Waterfront 294 by Waterfront

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FEBRUARY 2020

ISSUE 294

Contents

January 2021 News

Literature

Features

Music

• Others & Ostracism • Rent Strike • Trump’s 2nd Impeachment

• LGBTQ+ History Month • Margery Kempe’s Spiritual Medicine: Suffering, Transformation, and the LifeCourse • Gender Identity and Quarantine

Advice

• Post Veganuary Blues • Q&A with Vivienne Dodd • Valentine’s in Lockdown

Science and Research

• Cyberpunk • LGBT+ Books • Magic Charisma & Love

• Shawn Mendes - Wonder • The Local Scene • Waterfront Team’s 2021 Music Desires • Welsh Langage Music Day 2021

Wellbeing

• Addiction During the Pandemic • Movember - Raising Awareness of Men’s Health

Travel

• Landing of the Persevernace

• Pride Around the World • Erasmus Erasure

Fashion

Sustainability

Societies

Film

Creative Writing

Wellbeing

• Challenges and Choices for 2021

• Vegan Past Veganuary

• Top 5 Most Wonderfully • Top 10 LGBT+ Films and TV Shows Unconventional Societies in UK Universities Sport • Children’s Mental Health Week • Rugby and LGBT

• Bethan’s Book of the Month • Breakfast at Epiphanys • Winter Haikus

• Accepting Imperfection • Isolated: The Student Lockdown Experience

Our Editorial Team Editor-in-Chief Bethan Bates

Advice Bethan Collins

Deputy Editor Alex Baker

Societies Rachel Hart

Proofreading Sam Binnie and Franziska Trumpp

Fashion Rhianydd Sword

waterfronteditor @swanseastudentmedia.com

waterfrontadvice@ swanseastudentmedia.com

waterfrontdeputyeditor@ swanseastudentmedia.com

waterfrontsocieties@ swanseastudentmedia.com

News and Current Affairs Jordan Onslow waterfrontnews@ swanseastudentmedia.com

Sports Efan Willis

waterfrontsport@swanseastudentmedia. com

Science & Research Sophie Sadler

Music

waterfrontscience @swanseastudentmedia.com

Travel Jade Hughes

Cat Daczkowski waterfrontmusic@swanseastudentmedia. com

waterfronttravel@swanseastudentmedia. com

Literature Ashish Dwivedi

waterfrontliterature@ swanseastudentmedia.com

waterfrontfashion@ swanseastudentmedia.com

Sustainability

Lucie Štěpánková waterfrontsustainability@ swanseastudentmedia.com

Wellbeing

Lauren Stodolnic waterfrontwellbeing@ swanseastudentmedia.com

We Want YOU!

Seen a section you'd like to write for? Or want to start a new section? Get in touch now! Email: waterfronteditor@ swanseastudentmedia.com

Welcome to Waterfront!

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you have had a good holiday season and are settling back into the new semester. Although we did not produce a January edition we are excited to be back with our February edition. This month is LGBT+ history month so we have featured articles from our very own LGBT+ Society, our favourite LGBT+ books, my review of Cinderella Is Dead a lesbian retelling of the Cinderella fairytale, and much more! We have also written about how to maintain your wellbeing in this third lockdown and what support the university can provide for you. I am very proud of the newspaper the team have produced this month, even with a busy month of exams and deadlines, they have pulled together and written a number of really exciting articles. If you have ever wanted to write, edit, or produce art for the Waterfront this is your chance. Make 2021 the year of DOING. Bethan

Welcome back everyone! Obviously this was not how we wanted to spend the start of 2021 but the team has produced an excellent issue despite all the obstacles. I hope that we can provide some forms of escapism (I would highly recommend consulting the LGBTQ+ TV and Film recommendations) and point you in the direction of some support with this issue. This coming month will be packed with various holidays and occasions, all of which we would be very pleased to see as the inspiration for articles. As always, if you want to get involved in any way, join our socials and/or email Bethan and I, I look forward to hearing from you! Alex

Meet the Waterfront Team Rhi Sword is a second year media and communication student. She’s an avid reader of Cosmopolitan magazine and plays the saxophone in her spare time. Rachel Hart is the current Societies editor. She is a third year English Literature student and her hobbies include reading, photography and music. She can’t wait to liaise with different societies and promote their upcoming events. Bethan Collins is a third year English literature student. It’s her first year being the editor for the Advice and Relationships section. If ever you want to write anything for this section, feel free to contact her! Ashish Dwivedi is an M.Phil. candidate in his final year, here at Swansea University and our current “Literature & Nonfiction Editor”. He calls himself a herpetology and mythology aficionado; a traveller who travels for food; a lax swimmer; and a hide-and-seek genius. However, one of his serious sides include his delightful interest in Utopian & Cartoon Studies and experimental and tragic poetry. Bethan Bates is a third year English Literature and History student who is working towards a career in the publishing industry. She is a book fanatic, with a collection of just over 400 books, who enjoys telling everyone about what she is currently reading. She is also the current editor-in-chief of the Waterfront and has been involved with the paper since her first year. Sophie Sadler is a postgraduate researcher in Mathematics and Computer Science. As well as being the Science & Research Editor for the Waterfront, Sophie enjoys hiking & wild camping, riding her horse Bounce, and watching horror movies.

Cat Daczkowski is a masters student at Swansea and the music editor. She loves to listen and create music, as well as play video games when she has time. She’s very open to all genres of music and is always looking for new contributors for her section. Lucie Stepankova is a postgraduate Communications, Media Practice and PR student and Waterfront’s new sustainability section editor. Through this section, she hopes to inspire more people to start making small steps towards sustainability and encourage conversation. She also writes about sustainability as a freelancer, enjoys playing the ukulele and practicing yoga. Jade Hughes is studying an MA in International Journalism and the Travel and Study Abroad editor. She is no stranger to living abroad, having studied in Germany for a year during her Bachelor’s degree. When she’s not writing or creating activities for the German society, she is likely to be building her dream house on the Sims. Jade is always happy to receive submissions, so feel free to contact her if you have any ideas! Mathurin Aron is a student originally from France who has spent the past seven years living in Cologne, Germany. His hobbies include climbing and playing the ukulele. Jordan Onslow is an undergraduate English Literature and Creative Writing student and the current News and Current Events Editor. He is always looking for student input, to champion the news that affects them most. Maria Watkins is a full-time student taking an MSc degree in Environmental Dynamics and Climate Change. She practices Qigong in her spare time and enjoys horror stories and films. Lauren Stodolnic is a second year Economics student, she loves travelling and fitness. If you have any ideas or interest in the wellbeing section, feel free to contact her. Maksim Smychagin is an international Electrical and Electronic Engineering student. At school, he developed an interest in the sciences, theatre and literature, and further revealed a rising passion for tennis and ballroom dancing. Benjamin Nichols is a Swansea alum, currently residing in the United States. He is currently getting his Ph.D. and intends to return to Wales in the future for his career. Milana Tomić is an L.L.M. graduate in International Maritime Law (class of 2020) from Swansea University. She is a former recipient of the 2019/20 Chevening Scholarship awarded by the U.K. Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Currently, she is studying for the Bar Examination to begin practicing as Attorney at Law, while, simultaneously, working as an Assistant for Practical Education at the University of Montenegro. Owen Wallace is an undergraduate student from Hertfordshire studying Physics. Some of his hobbies include D&D, practicing the violin, and playing strategy games. Louis Bromfield is a first year Politics PhD student researching the gamification of political forecasting and engagement. He is currently spending too much money on new PC parts and too much time sitting with his head in his hands watching Chelsea FC’s recent performances. Bethan Northwood is a second year History student and Treasurer for both the LGBT+ society and Plaid Ifanc. They are passionate about political activism and baking, as well as Wales and its history. They spent lockdown doing different crafts that they saw on Tiktok. Sion Misra is doing a masters in International Journalism. Sport has always been a passion of hers and writing on it has all but grown the enthusiasm that she has for it. She is a Brighton fan and a fanatical Welsh football supporter.

News & Current Affairs Trump’s Second Impeachment: An Infamous First in US Politics By Louis Bromfield

y the time this magazine edition is published, Joe Biden will be President of the United States. This new chapter in American politics will be marred by the chaotic and unprecedented climax of the outgoing administration; one that saw impeachment, riots, death and destruction in the space of several days leading up to the inauguration. In this article, I aim to give you a brief snapshot and answer some crucial questions. Donald Trump was impeached for the second time on January 13th, a first in US history and one that means that the 45th President now holds half of all impeachments (the other two belonging to Andrew Trump leaving office, alongside a muddied national Johnson and Bill Clinton). So what does impeachment sentiment due to the Capitol riots, some Republicans mean, and what are the consequences? are feeling more comfortable with opposing him (10 voted against him in the House). Still, conviction would An impeachment is where a member of public office require nineteen of the fifty Republican Senators to is charged with misconduct, and is performed by the unprecedentedly break rank, and the vote failed in legislative body of the government. It is a two-stage Trump’s last Senate trial. process, one stage for each chamber of Congress. Firstly, articles of impeachment are put to the House But what if there is a two-thirds majority? Among of Representatives having been referred to the penalties like losing his $200,000 a year pension, relevant committees. The articles are debated and Trump would be barred from ever running for office subsequently voted on and only require a simple again. Trump and his team have woven a narrative majority (50% + 1 additional vote) to pass. of a “stolen election” and have undoubtedly set the Passing this through the House has happened on both attempts for President Trump, but it does not remove the President from office - it instead enables the next step, the Senate trial. The passing in the lower house was essentially guaranteed due to Republicans being the minority. The Senate trial is supervised by the Supreme Court before Senators vote on convicting the president. Approval requires a two-thirds majority, much harder than the House’s simple one. However, with

scene for a potential run in 2024; Senate conviction would solidify that possibility’s death, which could greatly accelerate a shift away from Trumpism.

So what did Trump do to warrant this? Last time this happened, he was charged with soliciting foreign interference in the 2020 election by requesting information on Joe and Hunter Biden from Ukraine and obstructing Congressional investigations. This time, it was due to accusations of inciting violence. On January 6th, at the “Save America” rally in Washington, DC, he continued to sow doubts

about media legitimacy, labelling the Democrats as “radical left”, and also called for VP Pence to intervene with Congress ratifying the election results, which he lacks the constitutional authority to do. Most importantly, his arguments surrounding the supposedly “fraudulent” election had very serious undertones, and were made quite explicitly. To quote the President:

“We will not let them silence your voices”

Consistent support of armed protestors A refusal to accept the election results and commit to a peaceful transfer of power Failure to condemn armed white supremacist groups Consistent undermining of the election Reportedly ignoring aides telling him to intercede with the Capitol riots This list is far from exhaustive and does not touch on those in his circle, but the necessity of doing so is in question. Trump will be put on trial by the Senate for inciting acts of violence that led to the death of five people in early January. Whether he is voted against by the needed majority or not is almost impossible to anticipate, but irrespective of that, by the time of this publication, the Biden administration will have begun a determined transformation to undo prominent changes made during Trump’s presidency, but it may not be the last we have heard of the 45th President. Sources: https://www.rev.com/blog/transcripts/donaldtrump-speech-save-america-rally-transcriptjanuary-6

“We fight like Hell and if you don’t … you’re not going https://www.justsecurity.org/74138/incitementto have a country anymore” timeline-year-of-trumps-actions-leading-to-theattack-on-the-capitol/ JustSecurity has documented the last year of Trump’s rhetoric, and some of the highlights include:

“It’s not enough” - Swansea Rent Strike continues to push for rent cancellation despite university reduction The movement, of which Oisin Mulholland is a coordinator, is currently in the process of withholding around £120,000 of rent money from the university, as the movement focuses on providing rent breaks for those students who “University students since the start of the pandemic have are unable to return to campus due to the national been treated as cash cows, not just by the university and lockdown. The movement’s main goal is for the University its chancellors but by the government as well.” These to offer tenancy cancellations for those students who were the strong words Oisin Mulholland used to describe are simply unable to return and are currently paying for the ongoing rent struggle at Swansea University, when accommodation that they are not using. he spoke to “That’s TV South Wales”. As of the 22nd This at first glance seems like a simple solution; why should January, the University has still neglected to reach students have to pay for accommodation that they are out to the growing rent strike group, despite repeated not even able to use legally? This question is what has garnered such support for the movement, as they now attempts from its co-ordinators to start a dialogue. boast members from both Gower College and Trinity St. David as well.

