Concrete 358

4 December 2018 Issue 358 The official student newspaper of the University of East Anglia | concrete-online.co.uk

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Are you in the 47 percent?

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News:

Less than half of UEA students meet their offer Shannon McDonagh News Editor

Less than half of UEA students achieved the grades needed to secure their place last year, with numbers dropping from 64 percent in 2013/14 to 47 percent in 2018/19.

The figures showed a consistent decrease year upon year since 2013/14.

One of the most significant drops occurred this year, where the percentage of students meeting their offers was four percent lower than the previous year.

In 2016/17, UEA noticed the largest drop in students

meeting their offers with eight percent less students meeting their offer than in 2015/16.

The reasons as to why less than half of students enrolled at UEA this year met their offers is subject to many factors.

Undergraduate Officer Jenna Chapman explains that ‘the way that students and universities approach the application process has really changed over the past few years’, citing UEA’s ‘exploration of contextual admissions’.

Continued on

pg3

Comment:

Response: Trump is not the victim To claim it’s the media’s responsibility to stop ‘playing Mr Trump’s game and fuelling this social divide’ not only ignores the media’s responsibility to keep citizens informed but shifts the goalposts away from the fundamental issue at hand.

pg16

Global:

The worldwide round up In this last issue before Christmas, Global looks back at the

news from South America, North American, The Middle East, Europe Africa, and Asia in 2018.

pg9

4th December 2018

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Editorial

"What garbage editorial"

Controversial Comment Matt Nixon Deputy Editor

Photo: Matthew Nixon

Sophie Bunce Editor-in-Chief

Above all, student journalism has taught me the following: you can’t chase a story in heels and a thick skin is as vital to your job as a pen.

Luckily, this isn’t my first rodeo and I have both.

Each week in Concrete is different, and this was no exception.

We reached a record number of shares on a Comment article titled ‘Trump: wrongly portrayed?’ We received considerable backlash for printing the article which contained views aligning with right-wing values, and I’d like to make a few things clear.

Concrete is responsible for sharing the opinions of our student society, catering to a diverse campus with eclectic interests. Exclusively printing the views of the editorial team would be a misrepresentation of our students - not to mention rather dull.

That by no means suggests we accept hate speech, prejudice or discrimination. We have always been clear on where we draw the line. Comment allows for a difference in opinion and debate, had I seen the article shared in News I would have been equally up in arms. But it wasn’t.

I encourage those who wrote Facebook comments like ‘what garbage editorial control’ to get in touch. Just like my paper, I am open to discussion. I want to hear your views and ideas, I’ll even print them.

Tamar Moshkovitz has written a powerful response to the original article which intelligently tackles the role of the media at the heart of the Trump issue. I encourage you to find it on page 16.

Our front page story, that you can ready fully on page 3, touches on a topic close to my heart.

Concrete can reveal that less than 50 percent of students met their offer to join UEA in 2018/19. Had I started this year, I would be among

those who didn't. I was lucky to have an unconitional offer so it didn't matter. I was pleasantly surprised to see how many of us there are. I am proud that UEA isn't focused entirely on grades. It matters who you are too.

As a reminder of the breadth of topics our newspaper tackles, George Goldberg’s Global spread covers everything. From Asia to Africa, Europe to North America, the worldwide round-up puts a lot into perspective on page 8.

Before we all head home for Christmas, I hope to see some of you at the Media Ball. As a pre warning - I will be wearing heels, so please try not to do anything scandalous or newsworthy. Just for one night, just for me?

As it’s our last issue of the year, I’d like to wish you a Merry Christmas on behalf of the whole Concrete team. I look forward to sharing the latest in student news and views next term. I’ll put my thick skin away until then.

Corrections and clarifications to: What have UEA staff claimed on expenses?

As Editor-in-Chief I would like to issue a formal apology for the printing of inaccurate information in last issue.

Concrete prides itself on the sharing of accurate campus news.

With that in mind, please see the following corrections to the aforementioned article.

The Go-Pro was purchased by Science Pro-Vice Chancellor Philip Gilmartin (also PVC International) for use on three expeditions, not personal use. The Go-Pro was used to capture imagery and footage of research in the Arctic; Hawaii and itís about to go to the Antarctic;

Hotel Limousine ñ is a hotel taxi service, not a limousine car, which takes hotel guests from the hotel to the airport in Hong Kong Reference in the print and online stories to the Universities UK conference at Ascot costing £1000 a night. The VC was on a Universities UK International trip to Denmark and stayed in the Hotel Ascot. The cost was £142 a night (it's 1190 in Danish Krona not British pounds) Reference to the cost of limousines in Hong Kong in the print version. The cost of the two journeys was £160 (inaccurately reported as 1600 in Hong Kong Dollars)

The University have made the follow statement; 'UEA is ranked one of the top 200 universities in the world and has strategic, institutional partnerships with other universities across the globe.

Members of the Executive Team are ambassadors for the University and undertake a wide variety of duties that directly support UEA's mission as a world-class university for teaching and research.

Helping build UEA's profile internationally is extremely important to the long-term success of the University and the Executive Team are required to travel in the course of their duties.'

Three years ago, on the tenth anniversary of the Guardian’s online comment section, Sarah Marsh sought to discover which articles their readers most remembered. Perhaps, she said, it’s those which ‘challenged your outlook on a key political argument, or changed your view entirely.’ Or, ‘perhaps it was a column with which you vehemently disagreed.’

Safe to say, readers were stuck for choice, and picked the most egregious and most stereotypically Guardian-like articles. Over our nearly 26 years as a newspaper, we at Concrete have also published plenty of comment articles which received a deal of attention, criticism, and even condemnation.

In our last issue, we published one such article: ‘Trump: wrongly portrayed?’

I’ve got to say I disagree with nearly everything said in this article. However, over the last two weeks we have seen responses to it online which we feel the need to address. To begin with, the views expressed in our Comment section are not, and will never be, the views of Concrete, or our editorial team as a whole. While our team of nearly 30 section editors and 200 writers might share certain politics, there are obviously individuals holding more controversial opinions within our membership.

As well as a newspaper, Concrete is also a society. We’re open to all UEA students and their varying opinions; this is especially the case in our Comment section, given that it is not slanderous, hate speech, or illegal for any other reason. While questionable, the Trump article was none of these things.

This week, I’m proud to see Comment doing what it does best: hosting opinion and healthy debate.

One writer, Tamar Moshkovitz, took umbrage at the article published last issue, and has written a response which I implore you to read. And if it still leaves you unsettled, then feel free to write in for our next issue!

concrete-online.co.uk Concrete_UEA concreteuea concrete_UEA Front page: Matt Nixon

The University of East Anglia’s Official Student newspaper since 1992 Tuesday 4th December 2018 Issue 358 Union House University of East Anglia Norwich NR4 7TJ 01603 593466 www.concrete-online.co.uk

Editor-in-Chief Sophie Bunce concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk Deputy Editor Matt Nixon concrete.deputy@uea.ac.uk Online Beth Bacon concrete.online@uea.ac.uk News Shannon McDonagh Senior Writer: Jake Morris concrete.news@uea.ac.uk Global Global Editor: George Goldberg Senior Writer: Jake Morris concrete.global@uea.ac.uk Features Features Editors: Chloe Howcroft and Mia Shah Senior Writer: Roo Pitt concrete.features@uea.ac.uk Comment C. E. Matthews concrete.comment@uea.ac.uk Science Science Editor: Anna Jose Senior Reporter: Hannah Brown concrete.scienv@uea.ac.uk Travel Amy Newbery concrete.travel@uea.ac.uk Sport Spot Editor: Tony Allen Senior Writer: Meyzi Adoni concrete.sport@uea.ac.uk Chief Copy-Editors Holly Purdham Izzy Voice concrete.copy@uea.ac.uk Social Media Beth Bennett

Editorial Enquiries 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, Sophie Bunce. 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

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4th December 2018

concrete-online.co.uk/category/news/ | @Concrete_UEA

The changing landscape of university admissions: 'Why are less than half of students meeting their offer?'

Shannon McDonagh News Editor

Continued from front page A representative for the university elaborated on the changes to the landscape of Higher Education, suggesting factors such as the ‘introduction of student fees, greater investment in outreach to young people from more disadvantaged backgrounds, foundation years, the lifting of the cap on student numbers, and much more variety in terms of qualifications’.

Offers have fluctuated over the past few years between different schools at UEA. Courses such as History and Politics have reduced their requirements in the past two years by a grade each, to ABB and BBB at A-level respectively.

