Concrete 327

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>> Discover UEA’s hidden sporting highlights

23rd September 2016 Issue 327

The official student newspaper of the University of East Anglia | concrete-online.co.uk

UEA accommodation failure 18 students on housing waiting list

Students recommended pricey B&Bs

LCR no longer requires ID from students Jessica Frank-Keyes

Caitlin Doherty

Deputy Editor

Norwich students are facing a housing crisis, as a number of students are without accommodation 72 hours before term begins. Since August an estimated 130 students have struggled to secure a room, according to Home Run, UEA Student Union’s housing service. The majority of these have been first-year undergraduates and international students, according to Home Run. 4,193 Freshers will be arriving on campus for the first time this weekend, as well as more than 10,000 returning students. However, at least 18 students are known to the university to still be without a room . The shortage of rooms is believed to be because of the change in first year cohort size on A Level results day. 500 offers were made through the Adjustment and Clearing processes to students not previously registered with UEA. This is despite UEA building more than 500 new campus rooms in the Hickling and Barton buildings, which open this week. These additions to the campus, which have taken almost two years to complete, mean that UEA now offers more than 4,000 rooms on campus. Some of these have been offered to second and third year students as well as those returning from a year abroad. Final year students will be housed away from first year students, either in flats grouped together within an undergraduate building, or within a designated Postgraduate residence. Responding to the figures, UEA Undergraduate Education Officer Theodore Antoniou-Phillips urged the university to anticipate fluctuations in recruitment in future in an attempt to prevent student homelessness. “It’s tempting to blame the shortage of on-campus accommodation for first-year students on the university for overrecruiting; but the reality is that an unexpectedly high number of first years are coming to UEA as it was their UCAS insurance offer, secured on results day. “This dramatic churn in student recruitment – a result

UEA Student’s Union is introducing a new ticketing system, which will no longer require students to present their IDs at the door of the LCR. From Friday 23rd June students at UEA will be granted entry into the LCR via their campus cards, which will hold their ticket information, and proof of age. New scanning technology will allow security to ensure age verification from campus cards is of an appropriate standard and remove the need to check a further form of identification. The system will be introduced at Returners LCR (Friday 23rd). Union sources confirmed that it will be rolled out across the UEA estate for LCR Gigs and Waterfront events, in due course.

“any new system will involve teething problems.” of the government’s disastrous marketisation of Higher Education – is causing chaos up and down the country, with other SUs reporting empty courses or bulging lecture theatres depending on how their uni has done. “Where the problem is at UEA is the overall absence of a proper plan to handle the university’s expansion – ensuring that uni bosses anticipate these issues and invest in teaching and other facilities that are able to maintain the strong student experience that UEA is famous for.” Allegations have also been made by senior Union officials that this accommodation crisis may jeapordise student’s course places. This is in wart due to the expense of the accommodation recommended by HomeRun. The union-run service have been recommending that students still without rooms check themselves into a number of local hotels or bed and breakfasts. The costs of these rooms vary greatly and are

generally more expensive per night than all of the university or private rented accommodation. En-suite campus rooms (the most expensive available) are charged at between £17 and £21 per night. Some of the residences recommended by the HomeRun service are charging upwards of £140 per night. Students have been registered on waiting lists, but places are dependent on other students dropping out of their course or otherwise vacating their room, meaning that many may be unavailable for several weeks. Students are still searching for accommodation, in an attempt to secure a room offcampus. One such student is firstyear Sophie Ross. She has now found a room in the city, but feels that the university did very little to help her. Despite Sophie making UEA her firm choice, she was left without her guaranteed accommodation due to a failure in the application system that opened in the spring.

“This accommodation crisis may jeopardise student’s course places.”

Sophie says she completed her accommodation form in April, however, the university disagreed, and she was subsequently denied a campus room. She continued, “We were all essentially called liars… the university didn’t want to hear and kept insisting there are no issues with the system.” When Sophie was eventually offered campus accommodation it was in the INTO building, and she was forced to decline due to the expense. She said, “INTO is the same cost as the new Barton and Hickling…it would have been £2,000 more than my loan.” She admits she then “had no idea where and how to look for private accommodation.” She said described the situation as, “upsetting” and “stressful” Sje added, “I do feel that not a lot has been done to help or prevent the problem in the future. “As a first-year, firm choice who did manage to get in, I felt that the guaranteed accommodation promises surely applied, but evidently not much faith should have been given to that.” UEA have been contacted for comment.

Union Activities and Opportunities Officer Joe Zilch commented on the changes, saying: “we’re pleased that following student feedback we’ve been able to introduce a new system for getting into the LCR.” He claimed the new entry system would “reduce queue times,” in addition to eliminating “the need to carry around passports,” calling this “a real issue for international students. Zilch continued, confirming that: “any new system will involve teething problems.” A senior union source also added that this will reduce the number of counterfeit campus cards currently in circulation. Union Council passed Motion 1923 on Thursday 12th May 2016, calling on the Union to find a solution to the problems faced by international students regarding identification. The motion was proposed by Malaika Jaovisidha, then the chair of the International Students Assembly and now UEA SU International Students Officer. Zilch also said that, the Union are “investing in troubleshooting staff and have backup plans in case anything goes wrong.”

23rd September 2016

Editorial Welcome to UEA from all of us at Concrete Caitlin Doherty and Jessica Frank-Keyes Deputy Editors

Dougie Dodds

A disappointing welcome for some, but it’s good to be back Students have been left camped out in B&Bs as term begins Megan Baynes Editor-in-Chief Three years ago, with the contents of IKEA loaded into my car, I arrived at Norfolk Terrace. The room reminded me of a prison cell, and I couldn’t imagine spending a night there, let alone a year. However, with the addition of a few fairy lights it, and UEA, became home. U n f o r t u n a t e l y, it seems that not all Freshers’ have had such a welcome to campus. Our cover story looks at the students who have been left without accommodation, and very little advice from the university, other than the listings for a few local B&Bs. Despite the addition of two new campus buildings, it seems a lack of planning was responsible for the situation that has left some students feeling unwelcome. This has the potential to jeopardise course placements if students aren’t able to find adequate accommodation soon. For some, it seems, Freshers’ week is not off to a good start. That being said, for those of you just starting at UEA, you have no idea the adventures in store for you over the next few years. My own UEA adventure has taken me from the sticky floors of the LCR and to interviewing Ukip MPs across to the pond to a Bernie Sanders rally, and an evening watching Donald Trump (with a few memorable moments

sprinkled in between). Your time here is what you make of it, and what better way to get involved than by joining Concrete? Come find us at SocMart and the Media Expo, alongside the EDP, the Press Association and the rest of the Media Collective. Don’t forget to say hi if you see anyone in blue and yellow around campus (we’re a friendly bunch and we have some great merchadise for you). We publish every other week on a Tuesday and whether you’ve written for the New York Times, or just in your diary, everyone is welcome. Our Freshers’ Guide is full of useful tips to help you survive Freshers’, include a map on the inside cover. We have also included a guide on getting to know Norwich (p.12-13), including where to find the best cocktail in Norwich (Frank’s bar, if you’re asking my opinion). If sport is more your thing, we take a look at some of the hidden gems of UEA’s sports (p.26), including Korfball and Futsal. You can find these guys, and the rest of those more athletic than me, at SportsMart on Thursday. We also have some pretty impressive alumni here at UEA.

“Students have been left without accommodation and very little advice from the university, other than a few listings for B&Bs.”

Takyiwa Danso, 2014 graduate has just finished a week representing young people at the UN in New York (p.5). We also got the chance to interview this year’s honorary graduates (p.14-15), which included Debra Hayward (who just finished producing Bridget Jones’ Baby), Rugby Union referee Wayne Barnes as well as Game of Thrones star Roger Ashton-Griffiths, who just completed his PhD in Creative Writing. All of them were keen to pass on their knowledge to the next generation, (apart from Griffiths, who spent most of the time trying to remember Tom Hardy’s name). Concrete too can lay claim to some pretty impressive names. At the start of the summer, we got the chance to interview former Features Editor, Lauren Razavi, (p.27) who now works as a freelance journalist in Norwich. Since leaving Concrete she has written for Vice, Google, the Guardian, the Times and more. Earlier this month I also got the chance to interview BAFTA winner, Adam Chapman, who is a series producer on First Dates (p.27). He has gone on to work on X factor (apparently Simon Cowell is “great to work with”) before moving to Channel 4. Both had some interesting advice to give to those just about to start at UEA, so make sure to have a look at what they had to say. Welcome to UEA, Freshers’. You’re going to have a blast.

“Your time here is what you make of it, and what better way to get involved than by joining Concrete?”

September is finally here! The leaves are changing colour by the lake, campus is buzzing with excited Freshers, and the lines in Unio have never been longer. Welcome home! Or welcome to those of you joining us for the first time. Trust us, you’re in for the time of your life. If you’ve just picked up a copy for the first time, and are wondering what on earth you’re reading, welcome to Concrete, UEA’s student newspaper. From campus news, to music reviews and even space to air your own views, we can assure you that there is something for everybody, and – although we may be biased - we are definitely one of the best societies to get involved with on campus. After all, a quick flick through this issue is enough to prove that our alumni go on to do incredible things. Whether you aspire to a career in journalism, or just want to see your name in print, there has never been a better time to get involved with Concrete. We celebrate our 25th anniversary this year, and with celebrations and alumni events planned the opportunities this year are endless. Say hello to us at SocMart, or come along to our Big Meet on Thursday 29th September to sign up for what is certainly the best society at UEA. But, there’s far more to university than the societies. University is about the plates of pasta shared with your flatmates at 2am and the module, that you absolutely fall in love with. University is truly what you make of it, and UEA is no different. We hope you fall as in love with the Square, the Bar and the LCR as we did. From all of us at Concrete, have a fantastic year!

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concrete_UEA Cover: Flickr, [asterisk]sax

The University of East Anglia’s Independent Student newspaper since 1992 Friday 23rd September 2016 Issue 327 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 concrete.online@uea.ac.uk News Emily Hawkins Senior Reporter: Amanda Ng concrete.news@uea.ac.uk Global Ollie Watts Senior Reporter: Milly Godfrey concrete.global@uea.ac.uk Features Lillie Coles Lydia Lockyer concrete.features@uea.ac.uk Comment Charlie Dwyer concrete.comment@uea.ac.uk Science&Environment Sophie Christian concrete.science@uea.ac.uk Travel Jennifer Redfern concrete.travel@uea.ac.uk Sport Richard Ewart Nick Murphy concrete.sport@uea.ac.uk Chief Copy-Editor Molly Burgess concrete.copy@uea.ac.uk Copy-Editor Molly Slaughter concrete.copy@uea.ac.uk Marketing Director Katie Gleeson Email TBC Social Media Coordinator Charlotte Spencer Email TBC Events Manager Sam Naylor Email TBC Editorial Enquiries concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk concrete.venue@uea.ac.uk Complaints & Corrections concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk

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

23rd September 2016

COMMENT

Tom Sellars calls on universities to stand up for free speech Theresa May’s critique was not only an accurate assessment of the ludicrous concept of ‘safespaces’, but was also a welcome intervention. Whilst it is vital to defend minority groups against any form of discrimination, safe spaces are the most illiberal method of achieving this. The very concept is in direct contravention of the core principle of liberalism: freedom of speech. Fear of offending individuals should not be a justification for censoring that fundamental right to freedom. Universities are the home of education, of learning, and of reason. Safe spaces are censoring debate for fear of offence. The only way progress for minority rights will be achieved is through the changing of hearts and minds. Universities should be leading the charge in changing minds, but that involves free and open debate, without censorship of any kind. By suppressing debate in places of learning safe spaces are preventing the necessary debates from taking place. A reassertion of this core value must be reiterated, and restored, if universities such as UEA want to continue to be the bastions of free thought, ideas, and progress.

Theresa May criticises university “safe-spaces” Caitlin Doherty Deputy Editor Theresa May has criticised “extraordinary” safe-spaces in British universities, those that are designed to project people from offence in debate and conversation. So-called safe-spaces conceptualise the protection of students and other young or vulnerable people from offence in debate’ The Prime Minister voiced her criticisms during the first Prime Minister’s Questions since the summer recess, stating that universities should be “not just places of learning, but places where there can be open debate which is challenged.” The issue was introduced to the Commons by Victoria Atkins, Conservative MP for Louth and Horncastle, who suggested that safe-spaces were the product of “righteous entitlement” among students and posted a threat to the “fundamental British value” of freedom of speech. May went on to say that the continuation of the safe-spaces ideal and the restriction of discussion could damage social and economic growth. The PM “want[s] to see that innovation of thought is taking place in our universities…that is how we develop as a country, a society and as an economy.”

Prime Minister Theresa May Photo: Cherwell

“Universities should be “not just places of learning, but places where there can be open debate which is challenged.”

Responding to the comments made by the Prime Minister and her fellow Member of Parliament, UEASU Campaigns and Democracy Officer Amy Rust disputed the PM, suggesting that safe-spaces protect, rather than hinder, open debate and free speech, and asserted that the principle will continue to be protected at UEA. “We agree with the government that universities should be a place

where there can be open debate which students can get involved in. In our view, safe space policies protect that goal by making sure that people feel that they can take part in SU activity without, for example, fear of having to deal with racism or homophobia. The House of Commons wouldn’t put up with MPs wearing Nazi imagery or bullying or harassment and nor should students in their own SU.”

Norwich Council delays decision on Article 4 Emily Hawkins News Editor Norwich City Council Cabinet have said they will delay a decision on a motion to limit shared housing in the Golden Triangle. If the council decided to implement Article 4, local landlords would need planning permission from the council before converting a property into a household of multiple occupancy (HMO). HMOs are defined as residencies housing three or more biologically unrelated occupants who are communal facilities like kitchens and bathrooms, causing the issue to concern students. Article 4 would place a limit on the number of HMOs in the city’s Golden Triangle, as well as other areas of Norwich.

70%

Student houses in the Golden Triangle Photo: Twitter, @BrooksResidenti

of Norwich HMOs are occupied by students and young professionals

An increase in anti-social behaviour in the Golden Triangle, which holds a high number of shared houses including student properties, had brought the issue to the council’s agenda. Judith Lubbock, Liberal Democrat city councillor, said that she was concerned about the number of shared houses and spoke

of residents describing “people registered to vote to ensure that having different lifestyles to them, local decision makers treat students people staying up late at night and as residents in the future.” playing loud music.” Commenting on the wider Finn Northrop, non-portfolio implications of student numbers officer noted the restrictions placed growth at UEA, SU Campaigns and by article 4 would “push out young Democracy Officer Amy Rust said professionals, “With UEA in who make up “the Union are “critically the middle of a plan 70 per cent of to grow student HMOs, as well aware that this is not the numbers, the as students.” He Article 4 debate has added that the end,” when addressing highlighted how Union believes under prepared “students add concerns about student the University and to the local local area is for a environment growing student housing.” and help make population. The Norwich the wonderful place it is to danger is that services will struggle live.” to cope and rents will rise to After deliberating on 14 unaffordable levels. We all know September, members of the cabinet students who’ve failed to find a seat decided more information is in a seminar or been unable to find required. SU Welfare, Community space on campus for revising at and Diversity Officer Jo Swo said exam time- and the danger is that that despite the decision being Norwich as a city will struggle too.” cause for celebration, the Union are “That’s why we’re now calling “critically aware that this is not the on the University to get round the end,” when addressing concerns table with students, the council and about student housing. local services to make sure there’s a “Too much of the debate has proper plan to cope with increased tended to view students as ‘others’, student numbers, both on and off but both the city and county council campus- with proper investment should remember that students in the infrastructure and facilities are their residents too. With local needed to protect UEA’s lauded elections coming up in 2017 we’ll student experience and relieve be working to get as many students pressure on wider community."

