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8th November 2016 Issue 330
The official student newspaper of the University of East Anglia | concrete-online.co.uk
"Why am I having a bio lecture in the music room?" Jessica Frank-Keyes Deputy Editor Over 1 in 4 UEA students are dissatisfied with the quality of their teaching spaces, a union survey has found. The "Quality Conversations Flash Report" looking into student satisfaction with the quality of teaching spaces at UEA was conducted during weeks five and six this semester. The SU surveyed 365 students at random between 24th
October and 3rd November 2016. According to the survey 1 in 4 UEA students surveyed reported active dissatisfaction with the quality and suitability of their teaching spaces. One student reported that in the room they were timetabled in for a mock exam, “the projector didn't work and [we were] asked to go in an hour earlier the next day to do it off timetable.” Another student, with two classes per week, complained that “one is situated in one of the SU bookable rooms with shouting
drama students next door and the other with loud builders hammering something.” The aim of the survey was to show that while the number of unroomed teaching events has decreased, students continue to experience high levels of dissatisfaction with the quality of their teaching spaces. A number of students also voiced their complaints to the SU: among the most numerous were lack of seating, insufficient size of classrooms and teaching spaces
which were too cold. Technology problems were also common: “My friends and I in other schools, have had sessions where teachers just can't use the tech for classes - why aren't they properly trained?” The suitability of timetabling was also called into question, with one student asking: “Why am I having a bio lecture in the music room?” Responding to the union’s findings, Doctor Andrea Blanchflower, Director of Student
and Academic Services, said: “The university is absolutely committed to creating the right learning environment for our students to flourish and this survey report is welcomed as we endeavour to further improve the quality of individual learning and teaching spaces across our campus.” “The findings will be carefully considered by the Learning and Teaching Spaces Working Group,
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UEA.SU: UEA.SovietUnion Union purchased a domain from former Soviet Union known for cyber crime
James Chesson
Online Editor
The UEA SU website uses a domain from the Soviet Union that is associated with cybercrime. The .su domain is the country code top-level domain that was assigned to the Soviet Union in 1990. The Soviet Union was dissolved by the end of the following year, but the .su domain is still available for use today. Since 2009 it has been
maintained by Russia’s Technical Center of Internet (TCI). According to the TCI there are just under 120,000 .su domain names that are currently registered. This compares to 5.37 million .ru domain names, which is Russia’s country code toplevel domain. The SU launched its latest website (uea.su) over the summer, moving away from their previous domain name, ueastudent.com. The uea.su domain name has been registered since March of this year
and is paid for until March 2017. The decision to make the UEA SU website use a .su domain adds the union’s site to a notorious section of the internet. Cyber security experts have described the Soviet domain as being a “haven” for hackers and cybercriminals. Andrei Komarov from Group-IB, an international cyber security firm that runs one of Russia’s official internet watchdogs, said of the .su domain in 2013 that he estimated “more than half of
cybercriminals in Russia and former USSR [countries] use it.” A common use for the Soviet domain is control of botnets, which are networks of multiple computers that can be used to carry out various types of cybercrime, including hacking and DDoS (dedicated denial of service) attacks. Other domain names from countries that subsequently dissolved, like Yugoslavia’s .yu and East Germany’s .dd have long since been defunct. However, the .su
domain cannot simply be shut down due to the many innocent websites that use it, such as that of UEA SU and four other UK student unions. Komarov acknowledged this, saying that "lots of legitimate domains are registered there." Sergei Ovcharenko, from the Foundation for Internet Development which merged into the TCI in 2009, admitted in 2013 that the .su domain has a cyber
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8th November 2016
Editorial UEA SU: A comedy of errors Jessica Frank Keyes Caitlin Doherty Deputy Editors
Dougie Dodds
Concrete is with her
And it seems like the rest of UEA is too Megan Baynes Editor-in-Chief People are always surprised to hear I’ve been to a Donald Trump rally. However, given the context [I’m interested in politics, I couldn’t believe he was serious, and it was a Wednesday night and I had nothing better to do] it was a relatively easy decision to make. Perhaps it was because the week before I’d been a Bernie Sanders rally — a man so far the other end of the political spectrum, he may as well have been on the moon — and wanted to take in the full scope of American politics. What wasn’t easy however, was the two hours of anti-women / LGBT+ / minority / liberal rhetoric I had to sit through. About halfway through, Trump began discussing food stamps and a man rushed to the stage. Immediately he was seized upon by police officers in riot gear. As he was being dragged from the arena, the crowd around me erupted screaming: “Bet he’s a Mexican”, “Send him back”, “This is why we need a wall.” Several people spat in his face as he was dragged past, with others kicking him. At the time I remember calling my parents and asking them, “Why is no one taking this seriously? Why don’t we think of him as a real threat?” So how did we end up here? Two weeks ago I cast my vote for the first female President of the United States. It wasn’t even a question of who to vote for, not really. Sure I had voted for Bernie in the primaries, but I don't belong to the fanatical "Bernie or Bust" section of American society that will mistakenly elect Donald Trump. No, Hillary isn’t perfect, but it’s a bit like
going to a restaurant and having to pick between a mouldy piece of fruit or a slightly tepid burger. Sure, it might be a bit lukewarm, but compared with a maggot riddled banana, how is that even a question?
“ It’s a bit like going to a restaurant and having to pick between a mouldy piece of fruit or a slightly tepid burger. Sure, it might be a bit lukewarm, but compared with a maggot riddled banana, how is that even a question?" Plus, isn’t it about time that the supposed ‘greatest country on earth’ had a woman as President? It seems like stereotypical sexism that when the only qualified candidate is female — I don’t think spending Daddy’s money or running a reality show are the qualifications needed for President — everyone has remained fixated on Hillary’s husband’s affairs, or her incorrect use of emails. We asked UEA for their opinion on the election (p.16). Over 81 percent of you agreed and stood with her, whilst a slightly alarming 11 percent backed the Donald. I hope that 11 percent was being ironic. In the words of one comment
writer, “He is a behemoth of the media, a brash jingoistic pumpkin resplendent in shiny suits and an eternal inhabitant of leading the headlines.” (p.17) We’ll be in the pub the night of the election liveblogging, so make sure to come find us and get involved. Whether you have enough opinions to fill a novella, or just want to someone to drown your sorrows with (which will be me if Massachusetts doesn’t go blue) we’ll be there from 10:30pm until the results come in. Bring snacks. It seems that homophobes aren’t just confined to the United States, as James Arthur has been booked to play at the LCR on 6th March (p.3). Causing controversy over his comments towards rapper Mickey Worthless, this appears to directly contradict the SU bylaws, which state that acts should be none discriminatory. UEA students have a reputation for getting riled up about who is allowed to set foot on campus, but this outrage is haphazardly applied. If Ukip aren’t welcome, why is James Arthur? Perhaps the only difference here is the profit the SU looks to make from his performance. As week seven panic sets in, Deputy Editor, Jessica Frank-Keyes takes an unflinching look at coping with university having lost a parent (p.11). It offers great advice, and perspective, particularly for those who are lucky enough to have not experienced something so heartbreaking. So read up and remember to call your parents (Hi Mum and Dad). That's all from me — not least of all because the radiatiors have been turned off and my hands are frozen to the keyboard. Happy November!
The news that UEA SU has purchased its new domain name from the former Soviet Union will come as no surprise to anyone who has been following the ongoing comedy of errors taking place upstairs in union house. From Sombrero-gate (no, we haven’t forgotten) to the endless need for ever-safer spaces, the union seems to lurch from one PR catastrophe to the next. If there is some Stalin-esque figure in the middle of this spider-web, they must be a fairly inept tyrant. Regardless, it’s safe to say that if the union were hoping to dispel the impression of themselves as mindlessly left-wing, they could have chosen better than to the model themselves on the home of the Soviet gulags and the fount of Marxist-Leninism. We can only assume it was accidental. Talking of SU blunders, it’s nice to know we that aren’t the only university seemingly governed with out-of-touch incompetency. Kent University hit the headlines last week over the bizarre choice of two BritishPakistani celebrities as the faces of Black History Month. This moronic miscalculation saw the union widely trolled on social media – but legitimate mocking aside – the error was a serious one and you can read our coverage of the incident on page 4. It’s no secret that UEA plans to expand significantly in the next few years. Alongside student dissatisfaction with classroom space, this week we covered the issues facing Norwich Nightline, a vital service, facing the threat of closure after being forced out of their offices. While it may not be as snappy as Clinton’s #hashtag pledge, we at Concrete are definitely “with” Nightline. And whether you’re having a bio lecture in the music room, or a breakdown in the media office (our radiators are broken, and come Monday morning the editors may well be found frozen solid...) we hope you have a happy reading week!
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The University of East Anglia’s Independent Student newspaper since 1992 Tuesday 8th November 2016 Issue 330 Union House University of East Anglia Norwich NR4 7TJ 01603 593466 www.concrete-online.co.uk Editor-in-Chief Megan Baynes concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk Deputy Editors Jessica Frank-Keyes Caitlin Doherty concrete.deputy@uea.ac.uk Online Editor James Chesson Online Assistant: Freddie Sallis concrete.online@uea.ac.uk News Emily Hawkins Senior Reporter: Amanda Ng concrete.news@uea.ac.uk concrete.seniornews@uea.ac.uk Global Ollie Watts concrete.global@uea.ac.uk Features Lillie Coles Lydia Lockyer concrete.features@uea.ac.uk Comment Charlie Dwyer concrete.comment@uea.ac.uk Science Sophie Christian concrete.science@uea.ac.uk Travel Jennifer Redfern Senior Reporter: Milly Godfrey concrete.travel@uea.ac.uk concrete.seniortravel@uea.ac.uk Sport Richard Ewart Nick Murphy concrete.sport@uea.ac.uk Chief Copy-Editors Molly Burgess Emma Slaughter concrete.copy@uea.ac.uk Marketing Director Katie Gleeson concrete.marketing@uea.ac.uk Social Media Coordinator Charlotte Spencer concrete.socialmedia@uea.ac.uk Events Manager Sam Naylor Events Assistant: Grace Fothergill concrete.events@uea.ac.uk Editorial Enquiries Complaints & Corrections concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk
Cover Photo: www.uea.su No part of this newspaper may be reproduced by any means without the permission of the Editor-in-Chief, Megan Baynes. Published by the Union of UEA Students on behalf of Concrete. Concrete is a UUEAS society, but retains editorial independence as regards to any content. Opinions expressed herein are those of individual writers, not of Concrete or its editorial team.
News
8th November 2016
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James Arthur Nightline receive to play LCR union support after The singer was criticised for his use of homophobic slurs
SU bars discriminatory artists from playing union venues
forced office move Emily Hawkins News Editor
Micky Worthless, pictured here burning Arthur's photo. following the incident. Photo: Flickr, Darren Johnson Alex Edge News Reporter This week UEA SU announced that controversial artist James Arthur will be playing at the LCR on 6th March on his ‘Back from the Edge’ tour.
“The LCR is also the only university venue to book James Arthur on this tour.” James Arthur is launching his tour despite recieving a huge backlash in the last few years over his use of homophobic slurs on social media and in his lyrics. In one of his online raps he references new rapper, Micky Worthless, stating “You should shoot yourself” He also calls him a “fucking queer”. The union have a policy in place in bylaw 8.20.6 which states that all artists appearing at union events must be non-discriminatory. The LCR is also the only university venue to book James Arthur on this tour. Earlier in the year, the openly homophobic band ‘Anti- nowhere
league’ were booked by the union to play 16th November 2016. This would not have been their first performance, having played at the LCR in 2011 and the Waterfront in 2013. However, the band cancelled shortly after the announcement. Already there is a growing backlash, with a Non-Portfolio Officer tweeting “Pretty unacceptable that for the second time this year @UnionUEA have booked an act who has been publicly homophobic and racist.” When questioned by Concrete, SU Campaigns and Democracy Officer Amy Rust stated that: “this [issue] came up in June 2015 when James Arthur was last booked for the LCR/Waterfront - at the time in consultation with the LGBT+ Officer, we concluded that Arthur’s widely reported apology and comments on the issue meant that his booking would not represent a breach of any policies." She added that: "this year’s LGBT+ Officers have not suggested we revise this view.” It has been reported that complaints are all ready being sent to the union regarding the booking. Despite this, the gig is still being promoted across UEA SU social media.
UEA union council have voted to formally support Nightline following their claims that the service has been compromised after they were forced to move office space. The listening service’s offices were moved from Suffolk Terrace to floor 02 of the university library in July. According to Nightline, the former Dean of Students office did not take into consideration the views of UEA Security, the union or other relevant bodies when making the decision. The proposal for the Union to formally commit to supporting “The Provision of a Sufficient Office Space for Nightline” was raised at the first Union council meeting of the year, on Thursday 20th October. In Nightline’s previous location, volunteers had the resource of a panic button that notified UEA Security when needed. Volunteers no longer have access to such an alarm, and instead must send an email in emergencies. The Union agreed that this change puts the safety of Nightline volunteers at risk. In the service’s new space, volunteers are now not officially allowed to eat or sleep for the duration of their shift, which last twelve hours. Joanne Bridgland Nightline’s External Coordinator and Joe Carr Nightline’s Internal Coordinator added, “we are expected to have the space completely vacated by 8am which consequently eats in to our service hours and we no longer have a space to hold confidential meetings and training for our volunteers.” The Union noted “interest from 74 potential new volunteers this semester” and said that it is clear the society requires an office “that can suitably meet the expectations of our service and cater to the wellbeing of our volunteers.” Nightline report receiving almost 900 contacts with students in the 2015-2016 academic year. 47 per cent of these were through phone calls, a service unavailable for almost two weeks owing to a failure to implement phone lines in time for the new term. Student ‘drop-ins’ to the Suffolk Terrace office made up 12 percent of these contacts. Currently Nightline is not able to invite students into their office during their operational hours of 8pm-8am owing to library security, library
Gerry Balding staff and cleaning staff being able to enter, compromising student confidentiality. The motion approved by the union also stated that Nightline has spent "almost ¼ of their annual budget on equipping the new space for volunteers and on new promotional material, as all existing advertising was made redundant by forced changes and no provisions were provided to us by the library for storage of Nightline materials." Union council stated: “The Union and the University have a moral obligation to guarantee an effective, exclusive, and confidential space for Nightline.” The Union has resolved with the new Student
900 47 12 12
The number of students who contacted Nightline during the 2015-16 academic year The percentage of these students who contacted Nightline by phone last year The percentage of these students who used Nightline's 'drop-in' service last year The number of hours in a Nightline volunteer's shift
Support Services to find or create an adequate space for Nightline for the rest of the academic year. Nightline have said that this move has given them hope “that our situation will soon improve.” Bridgland and Carr further said, “we feel that although we are continuing to provide the best service we can to contacts, the welfare of the volunteers whilst on shift has been compromised by our inability to cater to their basic needs.” Speaking on behalf of the University of East Anglia, Doctor Jon Sharp, Director of Student Services, said: “the University recognises the valuable contribution that Nightline makes to the well-being of the student community and continues to be committed to providing space on campus for the Nightline team to carry out their work. He continued: "our new Head of Well Being, Jane Lawrence, and myself as Director of Student Services are working closely with the Nightline team on the issue of accommodation. There was an issue regarding the accessibility of kitchen space and sleeping provision and this is being addressed. Finally, he said: "we are also in discussion with other colleagues around the University with a view to identifying an appropriately structured space that can serve as a permanent home for the team.” A second year volunteer for the service told Concrete that: "Nightline has become a very important service to students at UEA. To continue providing the best listening service we should have the rights we previously had, including being able to rest and eat during our long 12 hour shifts."