H o w e v e r, courses such as Law, UEA’s highest ranking subject internationally, now act as one of it’s most competitive courses, requiring

all A grades.

Recent discourse surrounding the UK’s admissions system has scrutinised the use of predicted grades in order to gauge an individual’s intellectual compatibility to an institution.

The University and College Union (UCU) has argued that the UK is ‘the only nation which uses predicted grades,” noting that research has previously shown that as few as one in six A-level grade predictions are correct’.

This coincides with a significant increase in universities utilising unconditional offers, with annual increases meaning that 7.1 percent of all offers given last year in the UK were unconditional.

It is unclear to what extent the number of students who missed their offers enrolled at UEA under the provision of an unconditional acceptance.

There has been debate among students regarding the effectiveness of the system.

Many of the students Concrete spoke to expressed that it was this approach that allowed them to begin their studies at UEA.

History Masters student Izzy Voice said she believed unconditional offers were useful when ‘deserved’, but thought that instances where ‘people say they got unconditional offers and therefore didn’t try in their college exams, [was] insulting’.

"What's important is impressing on people that an unconditional isn't an excuse to ignore exams" Another student, Edward Grierson, said receiving an unconditional offer made him work harder in his exams, but understood that ‘what’s important is impressing on people that an unconditional isn't an excuse to ignore exams’.

We ran an online poll last week (see left) asking students whether or not they met their offer for university: 55 percent of our 91 respondents said they did meet their offer and went to UEA. 38 percent said they did not meet their offer but still got into UEA. Further perspectives from students have made it clear that UEA offers contextual admissions in order to match the way in which the higher education has evolved.

A turbulent experience at A-level

in not uncommon, and contextual acceptances allow for admissions staff to see past a poor exam sitting.

Third year English Literature student Becca Allen missed her offer by two grades, stressing that she had her heart set on coming to UEA and ‘didn’t really have a plan B’.

She has spoken to tutors within her school who are ‘passionately against all the exam-based testing’ as it feels ineffective within creative subjects.

Another third year student, Eva Wakeford, stated that ‘it was comforting and even motivating to know that my first choice university actually cared’ about seeing prospective students ‘as more than grades on a piece of paper’.

A spokesperson for the university told Concrete: ‘We are lucky enough to admit students from many countries around the world and therefore we require a

comprehensive understanding of all education systems around the world.

‘As and when new systems present themselves, again our offer can be conservative but this does allow us, when results come in, to be able to make individual judgements on how well a student is going to succeed.’

The spokesperson continued: ‘The University has a professional admissions service that is focused on understanding the different qualifications and how to ensure the right kind of student is being admitted to the University.’

Whether you met your offer to get into UEA or not, we want to hear your thoughts about the number of students getting into UEA without meeting their offer.

Does this affect UEA's status as a top university?

Let us know on Twitter @ Concrete_UEA.

Durham academic freed from life imprisonment in the UAE Jake Morris

Senior News Reporter

British student Matthew Hedges has been pardoned and released by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following his life sentence for allegedly spying against the government. He was freed from prison and returned to the UK last week.

He was imprisoned for life following an arrest and interrogation in May, during which he was denied access to legal representation or consular assistance.

UAE officials said Hedges had signed a written confession admitting to being an ‘active officer’ of MI6. Hedges and his wife Daniela Tejada have maintained his innocence.

UAE officials announced the presidential pardon on National Day anniversary celebrations, but the announcement included a comment from a spokesman stating

that Hedges is ‘100 percent a secret service operative.’

“UAE officials said Hedges had signed a written confession admitting to being an 'active officer' of MI6” Following pressure from Ms Tejada against the UK government, the Foreign Office steadily increased diplomatic tensions with UAE, an ally of the UK. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he felt ‘personally betrayed’ by the life sentence and subsequently held talks with his UAE counterpart.

Following Mr Hedge’s release, Hunt tweeted to say that ‘although we didn’t agree with the charges, we are grateful to UAE government for resolving [the] issue speedily.’

Hedges is a student at Durham University, studying for a PhD in the UAE’s security strategy. Following his pardon, Vice-Chancellor of Durham University, Professor Stuart Corbridge, said he is ‘absolutely delighted to learn the news of Matt’s release.’

Before his pardon, Durham University and Exeter University (where Hedges completed his undergraduate studies) took a strong stance against the UAE’s decision, with a joint statement saying there is ‘no evidence whatsoever that Matt was conducting anything other than legitimate academic research.’

Days before the pardon, staff at the University of Birmingham voted to boycott teaching at their UAE campus, and University of Exeter staff passed a motion suspending all

academic relations with the UAE. Responding to news of the pardoning, the University of Exeter said they are ‘extremely pleased,’ and the Russell Group tweeted to say that it is a ‘huge relief to hear that Matthew Hedges has been pardoned.’ The University and College Union issued a warning upon his release.

University and College Union Head of Policy and Campaigns, Matt Waddup, raised concerns about the safety of the other 700,000 students studying abroad for qualifications given by UK universities. He said universities must launch reviews into

the ‘human rights and academic freedom’ policies of overseas operations.

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4th December 2018

News

Government approve expansion of two year 'accelerated degrees' Abi Steer

News Reporter

The government have agreed to the introduction of ‘accelerated’ two-year degree courses, although this is still subject to parliamentary approval.

This follows a consultation in which the government found that shorter courses will be able to offer more choice and flexibility, particularly for mature students.

The department for education has suggested that under the plan, students could pay up to a fifth less on tuition fees than those studying a three-year course, creating a saving of £5,500 on tuition alone.

The level of teaching and the overall standard of qualification are expected to remain the same,

with the missing year being made up in higher contact hours and an increase from a 30 week to a 45 week academic year.

Universities Minister Sam Gymiah has said: ‘This provision creates a new arena of competition that delivers for students, taxpayers

resulting in an additional 10,000 students studying over this time.

Some universities already offer the opportunity for students for undertake a two-year course. In an op-ed for The Telegraph released last year, University of Buckingham Vice Chancellor Anthony Seldon argued

It is no doubt that the idea of lower tuition fees and a shorter time in education are desirable for many students, particularly those keen to get into the workplace and keep costs to a minimum, but many have expressed their concerns.

Finance expert Martin Lewis has

of undergraduates by 2020

weeks of teaching

saved in tuition fees

and employers.’

The consultation leading this decision has suggested that there should be an aim for five percent of undergraduates taking short courses within the next ten years,

that this structure has proven to be a successful approach to learning, citing Buckingham’s Gold Teaching Excellence Framework ranking and first place ranking in the National Student Survey.

cautioned against ‘the classic over simplification that you’ll pay less for a low-cost degree’.

Alongside financial concerns, The University and College Union has commented that students may

10%

LCR comedy night returns in January Lauren Sant News Reporter

UEA’s Laugh at the LCR comedy night will return on Wednesday 23 January 2019 with a host of comedians.

Comedy events have witnessed much success in the Freshers programs of the past few years, with Laugh at the LCR formally introduced this current academic year as a source of variety within a very club-heavy programme of events.

The night is set to be headlined

by James Acaster, who has seen recent exposure in the form of his critically acclaimed Netflix special Repertoire.

critcally aclaimed Netflix special” He is expected to perform material from his upcoming September 2019 tour, Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999.

Acaster is commonly featured on hit shows including Russell Howard’s Good News, Live at the

Jess Barrett Comment Writer

The concept of an accelerated degree is one that starts off looking promising, but the more you look at it, the more cracks start to show.

Although the fast track scheme will encourage disadvantaged students to pursue a degree because it costs a fifth less and only spans two years, the effect on the student’s welfare has to be seen as a priority.

The extended term time and extra pressure of the two-year course could be seen to lead to an

News Reporter

by James Acaster,

in the form of his

Comment: Student experience is a priority

Laura Taylor

to be headlined

recent exposure

£5,500

increased risk of stress and anxiety.

The longer hours would lead to students having less social time and less time to think over their ideas before jumping into their work. This, and the extended stay in accommodation, would surely lead to students feeling isolated from their peers.

The accelerated degree has been suggested as a flexible choice for mature students. However, I believe it raises questions as to how the jampacked academic schedule would present challenges for common concerns such as childcare and income.

Any student who needs to take up a part-time job would be hardpressed to juggle both their studies and their shifts, something already considered to be an issue at present for those studying courses heavy in contact hours. I struggle to see how the practicalities would work.

Accelerated degrees might take less time and cost less money, but it is clear to see that it would cost students in numerous ways integral to a well-rounded university experience.