23rd September 2016

News

Sexual harassment an invisible problem at UK universities Amanda Ng Senior Reporter The way universities in the UK deal with sexual harassment cases concerning university staff and students has been criticised by campaigners and academics. The Guardian reported that in many cases of students being sexually harassed by university students both parties are forced to sign non-disclosure agreements ( NDAs). Confidentiality contracts signed in settlements allow the perpetrators to escape their crime, as the agreements prohibit either of the parties to speak of the allegations. The offenders are then free to move to other institutions where they could strike again. Ann Olivarius, a leading lawyer in the area of sexual harassment in UK and US universities believes ìyoung women are terrified about the consequences if they make a complaint, then when they do, the universityís chief concern is to protect its own reputation by keeping the whole thing quiet.î The Department of Education

has criticised the use of NDAs for reputation management, and: What keeping these problems a secret. happens if we lose our star professor A spokesperson said, ìSexual and his grant income? harassment is unacceptable and Sussex University were universitiesí responsibilities to their criticised heavily this summer when students are crystal clear. They it was revealed they continued to must have clear policies in place employ an academic for a further for the handling of such complaints ten months after he was charged and ensure students do not face with domestic violence. In this case, harassment of any kind.î Allison Smith, 24, who had been in In an increasingly competitive a relationship with Dr Lee Salter, a higher education marketplace, lecturer in her department, said the such universities are accused of academic ìpunched me and knocked disgracefully prioritising their me out...he threw a salt container at reputation over the safety of my faceî. Salter has been sentenced their students by to 22 weeks “Issues of sexual academics, lawyers, imprisonment and campaigners. and suspended harassment “are Dr Alison Phipps, for 18 months. thought of in terms of director of gender Goldsmiths studies at Sussex University has the economic cost and University said also had sexual reputation her research had harassment taken her into 10-15 cases in the management.” universities and she past. Prof Sara came across the same conclusion, Ahmed, former Director of the that ìthe system comes into Centre for Feminist Research at the operation to protect itself. London university said there had She stated that universities been a ìnumber of complaintsî made operate like businesses and issues by female students which resulted of sexual harassment ìare thought in some staff leaving. of in terms of the economic cost, of However, because of the use

of confidentiality agreements in settlements the situation was kept under the radar. As a result of this lack of transparency, the 1752 group has been set up by Goldsmiths to advise and deliver training around the issue of staff-to-student sexual harassment and exploitation. The Department of Education advises students to contact the Office of the Independent Adjudicator if they are not satisfied with how their personal complaint has been dealt with, and states that if a student feels they have been the victim of a sexual assault they should immediately report it to the police. However, the lawyer Olivarius believes there to be ìno effective mechanismî at universities to stop academic staff pressuring students for sexual relationships and says ìthere are very few penalties towards academics who sexually harass their students. Campaigners on the issue have said they think the problem will continue to exist at British universities unless disciplinary action is made mandatory against the perpetrators of sexual harassment.

30 per cent rise in cheating allegations at UEA

Instagram: Romy Higgins Charlotte Gaines News Writer There has been a 30 per cent increase in cheating allegations against students sitting examinations at UEA, with the majority of offences committed by non-EU international students. A Freedom of Information Request by the Eastern Daily Press revealed that 70 cheating allegations were recorded in 2014-15, compared with 51 in 2012-13. Of the 70 incidents, 61 involved overseas students, an increase from 44 in

the previous period. Accusations concerning home and EU students also increased, from 7 reported incidents to 9. However, UEA has been keen to stress that the majority of allegations were “minor or technical breaches of [UEA’s] very strict examinations procedures, rather than real attempts to cheat.” A spokeswoman said that “the level of actual cheating is extremely low,” with only one reported case in 2014-15. Recent procedural breaches by students include 20 cases of unauthorised possession of notes

(down from 33 in 2012-13), 17 cases of writing before an exam started (compared to none in 2012-13) and nine cases of continuing to write after the conclusion of the exam, as well as incidents of communication and mobile phone use. Theo Antoniou-Philips, Undergraduate Officer, has suggested that international students “are unwittingly cheating due to misunderstanding” and should be given more help by the university to comply with British examination practices.

70 51 9 20

cheating allegations were recorded in 2014-15 cheating allegations were recorded in 2012-13 reported cheating allegations concerning EU students cases of unathorised possession of notes

Record number of students at university Amanda Ng Senior Reporter 18th August was a day of celebration as A-level results were released and a significantly high number of students achieved top grades and secured university places. Ucas figures show 424,000 pupils were accepted into higher education institutions, a three per cent surge since last year. These impressive results mean that this year’s results have seen the highest acceptance rates into UK universities in history.

per cent more pupils have been accepted into universities and higher education colleges than last year’s figures.

However some have questioned the record-breaking results and have accused universities of lowering their entry criteria to attract more students. These accusations follow a fall in the number of 18-year olds in the UK and come after a cap on new students was removed for universities last year. In the weeks after this year’s results day, Middlesex University said it would be a “buyer’s market”, whilst London South Bank University is ran a 36-hour non-stop clearing service. Results from 2016 A-level examinations show students from disadvantaged backgrounds were seven per cent more likely to go to university, and 27,400 more girls gained places at institutions than boys. Students in the South-East of England performed the best with more than 27 per cent of results being an A or A* grade. Maths continues to dominate as the most popular subject, accounting for 11 per cent of all 2016 A-level entries, whereas modern language entries in French, German and Spanish have decreased. Sharon Hague, senior vice-president of Pearson Qualification Services, said: “That’s a long established pattern for maths [sic] but there are some encouraging signs. There’s a growth in girls doing economics [sic]. Perhaps that’s a sign that young people are aware of the skills that businesses are looking for”. King’s College London’s School of Mathematics proudly announced that 100 per cent of their incoming students received A or A* grades in the subject. Thousands more places at leading universities were made available through Clearing as students scrambled for their pick of the litter. However, heads of both private and state schools have said that students appealing exam results face “the most chaotic and unfair year in a generation”. In May, Ofqual, the exam boards regulator, said remarking would only be permitted if there were “clear errors”.

23rd September 2016

News

UEA alumnus represented UK at UN UEA third in NSS

UEA dropped from joint second to third in the annual student survey. Photo: N Chadwick Daniel Box News Writer

Takyiwa Danso Photo: Department of International Development Megan Baynes Editor-in-Chief UEA alumnus, Takyiwa Danso, 23, has spent the last week representing the country’s young people at the United Nations in New York. She accompanied the International Development Secretary, Priti Patel, after beating hundreds of other applicants to join the UK delegation. The former international development student will attend events focusing on tackling extreme poverty, boosting women’s economic empowerment and strengthening global security. She

will demonstrate first hand to world leaders at the Summit the power of including young people in the decision making process. Takyiwa has previously volunteering in Kenya with the International Citizens Service programme, supported by UK Aid. In addition, she travelled to Paris last December to participate in the COP21 climate change negotiations. She said, ‘Young people are part of the solution to tackling the biggest development issues. We’re not here to judge or blame the other generation, we just want to get on with it and lead the way to create a better society for our future

generation - world leaders just need to give us the space to do so” During her time at UEA she studied Environmental Science and International development. She said that her degree gave her the “context and theoretical knowledge” necessary for her future career. During her time in Norwich she volunteered to empower children, as well as working with refugees and migrants. She recommended that new students “enjoy it, and be open. Join societies, and use the services available. I wish I did more in first year, and had seen all that was available to me.”

For the 11th year running UEA has achieved a top-five ranking in the National Student Survey (NSS). Despite an overall score of 91 per cent, as well as being placed first nationally for the History, Molecular Biology, Biophysics and Biochemistry schools, UEA lost out on matching last year’s title of second place. This is attributed to a one per cent decrease in overall student satisfaction with the university, as well as a nine per cent decrease in students’ satisfaction with the Student Union. Nevertheless, UEA is still very high in the NSS rankings, streaking ahead of Oxbridge to lift the bronze. However, in April the NUS National Conference passed an amendment of Motion 201, calling

for a national “boycott or sabotage” of the NSS. Although the NUS state they think good NSS results can aid in “the enhancement of the student experience,” the union believe the government’s desire to make the survey’s results a factor in the new Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) is a cause for concern. This belief stems from recent government proposals to allow universities who score highly on the TEF to be able to raise their annual tuition fees to £9,250. The NUS response has not been finalised yet, with three options currently on the table which are a total boycott of the NSS, a sabotage of the survey or an abstention of questions one to twelve on the survey. These twelve questions ask for feedback on teaching standards, assessment feedback, and academic support.

Russell Group to boycott TEF quality testing Amanda Ng Senior Reporter Top UK universities are considering a boycott of new quality tests. A number of universities have indicated they will not participate in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), which the government plans to make universities’ ability to increase tuition fees dependent on passing. Russell Group universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, have refused to confirm whether they will be participating in these quality assessments. If these top universities refuse to comply with the scheme it would threaten the policy’s credibility and the government’s plans for higher education reform. From autumn 2017 universities will be able to charge a maximum of £9,250 a year, allowing many modern UK universities to demand more costly fees than those universities

which have historically higher performance rankings. If the TEF deems a university to be underperforming, they would not only lose the right to raise fees but have to lower them back to £9,000. Universities that meet higher quality standards will be able to raise fees by the rate of inflation, at present £250 per student a year. Aldwyn Cooper, Vice Chancellor of the private institution, Regent’s University London, said: “I think there will be institutions that decide not to take part in year two because they fear the metrics that are selected will not be ones that are friendly towards them, and also there are not enormous benefits to them to participate. There is a danger for better institutions whereby, if they get a low TEF score, it could be used against them

“Russell Group universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, have refused to confirm they will be participating in these quality assessments.”

internationally.” Some university vicechancellors have questioned the new regulatory requirements. They

believe this system would not justify the marginal rise in fees. The TEF would firstly put universities under the inspection of the Quality Assurance Agency to monitor the standards of teaching. Then universities will be ranked on university’s student surveys, drop-out rates and their graduates’ success in finding jobs, along with assessments by expert panels of teaching standards. The universities would then be divided into categories of: “meeting expectations”, “excellent” or “outstanding” and only those in the latter two categories will be allowed to raise fees. Additionally, a failure to achieve the highest grade could affect the status of a top university. A survey by Times Higher Education (THE) magazine found University College London, Bristol and York were the only three Russell Group universities of the 20 in England who had confirmed they would enter this second stage of the TEF. A spokesman at the Department for Education said: “The Teaching Excellence Framework will give students clear, understandable information about where the best teaching is on offer and for the first time, place teaching quality on a par with research at our universities.”

COMMENT

Jessica Frank-Keyes

says university is about so much more than satisfaction scores

The Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) makes it more explicit than ever that British universities are becoming educational bargain basements. In this new world order, the student is now the customer: only permitted to experience the highest possible level of satisfaction. Academia is now a business: forever justifying their chase towards higher and higher fees. The creeping governmental commercialisation of the Higher Education sector threatens the intellectual fabric of our institutions, and puts the needs of students and academics behind those of budgetary and ideological constraints. But worse than the marketisation of education is the fact that awarding funding to universities based on a metric of scores and ‘satisfaction’ results destroys the idea that higher education exists in order to challenge, unsettle and provoke. Coming to university can open

your mind to ideas you’ve never before encountered; it can smash prejudices you’ve never so much as questioned; and reveal sides of yourself you never knew existed. This cannot - and should not always be a comfortable process. Questioning yourself and learning that your ideas about the world were misinformed, judgemental or wrong is hard, and replacing this uphill slog towards a better version of yourself with the mundane complacency of ‘satisfaction’ scores is an exercise in pointlessness. While the cynical among us may say this soul-searching I’m describing is simply the process of evolving into adulthood, there is something special about having this experience alongside other people doing the exact same thing every day. A university education is a huge privilege to receive. We aren’t entitled to consumer satisfaction in the same vein as Topshop’s 14 day returns policy, despite our NUS discount cards. We can’t allow students to be treated as customers and putting a higher premium on financial than on educational value does just that. Universities – and education itself – are about so much more than value for money.

23rd September 2016

News

The news where you weren’t

Scotland

Emily Hawkins, Stephen Cole, Megan Baynes and Jessica Frank-Keyes take a look at the stories that made headlines this summer

EU students are costing the Scottish government £27m a year, according to figures released by Holyrood, the Scottish Parliament. Strict caps on Scottish students are simultaneously making it increasingly difficult for home students to gain a place at Scottish universities. From 2006-7 to 2014-15, the number of full time EU students at Scottish universities almost doubled, rising from 6,738 to 13,312. This is due to the SNP’s policy of free higher education for EU countries while Scotland is a member of the EU. This does not extend to English, Welsh or Northern Irish students, who pay tuition fees in Scotland of up to £9,000 a year. The news comes to light in the wake of both Brexit and renewed calls for a second referendum on Scottish independence. Scottish Conservative education spokesperson Liz Smith has called on the SNP government for clarity over the status of EU students, calling Scotland’s universities “the jewel in the crown of our education system”. EH

Wales

According to data from university admissions service Ucas, the number of Welsh students applying to study medicine has fallen by 15% in the last 5 years. This is on top of a UK wide decline and has been described as a “worrying trend” by officials. Last year 570 students from Wales applied to study medicine, down from 670 in 2012. Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, which supports Welsh medium higher education, said it showed more needs to be done to ensure peoples are encourage in their medicial school applications. The number has decreased from 670 in 2015 to fewer than 110 in 2015. Sara Whittam, who represents Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, blamed the media attention about the problems facing the health service and the increasing workload on doctors. She suggested that as a result these careers have become less appealing to potential students. Some have suggested the Welsh Government set a quote for Welsh medical schools in Wales to have places only available to Welsh students. JFK

Wiltshire

An 18 year old girl was found dead at the BoomTown Fair in Hampshire last month, the fourth death in five years of the music festival. The death of the teenager, named as Livvy Christopher from Buckinghamshire, has sparked new concerns about the safety of drug-taking at BoomTown and at other music festivals. Four women have died at the BoomTown Fair, and all deaths have been drug-related. In 2011 a 45 year old woman suffered a fatal heart attack following ecstasy use; in 2013 an 18 year old girl died after mixing ketamine and alcohol; in 2014 a 31 year old woman took her own life at the festival, after taking MDMA. Campaigners for drug policy reform have spoken out about t h e need for festivals to recognise the risk many first-time drug users experience. Danny Kushlick from the think tank Transform said, We don’t encourage it, but we try and help them keep safe.” In response to questions over whether policies will be reformed in response to the fatalities, BoomTown have said public safety is at the heart of our event management planning. Following the latest death and a fire which destroyed 80 cars at their August event, BoomTown organisers have cancelled their December Winter Gathering. EH

Sheffield

The government have said they will not open an investigation into the way the police behaved during the Battle of Orgreave, to the disappointment and furore of campaigners. It had been previously reported that Amber Rudd, the Home Secretary, had indicated at a meeting with campaigners that there would be some form of inquiry. However a senior government source told The Times: ìA public inquiry like Hillsborough is something that could potentially take a very long time and be totally unwieldy in terms of cost. The source added that the government were looking into examining evidence in a way that does not involve a ìfull-blown Hillsborough-style inquiry.î Campaigners have claimed that South Yorkshire Police provoked a violent clash between thousands of miners and police at a coking site in 1984, following which ninety-five miners were charged. The case against the accused miners did not result in any convictions, and activists have alleged that the police lied about the origins of the violence and demanded justice throughout the decades following. Michael Dugher, the Labour MP for Barnsley East, said that ìany diluting of a full and proper independent inquiry....would be a huge betrayal of the victims of Orgreave. He called the governmentís concerns of cost a ‘red herring’, and said ‘there is no price on justice. EH

London

Criminals have been paying cash-strapped foreign students in London for their bank account details to commit fraud, an investigation has found. Gangs are offering hundreds of pounds to international students to launder money, using them as ‘money mules’, City of London Police said. An undercover operation found some students were willingly giving their bank account details to fraudsters for a cash pay-outm but an increasing number were being targeted and having details stolen. Detective Inspector, Craig Mullish, said they are being “lured by the promise of big cash pay-offs” and it seems “there is no shortage of international students in London who are willing to make their bank accounts available to fraudsters. “ A maths student, named only as Amrit, sold his details to a gang after moving to London as he had not realised that the cost of living in London would be so expensive. MB

Southern Rail

Major disruption has occurred on Southern Rail over the last few months, despite recently revealed soaring profits. Co-owner Go-Ahead’s profits soared by 26.8% to £99.8m in the last year, despite ongoing travel chaos for commuting passengers. These profits have been condemned by the RMT Union general secretary, Mike Cash who has described the company as “a money-raking disaster”. Inevitably, this has led to calls for the nationalisation of Southern Rail, which continues to cause disruption to millions of passengers. Despite a £20m subsidy from the government, it remains unclear whether this cash injection will make a difference to Southern Rail. RMT members are continuing to threaten strike action against Southern Rail, citing concerns over safety and job cuts following the controversial revision of hundreds of services made earlier this year which led to thousands of customer complaints. SC

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Global

ROUNDUP

Mali

International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague has prosecuted an individual on the charge of crimes against a historical and cultural monument. In the first case of its kind, the defendant and member of Islamist group Ansar Dine, Ahmad Al Faqi al –Mahdi, was prosecuted for his role in the destruction of mausoleums in the Malian city of Timbuktu. The crimes were in 2012 when thet city had been under the control of Ansar Dine, prior to French intervention. These Unesco heritage sites - once a place of education that attracted leading intellectuals - had been considered by Mahdi and his group as ‘totems of idolatry’, inappropriate according to their reading of Islam. Following his sentencing, Mahdi discouraged others from committing similar acts stating that ‘they would not lead to any good for humanity’. The ICC has stated it is now seeking avenues to bring to justice members of ISIS who have carried out similar cultural destruction across Syria and Iraq. Callum Cohen

