gair rhydd - Issue 984

gair rhydd Monday October 1st 2012 | freeword - Est. 1972 | Issue 984

and Quench

Ooops...

Finance department caught out by scam

Police launch full scale investigation

Money untraceable

Cardiff University Cardiff University gives away £170,000

loses £170,000

...to fraudsters p4 >> p4 >>

University U-turn on porn warning

p8

Politics examines Nick Clegg’s p18 apology spoof

Sport preview the Heineken Cup p30-31

2 / Editor’s Note

gr EDITOR Chris Williams CO-ORDINATOR Elaine Morgan CREATIVE DIRECTOR Luke Slade SUB-EDITOR Tom Parry-Jones NEWS Kendal Archer Tom Eden Bethan Jones Anna Hickman OPINION Alice Briggs Nick Evans Alex Greig COLUMNIST Katie Bennett-Davies POLITICS Helen Louise Cox Thom Hollick SCIENCE Alexey Underwood Rhiannon Davies SOCIETIES Vanessa Platt LISTINGS vacant TAF-OD Tomos Lewis SPORT Rhys Clayton Viktor Tsvetanov James Shapland

CONTRIBUTORS Emma Browne Daniel Hill Chelsie Fox Caleb Woodbridge Philippa Ako Sarah Phillips David Mason Ali Naeem Christina Tran Rosemary O'Reilly Gerallt Rhys Roberts Felix Bramley Conor O'Gorman Sean Taylor Nye Davies

GAIR RHYDD AND QUENCH MAGAZINE ARE PUBLISHED BY UNIVERSITY UNION CARDIFF, PARK ISTERED AS A NEWSPAPER AT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO EDIT EXPRESSED ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE PUBLISHERS SIGNED, TYPESET AND OUTPUT

BY STUDENTS OF CARDIFF UNIVERSITY

A note from the editor...

T

hey said to me when I took this job that it goes really quickly. Of course, when anyone says to you it goes really quickly, you just give them a gaunt stare and carry on with what you're doing – firmly believing that it was probably going fast for them, but it'd never go too fast for you.

I've done just that. It's issue three, we're at the end of Freshers' week and introductory lectures, and it feels like yesterday that I was signing the forms on my first day of work.

But anyway, issue three is done, and the second Quench is also finished (and looking fantastic, might I add).

We've been on the recruitment drive for the past few weeks and there's been a pretty decent reaction. With sign-ups opening for us so early, I was worried noone would approach us, but with Xpress blaring out in the Kitchen everyone seemed really receptive. However, this is being written before our first meeting on Monday… I guess the number of people who turn up then will be the measure of our success.

As an officer for the Students' Union, it's not just about me sitting on the fourth floor making a newspaper and messing around with the TV and radio. I've been out engaging with students and meeting new people around the Union.

It's been an interesting week for doing that, actually. I've chatted with postgrads, undergrads, foreign students and home students about – well – anything.

Freshers' is the one time of year when everyone talks to everyone else, and meeting new people isn't just done for fun – it's almost compulsory.

But it's not just Freshers' I've been meeting.

On Tuesday, Cardiff Student Media played host to Radio 1 DJ and Welsh music guru Huw Stephens.

After an interview and an impromptu chat outside in the rain (thanks to a building evacuation after a fire alarm), we went on to enjoy what has to be one of the highlights of Freshers' Week.

But after meeting Huw, going to the union 11 nights in a row and chatting to as many freshers' as possible, I think it's time for a rest... That is, until the Thursday deadline of the next newspaper.

3

Monday October 1st 2012 | @mediacsu

World news The Japanese and Chinese foreign ministers have held talks over the disputed ownership of five islands. The islands, are controlled by Japan but claimed by China and Taiwan.

Stats released show that the average Mexican eats 430 eggs each year, the highest amount per capita of any nation.

Abu Hamza, the radical, hookhanded Islamic cleric, is facing imminent extradition to the US. It was revealed this week on BBC Radio that the Queen had lobbied the British Government, encouraging his arrest. He was jailed in 2006 for 11 offences under the Terrorism Act.

Ukranian feminist activists, reknowned for their topless protests, have set up an international training centre in Paris to teach women the art of naked protest.

#CUFreshers2012

Police in Greece have clashed with protesters over further spending cuts. The police have fired tear gas to disperse rioters, who were throwing petrol bombs near Athens' parliament on a day-long strike against austerity measures.

4 / News

Simple fraud dupes University Kendal Archer News Editor A criminal has stolen £170,000 of University money in a simple scam.

It has emerged that a member of the University transferred the money to a fraudulent account, unaware of the scam that was taking place.

The University’s Finance Department is being called into question after changing the details of a bank account into which it regularly makes payments.

Reportedly, the University received a letter from what appeared to be one of its external suppliers, requesting that the details of the bank account into which the University would make its payments be changed.

When questioned, the mistake was defended because the letter was written on official headed paper, supposedly from the supplier.

As a result, the University unknowingly transferred thousands of pounds into the fraudulent bank account.

The University has stated that a number of staff would have been involved in the process of

changing the bank account details; hence, no individual has been held accountable.

The University deals with over 140,000 invoices a year from thousands of suppliers, indicating why it would be possible for

this mistake to be made.

Yet £170,000 is no small amount of money, and presumably a number of payments were made to the account before the mistake was realised and the payments stopped.

Although the money would have gone to the external supplier anyway, there may still be repercussions in other areas of the University after the loss of such a huge sum.

The police were informed im-

mediately after the fraud was discovered and are currently undertaking a UK-wide investigation into the crime. Unfortunately, the identity of the fraudulent party remains unknown and none of the money has been recovered.

It has since emerged that a number of organisations have been victims of this scam, yet the fraudulent account has subsequently been found to be empty.

As part of the investigation, the University has undergone a full internal audit.

The audit conducted a review of procedures that would set up any external suppliers on the University’s finance system. It revealed a need for improvements to security, and recommendations have been made. One such measure was to improve controls and implement further safeguards if bank account details need to be changed.

Yet there is no concrete change that can be made other than to encourage more caution if any external organisation requests a change to be made to any bank account details, and further interrogation of such requests.

£170,000 equals...

A three-bed house in Cathays

5 lecturers' annual salary

18 students' annual tuition 226,666 Pot Noodles

85,000 zwack bombs

5

News 4-8

Monday October 1st 2012 | @gairrhyddnews

Baccalaureate will ‘stigmatise’ young Emma Browne News Writer In August, thousands of 16-yearolds received their first set of education qualifications. The results led to the re-grading of many papers, and Education Secretary Michael Gove has now announced plans to scrap GCSEs and replace them with an English Baccalaureate scheme.

Mr Gove said that GCSEs were “for a different age and a different world”. The plans intend to remove individual qualifications for English, Maths and the Sciences. Pupils starting secondary school this September will be the first to sit these new exams in 2017. GCSEs in other subjects will continue for a number of years, and they will gradually be phased into the English Baccalaureate – History, Geography and Modern Languages will be introduced in 2018.

Unlike the current GSCEs, this new system will not have tiers for students of differing abilities

to sit, but instead have one paper for all students. Further, use of coursework as an assessment method will be abolished, placing emphasis on one exam at the end of two years.

Mr Gove even admitted himself that it could leave some young people with no qualifications at the age of 16 This new method will use a universal exam board, removing the school's responsibility to choose their own exam board. This is an element of the new scheme that has been widely welcomed, as exam boards will no longer have to compete to get contracts from schools. Such competition may have led to some boards offering ‘easier’ exams to win business from schools.

Regionalised governments have expressed a strong view that they will not be rushing to follow

the changes, rather carrying out an independent review of the education system themselves. The Education Minister for Northern Ireland has said that there was indecision about the “direction of travel”, and Scotland already has a different qualification system, and has not expressed a wish to change.

Green Party leader Natalie Bennett has criticised the new scheme: “Because many subjects are missing from the Baccalaureate, it risks dividing young people, and the fact that many young people will receive a record of achievement instead means this system divides and stigmatises young people for life.”

Conversely, Nick Clegg expressed the opinion that the changes would “raise standards for all our children” and reassures that it would “not exclude any children.”

Mr Gove even admitted himself that it could leave some young people with no qualifications at the age of 16, rather a

"record of achievement" with a chance to re-sit later. Ms Bennett further said that young people are “overstressed, already overtested”, and the new plans will simply exacerbate this by having one exam and no coursework.

The unions have given a generally negative view of the reforms.

The National Union of Students has said that there is an “inherent contradiction” in the government expecting higher pass rates, and these pass rates then being used

as evidence of exams becoming easier. The ATL Teachers Union says that the scheme “fails to recognise the complexity of learning and teaching.”

Alternatively, Anthony Seldon, head teacher of Wellington College in Berksire, has applauded the changes. He said: “it is extraordinary that clapped-out GCSEs have been allowed to continue for so long, when their deficiencies have been known to all for 10 or more years.”

‘The Student Sex Work Project’ launched Bethan Jones News Editor Swansea University is undertaking a new research project into the number of students entering the sex trade.

The former Chief Constable of South Wales Police, Barbara Wilding, has said the number of students working in the sex trade must be researched in the light of

growing concerns that students in Wales are turning to prostitution and other sex work to help fund their studies and support themselves financially through university. The research project will attempt to gauge the scale of this issue.

Ms Wilding, now chair of the board of Governors at Cardiff Metropolitan University, is particularly interested in finding

out whether students are being forced into work in the industry.

She also added that, if this is the case, then a support system must be implemented immediately.

Due to the lack of knowledge surrounding this issue in Wales, researchers at Swansea University believe an in-depth study to be necessary.

Swansea University has been provided with £489,143 of funding from the Big Lottery Fund.

This will subsidise the research and help provide any necessary support needed.

As part of its research, the university has also launched a website: The Student Sex Work Project. The website was launched with the hope that it will encourage student sex workers to get in touch anonymously to share their experiences and opinions.

Ms Wilding has commented that this is an issue “we don’t know very much about at all”, but research from the National Union of Students and sexual health agencies would suggest that the problem is growing. A study from the English Collective of Prostitutes shows that

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Ms Wilding, who stood down from her post as chief constable of South Wales Police in 2009, said that, during her time as a police officer, she often came into contact with prostitutes and sex workers. However, these were generally people with drug dependencies, mental health issues or desperate financial situations, and were therefore driven towards the sex trade with little choice. “With students, we think we are dealing with a different set of circumstances. They are intelligent, starting their lives.”

There are concerns that students in Wales are turning to prostitution to help fund their studies Megan David, Welfare and Community Officer for Cardiff Students' Union, has raised concerns about the Student Sex Work Project on some occasions “advertise and promote sex work

to students”.

She said, “despite arguing that the scheme is about promoting sexual health and supporting these students, I feel that students should be deterred from working in this industry at all, as it can not only have a negative effect on the students involved, mentally and physically, but also have negative consequences on the rest of society.”

However, she does recognise the significance of this study and believes research into the sex industry is important.

Hannah Pudner, director of NUS Wales, has said that the research is “more important now than ever”, with the growing number of studies showing female students turning to the sex industry to fund their studies.

With the reason behind students’ decisions to join the sex industry only based on assumption at the moment, the research project will be highly beneficial to understand student motives and experiences much more.

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6 / News

Cardiff Council: theft, drugs & fraud Daniel Hill News Writer

Over 50 staff at Cardiff Council have been investigated by internal auditors for allegations of drug use, fraud and theft.

Cardiff’s internal audit team followed up 53 allegations against staff over the last year, many of which resulted in staff being dismissed, retrained or cautioned.

According to a report, accusations were largely lodged by senior managers, with only a small minority proving unfounded.

Cases were outlined in an Audit Committee report and included an employee taking drugs while on duty, five members of staff falsifying overtime claims, waste being removed illegally in exchange for food, and the theft of diesel.

There were also accounts of benefit fraud, an employee using sick leave to work elsewhere and staff using council accommodation to run a business. These allegations were all outlined in a report of 2011/2012.

One employee resigned after forging time sheets and was subsequently prosecuted for two counts of fraud and one count of theft. The employee was issued a 12-month community order and 150 hours of unpaid work.

A council spokesman said:

“The allegations were taken very seriously by the council, as is evidenced by the council calling the police in to assist.

“Unfortunately, the allegations failed to provide any hard evidence which the council could use in any dismissal/prosecution.

Following the investigation, controls around tendering/contracting have been tightened within service areas accordingly.”

Audit Committee member David Walker said he was “concerned greatly” regarding the sheer number of allegations.

“It’s happening more than it should. The lack of control and the effectiveness of management, money and systems is not as good as it should be,” the Councillor said.

The council confirmed it has “robust processes” in effect to detect fraud and prevent financial misuse.