Is it really worth sacrificing integration into the entire experience just to get a year ahead?

Macron appoints Tyndall Centre director to chair climate action council

“The night is set

who has seen

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not be able to balance their studies with the necessary ‘periods of reflection, critical thinking and a deep approach to learning’.

Although there is expected to be a saving on tuition fees, and a year’s saving on living costs, the longer days and years suggest that students will have less time to earn money and concentrate on their other responsibilities.

Not only this, but under the current system, most low to middle earners will never repay their student loan, indicating that only the highest earners will save money on tuition fees.

Dr Tim Bradshaw, Chief Executive of the Russell Group, has said that he ‘would caution ministers against “overpromising”’ what is to be expected from these degrees.

Apollo, and Have I Got News For You. He was awarded Best International Act in 2013 by the New Zealand Comedy Guild, and Best Breakthrough Act and Best Show in 2015 by Chortle.

Acaster has also produced numerous successful shows on radio and TV, and his book Classic Scrapes appeared on the Sunday Times Bestseller list.

Acaster will be accompanied by Nathan Caton and Patrick Monahan.

Commencing at 7pm, students can purchase tickets for only £10, or £15 for non-students.

French President Macron announced the appointment of UEA Professor Corinne Le Quere, who is also the Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climatic Research, as the chair of France’s new High Council for Climate Action (HCAC) in the wake of violent protests against rising fuel prices in Paris.

This committee is part of a series of measures being undertaken by the French government in order to support their ecological transition and was announced in a speech on Tuesday 27 November, which aimed to ease the collective minds of working class Parisians struggling with the idea of rising fuel prices due to the transition to cleaner energy

sources.

The council will have an advisory role to the French government, similar to that of the UK Committee on climate change which Prof Le Quere is also a member of.

The aim of the council is to provide the French government with independent advice on reducing carbon emissions, while considering both the economic and social impacts related to these changes.

The high council is set to meet every five years to discuss the recent progress and devise an advisory report on the progress and course of French climate action and to consider the economic sustainability and impact of these measures on international trade.

Concrete contacted Prof Le Quere for comment, but she was unavailable at the time of Photo: Wikimedia Commons press.

4th December 2018

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News Research Park receives Norfolk Business Award for economic growth Jamie Hose News Reporter

Norwich Research Park has received the Outstanding Achievement award at the Norfolk Business Awards. Hosted by comedian Katherine Ryan, the event awarded 13 of Norfolk’s most promising businesses in front of 550 guests – the largest audience in almost 30 years.

The park employs over 12,000 people, working in partnership with institutions such as UEA and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

It is the first organisation to have won the prize for outstanding achievement in many years.

Recent winners include former Norfolk Chamber Chief Executive, Caroline Williams, and Norwich University of the Arts Vice-

Chancellor, Professor John Last.

David Parfrey, who took over as Executive Chairman of the Research Park in March, has worked to attract investors, promote the Park’s name abroad, and build links with other

“We can put this region on the

global map as the place where the world looks for big problems to be solved”

Norfolk business parks and schools in order to make it a promising career option for young people.

UEA pledge to fund EU staff settlement fees

The award recognises the Park’s role in the growth of the county’s economy, which is home to over 80 businesses and has been highlighted in the government’s Industrial Strategy document earlier this year.

Mr Parfrey has made it clear he wishes to further these economic links over his two year term, putting the Park’s flow of research to commercial use.

In his acceptance speech he outlined climate change, food security and healthy ageing as some of the ‘21st century’s greatest challenges’, asserting that the Research Park is leading the way in solving them.

He concluded by saying that ‘we can put this region on the global map as the place where the world looks to for big problems to be solved’.

Photos: UEA

Bag of Cans take first place at Livewire's Battle of the Bands Matt Nixon Deputy Editor

Photo: Pxhere CreativeCommons

Yasmin Scott-Gray News Reporter

UEA has pledged to pay the EU settlement fees of any EU citizens and non-EU family members wishing to continue their employment at the university beyond Brexit.

“The scheme will allow those who work for UEA and their family members to be

eligible for public services” The university have enlisted the law firm Mills and Reeves to construct an FAQ in order to answer any questions those applying may have in regard to the pilot scheme for this process.

The scheme will allow those who work for UEA and their family members to be eligible for public

services, have public funds and pensions and also be a British citizen if the correct requirements are met.

This will apply to those who are a European Union Citizen living in the UK and want to remain living and working here after December 2020.

Those with the right of residency here until the end of 2020 will have until 2021 to apply as their rights remain unchanged.

However, if you are a resident in the UK up until 31 December 2020, then you have until 30 June 2021 to apply as your rights will remain unchanged up until then.

Earlier this month, the University and College Union called on all employers to cover the cost, stating that institutions should cover to fee to ‘show support’, with failure to do so sending a ‘negative message to staff at what is a hugely worrying time for EU nationals and their families’.

Other universities have since followed suit, with Oxford and Nottingham expressing similar plans to participate in the pilot scheme. In addition to this, the Scottish government have pledged to cover fees for all public service workers, which will include staff across all Scottish universities.

The self-described ‘Shindie’ Norwich group Bag of Cans were victorious at last Wednesday’s annual Battle of the Bands, hosted

by Livewire1350.

Bag of Cans consist of (Pictured L-R) Tom McGhie (Lead Guitar), Joe Wilson (Drums) George Baker (lead vocals), George Bryce (vocals and rhythm guitar) and Sam Watts (Bass).

The group competed against of four of UEA’s finest acts at Be At One last week. Also on the line-up were Bag of Cans, Brixtons, Kitty Perrin, Space is Big and Front Bangs.

Third year literature student Nickholas Uzoka, who performs under the stage name Zoka, also performed as a special guest appearance, as he was the winner of last year’s Battle of the Bands.

When asked about how Bag of Cans felt after winning, George Baker said: “We were surprised when we won. Considering a rapper won last year and we’re not rappers… yet.”

All performers at the Battle of the Bands were awarded a Nando’s voucher from Livewire, alongside guest list access for any gig at the waterfront or LCR. As winners,Bag of Cans will be performing a special Livewire session, and will have tracks from their latest EP put onto Livewire’s C List. The band will also be given the support slot for an upcoming gig at the Waterfront. Who the band will be opening for has not yet been announced.

Livewire’s head of Events,

Emma Beattie: "Battle of the Bands was a massive success this year. The level of talent was extremely high and it was a great night for everyone involved.

"Massive thank you to all the bands and also to Be At One for having us again. It was truly a great start to Livewire’s events this year!"

The win tops of a successful year for Bag of Cans, who have recently

Bag of Cans playing at the Waterfront on October 29.

Photo: Matt Nixon

released their first EP ‘Why Won’t Anyone Take Us Seriously?’, been played on BBC introducing, and created a passionate set of fans after a string of several hard to forget gigs in the city centre, including a performance at the Mash Tun where George Bryce stripped down to his boxers.

Bag of Cans' EP is available on Spotify and Apple Music now.

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4th December 2018

News

‘Ode to the Library’ event celebrates the iconic building’s 50th anniversary Matt Nixon Deputy Editor

On Thursday 22 November, the Library celebrated its fiftieth anniversary with an evening of art and performance prepared by UEA students.

The Library officially opened on 25 October 1968, and has been celebrating its fifty years with a range of events and displays since October, culminating last night with an event organised by the Creative Writing Society, Filmmaking Society, and EggBox publishing society.

Faculty Librarian for MED, HSC, and SWK Matthew Smith formally organised the event, but told Concrete he left much of the preparation for the night open to the invited societies.

“I really wanted it to be a student led thing, and it really is. All I’ve done is basically give them the space and say ‘do what you want to do with it.’ Universities do a lot of stuff but it’s about the students,” he said.

“I do think of libraries as the gateway to all of human knowledge” “It’s the people in the building that give it life really. So it seemed natural that we find some way to celebrate the people that are here now making use of the Library. The societies that have helped sort it out are really positive about the Library, in the sense of it being a space that’s important to them.”

Performers read their poetry and prose from one of the Library’s easily recognisable and homely seats. The event consisted of a prose and poetry open mic organised by

Photo: Matt Nixon Creative Writing Society, screenings of short films from UEA Filmmaking Society’s recent 48 hour filmmaking challenge, and picture displays of the Library throughout its fifty years (pictured).

EggBox publishing society have since released a digital zine about the library online via issuu, which is available on their issuu website now.