8th November 2016
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News
Sharp fall in EU applications for UK's most competitive courses James Chesson News Reporter Fewer EU students applied for the most competitive UK university courses this year in the wake of the vote to leave the EU.
“[Governmental] assurances came just four days before the applications for those highly selective courses closed.” The 15th October deadline for dentistry, medicine and veterinary science came earlier than most courses, and figures from Ucas showed that application from the EU have fallen by nine percent. The drop in EU applications for the 2017 entry cycle compares to a rise of eight percent in the previous year. Ucas said, "EU applicant
numbers for this 2017 entry cycle are close to where they were for the 2015 cycle, reversing the 8 percent increase seen in 2016." The government did give assurance that EU students applying to UK universities for the next academic year would be eligible for loans and grants throughout the whole of their course, even if the UK’s exit from the EU takes place before they complete their studies. This assurance came just four days before the applications for those highly selective courses closed. Nicola Dandridge, Universities UK Chief Executive, said: that the fall in EU applicants highlights “the importance of ensuring that prospective European applicants are made fully aware of the fees and financial support arrangements well in advance of the applications window.” Applications from within the UK rose by three percent to a total of 39,440, while the number for those
Photo: Wikimedia, Council of Europe
“EU applicant numbers for this 2017 entry cycle are close to where they were for the 2015 cycle, reversing the 8 percent increase..."
applying from outside the EU rose by one percent. Mary Curnock Cook, Ucas chief executive, described the overall increase as “encouraging”, but said that Ucas “will be watching the numbers of EU applications, especially now that the Government has confirmed arrangements for continuing access to student loans for 2017 courses.”
Kent Student Union apologises for Black History Month controversy Shannon McDonagh News Reporter Kent University’s Student Union has come under fire for including singer Zayn Malik and London Mayor Sadiq Khan in their promotional material for Black History Month, despite both individuals being of British- Pakistani heritage.
“This latest controversy has done very little to deter the growing critics of the NUS endorsing “political blackness”, a theory which groups the experiences of ethnic minorities into a single homogenous identity. " It is understood that those involved in the Union's decision were instructed to select six public figures to be included in poster advertisements for the campaign to celebrate a “range of ethnic cultures”. The decisions made received an immediate wave of backlash from students and advocates across the UK when Malik and Khan made the final selection. The organisers of Black History Month UK criticised the Union, saying the “ill thought” move had left them “deeply disappointed”, having previously supported Kent Union’s campaign. The organisation
tweeted: "With Asian Heritage Month being observed by a growing number of countries in May, will black icons be celebrated by Kent University then?" Shortly after the posters were removed from the Union's website, Kent Union President Rory Murray released a statement on behalf of the Union, apologising to individuals who were “upset, uncomfortable or offended.” In a statement organisers of the posters said, "we can see that many of our students disagree with the direction the campaign took. We made a mistake." Responses to these statements have been overwhelmingly negative, with students taking to social media to deem his words inadequate and forced. This latest controversy has done very little to deter the growing critics of the NUS endorsing “political blackness”, a theory which groups the experiences of ethnic minorities into a single homogenous identity. Though historically the term has been a source of solidarity for British ethnic minorities, it is now mostly considered a form of erasure in a time where race plays such a vital role in a person’s individual experiences. Despite this view, the NUS Black Student’s Conference recently rejected the proposition of changing its use
of the term, with President Malia Bouattia frequently advocating this stance.
"With Asian Heritage Month being observed by a growing number of countries in May, will Black icons be celebrated by Kent University then?"
Discussing the controversy, UEA Ethnic Minorities Officer Tarun Sridhar said: "there is a lively and active debate about the terms ‘ethnically black’ and ‘politically black’, but the crucial thing is that these issues are settled by students." "Here at UEA, as well as hosting debates on the issue our BME caucus has discussed the issues and chosen to celebrate the month from a politically black perspective."
Kent Student Union’s campaign organisers have since met with the university’s Afro Caribbean Society to discuss possible solutions for this incident. An open forum has also been arranged for all Kent students to debate and discuss the decisions made by the Union. Union organisers said, "We value the input of all of our students in our liberation campaigns and welcome the opportunity to talk to any of you further.”
Student housing in Norwich second cheapest nationally Megan Baynes Editor-in-Chief Norwich remains one of the cheapest places for students to live, StuRents have revealed. StuRents, a dedicated student property search engine and tenancy management platform analysed the private student rental market in 43 locations nationwide. Norwich had the second cheapest average rent price per person per week at just £64. This was in increase of 1.2 percent. Cambridge was found to be the most expensive at £142 per person per week. Brighton rents increased the most, climbing almost 5 percent on the previous year. The survey took into account both houses of multiple occupancy (HMOs) and purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA). StuRents said, “As demonstrated earlier this year through students’ participation in Cut the Rent strikes, yearly rent increases have become an emotive topic, particularly as students are already being burdened with significant amounts of debt upon graduation. “By choosing a university city with lower average rental costs, a student could save themselves more than £5,000 over a three-year course. This is not an insignificant amount of money, meaning the cost of rent over the lifetime of a university degree could well become a very important factor for students and parents when deciding which university to attend.” Concrete reported in Issue 328 that the UEA SU were planning to introduce a policy of rent strikes over the rising costs of student accommodation on campus. After the publication of the issue the policy was later dropped, and a "Affordable Housing for UEA Students" policy was adopted by union council, minus the rent strikes provision.
Top 5 for price increase 1. Brighton: +4.7% 2. Exeter: +4.3% 3. Stirling: +3.9% 4. Middlesbrough: +3.7% 5. Glasgow: +3.6%
Bottom 5 for price increase 1. High Wycombe: 0.0% 2. Gloucester: -0.1% 3. Dundee: -0.2% 4. Huddersfield: -1.2%
Photos: (L-R) Zayn Malik, Wikimedia, First Access Entertainment, Sadiq Khan, Wikimedia,Steve Punter
5. Cambridge: -1.9%
8th November 2016
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NUS campaign for free prescriptions Sophie Christian News Reporter The National Union of Students (NUS) have launched a new campaign calling on prescription charges to be scrapped for students and apprentices over the age of 18. According to research conducted by the NUS, more than 50 percent of students struggle to meet the cost of living, yet prescriptions in England cost £8.40 per item and are expected to rise on average by 20 pence a year.
“Students here are less inclined to go to the doctors when they know they’ll have to pay a prescription charge.” Prescription charges do not exist in Northern Ireland, Wales or Scotland; in Northern Ireland prescriptions are offered for free to English visitors. Patients who are under 16, 16-18 and in full-time education and those who over 60 are also exempt from these charges. Taylor-Jo Ings, a third-year Law student at UEA said, “Being a student from Wales where we have free prescriptions, I agree that they should be scrapped. I would say that students here are less inclined to go to the doctors if there is a problem when they know they’ll have to pay a prescription charge.”
Megan Baynes Students can apply for a discount through an HC1 form every twelve months, but many are not aware of this option or do not use it, as it is a lengthy form which requires strong evidence of low income. The NHS states people are eligible for this option if their savings, investments or property do not exceed £16,000. The Scrap Prescription Charges campaign was launched at the NUS Welfare Zone conference, which ran
19 8.40
The age that students have to start paying for prescriptions
The current price of a prescription.
from October 26th to the 27th. Shelly Asquith, the NUS Vice President for Welfare stated: “With maintenance grants gone, students are under increasing financial pressure. No person should be unable to access the healthcare they need due to hardship. You only have to look at the apprentice minimum wage and the student loan payments to see that this is one cost on top of many."
Study find unis failing "commuter students"
Photo: Wikimedia, US Census Bureau Emily Hawkins News Editor New research from Kingston University has recommended courses be altered to better suit students who commute long distances to university each day. In their research paper, Kingston academics Barry Avery and Jane Southall argue that universities “should better understand the needs of commuter students" so they can reduce the stress caused by the social transitions these students experience in their first year of university. They add that institutions “should pay particular attention to the needs of those from non-traditional backgrounds as they may find the process even more challenging.” Dr Deborah Anderson, associate
professor in strategy, marketing and innovation at Kingston, said that having to travel to 9am classes during rush-hour traffic, having long gaps between lectures and commitments with group works can be difficult for students who commute. This latest research concludes by suggesting that universities, “develop timetables that group sessions together to allow for economic use of time and opportunities for paid employment.” It also recommends that universities “work more closely” with further education institutions to help students who will commute to university have an accurate understanding of what it will entail. SU Undergraduate Education Officer Theo Antoniou-Phillips said, “One of the most miserable effects of the continued marketisation
of education – and the fact that universities rely on undergrad fees for funding across the sector – is this homogenisation of provision, where courses are tailored exclusively to traditional, on-campus, full-time students.”
“Given the hauntingly low higher education participation rate for Norfolk and Suffolk it’s hugely important that UEA does all it can to break some of these moulds and makes the way courses are run more friendly to people from the area."
“Given the hauntingly low higher education participation rate for Norfolk and Suffolk it’s hugely important that UEA does all it can to break some of these moulds and makes the way courses are run more friendly to people from the area,” he said. The research has also revealed that commuter students largely feel positive about choosing to live at home whilst they study. Dr Anderson also stated that: “there is a massive number of students who want to live at home and lots may have family commitments, such as taking a younger sibling to school, that they can’t or don’t want to give up.” She said that commuters “might see their own social life as quite separate from the university, but they are still making very positive choices about going to university.”
News COMMENT Heidi Alexander says that this NUS campaign will financially benefit students I don’t think it should be necessary for students over the age of 18 to have to pay a prescription charge. At the moment, anybody under the age of 18 in full time education is exempt from the charge but with the scrapping of maintenance grants, the cost of basic living will continue to be more of a struggle for many students. The cost of a prescription is currently £8.40 per item and this could rise. If you look at it this way, people who are on a lowincome and not in education are exempt from the charges, so why should students should be treated differently? Whatever the situation, if someone requires medication, whether that be long or short term, they should not be denied it because of their financial situation. Students are often worrying about affording the weekly shop and ideally they should not have to prioritise other utilities over necessary medication. Hopefully the NUS petition will open the eyes of the government and allow them to see how many students are affected by this unnecessary charge. If you believe the prescription charge is unfair, don’t hesitate to voice your opinion via the online petition, and make a change that will benefit all students.
Continued on from front page security problem, saying “we realise it’s a threat for our image.” Despite the comparatively low number of sites ending in .su, Ovcharenko acknowledged that the fraudulent sites are often allowed to stay online for far longer than they should. He also pointed out that most .su websites are designed for legitimate purposes. An SU spokesperson said: “The change to uea.su was implemented over the summer to simplify things and mirrors the actions of several SUs around the UK. Although the .su domain originally denoted Soviet Russia, internet addressing just points a browser to the correct IP address. Traffic doesn’t go through the Soviet Union and the site is hosted at the UKFast data centre in Manchester with payments handled by a secure link to sagepay. “Students can be rest assured that both facilities offer industry standard security.” Soviet domains are typically more expensive to register than the likes of .co.uk or .com. Those more common domains tend to cost around £3.75 per year. By comparison, the cheaper domains from the Soviet Union are priced at approximately £24 per year. A 2013 Huffington Post article on the subject ends: “if you get sent a link to a website ending in .su, it’s probably worth taking extra care.”
8th November 2016
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News
Labour MPs split over Richmond by-election COMMENT
Jack Ashton agrees with Clive Lewis and argues that Labour should not field a seat in the Richmond Park by- election
Judith Howe News Reporter Clive Lewis the MP for Norwich South has been part of a disregarded collective call for the Labour party to allow the Liberal Democrats to run uncontested against Zac Goldsmith in the by-election. However the party has ignored calls, including from Lewis, not to stand a candidate against Goldsmith. Goldsmith, a former mayoral candidate, recently resigned from the Conservative Party due to the government’s decision to grant a third runway at Heathrow Airport, which would affect many of his constituents. He is now running to be elected as an Independent candidate.
“Instead of pretending this is a referendum on Heathrow, why not make it a real referendum on Goldsmith?” Several Labour MPs have therefore condemned the decision by Labour to contest the byelection, given the small chance of a Labour victory. The Labour Party have consistently placed third in general elections in Richmond Park, whereas before Goldsmith’s sixyear stint as MP the constituency was considered a Liberal Democrat safe seat. The MPs Clive Lewis, Lisa Nancy and Jonathan Reynolds used a Labour List article to voice their
Photo: Wikimedia, Kinversam concerns about Labour splitting the left-wing vote in the area. They cited Goldsmith’s controversial mayoral campaign and his stance during the EU referendum as reasons to support a Liberal Democrat attempt to oust him from his seat.
The MPs claimed that Goldsmith was "willing to throw hard won environmental and workplace protections down the drain despite all his talk of being green." Their article concludes by asking, “Instead of pretending this is a referendum
Norwich mental health care amongst the worst in the UK Amanda Ng Senior Reporter Norwich Clinical Commissioning Group, a local NHS body in Hellesdon Hospital, has been ranked one of the worst in England for mental health performance. Health chiefs have been denying this and argue that the figures do not represent the entire care they provide to patients. Norwich CCG believe that mental health services for people in the city is “considerably better than this data portrays.” The CCG’s performance was measured through two sets of figures of early intervention in psychosis and improving their access to psychological therapies (IAPT). The CCGs have announced that they hope to fund their psychosis service by next spring. A spokeswoman for CCG believes Norwich deals with patients with more complex mental health issues, who are more likely to need to be hospitalised, therefore it should not be compared with other national data.
A new national target has been set by Norwich’s Health Minister, Norman Lamb, as a lack of funding
“We are concerned that insufficient funds have been allocated locally to enable us to deliver this important all-age service.”
provided by local CCGS has been considerably low. The CCGSs have only paid Norfolk and Suffolk NHS (NSFT) for patients ages between 14-35.
