Author: Alec Tudor

by Ally Jackson A brain injury has a dramatic impact on an individual’s life, whether it has been acquired through stroke, cancer, or a traumatic event. The effect of a brain injury varies from person to person  with cognitive issues ranging from emotional dysregulation, memory deficits and communication difficulties, and physical issues ranging from mild to severe impairment. Headway Gwynedd and Mon are a non-profit organisation who’s mission is to combat the social isolation which often accompanies these issues by promoting socio-emotional adjustment and connection. Crucially, they provide support and information for family, carers, and friends who are also impacted…

In light of the recent Covid-19 pandemic, Y Seren will be going online for the foreseeable future and will be  focusing on its upcoming election for the 2020-2021 editorial team. All content will be going online and on social media, replacing the March and May print issues. The newspaper is also holding its yearly election and general meeting on Undeb Bangor’s website. All editorial and committee positions are open for applying by any student, with the exception of Editor-in-Chief which is only available to current editors. Nominations have opened and will close on 31st March. Voting will open on the…

Students are ‘encouraged to continue to enjoy studying, working and living’ at Bangor, as the UK leaves the EU today. No immediate effects are to take place, as the UK enters a transition period until December 2020. An email was sent to staff and students earlier in the morning from the Vice-Chancellor’s Office. The message, recognising the contribution of staff and students, acknowledged the ‘uncertainty caused by ongoing discussions’. It also emphasised the University’s desire for students to continue enjoying their time at Bangor. The Vice-Chancellor has also reminded staff and students to apply either for settled or pre-settled status…

Are the prospects of the future a great depression? With all that’s going on in the world today, the issue of living out one’s life well has become as difficult as deciding how to start one’s career well. As I approach my day of graduation, I realise it will not be in the same decade. Growing up used to a barrage of impending disasters and political avalanches that never seem to end, it is hard to see that final year students will be graduating into their own roaring twenties. What does this entail for us? Will we see solutions to…

The Leader of Plaid Cymru has visited Bangor today to promote the party as the General Election approaches. Adam Price visited the Belle Vue pub, alongside Plaid Cymru candidate for Arfon Hywel Williams and Assembly Member for Arfon Sian Gwenllian. The Arfon constituency is one of the most marginal seats in Wales, with the seat having been last won by only 92 votes for Plaid Cymru. The leader took part last Sunday in an ITV election debate which had him question Labour on why it didn’t deliver in Wales what it promises in Westminster. Talking to Y Seren about the role…

We’ve talked with Antony Butcher, Bangor alumni, SU President 2012-14, and member of Thespianage Productions, a comedy group based in Manchester who regularly rehearse and perform Improv, Stand-up and Sketch comedy. Thespianage is performing in Pontio on the 19th November for a 10-year anniversary of the Bangor University Comedy Society, where most members, including Antony, met and performed. We’ve talked about how it feels to come back after so long, how Antony joined the Comedy Society, and about how Thespianage started. Tickets for the show can be found here. It’s been 10 years of Bangor Comedy. How does it feel…

It is a troubling time for university students in the UK. What is your advice for dealing with the stress and confusion caused by Brexit uncertainty? What we did, for example, until now, is try to remind the students to keep informed. It is difficult to not get tangled in the whole thing. What we do in our office is work with what we’ve got, and don’t get too tangled into it. Now, it’s very easy to say, but obviously, we’re all in the same boat. I had to apply for the settlement scheme myself. What we did is we…

Does Brexit worry you? Is the prospect of studying at Bangor University in a post-Brexit UK causing you anxiety? Seren’s Politics section is looking for students who want questions answered about their future and about what’s happening during and after the end of this month. Please email politics@seren.bangor.ac.uk or message us on Facebook with your questions!