By Jordan Onslow

Nationally, there are over 57 student groups running similar rent strike operations, most notable being that of Manchester University. The strike in Manchester culminated in a building occupation and the university finally agreed to a 30% rent reduction for the first term, with talks ongoing for this current term.

From a Student Union perspective, this rent reduction has been a success - they appear to have strengthened their relationship with the University and have made a difference to those affected and this cannot be ignored either. Their action has to be commended, especially when so many other university unions have avoided the issue. However, it is strange that thus far they have not This level of success is what has inspired other students spoken with the movement directly; it seems as though to attempt the same and whilst their goals are lofty, the the movement is being bypassed entirely, which in the Swansea group believe that they can cause some positive long term could cause the issues to escalate. change for the University community. The pandemic has been and of course continues to be a nightmare for all of us and so it is no surprise to see It must be noted that over the last few weeks, the University movements such as this one gather so much attention. has spoken with the Student Union representatives and However, with it being impossible to protest together together have come together to put in place a rent in force, it remains to be seen just how successful this reduction for those unable to live in their accommodation, movement can actually become. from the period January 4th to February 15th, delaying the invoices for further months until the 6th May. A Swansea University spokesperson told Waterfront: “Swansea University is offering a rent reduction to students in university halls (Bay Campus, Beck House, Singleton Campus and Hendrefoilan Student Village) who have been asked to remain at home and not return to Swansea due to Covid-19 restrictions until the end of term (26 March). Students who weren’t required to be on campus as part of their course but returned to live in university halls before the guidance changed can go home and will receive a rebate. If students decide to stay in university halls, they will not receive a rebate. Students on placement and elite athletes will receive a rebate up until the point they returned to universityowned accommodation. The university’s dedicated Covid support service, MyUniSupport, is available to help with any queries and it offers a wide range of support measures for anyone who may be finding the current situation difficult.” However, Mr. Mulholland’s response to this reduction was simple - “That’s not enough”. The movement are moving forward with their plans to withhold rent and are currently focused on spreading the word of the movement, to gather as much support as they can, until it is impossible for the university to ignore them any longer.

A spokesperson from Swansea University Students’ Union said “We are working with the University and are raising the topic of extra support for students. We will continue to raise issues important to students to the University through every avenue we can. We would encourage any students who may be having difficulties financially or with housing to get in touch with our Advice and Support Centre who can offer guidance to you.” For more information on the movement click the link: https://linktr.ee/SwanseaRentStrike Alternatively, contact your Student Union at: swansea-union.co.uk

info@

Image source: UoM Rent Strike | Twitter

Student Insight: “Others and Ostracism: The Problem of News Disproportionality” By Ashish Dwivedi

here is the price tag? How do you measure human problems as more or less significant? What makes my history baseless, and yours, the subject of scholarly research? Why can you not learn Hindi when visiting my country? Why can you not revel in

the gifts of others’ cultures the same way others cherish your Christmas? All right (not to sound as an intimidating critic)- there are so many ends through which I can hold this web, but let’s take the simpler road of a personal narrative that may serve two purposes: (1) the piece will strike the intellect, thus prompting compelling afterthoughts; and (2) will

help me exercise my points to be clearly communicated, and not left dwindling in the slush of jargons. So, let’s talk! The motivation to reflect upon this conundrum comes from what happened to me in December, 2019. I had gone back to India for holidays, and I was greeted at the airport with the news that riots were moving across the country. These riots were (1) instigated by the central government’s premeditated attempt to amend a 1955 Citizenship Act, and (2) subsequently escalated when the act was officially passed on December 11, 2019- three days after my arrival. There was communal violence everywhere, and mostly it was driven by a religious divide.

their cultures’ worth through the lens of the white master. But where the colonized overcame, and understood the Manichean manipulations responsible behind their persecution, and answered back by acknowledging their roots, the colonizer kept themselves busy couched in imperial dreams.

The colonizer’s dreams led to the often perceived centrality of white supremacy that usually misrepresents or underrepresents news about countries of the Third World. Instances of zero-representation are rare, in comparison to the other cases, and are usually restricted to cases where a European is the victim. These could be The Citizenship Amendment Act (2019) was a taken as symptoms of a fragile understanding of other governmental initiative to grant Indian citizenship to distant cultures, which are- in return- considered of less illegal immigrants of any religion, except Islam- from importance by the vortex of Eurocentrism. three neighbouring, Muslim-dominated countries of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh- who had left The problem of news disproportionality is that it their home countries due to any religious persecution hinders cultural knowledge and precludes a genuine they had faced as consequence of their religious-minority recognition of others’ problems based on politics, religion, status. As simple as it looks, the Act was parched by the sexuality, or any other case. If viewed from the lens of government’s inability to effectively convey the many environmentalism and philosophy, this disproportionality intricacies of the Act, that further led to the measure problematizes humanity’s existence as one entity. So, is it being misconstrued as a vile attempt to purge India of fake? Is the Socratic philosophy of a ‘citizen of the world’ Muslims. (not to be misinterpreted from the point of view of politics and military) a meaningless phrase? What is the ending Consequently, people were being lynched based on purpose of humanity? Are we willing to remain divided by their religion; universities and students were attacked; ethnic, sexual, or religious differences? police stations were set ablaze; curfews plagued the sub-continent; travel was restricted; and there seemed I leave the answer to you; I leave it all to you. no possible way available to curtail this madness. The anti-CAA protests were being printed as headlines, but, unfortunately, was under-represented by Western media. Sadly, not many people knew about what was happening at “the other side of the globe”. This was distressing to acknowledge and compelled me to reflect over the questions about Eurocentrism and Postcolonialism that I had encountered during my Master’s. The lack of active reporting of events happening in countries of the Third World by Western media is discomforting- for instance, how many times did you see news about the anti-SARS protests in Nigeria making headlines? It brings into its embrace a gamut of questions, and, mostly, their answers are engraved in human history. If we turn to a scholar of Postcolonial Studies, they might enlighten us about the manner in which the colonized culture(s) were trivialized and deemed to be of zero value, all in an attempt to lionize the colonizer and its historic paraphernalia. This catapulted the erosion of local culture(s) not only for the colonizer, but also for the colonized who began measuring

Features

LGBTQ+ History Month By Kieran Bason

he month of February is LGBTQ+ history month. This month is very important to the LGBTQ+ community; we remember those who paved the way for us to have the equality that we have today, as well as looking at what steps need to be taken to further reach equality. As a student’s union, we have been planning some activities for all students to take part in throughout the month. We have chosen 4 different LGBTQ+ charities for each week of February. We will focus on one of these charities weekly, and will be raising awareness for what they stand for. Our first week will be Stonewall, which is a massive international charity that helps improve the lives of LGBTQ+ people across the globe. In this first week we want to start off with some fun activities. Our second week will focus on those who have lost their lives fighting for LGBTQ+ equality. We will also be raising awareness for Rainbow Noir, a LGBTQ+ charity focused on celebrating the platform of POC and allowing their voice to be heard greater in the community. These activities will be accompanied by some LGBTQ+ consent training. Week three will be focused on raising awareness for AKT. This charity focuses on LGBTQ+ youth homelessness, as well as ensuring those in dangerous living conditions can get safe emergency housing.

We will be having activities such as a bake-off - so make sure you get your ingredients ready. We will also be having a bingo and a RuPaul’s Drag Race UK watch party. All these events will be fully inclusive so you don’t have to identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community to take part. Make sure you keep an eye out on the SU social media pages as we will be having some special guests announcing some events and guest-speakers across the month. Let’s make sure this month is a special one.

If you have any ideas for the month or just generally have any questions or concerns about student life you In the final week we will be raising awareness for can contact me via email lgbtplussingletonofficer@ the Mermaids charity. This organisation focuses on swansea-union.co.uk or on my Instagram @ ensuring that transgender equality is achieved at kieranbason98 the same rate as the rest of the LGBTQ+ community.

We Need More Men in Dresses and Women in Suits By Bethan Northwood (Swansea LGBT+ Society)

t’s undeniable that the last 12 months have been very trying for everyone, but as a queer person it has been an odd experience. Many queer people feel more at home away from their families – even if those families are supportive. If you are the only LGBT+ member of the family then it can still feel very isolating being away from friends. Being with parents or siblings that hold strict ideas of what it means to be a woman or man can be difficult for those questioning their gender identity or for gender-queer people that are not out yet to their family. Being locked down for such long periods of time led me to question my relationship and feelings towards being seen as “feminine.” The long periods of not really seeing anyone or going out paired with not much to keep myself occupied made me consider my gender identity more thoroughly. I believe that everyone regardless of sexuality or identity should take some time to think about what their gender means to them and I know I am not the only person who has had similar feelings. Around 2014 I first started questioning my gender but after being told that I was just a ‘tomboy’, I repressed these feelings and now see that I was right all along. After questioning for a while, currently I am happily using the pronouns she/her and they/them. As a plus size person, we are made to feel that to be thin is normal and the only acceptable beauty norm, so it is easy to feel excluded from my gender and untangling these emotions alongside questions of gender identity is easier said than done. It has taken me 6 or 7 years and even now I believe gender is fluid so my identity will potentially change again. I know I am fortunate to have a family that are largely accepting of my queerness and I am very privileged to only now be in a position where I cannot come out over fears of my parents’ reactions. Lockdown has brought with it new ideas around gender but has

been hard as I can’t be myself whilst living with my parents and have longed to come back to University where I know my friends accept me. Some things that have helped me over the past months have been podcasts, books, and queer people on Tiktok. Talking to my other LGBT+ friends who have either come out as gender-queer or friends that I know are also questioning helped more than anything. Just knowing that I was not the only one having second thoughts about gender and that some of my friends were having similar inner debates was very reassuring. My friend, the LGBT+ society president, recommended some podcasts. My favourite was a series called NB: My Non-Binary Life from BBC Sounds. They also recommended to me a book by Alok Vaid-Menon called Beyond the Gender Binary. Alok VaidMenon writes at one point about shame being used as a weapon against those who do not conform to the gender binary. This made me wish that children were brought up experimenting with different clothes and not confined to such strict gendered ideals. I wish I could have worn a suit to my secondary school prom and that it was not such a shock to be non-conforming. While giving credit to the things that helped me, honourable mentions should be given to the onslaught of straight, white, able, and thin bodies that the media push upon us, reinforcing gender roles and excluding those who do not fit in – two birds with one stone! It’s easy to feel a sense of “other”, it’s always been there, but quarantine helped me to look deeper into this and separate my body issues from my gender issues. We are taught to believe that gender nonconforming, non-binary, and intersex people simply do not exist, that there are only two acceptable ways to present. The first recorded use of the singular ‘they’ was in 1375 so it really should not be such a shock to society. Some people are happy within the gender binary and that is perfectly acceptable but gender norms can be very negative, especially where one idealised vision of masculinity is superior and strong and femininity is weak and when coming from a male-presenting person is received as ‘gay,’ like

that’s such a bad thing. Even for cisgender men and women, the pressure for women to shave everything from the neck down and for men the pressure to be unemotional - among many other expectations – is harmful. For the rest of my time in lockdown, I am looking

forward to more conversations with my queer friends and finding more gender nonconforming people to follow on social media so my feed is not so binary. It seems increasingly more people are speaking up about issues around the gender binary and I hope we continue to have these discussions.