Photo: Wikimedia, FrancisTyers Tracy Williams, Chairman of CCG, confirmed that they will never end relations with the NHS. She said: “We will never say that the NHS is doing enough and we will never stop looking for better ways to treat patients within the finite resources we have. However, chief executive of NSFT Michael Scott, stated: “We are concerned that insufficient funds have been allocated locally to enable us to deliver this important all-age service.” He also believes that funding is not seen as necessary for mentally ill patients, compared to those with a physical illness.
on Heathrow, why not make it a real referendum on Goldsmith?” The Shadow Housing Secretary John Healey confirmed on the BBC’s Daily Politics show that “Labour will stand” in the by-election set to take place on December 1st.
Continued from front page which meets on 9th November and includes UEA SU’s undergraduate and postgraduate education officers. This group will also examine feedback submitted by students via the PTES and PRES surveys, and feedback from staff. Student feedback from the Student Experience Survey and NSS was considered at the previous meeting of the Working Group in September.” She added: “The feedback provided by staff and students enables us to attend to any quick fixes, prioritise areas for refurbishment and consider enhancements to the underlying processes associated with timetabling.” Speaking to Concrete, Undergraduate Education Officer Theodore Antoniou-Phillips said: “What our research shows is a dangerously high number of students subjected to unacceptable levels of chaos so far this term. With fees as high as they are, students expect PCs that work, rooms with enough chairs and tables in and timetabling that makes travel between classes possible. Above all they expect the University to recognise the problem and plan to fix it, not bury their head in the sand about it.” He added that considering the university plans to expand by
Annoyingly, this issue is strikingly reflective of British politics right now: the Conservatives have gone back on their promises, the Liberal Democrats are quietly doing their thing, and once again Labour has got it wrong. This is not about giving Labour an extra seat in Parliament, it’s about justice for the people affected by Zac Goldsmith’s vile, divisive and racist mayoral campaign. In order to deliver this justice, the progressive parties need to get behind the closest candidate to defeating Goldsmith. In this case, painfully, it is the Lib Dems. Lewis has got it right in representing the pragmatic, progressive politics needed to get rid of this reactionary Tory government. The rest of Labour need to follow him. Whether you like the Lib Dems or not should be put aside in favour of ousting Goldsmith. If this were a general election, Labour could concentrate resources on fighting other seats that they are more likely to win in and the party could end May's flimsy majority. The first poll from Richmond Park, conducted by BMG Research, put the Lib Dems on 29 per cent and Goldsmith on 56 per cent. If you don’t like Goldsmith, then the Lib Dems are the only way.
750 365 1 25
The number of students the university plans to expand by next semester students surveyed in 4 students are dissastisfied with teaching spaces percent of students don't believe their rooms are suitable for teaching
around 750 students next semester, teaching space dissatisfaction will remain a significant problem, saying that: “the university is presiding over a crisis that can only get worse. "We are calling on the Vice Chancellor to develop a proper student numbers and facilities action plan now, with realistic assessments of the temporary and permanent facilities needed school by school, before UEA’s reputation for student experience disappears forever.”
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Global
8th November 2016
The plight of the Calais jungle inhabitants
Photo: St Michael’s Church Calais Jungle, Wikimedia, Liam-stoopdice Beverley Devakishen Global Writer The last residents of the sprawling migrant camp on the French side of the English Channel have been evacuated. Approximately 291 women and children transferred to family centers around France, meaning the authorities can close the camp for good. A huge crowd of refugees had gravitated towards a site in Calais, in Northern France over the past year. An estimated 7000 immigrants had been living there with living conditions deteriorating rapidly. Most of these immigrants set up camp there with the intention of
crossing into the United Kingdom. France began demolition of the camp on 24 October, and has since cleared the camp. This is an echo of the crisis in 1999, during which many refugees stayed in Sangette to try and cross from France into England illegally. There were riots in 2001 and 2002, the year the camp closed. The immigrants who were living in the Calais camp are to be transferred to new Welcome and Orientation Centers (CAOs) all around France. It has been reported that majority of the refugees were cooperative and welcomed the move. However, transference to the CAOs does not guarantee their
safety. There have been alarming displays of hostility in places where CAOs were being set up. In the more extreme case of Forges-Les-Bains, the proposed center was set on fire. Such displays of objections may be a foreshadowing of the dangers the refugees will face in the future.
“Former home secretary Jack Straw is pushing for dental investigations or x-rays to prove the age of refugees.” Furthermore, there are immigrants that do not want to apply for asylum risk expulsion from the CAOs. Asylum seekers will be moved to the Reception Centre
for Asylum Seekers (CADA), most of which are overflowing and unable to hold them long enough for their applications to be completed. CAOs will not take them back, as the buildings will be used for other purposes by spring. Immigrants will be left stranded as a result. Among the 7000 immigrants removed from the camp, about 1200 were children. Many of these children are unaccompanied minors who have family in England, making them eligible to enter the country. Suspicions that some ‘minors’ may in fact be adult refugees lying about their age to sneak into the UK has been reported in a number of British media outlets. Among those who have been fueling
Turmoil in South Korea
Accusations of financial corruption threaten the president
Ollie Watts Global Editor South Korea has found itself plunged into political turbulence as Choi Soon-sil, a South Korean woman alleged to have exploited her longterm friendship with incumbent President Park Geun-hye for her own personal gain, returned to the country to face these accusations. In a deeply contrite apology, President Park has said she alone was responsible for the current scandal engulfing her presidency, and denied allegations that she was involved with a cult or had performed shamanistic rituals at the Presidential Blue House. Her approval rating has since plunged to 5 percent. The relationship between Park and Choi has long been controversial. Choi is a figure mired in mystery and distrust as the daughter of a Christian cult leader. She has been advising the President on policy matters, editing her speeches and is also said to have a spiritual hold over President Park, and has been giving her advice on mystical believes, including on
auspicious colours to wear. Ms Choi is suspected to have been illegally involved in the state’s governance despite of not holding office and thus having no security clearance. She is also accused of meddling in state affairs and soliciting private contributions toward non-profit funds. Ms Choi’s return to South Korea comes amid protests in Seoul demanding the resignation of the President. This was the Eternal Life Church, founded by Choi’s father, combines traits of Christianity, Buddhism and Cheondism – a native religion. Through this position, Mr Choi became the spiritual adviser to Ms. Park’s father, former South Korean dictator Park Chung-hee, and later on was also adviser to Ms. Park following the assassination of her mother in 1974. When Mr Choi died in 1994, his daughter, Choi Soon-sil, the woman at the heart of the ongoing scandal, took over as Ms. Park’s spiritual adviser and fulfilled the role her father had been carrying out. It was, and still is, in this capacity, that Ms. Choi was enabled deep access into ongoing state affairs and a platform in which she is accused of
using to coerce companies to donate millions to at least two foundations she was overseeing. To compound the indictments, a confidential 2007 US diplomatic cable, published by Wikileaks, appears to suggest that Mr Choi exercised “complete control over Park’s body and soul during her formative years and that his children accumulated enormous wealth as a result”. In 2012, President Park was elected on a mandate of ending corruption, something which has beset South Korean governance for decades, and also promised to combat growing fiscal inequality and reign in influential conglomerates. The scandal has so far led to heightened calls for President Park to quit her office; the string of serious allegations has also weakened Ms Park’s popularity ahead of her battle for re-election in 2018. Turnout at various demonstrations in favour of President Park’s resignation has been estimated to be in the tens of thousands. Park will now face an increasingly hostile resistance from a parliament that is already dominated by her opponents.
Photo: Wikimedia, Korea.net
these skeptical and unforgiving speculations are David Davies, the Conservative MP for Monmouth, and former home secretary Jack Straw, both of whom are pushing for dental investigations or x-rays to prove the age of refugees. The British Dental Association, however, stated that imposing such checks would be ‘unethical and inappropriate’. The Home Office echoed this view and has firmly ruled out dental x-ray checks on refugees. This controversial issue has divided Britain. As the ex-Jungle inhabitants are fighting to secure their safety, one can only hope that France and England will work together to do whatever they can to help.
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8th November 2016
Abducted Nigerian girl found alive with baby
Danish queen criticised for immigration views
One of the abducted Nigerian Chibok schoolgirls has been found alive, with a 10-month-old baby son fathered by one of her kidnappers. The girl was taken by militant group Boko Haram - alongside 270 of her classmates - in 2014. The girl was found in Pulka, Northern Nigeria, following a predawn raid on a forest hideout, according to military spokesman Sani Usman. Around 200 of the girls taken in 2014 are still believed to be in captivity. Approximately 50 managed to escape on the day of their capture, and until the release of 21 girls in October, there had only been one confirmed liberation after a 19 year old woman was found by military forces in 2015. The Bring Back Our Girls campaign was launched following the abduction to raise awareness of the missing girls. It has several high profile backers, including First Lady Michelle Obama. Boko Haram have killed an estimated 30,000 people and forced another 2.6 million from their homes during their seven-year long campaign to establish an Islamic State in Northern Nigeria. Caitlin Doherty
The Queen of Denmark has made controversial comments on the status of immigrants in Danish society. In her new book, written with journalist Thomas Larsen, she states: “it’s not a law of nature that one becomes Danish by living in Denmark.” She admits that the integration of immigrants into Danish society has been more troubled than was initially thought, referring to initial hopes that ‘things would take care of themselves’. She goes on to give the opinion that immigrants from ‘Southeast Asia’ have ‘generally prospered’, adding that ‘others have more difficulty adapting’. Her remarks centre around what it means to be Danish, a subject which has recently increased in popularity. Queen Margarethe II has remained in the thick of such discussions on immigration and national identity from the beginning, having earlier told German newspaper Der Spiegel that Denmark is ‘not a multicultural country’. It appears that a large portion of Denmark’s population shares the queen’s views on immigrants, with the right wing Danish newspaper Berlingske calling her ‘a political temperature gauge’. Cat Leyland
ROUNDUP
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Australian pranksters play in North Korean golf tournament
Under the guise of world-class golfers, two Australians played in North Korea’s 18-hole international golf tournament. Mr Ruig and Mr Shay, both 28, had been in Beijing for a polo trip when they successfully applied to play. They represented Australia in the two-day tournament in wearing green Photo: Wikimedia, masem Pyongyang,
blazers to represent their country, alongside 85 professional golfers. They were also treated to a chaperoned five-day trip, including a tour of the capital, for their participation. Pyongyang hosts the country’s only golf course and opened in 1987 by North Korea’s late Leader Kim Jong-il. It is claimed that he shot 11 hole-inones in his first attempt at the sport. After the Australians
participation in the event they feared being stopped at the border as a result of North Korea’s high security measures. However, they were allowed to leave freely. Sophie Bunce
Photo: Wikimedia, Johannes Jansen
education polls
This year I have already started lobbying and campaigning on academic issues that matter to students, ensuring the university is always improving for students and their academic experience. However, now you have gotten through half a semester, I’d like to ask you the priority issues; I want to know what is concerning you the most. Grab a token and choose the academic issue that concerns you the most. At the end of the week I’ll count all of the tokens and release the results! This will help me lobby the university on your behalf, and show them that lots of students care about the issues I am talking about. Get voting! Theo Antoniou-Phillips Undergraduate Education Officer UEA|SU PRIORITY CAMPAIGN
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Features
8th November 2016
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Winter creeps in: Dealing with SAD
Emily Paterson Features Writer As the clocks went back last week, it was a reminder that the summer has finally drawn to a close and the winter months are upon us. This is an exciting time for many, not just because of the extra hour we get to stay in bed but because Christmas is fast approaching. However, for Wayne Morris, Support Worker, Bury St Edmunds, the clocks going back was a time he dreaded. The 44-year-old suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) commonly referred to as the ‘winter depression’ and affects 1 in 3 people in the UK. “The first time it really hit me was in 1986 – I was fourteen years old and distinctly remember one Christmas. I can’t even describe
the feeling. It was a weird feeling. I knew I didn’t like Christmas and maybe that’s why I’ve never really liked winter. I felt so detached from myself,” he said.
“Seasonal affective disorder can take many forms. It is often triggered by a lack of sunlight, which can impact parts of the brain.” Derived from the USA in the 1980’s, seasonal affective disorder can take many forms and the extremity can depend on the
individual. It is often triggered by a lack of sunlight, which can impact parts of the brain responsible for sleep, appetite and mood making our bodies want to go into a hibernation state. “You were in darkness for so many weeks. I would go to work in the dark and then come home in the dark,” Wayne adds. Wayne usually starts getting symptoms of SAD at the beginning of October where he becomes short-tempered during the day and explains getting heavy oppressive feelings which often give him headaches. “I feel sluggish in the mornings and find it extremely difficult to get up. I’ve never had it as bad to say I couldn’t function but it is definitely harder to get through the day.” Whilst it can be treated medically, the support worker
explains that it is the natural remedies that make the difference and explains that becoming a support worker for adults with learning disabilities has helped him begin to embrace this time of year. “I’m doing something that takes attention off myself and it has given me a sense of purpose. I know not everyone suffers and a lot of people get excited. “I try and put my own pet hates aside and input joy and happiness instead. I would go as far as saying it has been a life changing career choice as I have got back a sense of worth and gratification.” The Royal College of Psychiatrists recommends that SAD sufferers get as much natural light as possible using light therapy. This treatment uses infrared light to mimic the sun rays and if used for 30-60 minutes a day, symptoms
of SAD are said to improve within 2 weeks. Despite purchasing an SAD light in a bid to try and help the symptoms, Wayne decided not to continue with light therapy and to simply follow a strict diet and exercise regime. “I think some people think using an SAD light will completely illuminate the disorder which isn’t true. I used diet and exercise and it really helped me.” SAD is becoming more recognised with charities such as MIND getting on board to provide a support network to share experiences so that people no longer have to suffer alone. “It’s good to see that awareness is greater now than before. I strongly believe talking about it will get me through the winter months ahead.”