Brazil This summer

the Olympic Games travelled to Rio de Janeiro for the games of the 31st Olympiad. Team GB finished in second place, behind the USA yet beating China, with a total of 67 medals: 27 gold, 23 silver and 17 bronze medals, a total greater than the medal-haul from London 2012. Despite i n i t i a l concerns about the competition including unsold seats, incomplete venues and several serious crashes along the cycling road-race circuit in the opening days – including one which knocked Dutch rider Annemeik van Vleuten unconscious - there were a number of memorable moments:

360

A team of refugee athletes competed for the first time, uniting under the Olympic flag. Fiji won their first Olympic medal, taking he gold after beating Great Britain in the Men’s Rugby 7’s final. Usain Bolt continued to impress the crowds, winning gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay, and completing the ‘triple-triple’, having also won all three medals at the Beijing and London games. American swimmer Michael Phelps became the most decorated Olympian of all time, taking home his 28th medal, meanwhile, his 19-yearold compatriot Katie Ledecky won four gold and one silver in the pool, making her the most successful female athlete of the 2016 games. However, the greatest success for the host nation came on the final night of the games, as Brazil’s men’s football team took gold, beating Germany in a replay of the 2014 World Cup semifinal. Hannah Scott

American Election Both parties held their national conventions during July. The 2016 Republican National Convention was held in Cleveland where the official announcement of Mike Pence as Trump’s running mate was made. In an attempt to win over the “Silent Majority”, Donald Trump’s speech consisted of promoting national security and the purpose of reinstating America’s unilateralist power within the world. Philadelphia held the 2016 Democratic National Convention which featured a number of caucuses, councils, and speakers

23rd September 2016

such as Bernie Sanders, First Lady Michelle Obama, and Senator Elizabeth Warren. Bernie Sanders concedes defeat and pledges his support to Clinton. In August the Republican presidential nominee visited Mexico’s president Peña Nieto after promising to build a wall along the southern border, with Trump adding that Mexico will pay for it “100%.” He was greeted with severe hostility as Trump piñatas were destroyed as many demanded his previous remarks be repealed with the issue of sincere apologies. Peña

Nieto added that Mexico will not pay for the wall. Hillary Clinton has been documented as using her private email account to remain in contact with her work colleagues within government. The scandal broke out in March 2015, and the FBI has since conducted an investigation which found that these emails, if leaked, would pose a serious risk as sensitive governmental information would be easily available for hackers, however the FBI has not charged Clinton. Trump commented on the incident, nicknaming Clinton,

Zimbabwe Zimbabwean Paralympic Rowing

team defied odds and made it to the final of the Coxed Four event despite several unlikely obstacles. Eight months before the games began the team – Margret Bangajena, Michelle Garnett, Takudswa Gwariro, Previous Wiri and coxswain Jessica Davis – had not yet sat in a boat together. Their practice lake was known for crocodile infestations and a number of the athletes were remarkably underprepared for international competition. “Crooked Hillary,” and also stated that the whole prosecution system is “rigged.” September: Hillary Clinton collapses after leaving the 9/11 memorial service early. After hours of silence, her aides release a statement saying Hillary is suffering from pneumonia. Trump tweets that Hillary secretly has Parkinson’s. Hillary returns to the campaign trail two days later, saying she has had time to reflect. Polls continue to tighten, as Trump loses Ohio. Megan Baynes

O n e u n n a m e d competitor reportedly turned up to the trails in a shower cap. The problems continued when one member was forcibly removed from the team by her family as they believed that she had been possessed by the devil following a spate of seizures.

Nonetheless, the team still made it to the B final in the event with a time of 4:07. They found a strong base of support in Rio, however, with many members of the crowd choosing to wear shower caps at the regatta. Caitlin Doherty

23rd September 2016

Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, President

of Uzbekistan was confirmed dead on the 2nd September following an extended period of ill health. The divisive leader had been in charge since the country gained its independence in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Karimov has been credited with founding a relatively stable secular government through authoritarian rule in a region that is considered susceptible to Islamic extremism. It was a regime that detractors claim had been at the expense of t h e people’s human rights, and with the regime now in a period of

vulnerability, there are fears that Uzbek Islamists who had left to fight for ISIS may now return. Since Karimov’s death was confirmed, the Uzbek parliament has approved current Prime Minister Shavkhat Mirziyoyev as interim President. Mirziyoyev is expected to be confirmed to the presidency in elections that will be held at an unconfirmed point in the future. As a country rich in natural resources including oil and gas, there are concerns that any political turbulence could result in rising prices in commodities on the global market, potentially altering regional relations. Ollie Watts

Hong Kong In the first elections since unrest

Switzerland Twelve retirement homes

in the Jura area of North-Western Switzerland capitalised on the Olympic Summer and competed against one another in their own ‘Senior Games’. The games comprised a variety of events that included a walking frame slalom, shooting a basketball into a hoop, a n d

Photo credits: Mali: Wikimedia, CemDemikartal Brazil: Wikimedia, Govorno do Brazil Zimbabwe: Wikimedia, Madden, flags.de Switzerland: Wikimedia, ZScout370 Cambodia: Wikimedia, author unknown Hong Kong: Wikimedia, Tao Ho Uzbekistan: Wikimedia, ZScout370

seeing who could hammer a nail into a block of wood in the quickest time. The Games were the idea of the JURAncien Association, inspired by a similar event that was held on a smaller scale in Geneva. Simon Coste, President of JURAncien, said that the idea was to show that life inside a retirement home can be active and promote a sense of community as the residents were brought together in the spirit of competition. Medals were awarded by Eric Hanni, a native of Jura and silver medallist in Judo at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Will Reeves

in 2014, citizens of Hong Kong have been to the polls to vote representatives to their legislative council. Turnout was 58%, and the election allowed proindependence activists gain a foothold in power, whilst supporters of the Chinese government managed to hold on to a majority of the seats in the legislative council. China has always been against the idea of independence for Hong Kong and has frequently condemned pro-democracy protests. The new anti-Beijing representatives in the council, who played a pivotal role in the 2014 protests, were elected with the aim to deliver greater independence for the territory following concerns that Xi Jinping’s government was getting increasingly involved in the politics of Hong Kong. This is despite a ‘one country, two systems’ agreement which states that Hong Kong should have political autonomy. Ollie Watts

Cambodia Cambodia’s ‘baby-faced’ drugs mule

is to be released after eight months in the country’s notorious Prey Sar prison. Chhay Reaksmey was originally arrested with her father aged twelve, but was held in a re-education centre. She was then imprisoned ten days prior to her fourteenth birthday, the age of criminal responsibility in

Cambodia. Prior to her imprisonment, a photograph of the child wearing a pink velour tracksuit and pointing to bags of methamphetamines caused outrage in the country and across the Asian region. However, the prematurity of her imprisonment before the age of criminal responsibility has led a judge to call for her immediate release. He defense lawyers argued that any charges and detainment were outside of the law. An investigation into her apparent crimes will continue, but Reaksmey will not face any more jail time, even if found guilty.

Caitlin Doherty

23rd September 2016

2016

WELCOME TO YOUR SU

10.00 (10am)

SATURDAY 24TH

SUNDAY 25TH

MONDAY 26TH

TUESDAY 27TH

WEDNESDAY 28TH

THURSDAY 29TH

FRIDAY 30TH

welcome weekend

pots and pans sale

freshers fayre

pots and pans sale

union house 10:00 - 17:00 info, wristband & bundles collection

exhibition space 10:00 - 17:00

bouncy castle + livewire broadcast

the hive 10:00 - 17:00

the square 10:00 - 16:00

posters and stalls

exhibition space 10:00 - 17:00

posters and stalls the hive 10:00 - 17:00

the square 10:00 - 16:00

the lcr & the hive 10:00 - 16:00

pots and pans sale

exhibition space 10:00 - 17:00

posters and stalls the hive 10:00 - 17:00

sports fayre

11.00 (11am)

12.00 (noon)

exhibition space 10:00 - 17:00

SATURDAY 1ST

sports park 11:00 - 16:00

live football - man utd vs leicester blue bar 12:30 - 14:00

student life inductions the lcr 12:00 - 13:00

student life inductions

13.00 (1pm)

the lcr 13:00 - 14:00

experience more the lcr 12:00 - 16:00

societies fayre

media/ gaming fayre

sports park 12:00 - 18:00

nap nook films

the lcr 12:00 - 16:00

nap nook films

union house 13:00 - 15:00

live football - swansea vs liverpool blue bar 12:30 - 14:00

nap nook films

union house 13:00 - 15:00

student life inductions

14.00 (2pm)

the lcr 14:00 - 15:00

live football west ham vs southampton

15.00 (3pm)

go ape

city 15:00 - 17:00

blue bar 15:00 - 17:00

16.00 (4pm)

17.00 (5pm)

live football - arsenal vs chelsea blue bar 17:30 - 19:00

free house

18.00 (6pm)

union house ft. live music, caricaturist, football freestylers, quiz, karaoke, inflatables and much more 18:00 - late

live music blue bar 18:00 - 20:00

pizza and pint night

blossoms plus special guests

ghostface killah

an audience with dr emily grossman

red bar 18:00 - 22:00

uea.su/giveitago

the waterfront 18:30

beth orton + brodka the waterfront 18:30

the waterfront 19:30

19.00 (7pm)

an audience with mark grist

lecture theatre 1 19:00 - 20:00

sundara karma + freak the waterfront 18:30

an audience with danny nobbs

live football - everton vs crystal palace

lecture theatre 2 19:00 - 20:00

blue bar 19:00 - 21:00

fifa tournament and pizza giveaway blue bar 19:00 - 21:00

lecture theatre 1 19:00 - 20:00

20.00 (8pm)

free house continues

scholars quiz

union house till late

21.00 (9pm)

the waterfront studio 20:00 - 01:00

damn good school disko

carnival magnifico

live at the lcr the lcr 19:30 - 22:30

wine down fridays blue bar 20:00 - 00:00

the welcome party the lcr 21:00 - 02:00

glow (UV paint party) 22.00 (10pm)

deviate club

scholars 20:00 - 00:00

the lcr 22:00 - 02:30

the lcr 22:30 - 02:30

the lcr 22:30 - 03:00

afterdark city takeover the city 22:30 - 03:00

meltdown live coasts + vant + clean cut kid the lcr 22:00 - 03:00

propaganda the waterfront 22:30 - 03:30

uea ball

the lcr 22:00 - 04:00

meltdown the waterfront 22:00 - 03:30

campus tours

With the help of a new app that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll show you how to download and use, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get to know the campus, get to know other students and take some photo memories along the way. Tours leave Union House all the time. Details on how to download and use the app will be in Union House.

for the full line up visit uea.su

Features

23rd September 2016

11 >> We spoke to former Features Editor Lauren Ravazi to find out how the UEA alum built her career as a successful freelance journalist

Dealing with Fresher pressure How to stay healthy and happy this Freshers’ Week

Lillie Coles Features Editor Freshers is an exciting time, with so many new people and places to discover, but this can make it a daunting and difficult time for many. With statistics from Which? University revealing that a third of students felt socially pressured at some stage during their freshers term, it is easy to see that the parties and fun only go so far. University is the time to reinvent yourself and get out of your comfort zone, but the huge lifestyle changes , on top of wantinf to fit in can be exhausting, and painful if not all goes to plan. With new flatmates, new courses and a whole new way of life, it is easy to get lost along the way. However, UEA is well equipped to help with any problems you might have, and it is always worth getting some advice, from older students like myself, or elsewhere. From the outside, Freshers seems like a barrel of laughs. And, it is! But, going out every night of the week whilst attending your introductory lectures and seminars is really quite difficult – I learned that the hard way! It may be tempting to skip these preliminary hours, but these sessions will give you all the vital information you will need about UEA life and how your course will work. Get a step ahead, or just get off on the right foot, by making sure you attend. Not only this, but Freshers flu is well and truly real, no matter how many energy drinks you have to try and hide it. For many, this is the first time Mum won’t be there to take care of them. Therefore, it is vitally important to attend registration at the UEA medical centre, located next to the INTO building and the Bluebell road entrance to UEA. It only takes a matter of minutes, and this GP surgery is designed for students, with nurses and doctors on standby to help with all your medical needs. Your health is their primary concern, and this includes sexual health. Free contraception is available from the nurse’s desk, alongside free STI screening kits. Other services include a dentist upstairs, and your new GP can also offer you support with any mental health problems you might be having. As you can tell, it is so important to take the necessary steps to ensure that if anything goes wrong, you will be well looked after. The medical centre are there just in case, but meanwhile, getting plenty of rest, eating right, and taking a night off if you need to will also help to keep you going all freshers long! Emotional health is also incredibly important to maintain, and with so many new people around, it can be tough finding

your feet. My main piece of advice is this: don’t expect to make lots of best friends instantly. Everyone is so desperate to meet new people in freshers that it has never been easier to just get talking, and 54 percent of students surveyed by Which? University said making new friends was easier than they thought it would be. However, there are a few helpful hints to make it even easier. Leave your bedroom door open when you move in to your new accommodation, so that passing flatmates will pop in and say hello. Get together in the kitchen for some dinner or drinks before freshers events, so that those who like to party can, and those who don’t will not feel left out. Bear in mind that many people take longer to feel comfortable with new environments, and you don’t want to miss out on a great new friend simply because they are shy, so try to be as inclusive as possible. Unfortunately, it is impossible to ignore the fact that some people struggle to get along with their flatmates, and even those who bond instantly can benefit from making other friendship circles outside their flat. Joining societies is a great step to meet people, so make sure you attend the societies fayre and sports fayre. There are over 200 societies and sports clubs at UEA to get involved with, so no matter your interests, it is possible for everyone to enjoy their first taste of university life. Friendships will become stronger as you go through your university experience, and you may never see some people you met in freshers again. But, for now, put yourself out there and get talking! However, if you feel like you do not have anyone to turn to yet, the UEA advice service in Union House is an informal, friendly service to help with any problems you are having. They offer 15 minute dropin sessions and longer booked appointments to help you. Also, the Student Support Service (Formerly DOS) offers free 6-week counselling programmes (subject to assessment) if you feel you need regular support from a counsellor. If it’s the middle of the night and you’re feeling alone, UEA nightline is a free, friendly listening service run by students, for students. Even better, it’s totally anonymous, and you can contact them via phone, messenger or email. The Nightline operators are there to support and listen to you from 8pm-8am every single day. University can be daunting without your home support group there, but there is every opportunity to find friendship and advice at UEA, no matter the type of support you are looking for. UEA is also full of support in other areas. Budgeting at university can be difficult, so Barclays bank

Where to find the help you need

on the street can help with your finances, and Career Central can aid your search for a part time job if your finances need a boost. Finding a work/life balance can be tough, but it is possible for everyone. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to university life, but the most important thing is to tailor your experience to what you hope to get out of it all. If partying isn’t your thing, don’t worry! There are plenty of other opportunities to socialise and you are not alone. Likewise, if you love to party, there are socials, club nights and parties, so dance the night away! UEA is the academic home of over 14,000 students, all with different wants, needs, talents and opinions, so you will find friends, support, knowledge all around. You never know, you might even find yourself along the way.

We asked current and former students for their Freshers’ week advice. This is what they had to say...