The recent “influx of fraud allegations” that the report outlines is not the first time scandal has graced Cardiff Council.

In 2010, long-serving officer in charge of street lights, Bryan Geeves, was fired following an in-depth investigation into fraud by the council and the police.

The 61 -year old was arrested and bailed on charges of fraud and money laundering during the investigation.

“

Cases of drug abuse, benefit fraud, theft and falsifying overtime claims

In a climate of cuts, such reports and allegations raise concerns over whether Cardiff councillors are really value for money.

On Thursday, Cerys Furlong, the outgoing chair of Cardiff Council, was called upon by opposition groups to repay part of her £10,000-a-year extra salary after spending just four months

in the role.

The position was designed to fill the space of Lord Mayor, but it was revealed she attended less than one-sixth of the civic events attended by the previous Mayor in the same period.

Three out of four opposition groups claim she had not fulfilled the role.

The Guardian and Cardiff University unite for masters degree Tom Eden News Editor

Cardiff University has joined forces with The Guardian to offer a new masters degree in Journalism and Digital Media.

The partnership will result in a year-long teaching programme, focused around digital journalism, in addition to reporting, writing, publishing and technical skills. The course will be based in a central London location, potentially Kings Place; the Guardian’s head office. The masters degree will be taught by a range of guest lecturers and a permanent Director of Studies, who will be appointed by the University.

Alan Rusbridger, editor-inchief of Guardian News & Media, said: "Journalism is changing at the speed of light. Virtually every week we are learning new techniques and fresh truths about the way digital technologies are transforming the media. The Guardian has been at the forefront of that change – now in the top three newspaper websites in

the world. By partnering with a well-established and respected university department, we can offer a masters degree that will produce a generation of students who are completely up to date with the skills needed to succeed in journalism today.

"Everything about the media is there to be re-imagined and reshaped. Our new masters degree in Journalism with Digital Media will be applicable to a wide range of careers, from news to website content management and social media."

Justin Lewis, the Head of the School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies, said: "Cardiff University is delighted to have this opportunity to work with The Guardian in delivering leading-edge journalism training and education. Both organisations are committed to delivering the highest standards of journalism at a time when it is much needed."

News 4-8

Monday October 1st 2012 | @gairrhyddnews

7

Anti-Islam film sparks worldwide riots Anna Hickman News Editor

Protests against an anti-Islam film have spread across the Middle East, North Africa and Asia, as well as taking place at Birmingham Bullring and in Cardiff. Pakistan’s Railways Minister, Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, has offered $100,000 for the maker of the film to be killed aggravating the demonstrations, during which an estimated 20 people have died.

The protests, which are linked with the Arab Spring, are illustrating profound anti-West and anti-American sentiments along with a religious fervour that has been triggered by the film, titled Innocence of Muslims.

In Cardiff, over 100 people gathered in Queen Street to demonstrate peacefully against what the organiser of the rally called "crimes against Islam and Muslims."

In Dhaka, protesters have attempted to seize the American embassy, chanting “Death to USA” The video, a trailer for a longer film entitled Innocence of Muslims, appears to depict Islam as a violent religion and its Prophet Muhammad as idiotic and power-hungry. It was first posted on YouTube on July 1st, but it did not attract much attention until a clip was dubbed into Arabic and

broadcast on Egyptian TV channel al-Nas on September 8th.

Protests then started in Egypt and spread to other countries, capitalising on a long-standing mistrust and anger at the West.

As many as 20 people have been killed in Pakistan, and the death toll is still rising, according to several reports. In Dhaka, Bangladesh, protesters have attempted to seize the American embassy, chanting “Death to USA”.

YouTube has been asked to consider whether the film breaches its own guidelines by the White House, and should thus be taken down. These guidelines dictate, “we encourage free speech and defend everyone’s right to express unpopular points of view. But we do not permit hate speech…”

However, Google, which owns YouTube, responded with a statement that the video was “clearly within our guidelines and so will stay on YouTube”, but added that it would restrict access to the video in Libya and Egypt. Access has also been blocked in Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and India.

A US actress who appeared in the amateur video is suing the film’s suspected director as she has received death threats, been fired from her job and barred from seeing her grandchildren.

Cindy Lee Garcia claims to have been hoodwinked into starring in the film and was under the impression that it would be an adventure film about ancient Egyptians.

Garcia has requested that a Los Angeles County judge rule to remove the film from YouTube.

However, the judge ruled in favour of Google and YouTube, arguing that movies are fictional, thus not entitling personal privacy to role-playing actors.

The film depicts scenes including the Prophet Muhammad having sex with his wife and other women, and says that Muslims want to kill all Christians. It depicts Muhammad and his followers as killers and looters, hinting at child abuse and homosexuality.

Depicting the Prophet Muhammad in any way defies Islamic belief, let alone satirising him in such an offensive way.

The gathering of around 100 people outside the Bullring shopping centre in Birmingham on September 21st has sparked fears that the unrest might spread to the UK. Police have stated that no crimes have been reported, and the protest was peaceful and spread only by word of mouth.

People involved in the protestnamed the film as the cause of their demonstration.

US authorities have said they have identified Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, an Egyptian-born Coptic Christian living in California, as the film maker. An American right-wing extremist, Steve Klein, has also been linked with the film; he has admitted only to promoting the film, and claims that he does not know the identity of the director. He has also been linked with anti-Islamic groups in California.

The film states that Muslims want to kill all Christians Middle East analyst Magdi Abdelhadi says that the film will have caused genuine offence among many Muslims, but the protests are being exacerbated by groups such as al-Qaeda, whose black flag has been displayed at some of the protests.

Polls have indicated that in June 2012, just 15% of those in Muslim countries held a favour-

able opinion of the US, compared to 25% in 2009. This grievance stems from a variety of causes, including American wars in the Middle East, and its policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Ghulam Ahmad Bilour even called for the help of the Taliban and alQaeda in killing the filmmaker The Railways Minister, Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, who offered the bounty of $100,000 for the killing of the filmmaker, has been condemned by a spokesperson for the Prime Minister, who said that the government “absolutely disassociated” itself from the comments.

Ghulam Ahmad Bilour is reported to have said: "I call upon these countries and say: Yes, freedom of expression is there, but you should make laws regarding people insulting our Prophet.

And if you don't, then the future will be extremely dangerous."

At one point, he even called for the help of the Taliban and alQaeda in killing the filmmaker.

8 / News

Athletic Union Fayre proves a great success

Tom Eden News Editor

The Athletic Union Fayre was an overwhelming success, according to AU President Cari Davies.

She said, “Everyone was friendly

and energetic all day, which made the whole Fayre really engaging.

All those who volunteered their time manning the stalls should be extremely proud.” The event took place in the Great Hall of the Union as part of the week-

long Freshers’ Fayres, which also included days for local and national companies as well as societies. Students were able to chat to representatives from various sports and activities. Record numbers of people signed up to

athletic societies, an increase of six per cent on the previous year.

The revenue generated from the Athletic Union Fayre reached £69,446. This figure represents an increase of £2,269 on last year’s takings. Aside from the financial

achievement, Davies stressed the importance of the Fayre, saying, “it means more people are getting involved and playing sport – that is a huge success in itself.”

University U-turn on porn pop up Kendal Archer

News Editor Students’ concern over the University’s decision to introduce a pop-up every time they accessed pornographic or adult web pages has caused the decision to be reversed.

SU President Harry Newman stated, “For the Union, it’s not really about the pop-up itself, as nothing privacy-wise has or had actually changed. It’s about how the message caused anxiety in its wording and, most importantly, the lack of consultation with students.”

The University displayed a warning message every time a student used the University’s internet network to access such

web pages, in “an attempt to prevent offence caused by accidental viewing of offensive material.” If a student chose to view such a page, the pop-up would appear, asking if they wished to continue.

The student voice is certainly listened to at Cardiff and we are very grateful for that Students questioned the need for such a measure. Mr Newman pointed out that the proposal “was poorly worded and unclear as to what monitoring was taking place and potential consequences

for clicking continue.”

Following the questioning of the decision, the University has withdrawn the pop-up “until further consultation has taken place with the student community.”

Mr Newman said, “The student voice is certainly listened to at Cardiff and we are very grateful for that.” He added, “It is very important for us to build on the already excellent relations with the university. This whole misunderstanding would have been avoided had the Union been invited to sit on the University Management Board.”

New social space for the Heath Park campus Bethan Jones

News Editor A new common room is being built at the Heath Park campus for all healthcare students.

Due to open this October, the new common room has been designed specifically for students as a ‘social space’.

Following a 2011 Heath Park survey conducted by the former Healthcare Integration Officer, Sarah Halpin, hundreds of students expressed the need for a

place to socialise. Furthermore, following the closure of the refectory in Ty Dewi Sant, students said there was a lack of seating at the Heath Park Campus. Students were also struggling to find spaces to eat any home-prepared food, due to new constraints around the hospital.

With this in mind, Hannah Pask, Heath Park Campus Officer, has said that the common room is being built “as a place to relax and eat food prepared at home”,

as well as easing the volume of students in other busy social areas on campus.

The new common room will be located on the ground floor of the Neuadd Meirionnydd building, next to the IV Lounge. The design is said to be very modern, with a similar feel to the Cochrane building, but with a social aspect to it.

It is hoped that the space will also be used by societies for committee meetings and socials.

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Opinion 11 - 14

Monday October 1st 2012 | @gairrhyddop

For & Against

First Lady of Christianity?

A scroll has been found, allegedly proving that Jesus had a wife. Chelsie Fox and Caleb Woodbridge question whether this would make a difference to Chrisitanity

I

For

f Jesus had a wife, it would undoubtedly alter a Christian perspective of him. The question here is whether Jesus having a wife would affect the fundamental principles of Christianity; would the newly discovered papyrus distort the beliefs at the core of this religion?

With the celibate population of Christianity remaining a distinct denomination, the beliefs regarding Jesus as divine and the true representation of ‘agape’ are jeopardised by the idea that Jesus had intimate relations. As 1 Corinthians 7:25-40 implies; it is good to marry, but even better not to. Is it possible to say that God’s only son had intimate relations with a woman and that this changes nothing about the ideal of Jesus or the Christian faith?

The divinity of Jesus is undeniable if Jesus is believed to be God incarnate and part of the Trinity. Naturally by being ‘God made flesh’, Jesus had humane attributes. Yet, surely his divinity is made questionable if Jesus himself was guilty of lust, and thus disobeyed the Old Testament from which he preached.

Additionally, the idea of Jesus being married takes away from his purpose as God’s son bringing the message of good news for all.

If marriage and a wife distracted him, this could question his focus on his faith. That is not to say that Christianity is against marriage, indeed it is encouraged; but in this instance celibacy is used to emphasise that Jesus was

no ordinary person.

A further fundamental principle within Christianity is that God’s love for his creation is unconditional, known as Agape. It is important to recognize that the love between a man and a woman, Eros, is different to the love between God and man. Thus, if Jesus is the ultimate model for a Christian lifestyle; then surely his love should be the finest example of Agape; as described in 2 Timothy 3:4; hence the understanding of Jesus as practicing abstinence. Pope John Paul II provides a current example of the importance of celibacy for Christian love and devotion; "The vow of celibacy is a matter of keeping one's word to Christ and the Church. A duty." Thus, it was part of Jesus’ purpose on Earth to demonstrate the truest reality of Agape for future generations of Christian understanding.

Therefore, it is difficult, if not impossible to claim that this papyrus has no affect on Christianity. If true, at least two of its foundational beliefs are dramatically altered and those who abstain are now left confused regarding the example of Jesus they believed they were following. If Jesus had a wife, the Christian tradition, as we know it, must reformulate some of its essential teaching. CF

T

“

If marriage and a wife distracted him, this could question his focus on his faith

Against

he foundations of Christianity shake as radical new evidence comes to light that Jesus had a wife. Or do they?

The text in question dates from the 4th century, and is much later than the Gospel texts included in the Bible, which are earlier and much more reliable.

The canonical Gospels exist in over 5000 manuscript copies, the earliest fragments of which date to within a 100 years of the events they claim to record. By comparison, our earliest copy of Julius Caesar’s writings dates to 900AD. “The Gospel of Jesus’ Wife”, on the other hand, is a fragment about the size of a postcard, with so many gaps that working out what it actually said is pure guesswork. The controversial phrase “Jesus said, “My wife...”” could easily go on to say something theological like “My wife is whoever follows my teachings”, or “My wife, if she existed, would be really cross with me for wandering around the country preaching”.

What the fragment shows is that some people a long time after the event might have believed Jesus had a wife. Dan Brown suggested the same thing in The Da Vinci Code, but that doesn’t mean it has any basis in history. Neither is there any evidence that this belief was widespread: if this manuscript is

genuinely from the 4th century, and does refer to Jesus’ wife, it was probably a minority gnostic offshoot of mainstream Christianity.