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“They would be so proud of you.” Jessica Frank-Keyes Deputy Editor Losing a parent sets you apart from your peers in many ways. You’ve dealt with things that they’ve only ever worried about, and experienced the bleak realities of hospitals visits and funerals, while they were drinking cider in parks, stressing over GCSE results and having their first kisses. You grow up so quickly, but at the same time, it’s almost impossible not to feel left behind. My dad died when I was thirteen, seven years ago, on 7th November. While in many ways it feels like something that happened in another lifetime, it’s also something you never really leave behind. In my experience, I believe that it’s made me better at coping with whatever life throws at me. Despite a definite flair for the dramatic, I can meet most situations with a shrug. No matter what, this can only ever be the second worst thing that’s happened to me. While everyone deals with loss in different ways, there are similar rites of passage that you bring with you to university, along with your boxes of saucepans and fairy lights. Leaving home and moving into your flat brings with it its own set of positives and negatives. Coupled with nights out and new friendships
is a chance to escape the role of ‘the person whose parent passed away.’ While getting away from the whispers – imaginary or real – of school corridors is exciting, there are other, unexpected downsides of
“The point of all of this is, of course, to say that your experience of losing your parent will continue to shape you throughout your university life - and your life as a whole.” your new reality. Having ‘the conversation’ with flatmates, friends, and even tutors can be a daunting prospect. Some people will expect you to cry, or at least show some sign of emotion - forgetting that, for you, this is a performance that you’ve put on many times. Some will tiptoe around you, walking on eggshells for fear of causing upset, and some will put their foot in it. Some will avoid ever mentioning their mum or dad to you again, and others will apologise every time
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the subject comes up. For a while at least. Like the leaflets about the ‘grieving process’ they give you at the hospital say: this too shall pass. And this process will continue! As you meet new people, you have to explain yourself over and over again. I’m in my third year and I had this conversation within the last week. All I can say, is that it really does get easier. If I could offer you one piece of advice: it would be to remember that so many forms of support are available to you at UEA. From your personal advisor to the Student Support Services and SU Advice Centre, so many people are willing and happy to listen to you talk, cry, or shout about however you feel. Personally, I have never felt I needed to use the more formal support of counselling, but knowing the option was there was always helpful at times when I’ve felt particularly low. However, I have been lucky enough to be able to rely on the friends I’ve made here, who have managed to cheer me up every time I’ve so much as mentioned feeling sad. Of course, not everyone will feel comfortable sharing such personal information
Petersfield
2002
with people they’ve only just met. If you find yourself in need of support before you’ve had the chance to
“Like the leaflets about the ‘grieving process’ they give you at the hospital say: this too shall pass.” develop the LCR and VK fuelled bonds that such honesty requires, there are always other places to turn. UEA is lucky to be home to Norwich Nightline. The studentrun listening, email and IM service is there to talk to anyone, about anything, every night from 8pm to 8am. Other forms of support include the options for academic help. UEA provides one no-questionsasked extension on a piece of coursework per academic year. I’ve often scheduled this around the anniversary time, anticipating that I may have other things on my mind as that summative deadline gets nearer, and the library is the last place I want to be. But the Hub, your tutors and lecturers above all want you to succeed – and if you tell them what you need, they will help. Extensions, advice, support and guidance are yours for the asking: take them. There will definitely be times when you need something different, however. Times when a pint, a welltimed offer of a Campus Kitchen lunch, or a chat with a friend aren’t going to work their usual magic.
These times are up to you. You have to find out what makes you feel at home at UEA. Does walking round the lake soothe your soul? Is there a specific place in the city you like to walk to and have coffee? Sometimes, realising that you have the ability, wherever in the world you may be, to comfort yourself, is the most reassuring thing of all. During my first year, on the date of the first anniversary that I spent away from home, I had the sudden need to find somewhere on campus to have an emergency cry – and exiting the Arts building, sniffing, I ran into the Multifaith Centre. I’ve never set foot in there before or since, but there is a very nice room, well stocked with tissues, which was unexpectedly and incredibly comforting. UEA’s very own Room of Requirement. The point of all of this is, of course, to say that your experience of losing your parent will continue to shape you throughout your university life - and throughout your life as a whole. It might make you stronger, or more empathetic, or increase your existing tendency towards stubborn independence. It might draw you closer to the rest of your family, or it might push you to rely on and love your friends. No, your mum or dad won’t be there to take embarrassing photos of you at your graduation, but they will always be a huge part of who you are. And despite everything, you made it here. They would be so proud of you.
8th November 2016
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Features Law, Literature and League Tables Third for student satisfaction: Becca Hemmings asks why students love UEA UEA is often recognised year after one of the main reasons she put year as one of the best universities UEA at the top of her list, “the for student experience. Being campus had a really good feel to situated in the diverse city of it, a community spirit, I didn’t get Norwich and boasting popular that feeling anywhere else.” music venues such as the LCR, As well as the university’s the picturesque lake and a list of customisable and elaborate reputable alumni it’s no question degrees, the university also as to why students love UEA. prides itself in accommodating a From William the Conqueror’s wide range of hobbies. 2nd year Royal Palace to the North Norfolk psychology student Charlotte Railway, a wealth of rich heritage chose UEA because of its heritage is all on your doorstep at UEA. The of art, culture and theatre. “I 320 acre campus was established chose UEA because of the vibrant in 1963 and has since become atmosphere and how it is rich in one of the best Universities for culture and art. research, placed number 14 in “From William the the Complete University Guide’s Conqueror’s Royal league table for 2017. Alongside ground-breaking research, UEA Palace to the North also has one of the most diverse Norfolk Railway, a range of courses consequent of its 4 faculties and 26 schools of wealth of heritage is study. It’s unsurprising then that all on your doorstep.” UEA was ranked third for student satisfaction by the National There are a lot of new art Student Survey, but what was exhibitions at the Sainsbury’s the most influential factor that centre for visual arts and this persuaded students to put UEA as really attracted me to the campus their firm choice on UCAS? as it let me explore my interests.” 3rd year Politics and History Alongside this, the surrounding student Jemma chose UEA based area of UEA has much to both on how well the specialised offer in terms of the arts with courses suited her and her love festivals such as the annual for the campus, “for a Norfolk and Norwich less common degree like History and Politics UEA had the best programme of being able to pick and choose my modules to balance out the two Photo: Flickr, Blue Square Thing subjects in the way I wanted, but also I love the campus feel, most universities don’t have that”. 3rd year Politics student India agreed that the campus is Photo: UEA Lake, Romy Higgins Ziggurats: Flickr Ian Tyson
Festival - one of the oldest surviving arts festivals in the UK – which brings art alive with its innovative and inspirational events. UEA’s recognition of the arts is something that has been a staple in university life since it began. In 1964 Arthur Miller’s The Crucible became the first drama production to be staged at UEA with John Rhys Davies from Lord of the Rings as the Drama society’s first President. It has also been home to a great deal of scientists and writers with alumni ranging from Sir Paul Nurse, 2001 Noble Prize winner for physiology or medicine to actor Matt Smith or famous writer Ian McEwan. UEA is also home to Earlham hall, the Law school which was previously the family home of prison reformer Elizabeth Fry. This inspired Law students such as 3rd year Jemma to study Law at UEA “the historical heritage behind the law school at UEA really made me appreciate the campus and everything it had to offer. Studying Law in a place where extremely influential people once were motivates me and makes me feel like I am a part of something unique.” It’s fair to say that whilst the diverse range of courses and the appeal of a thriving campus have attracted many students to UEA, it is this combined with our rich heritage that really makes UEA something special. A combination of a historical background and a promising future highlights UEA as a university that has laid great foundations and continues to build.
Sainsbury Centre The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts (known as the SCVA to UEA’s Art History and World Art Studies students) arrived on the UEA campus in 1978. Designed by the renowned architect, Norman Foster, you may well recognise some of the architectural features in this early example of his work from his various later international designs, such as ‘The Gherkin’ in London. Sir Robert and Lady Lisa Sainsbury donated their vast collection of over 300 works of art and objects to the University in 1973. Their lifetime collection of pieces had previously been stored in their London home – hence the name of the gallery space, ‘The Living Area’, recreating the domestic and homely feel in which they had come to view these works.As collectors, the
Sainsburys were keen patrons and on good terms with many of the artists whose works are on display, such as Henry Moore (several of whose sculptures are outside the SCVA) and Giacometti. They also collected various artefacts from around the world, spanning 5000 years. The UEA is extremely lucky to have this resource at its fingertips, so be sure to visit. For those not inspired by this magnificent collection, you may be interested to know that the building was also featured in Avengers: Age of Ultron and Ant-Man. The Sainsbury Centre also houses a light and airy café, quite different from those more central to campus – worth a visit when you’re looking for somewhere a little more peaceful. Lydia Lockyer
The Ziggurats The Ziggurats have won multiple architectural awards, most recently coming on the Guardian’s top-10 student accommodations from around the world. Denys Lasdon combined cubic towers, jutting foyers, and bare concrete to create strikingly memorable structures. The Ziggurats are an extensive example of his work, which built upon smaller earlier buildings such as the St John’s college Cambridge. Notably, it was with this building that he developed the idea of Ziggurat-like structures built in four pyramids, and connected via covered walkways. It was Lasdun’s portfolio of innovative modernist architecture which importantly would meld with the outlook of UEA’s Vice-Chancellor,
Frank Thistlewaithe. Over the early half of 1962 the two men developed their design, “It quickly became clear that there was a true meeting of minds about the way the academic designs should be resolved in architectural terms.” The Ziggurats consists of a series of walkways and glazed residential flats, stacked on top of each other in a shape resembling the structure’s namesake of a Babylonian origin. Such structures sit within the framework of another of Lasdun’s architectural influences in the work of American Architect Frank Llyod Wright. Wright, sought the harmonisation of the human and natural worlds. This is seen in the location of the Ziggurats, built next to the UEA Broad, and overlooking Norfolk’s flat landscapes, and huge skies. Lasdun even proposed bringing the lake closer to the Ziggurats themselves, to fit the building in more comfortably. Lasdun, in the process of planning the structure, would study it intensely on foot, as well as in a helicopter, and greatly desired its connection with the landscape. Lasdun observed after completion, that “From the ground, they hug the landscape which is itself preserved by the plan’s compactness.” Rob Klim
Behind the Buildings UEA, Suffolk Terrace: Flickr, Blue Square Thing
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Features
Concrete investigates the Earlham Hall heritage of UEA’s campus Thomas Paine Study Centre Thomas Paine (February 9, 1737 – June 8, 1809) was an EnglishAmerican political activist, philosopher, political theorist, and revolutionary. One of the Founding Fathers of the United States, he authored the two most influential pamphlets at the start of the American Revolution, and he was one of the main inspiration for the rebels in 1776 to declare independence from Britain. Enlightenment-era rhetoric of transnational human rights were his main ideas. Born in Thetford, Norfolk, Paine journeyed to the British American colonies in 1774 with the help of Benjamin Franklin – perfectly timed for the American Revolution. Nearly every rebel read (or listened to a reading of) his influential pamphlet Common Sense (1776), the all-time bestselling American title, which conserved the rebellious demand for independence from Great Britain. Common Sense was so significant that John Adams said, "Without the pen of the author of Common Sense, the sword of
Washington would have been raised in vain." Paine lived in France for most of the 1790s, again becoming deeply involved in the Revolution.
“One of the Founding Fathers of the USA, he authored the two most influential pamphlets at the start of the American Revolution, and was one of the main inspirations for the 1776 Declaration of Independence.” There he wrote Rights of Man (1791), partially a defence of the French Revolution against its critics. His attacks on Anglo-Irish conservative writer Edmund Burke led to a trial and conviction in absentia in 1792 for the crime of seditious libel. In 1792, despite not being able to speak French, he was elected to the French National Convention.
The Girondists regarded him as an ally. Consequently, the Montagnards, especially Robespierre, regarded him as an enemy. In December 1793, he was arrested and was taken to Luxembourg Prison in Paris. While in prison, he continued to work on The Age of Reason (1793–94). Future President, James Monroe, used his diplomatic connections to get Paine released in November 1794. He became notorious because of his pamphlets The Age of Reason, in which he advocated deism, promoted reason and free thought, and argued against institutionalized religion in general – Christian doctrine in particular. He also published the pamphlet Agrarian Justice (1797), discussing the origins of property, and introduced the concept of minimum income. In 1802, he returned to the U.S. where he died on June 8, 1809. Hated for his mockery of religion, only six people attended his funeral. Marty Ruczynska
Elizabeth Fry Building Elizabeth Fry, née Gurney, is probably most commonly known as the woman that used to be on £5 notes. In 2002, she was chosen to become the second woman to appear on a Bank of England note. She was in fact a very famous philanthropist, even supported by the monarch at the time.
In 2002, she was chosen to become the second woman to appear on a Bank of England note. ” She was born into a prominent Quaker family in Norwich – hence UEA naming a building after her – in 1780. When she was 18, she heard the preaching of famous American Quaker William Savery, and two female Quakers Priscilla Hannah Gurney and Deborah Darby and was so moved by their religious conviction that it changed the course of her life. She began collecting clothes for the poor, visiting the sick and prisoners, and started a Sunday school in Earlham to teach children to read. She was also an
advocate of vaccination, and has been seen as responsible for the elimination of smallpox in children in neighbouring villages. Fry is most famous for her penal reform of Newgate prison. She was inspired by her religion to see the prisoners as fellow human beings, and she wanted to change the harsh conditions into places where criminals could be rehabilitated. To “amend the Character and change the Heart”, Fry emphasised kindness. As well as this, she advised that female prisoners should be “under the care of women”, and have their own prisons separate from men. In 1818, she started travelling across England, Scotland and Ireland combining prison reform with Quaker preaching. Some of her ideas made it to legislation, and she was respected within penal reform as far afield as Canada and Australia. She almost had to give up in 1828 after her husband went bankrupt, but her brother stepped in to become her business manager and financial backer as he recognised how important her work was.
Her dedication to improving the lives of other didn’t end there; she was a strong advocate for the abolition of slavery, and opened a training school in 1840. It is rumoured that she influenced Florence Nightingale through this. Unfortunately, her (male) successors often brushed her off as unprofessional and religious zeal was seen as old-fashioned She mainly targeted women’s issues, leading her to be rather unrepresented in mainstream accounts of prison and reform history.
“To ‘amend the character and change the heart,’ Fry emphasised kindness.” The building she has given her name to is now over twenty years old, but still exceeds building regulations for thermal performance, and was declared the “best building ever” by Building Services Journal in 1998 – not too shabby a legacy for such a dedicated person. Emily Young
UEA’s Earlham Hall is a Grade II listed building, a building of more than special interest: only 5.5% of all listed buildings are Grade II. Earlham Hall currently houses the UEA Law School which moved from the Blackdale Building in 2014, following refurbishment and restoration. When the University first opened in 1963, Earlham Hall, located behind the Enterprise Centre became its administrative office. Earlham Hall was built in 1642 the year the English Civil War began, by Robert Houghton. The Bacon family, however, owned Earlham Hall by the eighteenth century, including Edward Bacon MP. After 1786, Edward Bacon died, and ownership of the property fell to another Frank Bacon, who rented the house to the Gurney family, who lived there for over a century. John Gurney and Catherine Bell had 13 children in the household, including Elizabeth Fry, the prison reformer and Christian philanthropist. The School of Social Work and Psychology on UEA grounds is named after her. As well
as Elizabeth, bankers Samuel and Daniel Gurney, and Louisa Hoare, who wrote about education in the early 1800s called Earlham Hall home. In 1942, during the Blitz, Earlham Hall provided maternity beds when bombs destroyed Norwich’s maternity home. Before this, it also provided nurses accommodation. The house has a ghostly history: Elizabeth Fry’s sister reportedly roams the hall, as well as the ghost of a maid who killed herself. In the 1950s, Bluebell Girls School’s annex was located here and in October 1963 when UEA first opened its doors, Earlham Hall was home to the Vice-Chancellor. The Gurneys were one of the most well-known families who lived at Earlham Hall. They started a bank of the same name, which merged with Barclays in 1896. Radio 1s Big Weekend was located at Earlham Park in 2015. Acts included Taylor Swift, Fall Out Boy and the Foo Fighters. Taylor Swift even used part of Earlham Hall as her dressing room Hannah Brown
Julian Study Centre Julian of Norwich has come to be respected as a very important figure in female writing, and incredibly influential theologian, but actually very little is known about her. Julian is almost definitely not her name – it was given to her due to the fact that she was an anchoress at the Church of St. Julian.