Designed by Denys Lasdun and Partners in the mid-sixties, the grade II listed building has repeatedly extended and transformed itself to meet the rapidly changing needs of its users.

In an announcement on portal, the university said: “For fifty years the Library has played a central role in the social, creative and academic life of UEA students and staff.

“Open 24/7, 365, the Library shows no sign of slowing down, receiving over 1.5 million visits each year and over 6 million digital visits; living every day to the fullest and looking forward to many more decades of service.”

Speaking about how the night went, Matthew Smith said: “It’s good. The room is quite nice. We thought originally we might go for

something larger scale in the main part of the Library. But we didn’t want to disrupt anyone so we went for a cosy thing.”

Approximately twenty to thirty people were in attendance.

Matthew said “If we’d had about six to ten more we would have been absolutely at capacity. So it’s really nice.

“It’s lovely actually looking back, and I hope people look back and think that the Library marked it and students got involved, because students are what the space is really about.”

The library has also been celebrating the fiftieth anniversary in other ways, including archive displays and a virtual environment where people can tour the library and read information points and people’s memories of the library.

A display made by the librarians, celebrating the fiftieth anniversary.

Photo: Matt Nixon “I get the impression, and I am very biased, but academic environments are changing all the time, and not everything [at UEA] is how you expect it to be.

"But the Library is something

that, when people leave, they think back to their time and the Library almost symbolises their academic experiences,” Matthew said.

From the late nights we have all spent in the Library, to the books we have read and the people we have met, there is something everlasting about how we all experience the Library. While a lot has changed over the Library’s time here, it’s easy to relate to the students pictured on the displays even from decades ago.

“The Library sort of ties us all together,” Matthew said. “I do think of libraries as the gateway to all of human knowledge. So it’s nice seeing that thread that runs through the years and goes back to beyond this library.”

“There’s something really reassuring about those same things being important to people, like knowledge and sharing that, understanding other people’s knowledge and taking it forward as a constant striving to stand on the shoulders of giants.

“To be able to celebrate that in some form is a nice thing, and anniversaries like this just give us a nice chance to do that.”

News in brief UEA selected to host this year's Commonwealth Agricultural Conference

UEA has been announced as the next host of the prestigious biennial Commonwealth Agriculture Conference.

The event will take place in Norwich in July 2020, to provide a meeting place for agricultural associations, plus other trade and research bodies. It is expected that UEA will host over 300 international delegates from across developed and developing nations of the Commonwealth.

A delegation from the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, which runs the Royal Norfolk Show and operates the Norfolk Showground, were in Edmonton, Canada, last month at this year’s event.

Its Chairman, Sir Nicholas Bacon, described hosting as ‘a huge honour’.

He continued: ‘[W]e are setting out an agenda for 2020 that will look at the major challenges facing farming globally and the roles that we can play in supporting positive development in the Commonwealth.’

The event is expected to last for three days and include sessions on sustainability, food production and leading agricultural businesses.

The RNAA plans to welcome visitors with several excursions around Norfolk, including to Sandringham.

Photo: Blue Square Thing, Flickr

'Standing on the shoulders of giants', 50 years of the Library: Left: Designer Denys Lasdun, presenting blueprints for the Library

Left: The Library's formal opening, on 25 October 1968

Left: Tiny TV's and oversized headphones, just some of the library's newest technology in previous years

Left: A student studies while listening to a vinyl record in the Library.

Left: One of the library's many group study areas.

Below: A student checks out a book, 1971

lead change and

with the annual SU survey

y e v r u s / u s . a ue

n o i n u ’ s t n e d u t s r u o y m r o transf

8

Global

4th December 2018

North America 2018: Democrats Turn Up the Heat Jake Morris

Senior Global Writer

Headlines from across North America have been falling thick and fast this year, so here’s a brief overview of everything that has happened in 2018.

High temperatures were felt across the continent this summer in the 2018 North American Heatwave, leading to 74 deaths in Quebec alone.

Colorado recorded their hottest day on record at 40.6 degrees celsius, and the Mexican Government declared a state of emergency in over 300 municipalities. California’s wildfires in July were partially attributed to the heatwave.

Further fires throughout November has made 2018 the most destructive year on record for Californian wildfires, with over 1.6 million acres destroyed, 85 people killed and the destruction of the towns of Malibu and Paradise.

“US corporations Apple and Amazon made history in 2018” In US politics, campaigns for the midterm elections dominated 2018.

The Democrats took control of the House of Representatives, with the Republicans holding the Senate.

The results saw a record number

of female and ethnic minority Congressional appointments, with the first Muslim woman elected to the House.

In June, Canada played host to the G7 summit of leading industrial nations.

Widespread clashes between US President Donald Trump and other world leaders dominated the coverage of the event, due to Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement and support for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

French media dubbed the summit the G6+1 in reference to the other nations’ united stance against Trump.

Trump left the summit early to meet with Kim Jong-un, the first ever meeting of a serving US President and a North Korean leader.

Following the summit, North Korea agreed to suspend nuclear weapons testing in exchange for an end to joint USSouth Korea military exercises.

Mexico’s Presidential election this year saw the socially democratic National Regeneration Movement candidate win with 53.19 percent of the vote. Andrés Manuel López Obrador campaigned to end the deployment of soldiers used to combat organised crime, a policy attributed to have caused 200,000 deaths since 2006.

One alleged high-profile figure in organised crime is Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán, accused of running the Sinaloa cocaine cartel.

He is currently standing trial in

South America 2018: Lula Flops Amid Right-Wing Surge Rassul Merali Global Writer

In this last issue before Christmas, Global is looking back at the news from South America in 2018.

Across the region, several general elections took place. A new President of Paraguay was elected, Mario Abdo Benítez, a former president of the Senate as the incumbent President was not eligible for re-election. Colombia also greeted a new President, Iván Duque Márquez, a former banker and lawyer. Meanwhile, Venezuela retained its incumbent President Nicolás Maduro for his second sixyear term.

Finally, Brazil’s new Presidentelect, Jair Bolsonaro, is due to assume office early next year after the country’s incumbent President was barred from running. Luiz Inácio Lula de Silva, popularly known as Lula, was the 35th president of Brazil. Lula made a bid to run for the third presidency

as the candidate of Workers’ Party, of which he was a founding member. However, in April, Lula was arrested and imprisoned for 12 years on corruption charges.

After Lula’s official drop out from the election in September, he was replaced with the former Mayor of São, Paulo Fernando Haddad, who received Lula’s personal endorsement.

In Argentina, the Senate rejected a proposed bill which would decriminalise women seeking abortion within the first 14 weeks of pregnancy. At the moment, abortion in the country is only allowed in cases of rape and if the pregnancy poses danger to the woman’s life.

The decision of the Senate is a major setback for the abortionrights activists of the feminist grassroots movement ‘Ni Una Menos’ (‘Not One Less’) that aims to raise awareness about the number of female deaths from failed illegal abortions in Argentina.

New York on multiple charges after previous imprisonments in Mexico led to his escape through bribery and corruption.

US corporations Apple and Amazon made history in 2018, becoming the first companies to achieve valuations of over $1 trillion, more than the entire economic output of the Netherlands or Turkey.

Canada also set a record this year becoming the first major country to legalise recreational cannabis use.

The arts industry saw the continued fallout f r o m

accusations of sexual harassment and assault against prominent Hollywood figures, such as producer Harvey Weinstein, who this year pleaded not guilty to charges of rape and sexual assault.

Other figures accused include Kevin Spacey and Bill Cosby, with the latter sentenced to imprisonment for sexual assault.

Throughout the

year the Time’s Up and #MeToo campaigns gained widespread prominence in support of women against sexual harassment.

The 2018 Golden Globes saw celebrities including Margot Robbie, Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron wear black in support of these campaigns.

Photo: Acento Photos: ANA and Fabio Rodrigues Pozzebom, Flikr

Photo: Ron Przysucha, Flikr

Africa 2018: Bad year for Jacob Zuma and rare rhinos Scott Arthur Global Writer

Peace, conflict, extinction and hope.

Just four of the words that could be used to describe 2018 in Africa.

February 14th saw the resignation of Jacob Zuma. His resignation as President of South Africa - a post he had held for nine years - came after years of allegations concerning corruption, racketeering and fraud. In one estimate, he cost the South African economy the equivalent of $83 billion while in office. Facing a vote of no confidence in his leadership from Parliament, Zuma decided to jump before he was pushed.

In Kenya, the last male northern white rhino died, meaning that the species has little hope of further breeding. With only two females left alive, the species has a very slim chance of survival. July brought

some good news, with Eritrea a n d Ethiopia officially declaring an end to their b o r d e r conflicts.