The Bible is clear that Jesus was a real human being, as well as the Son of God, so he could have had a wife. Indeed, the Bible itself says that Jesus does have a wife, of sorts – but not Mary Magdalene or any other individual woman. The Bride of Christ is the Church, everyone collectively who chooses to follow Jesus. Marriage is used in the Bible as an image of the relationship between Christ and his people.

By extension, God is a jealous lover: he made us to love and delight in him, and him alone.

When we live our lives just for ourselves, we’re cheating on our creator. The Bible says that when “worship” anything else - whether that’s a different religion, or stuff like money or sex or success - then we are prostituting ourselves to idols. God the Father arranged for his son to marry a prostitute.

But Jesus laid down his life for his church, for everyone who will believe in him and turn to him in faith and love. As the Bible puts it, “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” The church is a whore who became a virgin, forgiven and made holy

by Christ. Jesus has a wife, and we’re all invited to the wedding - as the bride. CW

12 / Opinion

How not to run for US President

Following the stunning campaign trail of Mitt Romney in the current US presidential election, Opinions writer Philippa Ako gives a brief guide on how to ruin your popularity ratings, in case any of our readers ever run for US President

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very four years, we are graced with some amazing clangers that come with the US Presidential Election campaigns. This year, we’ve seen some particularly amusing/enraging moves from a particular hopeful, so why not learn from these awful moments and take notes on how to run a gaffe-filled campaign?

Alienate almost half of the country’s population Elections are a popularity contest, right? We all know it’s meant to be about the issues, but let’s be honest; if the guy is unlikeable, you are never going to cross his box. So as a candidate, surely you’ve got to seem appealing to everybody, and want (or pretend convincingly that you want) votes from all walks of life, no? Of course not! You’re only after the votes of privileged people just like you. Announce this at a benefit with other people just like you, so you can all laugh at the unfortunate. Failing this, make sure that the country knows that your interests lie with the middle class. Who needs the lower classes when they represent all that’s wrong with the country in your eyes? Are they even able to hold a vote?

Throw the fact that you are wealthy in everyone's face Money has never been an issue to you. Therefore, money shouldn’t be an issue to anybody else. Make bets worth ridiculous amounts of money on national television to show just how confident you are in your views.

Also, it’s a good idea to claim that the middle class earn between $200,000-250,000 a year. That’s a way to make people believe that you really understand the people.

Change your family history to make yourself to look good Somebody lets you know that your strategy of capturing the nation’s heart by disregarding half of them hasn’t put you in the best light, so you attempt to curry favour with a little doctoring of your past. Place family members at important events in national history when they were never there, and claim to be really into a controversial sport you’ve only tried twice. Ignore the fact that you’ve fabricated these stories

when your campaign team tell the truth, because everyone expects politicians to lie, right?

Call your political opponent a liar This is a particularly useful tactic if you wish to make your campaign as widely spoken about as possible. Being a candidate who sips from the cup of makebelieve quite often, the best way to deflect attention from yourself is to show up your rival. You might not be perfect, but you’ll be damned if you fail to let everyone know that he isn’t either.

Insult the nation you are visiting Special relationships are only useful when entering a war. Forget the fact that you could be offending some useful allies, making it known that you’re worried about what you perceive to be their lack of planning, shows that you’re a compassionate candidate. Mention in the international press that you had a meeting with a top secret security organisation, because the only thing that they really need is publicity.

Also refer to the opposition party leader as ‘Mr. Leader’, because

not knowing who the Prime Minister is will surely turn heads.

Other memorable stunts could include: Dubious caretaking of your family pets. PETA don’t have a clue what they’re talking about.

Having your wife become more popular and well known than your actual political views.

Say a lot of silly things, creating a new first name should be top of your list.

It takes a lot of work to come across as an out of touch politician, but candidates seem to do it with ease. It isn’t like they’re rallying to be the leader of the free world or anything.

Everyone has an opinion. Email us your ideas at opinion@ gairrhydd.com

#mittromney #election2012

Opinion 11-14

Monday October 1st 2012 | @gairrhyddop

13

Gangnam Style could spark a K-pop invasion Alex Greig

Opinion Editor I returned from various cavorts in places near and far during the last month of summer, to discover that everyone had gone all Monty Python with invisible horses. Instead of a humble coconut backbeat I find my ears infected with cries of ‘Hey sexy lady’ and a bunch of other words that, to my surprise, I found to be Korean.

Gangnam Style fever has hit; a number one in numerous countries and currently a not-tooshabby number three on British shores. The song itself is nothing particularly different - a smoothly produced dance piece, which one can deduce was made oh-sopopular (it is the most liked video on YouTube ever) by its catchy repetition, simple fun dance and bizarre video.

Scott Braun, Justin Bieber’s manager, has signed Psy to the same American label as Bieber, which begs the question of whether this invisible horse rid-

ing, sunglasses-glued-to-his-face man is bringing in a new era of foreign music appreciation. Indeed, it seems to be their plan.

Braun has said that he and Psy have “come to an agreement to make some history together and be the first Korean to break a big record in the United States.”

I wouldn’t be surprised if they succeed. This is not only due to the powerhouse that is the Bieber media behind him. My housemate, with no knowledge of the Korean language, can sing Gangnam Style. It seems that a catchy vocal line is catchy regardless of what language it’s in.

It seems a catchy vocal line is catchy regardless of what language it's in This is far from your typical dance-rap video. There are no bikini clad-women or gin palace boats. This is K-pop, a dance/ synth/pop blend hailing from South Korea. Having spent a bizarre half hour listening to lots

of K-pop, I can’t help feeling that a wave of success abroad, and potentially in Britain, could be on the cards. The songs are all danceable, slickly produced, sung by attractive young Korean stars and, importantly, all of them contain bits of English. This snippet of our language means that they are instantly accessible. It means that there is something within the

Kate leads the way in the war on overly lenient press laws Alice Briggs Opinion Editor

In the last few weeks, Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, has had to experience the dark side of royal life. As most will now be aware, topless photos were taken of her with a longlens camera as she sunbathed at a private estate in the south of France. The pictures were published throughout Europe, and are widely available on the internet.

It may seem comical or silly to some, but the photos represent a testing of boundaries and a new stripping away of privacy. One is left asking why the press were allowed to publish these photos.

Perhaps the laws regarding the freedom of the press are much too lenient?

It is, therefore, particularly interesting to learn that the privacy laws in France are considered to be among the most robust in the world. French law bans not only the disclosure of a person's private life, but also the theft of personal image, which technically bans paparazzi taking photos, even in public places. Evidently, the French publication was willing to break the rules and face the penalties for the boost in sales.

Here in the UK, there are no explicit privacy laws. Individuals have privacy rights deriving from the European convention on human rights, enshrined in domes-

tic law by the Human Rights Act. Indeed, the issue here is not with the British press at all. Offered these pictures, every British paper has voluntarily agreed not to print photos of Kate other than at public engagements, in an effort to keep a civil relationship with Buckingham Palace. This is another example of national borders and old media being pretty meaningless when it comes to breaking stories.

For once, our press is doing the right thing, though not just because it's the right thing to do.

There's no public interest. The British press are aware of the outcry that would ensue had the future Queen of England be disgraced in her own country. There is no value other than curiosity and prurience.

For once, our press is doing the right thing Although the Royal’s lawyers won an injunction against the freedom of the press, forcing the magazine to cease publication of the photos, it was a small victory.

I believe the damage had largely already been done. The fact remains that, as with the pictures of Prince Harry in Vegas, the internet had already sent many of these images around the world.

This clearly demonstrates the utter futility of attempting to impose further controls on the press, when it is impossible

to regulate a media that is now global and instantaneous.

The fundamental change produced by the internet is now a fact of life, as social media have now blown the very idea of a privacy law wide open. So serious is its impact that, when making his inquiry into press ethics, Lord Justice Leveson, suggested that the issue of regulating Twitter and Facebook should be separated from regulating the press.

If we were to continue regulating the press, it would still do nothing to protect individual privacy in the Twitter and Facebook age, but limit the public’s knowledge and encourage those untrained social media fanatics who attempt to influence and control public debate.

Although many people are aware of the violation of privacy here, I do wonder how many of us have had a look at the photos. Obviously, the lines between things people want to see and things that are genuinely in the public interest are becoming increasingly blurred.

Pictures of the Royals make money and it seems we think we're entitled to a piece of them.

I don't believe we are, because they're just people after all. One day it's the Duchess of Cambridge, the next it might be you.

If we buy into the celebrity photos, we are throwing away our own privacy.

music we can latch onto, some-

The songs are all danceable, slickly produced and sung by attractive young Korean stars thing to sing along to if you can’t

quite manage mimicking Korean.

Foreign music doesn’t have a great record in this country. Wikipedia can cite only three completely foreign language songs to have ever topped British charts (including 2010’s Me No Speak Americano, which despite being by an Australian duo doesn’t actually include any “Americano”).

British people are renowned for their lack of multilingualism, and as a result, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s K-pop that breaks onto the scene first due to the incorporation of English phrases. Everything but the language sounds distinctly Anglo-American, and it’s got more hooks than a fishing gala. The turnover of artists these days is increasingly rapid, so the main hurdle facing Psy is to stay known and not become a fad. To do this, he needs to do something radically different. The gimmicky dancing won’t last through many more singles.

If he does so, Psy could lead Kpop to being Britain’s first popular foreign music genre.

14 / Columnist

T

his summer, I did something that would horrify most of you. I got married at the ripe old age of 21! And no, I didn’t marry a sugar daddy; my groom is a debt-saddled student just like me. Most students would think we were either too dumb to realise that we’re in a rush of emotions, mistaken for long-lasting love. Others would think we are just too flippant with the institution of marriage and that, if it all goes tits over arse, we can always g e t

by Katie Bennett-Davies divorced. Those closest to us, namely our best friends and family, would however disagree, knowing everything my new hubby and I have already been through and the kind of relationship we have as a result.

The thing about advice is that it’s ignorant to ignore everyone who disagrees with you, but it’s equally, if not more, stupid to listen to the advice of people with no wisdom. People we have met randomly or who spend little time with

us were the ones who told us we were too young to get married.

The people who know us best were thrilled when we got engaged. Only time will tell whether we’ve made the right choice, but when making a big decision, I think it’s best to take the wisdom of a few close confidants, rather than a general poll of those who don’t know you well.

The criticism most of us are likely to face, including from ourselves, is either that we are too young or too old. Age has never stopped those who have gone down in our history as some of the greatest people to walk the earth.

Sometimes you just have to g o

with your gut instinct. There is always time to do over if you make a mistake. At the risk of sounding like a cheesy quote, there is no such thing as failure, if you turn your mistakes into lessons for success.

I think this a good thing to bear in mind at the beginning of a new academic year, when we are all presented with a feast of opportunities both inside and outside the Union – internships, societies, part-time jobs, volunteering; the list goes on and on. Perhaps you won’t go down in the history books, but the least we can do is make the most of our short time at university.

Bill Cosby said, "In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure." This got me thinking about people like the contestants of The Great British Bake Off. OK, I did originally think of some of the Olympians, but I think we’re all a bit sick of hearing the O-word. Anyway, in case you don’t watch GBBO, each week, the bakers are given three challenges on which they are judged. My favourite is the last one, the 'showstopper challenge'. This is when the bakers have a chance to show off.

They are given a wide-ranging brief, such as bake a pie with a crust, with which they can do whatever they want.

If I was on the show, I’d face a dilemma: either play it safe and reduce the risk of completely messing up, but also reduce the chance of winning; or be completely daring and attempt to bake an incredible masterpiece, aim to be the best and win, but also have a high chance of messing up and creating the worst excuse for a pie ever seen. I think the majority of us would attempt to do something in between the two. It

would be fair to argue that you need to build up skills and experience to pull off a real showstopping pie, but at what point do you decide, 'sod it, I’m going to bake an amazing pie that will knock Mary Berry’s socks off'?

When do we decide to stop playing the safe game?

Last summer, thousands of students graduated from Cardiff; at some point, we hope to join the names and faces too. In today’s rough economy, with so many students flooding the market, you need more than just a degree to stand out from the crowd. Graduates don’t get to pick the job they want anymore, but we can make sure we squeeze the very most we can out of all the debt we’re accumulating and give ourselves a half-decent CV after three years. That’s why I decided to do something that scared me and apply for this column over the summer. OK, it’s hardly revolutionary, but it’s sticking my head above the parapet, by putting my thoughts on paper and distributing it to Cardiff’s student population to read and pass judgement on (be kind, please). Will this be the year that you try to bake that amazing pie by joining Xpress Radio or CUTV? If someone who writes bad analogies about Mary Berry’s socks, can land herself a column, what’s to stop you getting that internship or volunteering with the homeless?