Margery Kempe’s Spiritual Medicine: Suffering, Transformation and the Life-Course by Laura Kalas By Rachel Hart

n Wednesday 9th December, Dr. Laura Kalas, from the Department of English Literature and Creative Writing, and co-director of Swansea’s Medical Humanities Research Centre, launched her new book Margery Kempe’s Spiritual Medicine: Suffering, Transformation and the Life Course in conversation with Professor Liz Herbert McAvoy (Professor Emerita of Medieval Literature at Swansea). The launch was hosted by Swansea’s Cultural Institute and chaired by the Institute director, Dr Elaine Canning. The book explores The Book of Margery Kempe – which is regarded as the earliest autobiographical text in the English language – from a medical humanities’ point of view, making Kalas’ study the first of its kind. Laura Kalas is a lecturer in Medieval Literature at Swansea University and has had her work published in multiple academic journals, and her work on Margery Kempe’s Spiritual Medicine is her first book.

woman, discussing how her life had followed a similar route to Kempe’s as she found an intellectual voice in adulthood. She commented that “as women, our lives are often more shaped by our bodies and our families” … “our work and writing is necessarily inflected by these experiences whether we like it or not.” She regards Margery’s chastity vow and later life of piety as a harnessing of a post-reproductive life, which informed her reading of the text through Kalas’ interest in Margery Kempe developed during a modern feminist lens. her Masters studies in Canterbury. She regards Kempe as a relatable figure whose domesticated Possibly the most fascinating discussion in Margery life as a wife and mother is highly realistic, yet she Kempe’s Spiritual Medicine is Kalas’ groundbreaking is specifically drawn to the “scribal complexity” and deciphering of the recipe which has “puzzled scholars “layers of mediation” which foreground Margery for decades” since the rediscovery of the manuscript within the text. Her “visceral and dramatic emotions” in 1934. She was able to persuade the British Library give her a voice within the highly patriarchal to allow her to work closely with the manuscript for medieval society. Although other critics have been a day. She was granted two short sessions in the UV aggravated by Margery Kempe’s excessive emotions, room in the hopes of uncovering the virtually illegible it is evident that Laura Kalas approaches her from handwriting. However, it was her close study of a feminist standpoint, seeing Kempe’s voice as the Christina Duffy’s multi-spectral images of the recipe most prominent within her narrative. which uncovered almost all of the handwriting. Kalas’ transcription revealed ingredients including During her conversation with Professor McAvoy, aniseed, fennel, nutmeg and ginger alongside sugar Kalas made reference to her own experience as a

and cinnamon (the only two legible ingredients prior to Kalas’ discovery). She explained that the recipe was for ‘dragges’ – a medieval digestive consumed after a rich meal. The recipe reveals the importance of medico-religious culture in the Middle Ages, as body and soul could not be separated at the time; emphasising the context in which the book was being read and circulated. Kalas’ innovative response to The Book of Margery

Kempe provides a thoroughly insightful contemporary reading and is to be recommended to anyone interested in female authorship in the Middle Ages, medicalised hermeneutics and theology. Laura Kalas’ book is now available to purchase from Boydell and Brewer. Image Credit: Swansea University.

What to Expect from an SU Officer Campaign? The major difference to last year’s campaign to this year’s campaign is obviously the fact that last year we could do in-person campaigning. In-person campaigning was enjoyable but exhausting, you have got to be prepared eing a Full-Time officer in the Students’ Union is for people to ignore you and hide from your gaze when potentially one of the most unique job application you’re trying to approach them to chat about your processes; gone are the interviews and boring manifesto and elections in general! But for the students cover letters... and say hello to campaigning! The aim of that do stop for a chat about elections you appreciate campaigning is to win over the student body into voting their time even more. for you as a candidate. Which is what I set out to do in my 2020 Sports officer campaign.

By Georgia Smith

So, what makes a good campaign? I am no politician but I have won a campaign so I thought I would share some pearls of wisdom. Having a strong manifesto is the backbone of your campaign, having a clear passion for what you want to achieve for the students at Swansea university is essential. For me sport had been such a huge part of my student experience during my three years as an undergraduate sport science student, being a keen waterpolo player and member of the swim committee. I saw some clear areas that could be improved in the university from prioritising student athlete mental health to the improvement of facilitates at both Bay and Singleton campus. You need to make sure your manifesto is realistic, as there would be nothing worse than setting big promises only to come into the role and disappoint students, when you cannot achieve what you set out to deliver. For example, give everyone free gym, free varsity tickets and free club memberships! Campaigning is split into soft and active and there is very detailed book of rules each candidate gets by the student voice team to ensure the elections are held fairly for all candidates. My advice would be to read these rules and ask questions if you don’t understand as you can and will get disqualified if you break them.

Lecture shout outs, dropping into sports teams training sessions (as they were my target audience as sports officer) and nights out were just some of the in-person campaigning activities I would suggest as successful for engaging with students. By the end of the week you would have mastered the art of public speaking and flyer giving. Having noticeable campaign equipment really helped me. I had a selfie board made which I carried around from campus to campus and my bright blue T-shirts.

campaigning and mine were amazing last year. They all knew how much I wanted the job so there were quite a few happy tears shed by the team on the results night. Which still stands as one of my happiest memories to date, seeing how much they cared about me getting the sports officer role.

I would honestly advise anyone running a campaign to not put too much pressure on themselves and to try and enjoy the experience. I know I was quite competitive (my inner sports woman does not enjoy losing) and did put a This year with campaigning being limited to online it is a little... some might say a lot of pressure on myself through completely different experience from last year but more the campaign process. in tune with the current landscape of the virtual world to ensure the safety of the students, staff community Whether you win or lose it is great experience to write at Swansea. With this in mind I really think everyone’s about on your CV and it is a great character-building campaign videos will be important for securing votes this experience. Even having the confidence to put yourself year. and your ideas out there in the student domain is a big deal! Last year I had the most fun making my video, it showed that I didn’t take myself to seriously and I was passionate Working for the SU during a global pandemic has been about sport at Swansea. I managed to track down challenging as it completely changed the Sports Officer a variety of Swansea uni sports kits from my friends in role from what I thought it was going to be when I different teams. I combined a load of outfit changes, was campaigning to the reality of being sports officer different locations and the soundtrack Physical by Dua with sport being so disrupted. It is still been extremely Lipa and somehow made it into a effective campaign enjoyable and allowed me to learn a brand-new skill video. (That song still haunts me to this day by the sheer set in this virtual world. My advice to anyone becoming number of times me and my campaign team played it a fulltime officer in the current climate is that you need during campaign week.) to have a problem solver mentality and a willingness to adapt and be flexible to any situation that’s thrown at Social support was vital during elections! Having a great you. campaign team really helps. Supportive friends who are ready to adorn a t-shirt, help film a crazy campaign I hope you managed to find a few pearls of wisdom in my video, design a logo and most of all reshare your hundreds article around campaigning and best of luck to all of this of Facebook and Instagram posts. A good campaign year’s candidates! team are there to help you through the high and lows of

Advice Valentine’s in Lockdown By Bethan Collins

his Valentine’s Day, along with everything else at the moment, will be very different. With lockdowns continuing into February, a lot of people will be unable to spend Valentine’s Day in person with their partner. However, this does not mean that you can’t celebrate virtually. Compiled here are some ideas if you’re struggling to think of ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day online. Order food and eat together on a video call You could order food from the same place, or you could both choose a meal for one another and send it to the other’s house. You could chat whilst you’re eating, or if you find that awkward you could both watch an episode of a TV show you love. This way it’s kind of like going out could choose a theme, or create paintings of each other. to a meal or the cinema together, or at least as close to Afterwards you could send the finished products to one that as we can get for the time being. another. Write a letter You could each write a letter and post it to each other. It could be a soppy letter about your relationship, or it could be a life update about how you’re feeling and what you’ve been getting up to since being in lockdown. It’d also serve then as a keepsake to remind you of this abnormal Valentine’s Day. Play some online games together There are lots of websites that offer free online multiplayer games. You could research and find a few games and then try out those on a video call. If you were happy to spend some money, there are also online escape rooms available at the moment, so you could solve the escape room together whilst on a call. You could also find some question games to play to help get to know each other better. There are loads of these online, and they help as a prompt to keep the conversation flowing easily too (which can help if you’re nervous and want some conversation starters to fall back on). Painting and Wine Night If you’re into more creative things, you could set up some paints and an easel and paint at the same time. You

Zoom double date If, like me, you’re not a huge fan of video calling, you could add some more people to your call to take some of the pressure off from one-on-one conversations. Inviting some friends or another couple that you know to join a zoom with you to play some online games or just to chat could liven up the evening and make you feel a bit less nervous about talking on a call. Bucket list for the future The final idea I have is to make a bucket-list together. This could be trips you want to go on when travel is allowed, or date night ideas for when things reopen. It could even just be talking about all the things you’ve wanted to do since you were younger, like travelling or seeing different sights. It’s a fun way to feel excited about the future and to think about all the things that we’re slowly but surely getting closer to.

Q&A with Vivienne Dodd, our Trans and Non-Binary Awareness Officer By Bethan Collins

what trans is, and there’ll be part explaining what the University is doing in terms of helping people with gender identity. For example, the previous trans and non-binary awareness officer did some amazing stuff during his time in the role regarding gender neutral bathrooms on campus – there’ll be a map showing where these gender-neutral bathrooms are. The bill he passed states that every building needs to have at least one gender-neutral bathroom and that extends to new buildings too. The other sections are helpful resources and research points for trans people, so for example I’m currently trying to get my name changed legally by deed poll so there’ll be lots of information on that because I’ll write what I find out as I go along with my transition. There will be lots of links to websites and resources to help springboard your own transition, and lots of contact details for people within the uni will be included too. This will include the advice and support center, where people can go if they are experiencing any hate-crime. B – What support is in place for trans and non-binary students?

B – To start things off, would you mind introducing yourself? V - I’m Vivienne Dodd, I’m Irish (I always open with that) and I’m the SU part-time officer for trans and non-binary awareness. I do sociology as a degree and I’m in my first year of the course. I’m just having a grand old time working through the pandemic and trying to make sure that all trans and non-binary students feel represented, of course! B – What are the main parts of your role? V – Making sure that there are events for trans and non-binary people to attend, ensuring that they feel welcomed, hosting LGBTQI+ events; making sure that the ‘T’ and the ‘I’ are represented because they’re sometimes forgotten. I’ve got a trans document that I’m working on at the moment, so that’s going to have a bunch of resources. There’ll be parts of it for cis people, explaining

V – We have TNBS (Trans and Non-Binary Support), a group that meets monthly where people can talk about any issues they might be having, or just a place to have a chat with other trans and non-binary people. I’m hoping that we could set up more concrete support to help students who are transitioning – this document is the beginning of that. We’re trying to help students be who they are, not only in their academic studies but also in their identity. I think that university is a time of finding, building and being yourself and I think that the uni wants to get behind that. B – Is there online support for students who are currently in lockdown? V – Yes. We have a Facebook group, so if there are ever any issues then students have an easy place to reach out and say, ‘hey, can I speak to you - I need some support with this,’ and then we can chat about things. The TNBS meetings are also being held online so that’s a great place to hear people discuss different things that they would like to see from us. For example, getting in touch with the university about the intranet personal profile. The profile displays your legal name, but we found out that you can

change this to a preferred name by editing the personal details - the profile summary should automatically update. The uni are so accepting and ready to help, but sometimes things go under the radar – but that’s part of the reason I’m here, to help point these things out! That’s one thing I enjoy about being trans – you see societal attitudes to gender in a way that other people don’t, and that’s something I’m trying to bring as part of my role

V – We are currently in the process of teaming up with different charities. We’re hoping that we’ll have a different charity for each week of February and then we’ll do fundraising throughout. Earlier in the year I did a Big Gay Quiz over Zoom, which was a success, so we’re looking to do something like that again. We also have a Big Gay Group Chat so that’s a place for people to feel supported and like they can be themselves. With LGBT+ history month we’re just looking at how we can host events virtuB – What events do the SU have planned for LGBT+ his- ally, how we can support these charities and how we can tory month? show our support for the LGBT+ community.