For 20 y e a r s , violent b a t t l e s a n d skirmishes had been fought to lead to the deaths of at least 70,000 people in the region.

By ceding the town of Badme to Eritrea, and declaring hostilities to be at an end, Ethiopia moved to restore some measure of peace in this troubled part of the world. In August, the final round of voting was held in the Malian Presidential election, which saw violent protests in some parts of the country. It was only the second such election since a coup d’etat in 2012, which saw elements of the military seize control of the nation for a few weeks. Ibrahim Boubacar Keita won

a second term, with over two thirds of the vote.

The Presidential election in Cameroon, held on 7 October, which led to the re-election of the controversial Paul Biya, further inflamed tensions in the English speaking north of the country. Biya has been criticised for his handling of the unrest, in what has become dubbed ‘the Anglophone Crisis.’

This crisis recently came to a head with the kidnapping of some 78 children by secessionist gunmen.

It has truly been a difficult year for Africa. With violence continuing across much of the continent, many will be hoping for a more peaceful and prosperous 2019.

Photo: Wikimeida Commons

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4th December 2018

concrete-online.co.uk/category/global/ | @Concrete_UEA

Europe 2018: Divided Nations Find Common Ground Over Russia and Football Harry Routley Global Writer

With the ink now drying on an agreement between the UK and the EU’s 27 remaining states, the end is finally in sight for a series of negotiations that have dominated the public sphere in Europe over the past year. However, 2018 has been an

incredibly significant year for the continent beyond Brexit, with many nations continuing to face a surge in populist movements alongside one of the most intense heatwaves in recent years.

Starting with some of 2018’s significant elections, on 4 March, Italy’s governing centre-left coalition was swept aside by the right-wing league and anti-establishment Five Star movement. This upheaval in the Italian political

system has had ripple effects across Europe as the new government has clashed frequently with the EU on issues from immigration to banking reform.

The Presidential election in Russia on 18 March was marred by accusations of corruption as well as the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal at Salisbury on 4 March.

After being re-elected for a fourth term, President Vladimir Putin faced down Britain and a number of

Photo: MSC

Map: Vecteezy

Photo: Dan Scavino Jr.

international allies as international pressure mounted in response to the poisoning.

“Negotions seemed to be following a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs” Also in March, Europeans were caught up in the global FacebookCambridge Analytica data scandal.

Potentially 15 million European users were compromised in a global leak that allowed personal data to be used without consent for political marketing - the 2016 Brexit vote being cited as an example of the type of key political event where this data was utilised.

A bright spot in the news was the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in May at Windsor Castle. From the powerful sermon delivered by the Reverend Michael Curry to the multitude of impressive musical performances, the wedding served as a joyful event to bring unity to Britain at a contentious time.

However, bad blood between the UK and Russia continued to persist well into the FIFA World Cup held largely in Moscow and St. Petersburg as British and Russian fans clashed on multiple occasions between matches. After an impressive performance, Gareth Southgate’s England team finished the tournament in fourth place with France taking home the trophy.

After the tournament finished, a heatwave began to sweep across the continent. With the recordbreaking temperatures, drought was experienced across Northern and Central Europe alongside devastating wildfires, the deadliest of which claimed the lives of at least 99 people in Greece.Returning to Brexit, 2018 has been the year where negotiations seemed to be following a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs with European unity being tested in the face of perhaps the greatest challenge to the EU in its history. While the current agreement (largely seen as being on the ‘soft’ end of Brexit) must still be approved by Parliament, the EU has consistently attempted to create a deal that would ensure the values of the union can be kept intact for the years to come.

Photo: Kremlin

Asia 2018: Korea Tensions Cool as Trade War Escalates Ollie Ryan Tucker Global Writer

Photos: April Brady and Middle East Monitor

Middle East 2018: Embassy Moves and Embassy Murders William Warnes Global Writer

The Middle East has seen tensions rise within the region in 2018. Just when tensions were at an all-time high, the Saudi Arabian dissident and Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in the Saudi consulate in October. The finger has been pointed at Prince Mohammad Bin Salman.

Meanwhile, the vicious Yemeni Civil War between the Houthi militia and the Yemeni government has raged on through 2018.

It appears to be a serious humanitarian crisis, with the

death toll reported by the UN to be over 50,000. The GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) is on the side of the government, with a Saudi-led coalition backed by NATO. However Iran’s involvement in the conflict on the side of the Houthi militia, appears to have sparked paranoia in the minds of world leaders and, due to its close ties with Iran, Qatar has received sanctions from the US and the rest of the GCC. Donald Trump’s decision to relocate the US embassy in Israel from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem, in declaration that the US recognises Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, sparked protests worldwide as

well as deadly outbreaks of violence. The decision is disputed by the UN who believe that Israel’s annexation of East Jerusalem is illegal and many others who believe Israel’s governing of the region is unjust and oppressive of Palestinian citizens.

The events in the Middle East throughout 2018 have certainly shaped the landscape of the region and the issues have been present for decades with the rise of socalled Islamic State only worsening them. Serious questions need to be asked and attempts must be made to bring peace to what is a beautiful region of the world.

A historic meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has led some to suggest the age of North Korea as a rogue state is coming to an end.

The divided North and South have made increasingly conciliatory moves over 2018; however, experts have warned that this may not be the easy victory that some are predicting, suggesting that Kim Jong-un has no intention of abandoning his missile defence strategy.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has met the North Korean leader three times this year and is reportedly optimistic about the chances of an official peace treaty.

Meanwhile, Trump has continued his aggressive trade policy with China, aimed at addressing the trade imbalance between the two countries and increasing domestic consumption.

Ahead of the G20 summit, Trump announced a tariff raise from 10 percent to 25 percent, escalating the ongoing trade war.

A number of US companies have raised concerns about harm to their businesses, with US farmers struggling to adjust.

The Chinese government has been criticised for its actions against the Uighurs, a Muslim minority in Xinjiang, Eastern China. The government is accused of locking up hundreds of thousands of Uighurs in internment camps. The Chinese government has described these camps as education camps, which combat ‘terrorism and religious extremism’. Few Muslim nations have criticised China’s actions, wary of losing out on important financial agreements and aid packages.

The election of Pakistan’s cricket hero Imran Khan to Prime Minister gave hope to a new era for the country.

Khan ran on an anti-corruption platform, but it remains to be seen whether he can address the country’s vast problems and end the ongoing violence that has plagued much of the country. The acquittal of Asia Bibi, a Christian accused of blasphemy, was met with anger from large sections of religious society.

Across the border in Afghanistan a resurgent Taliban are retaking vast areas of the country.

The embattled Afghan army has taken heavy losses, and insider attacks against US forces still in the country are damaging the relationship between the allies.

There are growing concerns that Trump may hand US responsibilities over to private contractors.

Features

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4th December 2018

Nightline Awareness Week 2018 Jess Barrett Features Writer

With UK student satisfaction at an all time low, according to continued decreases in average satisfaction levels in the National Student Survey, it is more important than ever that students feel like they have somewhere to talk about their struggles. From 19 - 25 November, Nightline Awareness Week promoted the listening service Nightline within the university and hoped to encourage people to be heard and raise publicity of the service, spreading the message that mental health matters.

The week included Friendly Runners Club, a quiz, a knitting session with Knitting Society, and a film night in association with the Cinema Society. Bananas had been handed out in the Hive and the Nightline Bear had been spotted all over campus. Each event is targeted towards increased wellbeing; eating healthily, relaxing and physical activity to relieve stress. It is important to remember

Photos: Jess Barrett

that there are activities on campus to help you blow off steam.

Nightline Awareness Week certainly has increased awareness for the service, but more importantly increased the amount that people are talking about their mental health. During the Knitting Society session almost everyone said that they took up knitting because it relieved the stress of doing their college or uni work.

This emphasises how important doing activities that offer relief and allow you to relax are. It was clear that the group enjoyed making something, as they felt productive.

But it’s important to note that it also offered a welcomed distraction, especially now that courses are entering summative season.

Jake Goddard, a Nightline representative, believes that the ‘awareness week has gone very well. Nightline is better known to students now than it was the week before, and every extra person who knows about our service makes all the difference. By encouraging students to be heard, we hope to have empowered people to

think about how they may be feeling, and to understand that Nightline is always there to listen.

‘As with everything, there is always room for improvement and we hope that next year’s awareness week will be bigger and better than any before. Things like this are always important for a service like Nightline.