As I said at the beginning, don’t let the advice or judgement of people with no wisdom stop you. If we all only ever stuck to convention and stayed on the continuous conveyor belt of life, nothing would ever change and world-changing technology would never have been invented.

Can you imagine life without... iPhones? Well, it used to exist before Apple came along and thought outside the box.

On the other hand, as my 35-year-old cousin remarked to me this week, when I began giving him love advice: what do I know?

I’m talking like the old man who has seen and done everything.

I’m just the 21-year-old mug who married their high-school sweetheart. Maybe my advice should be to stop taking advice from geeks who write columns...

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16 / Politics

Party conference season; a time for reflection?

Thom Hollick Politics Editor

They might have just had a very long summer break, but the MPs in Parliament have already downed tools again. However this time, it is for the annual tradition of the party conference season.

For three weeks, the Westminster bubble is burst, and our elected representatives split off into their respective parties to hold conferences in various exciting destinations across the country.

This is a good time for the parties to take stock of their relative positions At the time of writing, the Lib Dems are gathered in Brighton, and in between ice creams and donkey rides on the beach, are discussing how best to assert themselves in the all too conservative world of government. By informal agreement, the parties tend to arrange their conferences so as not to fall at the same time as each other, but that can be a mixed blessing: on the one hand it means they have the undivided attention of the national media to announce new policies and initiatives, but on the other hand they have the undivided scrutiny of the national media, on the lookout for gaffes or fiascos.

This is also a good time for the parties to take stock of their relative positions. For both parties in

the coalition, declining poll ratings are a problem, so this is a good opportunity for them reassert their respective unique qualities in the eyes of the public.

The position of third party is looking to be highly contested if the current trajectory continues up to the next election Labour are on the way up, with a recent Guardian/ICM poll putting them at an approval rating of 41%, 10 whole points ahead of the Conservatives, a position they haven’t been in since well before the 2010 election. That does not

necessarily mean everything is going rosily for Labour; they still have many more voters to convince, and the opportunity of the autumn conference is one that they cannot afford to waste.

It is also an important time for the smaller parties, who very rarely get this level of media attention at other times. The Green Party, UKIP, and the Nationalist parties also have their share of the spotlight, to argue for their alternative to the mainstream parties. The Green conference in Bristol was notable, as it saw the election of a new leader: former journalist, Natalie Bennett, took over from Caroline Lucas, currently the party’s only Member of Parliament. Ms Lucas took the decision not to stand for re-elec-

tion in the hope that other figures in the party might rise to similar prominence as her, and voters might at last consider the party a worthwhile choice.

The Green conference in Bristol saw the election a new leader: former journalist Natalie Bennett The position of the third party is looking to be highly contested if the current trajectory continues up to the next election. If the Liberal Democrats prove unable to regain the same level of support as in the heady days of ‘Clegg-mania’ in 2010, then the

fight will be on for the Greens and UKIP, as they put everything into filling the resulting electoral vacuum. They are currently polling at three per cent and six per cent respectively, but they will also face a real challenge if they are to make any real progress in winning seats as well as just votes.

The party conference season is certainly a very inward-looking period, but that is actually essential, as the parties not only try to reconnect with disappointed or disillusioned members, but also formulate and vote on policy.

No one party exclusively controls the levers of government, so this is also a time for the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives to prepare their plan of action, to ensure that it is their policies that are ultimately adopted.

For non-partisan observers, the whole business can seem horribly self-indulgent; a party talking to itself, patting itself on the back, in many cases making wildly optimistic plans for the future, but it is just part of the way the UK party system works.

If the work of a party politician is primarily to convince your opponents of the rightness of your ideas and opinions, it must be nice to occasionally have a break and speak to people who already largely agree with you. Whatever the outcomes of these conferences, you can be sure that in British politics the next major controversy is never too far around the corner.

Liberal Democrats unveil new policies

Politics Editor Thom Hollick looks at the exciting output of the conference in Brighton

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We mustn’t forget that the Liberal Democrat party was only formed in 1988 following a merger between the Liberals and the Social Democrats

f there is one over-riding theme that the Liberal Democrat organisers have hoped would come across throughout the five days of their conference in Brighton, then it is the leitmotif of ‘fair taxes’. One of the things that has most frustrated ordinary rank-and-file Lib Dems, is the acquiescence of the parliamentary party to such regressive measures as the lowering of the top rate of tax, and other less-than-progressive elements to George Osborne’s last budget. They did not enter into government to take money from the poor and then give it back to the rich, but at the moment that definitely is their prevailing perception.

On the other hand, one of their proudest achievements in government (some might say their only achievement), is the progressive raising of the tax threshold for the nation’s lowest earners, committing the government to granting a personal tax allowance of £10,000 by the end

of this parliament. Much of the discourse coming out of the conference so far, has suggested that the party hopes to build upon this positive measure by further altering taxation.

Speaking to the BBC over the weekend, Nick Clegg said it would be “wholly unrealistic” to carry out more cuts to the welfare budget without first raising taxes on the richest 10% of the population. The main problem is, he has so far refused to explain exactly what form this tax rise

would take. Ideas like a mansion tax, or a wealth tax have been floated, but none have been explicitly confirmed as of yet. This is probably because they are apprehensive about getting any of these controversial alterations past George Osborne and his Conservative colleagues.

If the Cabinet reshuffle of a couple of weeks ago indicated a shift to the right for the Conservatives, then it might be fair to say this conference marks a move to the left by their coalition

Getty Images

partners. We mustn’t forget that the Liberal Democrat party was only formed in 1988, following a merger between the Liberals and the Social Democrats. Watching Vince Cable and others addressing the veteran grassroots campaigners, one can’t help but think they are trying to get back in touch with some long dead socialist tendencies.

Other new policies announced at the conference include, a new British business bank, to provide £1bn of investment to small and medium-sized enterprises, and a new scheme to help parents and grandparents support their children’s applications for mortgages, using their pension pots as guarantees. These are quite typical Liberal Democrat policies, but the challenge will not be convincing their own conference, but rather convincing their Conservative colleagues. If they fail to do that, then these new propositions could go the same way as House of Lords reform, and cause further rifts in the offices of Whitehall.

Monday October 1st 2012 | @gairrhyddpol

17

Politics 16 - 18

Disciplinary for Government’s chief disciplinarian Thom Hollick Politics Editor

Freshly appointed Conservative Chief Whip, Andrew Mitchell, has come under fire this week for hurling a torrent of verbal abuse at police officers outside Downing Street. The Minister was apparently riding his bike away from Number 10 when a police officer refused to let him use the main gate, instead insisting he use the smaller pedestrian gate to the side.

Mr Mitchell admits to losing his temper and swearing, and that he did not treat the police officers with the respect that they deserve The exchange that followed differs somewhat depending upon whether you believe the officer or the politician, but went something like this: the police officer explained that it was policy not to open the main gates for cyclists, but Mr Mitchell insisted that he always uses the gates, and pointed out several times that he is Chief Whip. After eventually giving in and walking through the pedestrian gates he turned on the police officers present and shouted in full public view: “Best you learn your f***ing place...you don't run this f***ing government...You're f***ing plebs.”

Mr Mitchell admits to losing his temper and swearing, and that he did not treat the police of-

ficers with the respect that they deserve, however he disputes using the word ‘pleb’. This is perhaps unsurprising due to its unpleasant elitist implications. For a Tory minister, it would seem that coming across as a toff who sees people in other professions as inferior to him is probably much more damaging than being seen to swear, an action that some might see as evidence of his mortality.

Since the row, Mr Mitchell has profusely apologised, to the Prime Minister, to the Metropolitan Police, and to the individual officers involved, and they have all accepted his apology. Nonetheless, the story is refusing to die because of one thing that the officer pointed out to Mr Mitchell at the time: it is an offence to swear at a police officer. When warned of the possible criminality of his acts, Mr Mitchell did give in and cycle away, but said “you haven’t heard the last of this.” How correct he was.

Could Andrew Mitchell lose his job over this, so soon after starting?

Whose account of the incident is correct? Andrew Mitchell, who claimed he had just had “a long and extremely frustrating day,” or the police officer, who is trained to make accurate notes of what is said in situations exactly like this one? The Prime Minister, David Cameron, has said he believes his minister’s account of what trans-

pired, but others including Boris Johnson have put their faith in the procedures of the Metropolitan Police. By implication, that means there is a case for re-opening an investigation.

Could Andrew Mitchell lose his job over this, so soon after starting? It seems unlikely at this stage, as he still has the confidence of the PM, who is re-

sponsible for all hiring and firing.

The Police could attempt an arrest, but it seems likely that they too would like to avoid that. No one really wants to see the government torn apart by criminal prosecutions, except maybe the opposition.

No, most of the parties involved would like to see the issue closed for good, but because of

the negative class dimension, the media have just run and run with it. Is this what all Conservative ministers think of the rest of the population, or was this just one man losing his cool? Either way, being in a political office is not a qualification that puts you above the law that governs the rest of us.

Politics world

EU federalism drive

Thom Hollick Deportation for radical cleric

Dissident chinese artist

Juan Manuel Barroso calls for closer European integration in his 'State of the Union Address' BBC reveals the Queen had privately expressed concern about the Governments inability to deport Abu Hamza

Ai Weiwei loses his appeal against Chinese authorities for 'politically motivated' tax evasion charges

18/ Politics

Nick Clegg: I made a promise I couldn’t keep

Politics editor Helen Louise Cox looks at the recent admission of error by the Deputy Prime Minister and the subsequent reaction by his party

N

ick Clegg has been a recurrent feature in the media since 2009 when his general election campaign kicked off and people started to take notice of him. In the build up to the election he was hailed as ‘Obamaesque’ and his popularity was sky high. Clegg was heralded by students as the best choice, due to his campaign pledge to oppose tuition fee increases, but shocked everyone when he spectacularly backtracked on this when in office with the Conservatives and raised tuition fees almost threefold, much to the bemusement and dismay of those that voted for him. For the next two years, Clegg was ridiculed and students lost faith in him as he held his ground and claimed that he had no choice but to raise fees and was right in doing so…that was until last week when he released an apology video on the issue, stating that he was wrong to make a promise he couldn’t keep.

It should be made clear that he is not apologising for raising the fees, but instead for making a promise that he couldn’t keep.

He feels that the issue is ‘a ball and chain’ around the feet of his party and that in order to make progress he needs to cut it loose. When the tuition fees increase were first announced,

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It was a pledge made with the best of intentions

Nick Clegg told the BBC’s Nick Robinson, that he was not going to apologise, but now, two years later, it appears this is yet another statement that he cannot live up to. Clegg should however receive kudos for the apology – it is a rare thing for a politician to admit they made a mistake, especially one as big as this.

The apology came a week ahead of the party conference, and has been seen in two lights, the more positive painting it as an admission of a mistake and humanising Clegg, whereas the slight more negative slant has claimed it is nothing more than a publicity stunt to regain some of the party’s popularity in the run

up to it’s conference.

In the video, Clegg said of the promise: "It was a pledge made with the best of intentions – but we should not have made a promise we were not absolutely sure we could deliver. I shouldn't have committed to a policy that was so expensive when there was no money around. Not least when the most likely way we would end up in government was in coalition with Labour or the Conservatives who were both committed to put fees up. I will never again make a pledge unless as a party we are absolutely clear about how we can keep it."

Clegg acknowledged that his standing had been affected by his backtrack, saying that his apology "won't be enough for everyone. But I owe it to you to be upfront about it. And I don't believe it should cast a shadow over everything else the Liberal Democrats are achieving in government. When we are wrong we hold our hands up. But when we are right we hold our heads up too."

The Liberal Democrats pulled together to support Clegg’s apology and the original change in policy. Lib Dem David Laws said: ”Every Liberal Democrat MP has a collective responsibility, this was a decision not just by Nick Clegg and Vince Cable but by all of us in the Liberal Democrat party."

Vince Cable admitted he had

been told before the election that the student fees pledge was unaffordable and said he had been sceptical about its affordability.

"It was an unwise commitment to have been made. We are collectively responsible. We all participated." However, he insisted that the pledge was not a publicity stunt: "It was part of a genuinely felt wish to assist the student population. We weren't able to carry through with it, but it was certainly deeper than a stunt."

The pledge was not a publicity stunt, it was part of a genuinely felt wish to assist the student population Ultimately, the effects of the initial change of direction and the subsequent apology, will not truly be seen until the next general election, when the Lib Dem’s popularity will be reflected in the amount of votes they lose, or possibly gain. What can be taken from this is that ultimately, parties should be prepared for the chance of a coalition and, in the future plan policies that would be cohesive with each other in order to avoid another episode such as this.

