Author: Amy Blackwell

Like most students I’m a serial binge watcher and last year I became obsessed with American Horror Story, watching the first three seasons in the space of about two weeks. I was hooked! I loved them. They provided just enough horror for a wuss like me. I also really enjoyed how real their stories tended to be. They depicted human horrors as well as fantastical ones. Out of the three I enjoyed the second season (Asylum) the most even though the twist in season one (Murder House) was fantastic. Season three was still fantastic television even though it felt tamer,…

If you’re triggered by the subject of rape and dubious consent do not read on. In April 2012 footballer Ched Evans was found guilty of raping a 19 year-old girl. The girl had been under the influence of alcohol, which at the time sparked many debates on what exactly counted as full consent. Recently Ched Evans’ case has been brought back into the public light, should he be able to play football again and was there a miscarriage of justice in his trial? Now, I’m not here to debate whether or not he was guilty but what I do want…

Today Pontio released a statement confirming even more delays to their theatre opening, having cancelled their opening performance “Chwalfa” after postponing it to February last month. Bangor University’s Vice-Chancellor Professor John G. Hughes said: “Following detailed discussions with the contractor, and with Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru, it has become clear that work on the building project is unlikely to be completed in time for us to reschedule Chwalfa in February as originally hoped.” And that he “fully recognises everyone’s disappointment at this news but given the delays in the building schedule to date we have no other choice. We sincerely apologise to the…

SAORImôr is a weaving studio located just off Bangor High Street. The studio offers lessons in SAORI Weaving, a special type of Japanese weaving created just 40 years ago! Seren were invited by owner Rosie Green to go and try our hand at the Japanese art of SAORI Weaving, which we were more than enthusiastic to try, I myself have been bitten by the craft bug recently so this particular Seren excursion was right up my street! At first we weren’t too sure where the little studio was but as we rounded the corner by the railway bridge on the…

– New arts and innovation centre and students’ union delayed until 2015 – Tickets to be refunded Tuesday 16th September brought the news – devastating to some – that the long-awaited Pontio building would not be opening this year. The news this follows earlier delays, when the front of the building wasn’t complete by 22nd August, it’s projected opening date. Pontio officials have now released a statement stating that the building will not open until February 2015. Bangor University’s Vice Chancellor Professor John G. Hughes has said, “I fully recognise everyone’s disappointment at this further delay, but given the delays…

A 14 year old boy who started the fire at Our Lady Immaculate RC School has been given a 12 month referral whilst his family must pay £80 costs despite the fire causing more than £100,000 worth of damage. The boy, who cannot be named, said that he was “messing” with the lighter in court, confessed to a school worker he started the fire. Court Chairman Malcom Jones said to him: “You know this is a very serious offence. If you were over 16 you would most certainly have gone into prison.” The court heard the boy had received a…

By now we have all heard of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash landing in east Ukraine, not far from the Russian border. But with the identification of the ten British passengers comes the sad news that one man, Glenn Thomas, a Bangor University graduate was among the victims. The flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur lost all contact at 14:15 GMT, just 50km from the Russia-Ukraine boarder. This follows the disappearance of another Malaysia Airlines flight in March. The crash claimed the lives of all 298 people on board the flight including the…

Bangor University is set to award twelve Honorary Fellowships during its 2014 graduation ceremonies. The men and women who are to be recognized have all either done remarkable things for Wales or have ties to the university its self. Amongst them is Welsh newsreader Huw Edwards, Welsh opera singer Rhys Meirion and local Welsh international rugby player, George North. For their outstanding contribution to Welsh Broadcasting are veteran broadcasters Beti George and Dei Tomos will be honoured. Whilst husband and wife entrepreneurs, David and Alison Lea-Wilson, founders of the successful Halen Môn and the Anglesey Sea Zoo will be rewarded…

The Maze Runner by James Dashner is fantastic for fans of The Hunger Games. Don’t be put off by its “Young Adult” status it is a great read for adults as well as teenagers. It is set in a dystopia called “The Glade.” Its residents, the Gladers, are all teenaged boys, all of whom have had their memory wiped and all they can remember about themselves is their first name. This is true for protagonist Thomas. The Glade, which resides in the middle of a gigantic maze, appears to be their only means of escape and is guarded by half-robot-half-creature…

My most recent obsession (and the the only reason I have survived my exams this year) is angry female rappers. Especially Iggy Azalea. Born Amethyst Amelia Kelly, the 23-year-old rapper originally from Sydney, Australia, first arrived on the American rap scene in 2011 and made a name for herself  with her controversial viral videos for songs ‘Pu$$y’ and ‘Two Times’. She was the first female and non-american rapper to appear in XXL magazine’s annual “Top Ten Freshmen” issue. ‘The New Classic’ is her debut studio album. The rapper’s mission is to “make people question and redefine old ideals” and through…

At 6pm today, Thursday 15th May 2014, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and North Wales Police were called out to Caernarfon Airport due to a crash on the runway. A 55 year old man was inside the aircraft at the point of collision and was rushed to hospital with serious injuries. He was later pronounced dead. Air Accident Investigation have been informed but as of yet there is no further information.

A body has been found in the woodland near St Deiniol Golf Club in Bangor, but the police aren’t treating the case as suspicious. The decomposed body has yet to be identified by North Wales Police, but it has been confirmed that the body is female. The post-mortem is to be carried out this week and investigating officers will be making an official statement on Wednesday. Updates to come.

I first read ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ when I was sixteen and it has since been one of my favourite books, with Margaret Attwood as one of my favourite authors. I would even go as far as to say that this book set my foundations in feminism and made me truly interested in the world of women in both fiction and reality. The novel is set in a dystopian future in a place called Republic of Gilead, otherwise known as the USA and is centred around the handmaid, Offred. In this world there are alarmingly low reproduction rates due to a…

Bangor University has received backing for their plans to invest in and expand the University’s facilities with its ongoing Estates Strategy, by the European Investment Bank (EIB). They are set to receive £45 million for the expansion and modernisation of the University. The total project cost is estimated to be £112 million, with the remainder of the funds being supplied by the University’s own resources, funding from WEFO, the Welsh Assembly Government, and other sources. Vice Chancellor Professor John G Hughes has said that the money will go towards developments such as: “the new Pontio building which is due to…

Beyoncé surprised fans everywhere on 12th December last year when she released her album ‘Beyoncé’ on iTunes without any prior advertising. The album contains fourteen tracks and eighteen visual accompaniments, including bonus videos; ‘Ghost’, ‘Yonce’ and ‘Grown Woman’ as well as credits. Other artist featured include Jay-Z, Drake and Frank Ocean. “Perfection is a disease of a nation.” The message behind her new album is one that is incredibly relevant and hugely important. The songs on this new album are unlike most that she has produced before; presenting current issues of social poverty, equality and sexual discrimination, marriage and even…

Last week, Bangor’s Women’s Lacrosse Team played Liverpool’s 2nd Team. After an initial late start, the girls completely dominated the game winning with a spectacular 31 – 0. The team,  which is made up of a mixture of experienced and first-time players, worked so well together that it was hard to believe that this was their first game together.   Every single girl gave their all in the game, almost all of them scoring at least one goal each and really deserved the result they worked so hard to achieve. Joint man of the match went to Melissa Weinsz and…