Post-Veganuary Blues By Katie Phillips

n 2017, I went vegetarian overnight after watching the documentary ‘What the Health’. It opened my eyes to the destruction caused by the meat and dairy industry, and to health benefits of a plant-based diet. In 2020, I signed up for Veganuary. I found it extremely hard and restrictive because I made the switch overnight. I went from eating cheese daily to going cold turkey, which gave me severe headaches every day, which I never usually get. There is an addictive component in cheese, so I was essentially having withdrawal symptoms. I found it hard to plan meals and craved foods that I didn’t usually eat just because I knew I couldn’t have them. The combination of exams and restricting my diet had a negative impact on my mental health. Veganuary showed me that I needed to slowly transition if I wanted it to be a sustainable change.

never have cravings for meat or dairy foods.

At first veganism seemed very restrictive, but I eat such a wide variety of foods now that I would never have eaten as a meat eater, when my favourite meal was pasta and tinned meatballs. I would never have thought to try foods Fast forward to October 2020 and I had fully transitioned such as asparagus, avocado, dates, tofu or tempeh. I to veganism. For the past year I have researched learnt how to cook food from scratch, became creative thoroughly, found alternatives to my favourite foods, and with meals, and ate more nutritious food than ever. familiarised myself with ingredients lists and accidentally vegan foods. I cut down on cheese heavily over the year Knowing your ‘why’ is key to the longevity of your veganism. so that I wouldn’t have withdrawal symptoms again. For Reading scientific studies, watching documentaries and me, a slow transition was best for my mental health, as following vegan influencers on social media increased restriction often led me to binge-eat. Everyone is unique my passion and motivation to go vegan. Intersectional and you’ll know what’s best for you. There are so many veganism is connected to my personal morals and vegan junk food options now - such as Ben & Jerry’s ice- identity. Understanding that it’s not possible for everyone cream, Domino’s pizza, and Greggs sausage rolls - that I to go vegan, the destructive impacts of the meat and

Further resources: The China Study by Colin Campbell How Not to Die by Michael Greger Game Changers - Netflix Cowspiracy - Netflix AvantGardeVegan - YouTube

Rachel Ama - YouTube Earthling Ed - YouTube Mic the Vegan - YouTube VeganBrownTing - Instagram UglyVegan - Instagram QueerBrownVegan - Instagram AccidentallyVeganUK - Instagram

dairy industry on BIPOC, and the negative mental health effects on slaughterhouse workers aids my activism and reminds me why I want to help others make these sustainable changes.

lot of eco-anxiety. Consuming meat and dairy does not make you a bad person. Any steps you take will benefit your health, the environment and animals. Whether it’s taking part in Meat Free Mondays, opting for a vegan option when eating out, or switching to plant-based milk The most important thing to note if you are thinking of alternatives, every action counts. Whether you decide going vegan is that it is a lifestyle, not a diet (plant-based). to go vegan or not, we should all know where our food There is a lot of pressure in the media and sometimes comes from, and who these systems negatively impact. guilt tripping which is extremely harmful and causes a

Swansea University Students’ Union Advice and Support Centre By Chris Ravenhill

here has been an advice centre at Swansea University, fully funded and supported by the Students’ Union, for over thirty years. We currently have four advisers and split our time between Singleton and Bay campus. Under normal circumstances, we have drop-ins at both campuses between 9.30am and 4.30pm. The Singleton office is based in Fulton House and the Bay office is in Ty Twyni. We are also available in the Carmarthen campus with a drop in and an appointment system. But these are not normal times, and we are not holding drop-in or face to face meetings at any campus; we haven’t since March 2019. This does not mean that we are not operating as closely to normal as possible. We are available via telephone, email and through zoom drop-ins three mornings a week (details below). During the previous academic year, the ASC opened over 1,000 new cases and we have dealt with over 1,000 cases in the year 2020. The categories are varied. By far, the largest is the academic work, where we opened 515 cases in 2019/20, generating over 3,500 work completed items. Academic cases include: appeals, final stage reviews, complaints, disciplinary, extenuating circumstances, and academic misconduct. We also represent people in college hearings and academic registry committees. We have many years of supporting students with academic misconduct allegations; in our experience many of the cases we see are due to student inexperience combined with a misunderstanding of good academic practice. We offer advice regarding exceptional circumstances, which can often affect students’ abilities during assessments and exams due to stress and anxiety, particularly due to lockdowns and COVID-19 outbreaks. We have a good understanding of the university regulations, and can offer advice and suggestions on how to best present cases to colleges and the academic registry. Accommodation is an important part of the student

experience at university. It can take up almost all the student maintenance loan - as such, value for money is paramount. The ASC has an adviser who has many years of experience, previously working as a housing lawyer. We offer help with both university and private sector student accommodation; this includes finding accommodation. We are aware of good and bad landlords and agents, and can advise accordingly. During the 2019/20 year, we managed to get back over £90,000 for students in compensation, illegal charges, and deposits. We are here to make accommodation issues easier and less stressful. The ASC advises on most aspects of student life, whether it is employment, debt, student finance, legal issues, or welfare benefits. We advise and help with disability benefits, universal credit, and Personal Independent Payments (PIP), including representation at benefit tribunals if necessary. Support is another aspect of the ASC work. This includes harassment issues; we have three harassment advisers at the Advice Centre. We are a reporting centre and work with the authorities dealing with all aspects of hate crime, including that on social media. Be aware that the university treats all cases of hate crime very seriously and a

disciplinary case can lead to dismissal from the university. We also have two Sexual Violence Liaison Officers (SVLO) at the ASC, who deal with reports and referrals where sexual assault has been raised. Mental health issues have been shown to increase amongst students, particularly during the pandemic and lockdown, so we are supporting students via zoom. We are helping the university services at Wellbeing, Disability, LGBTQ+ and the Lighthouse by offering support to students suffering from depression, anxiety, bereavement, and loneliness. Although we are currently unable to offer on-campus appointments/drop-ins due to compulsory social distancing measures, we are still able to offer advice via

email, telephone and zoom. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Email: advice@swansea-union.co.uk Phone: 01792 295 821 Zoom drop-ins: 9.30-12pm every Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays, where you will enter into a digital waiting room until one of our advisors is free to speak with you. link: https://swanseauniversity.zoom.us/s/7120793003 Web:www.swansea-union.co.uk/support/advice_ support_centre/ Article by Chris Ravenhill, manager (15 years with the

Sustainability Vegan Past Veganuary By Lucie Stepankova

s Veganuary comes to a close, you may be wondering whether to keep going on your plantbased journey. Doing so is certainly a wonderful thing to do for the environment and animal welfare, as well as your own health. However, long-term veganism is a little different from Veganuary. While Veganuary helps reduce your impact on a short-term scale, going vegan in the long term is a lifestyle change, which comes with its benefits, but also some challenges. Don’t give in to social pressure When people ask me what the hardest part about veganism is, I always say it’s the social pressure. It’s my grandma telling me that the whole world wouldn’t fall apart if I ate a piece of meat. It’s the eye rolls I get when I politely decline a treat with dairy in it. It’s the general pressure society puts on you to conform to its food standards. This is something that you will most likely encounter on your journey towards veganism, so don’t let it get to you. Remember that it happens to everyone, that you have the right to make your own decisions about what to eat and that you can always rant about it to fellow vegans! Focus on whole foods During Veganuary, you may have been trying a lot of vegan meat alternatives. While they are amazing and a wonderful way to experience how far innovation has

gone, they also usually aren’t the healthiest. Going past January, focus on basing most of your diet on whole foods – fruits, veggies, grains, beans or nuts. Enjoy the vegan substitutes, but don’t make them a part of every meal you cook. Don’t swear off vegan cheese Here’s a very specific one – if you’ve tried vegan cheese during Veganuary, there’s quite a big chance you didn’t like it much. Does that sound familiar? That’s because dairy cheese contains casein, which is mildly addictive. Nothing like alcohol or cigarettes, but what it does is make vegan cheese, which doesn’t have this milk protein in it, taste much worse. The good news is that after a few weeks or months, these effects will wear off and you’ll likely start enjoying vegan cheese much more! Find the right vitamins In times when most of us are staying indoors most of the time, and our foods are sanitized to ensure there’s not a single piece of dirt left on them, we should all be taking vitamins – especially B12 (and this advice isn’t just for the aspiring vegans out there). If you haven’t been taking vitamins during Veganuary, now would be a good time to pick them up. I prefer to buy vitamins designed specifically for vegans (VEG1 is my personal favourite), because that way, you can be sure they don’t contain any animal-based ingredients. Find support from fellow vegans Whether you go vegan along with your friends, or just join a Facebook group about veganism, find a community of people who’ll support you on your journey. Everything is easier when you have support from someone else, especially when it comes to lifestyle changes.

Wellbeing Isolated: The Student Lockdown Experience By Samantha Williams

s the year began, we all would have had some expectations for what may happen during the year 2020. Maybe passing exams and spending time out with friends. The last thing on everyone’s mind was a pandemic and yet here we are. Everyone’s experiences of this year have been the same in some ways and very different in other ways, especially when it comes to our experience of lockdown. Despite some people mentioning that these lockdowns are a time to ‘work on ourselves’ or ‘enjoy some free time’ – it’s not all that simple for most of us. The beginning of lockdown came as a shock. I left for home on a Friday afternoon in March with the thought of what I would do on my work placement the following Tuesday, and even concerned with what might happen in the next week; little did we know then. Suddenly I found myself sat at home in what I felt was an extended summer holiday. Days continued to pass, and I’ll admit that I spent a lot of time procrastinating. University for the most part I actually found to be better at home – I could put more effort into assessments without much panic of awaiting exams. My main problem, honestly, was motivation – but with everything else on, that wasn’t much of a surprise. I spent most of the summer indoors due to lockdown. It was filled with ups and downs, but was alright overall. As everyone in the house had to stay home, I found going for walks with my parents was nice and something I hope to continue in the future. I also found that, even though I couldn’t spend time with my friends, Animal Crossing was a great way to spend time with them without breaking any rules and was still just as fun. Personally, being indoors wasn’t a problem, but one thing I wish I did do was use that time to do the things that I enjoy, but I did learn what I was really passionate about.

Now, even though it’s a new academic year, the lockdown restrictions are still in place to a certain extent. University is still closed for many students. For me it means that all of my lectures are online as well as the assessments. Now that there has been time to consider how online schooling might work, assessments are more on track for the majority of modules. However, it is definitely not perfect. Motivation can still be an issue at times – as I’m sure it is for most students. As well as that, opportunities such as Student Union roles are more accessible for people who may not have been able to attend when they were not online which I think gives a lot more opportunity to have a say on their own university experience which is a great thing. For example, I attended a students’ forum a little while ago, which is something I never would have gone to if it had been exclusively in person. This year has been a hard time for all of us, but it hasn’t been all bad. For some it might have given them time to try a new hobby, for others it might have enabled them to get closer to family or friends, even making new ones online. But whatever the experience, we’ve all gotten this far together. The end of lockdowns and the pandemic hopefully isn’t too far out of sight, so keep safe everyone!

Accepting Imperfection: New Year’s Resolutions and Other Failures By Bethan Bates

s someone who has always struggled with anxiety and failure, I know how hard it can be when things are less than perfect. However, this year, my New Year’s resolution is to begin to learn how to be okay with imperfection. Content Warning: mental health, food and weight loss Over the years, I have made endless resolutions to better myself, from when I was little and I promised to stop biting my nails (which even now I can’t do without my acrylics on) to my teen years where I was determined to be the best at just about anything. But this year, I knew I needed to change something. I was sick of failing my impossible standards and feeling useless and like I was letting myself down. Although in many ways I am the wrong person to write this article, I wanted to share a few of the things I am learning.

everytime when I mess up on one day, whether it be one (or 10) too many chocolates or getting too enthused when drunk about burgers, I always felt that this meant I had ruined my whole week, month, or year. This year I am looking to push aside a bad day and get right back on track (with whatever I am doing) the next day.