‘Hopefully next year we will finally get a permanent office space that suits the purposes and practises of our anonymous service. Until then, we will continue to serve the students of UEA and NUA as best as we can with our temporary provisions.’

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4th December 2018

concrete-online.co.uk/category/features/ | @Concrete_UEA

Meyzi Adoni on living between two homes UEA currently has over 2,800 international students Why do some struggle adapting to their new home?

It takes a lot of courage to leave everything behind and start a new life. At least that’s what everyone told me. Imagine living in a place for 18 years, having people that you trust, that you feel comfortable with, people that you call family.

And then suddenly, you make the biggest decision of your life by leaving that place. It sounds crazy and scary in the beginning.

But when you know that you are doing this for yourself and for your dreams, you only focus on looking forward.

I was living in Istanbul, with an amazing family and had what I would call perfect friends around me. Moving to Norwich for university was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made in my life.

I remember talking to everyone I know who studied abroad; listening to their experiences made me feel relaxed and excited for the future.

But at the same time I was anxious. I cried so hard when I first moved in to my flat and said my goodbyes to my parents.

I knew that they were only

four hours away, but it was the first time where I felt completely alone, in a place I didn’t really know.

One of the main questions that I asked to myself was, ‘Does getting used to a new place mean letting go of the other?’

I constantly felt/feel like I was living a double life; a different life in Norwich and a different life in Istanbul. I never allowed one of them to get in the way of the other.

After my first Christmas holiday, returning back to Norwich was hard - just when I felt like I was getting familiarised with Norwich, I went back home and immediately adapted back to my old life. I started comparing everything, even the people around me.

The time after Christmas was challenging.

I was still going out and joining new societies but, emotionally, I was feeling like I could not truly

adapt.

And then I did the worst thing that I could possibly do: blamed myself.

Everyone looked happy from the outside and I thought I was the only one who felt that way.

They say time heals everything. I used to hate hearing this sentence, because ‘time’ is an infinite term.

But now, I can understand the importance of it.

Time slowly but surely passed. I talked to people around me; I tried to face my problems and finished first year.

And I started feeling better. I was enjoying my modules, meeting with new people. I had people around me that I could call ‘my close friends’. So all was fine. But something was still bothering me.

I was still feeling like I was living a double life.

Going back to Istanbul w o u l d make me happy and even though I knew how life in Norwich worked by now, it was hard for me to get back (t) here.

At the start of each term, for a

say

couple of weeks, I always felt sad and down.

Even though I knew it wasn’t beneficial for me, I kept comparing Istanbul with Norwich. I never told this to anyone because I was happy at UEA, and I always thought that this ‘double life’ idea would eventually go away.

One day, after a long Easter Break, one of my close friends asked me if I ever felt weird or sad after coming back from my home in Istanbul. Just hearing this question was a big step forward for me.

And I realised that not talking to anyone about this topic and just waiting for it to be over was harming me.

We talked for hours and discussed our own experiences. I felt like I was waiting to have this conversation for so long. I just didn’t have the courage to tell this to myself. If someone told me two years ago that I would be writing an article about this subject, I wouldn’t believe it. But here I am. I am not ashamed or scared to share these experiences.

Moving to a different city and country is a major life event, to start from the beginning and be alone. I

‘ a l o n e ’ because even if you have friends here, you are still dealing with everything on your own.

And this is something we should all take more credit for.

It is normal to feel like you can’t adapt. It is normal to feel like you don’t belong to this place.

But these are just part of the process. Some take two months, some take years. We all adjust at our own pace. Facing my problems and my feelings was the best thing I did in these past two years and even though I had times where I felt horrible, now I can proudly say that I am glad I had those experiences. It allowed me to change in a positive way and appreciate being here more.

So don’t be scared to talk to someone. It really helps and it makes you realise that you are not the only one who feels that way.

I now accept the fact that I have friends in Istanbul and friends in Norwich. I have things I love to do here and I have things I’m used to over there.

These are normal and it shouldn’t be a reason to make me feel sad.

Photos: Malpass93, Wikimedia, Pixabay, OPenclipart VectorsCommons, Meyzi Adoni

Do you live between two homes?

Tweet us @Concrete_UEA with your experience.

12

4th December 2018

Features

Photo: Unsplash

“Being important is nice, but being nice is important” Vanessa Heinz Features Writer

With great anticipation I awaited the lecture on social entrepreneurship.

Believing that business should ultimately serve society and the planet, I could not believe my ears when the lecturer repeatedly described businesses with social welfare agendas as ‘paradoxical in nature’ and ‘contradicting by default’.

To wrap up the class he asked the crowd: ‘Would you rather work for EY (Ernst & Young), have a starting salary of £32,000 and travel the world, or work for a social enterprise where you might work on interesting projects, but there is not even any published data on entry-level salaries?’

When he ended his lecture with this question, I was not only disappointed but mad.

As university students and business students specifically, we are expected to be shaped into these ideal graduates, who can slap an elaborated CV on the table that showcases profound academic knowledge and excellent professional experience.

Sadly, business students seem to be short-sighted and only focused on landing a graduate job with a big-name company once they graduate. They tend to not question the world order or assess current pressing issues that challenge our society and planet. But why?

Business degrees are centred around teaching hard business facts rather

The pressures of final year

Photo: Vecteezy

Chloe Howcroft Features Co-Editor

Recently, hearing people talk about applying for graduate schemes or jobs or masters at this point in

than

developing

soft

skills.

“ A shift in thinking is absolutely crucial”

How to maximise profits, how to reduce taxable income, how to sell, market or commercialise a product or service are all at the top of the list.

During a recent in-class digital brainstorming session the teacher

time has got me going a little stir crazy, I’m thinking: should I be doing what they’re doing? Am I the only one not actively searching for such and such scheme with such and such employer?

Don’t get me wrong, I am naturally a proactive person, and I love keeping busy around my degree – which I love. But when they say that the years go by so quickly, you don’t truly believe it until it really does creep up on you.

I remember freshers’ almost like it was yesterday, but fast forward two years and I’m already in my third and final year, writing my dissertation (or at least meant to be), and beginning to think more about what I want to do once I graduate.

Generally speaking, some say it’s easier for those studying a subject such as Medicine or Teaching to consider what they’ll be doing once they graduate, because they have a clearer path ahead of them.

With International Development, or another social science discipline, it’s typically a ‘development worker’ role with lots of competition and almost too much choice, which can work as both an advantage and disadvantage, particularly for someone like me who is, even up until now, very indecisive.

And that’s the point: you’re having to make what feels like life-changing

asked what skills we wish we had and that we think are crucial to succeed in our personal lives and careers.

Shockingly, words like passion, motivation and drive became bolder and bolder in the word cloud. Things you could never possibly teach.

The apparent lack of passion and ability to pick up on social cues also shines through during networking events, where individuals seem to be unable to have engaging conversations with professionals but try to sell themselves in two-minute long monologues.

Power struggles in group work settings and cliquey behaviour in general lead to an increasingly hostile and competitive environment in the business school, where social values and human interaction fall short.

But how could this be addressed?

A shift in thinking is absolutely crucial. Business is a social science and deals with humans, so why is the fundamentally social concept of management taught as if it was a mechanical or robotic task?

It takes social intelligence, gut instinct and a deep insight into human nature to be a motivational leader and clear communicator.

The business school should focus on pushing ambitious and passionate individuals out into the world who want to do good, instead of forming the next generation of corporate machines.

As John Templeton beautifully put it ‘being important is nice, but being nice is important’.

What do you think? Let us know @Concrete_UEA whether university students learn enough soft skills.

decisions and choices right now.

At the crux of it, one fear of mine is not finding a job; the bigger fear is being in a job which I hate.

expectations, aspirations. I was distracted at the start when applying for jobs as most of my schoolmates would have had jobs secured already through relatives, family business and such.’

Graduating therefore shouldn’t always be approached with rosetinted glasses, as Simonova explains, it’s all about what you make of it.

Clearly it is more than just a piece of paper, and we all have more to offer future employers, or masters’ admissions offices, or whatever else you feel you want to do with your life.

For now, I’ll be taking the Christmas break to spend some quality time with my family, and should an opportunity arise, I’ll jump on it.

Nevertheless, jobs don’t disappear after graduating, as other graduates have pointed out, and if some time is needed to find your feet, it shouldn’t reflect badly on your work ethic.

Sometimes it’s easier to take time and reflect on yourself and what you have to offer in the world. As Simonova says: ‘Just be you. It might sound silly but it is actually true.