23rd September 2016

Features

Days out... As much as we all love whiling our weekends away in the S.U pub, sometimes it’s tempting to breach the campus boundaries and see what Norwich and the rest of Norfolk has to offer. Spend a Saturday with your new flatmates discovering Norwich’s best spots or go further afield and escape to see some beautiful Norwich scenery. If you’re in need of some country air and a bit of rural exploring, you’ve come to the right place. UEA, despite its city bearings, is closely located to some of the most beautiful beaches in the country. The most accessible seaside towns from Norwich are Cromer, Sheringham and Great

Yarmouth. In 45 minutes and for £4.75 (with a Young Persons Railcard) you’ll reach Cromer. On arrival it seems like a normal market town but walk towards the sea front and you’ll find little streets dotted with gift shops, independent bookstores, arcades, ice-cream stalls and award winning fish and chip shops. Make sure to walk down the instagrammable pier, and don’t miss the world famous Cromer crab. Sheringham, another traditional beach town, is bigger than Cromer and slightly further away - 1 hour from Norwich. Walk along the sandy beach front to see the picturesque beach huts and if you’re feeling adventurous, catch the North Norfolk Railway- a

classic steam train which runs to Holt and back. For a more urban experience, visit Great Yarmouth where you’ll find an abundance of seaside foods, a huge pier and giant sandy beach- with the crowds to match. Norfolk’s charm doesn’t only lie in it’s beaches, however. The Norfolk Broads are a series of beautiful lakes, waterways and rivers, and are UEA’s answer to punting in Cambridge. Hire a boat for the day and explore the vast interconnecting waterways, as you conquer marshy grasslands, shallow lakes and lots and lots of mud. In low season, hiring a boat for 3 hours will only cost you around £50—club together with

Getting to

Cocktails... Frank’s Bar Located behind Jarrolds department store, on Bedford Street, Frank’s Bar is a chilled out café-bar. It definitely provides a warm, lively atmosphere and would be a great place to start your night, as alongside your cocktails – I recommend the Apple Crumble & Custard and the Dark & Swarmy – you can order a few nibbles on the side, such as the tapas platter. Frank’s is more on the pricey side but is great for a celebration. Lust & Liquor Similar to Frank’s Bar, Lust & Liquor is a cocktail bar and kitchen (as the majority are in Norwich). Every Wednesday is Buy One Get One Free night, and what student doesn’t love anything that is free?! Tuesday’s are Taco Tuesdays: four tacos and a drink for £15. My personal cocktail favourites are Clover Club (simple, fruity and delicious) and Yellowbird Daiquiri. Mr Postles Apothecary Here, cocktails are referred to as potions – Mr Postles is a very quirky place but definitely worth a visit. The ‘potions’ are often served in a very funky way (steaming cocktails anyone? Order one of the kettles or teapots). When I’m there I usually reach for Mr Postles Meringue

Martini or Elderflower Kir, and every Thursday they are 2-4-1! Be at One With a cool and London-like vibe, solely serving cocktails, their flavour options are practically endless as they offer all types of alcohol. Lychee Martini is what I reach for the most, as it’s just so easy to drink, but Mint Julep or El Presidente are also amazing. They often have 2-4-1 deals, and, if you download their app they offer 2 for £10 cocktails for an hour, so if you’re in a group it’s worth getting someone to download the app each hour! The Birdcage The Birdcage is known for hosting music nights, and they often collaborate with our very own UEA Live Music Society. It is located opposite the Grosvenor Fish and Chip Bar, and you can buy a meal and then take it over to Birdcage to enjoy it alongside some live music and unique cocktails. They doesn’t provide a cocktail menu on their website, as there is not a huge range – but they are all fantastic and wonderfully presented. The Elderflower Prosecco is very refreshing, and if you’re feeling brave, they offer The Marauder – a comforting creamy cocktail served in a tiny milk bottle! MR

your mates and you’ve got a cheap day trip sorted. If you’d prefer to stay closer to campus but still want to explore, check out Norwich’s biggest sights and hidden gems. You can’t miss Norwich castle as you walk through town but why not go and visit? Built by the Normans 900 years ago, the castle is one of Norwich’s oldest and most impressive landmarks with spectacular views. Inside, you’ll find a gallery and museum showcasing a collection of artwork, historical artefacts and even some taxidermy. Good for a rainy day and students get a discounted entry at £7.25. Get off the beaten track and discover some less obvious

places in Norwich too. Walk in the footsteps of Taylor Swift and Snoop Dog and visit Earlham Park, the location. Radio 1’s 2015 big weekend. With wide open spaces, riverside walkways and pretty woodland areas, Earlham park is a perfect place to escape from the library. Located on the other side of campus is Eaton Park, one of Norwich’s oldest green spaces. Grab a coffee or ice cream at Eaton Park café and wonder around the impressive dome-liked bandstand, the gorgeous boating pond and the scenic rose garden. Eaton Park also features a skate park and putting green. Challenge your flatmates for a round of Crazy Golf at only £4 per person. GF

know

Photo: Flickr, Arran Bee

Clubbing... Feeling the need for a classic student night? Want to run into some friendly faces? The LCR on UEA campus is the place to be. Open every Tuesday and Saturday, you can find everything from themed parties to cheap drinks and even the occasional funfair. However, if you’re a fan of alternative music, there’s a venue for that too - The Waterfront. Every friday is ’Propaganda’, a night of pop-punk and rock tunes. You get the benefits of student prices in a roomy venue by the river. Everyone occasionally wants a bit of cheese, and in Norwich,

you need look no further than the Loft. The main LGBTQ+ club in the city always draws a crowd on Thursday nights. The drinks prices are cheap, music spans Britney to Backstreet Boys and you even get karaoke on the bottom floor. For popular music and busy nights look to Mantra on a Thursday. Drinks may be a little more pricey than the LCR but there is always a great atmosphere. The Crypt offers a more intimite atmosphere, and is located in a beautifully restored crypt beneath Bedfords bar. It’s a beautiful setting with a range of different

nights from live bands to oldies classics. However bring cash as they often don’t accept card. Crypt nights usually end before 3am, so if you believe your night can’t end there, just look across the road for Karma Kafe. With 3 floors, it’s especially large. With music ranging from drum‘n’bass to house to oldies music, karma has it all. UEA’s Live Music Society often host events at Karma, which are always well received and not too pricey! No matter your tastes in music, you are sure to find a great night out in Norwich. MK

23rd September 2016

Features

The city... UEA might be a campus based university, but we are also pretty lucky to have a well rounded city centre close by - only a short bus ride away from campus on the 25 or 26. While it’s easy enough to pop into town to grab a new pair of shoes, or have a quick browse, it’s definitely worth taking a bit more time to explore all that Norwich has to offer. From the ancient city walls and cobbled lanes, to the well stocked shopping malls, Norwich has everything you could ask for, and it’s right on your doorstep. It is definitely worth taking a trip to the city this Freshers’ - take your flatmates to see the sights and get to know your new home. The city is not only about nightlife, but has far more to offer during the day.

Norwich Market

Home to an array of stalls, with everything from key cutting to vegan food, the market is a landmark of Norwich. The colours and atmosphere make the market the hub of the city, and if you

head to the top you will find the City Hall, and a beautiful view of the castle and city. To get the best view of the market, head into the Sir Garnet pub and take your pint to the top floor. This is especiually lovely at night, when the lights of the city shine. Brick Pizza sits beneath the Sir Garnet, and serves fresh pizzas from an open kitchen. For a lighter bite, the hog roast stand has some of the best pork rolls and crackling in the city. Venture across the street to the old Arcade, where you can find a classic toyshop, fashionable interior design store and ‘Macarons and More’ - perfect for presents!

The Cathedral Gardens

Norwich Cathedral is part of the Church of England, and is nestled in beautiful grounds. Step back in time through the cathedral gates to what seems to be a country village. The small streets and lanes are perfect for a city stroll, and the manicured lawns are perfect for a

picnic. Hear the bells ring out over the city and head inside to see a selection of art, regular events and of course, religious services. UEA Christian Union society hold a Christmas carol service in the cathedral every year, with a lively and upbeat atmosphere. The ornate ceilings and ancient cloisters are worth a visit, and so is the cafe. Perhaps after your visit, you could exit the cathedral gardens and eat at La Tasca, Zizzi, Prezzo or have a drink at All Bar One

The Norwich Lanes

For independent shops and restaurants, the lanes are your best bet in Norwich. Head towards St Andrew’s hall for a selection of intriguing pubs such as Tap House, restaurants like Mambo Jambos for tex-mex classics, or head to Photo: Flickr, James_JHS Gonzos for a drink - day or night! The main thoroughfare of the lanes is St Benedict’s Street, home to the widest selection of cute restaurants and shops. The

Bicycle Shop serves delicious food and hosting open mics in the downstairs bar, and Benedicts is great for a fancy meal. If you’re feeling really fancy, Roger Hickman’s is nearby, the namesake of a top Michelin starred chef. Head to Cinema City for a meal at the dining rooms, or to watch a film in comfort and style. You can take your own bottle of wine into the cinema and can also buy a student membership card for discounted tickets. Run by Picture House, Cinema City often hosts explusive films with live streamed Q&A’s, alongside the widest selection of independent and upand-coming movies in the city. If you’d like to see the historic cobbles of Norwich, be sure to visit Elm Hill, home to adorable bookshops and a quaint tea room.

Riverside

Stay on the bus through the city centre, and you will reach Riverside. Home to a retail park, dining complex, cinema and

bowling alley, it now also has a trampoline park which is always a fun day out. Riverside is also the location of Norwich rail station, which runs regular services to London, Cambridge, smaller Norfolk towns and even ventures further north. Football fans can also visit Riverside to find Norwich city football club on Carrow Road. The Canaries play in the Football League Championship and their stadium holds over 27,000 people. Even if you do not hold a ticket to the game, you can still eat at the restaurants on site, all run by Norfolk’s beloved celebrity chef, Delia Smith.

Jarrolds

Jarrolds is the independent department store in Norwich, and often sponsors the Christmas light and firework displays. Their products range from beauty, to clothing, to the art supply shop next door. They also have a bookstore! LK&LL

DIY your own refresherments... Woo Woo Twist This ingenious twist on the classic Woo Woo is fresh, fruity and colourful – and best of all, it’s incredibly cheap to make. Peach Schnapps is available from Aldi for as little as £4, and adds a sweet, fruity balance to sharp citrus cocktails. If you’re not a fan of pints or liquors, this cocktail is an easy (and tasty!) way to enjoy pre-drinks, and more of each element can be added to weaken or strengthen the flavours.

Ingredients • 50ml shot Peach Schnapps • 25ml shot vodka • 100ml orange juice • 100ml cranberry juice • Ice (optional) Add all ingredients to glass, add ice cubes to top. Stir and enjoy! Raspberry limeade This cooling drink is easy and cheap to make, and is even better with ice if you have any. If you like the sound of this but would like it

a little stronger, vodka or gin both work well – add a shot for a boozy version. Ingredients • Dash lime cordial • Lemon • Lemonade • Small handful of fresh raspberries (Or buy frozen as it is cheaper!) Pour the raspberries into your glass, and carefully mash them with a fork or the back of a spoon. Add a glug of lime cordial, cheaply

found in the SU shop, and mix. Then, top up your glass with lemonade, and add a squeeze or even a wedge of lemon if you fancy. Posh G&T This cocktail puts a fruity and floral twist on the classic G&T. We used regular gin, but a flavoured gin might make it even better. Perfect for a fancy evening, this tipple will surely impress. Try adding some blueberries or raspberries and serve in a mason jar for an

instagrammable drink. Ingredients • 50ml shot gin • 25ml shot elderflower cordial • 150ml Tonic water • Lime • Ice • Optional berries (Fancy!) Add the gin, elderflower, ice and optional berries to a tall glass and mix or shake in a cocktail shaker. Squeeze a wedge of lime over the top, then fill with tonic. Simple! LC

Norwich Lydia Lockyer, Lillie Coles, Marty Ruczynska, Grace Fothergill and Melina Kouyialis give the inside scoop on getting to know Norwich

Photo: Flickr, James_JHS

23rd September 2016

The UEA Media Collective

Megan Baynes Editor-in-Chief

Alex Edge Station Manager

Concrete is UEA’s award-winning student newspaper. Alongside our culture supplement, Venue, we work to provide the latest in campus and student news. No experience is required, so whether you’ve written for the New York Times or just in your diary, everyone is welcome. It’s really easy to get involved. Every fortnight we send out content calls for all the different sections. Sign up as little, or as often, as you would like. When the issue is published, join us in the bar for Post-Pub-Pub to point proudly to your name in print. This year is Concrete’s 25th birthday, so there has never been a better time to get involved. With alumni across the country, from the Guardian, to the Sun, to the Evening Standard, to Channel 4, Concrete is perfect for those hoping to make their first steps in the world of journalism. But, even if you just fancy writing the occasional piece and joining us at our socials, Concrete is one of the best ways to get involved at UEA. From nights at the bar, to weekends in the Media Office, say hi if you see any of our editors around campus; we’re a friendly bunch, and we can’t wait for you to get involved.

Livewire has been broadcasting for 26 years live from Union house every day of the week 9am till midnight. From putting on the best events, providing the sound of UEA and reporting on campus life: Livewire has it covered. We are constantly looking for new opportunities and experiences to provide for our members. We believe joining Livewire is one of the best things you can do with your time at UEA as we provide a huge platform for creativity whilst putting on some crazy socials and amazing events. Whether you want to help us market our station, design it or broadcast from it, we have an opportunity for anyone who wants to join! As a member of Livewire you will have the chance to interview some of the biggest names in the music industry and attend a range of gigs and festivals for us. We do everything we can to push and develop the ideas of our members and we love to work on new projects and areas for the station to explore. You need no experience to join us, as we provide full training. All we want is someone eager to be part of one of the most exciting societies at UEA and most active student stations in the country!

At UEA:TV, we’re dedicated to sharing the best moments of UEA to all students. We are an online video content producer, which is a fancy way of saying “we make YouTube videos”! That’s not as lame as you think. We’re an outlet for creative minds to make stuff they want to see, and we put that content on the largest and most accessible platform. Have you ever had a hilarious sketch comedy idea you haven’t got round to making? Or a dramatic piece you once performed that you’d like to film? Perhaps you’re looking to expand your marketing, directing, filming or writing portfolio for a future in the creative industries? Whatever your interests or ideas, develop them with us and join one of UEA’s fastest growing societies. It isn’t all just work either. Our socials are plentiful and our activities are varied. Don’t like an LCR night? Come laser-tag with us. Hate going outside altogether? Come and take part in our editing sessions (filled with snacks and laughter). We’re a society of students, making content for students. But we can’t tell you what you’ll enjoy, so head over to the Media Centre to find out yourself.

Big Meet: Thursday 29th September 5pm, LT4

Big Meet: Friday 30th September 5:30pm, LT3

Big Meet: Tuesday 4th October Venue TBC

Matt Madison Station Manager

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a Of fice

ios The Livew ire Stud

UEA:TV in acti on on campus

23rd September 2016

Cocktails and Content Strategy at Fuel Studios

Concrete met with former Features Editor, Lauren Razavi, to discuss life after graduation, as a freelance journalist. Jessica Frank-Keyes Deputy Editor It’s the day after Brexit when we arrive to talk to Lauren Ravazi. The Norwich-based Young Freelancer of the Year is based in Pottergate’s Fuel Studios. Running on fewer than three hours sleep, the vibrant industrial space is a shock to our system as we wait on multicoloured sofas in the lobby for Lauren to arrive. Ever the journalist, she admits to “torturing herself with no sleep” the previous night as well, as she ushers us towards the lifts. Dressed in a bright blazer and dress, and chattering away about the bar she’s going to for cocktails in the evening, and the progress of the content strategy agency she’s recently set up, it strikes me that if you wanted to picture what a successful graduate career in freelance journalism looks like, you couldn’t do much

better. We sit around a table in one of the shared meeting rooms upstairs and get down to business, asking about the IPSE QA Freelancer Awards, where she came away at the start of this summer – apparently unexpectedly – with the 2016 Young Freelancer title. She describes the “Dragon’s Den style presentation to a panel of very scary-looking, straight-faced businessmen” after being shortlisted. She didn’t find out the result until the award ceremony in London’s Hospital Club, and the beaming smile on her face indicates that this is definitely a very big win for her. L a u r e n ’s career began at Concrete, where she was the only person in her first year at UEA to write a story for every issue and every section – apart from Sport, she caveats hastily. Taking over as Features Editor

in her second year, she learnt her strengths really lay in writing and decided to pursue this, initially pitching pieces to the Guardian Students section. By her third year, she was making money from journalism. It’s a success story for sure, from “freelancing her way through a Masters in Creative NonFiction,” to teaching freelancing masterclasses for the Guardian, and writing for - amongst others - VICE, the Washington Post and Google, but is it replicable? Making the step from student news to paid journalism can be a struggle, and Lauren does make it look easy. In reality, having (unpaid) bylines and developing relationships with editors was crucial for her budding career. She acknowledges that finding your niche probably comes best after graduation, and encourages students to get really involved with all forms of media and subject areas, while they have the chance to. Her favourite story from her Concrete days was a Features spread on homelessness, including an interview with the then campus Big Issue seller, Martin, and Lauren remembers students “coming up to me on campus,” to tell her they’d seen the piece. She was thrilled to have made a palpable difference with the article – with more students choosing to buy Martin’s copies of

the magazine. “I don’t think I’d be where I am today if I hadn’t written for Concrete, and if I hadn’t had a really brilliant editor.” Freelancing was “to an extent, just how things worked out.” After Lauren’s Masters she realised that a traditional route through a media career didn’t necessarily appeal to her. Preferring to experiment rather than slot into the “hierarchies” of a staff job, she chose to set out on her own. A love for Norwich – and it’s cheaper rent prices – was also a big

factor in the decision. Living outside of London also allowed Lauren to put her energies in to setting up her own company, working on “content strategy for businesses.” Growing up in Norfolk and attending UEA left her with not only contacts and a support network, but a desire to contribute and give back to the area. Her biggest tip for aspiring freelancers is to work on their pitching skills, saying: “if you want to make a career out of this, you have to get efficient.”