“Her anchorage is what makes her so fascinating: she agreed to be bricked into a tiny room attached to a church for the rest of her life.” Her anchorage is what makes her so fascinating: she voluntarily agreed to be bricked into a tiny room attached to a church for the rest of her life, where she depended entirely on support of locals to keep her alive. Outside of her anchorage, very little is known: academics have speculated that she was a nun, or widow, because of what her writing suggests but there is no clear evidence. Her birth has been dated to 1342, because she says she is thirty and a half upon beginning her first text, but her date of is a bit more contested as there are various unclear references to her, but is accepted to be circa 1416. In her anchorage, she wrote Revelations of Divine Love after having visions of Jesus on his
crucifix as she lay very ill and potentially dying, now known as the Short Text, and is believed to be the oldest surviving book written by an English woman. Around thirty years later wrote the Long Text, which were her musings on the necessity of sin. At the time, these were quite controversial and possibly heretic, but not attacked by the Church - probably because she wasn’t seen as a threat - but are now considered to be quite notable, securing her place as an important theologian. Her cell has been rebuilt, and since 2013, there has been a weeklong festival devoted to her in Norwich, presenting her as an international figure of cultural importance. UEA decided in 2013 that Julian’s historical relevance was worth celebrating by naming one of its academic buildings after her. The Julian Study Centre itself is part of UEA’s sustainable campus, in which the university is investing in building that use sustainable materials during the build, and ensure that they are low-energy to maintain post construction. It was the first UEA building using Cross-Laminated Timber, which allows for quick construction and a low carbon footprint. It has an air tightness that exceeds building regulations and its LED lighting received the highest-rating Energy Performance Certificate, making it a great eco-friendly addition to our campus. Emily Young
8th November 2016
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Foodie Features Marty Ruczynska tells us how to make your own Mexican feast Chicken Fajita Quesadillas - sautéed onions, red and green peppers, perfectly seasoned chicken breast, melted cheese, between two tortillas. Simply yummy. (recipe adapted from JoCooks). Time: 35 minutes Serves: 4
Ingredients • 2 tbsp olive oil • 2 tbsp fajita mix • 3 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless • 1 red bell pepper • 1 green bell pepper • 2 onions • 1 cup of cheddar cheese • Tomato salsa • sour cream • 8 tortillas • 2 tbsp butter Instructions 1. Clean and chop up the onion into long strips. Slice the peppers into long strips. Clean and slice t h e
Public domain pictures: Yamada Taro
chicken breasts into long strips and place in a bowl. 2. Add a tbsp of the fajita mix to the chicken breast and mix well. 3. In a large pan, heat 1 tbsp of the olive oil and add the chicken to it. Cook the chicken for 5 to 10 minutes until it’s fully cooked and no longer pink, and it’s slightly charred. 4. Remove chicken from pan, and wipe the pan clean. 5. Add another tbsp of olive oil to the skillet and heat it up. Add the onion and cook for a couple minutes until it’s slightly translucent. Add the peppers and the fajita mix and mix well. Cook for a couple more minutes so the peppers cook slightly. Add the chicken to the skillet, mix with peppers and onions and cook for a minute. 6. In a clean pan, add a bit of the butter and melt. Add a tortilla and move it around until it’s buttery. Add a little bit of the chicken and onion mixture on top of the tortilla, and about ¼ cup of cheese, depending on how you like it. Add another tortilla on top and pat it down. 7. Now flip it over and cook on the other side until it is nice and golden. Remove from the pan and cut into quarters. Repeat these steps with the remaining tortillas. Serve this with some sour cream and salsa.
Restaurant Review: Jive Kitchen and Bar Features Editor Lillie Coles visited Norwich’s newest Mexican restaurant Jarrold’s department store dominates the lanes with huge glass windows displaying rows and rows of designer names. Anyone could be forgiven for missing the tiny staircase opposite it, which seems to lead from the pavement to nowhere. However, Jive Kitchen is perfect proof that it’s what’s inside that counts. Jive is a one-off place, offering a unique twist on Mexican street food in stylish surroundings, and was the perfect place for a date night. After travelling in Mexico, the owners decided to bring their love of Mexican cuisine to Norwich. The menu is small, but definitely packs a punch, and the careful composition of each dish is evident both in the presentation, quality and flavour combinations. We started with the pinto bean bocoles, a sort of vegetable cake made from refried beans, and we also had the homemade tortilla chips. The guacamole was so fresh, and throughout the meal we both commented on the perfectly balanced spice and heat of each dish. The bocoles were delicately made, but with powerful flavours and beautiful presentation, it was an appetiser that set the mood for the quality of the rest of the meal. For the main course, we both had the pork belly carnitas tacos, soft tortilla taco shells covered in
various sauces, a BBQ pineapple salsa (which was my favourite part) and a generous portion of slow-cooked pork belly placed on top. The meat was tender and marinated in a delicious rub, which made the sweet and smoky flavours come to life. The whole dish was topped off by some puffed pork crackling on top. It was the sort of classic dish that has no frills, but was served elegantly and with a level of class that I think beats Norwich’s other Mexican restaurants. Finally, I let my sweet tooth run wild with the churros, described as a ‘taco’, served in a lake of butterscotch sauce and filled with vanilla ice cream. Beautifully presented and authentically made, this dish was a comforting close to the meal. The service was attentive but not intrusive, and the different dining rooms across the three floors made the experience feel smaller, and more intimate. The décor is tastefully shabby, replicating Mexican graffiti on the walls, with distressed wood making it feel like we were really in a Mexican market kitchen. That’s what Jive is about, simple street food in a relaxed setting - no rush, no fuss, but pride in every dish. Every bite was delicious, and we left with nothing but praise. We spoke to a waitress, who told us the restaurant had only been open for eleven days, but the home-rooted cooking and atmosphere makes this place feel like a local favourite already.
Students are renowned for their crazy culinary concoctions... We asked you for your favourite food combinations that shouldn’t work, but do. Funny, yummy or just downright weird, you came up with some questionable and yet delicious suggestions! My
mum
marmite
and
regularly
eats
peanut
butter
sandwiches, much to my disgust! - Hattie Griffiths
I dip McDonald’s fries into Photo: Flickr, Andy Le
chocolate milkshake. I promise it’s actually delicious.
Photo: Flickr, Andy Le
- Jessica Frank-Keyes
My friends and I used to dip crisps (salted or paprika) in chocolate... not as bad as you might think! - Denise Koblenz
Chocolate buttons and ready salted crisps - so good! #DontJudge - Johnnie Wright
Tia Maria and orange juice. It tastes like Terry’s Chocolate Orange! - Daniel Salliss
My housemate and a friend (both from Norfolk coincidentally) crush some Walkers crisps to put on their pasta bake – then sprinkle the cheese on top. Supposedly it tastes great, personally I won’t be trying it! - Marty Ruczynska Lillie Coles
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in 2015, the SU launched the honesty project. maddie colledge SU postgraduate education officer
>> The Honesty Project provided
by their peers or mentors.
A disturbing picture quickly emerged: Pressure at work is normal […] But I had never had the health problems I’ve had here during my PhD and I had never seen people quitting because they had a nervous breakdown.
Faced with this kind of feedback, the University’s Postgraduate Executive committee suggested that the Student Support Service (formerly DOS) created a strategy to provide specialised mental health support to postgraduate research students by February 2017. So far, the Student Support Service have made some progress with this, for instance, creating postgraduate-specific counselling and wellbeing services. They’ll report more in February 2017, and I’m looking forward to hearing what they’ll say next year.
an anonymous platform for postgraduate research students to speak out about mental health without fear of judgement.
It seemed that a culture of ‘pushing yourself’ at postgraduate level meant that students were not only stressed, but were reluctant to speak out when they felt their workload became unmanageable. Some students felt that unless they were at the brink of a meltdown, they weren’t working hard enough – and that this idea was reinforced
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It’s a bigger issue However, this isn’t tackling the root of the problem. The Student Support Service can supply the
best support service on Earth, but they can only ever help students whose mental health is already deteriorating. During my time as Postgraduate Education Officer, I want to address the root of the issue, which lies in the Higher Education sector as a whole. Until we address this, we’re merely sticking a plaster over the problem. On a national level, postgraduate researchers are under too much pressure. Those who want an academic career are forced to take on an obscene workload in order to compete for job opportunities, they have to meet ridiculous expectations churn out research to meet REF guidelines, and they often suffer unfair working conditions.
words provided by your students’ union officers
What’s more alarming is that this appears to be normalised within the postgraduate community. Students that have managed to battle through these conditions and launch their academic careers successfully are advising students that ‘this is just how it is’. We can change this In December, I’m heading to Nottingham to meet other postgraduate officers from across the country. I want to organise us all to create a national report on the state of postgraduate mental health, and from this, I want to work to tackle the broader issue.
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value|su tackling poverty at UEA amy rust Su campaigns and democracy officer
>>
In the last few weeks, we released the value|su range to help keep UEA students out of poverty. University has never been a time to ‘splash out’, but with the rising costs of food on campus, some UEA students have been finding it harder to make ends meet. Student poverty is a nationwide problem. In last year’s Student Money Survey, 8 out of 10 students said that they were worried about making ends meet while studying. 48% of students said this affected their studies, and 63% said this affected their diet. 82% considered Student Finance’s loan calculations ‘unfair’.
A 2015 report by the NPI showed that there were 440,000 students living in poverty in the UK – meaning that there was a poverty rate of 42% among students last year.
don’t have enough money to eat. Students who are at risk of food poverty should book an appointment with the advice|su, where they will be given a token to exchange for a food parcel.
Between the University and uea|su, we provide crucial help for students in immediate financial crisis. The Student Support Service (formerly the Dean of Students’ Office) can offer short-term loans in financial emergencies, as well as offering long-term budgeting and money management advice. Also, last year advice|su opened foodbank|su – offering food packages to students who
These services, though crucial, don’t cater for the majority of UEA students. Most students at UEA don’t go hungry, but still struggle to make their student loans go further. Whether it’s not buying lunch with their friends, or skipping their pre-library cup of tea, students are regularly missing out on campus life because they simply can’t afford to get involved. That’s why we launched the
value|su range across our outlets. This means you can now get a cup of tea from Unio for £1, a meal deal from the shop for £2.49, and hot food from the bar from £2.40. We’ve marked these deals with a gold star to make them easy to recognise. value|su forms part of our Student Purse Strings Campaign – part of our ongoing efforts to make sure that UEA’s campus is affordable for everyone.
Comment 16
8th November 2016
Madam President How would UEA vote?
Alice Spencer Comment Writer
Finally, it’s nearly over. After months of campaigning, personal attacks and scandals, the vote is here. Yet for many people there remains the big question: is this seriously the best you can do, America?
“In Michelle Obama’s words, ‘We have never had a more qualified candidate for President’. But the ambiguity of this term might be enough to aggravate voters, worn down by months of political infighting” In many ways, this disbelief is well founded. But my aim here isn’t to point out the ineptitude of Donald Trump. Honestly, the internet does that fine on its own. I’m backing Hillary Clinton, but not as the lesser of two evils. She isn’t simply a more palatable option to the zigzagging personality politics of her opponent. Hillary Clinton must be the next President because she has the necessary political experience to take America forwards. In Michelle Obama’s words, ‘We have never had a more qualified candidate for president’. But the ambiguity of this term might be enough to aggravate voters worn down by months of bitter political fighting. At face value, this is nothing more than meaningless political rhetoric. By his own reckoning, Trump is probably very ‘qualified’. But when you examine Clinton’s stances on the biggest issues facing America today, this word doesn’t seem to do justice. T h e right to bear arms, for many people so inextricably bound to
American values, remains an inflammatory topic. And unfortunately the reporting every week of a gun-related death in America has made us blasé about the issue rather than focusing on solving it. Despite scorn from the Republican corner, Clinton promises to implement ‘common sense gun laws’ which would introduce bans on domestic abusers, people on terror watch lists and the severely mentally ill from purchasing or possessing guns. This certainly seems ‘common sense’ to us. But President Obama has described his failure to overcome resistance to tighter gun control as the main disappointment of his presidency. For all his merits, disappointment can’t be good enough anymore. Accused by her detractors of being too close to Wall Street, Clinton is the candidate for equality. A prolific supporter of the Equality Act, Clinton promises to clamp down on discrimination against LGBT people. Despite his ham-fisted “Ask the Gays” comment, Trump meanwhile hasn’t been that forthcoming in expressing support for LGBT rights, even suggesting his Supreme Court reshuffle could see same-sex marriage banned in some states. Regarding their stances on women’s rights, to say Clinton’s is more favourable is an understatement. Political agendas aside, Clinton has long been a ProChoice supporter, voting in 2003 against a ban on terminations late in pregnancy. Abortion still causes intense debate, and Clinton’s actions were seized on at the time and by the Trump campaign. But this is just it: for Clinton, equality counts for more than political brownie points. The fact I have to argue her case at all maybe shows how, even for Clinton, equality has been somewhat evasive. The reality is, after every seemingly unrecoverable clanger, the polls are opening with Trump on fairly level grounding with Clinton. It sends a sad message to the younger generation if Clinton falls short of a candidate who, in all his attitudes, is a throwback to the past. The rest of the world looks to America for the future. If this presidential race has proved anything, it’s that this future needs to move towards equality, and that Hillary Rodham Clinton is the only one to lead us there.
Cartoons: Dougie Dodds
Photo: Flickr, Gage Skidmore
81%
11% Gary n: 6% o s n Joh ein: t S l l i J 2%
We polled UEA and over 80% of you told us #ImWithHer
Election Three’s a crowd
Elliot Folan Comment Writer
Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party nominee for U.S. President, has not had a good few months. He looks set to dip below 5% (the level needed to receive state funding); his running mate has focused his energy on defeating Donald Trump instead of electing Johnson; and two weeks ago a video of Johnson went viral after it caught him shouting at a reporter who asked him about taxes. And yet it all seemed to be going so well. In the summer he was polling over ten percent. It looked as if he might enter the Presidential debates. But as he made gaffe after gaffe and failed to get into the debates, he faded away. It’s not just Johnson whose campaign has struggled. Jill Stein, the Green candidate, was optimistic about picking up leftwing voters who had backed
unsuccessful Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders. At some points throughout the summer she reached six percent in polls. She
“In the summer he was polling over ten percent. It looked as if he might enter the Presidential debates. But as he made gaffe after gaffe, and he failed to get into the debates, he faded away.” now averages just 1-2%. US politics is not kind to small parties. The winner-take-all voting system pushes voters into one of two camps in almost all cases; the last candidate to win a state who was not a Democrat or Republican was the segregationist George Wallace in 1968. But equally, the small parties are pretty embarrassing. At the
Libertarian convention, the party made headlines when a candidate for Chairman stripped during his nomination speech. The Greens, meanwhile, have no elected officials in state or federal offices anywhere in the United States, and have shown no coherent strategy to get any candidates elected. In the end, the fact that Stein and Johnson have not had their breakthrough moment in 2016 is probably a consequence of three factors. Firstly, they face an electoral system that severely deters people from straying from the major parties. Secondly, both Stein and Johnson’s parties have no clear strategy as to how to actually win power in the United States. And finally, they face a fascist Republican, Trump, who has been so horrifying to so many Americans that they see a vote for anyone other than Hillary Clinton as a voteby-proxy for Trump – which it is.