We’ve talked with some Sabbatical Officers about the latest Students’ Union news. 2019 National Student Survey This week, Undeb Bangor was voted top SU in Wales in the 2019 National Student Survey for ‘representing students’ academic interests’. Mark Barrow, President and previous VP for Education, said: “I think that’s just a thing that the academic side of the Students’ Union is getting the credit and recognition that it deserves.” “It’s something we can push on forward.” Harry Riley, current VP for Education, said it highlights the great work of course reps. Stance on ‘No Deal Brexit’ Undeb has also released…

Bangor University’s Monthly Student Newspaper is looking for new editors to join our team! Interested in having your own section every month in print? Are you looking to find work experience in journalism, both online and print? Do you want to be part of strong and well-structured team? We have elections on the 30th September in Pontio’s PL2! Email editor@seren.bangor.ac.uk for the position you wish to run for. You can also have a second choice, but make sure to let us know which is your first preference. You can also join our Seren Members 2019 / 2020 Facebook group. We…

Bangor University will be leading the development of mental health provision through the medium of Welsh for students across Wales, thanks to a successful bid for funding from HEFCW – the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales. A team of staff across the University came together with colleagues from partner institutions to develop an exciting portfolio of provision, which will be developed and launched over the next 10 months. Maria Lorenzini, Director of Student Services at Bangor University explains: “We wanted to improve the accessibility of appropriate mental health support for all students in Wales for whom Welsh is their…

Tell us about your academic past before you became Vice-Chancellor Well, I’m an academic lawyer, although I also practiced at the Bar. Essentially, my whole life has really centered around finance law, with a particular emphasis on asset finance. I was, for a number of years, an advisor to various UK government bodies and also internationally. One body in particular, was a body based in Rome called UNIDROIT, and that was a very exciting project because it involved really looking at ways in which you could codify international commercial law.  So that was interesting. Part of my work also was…

by Fatima Ammar  Bangor’s student-led community garden at the Fron Heulog site (next to St James’s Church on Friddoedd Road), formerly nicknamed ‘HogSoc garden’ is undergoing a new project in collaboration with Headway Gwynedd, the brain injury association. On top of the pre-existing raised vegetable beds, cold frames, live willow dome, Welsh heritage fruit trees, and our charismatic shed, we’ll be creating a sensory garden for brain trauma patients to enjoy, benefit from, and relax in. Sensory gardens are used to help those suffering from various sensory problems, learning difficulties, brain injuries, or mental disorders to feel safe and comfortable…

Welcome to our Serendipity Preview: Over 20 Societies, Volunteering Projects and Clubs from which you can build an image of the student community here at Bangor. Whilst it is diverse, this list is not extensive; you can check many others at Serendipity and at Undeb Bangor. In order to check a student group, click on the links below; they will easily transport you to your choice. UMCB Welsh Learning SocietyWidening Access CentreNoW Solutions Karate Union Judo Hockey Snow Gaelic Men’s FootballConservation SocietyBiological SocietyPsychSocGuides and Scouts Filipino SocietyEuropean SocietyWriter’s GuildAnimation Watchers and Lovers SocietyGaming League Sci-Fi and Fantasy…

Bangor University’s student radio Storm FM is looking for students to join its executive committee for the upcoming year. The station has been broadcasting for two decades and is one of the last few student radio stations to broadcast on FM. It is one of the oldest societies in the University. The station will have to shut down without a Station Manager, Secretary, Treasurer, Head of Tech and at least one Programme Controller. Muhammad Firdaus, VP for Societies & Volunteering, is encouraging students to join in order to save the station: “Would you like to get involved in running a…

A potential restructuring of the School of Music & Media has been outlined in a document sent to the Students’ Union, with the implementation expected as early as this year’s 2nd semester. If the proposals are approved, the University anticipates the new structure will be implemented as early as the 2nd Semester of the 2019/2020 academic year, with August 2020 as the latest date. The School could be developed into a School of Music & Performance, with subjects such as Media Studies, Practice and Journalism transferred to other Schools within the College of Arts, Humanities & Business. According to the…