. Last month, they claimed their latest victory in Nottingham, braving freezing temperatures and snowstorms to take first place once again. Will Jones, Tom
Firth and Jony Price put in a fantastic performance, defeating the best windsurfers that universities across the UK had to offer. The previous week, Cardiff hosted the final round of the Student Windsurfing Association (SWA) PuraVida Wave series, in which Cardiff have also set the pace this season. In the overall rankings for 2012–13, Price has finished second and Firth fourth, with Jones and Joe Shuttleworth also performing outstandingly at
every meet throughout the year. The four have dominated the SWA events this year, as well as the British Wavesailing Association (BWA) competitions against the country’s best senior windsurfers. With the final event of the year – the BUCS Nationals – around the corner and some of the UK’s best student windsurfers on the team, CUWC looks sure to impress across all disciplines and divisions!
26 / Sport
Focus
Team Talk: Momed Momed captain Pete Willett talks to James Shapland about life in the IMG Premiership
A
have all had great seasons. We also have two players who are in their fifth and final year at Cardiff, Pete Barry and Tim Moody, who have both been fantastic.
s we approach the end of the IMG season, one team that still harbours high hopes for honours is
How would you describe the Momed style of play? We have worked a lot on passing and moving in training and I think this has come across in our matches. We have also been very difficult to break down this season and, as a result, have not conceded very many goals, even in the top division.
Momed AFC. After a summer of departures, the team has experienced a change in key personnel this season, but their qualification for the Premiership is proof that the transition has been a successful one. Only fellow Premier Division outfits SOCSI and FC Euros managed to avoid defeat to Pete Willett’s side in the qualification phase before Christmas and boasted one of the competition’s best defensive records, conceding a miserly 10 goals in eight games, while netting 26 at the other end. Their long-awaited return to the Premiership began slowly with losses to Law ‘A’ and previous conquerers SOCSI, but comprehensive victories over Euros and Pharm AC have catapulted them back into contention for a top two finish, despite recent reverses to table-toppers CARBS and Psycho Athletico. Momed’s tenacity across the field has continued into Phase 2, with all but one of their defeats coming by a one-goal margin. Experienced captain Willett describes Momed’s journey to the IMG football’s top flight this season and who have been the stars of their rise.
How is the social scene for Momed? What do you get up to on a typical night out? Momed are one of the only teams in the IMG that go out every Wednesday night, which is a tradition that we have continued this season. We have had many different socials this year, including pub golf, toga, cross dressing and a joint social. The night will typically include a pub crawl through Cathays, followed by The Lash or Retro, and then Chicago Bulls for a team debrief. tion year as we lost a lot of players at the end of last season, and to get into the Premier Division for the first time since I have been playing for Momed was a huge achievement. How have you found life in the Premiership? The Premiership has been a challenge, but we expected nothing less. We have certainly been more than a match for everyone we have come up against so far, and, in the games we haven’t managed to win, I felt that we were unlucky, losing by one or two goals and not taking our chances.
On the face of things, Momed are having a pretty successful season, sitting pretty in fourth in the Premiership. How do you think the season is going so far? The season has to be looked at as a success. This year was a transi-
Who have been your toughest opponents this year? I think CARBS have been our toughest opponents, although we very nearly got a result against them. Roath Park Rangers, who we play next, have also given us tough matches in friendlies, so they should be a good test. You mentioned that you lost a lot of players after last season. How have you managed the upheaval in your squad this year? As I said, there was a large focus on recruitment this year, as we lost a lot of players through
placement years and graduations. The recruitment was a success and, at one point, we had 27 players training with us, which was fantastic. Obviously it's been an excellent season for the whole squad, as reflected in your league position, but which boys in particular have caught the eye with their performances? The new lads who have come in have all done very well and adapted to the IMG very quickly. In particular, our striker John Tardivel, and defenders Lawrence Alldritt and Ant Fitton
Other teams have been very complimentary about the new IMG structure. Any thoughts? The new structure has worked well this season. The change in the way referees are provided by other teams has been an improvement and means the same one player isn’t refereeing every game, which was the situation last year. Not many games left to play now – what are Momed’s ambitions for the end of the season? I think that European qualification has to be the aim – that’s what the fans want.