Left: Lauren at the award ceremony, IPSE Right: at her Norwich office

Meet our BAFTA winning Ex-Editor-in-Chief Former Editor, Adam Chapman, spoke to Concrete about his latest award, and what it’s like to work on Richard and Judy Megan Baynes Editor-in-Chief

BAFTA winner, Adam Chapman, began writing for Concrete as a way to escape a degree he hated. After a year of studying Law, he switched to Politics, realising he had only chosen the former as a way to please his parents. Drawn by the lure of free movie tickets, he progressed to Film Editor, before becoming Editor-in-Chief of Concrete in 2001. Since graduating he has a varied career, from working as a runner on Richard and Judy – which he describes as “single handedly one of the strangest jobs I have ever done” — to working with Simon Cowell on The X-Factor. Initially he began in print journalism, where he freelanced for the Evening Standard, the Times, and Heat Magazine. The latter he compared to “work experience”, as he had to write the picture blurbs for their photo of the week. After working for BBC News Online, he formed contacts in television and never looked back. Adam is best known for his successes on the Channel 4 show First Dates, for which he won his BAFTA as series editor. He began working

on the show as a series producer in October 2014, when it was in its third season. Coming in to the show at this point brought with it a unique set of challenges. He said: “Not many people watched [First Dates]; it had a relatively low audience. The main challenge was redefining the series so the matching was as authentic as humanly possible.” They now have 130,000 people stored in a database as they try to ensure authentic matches. He continued: “People watch the show and they trust what we do. It’s about showing the best of people, which is quite rare in television. It’s not built around a car crash; it is based on genuine attraction.” Since Adam began working on the show there have been two engagements and many more relationships. When asked what words of wisdom he had to impart on this year’s Freshers, he laughed and muttered, “If only my 21-yearold self could see me now…” He continued, “My first year, when I arrived, I didn’t know a single person and was quite shy. My advice would be to be brave and leave your entire school brain behind, and all the prejudices that come with it. Be open minded

and accepting of everyone, and everyone who comes to Norwich. You will have an amazing time as a result.” Those hoping to follow in Chapman’s footsteps will be sad to

hear there is no secret formula, or cheat code, to guarantee success. Chapman said: “I just assumed I was going to step out into the workplace and get my dream job. That very rarely happens, if ever. I have a very

rewarding career, but it is in the least glamorous industry. You have to work long hours within a limited budget. Be humble and be prepared to work bloody, bloody hard.”

23rd September 2016

Features

UEA’s honorary class of Ali Smith

Ali Smith is appalled. Wearing the navy and peach robes of a UEA honorary Literature graduate, she’s frowning at me from underneath her tasseled cap. My mistake? Asking her thoughts on the University’s plans to increase tuition fees by £250 a year. The dark-haired, diminutive Scottish author studied at the University of Aberdeen, before beginning a PhD at Cambridge, and describes her university years as “the days in which I was lucky enough to pass through education, regardless of money.” “I’m longing for those days to come back because education and money are not bedfellows. They do not meet on equal terms and education is nothing to do with money.” Her advice to the UEA graduates of today with literary aspirations is equally pithy. “Keep going,” she says: “nobody else will write your book except you.” Short and succinct. Smith famously loathes being interviewed, and it’s clearly a question she’s been asked and answered many times before. In addition to her multiple award wins, Smith recently received an honorary doctorate from Goldsmiths University: excellent preparation for today’s (equally star-studded, I’m sure) ceremony. But cap, gown and interviews aside, she’s clearly most excited to speak to the graduates, describing them as a “sea of potential that passes before your eyes as you sit up on the stage.” “It’s so exciting to see them, and to feel every single person’s achievement and to know that they did it against the odds. It’s really moving, actually.’

“Education is nothing to do with money.” Being back at UEA is also a “delight.” Smith has a long relationship with the university, beginning with her first junior creative writing fellowship, and more recently from her time as a visiting UNESCO City of Literature professor and she remembers her time here fondly, as “a place of complete generosity.” “I’ve always loved the ethos that means that the writing that comes out of UEA does so well. I’m honoured. It’s like having an old pal wrap an arm around my shoulder!” We finish up by discussing Brexit - which she describes as a “dip-cycle” in the country’s energy, and I have time to squeeze in one last question. Is she working on anything at the moment? Smith’s eyes sparkle. “It’s nearly finished and, no, I’m not telling you!” she says gleefully. “Another novel, yes.” Something to look forward to, as UEA’s press office chase me away. Ali has a ceremony to get to.. JFK

2016

Esther Mujawayo

Esther Mujawayo, born in Rwanda in 1958, is a world-known expert in the field of refugee trauma-therapy and received an Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law. She first came to UEA in 1996 after she escaped the Rwandan Genocide. She lost many of her relatives in the 1994 conflict, which resulted in over a million lives lost.

“I was able to regain trust, trust in human beings. And be a human being again myself.”

She said that UEA helped her find peace after the events of the Genocide. She said, “What happened in Rwanda, it was really something that will break all of your beliefs. I saw total destruction… It was just killing, killing, killing.” After moving to Norwich she explained how she struggled to trust people, after the Genocide saw friends, relatives and neighbors turn on each other. She said, “You have to see who is killing, who is the killer, who is doing this. It is people you would never believe could do that; they are your neighbors, they are normal people. They are teachers, they are priests, they are women. “But there are also those who are not killing you, but they abandon you, so have you face that. I didn’t trust anymore. I didn’t trust anybody.” After gaining a Graduate Diploma in Psychology, Esther returned to Rwanda to work with widows. She has gone on to author several books in addition to founding the Association of Widows of the Rwandan Genocide. She was also a speaker at the Geneva summit for Human Rights and Democracy. She has since worked with refugees in Germany. For her though, UEA will always be a special place. She said, “Here, it was really great, it was a luxury to have this year where I could really have peace, and work with such a nice group. We are still in touch today. I was able to regain trust, trust in human beings. And be a human being again myself”. MB

Debra Hayward Debra Hayward can lay claim to an impressive number of blockbuster movies. Prior to launching her own production company, she worked as head of film at Working Title Films UK, and was creatively responsible for a number of feature hits, including About a Body, Bridget Jones’s Diary, and Love Actually.

“Do something that makes you happy. Work hard and do something you love.” In 2011 Hayward became an independent producer, producing the Oscar award-winning musical Les Miserables. She then partnered with Alison Own (who produced Suffragette) to form Monumental Pictures. The pair have been friends since they worked together on Elizabeth in 2007. She said her decision to leave Working Title came at the same she

decided to move to Norfolk: “At that point, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do, but I knew that I needed a break from running that creative side of that company”. “ A t the time, I made the decision to produce Les Miserables as an independent producer. I did that, I moved to Norfolk and I began this big second chapter which I hadn’t quite expected, and so I am much busier than I anticipated”. Most recently, she has just finished producing Bridget Jones’s Baby, the third in the multi-award winning franchise. The film has been widely lauded as an example of a successful follow-up to a franchise, and as a cinema goer, I can confirm that it’s hilarious, warm and moving, despite the notable lack of an appearance from Hugh Grant. Debra is currently shooting a new TV series, Harlots, about two rival brothels in Georgian London. She expects to shortly begin work on Will, a programme about the lost years of young William Shakespeare. She remains remarkably humble about her success as she offered

her advice to the class of 2016. She said, “In some ways, I am not a fantastic example of a distinguished or a remarkable education, and yet I think that education is incredibly important”. “I knew what I wanted to do from a young age, so just do something that you love and that makes you happy (and that affords you a nice lifestyle!). But do something that makes you happy, because you’re going to have to do it for a long time. Work hard and do something that you love”. MB Photos: (clockwise from top) Ali Smith, Debra Hayward, Esther Mujawayo. University of East Anglia

23rd September 2016

Roger AshtonGriffiths While UEA’s reputation for creative writing draws candidates for the Masters and PhD programs from far and wide, it’s not every day that a bona fide Game of Thrones actor moves behind the camera and dons a graduation cap – a real one, amidst a sea of celebrity honorees. Roger Ashton-Griffiths plays Mace Tyrell on the hit show, and graduated with a PhD in in Creative Writing, after studying part-time since 2010. He spoke of his career as a series of ongoing creative processes. “It’s just that business of waking up every morning and being a professional creative, as opposed to just hanging around and waiting for your agent to call”, he quipped, adding that he “carried on acting throughout this entire process (of postgraduate study) and I always wrote before I even began. They’ve both been a part of my life forever”. “It’s like a muscle – creativity – and you need to keep it in good order”. He can’t be too out of shape – as his debut novel has already been snapped up by a London agency. He tells us two things drew him to UEA for his degree: the reputation of the university, in addition to his conveniently nearby house. His advice to fellow students considering postgraduate study is charmingly vague, saying: “I read a great quote, can’t remember who said it! A writer is someone who finds it more difficult to write than other people”. He pauses to urge us to google it. (Thomas Mann, if you were wondering.) His career has seen him on film and TV sets since the 1980s, after leaving Lancaster University. He’s by far best known for his role on Thrones, though, and we can’t pass up the chance to ask him about his equally illustrious costars. Any favourites? “Professionally or in the bar afterwards?! Peter Dinklage is an extraordinary man; it’s been a great privilege working with him. Ian Gelder has become a good friend of mine. There’s very few that are not pleasant and I’m not going to name them”. He won’t be drawn out further and insists that he’ll be very happy to get back to writing and woodwork after the summer, despite a TV series in the pipeline with “Tom… can’t quite recall the name. A hunky star…?” Hiddleston? I prompt. “No, no.” Hardy? “Yes, yes!” Finally, did he have to pull any all-nighters to get his PhD finished? “Oh good heavens no! I don’t know how many you’d have to do but it would probably kill you”. And on that note, we leave Mace Tyrell to enjoy his champagne. JFK

Features Wayne Barnes

Megan Baynes, Jessica Frank-Keyes and Caitlin Doherty spoke to UEA’s 2016 Honorary Graduates Abraham Peck I’m quite nervous about meeting Professor Abraham Peck. An eminent academic, the son of two Holocaust survivors and an expert on genocide studies and refugee affairs, I’m expecting a serious, if not stern and severe, individual. However, I’m pleasantly surprised to be introduced to a man with the most beaming smile I think I’ve ever encountered. Accompanied by his wife Jean, Peck is here to receive an honorary Doctorate of Letters, but it’s not his first visit to UEA. He studied for his Masters in Philosophy here in 1977 before going on to work as advisor to Elie Wiesel, the human rights activist and founder of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. It’s an amazing career for a man born in a displaced persons camp in post-war Germany and I ask him, as the director of Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Studies at the University of Maine, amongst other things, how he would say these disciplines have evolved in the years since the end of the Second World War? He tells me that, initially, “scholars who were pioneers in the field were also very much products of the event itself, either as refugees or as survivors of the Holocaust. And I think their traumatised vision of what they understood to be ‘genocide’ was very much focused on the Holocaust, there wasn’t any room for

other genocides”. The topic is an intensely personal one for him, and he quickly brings our conversation around to his parents, saying with urgency: “I must tell you, my father – both my parents were survivors – my father was a prisoner in Buchenwald, the same place that Elie Wiesel was a prisoner”. “He would tell me about prisoners wearing a pink triangle (he gestures to his left hand shoulder) a purple

“This event we call the Holocaust, was also a much bigger and broader event: namely, a war against human values.” triangle, a green triangle… in a sense saying “I don’t know what these mean.” He knew what his yellow star meant”. “I knew from very early on that this event that we call the Holocaust or The War against the Jews, was also a much bigger and broader event: namely, a war against human values. Seeing gay men, seeing J e h o v a h ’s Wi t n e s s e s , seeing Polish prisoners, all of that, and of course the disabled who didn’t even live to get to the camps because there were the euthanasia programs…” His voice trails away, but that

beaming smile doesn’t fade. You get the sense that Peck is someone full of joy at being alive. You get the sense that Peck is someone full of joy at being alive. He’s emphatic about the problem of statelessness as one of the biggest human rights issues in today’s migratory world, saying: “I don’t see anybody who has to live in a refugee camp, who has to live under those conditions to be any less deserving of the opportunities that I had, when at the age of three-and-a-half, three and a half years in this displaced person’s camp, my parents and I were able to come to a safe country”. Finally, his advice for UEA’ graduates suggests a wealth of life experience in an often unforgiving world. “Don’t look at the world as a just place. Understand it as an unjust place because that’s the only way you’ll be able to move forward and change what you need to change”.

JFK

Photos: (clockwise from top) Wayne Barnes, Abraham Peck, Roger Ashton-Griffiths. University of East Anglia

Born in 1979 and one of the first UEA graduates of the new millennium, Wayne Barnes – barrister and Rugby Union referee – became one of the sport’s most respected officials after graduation: after becoming a professional referee in 2005, Barnes has since officiated games in the English Premier League, the Six Nations Championships and on the global stage during the Rugby World Cup. After the (inter)national mayhem that has consumed the previous four months, it’s easy to forget that summer 2016 was predicted by many to be a phenomenal summer of sport. The European football championships, the Olympics and the Paralympics alongside the usual cricket, tennis, Formula One and football fixtures meant that many were looking forward to a summer of big screens and Union Jacks. However, following extensive doping allegations surrounding the Russian Olympic and Paralympic teams and incidents of violence across France during the European football championships, I asked Barnes if he was sceptical towards

“When you leave UEA, you leave with some fantastic memories.” the integrity of international sport. “Of course there are concerns at the moment, but that doesn’t stop people wanting to play sport: to play rugby, to play football, to play all of those fantastic sports”. “We’re all going to be sitting engrossed with the Olympics, it’s going to be very exciting. I was sitting watching the [Rugby] World Cup last year as excited as a fan! I think that we all get…sport brings us together”. “It’s brought me together with my wife, it’s brought me together with some of my best friends, and I think that’s what we should remember about what sport does. Of course there are concerns at the moment, but strip it back to what sport actually does and I think that’s really, really essential.” “Sport for me isn’t about the world class – The European Championships and the Olympics – it’s about the friends that you meet.” Nonetheless, my sporting questions couldn’t distract him from the enormity of the day and a nostalgia for his UEA days. “When you leave UEA, you leave with some fantastic memories; I left 16 years ago now and I didn’t ever envisage that I would be coming back to get an honorary doctorate…When you’re sitting there as a graduate, you look up on stage thinking ‘who is that old man talking’, and now it’s my turn to be the old man, I suppose. I’m really privileged.” CD

23rd September 2016

Features

How to succeed at university

Lydia Lockyer Features Editor The title of this piece might make me sound I’m that person who has it all together and is ready to spend the next 800 words telling you that I got there by pulling 12 hour stints in the library, minimum social life and a ban on Netflix. Well not quite. In fact, I am not going to rate myself academically – because a) things like that just get awkward, and b) every university course differs so completely that it’s impossible to judge from one to the other. In an article for the Wall Street Journal, Dominic Barton discusses research suggesting that now, more than ever, it is a student’s mind set during their time at college or university that is most likely to see them graduate successfully. As he states, mind set – ‘how someone engages with their work and institution’- is the game changer in preventing students from dropping out of their course and helping them graduate successfully. But how to achieve the university mind set. Well, I say, learn to be at one with your university. Be part of something, get into a routine and find what works for you. While university might be a very social experience for the majority, it is also an important step in learning about yourself as an individual and how to live and cope in new situations. Now of course you’ll be seeing adverts and posters and hearing all about the best ways to get stuck in. Well, repetitive as it may sound – get stuck in! Having a connection to the university makes it begin to feel far more approachable and the academic side will then slip into place. So while your mind set can be highly effected by your social activity, what about the academic side of things? It’s just as important to feel a part of your course and happy with the layout and workings of the university system - it’s a very different ball game from school. You’ll find you need to make an independent effort to get to grips with what works best for you. Over the course of two years

you cant help but pick up on certain things - one of the most important being that everyone is different. Obvious as it might sound, these differences apply academically as well as socially. This will become apparent pretty soon with both your flat/housemates and your course mates. It’s more noticeable at university because you live and learn together. Working becomes (or should do, in some shape or form) part of a weekly routine. So when you first suggest hitting the library or finding a little café spot with a couple of friends to work, don’t worry if you the realise that you’d actually far rather be reading silently somewhere else, just you and your highlighters. It’s important to figure out fairly early what/where/when suits you. If your course is coursework based and research is 100% necessary, the library is a key resource, but if you need a lot of revision time then maybe a café is more up your street. If you have a laptop and you’re an essay writer then the campus is your oyster. You have the pleasure of being a café/lecture/ library hopper. Although, not to worry if you don’t – there are around 233 computers in the library alone and lots more dotted around campus. Maybe you have your own computer and a super organised desk in your room and prefer to be in your own space. It’s all about what works for you, but don’t be afraid to sneak off to the silent floor while your friends might be chatting away. We all do it. Try taking a bit of reading round

“While university might be a very social experience for the majority, it is also an important step in learning about yourself as an individual”

Photo: Pixabay, Wokandapicx

campus in the early weeks so you know where is best when that first big deadline comes along! Similarly, think about what time works best for you. If you have a long essay should you start at 8am and work all day or start at 9pm and pull the ‘all nighter’. People joke about all nighters but it’s really not unusual. The library. That big concrete façade is far more accessible than you might think - my personal favourite. I am a self confessed silent area studier. You’ll find me at one of the giant second or third floor windows gazing (silently) out at that famous UEA lake view, a nice distraction from a long day of essaying. But, not to worry if this doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, there are so many different spaces within one building, you’ll be amazed. Floors zero and one have no noise restrictions. On the ground floor you’ll find open group working areas, bookable group study spaces a vast computer area as well as the library help desk, IT services and the high demand books section. There are printing facilities available too. The step from sixth form or college to university is more like a leap of faith. So, while right now, the focus might seem to be socialising and discovering whether or not you have the ability to cook food that will keep you alive, let these little tips niggle at the back of your mind – after all, in the long run, why are you here? Don’t be afraid to ask for help – why suffer in silence when the university provides so many different forms of help, from your tutor and the Dean of Students to your flat mates/course mates. And on that, I bid good luck to all ye freshers. May the odds be ever in you favour.