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8th November 2016
The Divided States of America The mouthpiece of Angel Loera Alonso Comment Writer The American election has the power to divide not only a nation, but the rest of the world. A divisive campaign on both sides, arguments have varied from military policy to the correct use of emails. On one hand, you have Donald Trump’s supporters, who do not trust the idea of a United States as a “nation of immigrants” and “promoter of free trade”. On the other side, Hillary Clinton promises to the be the first female President, but is not a candidate without controversy. For both political parties it has been a challenging campaign. The GOP witnessed more than 160 Republicans distance themselves from their nominee. Clinton narrowly beat Bernie Sanders during the Democratic Primaries, the self-proclaimed ‘first socialist nominee’, to be named the
Democratic nominee. Amongst others, Sanders got the support of young people, who questioned an economic system that does not guarantee access to a good quality of life in turn for hard work. In particular, his pledge for free college tuition helped gain Senator Sanders support.
“Compared with Romney vs. Obama four years ago, this election has been more brutal and more controversial.” Both nominees reflect America’s desire for change, with Trump in particular representing a shift in the status quo. Clinton (69) and Trump (70) were born in the 1940s, the decade that saw some of the biggest political and military turmoil of the last century. However, their proposals counter significant trends in recent U.S history. Free education and health
care system from Clinton’s side, while isolationism is defended by Trump. In foreign policy, Clinton promises to deal with many of the issues in which she was heavily involved with as Secretary of State, a point that has been used to counter Trump’s arguments on her unsuitability to become President. Meanwhile, the Republican not only has no experience in foreign policy, he has also incorrectly blamed immigration for the recent terrorist attacks in Europe and violence in the U.S. This is an election that has divided opinion, and America is starting to resemble two oneparty nations rather than one twoparty country. Compared with Romney vs. Obama four years ago, this election has been more brutal and more controversial. Yet, regardless of the outcome on 8th November, the divide seen across America is unlikely to end with the election.
2016 The era of post-truth politics
Sophie Bunce Comment Writer Just as there is no sentiment in business, there is no truth in politics. Donald Trump is familiar with both. As the presidential campaigns draw to a close it is not fact but fiction stealing the headlines. Lies are a key component of the Trump campaign. The Birther Controversy, for example, which began in 2008 and questioned Obama’s birthplace appears to be one of Trump’s favourites. Recently Trump stated that he ended it after Hillary started it. Doesn’t it all sound a little juvenile? It’s also untrue. Another subject Trump likes to lie about is immigration. He appealed to America and promised to build walls to protect
them from illegal immigrants who are threatening the sanctity of America. But he neglects to mention a key statistic amongst the scaremongering. Statistics show that the total increase in illegal immigrants from Mexico each year in America has been zero. The leaving legal immigrants and the entering illegal immigrants even each other out. There is no rise, no swarm, no threat. There is also no substance to Donald Trump’s claims. But they are taken, by some, as fact. There is another concerning development in politics. The Trump campaign is attacking the media. Whether it’s supporters chanting ‘CNN sucks’ at rallies or factchecking being labeled as biased, the media is being attacked. The truth is met with skepticism whilst
conspiracy theories are fed by fear and ignorance. But we need to address why. These misconceptions are perpetuated by our incessant social media use, breathed life into by each retweet. The public has a responsibility to fact check for themselves. Don’t share on Facebook until you check the source and stop liking posts designed to stir up hate. Politics and media are changing and so should we. If not, we will end up with a generation believing whatever their Facebook wall tells them. I don’t know what’s worse. That Trump lies? That people believe him? Or that this even exists as a debate at all? But I do know that we must all take responsibility, responsibility for the truth.
the disenfranchised
Liam Heitman-Rice Comment Writer What shivers of terror, peals of hilarity, waves of awe and fascination are summoned upon hearing the words Donald J. Trump. He is a behemoth of the media, a brash jingoistic pumpkin resplendent in shiny suits and an eternal inhabitant of leading headlines – the fact remains, there is no avoiding this eccentric bigot. In an era of hyperactive public scrutiny, politicians are oftentimes illustrated as false, edited, filtered puppets swinging with public favour with no genuine opinion of their own. Case in point being one Hillary Rodham Clinton, whose historic inconsistencies regarding her stance on homosexual marriage is just one example of her wayward people-pleasing.
He is a behemoth of the media, a brash jingoistic pumpkin resplendent in shiny suits and an eternal inhabitant of leading headlines – the fact remains, there is no avoiding this fabulous bigot. In 2004 she claimed marriage was the “sacred bond between a man and a woman,” only to outwardly sing the praises of gay marriage in 2013 once public sway had made the opinion fashionable. Not so Mr. Trump. For a generation of disenchanted, white middleclass Americans embittered by the loss of employment to foreign markets, particularly to China as Trump heartily reminds us, it is a refreshing irregularity to have a man so boldly and fearlessly vocalise what he believes to be the damages affecting his country. He is the mouthpiece of the angry, disenfranchised white American, standing alone from the back-patting self-congratulatory Clinton dynasty, from which Hillary has so profitably emerged. Basking within an election campaign funded by his own personal wealth, Trump grandly presents himself as the self-made man and thus is afforded the right to speak personally, unneutered by the safe sycophancy of his more conservative, and more
Photo: Flickr, Gage Skidmore
forgettable, peers. One need only watch footage of Trump’s domination of the lackadaisical Jeb Bush in earlier debates to understand the man’s command of confidence and fluent bravado. What’s more, his employment of body language serves his aggressive doctrine to great effect. My father has been a salesman since 1982 and I have first-hand proof of the brilliance of body language – the energetic hand motions, the use of a pointing finger to emphasise a statement, the erect posture. Trump is a salesman, here utilising his skills inherited as a property magnate to sell to the American people his vision of an America that can once again be made great: one that paradoxically overlooks its immigrant history and instead shoehorns in a vitriolic future cleansed of Muslims and Mexicans, isolated by a ludicrous wall. Yet it is Trump’s mastery of media exposure, expanding upon his celebrity status earned in a decade-long tenure as host of The Apprentice, that has granted him unfailing coverage and international attention. One as hysterically extroverted as Trump, one so eerily enthused and bereft of noticeable physical ailment, can only thrive on his podium and emerge from every scandal unscathed. What would annihilate weaker personalities seems only to invigorate Trump, who delights in the widened exposure his misdeeds grant him. After all, to be mocked is far better than to be ignored.
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8th November 2016
Science
Birth of the male contraceptive jab “The results provide us with confidence that this can be done”
to modify the treatment to ensure that it can be made safe. Richard Anderson, the author of the study and a professor of clinical reproductive science, said: “The results provide us with confidence that this can be done”, suggesting that the hormones could not be given in a pill as the liver would quickly metabolise them, but they are considering whether they could be delivered via a gel rubbed onto the chest every day.
Jodie Bailey Science Writer When considering birth control options, the responsibility is usually on the female to take control of contraception, leaving men with one option - condoms. Recent clinical trials may beckon a new era in which men and women take equal responsibility of birth control. The study involved 350 men who were given injections of hormones to lower their sperm count, whilst also counteracting the effect of a drop in the hormone, testosterone. The participants of the trial were given a combination of the hormones progestogen and testosterone, the first to switch off sperm production by affecting the pituitary gland and the latter to help reduce the impact of the progestogen on their natural testosterone levels. At first, the participants used a combination of birth control methods alongside the new jab as part of the initial phase. Afterwards, the study went into its “efficacy phase” where the men relied on the jabs (given every two months) alone. Despite the treatment being nearly 96 per cent effective in the trial and only four pregnancies occurring, it was not without some serious side
38
Photo: freestockphotos, Judy Schmidt
effects which caused 20 men to withdraw from the study and the whole trial being concluded earlier than planned. Some side effects included depression, acne, and increased libido causing scientists to cease enrolling new participants onto the trial in 2011. A total of 1,491 incidents were reported during the
trial, although 39 percent were not considered to be linked with the hormone injections, including one suicide and a man whose heartbeat became fast and irregular after he stopped taking the injections. Nonetheless, three quarters of the men said they would continue using the contraceptive jab if they could. It’s not difficult to see why the
concentrate on the biggest issue affecting the United States this autumn. Tinder built the experience with Wedgies, a company behind real-time survey programs, in order to give something back to the public.
In an interview with Business Insider, Sean Rad, the CEO of Tinder and an avid swiper himself, explained why ‘Swipe the Vote’ has been a Tinder side project for quite some time. He commented that “We look at Tinder as a broader platform to do good in the world and not necessarily just a business”. It is very refreshing to see a multimillion dollar company, especially one at the forefront of an often morally-grey industry, engage in such a beneficial public service venture. With the Presidential Election itself occurring on 8th November, only time will tell if this unique concept has made any impact to the turnout of youth voters. Though a fantastic idea in theory, to target a demographic through an app where they make up a majority of users, there is no guarantee that anyone will pay much attention to the message being presented. It may be seen as nothing more than a nuisance, a distraction from the main ‘game’ of Tinder. Will this be a new hallmark for how governments engage with the increasingly disillusioned youth demographic? Or will it, like YikYak, be nothing more than a brief flicker of novelty?
Stars and Swipes Daniel Box Science Writer
With the US Presidential Election right around the corner, all the stops have been pulled out to encourage millennials to get involved with voting. Between the 26th October and 1st November, Tinder teamed up with Rock the Vote, a nonprofit organisation whose goal is to increase the amount of young people getting involved with the democratic voting process. Trialled back in March, this new and slightly bizarre feature allows Tinder users to match with Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump. Users are then prompted to, in mimetic Tinder fashion, swipe left or right on the Presidential candidates, based on which they believe would be less destructive to stability of the United States. In an added bonus round for this surreal swiping game, the app will also ‘hook you up’ with your nearest polling station. An ideal romantic venue for the first date. Dubbed ‘Swipe the Vote’, this feature provides a welcome break from the stress of finding a significant other, in order to
the 79 percent: number of
millenial Tinder users
of users 57 number who voted for percent: the Clinton
20
percent: the number of global users who voted for Trump
the 73 percent: number of college students that consider Tinder their favourite dating app
participants would want a viable male contraceptive jab either. This trial showed a success rate of nearly 96 percent, which is similar to the female combined pill and superior to condoms, which are only 82 percent effective. A male contraceptive could potentially share some of the responsibility of birth control and the scientists behind the trial hope
percent: the number of men with an increased interest in sex after the injection
Not everyone agrees that a male contraceptive using hormones is the best way forward. Sarah Jones, a reader in pharmacology at the University of Wolverhampton, doubted whether the side effects could be conquered as all similar attempts have produced too many side effects. However, there is no denying that this study has provided a significant leap forward in the development of a male contraceptive. The results are very promising, suggesting that this treatment could be improved in the future.
Dougie Dodds
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8th November 2016
Brexit increases Planet’s biggest protected cost of MacBook marine reserve created Rob Klim Science Writer Macbooks have always been expensive, the Apple brand prides itself on its exclusivity by appearing as the latest and greatest in cutting edge technology. However, Brexit-related currency chaos has recently seen an increased price of Macbooks by £500.
“These prices are not the result of any grand pioneering innovations, but are a consequence of the Pound’s most dramatic drop this century.” Apple product users are beginning to realise that the products are becoming pricier. The 11 inch Macbook Air has been replaced by expensive laptops such as the Macbook Pros. This increase in price can also be attributed to upgrades Apple have made on the new design, released on the 27th October. The new organic lightemitting diode (OLED) screen, which allows for a screen three times thinner than a conventional LCD screen. This rising price comes as no surprise as Apple always emphasises the thinness of its design. Customers may be willing to pay for the cheapest MacBook pro which comes to the lofty sum of £1,749, whereas the 15 inch version costs £2,699. These prices are not the result of any grand pioneering innovations, but are a consequence of the pound’s most dramatic drop this century. This can be seen in how the price of the Macbook is converted from the price of an American Macbook, however the price has been converted into pounds, and tax has been added. Apple has been
accused of manipulating the dollarpound conversion to overcharge British customers, whereas in the past this conversion has been considered over-generous. The value of the pound has dropped significantly to the point where the price of the Macbook has increased by hundreds of pounds. For example the miniscule 12 inch Macbook model sold for £1,049 before Brexit, and post-Brexit, the price has increased to £1,249. Price inflation cannot be linked to new technology, such as OLED screens, because the increase in price can be seen in models of Macbook which, within a matter of days, have increased in price by up to £300. Escalating prices are occurring across the brand, as the price of iPhones is set to increase substantially. The company commented on the new price stating: “Apple suggests product prices internationally on the basis of several factors, including currency exchange rates, local import laws, business practices, taxes, and the cost of doing business.” Other companies such as Microsoft have made comments on the economic impacts of Brexit by explaining how only an increase in the price of their products will allow the company to make the same amount of money from the British public. Microsoft has announced a potential 22 percent increase in the price of cloud products for its business customers due to currency fluctuations. Another reason why this conversion issue is so prominent is further enhanced by a significant portion of technology-related products and services being related directly to the US market. Even if a customer wants to be billed in pounds, companies such as Amazon Web Services, carry out all of their pricing in dollars. Tech-users may have more to worry about postBrexit than the price of the latest Macbook Pro.
Photo: Pexels, Kirsten Madsen
Photo: Flikr, Angell Williams Daniel Salliss Science Writer The Ross Sea in Antarctica will become the world’s largest marine protected area (MPA) after an international agreement was made at the meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) in Tasmania, Australia. After five years of deadlock, representatives from the European Union and 24 individual countries have agreed that over 1.5 million squared kilometres of the Southern Ocean will be protected from commercial fishing. The area, said to be the Earth’s last pristine marine ecosystem, is approximately the same size as Spain and France and will be protected for 35 years. The importance of this agreement is heightened in the face of recent news that the world’s wildlife populations have declined by almost 60 percent since 1970. International waters will now host the first marine park in The Ross Sea, setting a precedent for further action to help achieve the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s suggestion that 30 percent of the world’s oceans should be protected. This region is considered
essential to the planet’s ecosystems - nutrients that are upwelled from deep waters there are taken around the world by sea currents. The Ross Sea is home to around 16,000 species, including 38 percent of the world’s Adelie penguin populations, 30 percent of the world’s Antarctic petrels and six percent of the world’s Minke whales.