Number One: tomorrow is a fresh start. This one in particular has been hard for me; I have been Number Two: something is better than nothing. Some on seemingly 101 diets and weight loss plans and days it can be hard to find the motivation or energy to do anything other than scroll through my phone for hours or even just get out of bed. On these days, it is good to remember that even if you cannot complete your whole to-do list, even just achieving one thing is absolutely worth it. Number Three: progress over perfection. Often we are told that practice makes perfect, but ultimately the most important part of learning or doing anything is the journey to get there. Furthermore, this year I want to be able to learn from the progress I am making. I will be prioritising what I can learn, and this will help me in the long run rather than aiming for a singular perfection. Overall, these tips can be used, not only for New Year’s Resolutions but for any struggles you may face throughout the year. We face many challenges as university students and although having a strong support system is important, it is equally important to have plans within your own self.

Societies The Top 5 Most Wonderfully Unconventional Societies at UK Universities

to abide by the current restrictions. They have overcome such limitations by streaming live ghost hunts, hosting

By Rachel Hart

veryone knows that joining a society at University is a great way to meet people and develop new interests. Whether you’re a sports enthusiast, an admirer of the arts or an academic aficionado, there is an abundance of societies to choose from. From ‘Meal Deal Society’ to ‘Ghost Hunting Society’, the universities of the UK certainly have something for everyone – however weird or wonderful it may be! 5. PunSoc – University of Sussex The sharp-witted PunSoc describe themselves as bringing together “a love of puns and pubs.” Activities include their “sundown pundown”, where old school rap battles meet witty puns. They also partake in pub crawls (or as they call them, “pun crawls”) and trips to comedy clubs, stand-up gigs and comedy festivals where members can get their monthly fix of comedy and puns galore. 4. 20-Minute Society – Newcastle University Newcastle University is the home of the 20-minute Society, where members receive a text detailing the location of the social 20 minutes prior. Mystery events range from trampolining to cocktail making, comedy night to paintballing. The society has a great deal of members and they have adapted to adhere to COVID-19 restrictions by hosting an online Take Me Out, a Zoom Bingo and a “web crawl” where participants solve riddles to be in with the chance of winning a cash prize. 3. Ghost Hunting Society – UEA The University of East Anglia’s Ghost Hunting Society describe themselves as a “tight group of friends” who aim to add an element of the supernatural to University life. The group have adapted their socials

horror movie screenings and providing online lectures from experts in the field of the paranormal. 2. Meal Deal Society – Plymouth University In second place is Plymouth University’s Meal Deal Society, who hold the belief that “there’s A LOT to be said about what makes a good meal deal.” Despite the current restrictions, the group is actively seeking out exclusive discount codes for their members and continue to rate meal deals on their social media pages, so members still get their share of meal deal content! 1. Nicolas Cage Appreciation Society – University of Lincoln The prize for the wackiest society goes to the University of Lincoln with their Nicolas Cage Appreciation Society. The group has only one condition: you must be a fan of Nicolas Cage (or simply enjoy making memes out of the American actor!) to join. This seemingly niche society boasts an impressive 1,155 followers on their Facebook page. Nicholas Cage enthusiasts unite!

Children’s Mental Health Week: 1st - 7th February 2021 By Swansea University Student Minds

ental health has never been so high on the public agenda as it is at the moment, with everyone feeling the mental strain that COVID-19 is imposing. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has been damaging for the vast majority, the pandemic has increased discussion surrounding mental health and has helped integrate it into everyday conversation and political discourse. Yet, when mental health is discussed, it is always in the context of young adults and adults. Children’s mental health still appears to be fairly low on the agenda with many not considering the possibility of children suffering from mental health problems, something that needs addressing. Children’s Mental Health week (1st – 7th of February 2021) has the crucial aim of raising awareness to the fact that mental health is something that affects children and young people as well as adults. Its purpose is to help encourage increased societal awareness and discussion about how mental health problems do not discriminate against and can impact anyone in society. Every year, 1 in 10 young people experience a mental health problem with the most common mental health problems affecting children with severe and persistent behavioural problems. These problems are twice as likely to affect boys than girls. In 2015, 22% of young people aged 15 reported having self-harmed. The subject of children’s mental health made the headlines just 5 days ago with the sad news that a 12-year-old boy, Ethan Bourne from London, had committed suicide. It is statistics and news

events such as these that highlight how important it is to tackle the mental health problems that children and young people are experiencing in our society. The Coronavirus pandemic has enabled conversations about how children rely on social interactions for their development and happiness and with schools being closed, the situation is not easy for children who are apart from their friends and unable to socialise. However, the exceptional circumstances that this year provides in terms of remote, interactive learning provides the best opportunity for younger children to be made aware of mental health and can participate in effective discussions with their guardians. This dialogue is crucial, as Ethan’s case sadly illustrates that communicating emotions and feelings can save lives. The theme for this year’s Children’s Mental Health Week is ‘Express Yourself,’ which is centred around finding ways to express feelings, thoughts and ideas through creativity. By participating in events that ‘Place2Be’ are putting on for this week, it is hoped that guardians and children find ways of communication and methods of effectively dealing with their thoughts, feelings and emotions. Everyone is able to get involved in Children’s Mental Health week, whether this is by spreading the word on social media, making a donation or participating in some planned activities; all of which are free to do! There are also some great free resources online such as information slides, fundraising ideas and a ‘Dress to Express’ event. Some of these resources can be utilised by education providers and integrated into the online learning that is currently taking place. For more information about Children’s Mental Health week please visit: https://www.childrensmentalhealthweek. org.uk/

Film Top Ten LGBT+ Films and TV Shows By Bethan Bates To find out more about any of the productions listed below go to our website to find synopses!

TV Shows

Films 1. Moonlight 2. PRIDE 3. Handsome Devil 4. Dating Amber 5. Maurice 6. God’s Own Country 7. The Miseducation of Cameron Post 8. Booksmart 9. The Way He Looks 10. The 10 Year Plan

1. The Haunting of Bly Manor 2. The Umbrella Academy 3. Gentleman Jack 4. How To Get Away With Murder 5. Killing Eve 6. Orange Is The New Black 7. Euphoria Honourable Mentions - Musical Theatre 8. Sense8 9. Schitt’s Creek 10. Queer Eye The Prom

RENT Rocky Horror Picture Show

First Saturday of every month Please email Georgia-Rose Gleeson for further information georgia-rose.gleeson @swansea-union.co.uk

Science & Research Landing of the Perseverance By Owen Wallace

erseverance is scheduled to become the latest rover to descend upon the Martian surface; proudly following in the tracks of Sojourner, Spirit, Opportunity, Curiosity, and the creatively named “Mars” series of Soviet landers. This marks NASA’s first venture back to the red planet in almost nine years. Since then, much has changed in the way of technology and many scientists are eager to find out just what Perseverance may discover. So what has changed? As well as being given the best selfdriving technology NASA has to offer, Perseverance will also contain an experimental autonomous helicopter known as “Ingenuity.” A groundbreaking device, should it be successful, Ingenuity will be the first drone to take off on another world. It features four carbon fibre blades arranged to create two 1.2 metre long rotors spinning at 2400 rpm in opposing directions. It weighs around 1.8 kilograms in total, and is capable of flying at around 10 metres per second (or just over 22 miles per hour). The ultimate goal of Ingenuity is to help plot a course for the rover along the Jezero crater. The project mirrors that of the Dragonfly rotorcraft,

expected to land on Saturn’s largest moon Titan in 2036. Two microphones have been installed on the rover, allowing sounds from Mars to be transmitted back to Earth. Some of NASA’s previous landers (Polar and Phoenix) have contained microphones, however, the former failed to reestablish communications and the latter was never turned on, meaning these may be the first noises humanity ever hears from another planet. The main functions of the microphones are to record the landing and to assist during sample analysis. If the landing microphone survives, it will also pick up the sounds of Martian winds and the movement of the rover itself. Perseverance is also equipped with a drill to acquire rock and soil cores. But for the first time, these samples will be set aside in sealed cylinders for collection by a future mission, after which they will be returned to Earth to undergo detailed analysis. As a result, Perseverance is the first stage in humanity being able to retrieve objects

from another planet. What is the ultimate goal of the mission? There are multiple outcomes NASA hopes to achieve, the primary of which is to search for signs of whether microbial life ever existed on the red planet. The Jezero crater is the perfect location for this, as there is strong evidence that it was once a lake. It has some of the most well preserved delta deposits of any crater on Mars. If scientists find biosignatures anywhere on the surface, it will most likely be there. The second goal of Perseverance is to characterise the climate of Mars, building upon the research of its predecessors. Studying the Martian climate today will also help scientists determine what the planet was like millions of years ago, helping to contribute to the question of whether it was capable of supporting life. The rover will also study the geology of the surface, helping to improve our knowledge of how the planet formed. There is a particular emphasis on finding rocks that formed in water, as these are the most likely candidates for organic material. The final goal is to test various technologies on Mars that may come of use to human colonies in the next few decades. Primarily the production of oxygen and fuel, as well as vital research on how best to protect settlers from the Martian climate. Ultimately, Perseverance marks a substantial milestone in the history of space exploration. It provides the potential to find the first evidence of life outside of Earth, along with paving the steps for colonization of other worlds. The information it gains will likely be invaluable to scientists everywhere.

Fashion Fashion Challenges And Choices For 2021 By Rhianydd Sword

n December 31st, 2020, as the clock struck midnight signaling the beginning of a new year, it’s safe to assume that many of us were hoping for a fresh start and to find some new-found hope in 2021. As the weeks now steadily move through January, let’s hope that the resolutions we made on New Years’ Eve will become true. For me, and for others, one of my resolutions was involving fashion. Last year, there was a move for everyone to shop at more independent fashion businesses as opposed to big retailers, to help support smaller clothing stores. Due to Covid-19 and the inability to socialise with others as much, there was also a move from dressing up to dressing down and finding a style in comfort wear. Therefore, this year provided the opportunity to challenge ourselves in fashion and make a difference to our wardrobes, whether that be what we wear or where we shop. For myself, since last year, due to most fashion stores being shut, I have made the move to shop at more online stores. This is a choice that I want to continue making, for it allows me the ability to shop in a variety of online retailers and find some new places to shop at, for example at more smaller owned businesses. This year, I also want to challenge myself to try some clothes that I’ve previously never thought that I could try. It sounds simple but one of those items is a pair of leather trousers. They’re something that I’ve always wanted to try and never felt that I could, so hopefully this is the year than I can. To see if anyone else was planning to make different fashion choices, I decided to ask fellow Swansea University students to see what their fashion challenges for 2021 were. One student, whilst admitting to still continuing to love and wear tracksuits wanted to wear more jeans. To quote what she said, “I wear a lot of tracksuits and leggings so I think it would be a good idea for me to wear more stuff

like jeans and a bodysuit or mom jeans and a jumper.” Another student wanted to wear more baggy jeans, whilst one I asked wanted to try a whole new style. By this, they said that they wanted to explore clothes outside of their comfort zone and experiment with different colours and trends. Those who wanted to try a new style didn’t leave this challenge to clothes exclusively. Instead, they wanted to try various new hair styles. As said by one person, “I think hair can change a look so much, this year I want to start doing more fashion-inspired hair.” As well as experimenting with new styles, some also wanted to take the time to find and shop at more sustainable based fashion stores. I did some research and found a sustainable based store in Swansea called Hiatus, where they sell items from clothes to homeware. Furthermore, to shop more sustainably, some wanted to shop at more independent fashion businesses because of the desire to support small owned fashion retailers. The app Depop was used as an example for where they were going to look to shop more, due to the many people selling clothes there and the variety of clothes from preloved to designed and made independently. Similarly to Depop there is also Vinted, where you can sell and buy second-hand clothes. These resolutions that others have made cover a wide variety of fashion choices and hopefully, as we get further through 2021, these choices and challenges that we have set for ourselves will occur. Whether this occurrence will come through experimenting with a new style and finding that we love, or perhaps dislike it or stumbling upon a new favourite place to shop at, whatever happens this year will certainly be an interesting one.