Jargon Buster Hub – There are three hubs on campus, based in the Arts, Elizabeth

Fry and ZICER buildings. The hubs are for important things such as coursework submission and returns (or extension requests), module enrolment/alterations, and general other course based support. Best to get to grips with where your relevant hub is!

Lecture – Typically, a talk by a lecturer. This is usually given to all of those in the module group and contains little participation (perhaps the odd ‘hands up if…’)

Seminar – more interactive and often in smaller groups, sometimes

discussing a previous lecture. Part of your module/coursework might involve you taking part of the seminar with your own presentation.

Tutorial – a one on one session with your tutor or module leader to discuss coursework, results or course matters. Make the most of these by preparing any questions in advance! Also, check with your tutor for their office hours - free time when you can pop in for a chat. Portal

– UEAs online current student homepage through which you can access blackboard, eVision and your UEA email account.

Blackboard

– Blackboard is a sort of online forum/hub. Here you’ll find information on your school and each of your modules. Your lecturers and seminar leaders will upload your module outline and any necessary documents and PDFs.

eVision

– where the formal and important stuff is located. Here you’ll find (if you haven’t already) information on your timetable, modules, coursework submission and results.

Library Guide The library is huge, and there’s no denying it can be daunting. It is important to note that different floors have different policies, some floors are silent study only, some are for group study, some allow food and some do not. Make sure you check the signs to ensure you are in the right area, out of respect for other library users. To find a book, all you need to do is go into the main foyer, turn right, and use the computers by the helpdesk to search the catalogue for the book you are looking for. The database will give you a strange-looking sequence of letters and numbers – for example PR4611 ANN. Make sure you write it down! The first letters are the ‘Classmark’ – which tells you which area of study the book is from, for example ‘Q’ is a science or maths book, while ‘P’ is a literature, language or media book. The ‘classmark’ not only tells you what sort of book you’re looking for, it also helps you to find it within the library. Different classmarked books are on different floors, so use the guide in the foyer to search for which floor you need to be on. 01 and 02 are below the main foyer (so downstairs), while 1, 2 and 3 are upstairs from the main foyer. Once you have found your floor, look for signs on the shelves for the classmark you are after. Then, look at the sequence of letters and numbers you found in the database. The shelves are labelled in grouped numbers, for example 4500-4700, and our number 4611 would be on this shelf. Move along the shelf until you find your exact number. The letters at the end of the sequence (e.g ANN) are in alphabetical order, so search through your shelf until you find the letters you are after. To borrow the book, take it to the machines in the foyer and scan your campus card. Place the books in the machine, and you’re good to go!

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news

city council move decision on homes amy rust campaigns & democracy officer >>

Following campaigning from the SU, which involved stunts, press work, an 800 strong petition and lobbying of officials and councillors, Norwich City Council Cabinet last night scrapped a proposal that would have banned more students from living in the local area. The proposed “Article 4 direction” would have limited the development of new shared housing in parts of Norwich’s “Golden Triangle”. The council will now gather more evidence and won’t look again at the proposal until at least 2017. Whilst opinion on the introduction of the proposal was split amount the Councillors present, a unanimous vote killed off the plans. uea|su is thrilled with

the decision which gives us a real opportunity to work positively in the community over the coming months to develop better relationships between students and non-students. Speaking after the announcement was made, Campaigns and Democracy Officer Amy Rust said “At the SU we think this is the best decision for the community of Norwich.

our action I’m also critically aware that this is not the end and I’m most excited to begin working in the community to address the concerns we have heard and make Norwich a fantastic city for all residence.” “At uea|su we have a say that we love UEA but we’re always working to make it better, I can’t wait to extend that mantra across the city.”

We had big concerns about Article 4 on a number of levels from the likely increased rents and limiting of supply of homes for our members, to the probably negative impact on house prices in the Golden Triangle for home owners.” “Whilst we’ll pause to celebrate the success of

“We’d like to take this opportunity to thank all those who were involved in the campaign to date from hundreds of people who signed our petition to the student volunteers to the Councillors we met with” In the coming year the City Council intends to

news black history month

black history month officer photo >>

collect more information on what measures have been put in place in other cities where a growth in the number of HMOs (Homes of Multiple Occupancy) as well as look to develop closer links with UEA and the city’s other education providers.

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let history teach not repeat tarun sridhar ethnic minorities officer

Hello! My name is Tarun Sridhar, your Ethnic Minorities officer. I chose to run to become an officer at uea|su to engage all students and staff in educating and celebrating ethnic minority history and culture. My first project as officer is Black History Month this October. This year, we began planning the month with the aim of reaching as many students as

possible. In my previous years at UEA, I realised that majority of students pass by the month of October without acknowledging that it is indeed Black History Month let alone the fact that we have events taking place. This year’s Black History Month is all about representing the politically black, educating everyone, and celebrating the culture and

heritage with all students at UEA. I intend to eliminate the ‘Us Vs Them’ mentality and invite all students and staff, including those who don’t identify as a person of colour, to come along and stand on the side of promoting and preserving the accomplishments and contributions of people of colour. Get involved in this year’s Black History Month! We have tons

of events whether you just want to celebrate or educate yourself. For the schedule of events during Black History Month, please visit uea.su

Comment

23rd September 2016

Playing devil’s advocate

Concrete’s Comment Editor scrutinises the canonisation of Mother Teresa selfless devotion to the wretched? So eager was the Vatican to enroll Teresa of Calcutta into their bloated roster of saints that they fastIn the waning years of the twentieth tracked the beatification process, century, the Catholic Church was in ignoring the ancient stipulation that the midst of a crisis that one could any potential saint should have been describe as existential. Even leaving dead at least five years before the aside its association with some of the wheels could be set in motion. This vilest dictatorships that this century cooling-off period was enforced to produced, or their then-unrecanted guard against unworthy characters denunciations of humankind’s being carried to sainthood on a wave greatest scientific accomplishments, of popular enthusiasm, and so the or the scandalous way in which looming question was, and remains, excuses were made whether or not for the behaviour Catholic ‘It would be wrong the of child rapists, establishment the fact would to suggest that the had in this still remain that instance fallen Catholic Church secularism had into such a trap. was at any point at for centuries been Without steadily chipping risk of slipping into wishing to dig away at their too deeply, one moral reputation. obscurity, but to say p r e c o n d i t i o n Certainly, it would that their prestige for canonisation be wrong to C a t h o l i c had taken some suggest that the officials could Catholic Church knocks would be an not ignore was at any point at is that any understatement.’ risk of slipping into candidate must obscurity, but to say claim at least that their prestige had taken some one documented, indisputable knocks would be an understatement. miracle. In Teresa’s case, the alleged With this in mind, one can hardly suspension of nature’s order was blame the then-Pope John Paul II the disappearance of a tumour for canonising more saints than any afflicting a devoutly Catholic Indian of his predecessors, one of whom woman named Monica Besra, was, of course, Anjezë Gonxhe who claimed that the miracle Bojaxhiu, known to the world as occurred when she applied a locket Mother Teresa. To casual observers, containing Teresa’s picture to the this was perhaps an obvious choice. stricken area. Miraculous indeed, Who better to serve as a figurehead until one investigates further and of the Church than a holy woman discovers that a great deal of doubt whose decades of work with the is heaped onto the story by the poor is known to Catholics and non- testimony of Dr Ranjan Mustafi, Catholics alike, and whose alias was the physician responsible for rapidly becoming shorthand for a her care, who maintains that the person of impeccable morals and ‘tumour’ was in fact a cyst brought Charlie Dwyer Comment Editor

on by tuberculosis, and that Besra’s recovery came about only after she had undergone several months of treatment. One should also note that Besra’s medical records were almost immediately confiscated by the Missionaries of Charity, Teresa’s own order, and that several officials at the hospital in which Besra was tended to have since spoken of the pressure applied by Catholic churchmen to play along with their narrative. Teresa’s miracle then, is dubious to say the least. But what of her ofttouted missionary work? Surely a lifetime of far-reaching charitable endeavours should be a sufficient qualification for sainthood? Perhaps. But I for one would not describe her missionary work as particularly charitable. As the late Christopher Hitchens was fond of saying, Mother Teresa was not a friend of the poor, but of poverty; anybody who believes it was her goal to eradicate hardship is badly mistaken. In her own words, she held that it is ‘…very beautiful for the poor to accept their lot…’, and that ‘…the world is being much helped by the suffering of the poor people’, and accordingly, the hospices ran by her order provided medical care that was sub-par at best and dangerously haphazard at worst. The missionary multinational Teresa headed chose quantity over quality, opting to spend money establishing hundreds of centres worldwide at the expense of the treatment provided. Sisters allegedly reused syringes sterilised only by cold water, never regarded pain management as a priority and dispensed diagnoses with an alarming degree of imprecision,

all while ministering incessantly self-actualisation rather than blind to those in their care. And this was glorification. hardly the Sermon on the Mount. The answer, of course, is that The line taken by Teresa’s the world’s media outlets know missionaries was a rigidly how to spot a lucrative story. That dogmatic, fundamentalist reading any self-respecting journalist could of Catholicism, which considered, be so uninquisitive as to ignore, for example, contraception and for example, Teresa’s unabashed abortion the greatest threats to affiliation with criminal statesmen world peace, and overstepped the such as Jean-Claude Duvalier and Vatican’s position on a number of Enver Hoxha, or her outrageously issues. One would hope that the inappropriate baptisms of dying recklessness of spreading such ideas Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs, or any of in the poorest corners of the globe the aforementioned controversies, is would be plain saddening, as is the for all to see, apparent ubiquity of “Mother Teresa but for clarity, this attitude, but that was not a friend we are dealing is an issue deserving with a woman of the poor, but of of its own discussion. who used her The salient point poverty; anybody is that the world considerable influence to media, which by the who believes it staunchly twentieth century was her goal to oppose the one had become the known cure for eradicate hardship most potent force poverty - the is badly mistaken.” for propaganda empowerment in human history, of women. The marshalled its continuous cycle of pregnancy and collective resources towards childbirth in which deprived women promoting the manufactured the world over find themselves narrative of Saint Teresa of Calcutta, trapped was not just acceptable and we went with them every to Teresa’s organisation, it was step of the way. It is often said of desirable. mythologised characters such as To return to the concerns of Jesus and Socrates that the tales told the medieval churchmen who of them, the messages they embody, counselled caution when elevating are far more important than the popular preachers, one wonders veracity of their legends, and if how a figure of such moral ambiguity the idea of Teresa’s virtuousness could ever have won the affection brings comfort or encouragement of anybody but radical Catholics, to anybody, secular or religious, particularly when figures such as then perhaps her canonisation Abbe Pierre were during the same can be justified. I only hope that period proving that Catholicism Catholics of the future do not look could be an incredible asset both in back and lament the moment when winning sympathy and providing the media’s pursuit of a marketable genuine aid for the poor, so long story led to the ascension of a wholly as its philosophy was focused on undeserving saint.

23rd September 2016

Making a Martyr? Free Speech, Social Media and the Alt-Right inferiority of black people. Yet underneath its arrogance and gleeful rejection of political correctness, what makes #FreeMilo Despite the temptation to spend even more detestable is that it may the summer days reading ahead have a point. Is it really the place for next year, often the holidays of Twitter to silence someone, offer little alternative occupation controversial though they may to obsessively monitoring our be? ‘Controversial’ being, with social media. Nowadays a vital Yiannopoulos, an understatement. pillar in upholding contact with ‘Of course it is’, seems the other humans, social media can be initial knee-jerk answer. Despite inflammatory and, since July, still the protests of his 338, 000 minions reeling from what could prove to be about ‘free speech’, the fact remains a game-changer. that Leslie Jones was abhorrently This summer, self-professed bullied because of her appearance, ‘super villain’ and notorious troll her race and her gender. Free Milo Yiannopoulos was banned speech aside, being abusive is the from Twitter after encouraging the right of no one. abuse of Ghostbusters actress Leslie Thankfully for civilised society, Jones. ‘Why are we still talking Milo Yiannopoulos, who, previous about this?’ you might ask. With to his run-in with Jones, had likened 338, 000 followers, Yiannopoulos’s rape culture to a Harry Potter fantasy suspension was never likely to world, is something of an exception. blow over quietly; infuriated fans Twitter had, after all, warned him swiftly responded with an equally several times prior to him being infuriating hash tag. banned and so we should, in theory, #FreeMilo has opened a be able to rest easy knowing justice wider debate has been served. on whether ‘The idea of a minority And yet the social media idea of a minority of invisible CEOs is prejudiced of invisible CEOs policing the content policing a g a i n s t the conservatism. accessed by millions content accessed Yet the by millions is a is a worrying one. depiction of worrying one. poor, oppressed Who, after all, has the Who, after all, has entrepreneur authority to say authority to say what the Yi a n n o p o u l o s what is acceptable can’t escape its is acceptable and what and what isn’t? In own hypocrisy, the case of Milo isn’t?’ especially when Yiannopoulos, his the abuse aimed at Jones made track-record is arguably enough use of archaic, Darwinist rhetoric, to count against him. But the lines likening her to Harambe the gorilla, aren’t always clear and the grey historically used to legitimise the area in between has a dangerous Alice Spencer Comment Writer

Dougie Dodds potential for exclusivity in favour of those at the top. Aside from the potential power gold mine, #FreeMilo could yet prove to be a game-changer in another way. For his followers, Yiannopoulos has become something of a martyr, battling for free speech against a hypersensitive Left. Given how he conducts most of his alt-right activism from behind the protection of a computer screen, labelling Yiannopoulos a martyr is grossly insulting. However, this kind of glorification will most likely give

the alt-right more fuel to their fire. For every high-profile clanger made by Donald Trump, for instance, his supporters seem to defiantly love him more. So it is with Yiannopoulos. In a statement following his suspension, he boasted how Twitter had netted him more “adoring fans”. Even more disturbing, he may very well be right. With every attempt at marginalisation, the alt-right emerges more offensive while wielding the banner of democracy. To #FreeMilo supporters, his ban

appears to be marginalisation on an institutional scale. The consequences of an electorate feeling sidelined by those in charge have already manifested in Britain. Many have ruled ‘Brexit’ a protest vote, albeit one where even the socalled protestors didn’t expect to win. The effects of the growing altright movement on the US election remain to be seen. In a twist of irony, the oppressed ‘Cult of Milo’ could graduate to oppressors, and then we’d be in a very volatile place indeed.

Hate crime laws equate to censorship; free speech must never be suspended Phoebe Arslanagic-Wakefield Comment Writer We are used to our civil liberties in the UK. We are comfortable with them. But this comfort can be dangerous. It makes us careless. We lose our vigilance, that vital vigilance that is the guardian of freedom. There is no better example of the damaging result of this carelessness than the tolerance and enforcement of hate crime laws in the UK. Hate crime laws are defined as any criminal offence perceived by the victim or anyone else to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a person’s actual or perceived race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or because they are transgender. On the face of it, this seems great. I don’t like racists, I don’t like homophobes, I

don’t like ablelists or transphobes. racist sentiment.There is something I don’t want to associate with them, fundamentally wrong about that. I don’t want to live next to them or Why? Because scenario Phoebe, have a drink with them. who is an unpleasant racist, is being So what is punished not my issue? Let only for assault ‘The only reason we us examine but for holding this law. Let have not taken to the an opinion. us assume I That’s thought streets is because were to punch policing. That’s we don’t like racists a black person an infringement or homophobes or in the face of racist Phoebe’s having just xenophobes. We don’t freedom of said something feel protective over speech. Racist derogatory is also their opinions in the Phoebe about black prosecutable same way we do of under the hate people. Under this law, those of human rights crime law even assuming I without the campaigners.’ have been assault, for just found guilty, expressing her my crime would be considered more thoroughly misplaced beliefs. It’s serious than if I had simply punched censorship. The only reason we the black person with no hint of have not taken to the streets is

because we don’t like racists or homophobes or xenophobes. We don’t feel protective over their opinions in the same way we do of those of human rights campaigners in Russia. Indeed, it has come to pass that we are sometimes so busy rightfully calling out the domestic policies of other countries that we fail to properly examine ourselves. Such blindness undermines the message of tolerance that we wish to convey. As such we must reacknowledge that to protect our civil liberties means protecting the opinions of those we disagree with and even despise. If their opinions are not safe then no one’s are. Slow erosion of civil liberties is so dangerous because of its speed. It is insidious, like the frog being slowly boiled to death in the pot, unaware that it should jump free because

there is no sudden temperature change. This law does not even decrease hateful sentiment but hides it, though that’s working under the dubious sentiment that this law is even fully functional. Hiding dissent means we can all pat ourselves smugly on the back and talk about how wonderful we are whilst we censor and jail detractors. My mother grew up in Tito’s Yugoslavia where you were disappeared for being too loud in your criticism of the regime. It’s how my great great grandfather met his end. Except for agitation to violence, free speech must be free. I may not want to listen to some idiot saying ignorant and offensive things to a gay person but I want them to have that right. Even if my inner authoritarian wants to Gaffer tape their mouth shut. Long live Liberty.