Don’t try to sell yourself as someone you think they would like based on the job description.

It won’t work. Be you, focus on what you are good at, and what it is that you want to improve on.’

“Jobs don’t disappear after graduating”

While these thoughts have been swimming around in my head, and now arranged themselves onto paper, I have however received some well-sought advice from recent graduates about where they were this time last year and where they are now.

Veronika Simonova only recently graduated this summer with a 2:1 in Business Management.

During this time, she has been interviewed numerous amounts of times, while hoping for that dream job and a place she can call her home. ‘Don’t listen to others.

You are not others, they have different backgrounds, capabilities,

13

4th December 2018

Features

An insight with…

Roo Pitt

Features Writer UEA has a long-standing history with the NHS and as the NHS celebrates its 70th birthday, Concrete decided to look at how this relationship has developed, and what it means to our colleagues on campus.

It’s unclear when the school of Health Sciences opened, however in 1994 the Queens Building became its new home. In 2002 UEA opened the Norwich Medical School with 110 students enrolled, allowing for a closer collaboration with the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

In the year previous, UEA alumnus, Sir Paul Nurse, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine. He won the prize jointly with Timothy Hunt and Leland Hartwell ‘for their discoveries of key regulators of the cell cycle’.

The School of Pharmacy shortly followed, opening its doors in 2003.

What is it like being a Student Nurse?

Being a Student Nurse is tough, but it’s so rewarding. The course is intense. We have to learn a lot in three years. Our terms are on average 42 weeks long, with 24 of those being in placement, and the rest being at uni! We have so many

requirements to meet in such a short space of time that it can impact on friendships, relationships and family life as we can’t give up as much of our time as we may have previously.

Having such a good support system has really helped me get through some of the tougher times. It can be financially challenging.

I was lucky enough to be in the last cohort to get the bursary, but even so, Student Finance doesn’t recognise that our terms are a lot longer than most so we don’t get any extra help. This means that we’ll often end up working a shift or two to be able to afford life!

Overall, this experience teaches you a lot. My confidence has increased hugely, and I have learnt some amazing clinical skills, delegation, prioritisation, time management, the importance of self care and chill days, and, most of all, what really matters in life.

What is the hardest part of being a Student Nurse?

The hardest bit would probably have to be writing essays whilst on placement! We work the same shifts as any full-time nurse (37.5 hours a week) as well as having all our assignments, which makes having any social life pretty difficult.

What is the best part about being a Student Nurse?

This is a difficult one. I have loved the course, and learnt so much, but I

can’t wait to qualify. I have two: I have met so many amazing patients on my placement. As cheesy as it sounds, each one has inspired me to keep going and to achieve bigger and better things. I honestly feel like being in the position where patients trust you and can talk to you about anything is a complete blessing. As nursing students we are only see them for a short amount of time, and we may not make a huge impact on their lives, but they can make a huge impact on ours.

Whilst on placement we often get to meet so many nurses in new and exciting roles. When people say that healthcare is an ever-changing environment, they are not wrong!

Nursing is nothing like it used to be, where you could only really work on a ward. Now there are incredible routes to amazing roles that ten years ago didn’t even exist. From nurse consultants to nurses who can perform surgery, it’s so exciting to think about where this career can take me.

What does the NHS mean to you family?

My family is deeply rooted in the NHS. Both of my parents are doctors, and both of my grandmothers worked for the NHS – one as an Occupational Therapist the other as a nurse. The NHS has not only provided us with jobs, but with a real livelihood.

christmas market mon 3rd dec 11.00 - 16.30 hive and LCR

Alexandra Morris third year adult nursing student

in collaboration with

to book a stall email v.cook@uea.ac.uk

alliwantforxmas

Hey UEA

14

#UEA

@ueawfc

4th December 2018

@ueaclimbing

@ueapf

Media Collective News ‘Did you meet your offer to get into Uni?’ 60% 40% “I didn’t get the grades for UEA, but still got in.

It’s probably because I knew I didn’t need to work as hard with an unconditional offer.”

Still riding the wave of success after Battle of the Bands, Livewire are currently producing their Christmas single and music video raising money for MIND! Keep your ears and eyes peeled!

Sport to Pop Star, hosted by UEATV, is happening Friday 7 December - get your tickets now from the UEA SU website!

Concrete will hold our last Post Pub Pub of the year this Tuesday in Red Bar. Come and celebrate with us!

Want to feature in our roundup?

Find us at @Concrete_UEA or use the hashtag #HeyUEA

Scan the code to become a Concrete member

4th December 2018

15

The archive:

Our front page story of this issue explores the number of students getting into UEA without meeting their A-Level offer. This, some say, could lead to UEA receiving less quality applicants. In fact, it seems that UEA’s students are only getting brighter and brighter.

For this issue’s archive, we’ve chosen an online report from July 2017, which outlined HESA statistics showing a 12 percent increase in firsts awarded since 2014.

Does giving out unconditional offers, and accepting students who didn’t quite make the mark affect performance? Let us know your thoughts on Twitter @ Concrete_UEA, and you could be featured in HeyUEA!

22 NOVEMBER - 22 DECEMBER FOR MORE INFORMATION VISITUEA.SU

CELEBRATING OUR LIVES CHALLENGING ABLEISM ACHIEVING EQUALITY

Comment

16

4th December 2018

Response: Trump is not the victim “Trump couldn’t care less about the vulnerable minorities he victimises”

Tamar Moshkovitz Comment Writer

The comment piece ‘Trump: wrongly portrayed?’ published in the last issue of Concrete struck me as missing the mark.

To claim it’s the media’s responsibility to stop ‘playing Mr Trump’s game and fuelling this social divide’ not only ignores the media’s responsibility to keep citizens informed of the latest comments and actions of the leader of the free world, but shifts the goalposts away from the fundamental issue at hand: that we can’t consider Trump’s vitriolic comments independently of both what they suggest about his underlying beliefs, and the very real consequences which they lead to.

Given Trump’s long track record of lying, about everything from already building his long-promised US-Mexico border wall (Congress has denied funding for it) to passing the biggest tax cut in US history (he didn’t - Reagan did), the assumption that anything Trump says or does is grounded in fact seems laughable.

As of 30 October, the Washington Post’s fact checker has recorded 4,229 instances of false claims from Trump, not including those he may have made during his Presidential campaign. It’s hard to believe that claims Trump has made about the

Juan Torres Muslim or Hispanic community stem from a genuinely informed point of view and not from a biased or bigoted perspective. In fact, his claims about Mexican immigrants are an outright lie - a 2015 National Academy of Sciences study found that undocumented immigrants are far less likely to commit crime than natives. More than that, the presence of large numbers of immigrants even seems to lower crime rates.

While Trump seems extremely concerned with Muslim terrorism,

he’s paid little attention to, and instigated few measures against, the increase in white homegrown terrorism. Such violence comprised the majority of domestic terrorist incidents between 2008 and 2016, and are more often than not racially, ethnically or religiously motivated towards the very minorities Trump attacks. His attitude is in spite of the fact that, since he took office, more Americans have been killed by white, rather than Muslim, terrorists.

As for the Pittsburgh synagogue

shooting - which hit particularly close to home for me as a Jewish person - Trump’s denouncement of anti-Semitism, his dubbing of the shooter as a ‘maniac’, and even his official visit meant nothing in the face of his failure to address the rise of white supremacy and white nationalism throughout his presidency.

I believe this provides a far better measure of Trump’s attitude towards anti-Semitism than his daughter and son-in-law’s faith.

Ivanka’s Judaism will do nothing to

prevent future anti-Semitic attacks should the underlying message of Trump’s racism and bigotry go unchallenged.

I don’t believe Trump’s comments are taken out of context.

Rather, they’re not supported by nearly enough of it.

Even if you’re willing to trust that he’s just doing it for ‘attention’, the fact that the hate crime rate is on the rise should be more than enough proof that Trump couldn’t care less about the vulnerable minorities he often victimises.

serious illness. This is a political gambit Solberg hopes will secure the support of Kristelig Folkeparti, (the Christian People’s Party) in order to achieve a political majority.

Kristelig Folkeparti, or KrF, is the only major Norwegian political party wanting to reverse parts of the abortion law.

In her first term as PM, Solberg flirted with KrF by suggesting a law reform that would allow doctors not to refer women to abortion services if they felt it to be against their moral values. This resulted in the largest Women’s March Norway had seen in years.