Division Two Premiership
P
W
D
L
GD
Pts
Division One
P
W
D
L
GD
Pts
P
W
D
L
GD
Pts
1
C-PLAN AFC
6
5
0
1
9
15
1
9
12
2
JOMEC FC
4
3
0
1
4
9
1
CARBS FC
5
5
0
0
11
15
1
1st XI
5
4
0
2
Psycho Athletico
5
3
0
2
4
9
2
Cardiff Mets
4
4
0
0
6
12
3
Time Team
4
3
0
1
4
9
3
SOCSI
5
3
0
2
0
9
3
Inter Menan
4
3
1
0
4
10
4
Engin Auto FC
6
2
2
2
1
8
4
Momed AFC
6
2
0
4
4
6
4
AFC Dentistry
5
3
0
2
7
9
5
Chemistry FC
5
2
1
2
1
7
5
Roath Park Rangers
5
2
0
3
3
6
5
Engin Loco FC
5
2
1
2
1
7
6
OPSOC
5
2
1
2
1
7
6
Law A
3
2
0
1
2
6
6
CHAOS FC
4
1
1
2
-5
4
7
Gym Gym
5
2
0
3
-1
6
7
EarthSoc
2
1
0
1
1
3
7
Cardiff Uni IMG 1st
5
1
0
4
-8
3
8
Law B
3
1
1
1
0
4
8
Pharm AC
4
1
0
3
-10
3
8
History AFC
4
0
1
3
-6
1
9
Computer Science FC
5
1
1
3
-3
4
9
FC Euros
5
1
0
4
-15
3
9
Cardiff Uni IMG 2nd
4
0
0
4
-8
0
10
Too Big To Fail
5
0
0
5
-16
0
27
Sport 24–28
Monday April 15th 2013 | @gairrhyddsport
The Tip-Off: CARBS In this week's Tip-Off, Ross Martinovic speaks to CARBS Netball captain Charlie Bridgman
T
his year has seen yet another fruitful campaign for CARBS Netball. Cardiff’s famed School of Business, one of the competition's traditional powerhouses, cruised into Division One after suffering just a single defeat before Christmas. With one match remaining in Phase 2, CARBS are neck-andneck with ENCAP at the top of the table and, amazingly, face them in a winner-takes-all match in the final round of fixtures. Their captain, Charlie Bridgman, explains the story of the season so far.
nitely necessary, as it lets everyone play. We have some girls who join and say that they haven’t played in years and just want to play for fun and meet new people, so it is great for them to have a less competitive team. It also ensures that the people who do wish to play competitively get the chance to do this in the top league. This year, we nearly made three teams with the amount of girls we had join, and I believe that doing so would have been made our ‘B’ team a lot more competitive as well. It is hard for them to maintain as high a standard when they do not play together every game.
You’ve had five wins from five in Phase 2 and are sitting joint top of the league with ENCAP, with a goal difference of +33. You must be pretty happy with that? Yeah, we have had a very successful season so far. Half of our team were playing together last year, which I really think helped us and we have had some brilliant new members join. I am really proud of how the ‘A’ team have performed. We also have a ‘B’ team, who have done really well. The results do not show this but they have the difficulty of playing with different people each week due to the numbers in our club. However, I am happy with how they have done and all the girls in are club have been brilliant.