Clegg apology auto-tune remix charity single released Helen Louise Cox Politics Editor

The message of Nick Clegg’s apology video has been somewhat overshadowed by the released of the Nick Clegg apology a to-tune remix.

The video, which remixes the original apology video and turns it into a catchy song, was created by the satirical website, ‘The Poke’. The video has received thousands of views, and has been turned into a single and released for charity on iTunes. Clegg gave his permission for the remix to be made available for purchase.

He has requested all profits be given to the Children's Hospital Charity in Sheffield, of which his wife, Miriam is a patron.

At the time of writing, it was at 143 in the iTunes chart. The spoof video has actually helped Nick Clegg get his message out there as it has attracted far more atten-

tion for the video.

One member of the Liberal Democrats joked that they should get the creators of the spoof to make their next election campaign videos due to its success.

Nick Clegg admitted he found the remix 'amusing' as he was forced to watch it on the Andrew Marr show. He tried to laugh off the video by saying it was catchy.

Politics editor’s note:

The spoof video has gained far more attention than the original and it is more than likely that it is the remix that people will remember. The release of the spoof has distracted many people from the original message of the video, and those that do remember the video are unlikely to greatly appreciate it as a video, is little help to those that are now bundled with vast student loans.

Tweet us your opinions of this - @ gairrhyddpol

20 / Science

Cardiff University lead NATO anthrax vaccine project Sarah Phillips Science Writer

A team of Cardiff University researchers is heading a new NATO project which aims to counteract the potential future threats of bioterrorism. The scientists are hoping to develop an anthrax vaccine, which would help combat the lethal bacterial infection.

Anthrax originally only posed a significant threat in central Asia, where it is commonly found in hoofed animals. Humans can be exposed to the disease by ingesting or inhaling anthrax spores, meaning that farmers are especially at risk.

Those infected by anthrax display flu-like symptoms and need to be treated with antibiotics.

However, unless treated in its earliest stages, anthrax infections are usually fatal.

A growing concern amongst safety experts is that the lifethreatening bacteria will be increasingly misused, specifically as a form of bioterrorism. Fears about anthrax have been around since an incident in 2001 in which five people were killed and seventeen others were infected. Letters laced with anthrax were sent to several news media offices and

two senators in the US. Prof Les Baillie, of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, described the significance of the attacks: "The US postal attacks in 2001 highlighted the vulnerability of civilian populations and brought home the need to develop effective, rapid, robust medical countermeasures to combat the threat posed by terrorist use of this organism."

Prof Baillie has previously worked with the US Army and Ministry of Defence on anthrax vaccination programmes.

“Currently the majority of the world’s population is susceptible to infection with Bacillus anthracis, the bacterium which causes anthrax,” he added. Prof Baillie and the other researchers hope to improve on an existing vaccine that is given to members of the armed forces as well as some other individuals at risk of exposure.

Improving the current vaccine has not been a straightforward task, as Prof Baillie stressed that scientists could in no way ethically expose people to the disease. As a result of this, all previous testing had been carried out on animals – this often confounded the earlier research, as animal

2001 Anthrax attacks in the United States, kills and highlights bioterrorism as an international safety concern.

and human immune responses can differ.

However, NATO may have been able to overcome this issue through its Science for Peace and Security Programme. Under this scheme the research group is internationalised, and the researchers hope to use this in order to overcome the ethical obstacles faced in testing the efficacy of the vaccines.

The research is a collaborative project not only between scientists in the UK and USA, but also those in Turkey and former Soviet republic of Georgia, where problems with anthrax infection are common.

Trials for a more effective vaccine have always been limited because of the rarity of anthrax infections in the Western world.

However, involving areas where the disease poses a significant problem may lead to a breakthrough.

Prof Baillie told the BBC: “You look for a part of the world where [anthrax] is a problem. Then you immunise people [using the vaccine] and see if the incidents of anthrax go down.”

A research centre has been established in Georgia to aid in the research of infectious diseases. It

1979 68 citizens of Sverdlovsk, Russia, die after an accidental release of anthrax from a nearby bioweapons complex.

1993 Failed anthrax attack on Tokyo, Japan, by the Aum Shinrikyo religious group.

is hoped that the outcome of the research project will enable the development of future vaccines, which will offer broad-spectrum and robust protection following minimal dosing.

There would be two levels of impact for such vaccines. Firstly, at a local level, there would be a huge benefit to the lives of workers such as farmers who come into contact with anthrax. For example, the research centre is anticipated to have a significant impact on the health of commu-

1942 Gruinard Island, Scotland, contaminated for 48 years after British bioweapons trials go awry.

1972 The USA destroys stockpiles of weaponised anthrax under orders from President Nixon.

nities in Georgia. Secondly, on a global level, the vaccines would offer protection to citizens in the event of anthrax being used as an agent for bio-terrorism.

“These unique resources, combined with the expertise of NATO researchers, offers us an unparalleled opportunity”, explained Prof Baillie, emphasising the importance of the international NATO project.

1916 Scandinavian "freedom fighters" use anthrax whilst fighting for Finland's independence from the Russian Empire.

1930s Anthrax tested as a biological weapon under the guise of Agent N by the Japanese Empire's Unit 731

1914-1918 German troops allegedly used infected animal feed and livestock against Allied Forces.

Cardiff University research may boost IVF success rate David Mason Science Writer

Researchers at the Cardiff University School of Medicine have found that male infertility may be treated in the future by increasingthe levels of the protein PLCzeta (PLCz) in sperm.

The study, led by Professors Karl Swann and Tony Lai, is of

particular interest because human sperm was tested. Previous studies had been carried out primarily on mice (and yielded inconclusive results).

It is thought that the process of embryogenesis begins when sperm transfers PLCz to the egg during fertilisation. In some male infertility cases, although the sperm fuses with the egg, no em-

bryo develops. According to the study, artificially increasing the levels of PLCz within the sperm could drastically increase the chances of successful conception.

Despite the treatment still being confined to a laboratory environment, the research does raise the possibility of developing a powerful and natural treat-

ment for infertility at some point in the future. Speaking about the potential applications of the treatment, Prof Swann said: "In the future, we could produce the human PLC-z protein and use it to stimulate egg activation in a completely natural way.”

It is expected that such a procedure could greatly improve the chances of conception for

couples going through IVF treatment. Whilst being potentially controversial, due to the invasive nature of boosting the natural proteins involved in conception, this research is undoubtedly good news for those whose options for having children are unfortunately limited.

Science 20-21

Monday October 1st 2012 | @gairrhyddsci

21

Cardiff researchers make groundbreaking black hole predictions Ali Naeem

Science Writer Cardiff University researchers B. Sathyaprakash, Mark Hannam and Ioannis Kamaretsos from the School of Physics and Astronomy have conducted ground-breaking research into black hole collisions.

Black holes are objects of infinite density, created when massive stars collapse at the end of their life. Because of their density, their gravitational pull is so strong that even light can’t escape if it gets too close.

An accelerating massive body, such as a black hole, creates ripples in the fabric of spacetime – these are known as gravitation waves, and they travel at the speed of light. Einstein predicted their existence in his theory of General Relativity.

Two black holes orbiting each other release gravitational waves and lose energy. Their orbits gradually shrink, and eventually they collide to form a larger black hole.

This new black hole initially has a deformed shape – much like that of a wobbling ball of jel-

ly suspended in the air. It emits gravitational waves in this phase as well.

The gravitational waves emitted by deformed black holes come out in a mixture of tones, which are determined by the spin and mass of the black holes emitting them.

The Cardiff researchers have used Cardiff's ARCCA computing cluster to simulate collisions between two black holes, and have made interesting predictions about the possible conclusions that could be made by analysing gravitational waves.

"By comparing the strengths of the different tones, it is possible not only to learn about the final black hole, but also the properties of the original two black holes that took part in the collision", explained Ioannis Kamaretsos, a student conducting his PhD research. Until now, no studies had been carried out into this matter.

Dr Mark Hannam added: "We never guessed it would be possible to weigh two black holes after they've collided and merged."

However, there are practical difficulties associated with de-

tecting and measuring the properties of gravitational waves their effect is very small, about one part in a hundred billion billion. Laser interferometers many kilometres in length are required to measure the effect of these waves. These are currently being built in the US, Europe, Japan and India.

The Cardiff researchers are hopeful that they will be able to test their predictions within the coming decade as construction of the gravitational wave detectors is finished.

Recent research raises questions about the nature of addiction Christina Tran Science Writer

Parkinson’s disease and addiction are illnesses highly distinct from each other, but both are the result of altered neurophysiology and strongly associated with the neurotransmitter dopamine.

Too much dopamine is one of the causes behind both the shaking palsy characteristic of Parkinson's and behind some manic disorders, schizophrenic behaviours, and addictive tendencies.

The edict that we should seek to live a life of moderation and balance appears to be supported by analysis of the consequences of certain chemical releases in our brains. Dopamine is a versatile, multi-faceted neurotransmitter, which, along with the regulation of motor control, is also accountable for the control of our response to motivational incentives and rewarding stimuli.

It could, perhaps, be described as the molecule that rewards hedonistic behaviour.

The drive to behave in a particular way is due to the activation of the reward circuit in our brain which releases dopamine.

This release then motivates us to repeat the behaviour and re-activate the reward circuit again and again. As such, the association between this behaviour and the dopamine release is learnt, and the behavioural pattern becomes reinforced.

The hedonic theory claims that when dopamine is produced in an area of the brain called the ventral tegmental area, its release can trigger the desirable, and potentially addictive, emotions of pleasure and satisfaction. Our modern day consumer culture is abundant with substances such as drugs, fast food and nicotine which short-circuit the neuronal system, flood the circuit with dopamine release and trigger our desire for more.

Recent research postulates that obesity may well be a consequence of far more than just a lack

of willpower. Dr Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, has claimed that there are trends in chemical imbalances that can be found in the brains of both food and drug addicts. A relative lack of dopamine D2 receptors is commonplace in both sets of groups. A reduction in the number may be accountable for a failure to resist temptation as in order to experience the same intensity of pleasure as someone with a larger number of dopamine receptors they must trigger a greater dopamine release. A shortage of dopamine receptors could therefore mean a greater vulnerability for addictive behaviour.

Obesity may well be a consequence of more than just a lack of willpower It might be reasonable to assume, then, that the complete absence of D2 receptors would correlate with addiction. P. Johnson and P. Kenny at the Scripps Research Institute in Florida genetically engineered D2-depleted mice and observed their change in behaviour. Indeed, it was found that a statistically significant number of the mice were more fervent in their pursuit of food than control mice. Likewise, a recent study at the US National Institutes of Health in Maryland concluded that D2-depleted mice were more sensitive to the effects of food and cocaine.

Whether or not addiction can be transferred from food to alcohol or drugs is the cause of much concern. Gastric bypasses entail dividing the stomach to leave a small pouch at the top that is connected to the small intestine, whilst the larger part of the stomach is closed off. The purpose of the procedure is to bypass the majority of the stomach and small intestine and limit the quantity of food consumption. Jon Davis and his team at the University of Cincinnati, Ohio recently conducted

a study on 80,000 patients who had undertaken weight-loss surgery. Those who had a gastric bypass were more likely to drink less following surgery. To further investigate their hypothesis, the research team bred rats that were conditioned to associate alcohol with reward. After gastric bypass, they stopped drinking.

Central to this is the hormone GLP-1, produced when partially digested food makes contact with a section of the small intestine, the jejunum. GLP-1 triggers insulin production to lower blood glucose levels. After gastric bypass, the jejenum is closer to the stomach and more exposed to nutrients causing higher levels of GLP-1 release. The hormone promotes an aversion to food and is thought to have a similar effect on alcohol consumption. Carel Le Roux from Imperial College London claims the study correlates with his own findings that weight-loss surgery manipulates the reward centres activated by food consumption.

Davis's team is currently researching a drug that increases GLP1 levels to help with alcohol addiction.

It appears that addiction is due to a multitude of factors.

This poses the quest i o n as to wh e t h er such fa c to rs are the result

of an addiction in the first place or, in fact, the cause of it. Did an addictive habit deplete D2 receptors over time or do people who genetically have less D2 receptors possess a greater tendency for addiction? In fact, it has been postulated that a particular gene, DRD2, contributes to the development of D2 receptors and therefore our tendency toward addictive behaviour.

Drugs, food and alcohol tap into our basic reward systems and activate a craving for more. A desire to indulge can be self-regulated by chemicals

which tell us not to over-consume and control our desire for pleasure and satisfaction. These self-regulating mechanisms may be dysfunctional in addiction.