Travel

23rd September 2016

Sometimes it doesn't always go to plan Milly Godfrey Senior Reporter Miley Cyrus hopped off the plane in LAX and I hopped off at Philadelphia International Airport. Less glamorous, more nervewracking, but equally as surreal, I’m sure. Everyone enters into their year abroad nervous, not knowing what to expect, but somehow hoping for the ‘best year of their lives’. The stories of previous years, encouraged us to enter foreign lands with eyes wide and ears readied for bizarre tongues and mocking accents. Needless to say, the nerves were strong, but the excitement stronger as I hopped off that plane ready and very naïve. It stands in my mind that not every experience can be a good one, not every adventure will end in treasure, and not every city will serve you with a smile. Philadelphia - whilst holding a huge place in my heart - certainly did not serve me with a smile. Temple University pushed me into the harsh streets of North Philadelphia and my international status left me plopped in the middle of upperclassmen (the final two years of college) dorms. Socialising

was difficult; people didn’t know what to do with my accent and only wanted to hear about life in London. I’m not from London, and this was perhaps my biggest burden living State side. I felt alienated and lost for much of my time in Philadelphia, finding it hard to belong in a place that seemed to envelop everything it came into contact with. Although I had some incredible moments at Temple (I joined Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority - the best decision I made during my year abroad) ‘the best year of my life’ that I had been promised fell flat on the floor and got swept up amongst the rats and trash of north Philadelphia. Being held at gunpoint, witnessing shootings and campus lock downs were amongst a few of the nightmares that greeted me. It hadn’t gone to plan. But deviation from a plan isn’t always negative. I learnt more going through a rough time a thousand miles from home than I did having the time of my life a couple miles from home in Norwich. Struggling in Philly let me understand that not every decision is the right decision, that privilege is knowing everything will go to plan, but reality is understanding it probably won’t. Whilst I was sat in

my shared room, yearning for the comfort of UEA, I was ignoring the world of independence outside my window. It’s true that an experience not shared is an experience halved but an experience halved is still more than nothing at all. It’s easy to blame everyone else for your own wallowing, to let things go from ‘not quite as I planned’ to ‘I’ll just sit in bed until it’s the end of the semester’, but for anyone struggling against the expectation of ‘abroad’ know that a place is only what you make it. There can be harder cities, harder environments but unless you pick yourself out of the gutter, force yourself to have champagne brunch with your idiotic roommate or go for a sweaty, uncomfortable run until you find that weird graffiti pier you’d seen on Instagram once, you’ll forever be at the burden of expectations created by those who came before you. Admittedly my year abroad wasn’t the time of my life everyone told me it would be, but it was perhaps the most valuable year of my life. I learnt to pick myself up, to understand who wasn’t worth my friendship and to explore only for myself, not for the best Instagram picture.

We asked students returning from their year abroad their advice for those about to leave Always say yes, even if it doesn't sound like your kind of thing at first. Doing as much and going as many places as possible fills the year with awesome memories Oh, and make friends with someone with a car. Sacha Silverstone Clark University, Massachusetts & Deakin University, Australia Stop and smell the roses, because time flies by! Charlotte Spencer University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island Volunteer. I had some amazing experiences doing it. Paul Nelson Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia Everyone will tell you to 'do everything', but it's okay to spend the ocassional evening in your pjyamas, watching Netflix, drinking wine out of a box with your roommates. Saying no is okay too. Also, never underestimate the power of British accent. I got an internship and several big news stories because people loved how I spoke. Megan Baynes Clark University, Massachusetts

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23rd September 2016

Photo: Connor Gani

From SF to BC: The classic American road-trip Connor Gani Travel Writer ‘How was your year abroad?’ ‘How was America?’ These aren’t questions that you can answer in five minutes without getting carried away. An entire year away is something that is difficult to articulate, but one of my trips stands out above the rest. Nine days, four cities, four friend, one car. Road Trip! In June I decided to drive from San Francisco, California, to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and those nine days were by far some of the greatest days of my year. A drive of over 16 hours and almost 1,000 miles, lots of people take on the ‘West Coast Road Trip’ If, like me, you’re an avid Portlandia fan, partial to a bit of 90s grunge, and desperate for some nature, this trip has the lot! Here are my top four moments of the trip! Grouse Mountain – Vancouver, Canada Canada: what an incredible

place. On day six we arrived in Vancouver and I cannot express how beautiful this city is. With so much to offer and so much to look at I could have easily spent another week here. However, the highlight for me was definitely Grouse Mountain. As one of the North Shore Mountains and part of the Pacific Range, the 1,200 metre tall Grouse Mountain is a ski resort in the winter and a hiking destination in the summer. Regardless of the time of year, Grouse is home to some of the best views in the area. After the two-hour ‘Grouse Grind’ hike, you’re treated to one of the most breath-taking views you will ever see. Cape Disappointment – near Ilwaco, Washington Have you ever seen the film Into The Wild? I have. It was cool. Cool

enough for me to figure out where that sweet beach scene was? Ring any bells? No? Well, not to worry, I did the hard work for you. Cape Disappointment is located in the deep South West corner of Washington State and is one of the most scenic places I’ve ever been to. Even in the pouring rain, Cape Disappointment never ceases to charm. With giant cliff faces and sandy beaches - and luckily for us no other tourists - I felt like I was on a movie set. Petition to rename Cape ‘definitely not a’ Disappointment please?

KEXP Radio – Seattle, Washington This was probably my highlight! KEXP Radio is a station based in Seattle, specialising in alt-rock and indie, interspersed with blues, hiphop, punk, electronic and anything else that you could wish for. KEXP Radio is huge and I love it very much. Famous for their incredible live lounges, KEXP is based just a 15 minute walk from downtown Seattle. The University of Washington is deeply involved with KEXP, and having worked with LiveWire, I emailed their team to see if I could spend a few hours in the studios, but I ended up with so much more. I met DJ’s, the band and volunteers who quickly inspired me t o

Illustration: Dougie Dodds

make

heavy decision; I want to move here! Powell’s Book Store – Portland, Oregon Located in the Pearl District on the edge of Downtown Portland, Powell’s claims to be the largest independent seller of new and used books on the planet. In their central store that consumes an entire block, they had absolutely everything you could ask for; special editions, limited editions, first editions and more! I think I spent almost 4 hours there, leaving with a pretty neat copy of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Accompanied by the charming hipster aesthetic Portland radiates daily, Powell’s books is definitely a place to visit. SF to Vancouver, Vancouver to SF. Nine days I’ll never take for granted. With great company and our trusty Volvo we made many friends along the way and tonnes of sweet memories. It’s a trip I’d recommend to anyone!

23rd September 2016

Science

Headache, vomiting and muscle pain? This might not just be a hangover Beth D-Holmes Science Writer A lethal strain of meningitis, known as Meningitis W, is threatening students’ welfare. University student, Jennifer Gray, was admitted to hospital with what she believed to be the flu. She fell into a coma and passed away shortly afterwards. The student, who was in her third year studying forensic science, had rung NHS24 after mistaking the symptoms for a hangover. Her mother told the Independent, “The hospital said they hadn’t seen the illness move as fast as with Jennifer. She came in with vague symptons and within hours, she was dead.” According to Public Health England (PHE cases of MenW have increased: “from 22 in 2009 to over 200 in the last 12 months.” The symptoms can be hard to spot, and meningitis can be contracted suddenly and progress fast, making this a deadly disease. Previous advice warned to look for rashes and to carry out a glass test: press a clear glass against the rash, and if it does not fade under pressure, seek immediate medical attention. However, Public Health England suggests to look for earlier symptoms in both your

friends and yourself. “Headaches, vomiting, muscle pain, fever, cold hands and feet,” are all warning signs and shouldn’t be ignored. The earlier meningitis is found means students are able to fight the disease more effectively. The vaccination not only protects students from the disease, but also aids in preventing the disease spreading to the rest of the population. Young people are particularly at risk when starting university, as prolonged exposure to a large number of new people increases the chance of interacting with a meningitis carrier. Liz Brown, chief executive of the charity Meningitis Now, said: “Up to a quarter of students carry the bacteria that can cause meningitis compared to one in ten of the general population.” It should never be assumed that fellow flatmates and friends who look healthy do not carry the bacteria, which furthers the need to take this precaution against meningitis. Brown concluded her message on the importance of seeking protection against meningitis by stating: “It’s vital that those going to university this autumn are not complacent about the threat of meningitis - we urge them to take up this lifesaving vaccine before they go.”

There is currently a campaign for vaccinations for all people up to the age of 25. However, for now it is only available to firstyear students free of charge. It is recommended to get it before term starts, as that is when students are most at risk of exposure, and the jab is available at the UEA Medical Centre. More information and advice can be found at the UEA Medical Centre, as well as the NHS Direct and Meningitis Now websites.

Possible breakthrough in dementia treatment Sophie Christian Science Editor Scientists have made an important breakthrough with a new drug that is designed to tackle Alzheimer’s disease. Research suggests that it is possible to clear the amyloid plaques growing in the brain, which is the main cause of dementia. Dementia develops when abnormal proteins surround brain cells and their internal structure is severely affected. Chemical connections between cells are lost and some brain cells can die. Currently, an estimated 850,000 people in the UK suffer from dementia, but that figure is expected to reach 2 million by 2050. A small group o f

1 6 5 p a t i e n t s participated in the year-long trial where they were treated with Aducanumab, a drug developed by pharmaceutical company Biogen. Aducanumab is an antibiotic treatment where little y-shaped

Twitter: The Independent

proteins attach on to harmful substances in the body and signals to the immune system that they needs to be eliminated. Patients with the highest dose of aducanumab had encouraging results, as their brains were almost completely cleared of amyloid plaques. The findings published in the journal Nature revealed that after six months patients stopped declining compared with those on the placebo treatment. However, there were some side effects, such as amyloid-related imaging abnormalities, which can cause bleeding in the brain. The study therefore concluded that this drug is ideal for those in the early stages of dementia, as it successfully removed amyloid plaques from the brain. Professor Roger Nitsch, from Institute for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Zurich was delighted with the results. “Despite it being a small sample there appeared to be a slowing of cognitive decline and functional decline. The group with a high degree of amyloid removal were basically stable. If we could reproduce this it would be terrific.” If the following trials are successful, this drug that is designed to halt dementia could make its way to the market sooner than we think. Dr Alfred Sandrock, who represents the biotech company Biogen, located in Massachusetts, commented: “This is the best news that we have had in our 25 years and it brings new hope to patients with this disease”. Wikimedia: Author unknown

“No family will be left alone”: Italy rebuilds after earthquake Sophie Christian Science Editor On the 24th August 2016, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake was recorded in Italy. leaving the local population devastated. The earthquake hit Amatrice, located in northern Lazio, at 3:36am killing at least 300 people and injuring h u n d r e d s . Nearby towns, Accumdi and Arquata del Tronto, also suffered damage and loss of life. Europe’s Sentinel radar s a t e l l i t e s recorded the ground movement during the quake. The data shows subsistence of up to 23cm (9in) as a 20km-long

fault raptured in the Apennine mountains. An Interferometric Synthetic Radar (InSAR) map is used to study the data and is made by orbiting satellites observing the condition of ground pre and postearthquake. Dr Richard Walters of Durham University, creator of the map, commented: “The fault that ruptured was around 20km long. The average slip at depth on the fault was about half a metre, but is concentrated in two major patches, which probably means two separate fault segments ruptured together.” The size of the fault means that at least 470 aftershocks have hit the area since August 24th, with some reaching a 5.1 magnitude on the Richter Scale. According to experts, 70% of

It is “even more dreadful than we feared, with buildings collapsed, people trapped under the rubble and no sound of life”.

Illustration: Dougie Dodds

Italy’s buildings fail to meet the anti-seismic standards, despite the country experiencing eight earthquakes in the past 40 years, resulting in the near-destruction of several towns and villages and great loss of life. It took 12 hours for bulldozers and earthmovers to respond and navigate up cracked roads. Hundreds of rescue crews were sent to help those affected by the natural disaster, including a six-man team of firefighters from the Vatican. Efforts are being made to help victims of the earthquake, as tent cities and kitchens are catering for approximately 1,200 citizens who cannot return to their homes because of impending aftershocks. However, some sense of hope was restored when a girl, 10, was rescued from the rubble in Pescara del Tronto, after being trapped upside down for 17 hours following the tremor. The Mayor of Accumoli,

Stefano Petrucci, was emotional when responding to the quake and consequent loss of life saying it is “even more dreadful than we feared, with buildings collapsed, people trapped under the rubble and no sound of life”. Eighty percent of Amatrice’s historic town centre has been destroyed according to Orlando Sandro, a regional councillor, who explained that the foundations of buildings that had not collapsed were weakened to the point where they had to be taken down. The Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, emphasised that rescuing survivors was the priority for the next few days and demonstrated the resilience needed in this tough time: “No family, no city, no hamlet will be left alone.” Pope Francis prayed for the fallen and survivors in St Peter’s Square, Rome, where tens of thousands gathered to show their support.

23rd September 2016

Why “lazy” students are actually being healthy Ellen Atkinson Science Writer Tempted to ditch a good night’s sleep and finish that essay you have been putting off for weeks? New research shows that sleep is crucial to a good memory and learning, so although pulling an all-nighter may seem like a good idea, it is detrimental to your future studies. A recent study has shown that sleep is essential for resetting our brain’s connectivity that occurs during our waking hours. This process allows our brain to adapt to our surroundings, proving that sleep is not just for boosting energy levels, but is crucial for ensuring that we retain as much information as possible from each day. Scientists found that the loss of just one night’s sleep impacted on the brain’s natural reset mechanism, meaning that the neurons in the brain become muddled with the day’s electrical activity, making it difficult to process new memories. Throughout the day our brains become saturated with

information and the only way of who had had a good night’s sleep, consolidating this new information proving that sleep is essential for is by decreasing our brain’s activity mentally recording information. during sleep. One experiment undertaken Psychiatrist Christoph Nissen, by Nissen involved stimulating who led the study at the University the brain to mirror how neurons of Freiburg and recorded the results function when memories are being in the journal Nature noted. C o m m u n i c a t i o n s , “Scientists found that the He discovered completed a series of loss of just one night’s it was more tests on participants challenging to sleep impacted on the get the neurons aged 19 to 25, with some being allowed to respond in brain’s natural reset a good night’s sleep people who did and others being mechanism, meaning that not get enough deprived of it. The the neurons in the brain sleep, proving tests showed that that the ability to the brains of those become muddled with the write memories who were sleep- day’s electrical activity, decreases with deprived were in a less sleep. making it difficult to more excitable state, Nissen said: as their neurons process new memories.” “This work shows were less resistant us that sleep is to magnetic pulses, making it easier a highly active brain process and to create a muscle response in the not a waste of time. It is required participant. However, it was found for healthy brain function” and that it was harder to get those he believes that the findings may who were sleep-deprived to recall also be a breakthrough for treating memories as their neurons were people with mental health disorders much more chaotic than in those in the future.

Photo: Sprayablesleep.com

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Sport

23rd September 2016

UEA’s hidden sporting highlights Ahead of the new academic year at UEA, we take a look at five sports societies that may have slipped under your radar. Sports Editor Nick Murphy investigates some of the weird and wonderful sports you can get involved with on campus

Korfball

Cycling

Caporeira

Futsal

Water Polo

Korfball Society is one of UEA’s hidden gems. Run by President Bayley Woodridge, the society has grown beyond recognition in recent years to pick up four, top three finishes in the BUCS National Championship, including claiming the title of champions in 2013. Korfball also holds the distinction of being the only mixedsex participation sport at UEA while offering students the chance to play socially or competitively in one of six local league teams. The aim of the game is simple. You score when you throw the ball through the opposition’s basket. After two goals, the teams change zones. The defenders become the attackers, while the attackers take their turn defending. Although a tactical sport, korfball is both fast-paced and dynamic, yet does not require players to remain in fixed positions such as basketball and netball. UEAKC has a total of over 100 members, all of whom pay a membership of £20 per year. General training takes place on Wednesday’s at 5 pm while shooting training is on Friday’s. The society also offers players the chance to compete across the UK and Europe.