Dysgu Cymraeg! Dysgu Cymraeg mewn dim ond 5 munud y dydd, am ddim.

Learn Welsh! Learn Welsh in just 5 minutes a day, for free.

Swyddog Materion Cymraeg | Welsh Affairs Officer: katie.phillips@swansea-union.co.uk

Literature & Creative Writing

Magic, Charisma & Love: The Montenegro I Know By Milana Tomić

eljko Vlahović (1914-75) is poignant when writes of Montenegro as “sea foam and snow dust, a dance of steep cliffs and headlong streams, uproar of battles and inebriation of wars. . . a land of reality and dream(s)”. I am pleased to introduce you to the hidden gem of the Adriatic Coast: Montenegro. Montenegro happens to be a very small country with a population of 625,266 citizens. The country derives Budva its name (literally, “black mountain”) from its dark mountainous forests. Its coastline houses the glory of Also, one of Montenegro’s most picturesque destinations some of our most-ancient towns: Kotor, Budva, Herceg is Island Saint Stefan – an exclusive resort, pumping Novi and Ulcinj. Interestingly, the towns have sustained natural beauty and energy. their medievalist aura, allowing visitors (and natives alike) to absorb their culture, architecture, food, nature, and history. These ancient towns are the oldest in the Balkans, just to let you know. Old town Kotor with its Venetian and old-Austrian fortifications has also been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. Budva is a metropole of tourism and nightlife and is not something that you should miss out on.

St. Stefan Herceg Novi (my beloved hometown) is on the border with Croatia and is less than one hour away from Dubrovnik (which you may know as King’s Landing in the Game of Thrones). Between Herceg Novi and Kotor’s coastline, you can further enjoy the charm of two small islands: Saint Marco and Lady of the Rocks. It is famous because of its

wild beauties and untouched nature.

The Njegos Mausoleum Islands Saint Marco and Lady of the Rocks Furthermore, Montenegro has five national parks: Durmitor, Biogradska Gora, Prokletije, Lovćen and Lake Skadar. Durmitor is also famous for nestling Europe’s deepest river canyon, which is also another UNESCO World Heritage Site credited to Montenegro: the Tara River Canyon.

Bridge Djurdjevica Tara Lovcen is famous as the home to the mausoleum of one of Montenegro’s famous poet and ruler, Peter II Petrovic Njegos. The mausoleum serves as a symbol of Montenegrin identity, which is further re-echoed in our national anthem, “Lovcen is our holy altar”.

Lake Skadar treasures the largest lake in the Balkans and is lauded for its biodiversity. Also, it is the home to many endemic species of flora and fauna. Within the vicinities of the lake, one may find an ample number of churches, fisherman’s villages, fortresses, and sacred monuments that speak of Montenegrin history since the 11th century. What a striking beauty!

Lake Skadar I can certainly vouch for one thing: if you are a naturelover, Montenegro could be your paradise. Having a Mediterranean climate, Montenegro allows visitors to revel in its captivating beauty across seasons, and it is this factor (intermingled with its enthralling history, culture, food) that is enough to make this country, my mon amour, reach the pinnacle of your bucket list. I’m not prejudiced over here (because, naturally, I am a native), and can vouch that once you get a hold of Montenegro’s air, you would not want to go back. You can stay back, though. We love you!

LGBT+ Books By Bethan Collins

ince February is LGBT+ History month, some people might be looking for some media about/inclusive to the LGBT+ community. Included in this list are some of my favourite books, both fiction and non-fiction, with LGBT+ characters, themes or storylines. Be sure to check the trigger warnings before reading these books: 1.Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney: “I didn’t feel with her, like I did with many other people, that while I was talking, she was just preparing the next thing she wanted to say.” I got this book for Christmas after falling in love with Sally Rooney’s other book, Normal People. Conversations with Friends centers around a student studying in an Irish university. We see her go from dating her best friend, Bobby, to getting involved with an older man, Nick. The book presents her sexuality in a way that is subtle and comforting. Whilst being a noticeable theme in the book, that is not her entire storyline. Once I started this book, I could not put it down. 2.Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson: “It all seemed to hinge around the fact that I loved the wrong sort of people.” This book is semi-autobiographical, briefing us about Jeanette Winterson’s childhood. It follows her story growing up and realising that she is a lesbian. Jeanette grows up in a very religious home, and we see how different people in her life react to finding out about her sexuality. It’s a great story to help see into her experiences with her sexuality and the church.

way. Ruby Rare explains lots of different elements of sex, relationships and identity in a way that I haven’t seen before. She’s humorous, realistic and informative, and the book is a great source of information. 4. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid: “I’m bisexual. Don’t ignore half of me so you can fit me into a box.” This book follows the story of Evelyn Hugo, famous Hollywood celebrity, through her life and all her different marriages, as well as uncovering the secrets of her career. We see as she recounts the different people she met throughout her life, but we quickly see how her one true love is not what the newspapers and magazines would have guessed – it was female friend and co-star, Celie St. James. It’s beautifully written and incredibly emotive – definitely one of my favourites this year so far! 5. All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson: “This book is an exploration of two of my identities – black and queer – and how I became aware of their intersections within myself and in society.”

3. Sex Ed: A Guide for Adults by Ruby Rare: “It’s all OK!” If, like me, your sexual education in school was pretty minimal and heteronormative, then this book will help you learn about sex in an all-inclusive, safe and comfortable

As a non-fiction memoir-manifesto, the work offers Johnson the platform to discuss their life as a black and queer person. They discuss their family, childhood, friendships and different things they experience growing into adulthood. The book is powerful and informative, as well as being an award-winner.

6. The Color Purple by Alice Walker:

“When our gender is assigned at birth, we are also assigned responsibilities to grow and maneuver through “Who am I to tell her who to love? My job is just to love life based on the simple checking off of these boxes. Male. her good and true myself.” Female. Black. White. Straight. Gay. Kids who don’t fit the perfect boxes are often left asking themselves what the truth is: The Color Purple follows the main character, Celie, from Am I a girl? childhood to adulthood. She is a black woman growing Am I a boy? up in Georgia in the 1930’s, and we are shown everything Am I both? she faces throughout her life. We also see her fall in love Am I neither?” with the glamorous Shug Avery, and we follow their -from All Boys Aren’t Blue relationship throughout the book.

The Unbelievable Reality: Cyberpunk & Modern Technology By Maksim Smychagin

yberpunk 2077 is a contemporary game (2020) that allows a player to explore a vast world filled with multiple quests, with some ultimately affecting the storyline of the central protagonist, V. V (in a light-brown jacket) as a male if the player decides to choose the male protagonist. Cyberpunk 2077 offers players to explore various futuristic technologies wrapped around its intrinsic universe, for example brain-dance. It resembles VR technology that we have today, allowing people within the Cyberpunk universe to watch films and play games, but it is more advanced as one may think, to the point where a person using it can presumably feel the same emotions as the person recording that movie. Nevertheless, the main concept that follows players throughout the game are Cyber-Implants, like cybereyes and cyber-hands. Johnny Silverhand and his Cybernetic arm.

Almost everyone in the game has some sort of cybernetic implant(s) in their body which helps them in their dayto-day life. This concept looks astonishing in the game, leading some inveterate players to wonder if we have something similar in the real world. The next few paragraphs shall offer some examples of implants that exist in the real world and a summary of how they function. Implants and Prosthetics in our world: By 2020, the world had already witnessed the successful creation of several implants and prosthetics that were tested and now are being widely used by humans (and on rare occasions, by animals). Here are two examples: I. An implant for hearing: To restore or enhance the hearing ability, a cochlear implant is used. It is a small electronic device that electrically stimulates the cochlear nerve (nerve for hearing) which restores an individual’s hearing ability. The external part is placed behind the pinna (as can be seen in the picture below) and the internal part is placed under the skin behind the ear. The wire sends signals to the cochlear nerve which directs sound information to the brain to produce a hearing sensation (Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2021).

The Cochlear implant II. Implants for Limbs: Prosthetic limbs can replace lost limbs like a prosthetic arm or hand. Additionally, there are different types of these that are available in the market. For instance, in the United States, if you do not have an insurance, you can expect to pay around 5000$ for a cosmetic prosthetic; up to 10000$ for a functional prosthetic; and between 20000$ to 100000$ for a myoelectric arm which is a very recent technological advancement. While it is fairly straight-forward to understand the function of the first two, the myoelectric arm takes technology to another level. It is possible to control it with the electrical signals generated naturally by peoples’ own muscles (Ottobock, 2020). Myoelectric-controlled prosthesis Conclusion: As stated above the concept of prosthetics and implants is very popular in the Cyberpunk universe, however the reason why it is so gruesome. The streets of the game are swamped with weapons and drugs, augmenting the susceptibility to get hurt in this dangerous environment. Therefore, it is relatively easier to buy prosthetics and implants in the game, so that people could stay functional even if they get (or are) physically disabled. In our world, however, we do not feel the need to be in constant awareness of a similar danger (as experienced by the characters of the game) and, thus, implants and prosthetics is not the commonest thing we think about. And so, it would be feasible to conclude that one of the things that the game tries to apprise is that a ‘bad peace is better than a good war’. Works cited John Hopkins Medicine. (2021). Cochlear Implant Surgery. Retrieved January 8, 2021. https://www. hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-andtherapies/cochlear-implant-surgery#:~:text=A%20 cochlear%20implant%20is%20a,internal%20part%20 of%20the%20implant Ottobock. (2020). Myoelectric prosthetics 101. Retrieved January 8, 2021. https://www.ottobockus.com/ prosthetics/info-for-new-amputees/prosthetics-101/ myoelectric-prosthetics-101/

The Dark Winter, 2021: A New Hope By Benjamin Nichols 米国悪い夢 A dark winter begins ‘Witness Me!’ the darkness shouts The people shout back 雪 Yuki is her name Her sisters dance around me Falling to the ground ダース・ベイダー Like leaves of the oak, The Yang of Tao blows by me Tempting me to heed 鯉 Swimming in my pond Her scales reveal the rainbow Graceful and calming

Breakfast at Epiphany’s By Sophie Apps

Barbeque sauce Smothered on his bacon, Like my kisses on the Stubble of his chin; Crispy, charred. Two tea-bags Cuddled in his cup; Crushed to copy the Strength of our love; Bitter, timeless. One tea-bag Huddled in waves waving Goodbye, wishing for You to return. A bronze penny coined Without your face, Now I’m all out of luck; Counterfeited, broke.

Gluten-free bread Baked in numbers, Four-hundred and eighty-nine Days that would Not roll around again Ballooned in his mouth Like the baby, I will Never get to carry. Two china plates Divorced on the kitchen table; Yours smooth and sweaty Like your hands Sealed to mine, swinging In rashes of sunlight. My half-eaten bacon sandwich Slumped into a depression; Raw, restless. Two lovers Ate for the last time Without knowing, Without even knowing. I’m starved of your affection That fed me until full. My knife and fork are Handles of a clock, ticking, Telling me breakfast is Over.

Bethan’s Book of the Month By Bethan Bates Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

ublished in 2020, Cinderella Is Dead is Kalynn Bayron’s debut novel. It is a retelling of the classic Cinderella story set in a world where at The Annual Ball male suitors choose their future wives. But for the girls unchosen? They seem to go missing. The main character, Sophia, is due to attend her first Annual Ball, but she does not want to attend, let alone be chosen. She already knows who she loves.

that Charming and his royal successors have ruled and dictated Mersailles and Lille for 200 years. Before Sophia attends the ball she meets Luke, a local boy who has never attended the ball himself (as for men it is merely optional), He drives her into town to collect all the things she must own to look like Cinderella for the ball. Luke and Sophia learn, through the abusive motivation of Morris, that they are both uninterested in partaking in the Ball and marrying. Luke is an important queer ally for Sophia and a catalyst for her escape from the Ball.