Here lies promise that future clinical applications will come from our growing understanding of dopamine and its reward pathway in the brain.

22 / Societies

Whilst the Guild is pulled in two directions, students shouldn’t be As the number of societies at Cardiff continues to rise and the Union faces greater demands on its space and funds, Societies Editor Vanessa Platt evaluates this from the perspective of societies and their members.

W

ith the n e w s last week that the Guild of Societies has had its budget cut, Societies Officer Adam Curtis has outlined his clear and somewhat daring intention to keep the number of societies rising whilst, in the meantime, maintaining their ‘quality and diversity’. This is in the context of seeing evergrowing demands upon the space and money the Union and Guild currently provides for a rising number of affiliated societies.

His aim to promote the value and range of our societies, however, would appear to be in direct opposition with the Union’s issue with space and funding, and with a Guild that appears to be struggling to orchestrate certain aspects of running its 140 affiliated societies.

Across this range of societies presently affiliated to the Union Guild, there is most certainly ‘diversity’ of the kind we all hope to retain – internationally cultural and ideological; performance and activity-based; health and course-based, to name just the most obvious. These facts go hand-in-hand with Adam Curtis’s

view that the current system by which the Guild allocates funds to societies is no longer working, since the ‘quality and diversity’ of Cardiff’s societies will be dependent on their financial means and practical capabilities as determined partly, at least, by the provisions of the Union.

Of the societies eligible to apply for funding, 58% chose not to Certain current societies, such as the Bellringing Society, have had problems applying for funding in the past. In this particular case the process was over-complicated and lengthened by a misunderstanding of the fundamental nature of the society as conveyed in the application. It was an experience which displayed an unfortunate lack of awareness and a degree of indifference issuing, one might observe, from an office environment somewhat too detached from the societies and their student body of executives.

Their President, talking to gair rhydd, said that they would ‘question the usefulness of the application process. Ultimately,

it was worth it as we did receive the funds we were due, although not until half-way through the year. I would not be surprised if a similar experience put others off the idea of applying completely."

Of the societies eligible to apply to the Guild this year for funding out of a £44,000 pot, 58% chose not even to apply. Of the 59 that applied, 18% asked for no funding or requested money for activities the Guild cannot fund, such as socials and charity fundraising events statistics which may well reflect Adam Curtis’s view of a stumbling system which does not serve the needs of its affiliates effectively enough.

It would seem that a proportion of societies have lost faith in their Guild to deliver. Some societies, like the Broadway Dance Society, go outside the Union to secure a venue to train in, simply due to a lack of available Union space, whilst money from lesson fees provides extra funds. The

question occurs: will such an option as this look not only more practical but also more financially sound to larger societies than complete reliance upon the Guild?

The Guild fee, especially, draws Cardiff’s students, along with their expectations, into partnership with the Guild of Societies itself. When asked their opinion, reactions are mixed: some would like to see a higher quality of coursebased societies for their fee, with a greater emphasis on academic matters and peer support (this comes at a time when the Economics Society has been disaffiliated and the English Literature Society placed on probation), whilst others comment on the importance of societies which offer specific social-time escapes from work beyond clubbing and socials in Cardiff city.

Adam Curtis has made clear his desire to work with students to outline "a new, easier and more

effective way to give societies the money they need," and urges students to bring their thoughts and ideas to the Forums in October, as well as for societies to apply for funding whenever they need it. True ‘quality and diversity’ in our student societies this coming year is going, it would seem, to be a challenging combination to deliver.

But for Cardiff’s students and the societies that are, after all, those into which they put so much effort, there should be no question mark over ‘quality’ or over ‘diversity’.

Those which are not active, Curtis has emphasised, will be reviewed and most probably face disaffiliation.

The majority who continue to provide their students with extracurricular opportunities deserve the whole-hearted moral and financial support of both Cardiff’s students and Cardiff’s Guild. Let us hope that these two bodies, over the next year, can combine their efforts in delivering the exceptional ‘quality and diversity’ for which Cardiff University as a whole has become renowned world-wide.

‘TCUPS’: The Cardiff University Purcell Society Rosemary O'Reilly Societies Writer

Sadly, this society has nothing to do with tea. The Cardiff University Purcell Society is a non-auditioning choir open to all students of the university. They aim to provide a fun, relaxed environment in which students can make friends, sing choral music from Baroque to Pop and achieve a fantastic sound in their performances each semester.

TCUPS is now over five years old and has grown year-on-year.

Last year more than 100 students signed up, though depending on the time of year rehearsalattendance figures are usually in the 50-80 range. They divide the choir into the standard soprano, alto, tenor and bass parts, and would especially like to see more gentlemen join them this year.

While rehearsals are primarily for working on the repertoire, they do encourage singers to get

to know their fellow performers and intend to run two socials per semester.

What music do they perform?

Not just Purcell, certainly! Recent repertoire has also included Eric Whitacre, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Leonard Bernstein and Lady Gaga. Last year, they also began a collaborative effort with the Cardiff University Concert Orchestra (co-run by their director, Callum Nicholls) to perform a choral piece with orchestra at each concert. To date, they have sung Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and John Williams’ ‘Duel of the Fates’ from Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace; both performances were successes, and they aim to continue this joint venture. In addition to a formal concert each semester, they intend to go carol singing and get involved with the Go Global initiative, adding world music to their repertoire.

TCUPS meet weekly for an

hour on Wednesday afternoons in the Large Lecture Theatre at the top of the School of Music on Corbett Road. The first rehearsal/taster session will be at 7.00pm on Wednesday October 3rd, and they will probably pop over to the Woodville pub afterwards. The membership fee is £4 for one year (excluding the Guild Membership fee), which primarily goes towards the cost of music.

If you are interested in joining or have any questions, you can contact them via email at tcupschoir@gmail.com or by searching in the Cardiff University email directory for Callum Nicholls (Musical Director), Barnaby Willis (President) or Rosemary O’Reilly (Secretary).

They wish all their fellow students a good year, and look forward to hopefully seeing some of you in the choir.

Societies 22-23

Monday October 1st 2012 | @gairrhyddsoc

Vanessa Platt

Societies Editor The eclectic extravaganza, which aptly portrays the atmosphere of our two days of Societies Fayres, opened on Thursday 27th September to a good response from students. It appeared that, as usual, the Fayres attracted all years of students across all disciplines with their broad array of opportunities.

Caris, a 2nd year student, told gair rhydd that she was struck by the "huge choice" available, although judging by her slightly bewildered expression (on her face and on others’!), it would appear that choice in this instance can be fairly overwhelming.

Pamela, also a 2nd year, found it "really good fun, though too warm!" and Josh, an old-hand 3rd year student, told gairrhydd it was "amazing! So many people have turned up, I’m loving how busy it is and the number of people interested in the Christian Union stall in particular. I think it’s great that there are loads of new societies, it’s just so exciting that it’s growing! There is also a massive banana walking around which makes me happy." The

The Societies Fayres

bustling nature of the Fayres is certainly, it would seem, a matter of taste!

The Great Hall saw a more or less steady stream of students

Monday 1st October - Operatic

Tuesday 2nd October - Amnesty

Society auditions for the

International Society

March 2013 production

Secret Policeman's Ball

of 'Pride & Prejudice' 1st

Comedy Night , 7.30pm,

Oct (2 - 5pm) and 3rd Oct

Kama Lounge, 104

(1 - 3pm) in the Music

Woodville Road. £5 at

Department.

the door, £4 in advance.

The society aims to support the School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies, through the organisation of socials, study groups and talks within the school to fully reflect the opportunities offered by being a JOMEC student.

23 The opinion from the perspective of outside the Fayres was a different one. Our Societies Officer Adam Curtis, looking down on the Fayre (which he has to do, of course, from his great height…), observed on Day One that it was "a lot quieter than last year’s Fayres - surprisingly so, in fact." As a result of all the media coverage which has been going on prior to the event, it would seem that our Societies Officer was, at that point at least, a little disappointed in the numbers: "At this stage, I’m wondering what I’ve perhaps done wrong, despite all the social media coverage we’ve been spreading around."

Figures, however, are not everything. Overall, the Fayre has been what it generally always is – a forum for societies to meet prospective members face-toface and share a little (or a lot!) of their enthusiasm, which is always great to see.

from as early as 10.15am, with numbers peaking at around 1pm.

Drama Society Act One, were pleased with the number sign-ups they were getting, and there was

enthusiasm and a friendly smile to be found at every stall you visited, bar the very few which unfortunately had not been set up by their society members.

Wednesday 3rd October - Kenyan

Thursday 4th October - German

Friday 5th October - Broadway

Society Karibuni Night,

Society's first society of

Dance Open Day, 5.30

7pm, Talybont Social

the year, 7.30pm, Talybont

- 9.30pm in the Great

Centre. It's their first

Social Centre. Wear either

Hall. There will be taster

social of the year!

black, yellow or red! For

lessons for each style of

more information see the

dance (Tap, Jazz, Ballet,

German Society Facebook

Street, Highland and Irish)

page.

will be offered at just £2

As many JOMEC students aspire for a career in the media, networking is vital in terms of gaining future contacts, and this society aims to improve the networking abilities of it's students.

for the entire evening.

Journalism Society

They are FREE to join (so that just means you have the Guild Fee to pay)

24 / Taf-Od

Torfeydd torcalonnus Tomos Lewis Golygydd Taf-od

Dim ond saith o gemau mewn i’r tymor newydd mae timau Pêldroed Uwchgynghrair Corbett Sports Cymru, ond yn barod mae swyddogion yn poeni am y nifer o dorfeydd sydd yn gwneud yr ymdrech i fynd i wylio’r gemau.

Ar gyfartaledd eleni, dim ond 291 o dorf mae’r gemau wedi atynnu i bob gêm, ffigwr brawychus o isel, yn enwedig gan fod y ffigwr 12% yn llai na’r cyfartaledd y tymor diwethaf.

Mae llawer o ffactorau yn cael eu cysidro i fod ar fai am y torfeydd isel. Gyda S4C yn darlledu'r gemau ar raglen ‘Sgorio’, y cred yw y bod llawer o bobl a fuasai yn arferol yn teithio i’r stadiwm, yn dewis aros gartref a gwylio eu tîm ar y teledu.

Ffactor arall sy’n cael effaith ar y niferoedd sy’n gwylio’r gemau yw llwyddiant timau Cymru yng Nghynghreiriau Lloegr, yn enwedig Abertawe, sy’n mwynhau cryn lwyddiant yn eu hail dymor yn Uwchgynghrair Lloegr. Mae’r llwyddiant hyn yn golygu, mewn llawer o achlysuron, bod timau yng nghynghreiriau Cymru yn colli cefnogwyr i’r timau mawr sy’n chwarae mewn gemau o safon uwch, yn erbyn timau o safon uwch.

ffigyrau yn codi yn dilyn gemau yn erbyn timau mwy cystadleuol y gynghrair, ond eto, mae’n rhaid cwestiynu gwerth y gost o agor stadiwm i ddiddanu llai na 200 o bobol.

Ar y llaw arall, mae timau eraill yn gallu denu torf gymharol fawr. Mae Clwb Pêl-droed Dinas Bangor wedi denu gymaint â 846 o bobl i un gêm gartref y tymor hwn, a dros 500 i ddwy gêm arall. Mewn dinas fach o tua 15,000 o drigolion, mae’r niferoedd hyn yn gymharol dda, yn enwedig i gymharu gyda Llanelli, tref o bron i 50,000 o drigolion.

Os mai ond 200 allan o 50,000 o

bobl sydd â diddordeb yn y clwb pêl-droed, beth yn wir yw gwerth y clwb? Os yw’r niferoedd sy’n gwylio’r gemau yn parhau i ostwng, mae’n sicr y bydd Gwyn Derfel, Ysgrifennydd Uwchgynghrair Corbett Sports Cymru yn gorfod edrych ar ffyrdd newydd i ddenu torfeydd neu ail drefnu'r gynghrair.

