INSIDE: - Seren - Bangor University

December Issue 2010
www.seren.bangor.ac.uk
Continued from page 1.....
Leighton Andrews, the Welsh Assembly
minister for education who has previously
slated the outcome of the Browne review,
said that, “Welsh domiciled students will
not have to find either £6,000 or £9,000 to
study. The public purse will continue to
subsidise higher education for Welsh domiciled
students”. He described the policy as “a
'Made in Wales' policy which demonstrates
the benefits of devolution”.
As part of the Coalition agreement,
known as the One Wales programme, between
Plaid Cymru and Labour, the Welsh
Government is committed “to do whatever
is possible to mitigate the effects on Welshdomiciled
students should the cap on fees
be lifted”.
Commentators had expected that the
fees would be raised in line with those in
England, and some had even expected an
increase in support for Welsh students, but
the announcement was a surprise to many.
NUS Wales, in a statement released prior
to the announcement, predicted that the cap
would indeed rise to £9,000, and that there
would be increased support for Welsh students.
However, whilst welcoming the news
that Welsh students would be protected,
they criticised the Minister for introducing
a £9,000 cap. The Minister had argued
previously that a cap that high would introduce
a market in to higher education, which
would be massively detrimental to the state
of education in the UK.
Jo Caulfield, Bangor S.U. President, said
of the plans, “Whilst it’s encouraging to
see the Assembly Government protecting
Welsh students wherever they choose to
study, it’s disappointing that they’ve chosen
to introduce such a high cap when there is
no need to. Whilst the English budget has
been cut by 40%, in Wales we are only looking
at a 10% cut. This is a complete overreaction,
and the Minister has gone back on
his word”.
The plans are due to be introduced for
students starting in September 2012.
Jez Harvey
Royal Newlyweds to Settle on Anglesey
Prince William and Kate Middleton chance to celebrate on the day."
is very special to me and Kate is very special
to me now as well. It is only right the
could soon become a common sight The couple, both 28, got engaged while
in and around Bangor after the pair on holiday in Kenya in October. The Prince two are put together. It was also a way of my
announced plans to settle in Anglesey after
their wedding next year. Prince William is
currently working as a search and rescue
pilot at RAF Valley, with a further
3-years to serve. Pubs and restaurants
around the base have said that
both William and fiancée Kate are
becoming regular visitors and Kate
is often visiting the Waitrose store
in Menai Bridge.
The pair has announced the date
of their royal wedding which is set
to take place on Friday 29th April at
Westminster Abbey. The day will be
marked by a public holiday across
the UK and Prime Minister David
Cameron said, “It will ensure that
proposed to Kate with his mother Diana’s
diamond engagement ring.
Asked why he had done so, he said: "It
mother being a part of today.”
The Royal Family and the Middleton’s
will pay for the wedding itself, but the taxpayer
will meet the cost of extra security
and transport.
The Prince's private secretary,
Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, said the
couple chose the Abbey for its ‘staggering
beauty,’ 1,000-year royal history
and its feeling of intimacy despite
its size. Westminster Abbey has
hosted the weddings of the Queen
and Queen Mother and was the
venue for Princess Diana's funeral
in 1997.
Andy Trigg
the most people possible will have a
Joop For Your Love
It is no mystery that there have been
a large amount of problems surrounding
a Union nightclub. Ever since
Time and Academi shut at the end of
last year Bangor has been left with
only two clubs, both of which are run
by outside companies. Octagon and
Base have risen to the occasion, with
Octagon working with the Union to
put on AU nights and Base taking on
ex-Time staff and revamping in order
to become friendlier for students.
Actually having a Union nightclub,
however, is a major sticking point
between the Union, the University
and all of us; the customers who are
crying out for a club.
For everyone except first years, what
has been cried out for is the return of
Time. That club which held cheese
filled Monday nights, chart topping
Fridays and everything in between.
It was easy to reach, cheap, friendly
and the last stop of many a pub crawl.
Everything that Hendre Hall is not.
Hendre is a brilliant venue and the
Undeb Trading team have worked
tirelessly to create a Union nightclub.
Having hosted many nights there by
now, it has become apparent though
that only the special events pull in the
crowds. Lost Property, Fruit Salad
and almost certainly Racubah are
monthly nights that fit this mould but
the main staples of the club, its Retro
Monday’s and Digital Friday’s are
failing. This is through no fault of the
staff but through the fact that the University,
as the owners of Undeb, opted
for a venue outside of Bangor. It is
only a five minute bus ride but for
students used to walking down a hill
and being able to come and go from
their club when they please, it fails in
its purpose. The
feeling in the
air, online and
on the lips of
many students
is that Hendre
is not the Union
nightclub we
want or deserve.