I bought this book at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement when my social media feeds still seemed to care. I was recommended endless books with black authors and I bought as many as I could afford. I have chosen this book for February as it is LGBT history month and this is a story of sapphic love in a retold fairytale. It puts a marginalised identity into a timeless genre. However, Cinderella Is Dead, sat on my bookshelf unread (along with 300 other unread books) until it was time to choose a book to write about. And once I started, I couldn’t stop. It’s quite fast paced so it is an easy read if you want something to boost your book count or get out of a reading slump.

After she escapes from the Ball, Sophia meets Constance in the tomb of the original Cinderella. Constance is the only remaining relative of Gabrielle (one of the step-sisters) and has been passed down the real story of Cinderella from generation to generation. Constance shares this story with Sophia and they make a plan to use the truth to bring down King Manford. ** MAJOR SPOILERS **

One of the most interesting characters is the Fairy Godmother. In most retellings of the Cinderella story, the Fairy Godmother is consistent in her beauty and benevolence. However, in this story, she is not a fairy who grants wishes out of the goodness of her own heart, but rather a witch who causes mayhem and suffering for ** Spoiler Alert: CW - death, homophobia, domestic those she cares little for. She hides in the woods, claiming to be ashamed of her past. She reveals she helped put abuse ** Charming on the throne, thus beginning the rule of terror The opening of the story seems like a classic dystopian experienced by Sophia and 200 years of women. young adult story, a teenage girl running away from a guard, escaping an oppressive home. And trust me, I’ve However, the Fairy Godmother (Amina) is not just a read more than my fair share of young adult dystopian bystander to the story of Cinderella. She is the mother of the immortal Prince Charming who has been ruling over Lille stories, but this was so much more. under four different names since the original Cinderella Bayron introduces Sophia’s character and her values by story. Her relationship with Sophia and Constance is full having her attend her dress fitting two hours late and of twists and betrayals. And it is her death that brings to still dirty from running through the forest to meet her an end the tyrannical rule of Charming. forbidden crush. It is also at this point that we learn about ** End of Spoilers ** the role of the Cinderella story in Lille.

All houses must own a ‘Palace-Approved’ version of the Overall, I adored this book. It was more than any one story which tells the story of Cinderella as we know it, genre could explain, it had dystopia, fairytale, romance. a young girl who falls for the dashing Prince Charming If you are to only read one book this year, let it be this. when he saves her from her evil family. It is on this story Rating 5/5

Music The Waterfront Team’s 2021 Music Desires 2020 was a disappointing year. Nobody can deny that! So for some positivity for our first publication of 2021, we at the Waterfront wanted to share our music-related hopes for this year. Bethan (Editor-in-Chief): ‘I’m looking forward to seeing My Chemical Romance and You Me At Six live!’ Alex (Deputy Editor): ‘Being able to play live again and seeing Greenday/Fall Out Boy/ 5SOS.’ Rhi (Fashion Editor): ‘I’m looking forward to, hopefully, being at a music festival or some form of outdoor summer live event.’ Jade (Travel & Study Abroad Editor): ‘Hopefully seeing Lauv in concert (he had to cancel his tour last November!).’ Cora (Culture & Arts Editor): ‘Seeing The Weeknd in November!’ Rachel (Societies Editor): ‘Going to Download festival and Slam Dunk (hopefully!).’ Cat (Music Editor): ‘I hope to finally play gigs again, as well as see and support as many local gigs as possible!’ Sophie (Science and Research Editor): ‘I’m looking forward to hearing Taylor Swift’s re-recorded music (assuming she’ll release some this year, which seems very likely).’ Beth (Advice and Relationships Editor): ‘Seeing Bring Me The Horizon, The Neighbourhood and Yungblud at the end of the year!’ Lauren (Wellbeing Editor): ‘Hopefully going to see foals in June.’ Fran (Proofreader): ‘Seeing Rina Sawayama in November.’ Tag us in your social media stories to share your music hopes for 2021! Our Instagram: @waterfrontswansea

Welsh Language Music Day By Cat Daczkowski & Katie Phillips

nglish: Welsh Language Music Day was founded by BBC Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens in 2013. The celebratory day’s purpose is to raise awareness of all forms and genres of Welsh Language music. The genres include indie, rock, pop, punk, folk, electronica, hip hop and everything in between. The gigs, performances and events are often free to entice as many audience members as possible to explore the world of Welsh Language music. The day is a part of the long-term vision to see a million people speaking and using Welsh by 2050. Each year, there is a festival celebration in Cardiff but there have also been events in London, Swansea, and even New York and Budapest. When the first festival took place in 2013, artists such as Mellt, Gwenno Saunders, The This year, the festival is being celebrated on the 5th Gentle Good, Chroma, Adwaith, Candelas, Meic Stevens, February but as a result of the current restrictions, public events have been cancelled, therefore, it is ever more Los Blancos, and Alffa performed. important to support the cause through digital media. A number of organisations are now involved with the festival, including Sŵn, BBC Horizons, Forté Project, Clwb Here are some ways you can be a supporter: Join the conversation using the hashtag Ifor Bach and Big Fish Little Fish. #dyddmiwsigcymru or #miwsig Popular venues such as Kings Place, London, Clwb Ifor Follow Dydd Miwsig Cymru on Twitter and Facebook Bach, Cardiff and Y Galeri, Caernarfon, as well as many If you are planning any Dydd Miwsig Cymru activity, more have been regular locations for the performances contact cymraeg@gov.wales that take place over the duration of the festival itself, and the events that surround the festival. Dydd Miwsig Cymru Huw Stephens has previously stated, ‘Whatever you’re into, Dydd Miwsig Cymru is a day to help you discover Welsh: Sefydlwyd Dydd Miwsig Cymru gan DJ BBC 1 music you’ll love. You may already be listening to Welsh Huw Stephens yn 2013. Pwrpas y diwrnod dathlu yw codi language music, or maybe you haven’t listened to it for ymwybyddiaeth o bob ffurf a genre o gerddoriaeth Iaith years. There’s incredible music of almost every genre, Gymraeg. Mae’r genres yn cynnwys indie, roc, pop, pync, all being made in the Welsh language – there are even gwerin, electronica, hip hop a phopeth rhyngddynt. some great playlists to share with your friends and family Mae’r gigs, y perfformiadau a’r digwyddiadau yn aml yn who may not be listening to Welsh language music. Try rhydd i ddenu cymaint o aelodau’r gynulleidfa â phosib i something and you might just find your favourite new archwilio byd cerddoriaeth Iaith Gymraeg. sound.’ Mae’r diwrnod yn rhan o’r weledigaeth hirdymor i weld Their website offers easy access to a Welsh artist Spotify miliwn o bobl yn siarad ac yn defnyddio’r Gymraeg erbyn playlist which includes popular artists Catatonia, Super 2050. Furry Animals and Alffa. If you’re looking for a more chilled out playlist or a playlist that’ll make you feel like you’re in Bob blwyddyn mae dathliad gŵyl yng Nghaerdydd ond bu digwyddiadau hefyd yn Llundain, Abertawe a hyd yn a music venue, they’re also included on the website: https://gov.wales/welsh-language-music-day (English oed Efrog Newydd a Budapest. Pan gynhaliwyd yr ŵyl gyntaf yn 2013 perfformiodd artistiaid fel Mellt, Gwenno Website) Saunders, The Gentle Good, Chroma, Adwaith, Candelas, https://llyw.cymru/dydd-miwsig-cymru (Welsh Website)

Meic Stevens, Los Blancos, ac Alffa. Mae nifer o sefydliadau bellach yn ymwneud â’r ŵyl gan gynnwys, Sŵn, BBC Horizons, Forté Project, Clwb Ifor Bach a Big Fish Little Fish. Mae lleoliadau poblogaidd fel Kings Place, Llundain, Clwb Ifor Bach, Caerdydd ac Y Galeri, Caernarfon, ynghyd â llawer mwy wedi bod yn lleoliadau rheolaidd ar gyfer y perfformiadau a gynhelir dros hyd yr ŵyl ei hun, a’r digwyddiadau sy’n amgylchynu’r ŵyl.

chwarae artist o Gymru, Spotify sy’n cynnwys artistiaid poblogaidd Catatonia, Super Furry Animals ac Alffa. Os ydych chi’n chwilio am restr chwarae fwy hamddenol neu restr chwarae a fydd yn gwneud ichi deimlo fel eich bod chi mewn lleoliad cerdd, maen nhw hefyd wedi’u cynnwys ar y wefan: https://gov.wales/welsh-language-music-day (Gwefan Saesneg) https://llyw.cymru/dydd-miwsig-cymru (Gwefan Cymraeg)

Eleni, mae’r ŵyl yn cael ei dathlu ar 5ed Chwefror ond o Mae Huw Stephens wedi nodi o’r blaen, ‘Beth bynnag ganlyniad i’r cyfyngiadau cyfredol, mae digwyddiadau rydych chi ynddo, mae Dydd Miwsig Cymru yn ddiwrnod cyhoeddus wedi’u canslo felly mae’n bwysicach fyth i’ch helpu chi i ddarganfod cerddoriaeth rydych chi’n ei cefnogi’r achos trwy’r cyfryngau digidol. charu. Efallai eich bod eisoes yn gwrando ar gerddoriaeth Gymraeg, neu efallai nad ydych wedi gwrando arni ers Dyma rai ffyrdd y gallwch chi fod yn gefnogwr: blynyddoedd. Mae yna gerddoriaeth anhygoel o bron pob genre, pob un yn cael ei wneud yn y Gymraeg - mae yna Ymunwch â’r sgwrs gan ddefnyddio’r hashnod hyd yn oed rai rhestri chwarae gwych i’w rhannu gyda’ch #dyddmiwsigcymru neu #miwsig ffrindiau a’ch teulu nad ydyn nhw efallai’n gwrando ar Dilynwch Dydd Miwsig Cymru ar Twitter a Facebook gerddoriaeth Gymraeg. Rhowch gynnig ar rywbeth ac Os ydych chi’n cynllunio unrhyw weithgaredd Dydd efallai y dewch chi o hyd i’ch hoff sain newydd.’ Miwsig Cymru, cysylltwch â cymraeg@gov.wales Mae eu gwefan yn cynnig mynediad hawdd at restr

Album Review: Shawn Mendes - Wonder By Mathurin Aron

hortly after the release of his self-titled third album in 2018, Mendes makes his return with his new smashing, first-class album ‘Wonder’.

Written and recorded in California and Miami, the album embodies most of Shawn’s feelings on tour and during recent months of the pandemic. Deep in the canyons of love, Mendes explores thematic universes such as ego, loneliness and fame. The album, as a whole, struggles with heavy poignant themes.

Twitter that it’s one of his favourite songs on the album. In ‘Song For No One’, ‘Call My Friends’ and ‘Dream’, Shawn Despite being an ‘outlier’ of the album due to its different highlights the misleadingly complicated life of a celebrity sound, the song received an excellent review on the and his long-distance relationship with Camila Cabello, survey with seven 5s. his lobster. (*wink wink* to FRIENDS fans). ‘Always Been You’ is a special song, where Shawn reveals I asked 8 fans to complete a survey, where I asked to to the public that all his songs were for Camila. In this rate the Wonder songs from 1 to 5. The songs mentioned song, the lyricist somewhat clears out his public image. above generally received the same ratings, ranging from The song didn’t gain as much distinction even though in the survey it received six 5s. 3 to 5. His remake of Nat “King” Cole’s ‘The Christmas Song’ in collaboration with Camila was also a big surprise for fans after both ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ in 2015 and ‘Señorita’ in 2019, where the couple previously collaborated. The song received mixed opinions with the The artist also collaborated with Justin Bieber in “Monster”, mode being 4. where fans can perceive or attempt to understand the views of the artists on such topics as the multiple façades Shawn also performed Valli’s hit “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” in the Deluxe version of the album, where of the music industry. connoisseurs could interestingly spot a connection to ‘Higher’ has a ‘party feel’, urging us to gather once again, Cabello’s numerous live performance covers of the song. after having hidden beneath the veneer of pragmatism In my opinion, this variant excelled any other previous lockdowns have forced upon us. In my survey, the response ones. The first song, which initiated my love for this album, was ‘Intro’, a short melancholic melody, calling for connection. The artist faced 75% success in this one, based on my survey.

on this track was inconclusive with answers ranging from 3 to 5.