“The area, said to be the Earth’s last pristine marine ecosystem, will be protected for 35 years.” Negotiations for the MPA were stalled by Russia and China, who have large fishing industries in the Southern Ocean and were concerned that other uses of the ocean, such as seabed mining, would be threatened. However, last year China cooperated with Russia following suit in recent weeks. The turnaround comes just a few months after Russian Vladimir Putin announced 2017 as a special Year of Ecology for the nation. The time period of protection has been the subject of scrutiny. During negotiations, China stated that 20 years would be sufficient. Conservationists say that the
agreed compromise of 35 years is far too short. Chris Johnson, WWF-Australia’s ocean science manager, was concerned that the new MPA does not meet the World Conservation Union’s standards of having permanent protection. Andrea Kavanagh, the director of Antarctic and Southern Ocean work for the Pew Charitable Trusts, was more optimistic. “I’m positive that in 35 years, the conservation values that come out of the Ross Sea, the protections will be renewed”, he said. “The world will be a different place in 35 years.” Another compromise of the USNew Zealand led proposal is the designation of special zones where krill and toothfish may be fished for research. By 1st December 2017 the marine protected area will be enforced. Despite this benchmark agreement, a decline of two thirds is predicted for the planet’s wildlife by 2020. There is still more to be done. “For me this is an issue about justice - justice between generations,” said Lewis Pugh, the UN Patron for the Oceans and long-time campaigner. “There seems to be something fundamentally wrong with us destroying our oceans so our children and grandchildren have absolutely nothing.”
Travel
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8th November 2016
Fear and loathing in San Francisco "Sweating, broken and angry": Nick Ward explains how not to spend your first 24 hours in the USA
Nick Ward Travel Writer It was dusk when I rolled into San Francisco, exhausted, but excited. This was my first time on American soil and I had that rare feeling of hope that can only exist in those initial moments on a foreign shore. Every warm breeze promised levity and each winking tail light was an indication of adventure to come. There was a driver waiting for me in the terminal, my name scrawled across a large whiteboard he held above his head. I laughed uncontrollably when I first saw him because he reminded me of one of those girls that parade around in skimpy outfits between boxing rounds holding up the sign. He introduced himself as Bilal and showed me to the back seat of a luxury black Sedan. I asked him where he grew up and what he thought of California. Turns out he was from Slough, a town within five miles of my childhood home. Bilal did not like San Francisco and was eager
to return to Slough. "Too many immigrants here," he said. I wondered what he’d think of his post-Gervais hometown. He sat smiling in the front seat, nurturing a seemingly genuine exuberance for his life and work. I got quite drunk in the back of his car as we headed for Santa Cruz, speeding over hills and through deep dustbowl valleys; the journey was beautiful but uneventful.
"Back in town, I headed for the first bar I could find. It was an Irish pub that didn’t stock spirits. I privately wondered how Irish the owners could possibly be." We arrived and he looked back at me expectantly. I told him that I thought the fare had been taken care of in advance and so it had been, he assured me, but it was customary to tip in America. It seemed Bilal was also nursing a genuine exuberance
for money. I tipped him $10 and he drove away. I stood on a grassy knoll overlooking a crowded bay, drowning in a pink sunset. Behind me were acres of giant redwoods and my room was somewhere amidst them. One sweaty hike later I found my dorm, and it was well worth the toil. It was as if the room were an extension of the trees themselves. Three rickety wooden bunks grew from the floor and two screened windows looked onto the forest and prevented rogue branches from invading the interior. I took the single bunk above the desk and lay down. There was no bedding so I pulled up my sheepskin coat (Christ only knows why I wore a sheepskin coat on my first day in California) and drifted off to sleep. I dreamed I was with Kerouac in an open top car, with Burroughs in a shady opium parlour, Paris with Miller, drinks with Fitzgerald, war with Hemingway. At some point in the early hours of the following morning my imagining became rather vigorous and I rolled off the bunk, landing on my elbow.
I lay there a while swearing at the sun and tried to prop myself up. The elbow wouldn’t hold. I winced my way down to the bus stop and hopped on the first one that trundled by.
"I lost the first $50 to a wrinkled toothless man in a Stetson, and then the next $150 turned Judas too: that’s what comes of underestimating the elderly." Two hours and $90 later I left the hospital with my arm in a sling: my elbow had fractured in two places and I’d been shafted by my insurance excess. Back in town, I headed for the first bar I could find. It was an Irish pub that didn’t stock spirits. I privately wondered how Irish the owners could possibly be. I ordered a drink and the barman gave me a funny look. The sun was up, wasn’t it? He realised I was European,
and everything was forgiven. And although the “craft cider” tasted like a can of Strongbow from a 2010 house party it got better with volume and I talked happily with the barman over three or four bottles. It was 35 degrees when I stumbled out into the vicious sunshine, so I sought refuge inside. There was no casino in town but I did find the aptly named Ocean View Card Room. I sat down in my bomber jacket, with my arm in a sling, imagining myself a Reynoldsesque character. Texas-hold-'em was the game, just like in the movies. I lost the first $50 to a wrinkled toothless man in a Stetson, and then the next $150 turned Judas too: that’s what comes of underestimating the elderly. I left shortly afterwards, disconcerted that my burgeoning addiction was feeding someone Photo: Wikipedia, Moyan Brenn else’s. I searched my pockets in vain, but there was no change for the bus: my little jaunt had cost me $320. I began the trek up the hill towards campus, sweating, broken and angry. Maybe Bilal had the right idea.
is coming....
25/NOV shop
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8th November 2016
Six tips for travelling India
Photo: Jodie Randell Jodie Randell Travel Writer India is one of the most magnificent countries I have ever visited. Walking through Indian streets you are greeted by colourful clothes, bright green and yellow tuk-tuks, cows aimlessly wandering, and strong smells of incense and spices. It is a journey you will hold with you for the rest of your life. However, there are a few things to be wary of in order to maximise your magical Indian experience.
Do not hold bananas where there are monkeys
As we walked in Hauz Khas, New Delhi, I noticed that not only were we the only westerners, we were also the only people holding bananas… big mistake. Once I spotted the monkeys’ eyes following us I threw mine into the closest bin.
Yet before I could warn the rest of my family, a huge baboon followed by a smaller monkey leapt in front of my mother. She immediately threw her banana to the baboon. Upset that he didn’t get it, the smaller monkey bit her on the leg. Monkey bites are serious business in India due to the risk of catching rabies. Even after having all the rabies jabs prior to your visit, you still need to go into hospital to get further injections if you are bitten. The injections you will have had before your trip only delay the spreading of rabies. We immediately went to the nearest hospital, and thankfully my mother was fine. However, this wouldn't have happened if we just ate our bananas inside!
Arrange the tuk-tuk before you get in
price
Tuk-tuk drivers love tourists as local prices are a mystery to them. If you get into a taxi or tuk-tuk
without agreeing on a set price, you may well be spending a lot more money for your journey than you bargained for. Always be sure to agree a set price before you get in. If you are unsure what a fair price is, don’t be afraid of asking locals around you. In my experience they are always willing to help.
Always barter the cost of unpriced shop items down to at least half the starting price
A few times I noticed that if I bought something for say 100 rupees, I would also see the same thing being bought by a local for 50 rupees not long after! If you are a western tourist in India, and do not barter prices, be prepared to pay more than double the price that locals pay. Bartering is a part of the shopping culture, and the first step to getting yourself a fair price is to initially barter the item for half of the starting price. Show you're not
an ignorant tourist and get stuck into negotiations!
Be wary of wearing sunglasses
It’s not just bananas – monkeys also love stealing sunglasses and hats from people's heads! Once when walking down an alley, a particularly playful monkey jumped out and cheekily plucked my dad’s sunglasses from his head. If you wish to keep your headgear, then I suggest being careful where you wear them (or at least keep them in your bag around monkeys!)
Eat vegetarian food
One of the things I enjoyed the most about India is the food. There are so many flavours, smells and spices that always got my taste buds tingling. Due to a large Hindu population the majority of Indian menus are vegetarian. If you wish to avoid the infamous Delhi belly, stay away from meat dishes which are
more likely to upset your stomach Randellof and embracePhoto: the Jodie experience authentic vegetarian Indian food. From taka dahl, roties, japaties, mutter paneer to aloo paratha, (be careful not to Google these when you’re hungry) these are just a few of the dishes in the huge range of foods to try in India’s vegetarian culture.
Research Indian laws and regulations
Yes, this may sound like a boring one but it is always a good idea to do some research on the laws of the country you are about to visit. To do this you can check out the FCO travel advice page on India, it will have every important bit of information covered. Check it out here: www.gov.uk/foreigntravel-advice/india. Now, you’re ready. Go forth and have a wonderful experience on your Indian travels!
"My gap yah": Why you should spend a year teaching in Chile Tom Brown Travel Writer Saying you’ve done a ‘gap year’ can tend to have a certain stigma behind it in the UK. Although a German friend with whom I’d travelled told me that upon telling employers that he’d done a gap year overseas found himself being immediately hired, I have often found the opposite reaction. When you tell most people that you’ve done a gap year, what they immediately hear is that you either spent £10,000 of your grandparents' money surfing in Australia, or that you worked at Sports Direct living at home after college because you weren’t sure which university to go to. Mine was a little bit different.
Spending twelve months teaching English in Chile seems like a bit of an unusual thing to do with a year of your time, but looking back I wouldn’t trade a single second.
"Jumping in at the deep end of the pool is sometimes the best way to learn how to swim, provided you don't drown." There’s something people find quite daunting in deciding to travel to a country on the other side of the world where no-one knows you or speaks your language, and deciding
to live and work there knowing you won’t see your family or friends for another twelve months. I remember waking up on my first week there at 6am by the school and being told that the English teacher I was supposed to be assisting had been taken to hospital after having an asthma attack and I would be left alone to teach six consecutive classes, each with forty Chilean kids, in Spanish, completely by myself. Jumping in the deep end of the pool is sometimes the best way to learn how to swim, provided you don’t drown, and by the end of the first three months I’d learned enough Spanish to make myself understood in most scenarios. After six months I was getting good enough to actually debate and talk about a range of topics. I wasn’t quite fluent yet, but I was getting
there. By that time the summer holidays rolled around and I had three months spare to see as much of South America as possible. One thing I realised when returning to Chile after travelling the continent was that even the most unimaginable things can eventually become routine. After only eight months a city built mostly out of shanty houses, where there were more stray dogs than cars, and earthquakes were as common as long weekends, I found myself feeling at home Living in another country and culture for extended amounts of times is definitely a gruelling uphill battle, especially without massive amount of support, but it's something that I think everyone should do at least once in their lives. It gives you a deep sense of
confidence in your own ability to take off, settle down somewhere else and experience something completely unique. The more you travel, the more people you meet, the more contacts you make and the more options you have. Slowly you start to aquire a list of countries where you're have a place to stay. If nothing else, taking time away from the country you’ve grown up in your whole life gives you a little time to get to know yourself before you have to graduate, get a job, get commitments and likely take your next holiday in two years’ time. Do it now, while you’re still young enough not to get judged at parties for being unemployed and don’t have a mortgage to pay off,. Everything will still be here waiting for you when you get back. Photo: Chile, Flickr, mtchm
Sport
8th November 2016
22
UEA’s indoor cricket teams enjoy mixed success First team sit second in table after three wins
UEA’s first and second indoor cricket teams enjoyed mixed success in the first round of matches in the Midlands Indoor Cricket League last month. Both teams played four games, with the first team winning three; only losing against a strong Loughborough outfit, and the second team winning their opening game but coming unstuck in the following matches.
UEA’s first team faced Anglia Ruskin’s Chelmsford team in their opening game. UEA, fielding first, bowled consistent lines and difficult lengths which meant the opposition batsmen struggled to find the boundary with any regularity and stumbled their way to a score of 73 from the allotted 10 overs. UEA’s opening batsmen, Theeshan Seelan and Jake Lawrence ensured that their team reached the target without losing a wicket. Playing against Northampton’s first team in the second game, UEA were ruthless once again. Batting
Team
Wins
Losses
Points
Loughborough
3
0
9
University of East Anglia 1st
3
1
9
De Montfort
3
0
9
Anglia Ruskin 1st
2
1
6
Northampton 1st
1
2
3
Anglia Ruskin 2nd
1
2
3
University of East Anglia 2nd
1
3
3
Bishop Grosseteste
0
3
0
N. Hulkenberg
Force India
0
46
F. Massa
Williams
0
41
F. Alonso
McLaren
0
36
C. Sainz Jnr.
Toro Rosso
0
30
R. Grosjean
Haas F1
0
28
Richard Ewart Sports Editor
Second team win first indoor game in two years
UEA Cricket. Photo: Dan Falvey first this time, UEA set a formidable total of 141 with contributions from everyone. Maintaining the same excellent intensity in the field, UEA bowled Northampton out for just 25, 116 runs shy of UEA’s score. A tougher challenge awaited the first team in their third game against Loughborough, one of the strongest sides in the country. UEA bowled well in places but some strong, straight hitting ensured Loughborough scored a large total of 134. UEA lost two early wickets and despite a middle-order resurgence from Theeshan Seelan and Richard Ewart, always looked destined to fall short, which they did, eventually
“A tougher challenge awaited the first team in their third game against Loughborough, one of the strongest sides in the country.” reaching 101 all out. Facing Bishop Grosseteste in the first team’s final game, the bowlers again bowled excellent line and lengths and restricted the opposition to a moderate total. Despite regular wickets, Harry Bailey’s unbeaten
innings ensured UEA reached the target with an over to spare. UEA’s second team also got off to a good start, comfortably defending their score against Bishop Grosseteste, their first win in two years. However, in the next three games they lost decisively to Loughborough before failing to defend 89 against De Montfort and then falling 28 runs short of Anglia Ruskin’s total of 95. UEA’s first team sit in 2nd place in the Midlands Indoor Cricket League and with a decent chance of qualifying for the national finals, will return to Leicester for the second round of matches in December with everything to play for.
Hamilton closes gap to 19 following Mexico win
Photo: wikimedia.org Andrew Mackenzie Sports Writer With two races left in the thrilling 2016 season, Lewis Hamilton has closed the gap to Championship leader Nico Rosberg to just 19 points thanks to his win in Mexico, following time penalties for both Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel. This means that should Rosberg win the Brazilian Grand Prix, he will be crowned World Champion. The consensus is that
this will be Rosberg’s year, however in 2007 Hamilton had a thirteenpoint lead entering the last two races, and lost by a single point, so anything is possible. The Mexican Grand Prix is arguably the best supported race on the calendar since its return in 2015 due to its fantastic stadium section. Once a baseball stadium, it is now one of the best places to see a Formula One car in action. Such was the support for the home drivers, Sergio Perez and Esteban Gutierrez, you would be
forgiven for thinking they were fighting for the Championship. Unfortunately for the home crowd, the Mexican pair had a disappointing day. Gutierrez finished 19th and was lapped, while Perez finished 10th after being stuck behind Felipe Massa for 45 laps. This was due to the new asphalt laid down ahead of the race, the high altitude of the track itself and the Pirelli’s tyre selection for the Grand Prix, resulting in negligible tyredegradation, meaning only a single pit stop for most drivers.