One of Team GB’s biggest successes at the Rio Olympics this summer, cycling is riding the crest of a wave in Great Britain at the moment and the situation is no different at UEA. The University of East Anglia Cycling Club (UEACC) offers the chance for new riders to cycle socially or indeed, train competitively ready for a race environment. UEACC is affiliated with the sport’s two governing bodies, British Cycling and Cycling Time Trials, which allows all members of the club the opportunity to enter local time trials and lotus league races. Club President Alan Sydee focuses not only on the serious side of the sport, but also the sheer enjoyment that can be gained from riding on two wheels. He says: “We offer something for everybody. We understand that not everybody wants to be the next Bradley Wiggins or Laura Trott and are hugely proud of the social side of our club.” He continues: “We can guarantee that friends will be made and memories will be shared.” Membership for the year is £15 and also includes participation in a ‘nobody’s dropped’ group on Sunday’s, which allows riders of all abilities to take part.

Now in its 15th year at UEA, Capoeira Society offers students the chance to get to grips with one of the most fascinating forms of martial arts. Capoeira combines aspects of dance, acrobatics and music and is known for a wide variety of moves including kicks and spins which require speed and power in their application. Despite this, capoeira focuses not on harming the opponent but the application of skill during the game, with no direct emphasis on rules and point scoring. The most common form of capoeira that is taught at UEA is jogo de capoeira, which translates as ‘game of capoeira’. It is a ritualised form of capoeira where two capoeiristas (the players) exchange movements of attack and defence while observing the manners and the traditions of the sport. The sport is a Brazilian martial art, but has its roots embedded in Africa, most notably Angola and the Congo. At UEA, sessions run twice a week in the dance studio and are taught by Ash Smith who is affiliated to Groupo Cordão de Ouro (CDO) Norwich, a capoeira society which runs in the city. Membership costs £5 and offers not only the chance to get fit and keep healthy, but also experience a new culture and a sport that isn’t widely available around the UK.

An indoor, five-a-side version of football, futsal was a rite of passage for established stars such as Neymar, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The game encourages players to hone their creativity, take more touches of the ball and analyse the game in real time to find a way past the opposition defence. Now in their seventh year as a sports society, UEA Futsal is hitting new heights. They have accrued the most BUCS points cumulatively of any sports society at the university and last season the men’s team finished 3rd in the Premier Midlands League, reaching the super 8s stage of the subsequent Champions Cup. The women’s side also qualified for the Champions Tournament only to narrowly lose out to Loughborough in the round of 16. Both the men’s and women’s teams are the only UEA clubs that compete in the top division of their respective sports leagues at BUCS level. The profile of the sport is growing not only at UEA, but around the UK. The England Futsal team have achieved a ranking of 58th in the world and only last May, manager Mike Skubala brought his squad to UEA Sportspark for two friendlies against the Finland National Team. Membership of UEA Futsal Club costs £25 for the entire year and comes complete with training sessions with a qualified coach every Friday evening. If you do not wish to play the sport competitively, UEAFC also offers the chance to play the sport socially at the Sportspark on Wednesday’s from 4-5 pm and Friday from 5-6 pm.

Joining swimming and sub-aqua as one of UEAs three pool based societies is water polo. The society, formed in 2001, achieved impressive joint finishes of fourth in both the men’s and women’s BUCS league last year, with the men’s team gaining promotion to the Midland 1A league. The game itself is simple. Each team is allowed six outfield players and one goalkeeper plus substitutes, with the aim of scoring more goals than the opposition across a period of four, eight minute quarters. The team is generally set out in a 3-3 formation comprising of three attackers and three defenders, each with their own specific positional name. Such is the quickpace and almost rhythmic nature of the sport, teamwork is key to success. It is something typified by the nations of Croatia, Italy and Serbia, all of whom achieved medal success at the most recent two Olympics games. Closer to home the 2015/2016 campaign was the best in UEA WoPo’s history and with the society continuing to grow, there has never been a better time to attend one of their two weekly training sessions. The club trains at the Sportspark on Monday’s from 7:30pm-9pm and Tuesday from 8pm-9:30pm. Extra training also takes place on Saturday afternoons at Hewett School in the Lakenham area of Norwich, for which transport will be provided. Membership is £20 for the entire year and the society will also be hosting a free ‘Give It a Go’ session on Saturday 1st October at 1:15pm at Hewlett School. As a sport that is not available throughout the UK, UEA Water Polo represents an opportunity for new students to try something different and the chance to get involved with one of institutions highest achieving societies.

Illustration by Dougie Dodds

23rd September 2016

Norwich windsurfer makes Olympic history Richard Ewart Sports Editor Nick Dempsey made history at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he became the most decorated male Olympic windsurfer ever. Dempsey, born in Norwich, won silver in the RS:X Class to add to his silver medal in the same class from 2012 and bronze medal in the Mistral One Design Class in 2004. No other male Olympic windsurfer has won three medals so Dempsey can enter retirement knowing his name has been etched into the record books. Dempsey, 36, secured Britain’s first windsurfing medal of the 2016 Games in Rio and at one stage looked destined for gold. He won three of the first four races and came second in the other meaning he had a comfortable lead with a third of the event completed. However, he then finished fourth and 14th in the next two races which meant his biggest rival for gold, Dorian van Rijsselberghe, had cut the gap to just one point by the halfway stage. Van Rijsselberghe went on to dominate the second half of the event, winning four out of the last six races, guaranteeing the Dutch

sailor gold before the final medal race, with Dempsey ensured of silver. Dempsey described his recordmaking achievements as “amazing” and said “it is awesome, something I am incredibly proud of.” Nick Dempsey’s silver followed the same result in the same class at the London 2012 Olympics. Van Rijsselberghe won the gold medal four years ago as well and therefore having already won two medals at the age of just 27, he has a good chance of equalling Dempsey’s record haul in 2020. In the Beijing Olympics of 2008, the British windsurfer finished just outside the medal places while he picked up bronze in the 2004 Athens Olympics. Despite repeatedly saying Rio would be his last Olympics before the 2016 Games had started, Dempsey left the door open for a comeback after winning his silver. “I would love to do it [again] if I could”, he said, admitting he “doesn’t know” if he would compete in Tokyo. However, he does have other plans should he not return to sailing. “I’d like to do photography if I can make it work and a bit of coaching. I’d like some new challenges and new goals. I want to keep being driven in life and achieve something else”.

Nick Dempsey in Rio Photo: @MustardTV

F1 hits skids despite Hamilton-Rosberg rivalry Nick Murphy Sports Editor The F1 World Championship is set to reach a thrilling conclusion in the coming weeks as Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg continue to battle it out for the drivers’ crown. The pair, locked in fierce battle for the third consecutive season at Mercedes, are separated by just eight points following a tightly fought Singapore Grand Prix last weekend. Nico Rosberg took the spoils on the East Asia street circuit, coming in just under one second ahead of second place Daniel Ricciardo, while Hamilton finished nine seconds back in third position. The pair have now won fourteen of the fifteen races between them in the Formula One calendar this season, with Rosberg edging the rivalry eight victories to six. The duo will go head-to-head a further six times in the coming two months with their next battle scheduled for October 2nd when F1 heads to the rearranged Malaysian Grand Prix which has been moved back in the calendar from its usual February slot. The dominance of the two Mercedes teammates has called into question the competitiveness of the sport at a time when F1 is at a crossroads. In the wake of falling attendances, a dwindling television audience and a huge financial disparity between teams at either end of the pitlane, arguably F1 is at its lowest ebb. The sport could, however, be set for the radical changes it desperately

Lewis Hamilton, Wikimedia needs following a buyout by US media conglomerate, Liberty Media. The company, which is owned by 75-year-old Texan billionaire John Malone, purchased the Formula One Group for a sum totalling £3.3 billion at the beginning of September. It is hoped that the acquisition of F1 by new owners will help reinvigorate the sport and help it returns to its heyday in the mid-1990s. At these early stages no radical plans have been brought forward and early indications suggests that F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone will remain in his position as Chief Executive. Ecclestone has often borne the brunt of drivers’ frustrations, not least in 2015 when his negotiation of a new TV rights

Driver

Team

Wins

Points

N. Rosberg

Mercedes

273

L. Hamilton

Merecedes

265

D. Ricciardo

Red Bull

179

S. Vettel

Ferrari

153

K. Raikkonen

Ferrari

148

M. Verstappen

Red Bull

129

V. Bottas

Williams

S. Perez

Force India

N. Hulkenberg

Force India

F. Massa

Williams

F. Alonso

McLaren

C. Sainz Jnr.

Toro Rosso

R. Grosjean

Haas F1

deal ensured Sky TV would gain exclusive UK rights to all races from the 2019 season onwards. Recent rule changes, including the banning of all raceday radio telecommunication – a rule that was later revoked – has furthered the ire felt by drivers for the 85-year-old billionaire. With Ecclestone likely to remain at the forefront of F1 following the acquisition of the sport by Liberty Media, it is hard to picture a scenario where the spectacle of motor racing will thrive in the near future. Perhaps the starkest indication of the way F1 is heading in the current climate is the reception of the German Grand Prix. Back in the 1990s, Germany hosted two grand prix per season at the Nurburgring and Hockenheim regularly attracting crowds above and beyond 100,000 spectators. Fast forward 20 years to 2015 and Germany was without a grand prix at all, forced to cancel one of motorsport’s showpiece events due to declining ticket sales and the escalating hosting fees of a Formula One race. It is a similar scenario in China, Belgium and Hungary where visibly empty stands are now a common sight on race weekend. Elsewhere around the paddock, former World Champion Jenson Button has announced his decision to semi-retire from the sport. The McLaren driver will sit out the 2017 season to allow Belgian racer Stoffel Vandoorne the chance to make the step up from his role as reserve driver, although Button does have the option to return in 2018.

23rd September 2016

Sport

Striking problems dent positive start for Norwich City Freddie Carty Sports Writer When the transfer window slammed shut on August 31st, it could be argued that Norwich City had secured a set of players capable of being a serious threat in the Championship this season. Whether or not this was due to a successful three months of transfer negotiations, however, is another story. Importantly, the Canaries have managed to keep hold of the bulk of their relegated Premier League squad. While the exciting presence of Nathan Redmond departed for Southampton, the likes of Timm Klose, Robbie Brady, Steven Naismith and Wes Hoolahan should be able to thrive in England’s second tier. An impressive retention of players was key to Norwich’s last promotion in 2015 and in terms of both experience and quality this season, they look a fine side. Despite this, City’s forward options remain a cause for concern. Cameron Jerome netted an impressive 18 goals in his last Championship season, but he is now two years older and may not be able to reach the heights which saw him finish just three goals behind the likes of Jordan Rhodes and Troy Deeney three years ago. Nelson Oliveira has presumably been brought in to ease the burden on Jerome, but he appears to be something of a panic buy. How

In spite of City’s positive opening to the campaign, Newcastle are still seen as favourites for the division. Summer additions of Dwight Gayle, Matt Ritchie and Mo Diamé would not be out of place in the Premier League, and with key players such as Aleksandar Mitrovic returning to the squad, the Toon Army are only likely to get stronger. Rafa Benitez has assembled a side that could hold its own in the lower half of the Premier League, and they will be expecting to take points from every fixture this season. And while the relegation Premier League sides will have their eyes on automatic promotion, the overall standard of teams in the Championship has improved in recent years. Sheffield Wednesday and Brighton have both strengthened their squads, while Huddersfield and Barnsley have also made excellent starts to intensify the battle for the promotion places. It shows that many of the usual ‘lower’ teams are now capable of causing upsets against the perceived favourites, with individuals such as Will Grigg, Tjaronn Chery and Britt Assombalonga proving difference makers in tight games. As a result, this Championship season could prove to be the tightest yet. With the standard of teams in the Championship rapidly rising, Norwich’s bid for automatic promotion back to the Premier League will not be a straightforward one. Unlike their rivals, they lack the quality and quantity upfront, something that their resolute defence may not be able to make up for. I would expect Alex Neil’s side to perform similarly this time around to their last Championship campaign, comfortably finishing in the play-off places, but once again lacking the cutting edge to push them into the promotion spots.

manager Alex Neil can expect Oliveira, who scored just nine goals last season, to fire Norwich to promotion is unexplainable. When you consider that other top Championship clubs have brought in strikers such as Matej Vydra, Steven Fletcher and Ross McCormack, you can’t help but feel City will struggle up front. While the Canaries may have an abundance of talent behind the striker, with the Murphy twins on either wing and the additions of Alex Pritchard and Sergi Canós both expected to shine, a thin front line could be the area that comes back to haunt City later on in the season in their bid for automatic promotion. On the pitch, Norwich have started the season well and lie in fourth place having lost only once away at Birmingham City. However, aside from the opening day 4-1 win over Blackburn, goals have been hard to come by for Alex Neil’s side and new signing Oliveira is yet to feature. Draws against Ipswich and Sheffield Wednesday are to be respected, but if Norwich are to compete for promotion, they need to start scoring. The Canaries’ back four has also been sturdy aside from the loss at St Andrews and will be expected to build on their impressive start.

City striker, Cameron Jerome Photo: Wikimedia, Dan Candy

Norfolk cricket club wins national trophy Richard Ewart Sports Editor Swardeston Cricket Club were crowned champions of the Natwest Club T20 earlier this month, continuing their fantastic summer with further national silverware still available. The club, based just south of Norwich, comfortably beat Sandiacre CC at the 3aaa County Ground in Derby, having beaten Tunbridge Wells earlier on Finals Day. Swardeston can now look forward to another national final as they face South Northumberland CC in the Royal London Club Championship. Swardeston, who also won the T20 competition in 2010, were put into bat by Sandiacre, a side from Derbyshire. A perfectly

timed innings of 69 not out from Lewis Denmark led the team to a reasonable 148-5 from their 20 overs. Denmark’s knock, which came from 55 balls and included eight boundaries, was desperately needed from Swardeston as early wickets had reduced the Norfolk side to 21-3. ‘My plan was to give myself and the team a platform to accelerate later in the innings’ Denmark told Concrete. He rebuilt the innings, firstly with Joe Gatting, formerly of Sussex and Hampshire and a batsman whose ‘quality and experience’ assured Denmark there was no need to panic, and then with Freddie Ruffell, with these two partnerships pushing the score into three figures with five overs to go. Denmark and new batsman Jeremy Elliott attempted to push on, with Denmark bringing up his

half-century in the 17th over, but only four runs were scored off the 18th over meaning Swardeston were just 122-5 with two overs remaining. In need of a strong finish, both batsmen responded, scoring 26 runs from the last 12 balls. Denmark attributed the two fours off the final two balls as “vital in ensuring we went off the pitch with the momentum”. The Swardeston bowlers used this momentum tremendously. Denmark was ‘always confident with runs on the board’ and true to this, Sandiacre collapsed to 83 all out, handing Swardeston a 65 run win. Michael Eccles took the scalps of both openers but it was a shared effort from the bowlers, with everyone chipping in, ensuring not one Sandiacre batsmen contributed a significant score.

Lewis Denmark’s man-of-thematch performance in the final had come after he had also top-scored in the semi-final against Tunbridge Wells. Batting first again, he made 39 at just over a run a ball, including two sixes. Both Swardeston openers as well as Joe Gatting all chipped in, helping their team to 167-9. Despite being ‘very proud’ of his performance, Denmark is quick to point out that Swardeston’s success was very much a joint effort. ‘All 13 players played a key role, it just happened to be me on the day who top scored. You cannot look past the bowlers in both matches who were excellent and kept it tight with regular wickets at key times’. Taking wickets at key times was something that certainly happened against Tunbridge Wells. The side from Kent got off to a good start and were

52-1 but Thomas Oxley bowled both openers and Swardeston captain Mark Thomas took three wickets to help peg them back. Wickets kept falling at regular intervals and Tunbridge Wells eventually fell 23 runs short, all-out with a ball to spare. Swardeston will now prepare for their next national final in what could be an historic season for the club. Having already won the East Anglian Premier League and Carter Cup, a win against South Northumberland in the Royal London Club Championship would ensure an unprecedented quadruple. Furthermore, no side has won the Club Championship and the Club T20 in the same season, but with all the momentum behind Swardeston, they will certainly fancy their chances.

Congratulations to Romy Higgins, winner of our Instagram competition with this photo.