Dim ond yn ddiweddar iawn y newidiodd strwythur yr uwchgynghrair, wrth i niferoedd y timau yn y gynghrair ostwng o 18 i 12 ar gyfer tymor 2010/11. Yn sicr buasai clybiau’r gynghrair yn anhapus gydag ailwampio’r strwythur unwaith eto, ac ar ben

hynny, does dim gwarantu y buasai strwythur newydd yn cael unrhyw effaith bositif neu negatif ar dorfeydd. Yn dilyn trwbl digon tebyg gyda’u cynghrair hwythau, penderfynwyd dros ddegawd yn ôl, i uno clybiau rygbi mawr Cymru i greu’r system ranbarthol sy’n bodoli nawr. Go brin y gwelwn ni unrhyw beth tebyg yn y gynghrair bêl-droed, fodd bynnag, gyda thimau yn yr Alban ag Iwerddon yn cael trafferth i ddenu torfeydd, a faswn i’n naïf i awgrymu system debyg i’r Gynghrair Geltaidd a ffurfiwyd ar gyfer y rhanbarthau Rygbi? Efallai buasai gemau yn erbyn clybiau'r

Alban ag Iwerddon yn codi safon ac felly yn cael effaith bositif ar dorfeydd; ond rhwng noddwyr a phroblemau gyda chael cymdeithasau pêl-droed i gyd-weithio, mae’r siawns o ffurfio unrhyw fath o Gynghrair Geltaidd yn isel iawn.

Beth bynnag a ddaw o’r tymor hyn yn Uwchgynghrair Corbett Sports Cymru, mae’n debyg iawn y bydd llawer o bobl yn dechrau amau cynaladwyedd yr holl glybiau os nad ydi’n bosib denu mwy’r i’r eisteddleoedd.

Llanelli wedi llwyddo i ddenu dim ond 149 o bobl ar gyfartaledd

O taf D

Adroddwyd yn gynharach y flwyddyn yma ar safle we Uwchgynghrair Corbett Sports Cymru bod yna bosibilrwydd y bydd rai timau methu parhau os na fydd niferoedd sy’n mynychu gemau yn codi. Y tymor hwn, yn ei gemau cartref hyd heddiw, mae Clwb Pêl-Droed Llanelli wedi llwyddo i ddenu dim ond 149 o bobl ar gyfartaledd. Yn amlwg, mai’n ddyddiau cynnar, a bydd

Straeon OD o bob rhan o'r byd... Wythnos yma, llysywen mewn sefyllfa anghyfforddus...

M

ae awdurdodau yn Bulawayo, ail ddinas f w y a f Zimbabwe, wedi gofyn i bawb yn y ddinas fflysio eu toiledau i gyd ar yr un pryd er mwyn ceisio dadflocio’r system garffosaeth yn y ddinas. Roedd trigolion Bulawayo wedi bod yn dioddef o ddiffyg dwr ers ychydig ddyddiau a'r gobaith yw, y bydd y fflysio

hyn yn helpu clirio’r system.

Cyhoeddodd cyngor y ddinas eu bod yn gofyn i bawb efo toiled i fflysio am 7.30y.h. Mae nifer o drigolion y ddinas, sydd â phoblogaeth o dros filiwn o bobl, yn anghytuno gyda'r syniad. Cwynodd un o drigolion lleol Bulawayo, Cont Mhalanga bod hi'n debygol y bydd llawer ''yn anghofio'' fflysio a chwestiynodd effeithlonrwydd y cynllun. Mae gan Cont bwynt ddigon teg...

Mewn newyddion OD arall,

roedd ysbyty yn Seland Newydd yn gorfod delio gyda sefyllfa rhyfedd iawn wythnos diwethaf, wrth i ddyn ymddangos yno gyda llysywen (eel) yn sownd yn ei ben-ôl. Does neb yn glir iawn o sut yn union y diweddodd y llysywen druan yno, ond mae synnwyr yn awgrymu nad nofio fyny a wnaeth hi...

Taf-Od 24 - 25

Dydd Llun Hydref 1af 2012 | @taf_od

25

Twitter yn y Gymraeg

Mae Twitter wrthi'n cael ei gyfieithu - oes gobaith i'r cynllun, neu a fydd yr holl beth yn #fethiant? Gerallt Rhys Roberts sy'n trafod

N

oson Lawen, #unwaithtinbyw a Brynfongarwyr, yn trendio dros Brydain ai dyma welwn ni yn fuan iawn? Wel, ella’ dim cweit, ond yn y dyfodol agos os ydych chi eisiau defnyddio wefan Twitter drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg, gallwch wneud hynny - gan glicio ar linciau fel ‘Darganfod’ a ‘Pwy i’w Dilyn’ i gadw mewn cysylltiad. Mewn gwirionedd, gallwch fod yn defnyddio pa bynnag dermau rydych chi am eu gweld ar y wefan, dim ond i chi fod yn aelod.

Ddiwedd wythnos dwetha’ anfonodd Twitter neges at rai a ddangosodd ddiddordeb mewn cyfieithu’r wefan yn dweud mai’r Gymraeg yw’r iaith ddiweddaraf yn y ‘Ganolfan Gyfieithu’ – a bod cyfle i bawb gyfrannu. Wrth fynd at y wefan, felly, gallwch cynnig cyfieithiadau, pleidleisio dros rai sy’n bodoli’n barod, neu gwyno am gyfieithiadau ‘gwael’! Does

dim rhaid bod yn geek technolegol-Gymreig i gynnig help llaw, ac mewn ffordd gallwch fod yn rhan o’r broses o ddatblygu iaith a bathu termau – pwy a wyr beth fydd y derm a gaiff ei ddewis ar gyfer hashtag? ‘Stwnshnod’ yw’r un sy’n mynd â bryd y rhan fwyaf o gyfieithwyr ar hyn o bryd – term na fyddai byth wedi cael ei fathu heb i Twitter roi cyfle i’r Gymraeg!

Mae’n hawdd gweld y ddadl bod rhai termau newydd, yn enwedig ym maes technoleg sy’n datblygu trwy’r amser, am ymddangos yn chwerthinllyd. Ond (er nid fi yw’r un i wneud honiadau o’r fath!) mae rhai termau Cymraeg ar Facebook bellach bron yn norm mewn trafodaeth ar lafar, dros dair flynedd ers i’r wefan honno fod ar gael i’w chyfieithu i’r Gymraeg. Diolch byth nad oedd rhai termau a gafodd eu cynnig ar y pryd, ‘Wyneblyfr’ yn eu plith, wedi llwyddo i ddal eu tir, er hynny!

Wedi hen basio mae’r oes lle’r

oedd rhai gwefannau cymdeithasol Cymraeg yn bodoli ar y ffaith eu bod yn Gymraeg yn unig. Tua pum mlynedd yn ôl roedd gwefan Perthyn.com (er, efallai mai fi sy’n dychmygu ei fodolaeth o brofiad rhai sgyrsiau amdano!) yn dechrau dod yn boblogaidd ymysg pobl ifanc Cymru. Yn fuan iawn wedi i Facebook gael ei gyfieithu i’r Gymraeg aeth y niche i’r neilltu, a diflannodd y wefan i ddyfnderoedd y we.

Mae’r rhan fwyaf o wefannau mwyaf poblogaidd yn awr ar gael i’w pori drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg – Google, Outlook.com (yr Hotmail gynt), Facebook - a gallwch weithio ar ryngwyneb Cymraeg Microsoft Office os mae digon o amser wedi cael ei wastraffu am y tro, a’r amser wedi dod i ddychwelyd at y traethawd. Ar systemau prifysgol Caerdydd efallai ei bod hi’n newydd i rai bod ‘Porth Caerdydd’, ‘Dysgu Canolog’ a system Gymraeg i’r llyfrgell ar gael hefyd, o ran ein hochr academaidd ni i fywyd!

Mae’r gymuned Gymraeg ar Twitter yn gryf – daeth hynny i’r amlwg yn sicr ar adeg cystadleuaeth Can i Gymru, lle’r oedd ‘Gymru’ yn trendio (neu yn ‘bwnc llosg’ ddylwn i ddweud?) dros Brydain, gan achosi llawer o grafu pen ymysg nifer o ddefnyddwyr y tu allan i’r bybl diwyllianniolGymreig. Mae’n hen bryd felly i aelodau’r gymuned honno allu

defnyddio’r wefan trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg – eu gwefan Gymraeg nhw yn y bôn, gyda’r broses ddemocrataidd o gyfieithu.

Felly, heb swnio’n ormodol fel pregethwr, os ydych chi’n defnyddio Twitter ac am gyfrannu ac ymuno yn yr hwyl(!) o ddatblygu’r wefan i’r Gymraeg, ewch ati i gyfieithu! (translate. twttr.com)

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26 / Puzzles

sudoku.

INTERMEDIATE

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word wheel.

How many words of three or more letters, each including the letter at the centre of the wheel, can you make from this diagram? We've found 20, including one nine-letter word. Can you do better?

Steve has been caught stealing cattle, and is brought into town for justice. Sheriff Rob will place two bullets into a six-chambered revolver in successive order. He will spin the chamber, close it, and take one shot.

If Steve is still alive, Rob will then either take another shot, or spin the chamber again before shooting.

Rob loads the chambers, spins the revolver, and pulls the trigger. Luckily it's blank. Rob then asks, 'Do you want me to pull the trigger again, or should I spin the chamber a second time ?'

What should Steve choose?

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-flareup -aflutter -tearful -flatter -flutter -fatter -platter -earful -artful -fault -after -flare -flute

INTERMEDIATE

CHALLENGING

-fate -felt -fear -fart -turf -leaf -flea -flat -fur -flu -elf -fat -fuel

word wheel.

Listings 27

Monday 1st October 2012 | @mediacsu

Listings

27

2nd Get ready to revel in a night of retrobased frivolity and immerse yourself in nostalgia. Every Tuesday in Solus you can enjoy a flashback to your early musical years. Expect the best party classics from years gone by including your favourite anthems.

1st

5th After nearly a year away BEDLAM returns to CARDIFF with a monster of a line up.

Our brand new alternative music night launches on Monday 1st October. Every Monday we’ll have the widest varieties of music including indie, rock, hip hop, ska, punk, dub step, electro and much more.

We have also moved upstairs in the SU, giving us 3 ROOMS, INCREASED CAPACITY, & LARGER SMOKING AREA.

4th Flux Pavillion

3rd

Flux Pavillion is bringing his show to the SU at a cost of just £13.50, it's not one to be missed. As we go to print, tickets are still on sale, so I'd be quick to make sure you can get in.

There really is only one place to be on a Wednesday, so make sure you head to Solus for The Union’s worst kept secret. Between free giveaways and drink offers The Lash is a unique experience that is fulfilling every possible way.

7th Student Daycare trip to Thorpe Park 8am, £35 (+booking fee)

6th Comeplay Comeplay has been the biggest student night in Cardiff for 8 years and is known for having the biggest tunes across 3 rooms, competitions, prizes, and bumping into everyone you know at uni.

1st - 7th October

Sport 29-32

Monday October 1st 2012 | @gairrhyddsport

29

The search for Strauss’ successor: Captain and Opener Felix Bramley Sports writer

Amid a turbulent summer for English cricket, a number of hurdles have been thrown forward for England to overcome, perhaps none more pressing than the replacement of captain and opener Andrew Strauss.

Strauss led England to memorable back-to-back Ashes victories, overseeing outstanding team morale as they marched to the top of the ICC Test Championship rankings. However, this summer, England lost their home series against South Africa 2–0, were knocked off the top of the rankings, and lost their most influential player, Kevin Pietersen, due to the infamous texting saga.

Replacing Strauss the player is a more challenging task Alastair Cook, who has long been tipped for captaincy, was the obvious option when it came to electing a new captain. Yet replacing Strauss the player is a more challenging task.

The candidates put forward to open are Joe Root, Nick Compton and Jonathan Trott. While Compton and Trott can open,

Root is the out-and-out opener.

Likened to fellow Yorkshireman Michael Vaughan in style, Root has received many plaudits, significantly from the great England opener and ex-captain Geoffrey

Boycott.

However, at only 21 years old, the pressure factor is huge.

While Root is clearly a talent, he hasn’t yet experienced three full County Championship seasons,

and is yet to score 1,000 runs in a season, something Compton has done for the past two seasons – a worthy achievement in this summer of rain.

Moreover, the next Test series

is a tour of India, where England often struggle due to slow, low, turning wickets. The extent to which England struggle on the sub-continent is highlighted by the stats. Since 2005, England have won one test out of 14 against Pakistan, India or Sri Lanka away from home. It would be very risky to throw an inexperienced 21-year-old debutant into such an arena.

With an average of over 50 in Test cricket and renowned for his stubborn batting, Trott is the safe option.

Putting Trott up the order raises the question of who should come down to bat at three. Compton, the grandson of England great Denis Compton, prefers to bat at three, and has done so for Somerset with great success, averaging 99.25 in the County Championship last year. On the other hand, England may decide that Trott should stay at three to protect an inexperienced middle order in Pietersen’s absence.

There are a number of strong options, but whoever opens will have a lot of pressure on their shoulders. Good luck, Captain Cook!

Time to shake off this nasty pre-match habit?

James Shapland

T

Sport Editor

he attention of the football world has again been fixed on the controversial handshake.

Is it time for the Premier League to scrap this prematch ritual or has it become a valuable symbol of sportsmanship in football?