The two Mercedes both got off the line well for once and went into the first corner side-by-side. Hamilton was forced onto the grass and across turn two, re-joining in the lead. The pack bunched behind, and Gutierrez spun Pascal Wehrlein into Marcus Ericsson’s Sauber, ending the German’s race and bringing out the safety car. Several drivers pitted, including Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo, committing him to a two stop strategy. When the race restarted, the Mercedes stretched their advantage at the front until they pitted, leaving Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel leading. As evidence of the lack of tyre-wear, Vettel was able to do the same lap times as Hamilton, on tyres that were 30 laps older. Vettel then pitted and rejoined in 7th, making slow progress through the field, aided by pit-stops for teammate Kimi Raikkonen and Ricciardo. With five laps to go, Vettel caught Verstappen, whose tyres were past their best. Running out of grip, Verstappen fluffed his braking at the first corner, and had to cut the second, replicating Hamilton’s mistake on lap one. The rules state that if a driver leaves the track and
gains an advantage, they must give up a place to the car behind. Max Verstappen, however, did not, despite the team’s instructions. Vettel was irate on the radio, swearing several times including in response to race director Charlie Whiting who said the German would have to hand the place back to Verstappen. On the penultimate lap, Ricciardo tried to pass Vettel at turn four. Vettel moved under braking to defend and the pair locked wheels and slid towards the corner, lucky to get away without damage. This action came only a week after a rule was brought in banning such practice. The drama didn’t finish there. Before the podium, Verstappen was informed he’d been given a five second penalty, which dropped him to 5th. Vettel celebrated on the podium, but was later slapped with a 10 second penalty which meant that Ricciardo was promoted to 3rd, Verstappen 4th and Vettel 5th. Lewis Hamilton took 1st place while Rosberg followed in 2nd. Viewers can only hope that the conclusion to the season will be as exhilarating as the drama on show in Mexico last week.
8th November 2016
23
UEA Ladies Hockey team UEA Men’s Table leave it late to claim win Tennis claim impressive win Beat previously unbeaten University of Lincoln Tom Faulkner Sports Writer The University of East Anglia Men’s Table Tennis team got their season off to a convincing start with a 16-1 away victory against the University of Lincoln. In British University & Colleges Sport (BUCS) Table Tennis, each team member plays against a member of the opposite team, with matches scored in a first to 11 and then best of five sets. In a team of four, this means there is the possibility of 17 points on offer for any one matchday. The opening round of fixtures pitted UEA against the University of Bedford, but due to Bedford’s inability to field a team, UEA were awarded a walkover victory. That meant that UEA’s fixture against Lincoln provided the first real opportunity to put points on the board and the men took full advantage. Derby Day 2016. Photo: Dan Falvey Beth Rosier Sports Writer UEA Ladies Hockey first XI emerged triumphant from their home fixture with Harper Adams firsts to go top of the fledgling Midlands 2B League table. The last meeting between the two sides ended in controversy last season when a pheasant was thrown from the sidelines towards the UEA ladies, but there was to be no repeat this time around.
“Not quite satisfied with taking a point from the contest, UEA rallied late on in the cold surrounds of Sportspark and found a decisive winner “ The UEA ladies came out in high spirits, eager to return to winning wins and the top of the league following the previous weeks’ loss to Oxford University. The opposition, known for their boisterous nature and strength on the ball, brought a somewhat agricultural style of play from their Shropshire home. Harper Adams started the game more brightly, but it was UEA who took the lead in the contest. The
ball was worked down the pitch through some short, sharp linkage play between the midfield and the attack, allowing Grace Julier to slip the ball over the line despite the best efforts of the Harper Adams defensive line. Unfortunately, the visitors were quick to fight back and equalised almost immediately. That was quickly followed by a second from just inside the ‘D’ as the Adams Ladies took control of the contest. In spite of the best efforts of the UEA forward players, the Harper Adams defensive unit remained resolute. Victoria Boulton was providing the main threat for UEA, but even her Usain-Bolt-like pace could not penetrate the visitors’ defence. With the match heading into half time, however, UEA got themselves back on level terms. Grace Julier was the main woman once again, hitting a shot straight past the goalkeeper to draw the game level at 2-2 and leave the UEA Ladies more composed going into the second half. The second half began in much the same way as the first, except this time it was Harper Adams who managed to find the breakthrough first. Despite the stunning saves of goalkeeper Fiona Bennell, UEA fell behind for the second time in the contest, the Shropshire side scoring a lucky goal to make it 3-2. The rousing half time team talk had stirred UEA, though, and with the standard of play improving all of the time, it wasn’t long before UEA
were on level terms once again. After moving the ball effortlessly around the pitch, Pippa Emmans found herself one-on-one with the keeper, sliding the ball effortlessly past the last line of defence and into the bottom right hand corner for 3-3. Not quite satisfied with taking a
9
Goals scored by the women’s hockey team so far this season
point from the contest, UEA rallied late on in the cold surrounds of Sportspark and found a decisive winner. After good link up play, Georgia Cleveland’s strike took a wicked deflected that even Lucy Jeffries would have been proud of. The final whistle promptly sounded to ensure a spectacular 4-3 success for UEA. It was an excellent all round team performance from the ladies, with special mentions to Bennell, Emma Fox, and Sophie Thomas, all of whom played an integral role in the victory. All of the girls showed an excellent team ethic, spirit and an incredible work rate to come from behind and take the win, moving them to the top of the table in the process.
“UEA’s opponents remained an unknown quantity, with no members having played against Lincoln previously.” Going into the match, Lincoln’s first team were unbeaten and topped the fledgling Midlands 3A League table. Despite this, UEA’s opponents remained an unknown quantity, with no members of the East Anglia side having played against Lincoln previously. The UEA team was strong ahead of the contest, Paul Hume, Tom Lo, Tom Faulkner and Tinka Falana representing the university. Although confidence was high, no-one could have foreseen what was about to unfold. In the opening games, Hume and Lo both dispatched their lower ranked opponents in a matter of minutes with ease. Hume claimed the first bagel of the day – an 11-0 scoreline – as UEA stormed into an early 2-0 lead. Falana and Faulkner, however, were pitted against higher ranked opponents. Falana was up first, against Lincoln’s number one ranked played, the UEA whirlwind smashed shots left and right to take a 2-0 lead in the game. Lincoln came back in the third set, Falana forced out to 11-9, but the debutant recovered and just 16 points later the game was UEA’s, the lead now at 3-0 from the opening three matches.
On the other table, Faulkner was locked in an epic battle with Lincoln’s number two seed. With his experience of fixtures in the Norwich & District Table Tennis League, Faulkner rose to heap the pressure on struggling Lincoln. In a tight affair and with the scoreline continuing to sway back and forth, Faulkner took the initiative with the scores tied at nine apiece to record a crucial fifth set victory and claim an overall 4-0 lead for UEA. Despite his excellent performance in the opener, Faulkner was unable to hold his form and suffered a straight sets defeat to Lincoln’s top seed for what proved to be UEA’s only loss of the afternoon. Falana, meanwhile, was continuing to enjoy a dream debut. The new-boy dispatched yet another higher ranked opponent in a thrilling fifth set decider to all but confirm UEA’s imminent victory. Tom Lo then claimed the second bagel of the day, while Hume recorded another straightforward victory to leave UEA 7-1 ahead at the halfway stage. With the victory sealed, it was now Faulkner and Falana’s turn to face the lower ranked players. Despite a small blip in concentration, Falana continued his near faultless performance to secure a four set victory, while Faulkner added a third whitewash of the afternoon to make it 9-1 to UEA. Hume also got in on the act, pushing aside Lincoln’s number two ranked player in another straight sets victory. Lo finished strong in his hardest game of the day, brushing aside Lincoln’s best player 11-2 in the fifth and final set. With the doubles and one round of singles games to come, UEA found themselves 11-1 ahead. In the final selection of games and with each player facing his opposite ranked seed, UEA dropped just two more games. Hume, Faulkner and Falala all won in straight sets, and although Tom Lo was forced into a decider, his experience and composure shone through to send UEA into an extraordinary 15-1 lead. The doubles matches saw UEA continue their domination, the pairing of Hume and Faulkner going 11-5, 11-6, 11-5 to complete a humiliating afternoon for Lincoln. UEA’s first win sets up an exciting season, with the Midlands 3A League title the aim for the men. Lincoln had no response to a hugely impressive performance in which the UEA men showed class and composure to clinically dispatch a potential bogey team and get their first win on the board.
24
Sport
Canaries fall to last minute defeat as slump continues
Stephen Cole Sports Writer It has not been a very good few weeks for Alex Neil and Norwich City. After rising to the top of the Championship following a 3-1 win at home to Rotherham in the middle of October, the Canaries have since gone five games without a win, including the recent 5-0 drubbing against Brighton & Hove Albion at the AMEX Stadium. This was followed by a 3-2 at home to Leeds United, in which Norwich equalised in the 88th minute through Kyle Lafferty, only to let in a winner from the away side in the first minute of injury time. This dip in form has come at an untimely moment, leaving Norwich four points outside of the auto-matic promotion places. The run has also coincided with the EFL Cup fixture against Leeds at Elland Road, which resulted in Norwich’s exit from the competition on penalties in the round of 16 stage. Yet perhaps more than anything, it is the nature of Norwich’s run that is the most concerning. Following on from the late collapse at Newcastle which saw the Canaries let slip their last minute lead into a 4-3 defeat, the side has continued to leak goals. The game at Craven Cottage against Fulham showed a similar problem to the one at Newcastle, where a two goal half time lead was cancelled out by two second half strikes, including an equaliser from ex-City striker Chris Martin. This was soon followed by a shock 1-0 home defeat to Preston North End, where another late
13
Norwich have now gone 13 consecutive games without a clean sheet
goal, this time from Alex Baptiste consigning City to their fate. Then, with a much-changed side, Norwich suffered a defeat on penalties in the Cup at Leeds. Alex Neil will once again be frustrated at the nature of the defeat, as Norwich once again surrendered their lead twice; once in normal time and then in extra time. Arguably three of City’s most relied upon players, Robbie Brady, Steven Naismith, and Alex Pritchard, all saw their penalties saved. In what must be seen as an extremely winnable cup tie, it is undoubtedly disappointing to not have made the quarter-finals of the EFL cup. In suffering defeat,
Norwich have missed out on a glamour cup tie at Anfield and the opportunity to claim a place in the semi-finals of the competition for the first time since 1984. Certainly, though, what was initially seen as merely a trio of disappointing results has intensified following a 5-0 thrashing at Brighton. A hat-trick from Glenn Murray, plus goals from Lewis Dunk and Anthony Knockaert was enough to rout the miserable Canaries. The result also saw Brighton extend their position above Norwich in the table, and City now sit four points behind the Seagulls’ all important automatic promotion spot. After the drubbing, Alex Neil confessed: “It was my worst defeat as a manager, a humiliating defeat. There’s no getting away from a 5-0 defeat. Everybody is embarrassed with what happened and there are going to be question marks put upon us. Certain players have let themselves down and have not performed at anywhere near what they’re capable of. I apologise to the fans.” The last few results are certainly a concern for Neil and the yellow and green faithful. The biggest worry lies in the fact that Norwich have now gone 13 consecutive matches without a clean sheet. It has not helped that John Ruddy’s form has been inconsistent for the last twelve months, whilst his replacement, Northern Irishman Michael McGovern, was at least partially at fault for three of Brighton’s five goals at the AMEX. Meanwhile, City’s back four is yet to settle and establish a strong relationship this season. A series of combinations, including skipper Russell Martin at both fullback and centre-half, have failed to solve the problem. In the heart of defence, Timm Klose has impressed but has been unable to form a consistent partnership with another centre-half, with both Sebastian Bassong and Ryan Bennett proving unreliable in their form. Unquestionably, clean sheets must become a priority for Alex Neil’s men if their aim of promotion is to be realised. It would, however, be unfair to refer to the last five results as a crisis. First and foremost, it is worth remembering that the Canaries remain in a strong playoff position and two points clear of 7th place. Norwich also find themselves as the leagues’ second highest goal scorers, behind only Newcastle United who top the table. As a result, there continues to be positive foundations for the Christmas run-in.
8th November 2016
Success for UEA teams Women win 3-0 at home
Men’s 1st XI beat Coventry 2nds
UEA Women’s Football team in action. Photo: Dan Falvey.
Nick Murphy Sports Editor UEA sports clubs continued their good start to the season in the most recent round of matches, with the University picking up 16 wins from 32 matches across all sports. The most impressive result of the week belonged to the Ultimate Frisbee first team who dispatched Loughborough thirds by a comprehensive 15-0 scoreline. In hockey, the UEA Women’s first team continued their hot streak by narrowly seeing off Harper Adams first team 4-3 at Sportspark to take top spot in the Midlands 2B League table. The men’s team followed the trend, with both the first and second XIs picking up victories to make it a hat-trick of successes for UEA Hockey. The UEA football teams all continued their early success to pick up deserved victories. The UEA
Men’s seconds kicked off the day with a 4-0 victory over Worcester, with goals from Young, Rayland, Golden and Parrot, before the first XI were in action against Coventry seconds. On the pristine Colney pitch, Tom Caldon was the hero, the goalkeeper saving a penalty to preserve the lead given to UEA by Mohammed Hassan. The men held on to secure a narrow 1-0 victory, a result which sees them top the table by three points. The Women’s first XI meanwhile, picked up all three points with a dominant 3-0 win over early table toppers, the University of Northampton. In badminton, there were contrasting afternoons for the men and the women who found themselves on opposite ends of 5-3 scorelines. The men suffered a 5-3 away defeat to Nottingham Trent, while the women’s team recovered from two defeats earlier on in the campaign to record a much needed victory over the Warwick first team.
Lacrosse and basketball both fared well away from home, the men’s firsts seeing off Derby and Cranfield respectively. There was disappointment for UEA Rugby, however, with defeats for the Men’s Rugby first and second squad and the Women’s second team who were on the wrong end of a 44-0 scoreline away to Nottingham Trent. Meanwhile, the only draw of the afternoon came courtesy of the Women’s Netball first XI who entertained Oxford seconds. In a tight encounter, there was no winner with both sides sharing the spoils in a scintillating 23-23 encounter. The result means UEA Netball are now unbeaten in two games following the previous weeks’ impressive 4216 cup victory over the University of Leicester thirds. These results mean that UEA sits 54th out of 148 Universities in the overall British Universities and College Sport League table.