ENCAP side and it will be a very tough game. We were in a similar situation last year and just lost to Cardiff ‘A’ in the final game, so it would be nice to come away with a win this time. However it turns out, I am sure it will be a brilliant game and I am looking forward to playing it. With so many good players, it must be difficult to single out individuals, but which girls would you say have been your stand-out performers this year? Yeah, I have been lucky to get to choose from a number of brilliant players this year. It is hard to choose, to be honest, but I would
How are you feeling ahead of the ENCAP match? Nervous? Excited? I would say a bit of both, really. The girls have all worked really hard and it would be nice to win the match; however, we are aware we are up against a very good Division One
P
W
D
L
Pts
1
ENCAP A
5
5
0
0
15
2
CARBS A
5
5
0
0
15
say that Frankie Lausen has been an outstanding new player and has often received Player of the Match, with Rachel Brand being a continuing outstanding performer from last year. I would also say that Amy Chidzey has been the outstanding player for the ‘B’ team, although I think that all the girls are brilliant and everyone has played very well throughout the year. I would like to thank all the girls for being so great and making it such a fun team to run. CARBS are always fighting at the top year-on-year. What would you say is the key to this continued success?
Division Two
P
W
D
L
Pts
1
ENCAP B
5
4
0
1
12
2
SOCSI A
6
4
0
2
12
We have a very strong team and I believe this is made up from all the girls’ commitment to the team. We have a great deal of people that turn up to training week in and week out and I believe that this really helps. It gives the girls a chance to get to know each other and to play together. Most girls join in their first year and stay with the team until they graduate, which gives us a great team feeling. How beneficial would you say having two teams is in terms of keeping standards high and maintaining competition for places? I believe that two teams are defi-
Division Three
P
W
D
L
Pts
1
SOCSI B
5
5
0
0
15
2
JOMEC
6
5
0
1
15
The IMG competitions are well known for some lively social scenes. What does a typical night for CARBS involve? Any amusing stories to tell? CARBS have a very good social side, with Jess Jones being an amazing social sec this year and creating some brilliant nights. We aren't sponsored by a bar or pub like some other sides so we tend to drink in someone’s house to start the night, before normally moving on to the union. There are a lot of amusing stories, but I’m not sure the people would be too happy with me if I shared them publicly! Sorry! What have you thought of the organisation of IMG this year? Is there anything that you would like to see improved for future seasons? I think that IMG has been a lot better organised this year and it has felt a lot more like we are part of the Uni. The only improvement I would like is to allow IMG teams to block-book indoor courts like Uni teams are allowed to, as it makes organising training in winter very difficult.
Division Four
P
W
D
L
Pts
1
Cardiff Dental
6
5
0
1
15
2
Cardiff Medics B
4
3
0
1
9
3
Law A
6
4
0
2
12
3
Pharmacy A
5
3
1
1
10
3
OPSOC
6
3
0
3
9
3
HistorySoc
6
3
0
3
9
4
Cardiff Uni A
6
3
0
3
9
4
Cardiff Uni B
5
3
0
2
9
4
Chemistry
6
2
1
3
7
4
Bioscience
5
2
1
2
7
5
Law B
6
2
0
4
6
5
Engin Auto
6
2
0
4
6
5
Psychology B
6
2
0
4
6
5
EUROS
6
2
0
4
6
6
Psychology A
6
1
0
5
3
6
Cardiff Medics A
3
1
0
2
3
6
CARBS B
6
2
0
4
6
6
Pharmacy B
5
2
0
3
6
7
Engin Loco
6
0
0
6
0
7
EarthSoc
6
0
1
5
1
7
URNU
5
0
1
4
1
7
Gym Gym
4
0
1
3
1
Korfball achieve highest BUCS finish in 12 years << page 25
cardiffstudentmedia.co.uk /gairrhydd
Sport Monday April 15th 2013 | Issue 1002
Surfers primed for BUCS
Cardiff University Windsurf Club have been in fine form this season, dominating Student Windsurfing Association events throughout the year. Jony Price reports on their most recent successes on page 25.
Welsh Cup double for Hockey Club << page 24
The Tip-Off: CARBS Netball << page 27