Over the last few years, the handshake has become the root of much controversy, with both on- and off-field squabbles repeatedly resurfacing on match day. The first incident back in 2010 occurred after allegations surfaced of an affair between John Terry and the girlfriend of his former team-mate, Wayne Bridge. The ex-Chelsea full-back refused to shake Terry’s hand prior to a Premier League fixture and so the precedent was set for future disputes.

More recently, the handshake issue has been intrinsically tied with racism. In December 2011, Liverpool’s Luis Suárez was is-

sued a £40,000 fine and an eightmatch ban for remarks made towards Patrice Evra. The Uruguayan’s refusal to shake Evra’s hand in their next meeting led to another media storm and questions as to the value of the prematch ceremony.

Terry was yet again at the centre of this controversy when his Chelsea side recently faced QPR. Despite Terry being proven not guilty in a court of law, Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand refused to acknowledge his hand on the basis of alleged racist abuse in a fixture last season. Yet againk, our weekend’s football was dominated by questions of "will he, won’t he?" with regard to the handshake.

The ritual is by no means steeped in grand tradition and was only introduced by the Premier League in 2008. It is all part of the Respect campaign promoted in professional football and aims to demonstrate sportsmanship in the game. For young viewers, it certainly sets a good example of how to respect the opponent and acknowledge that, at the end of it all, this is just a game. So, in some

ways, it has been a positive addition to modern football, and under emotional circumstances at Anfield last weekend, Suárez and Evra were able to move past their issues with a pre-match shake.

The handshake brings an ugly edge and drags old, forgotten issues to the fore

“

Suarez and Evra were able to move past issues with a pre-match hand shake

However, when high-profile incidents such as those discussed arise, the handshake actually brings an ugly edge to the game and drags old, forgotten issues to the fore. In the war against racism in particular, is it not better that we leave unpleasant issues in the past and get on with the football? Were it not for the pre-match shake at Loftus Road, there would have undoubtedly been far less focus on the personal vendetta and more on the derby match at hand.

Before the introduction of this forced pre-match procedure,

players were left to shake hands at the end of a match. In a sport where top athletes engage in such high-energy physical and mental competition, the idea of pleasantries before battle makes very little sense. Once the game is won or lost, however, it is down to the players themselves to show appreciation for one another’s performance and shake hands before descending down the tunnel. Respect is something that must be gained, not something that is predetermined or forced.

The Premier League are standing firm in their assertion of the pre-match handshake, maintaining the view that it promotes respect and fair play in the game.

It is surely no coincidence, however, that this demonstration of sportsmanship occurs with the Barclays Premier League logo as its backdrop.

Cast your mind back to the prematch snubs of Wayne Bridge and Luis Suarez; we all remember the incidents well, but does anybody remember the game? Or even the score?

30 / Sport

European rugby England to push for new Heineken Cup Conor O'Gorman Sport Writer

There’s about to be a serious overhaul for English (and European) club rugby, with BT finally securing the broadcasting rights for the Aviva Premiership, and the entire Heineken Cup format in dispute. As things stand, England and France are unhappy with the current format, and are considering abandoning the competition, meaning it will cease to be played after the 2013–14 season. But what does it mean for England?

Premiership Rugby, the organising body of England's top division, are unhappy with the fact that there is less pressure for teams from the Pro12 (Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales) to qualify for the Heineken Cup, since under the current system all nations involved are represented regardless of performance in their respective leagues.

A new system would mean that automatic places for teams such as Zebre (who didn’t even exist until last summer) are removed, and only six teams qualify from the Pro12, regardless of nationality. This would focus less on quota-based national representation and more on the best European rugby clubs battling for the cup.

deal, English rugby can hope to mirror its considerably higher performing counterpart: football.

This should mean more fans get to know the club and international game, have more general knowledge about the players’ club backgrounds, and how they are performing for their clubs.

There are no cons to the BT deal, just a few other countries kicking up a fuss about who owns the rights to European club games. It will raise interest in both English and British rugby in general and increase revenue for our game – I don’t need to explain the countless benefits for international rugby.

As far as I can see, England is moving in the right direction, and with France already behind us, the rest of European club rugby is in for big changes. Out with the old and in with the new. Let’s get behind the boys!

Under the hood of this whole argument is the money that the recent BT deal will provide for English Premiership rugby. It’s high time that rugby reached its commercial potential, and with new broadcasting, it will do just that. It will mean a cash injection of £152 million into English club rugby, and if BT is allowed to broadcast the new European games too, the whole sport will benefit in terms of revenue.

England is now using the BT deal to tempt the Welsh, Irish, Scots and Italians with its proposal for a Heineken Cup makeover. The French are already behind the idea for the revamped tournament, which would in-

With this new deal, English rugby can hope to mirror its higher-performing counterpart: football clude 20 teams instead of 24: six from each league and the winners of the Heineken and European Challenge Cups from the previous season.

England as a nation is constantly looking to take sport to higher levels and now is the time for club rugby. With this new

Left: Harlequins captain Chris Robshaw lifts the English Premiership trophy

Robson achieves breakthrough Sean Taylor Sport Writer

There can be no doubt that Laura Robson, Britain's highest-ranked female player, has the potential to cut it with the world’s finest competitors. However, since her first major success in 2007, when she became Wimbledon Junior Girls’ Champion at only 14 years of age, she has found it difficult to make the breakthrough on the WTA Tour. It could be argued that, as her first success came at such a young age, it would be inevitable that the switch to the ladies’ tour would be a long process for Robson, who also reached two consecutive Australian Open Junior finals in 2009 and 2010. Robson's promise at a tender age was rewarded with a wildcard entry to her first major tournament, Wimbledon in 2009, and early signs suggested she could hold her own at the higher standard.

Robson has been a permanent fixture at Wimbledon since her debut in 2009, having wildcards in 2010 and 2011, and qualifying due to a rise in her ranking this season. This season, Robson's tennis has shown significant improvements, with many reasons touted for her recent success: the involvement of Judy Murray in the British ladies’ team, the experience gained from playing in major tournaments year-inyear-out, and the competition provided by the number of British women playing on the WTA tour.

Robson has had her most successful season to date, playing in all four Grand Slam tournaments, recently getting to the fourth round of the US Open, defeating former great Kim Clijsters and ninth-seed Li Na along the way.

In doing so, Robson became the first British woman in 14 years to reach the fourth round of a

Grand Slam. Judy Murray has been praised for the improvement across all the British female players since her involvement in the Fed Cup team, with another youngster, Heather Watson, reaching the third round of Wimbledon.

It is probably a mixture of Judy Murray’s experience from travelling with her son, Andy; Robson's success in the Olympics, achieving a silver medal with Murray in the mixed doubles; and the appointment of a new coach, that has developed Robson's game. Other factors could be her growth in height, which has weaponised her serve and ferocious hitting power. Robson is set to break into the top 50 ranking places by the end of the season, a great achievement for all those involved in the regeneration of British female tennis.

Sport 29-32

Monday October 1st 2012 | @gairrhyddsport

31

Welsh regions' concern over European rugby row Continued from back page.

English and French clubs have argued that teams in the Pro12 have an easier ride. They argue that because qualification isn’t based on final standings in the Pro12, and because there is no relegation, there is less incentive for teams to field their top players in league matches.

An example of this was Edinburgh reaching the semi-final of the Heineken Cup last year, despite finishing second-frombottom domestically. English and French clubs propose that the Heineken Cup be cut from 24 teams to 20, with the top six teams from each league progressing.

If qualification rules were to change, it might have very harmful consequences for Welsh teams. In last year’s final standings, only two Welsh teams finished in the top six, although the Cardiff Blues, who finished seventh, would have qualified due to Leinster's victory in the Hei-

neken Cup final.

The possibility of fewer Welsh teams competing in Europe would be a big blow to the regional game. Financially, the benefits from the Heineken Cup are huge, with matches against the biggest teams in Europe being the main attraction during a season.

Missing out on these matches would be detrimental for the Welsh national team, as Welsh players would not get the experience of competing against the best players in Europe.

However, if qualifying was to become more difficult, it might encourage Welsh teams to better themselves. Teams like the Dragons have said that the proposed qualification changes will make it even more difficult for them to qualify.

But surely changes to the rules will make them, and other teams in a similar situation, strive to improve? It will make our domestic competition more competitive and will be a better experience for young Welsh players.

Although arguments about the way teams from the Pro12 qualify are justified, for English clubs to sign such a deal is hugely arrogant and betraying their European partners.

The TV deal is for a future European competition, with no guarantees that there will be any other teams to play in it; no Pro12 or French clubs have yet agreed to play in this new competition.

English teams have left the Heineken Cup before, in 1998, but returned a year later. Any new move to abandon the tournament will surely fall on deaf ears, just as it did before.

The other nations value the Heineken Cup too highly to let it fail at the first sign of trouble. The Heineken Cup has been, and will continue to be, the pinnacle of club rugby in the Northern Hemisphere. The tournament will be a great deal richer with every country having representatives.

Capital One Cup kicks off Tom Parry-Jones Sub-editor

Unlike the third round of the FA Cup, it may not be a major highlight in the English footballing calendar, but last week saw the arrival of the third round of the League Cup. The competition is going by a new name this season, having come to the end of its nine-year association with Carling in favour of the American financial corporation, Capital One. This latest stop on the sponsorship merry-go-round serves only to highlight the contempt with which many seem to treat the League Cup; the last three sponsors – Carling, Worthington’s and Coca-Cola – have all been pretty big household names, but

no such luck was had in finding a backer for the next four seasons, and the competition had to settle for sponsorship from a bit-part player in the financial sector, best known for its credit cards. The “Worthless Cup” moniker has never been more deserved.

This disregard for the competition has been plain to see from the clubs for many years; while the smaller clubs view the tournament as a legitimate chance for silverware, the top Premier League teams often use it as an opportunity to blood young talent, and not necessarily caring whether or not they win. In the last two years, both Birmingham City and our very own Cardiff City have reached the final of the League Cup (Birmingham even beat Arsenal in the 2011 final),

showing that, if the big teams can be knocked out early on, anyone has a chance for success.

No manager has been more associated with playing ‘kids’ in the League Cup than Sir Alex Ferguson, whose youthful defence – captained by a returning Darren Fletcher – held out against Newcastle to put Manchester United through to a fourth-round tie against Chelsea.

Chelsea, also playing an inexperienced side, progressed after a 6–0 win over Wolves, the biggest win of the round, although Arsenal came close with a 6–0 victory at home to Coventry City, enhancing their reputation as dedicated followers of youth.

It wouldn't be an English cup competition, though, without some giant-killings; this year, Everton's defeat to Leeds United and Manchester City's extra-time loss at home to Aston Villa took almost everyone by surprise.

Cardiff University Rowing Club take to the river again Rowing is fast becoming one of Britain’s most fashionable sports, with our Olympians proving that, when it comes to the water, we are the best around. Eton Dorney played host to nail-biting drama and incredible success for Team GB and the fever has clearly spread to Cardiff University.

With a record number of rowers signing up to Cardiff University Rowing Club at the AU Freshers' Fayre, the future is looking bright. This weekend sees the Annual Alumni Regatta, with old and current members of the club gathering on the banks of the River Taff. Members will be hoping to kick off the new season as they finished the last with a win in this first race.

The team will be looking to continue last season’s success, which was capped off by an excellent performance in the Welsh Varsity Boat Race. Three of the

four events saw Cardiff victories and the women enjoyed a clean sweep in both the senior and freshers’ races.

Follow @RowCardiffUni on Twitter.

Dates to remember: Sept 29th: Alumni Regatta, Cardiff Oct 20th: Diamond Jubilee Regatta, Dorney Oct 21st: Cardiff Small Boats Head Nov 10th: Fours Head, London Nov 18th: City of Bristol Autumn Head Dec 2nd: Wallingford Head ? te Dec 9th: Monmouth ri m Head w o

to d.c e d lik rhy u r yo gai ld @ ou ort W sp

32 / Sport

BT Vision contract casts Heineken doubt

Nye Davies Sport Writer

English Premiership Rugby has announced its intention to withdraw from the Heineken Cup. The decision was believed to be an attempt for urgent talks to take place between all countries. Things were made worse when Premiership

Rugby signed a broadcast deal with BT, which included a future European tournament to begin from 2014. With French teams also announcing their desire to withdraw from the competition, where does this leave the four Welsh regions?

Turn to page 30–31 to find out more.

Andrew Strauss retires Statistics 177 – Top score 100 – Test matches 40.91 – Average 35 – Age he retired Nine-year international career Alastair Cook to take over as England Test captain

Joe Root and Nick Compton touted to

<< p29

take over as England Test openers