We
received great news today - Pantycelyn will continue as a
Welsh-language hall of residence
For
many years, Pantycelyn - Panty or as everyone calls it - has made a
wonderful contribution to the University , the Area , the Welsh
Language and Welsh Nation, by providing a focal point for Welsh
culture which includes student accommodation Welsh the university,
and this through being an open hall with 6 communal rooms - Large
Lounge ( relaxation), Office UMCA ( Aberystwyth Welsh Students' Union
), Cafeteria, Computer room, Senior Common Room ( meetings ), and the
Small Lounge ( Choir, dancing, etc. )
I
came to the university from south - east England and nearly seven
years ago with no Welsh , and I lived in Pantycelyn to learn. The
configuration of the hall and the society was extremely helpful in
enabling me to learn Welsh , and it was an incredible experience -
meet Welsh-speaking students from all over Wales ( and beyond in
some cases ) , see - and join in - with a series of cultural
activities taking place in the communal rooms . For Welsh-speaking
students from English areas also, sometimes not used to speaking
Welsh outside the school gates , this is their first time living in a
Welsh-speaking community. And not forgetting the right of
first-language Welsh students to live in their own language. To all
who come to Pantycelyn, the experience is invaluable .
Pantycelyn
students make a great contribution to the community, and Wales - for
example the choir singing in the town each Christmas, Aelwyd
Pantycelyn often reaches finals in eisteddfods, thereby raising the
profile of Aberystwyth, and frequently RAG Week raises about £1000 or more for charities
The
plans to close Pantycelyn were nasty and clearly based on financial
logic at the expense of the Welsh language and the Welsh community in
the university , so I'm delighted that the university has listened in
the end , due to several protests which I was proud to be a part of,
they have decided to keep Pantycelyn open.
The
new plans agree to retain almost all of Pantycelyn as a hall of
residence Welsh, but possibly several rooms will be turned into part
of a new Welsh-language Centre for the whole university (staff and
students) and the community . The details are yet to be finalized ,
but it is likely we will see more interaction between students ,
university staff and the wider community, and more Welsh-language
activities. And most important of all, students will continue to have
a golden opportunity to live in the middle of the action!
We'll
be celebrating tonight !
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