So what can be
done Seren
went looking
around Bangor
for alternative, existing spaces to
place a nightclub suitable for the
Union’s needs and there appears to be
only one. Carry on past Base on the
High Street and you’ll come to the
remnant of Joop. Last year this local
club boomed then busted because
of the terrible market. The space
inside would be fit for purpose after
some renovations and we could have
a Union club in Bangor. There are
problems that would arise of course.
That end of the High Street is known
to be notorious for many students as
it is a very local orientated area of
Bangor. However the recent moves
Base has made to become safer and
more appealing to students does show
that this stigma can be overcome.
The very idea of Joop is just that, an
idea, a theory. From a student perspective
it is surely the only available
space wherein a decent Union nightclub
could be created whilst other,
long term ideas are put into motion.
Whatever happens, it is hoped that
the University, and through them
Undeb, can rectify the malignant loss
of a student orientated venue before
Hendre closes and we are left with
nothing whatsoever for two years at
the very least.
Luke Dobson
North
The student who mindlessly
threw a fire extinguisher from
the top of the Millbank building
at last month’s demonstration, has
pleaded guilty to committing a violent
disorder.
18-year-old Edward Woollard appeared
before Westminster magistrates on Wednesday
faced with the charge which carries a
maximum prison sentence of five years.
Woollard was arrested five days after the
demonstration which saw a further 60 students
detained. He attended court dressed
in a suit and his parents watched from the
public gallery as he was asked by the judge
only to confirm his name, address, date of
birth and his plea.
His solicitor, Matt Foot, said, “Mr Woollard
is pleading guilty and I make it very
clear he is very sorry for his actions.”
News
Student Pleads Guilty
to Throwing Fire
Extinguisher
Fire extinguisher
narrowly misses
police officers
The A-level student from Southampton
was among the 2,000 strong crowd that succeeded
in forcing entry in to the Conservative
headquarters building after the student
protest turned violent. Around 60 students
made their way to the top of the building
and proceeded to smash windows, vandalise
furniture and attack the police. Photographic
evidence shows Woollard throwing
the fire extinguisher and narrowly missing
the police struggling with protestors below.
Prosecutor Robert Short told District Judge
Nicholas Evans the case was not suitable for
sentencing at the magistrates’ court. Woollard
will now be sentenced at Southwark
Crown Court at a later date.
Andy Trigg
Police warn students after recent spate of
Burglaries
Wales Police have issued a
statement to warn all students
going home for the Christmas
period to take all valuables back with
them. The warning comes after a recent
spate of burglaries in the Bangor area in
which halls of residence, student housing
and cars have been the subject of attack.
In a statement on the North Wales
Police Website, Detective Superintendent
Ynyr Hughes describes how easy
some students are making it possible
for burglars. "In the majority of cases,
premises are being left insecure and expensive
items such as laptops are left in
full view. During one of the latest incidents
which occurred in a ground floor
room of one of the halls of residence, a
student left his room leaving his laptop
on the table. This was during the hours
of darkness and the curtains had been
left open which meant the laptop was in
full view of anybody passing."
Bangor University’s Community
Beat Manager, PC Gwenno Jones describes
the crimes as despicable. "Leaving
homes and halls empty for a long
period of time means they can become
particularly vulnerable to burglary, so
we are urging all students to take their
valuables such as laptops, televisions
and DVD players with them. Regular
patrols will be carried out throughout
the area by police as well as University
security teams, but by following the
simple advice that we are giving out,
you can avoid falling victim to this despicable
crime."
North Wales Police have issued a few
simple steps which students should follow
in order to not become a victim of
crime.
• Take all valuables such as laptops, televisions,
DVD players, ipods and cameras
home with you.
• Ensure you have locked all windows
and doors.
• Set the alarm if you have one.
• Do not have items such as cash and
phone chargers on display - this may
tempt a thief into your property.
• If you live in rented accommodation,
let your landlord know when you will
be returning.
• Always lock your vehicle and remove
any valuable items.
Officers are also advising students
to security mark their valuable items
which will discourage burglars from
stealing them by making it difficult to
sell them on.
This will also help the police to ensure
the items are returned to their
rightful owner if they are stolen but
subsequently found.
If you would like to have your property
marked or if you would like to
speak either to PC Gwenno Jones or the
Security Team at the University regarding
crime prevention and advice, please
phone 01248 382795.
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Andy Trigg