The song which I find doesn’t match the ingenuity of his other tunes is ‘Can’t Imagine’ due to its chorus repetition ’24 Hours’ parallels Elvis Presley’s ‘Can’t Help Falling In throughout. It can be seen on my survey that it didn’t Love’, referring to the derivative line ‘Wise men say only reach as much support as the other songs, with a mode fools rush in’. Mendes has already paid homage to the of 3. performer before, covering one of his hit tracks. The song also transmits this feeling of flying and urges us to come Overall, Wonder is my favourite album of Shawn so far. home soon, paralleling ‘Lost in Japan’. The song received My personal favourites are ‘305’ and ‘Look Up At The Stars’. They got me vibing. They were also really popular generally positive feedback on my survey with seven 5s. ‘Teach Me How To Love’ sends ‘Watermelon Sugar’ vibes in my survey. through the use of similar themes. Shawn stated on What I enjoy most about Shawn’s music is that it is relatable and displays love in its most prominent spot.

The Local Scene - February By Cat Daczkowski

Facebook: @Icantdieofficial Twitter: @_icantdie Instagram: @_icantdie

Icantdie

Crowley’s Rock Bar

cantdie is a three-piece heavy alternative rock band from South Wales. Started in 2016 as a self-funded bedroom demo project by Kyle David Smith. The lineup was completed in 2017 with Sam Bennett on bass and Adam Kerslake on drums. The band have two EPs, ‘Transition/Merger’, ‘Doppleganger’ and new single ‘Counter’ ft Sean Smith (Raiders/The Blackout).

Crowley’s Rock Bar is an alternative bar situated in the centre of Swansea. Since opening in 2012, Crowley’s has been one of the best venues for a friendly atmosphere, as they try to cater to as many musical tastes as possible.

They often (before the pandemic) would host original live music events every weekend with local small bands such as Godkilla, Excursia and KASIA returning to play. As well as local bands, for their 2 year celebration, on the 7th November 2014, Blaze Bailey played the venue. Crowley’s has also been the venue for popular tribute bands such as Not The Sex Pistols, and alternative DJ nights.

Their first gig at The Cobblestones in Bridgewater, England proved to be an exciting one, as Kyle attempted to climb the speakers during the last song of their set! Like many other bands, Covid-19 has been a great nuisance to the three-piece. Since the release of their single ‘Counter’, they have been keen to start gigging again due to its radio play success. Though, as a result of the pandemic, the trio has managed to focus on writing. The band are also keen to return to the studio when possible too. To support Icantdie at the moment, the band ask to stream their music on Spotify, especially their most recent track, ‘Counter’. If you’re an avid watcher of live streams, Kyle streams via twitch.tv/kylepickabuser playing acoustic song requests. Check out their social media to stay up to date with the band’s progress:

Crowley’s has a close affiliation with the Swansea Fringe Festival with the venue being used as one of the stages in 2019. Sadly, due to the pandemic, the festival postponed its 2020 events. Take a look at Crowley’s social media to support them as soon as restrictions ease and they can reopen: Facebook: @crowleys.rockbarofficial Instagram: @crowleysrockbar

Travel Erasmus Erasure By Jade Hughes

and may therefore have to stretch to cover all of these extra costs in addition to the price of living. In turn, this could have the adverse effect of discouraging those from poorer backgrounds from signing up for the scheme.

As Britain bids goodbye to the EU, studying abroad is set The unilateral nature of the Turing Scheme may also pose a problem for the United Kingdom. Students from to change. the European Union may be discouraged from studying s of January 1 2021, the United Kingdom has at British universities if they have no funding to support officially exited the European Union. Despite Boris them. There is a decreasing incentive to come to the Johnson promising that Brexit would not affect our United Kingdom following Brexit, as students will have to participation in Erasmus+, an agreement on the costs of pay for visas and healthcare cover as well as our expensive Britain’s continued participation in the scheme was not tuition fees. Fewer international students coming to the reached, leading to us withdrawing from the mobility United Kingdom means that British students will miss out programme that sends over 16,000 British students and on the opportunity to learn from their European peers who often bring fresh perspectives to the classroom. young people to partner institutions every year. They also tend to spend more money in our economy, In its place, the Prime Minister has established the Turing contributing an estimated £440 million in 2018. Scheme. The scheme, said to be worth £100 million, is set to start in September and will provide funding for On the other hand, this has to be balanced with some of around 35,000 British students. Johnson states that the advantages of the new scheme. A unilateral scheme Turing will be more inclusive by targeting young people where fewer foreign students attend British universities from underprivileged backgrounds, as well as being more may be of benefit, as student accommodation will be more global than the previous scheme. Yet there are already readily available for home students, which is particularly doubts about the scheme and whether it will work as beneficial for first-year students who sometimes have to find their own housing. Additionally, the global nature smoothly as planned. of the new scheme can give opportunities to go abroad Many British citizens criticised the Erasmus+ mobility for more students. Typically, Erasmus+ mobility mainly scheme as a waste of taxpayer money, with all of the benefits languages students, whereas students of funding going towards middle-class students. The other faculties who do not speak a different language comments from the Prime Minister about the new scheme miss out. The Turing Scheme offers opportunities to go targeting disadvantaged young people reflect this to Anglophone countries, allowing students from any viewpoint. The majority of Erasmus+ funding in the United department to go abroad. Furthermore, less than half of Kingdom, however, actually goes to vocational training outgoing British students went abroad via the Erasmus+ and apprenticeships, adult education, volunteering and programme, so a majority of students will not miss out on youth work schemes. Further to this, not all university the chance to go abroad. students are middle-class and for many, Erasmus+ Though the new Turing Scheme starts this year, the funding provides a rare opportunity to go abroad. United Kingdom will still be a participant of the Erasmus+ As the Turing scheme is set to allow students to go to scheme until the end of its current phase in 2022. There universities further afield, this may raise a further problem. may be some teething problems as new contracts will Getting to countries outside of the European Union is have to be negotiated between universities, while the end often more expensive, and tuition fees in countries such of the freedom of movement may create difficulties in as the United States are usually a lot higher than those going abroad. However, if these problems are smoothed in countries such as Germany, France, Italy or Spain – out, and if the scheme is implemented to maximise the countries that most British students go to on Erasmus+. advantages of going abroad, there is every chance that The bursaries provided by the new Turing scheme are Turing will be a success. likely to be a similar price to those provided by Erasmus+,

Pride Parades Around the World By Jade Hughes

ride parades are a major part of LGBTQ+ pride celebrations, with events occurring across the globe. Usually, these parades take place during the summer, with Pride Cymru taking place during the August bank holiday. Sadly, last year’s events were largely cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, here are some of the most successful Pride events around the world...

parade, and each year, a designer creates an accessory to accompany the event. The 2019 accessory, designed by Mariette Hansson. The biggest event in Europe is said to be Madrid Pride. Since 2005, when same-sex marriage was legalised in Spain, there has been an increase in interest in the event. Madrid is now known as the European Capital of Pride for this reason, which sees around two million people out on the streets during Pride Week.

Madrid Gay Pride 2019 If you’re not in the mood to walk all day, the Canal In 2020, one country managed to hold the biggest Pride Parade in Amsterdam might float your boat. Around half event in the world. Taiwan, where the Coronavirus has a million people sail down the Amstel River, waving flags been contained outside of the country’s borders, has in decorated boats, marking the end of the Gay Pride declared public gatherings safe. The 2020 Pride Parade Week. Elsewhere in the Dutch city, there are also street in Taipei was one of the only parades to have taken parties, exhibitions and sports events. place in the past year, with 130,000 people attending the event, celebrating the country’s recent legalisation of Amsterdam Canal Pride same-sex marriage in 2019. In 2006, São Paulo broke the world record for the biggest pride parade, seeing 2.5 million attendees. Though Brazil still holds the biggest parades in South America, WorldPride 2019 in New York City is the largest Pride to have taken place in history, with four million attendees; the event marking the 50-year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.

Pride in Taipei 2020 The biggest pride event in Asia is typically not in Taiwan, but rather on the other side of the continent – in Israel. Around 260,000 people attend the annual pride parades in Tel Aviv, which first took place in 1993 as a political parade to demand LGBTQ+ rights. Today, the events are more oriented towards entertainment and celebration. Iceland may be a small country, but it holds a large amount of pride! Around one-third of the country’s population is estimated to attend the Pride parades in Reykjavík. The biggest event in the Nordic region, however, is Stockholm Pride. Around 600,000 people take part in this Swedish

WorldPride 2019 in New York City. In fact, Pride parades originally started as commemoration of the Stonewall Riots, where LGBTQ+ people demonstrated in response to a police raid on a gay club, serving to push forward the movement towards LGBTQ+ equality. Today, as well as remembering the riots, Pride parades celebrate the achievements and promote acceptance of LGBTQ+ people.

Sport Rugby Union: A Driving Force in the LGBT+ Movement By Siôn Misra

stand. However, two other fans immediately reported the individual to security and he was subsequently removed from his seat and given a lengthy stadium ban for any rugby match. It is this swift and robust response that is needed in all sports to make anyone who is part of the t is fair to say that when it comes to sport and LGBT+ LGBT+ community to feel accepted. issues, it is behind other sectors of society, particularly in male dominated sports. Football, for example, has Two years after Nigel Owens came out, former Welsh had and still has a poor relationship with the LGBT+ captain Gareth Thomas announced that he was gay, and community. While many clubs have support groups for while feeling the same fear as Owens did, Thomas felt it the LGBT+ community, abuse is still clear to see. was important for him to come out, and to inspire others

We have seen clubs like Brighton and Hove Albion often targeted for homophobic abuse and chanting, while in the United States, players use homophobic language towards fellow players, and this has resulted in matches being suspended or players refusing to play on. Similar incidents have occurred in cricket, tennis, and boxing over the years, and it is the inherent fear in players and fans, that is the reason we have only seen a handful of professionals in these sports come out, because they know the abuse that they will be subjected to will be incessant.

who were in the same dark situation that he was in;

‘I don’t know if my life is going to be easier because I’m out but, if it helps someone else, if it makes one young lad pick up the phone to ChildLine, then it will have been worth it’

In 2018, Thomas was attacked by a 16-year-old boy in Cardiff, and while police asked the former Welsh captain if he wanted to press charges, Thomas wanted to meet the boy and talk to him about LGBT+ issues and educate him. Since then, Thomas has been pushing for laws to be introduced in sports ground, in particular football Yet, rugby union is very different to any other sport. Rugby stadiums to make homophobic abuse on par with racist union has always prided itself on the fact is a game abuse; played gentlemen and it’s a game full of respect, and this has been clearly seen when it comes to accepting ‘I wanted to leave behind something permanent that those involved in the game who are part of the LGBT+ will create an environment for footballers, players, fans, community. In 2007, rugby referee Nigel Owens was one boardroom where people will feel safe to be themselves’ of the first sportspeople to come out as gay, and Owens spoke of the fear of coming out; There is no doubt that numerous sports have to improve

their image when it comes to LGBT+ issues. However, rugby has shown that it is a true supporter and leader in the acceptance of the LGBT+ community. Some of the leading rugby union nations like Wales and England have created LGBT+ teams, allowing players to play the game without the fear of being judged on their personal lives. It Since coming out, Owens has said he felt born again, is actions like these that make rugby union a driving force and although he has been subjected to some abuse by in the movement to support the LGBT+ community. individuals in the stands, the rugby community has come together in an effort to stamp this out. During a match between England and New Zealand in 2014, Owens was the subject of homophobic abuse by an individual in the ‘It got to the point where I thought: do I carry on with my life, or do I try and hide it and continue with refereeing? Or do I come out and risk my career? There was no one openly gay in the world of rugby then’

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