In 2014, 10,000 people turned up in Oslo alone to protest this suggested reform, and it was withdrawn soon after. Now, four years later, thousands have once again taken to the streets to show their outrage. There were marches in 33 Norwegian towns and cities only a few weeks ago, with people carrying signs reading ‘My body, my choice’, ‘Never again knitting needles’ (a reference to how some w o m e n used to

perform self-abortions before it was legalised), and my personal favourite: ‘Not this shit again, Erna?’

amend is discriminatory against people living with a serious genetic illness. It’s a cunning way of masking their deeply reactionary conservatism as a righteous struggle for a more inclusive society. Yet mothers of children with genetic illnesses have spoken up and criticised Solberg for using abortion as a negotiating tool to achieve political power, and KrF for creating a discourse in which women who have an abortion are accused of contributing to a less inclusive society.

A mother of a child with spinal muscular atrophy recently told the newspaper Dagbladet that ‘it seems like she [Solberg] cares more about the sick [children] that aren’t born yet, rather than those who are already alive and suffering today.’

Abortion is a personal matter that never should have been political in the first place. However, forcing women to have unwanted children is an effective form of social control.

If women can’t have sex w i t h o u t consequences then we will once a g a i n be faced with a situation of deep inequality where men can spread their

seed left and right while women are forced to think twice.

It’s a comfortable arrangement if you want full control of your women. The deeply religious Norwegian politicians may hide behind their hypocritical dream of a more inclusive society, yet considering how religion’s common denominator seems to be its obsession over women’s sexuality, this proposed amendment is easy to see through.

Norway needs your knitting needles Johanne Elster Hanson Comment Writer

Norway is by and large viewed as one of the most progressive countries in the world, but I’m ashamed to say we’ve been faltering lately.

Our conservative Prime Minister Erna Solberg, the second female PM in Norwegian history, has proposed to amend the current abortion law. It would make it more difficult for women to get an abortion if the foetus has a

“Abortion is a personal matter that never should have been political” England, outwardly a country far more rooted in tradition than Norway, has an abortion law that allows a woman to terminate her pregnancy up until week 24.

Norwegian women, on the other hand, must face a tribunal of two doctors if they wish to have an abortion after week 12. It’s deeply infantilising. Women are obliged to discuss their private life with two strangers and hope their situation sounds sufficiently challenging for them to be granted what should be a basic right.

Solberg and KrF argue the specific paragraph they wish to

Photo: Mattias Øhra

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Bullying between house‘mates’

Photo: Unsplash

Beth Bacon Comment Writer

Sharing a house is a rite of passage, with many becoming infatuated with the idea after their first viewing of Friends. However, is living within the close confines of pizza boxhoarding students really all it’s cut out to be?

Over the last few weeks, I’ve quickly realised my rocky experience with housemates is not uncommon. My best friend, who we will call Louise, drew my attention

to the prominence of bullying within student households.

Louise is studying in London and shares a flat with two other girls. She was recently told, by someone we will call Sophie, that her portions of the bills would be increased because she was having too many friends over to stay.

She was not asked, she was told.

She was told by her ‘friend’ who signed a contract, just like Louise, to pay for bills equally as specified at the beginning of the tenancy agreement. Furthermore, when Louise agreed to live with Sophie,

regulations on sleepovers and family visitations were not discussed.

Louise feels intimidated, betrayed, and unsure how to react to such a demand. And so, she came to me for advice. This coercive behaviour is not uncommon.

Assertions of power like these can materialise in decisions about heating, cleaning, and sharing each other’s food. But it is how we conduct ourselves when resolving these disagreements that is crucial.

Conflict with people we live with is inevitable. However, if someone is feeling threatened they should make

Brexit: “The country is in shambles” Matt Branston Comment Writer

When Theresa May announced her most recently negotiated Brexit deal, it faced immediate pushback from the DUP, from Labour, and even from May’s own cabinet.

Nearly every political party said something along the lines of ‘we will not vote for this deal’, meaning it has essentially no chance of passing.

The fundamental issue is that the UK has little-to-no real negotiating power. It’s a poker game where the EU has a royal flush, and the UK has three cards from UNO, and a community chest from monopoly.

The fact May has weaselled a few benefits out of negotiating is somewhat impressive; under her deal we’ll still be able to holiday in the EU without a visa, ex-pats will maintain their rights, and (for

those in favour of capping immigration) the UK will be able to better manage its borders. The deal, however, is not a good one for the economy. A report

by LSE (London School of Economics), King’s College, and the Institute for Fiscal Studies claims it could leave the economy up to 5.5 percent smaller in ten years. A separate article from the Financial Times states it could cost every person in the UK up to £2,000 a year, which is seven percent of the median national income, or 142 Unisex Tigger onesies in size small… It’s not beneficial for the country to make this deal, but at least it’s better than a ‘No-Deal Brexit’. Don’t take this as a complement to Theresa May; she remains a power-hungry and shameless politician who’s only in this situation because she cared more about adding ‘Prime Minister’

Photo: Clker-FreeVectorImages, Pixabay

t o her CV than about the needs of the British public. That said, with her own party full of Family Guy versions of British people (Boris and Rees-Mogg in particular), maybe we’re lucky.

Meanwhile, Corbyn is once again putting ideology above the people, and the Lib Dems/SNP/Greens/ whoever are contributing about as much as Ringo did to writing songs for the Beatles. The country is in shambles, the deal is awful, but we’re at the point where we might just have to accept it. Sadly, it could be the best we’re going to get.

other people aware of the position they are being put in. As the ageold saying goes, a worry shared is a worry halved.

Perspective can also be incredibly powerful. If we are uncertain about our position as a victim, someone else’s objective reassurance can be reaffirming and empowering.

Bringing up an issue via a message can often allow you to put your thoughts down clearly and uninterrupted. Yet diplomacy is key.

If you do choose to do this, try to withhold drama by antagonising the

other person.

Ultimately, a conversation in person will have to happen. Make sure to keep calm and perhaps write down your thoughts beforehand so you know exactly how you feel and what you want to say.

If you realise you are in the wrong in any way, don’t be afraid to admit fault. If you ever feel emotionally or physically threatened, it’s perfectly normal practice to alert your university or landlord.

Bullying in your own home can be suffocating, but talking about it can relieve domestic anxiety.

Exams: “archaic reflections of a ‘one size fits all’ system” Henry Opiña Comment Writer

Some exams are archaic reflections of a ‘one size fits all’ system of streamlining. People may vilify them as an unnecessary cause of stress among students. I mean, what’s the point of finding out a person’s ability to memorise a volume of information that will be forgotten at the end of two hours?

However, it is essential we measure how individuals perform under pressure.

Coursework conditions do not reflect the kind of high stress, fast-paced work environments many people will go on to work in after university.

Granted, sitting silently in a hall full invigilators circling you like sharks doesn’t sound like a job anyone will ever have. But exams still have a purpose. It’s a matter of reforming our approach to measuring a candidate’s ability in their given field. Many exams are not a matter of sitting in silence and writing. For

example, driving, music and drama exams are more practical ways of testing the ability of students as they place their task in their proper context. As many people’s qualms seem to be about how their knowledge isn’t always adequately demonstrated on paper, it is practical application of the desired criteria that is the way forward in terms of how individual competence can be tested under pressure. We cannot be satisfied with a system that trains some students theoretically while only the more privileged can get a head-start practically.

Often it’s people from middle-class schools in middle-class areas with middle-class connections that have access to the best opportunities for work experience. As anyone who has struggled to write a UCAS statement knows, even one’s target grades are simply not enough. If we are to educate future generations properly, we must make the effort to create exam situations that truly prepare students for what lies ahead.

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Science

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Image: NNUH, Wiimedia Commons

Evlyn Forsyth-Muris Science Writer

The Eastern Region arm of NHS research (National Institute for Health Research) has teamed up with UEA’s Aphasia Research Collaboration to take the first step in improving the experiences of research participants with Aphasia.

Aphasia is a language impairment whereby patients have difficulty with speaking, reading and/or writing in many different ways. For example, they may

have difficulty finding the correct words or struggle to understand what others are saying, but each experience is entirely unique.

Aphasia is often the result of brain pathology or injury and can be very challenging and distressing, affecting many aspects of a person’s life.

The partnership has resulted in a survey that seeks to collect the experiences of research participants with Aphasia.

Launched at UEA in late September, the survey comes in many formats and has been carefully

put together in order to make it accessible to all. Paper, digital, and audio versions are available - with answers given through multiple choice options.

Patient participation and feedback on clinical research is essential to the improvement of medical care.

But language difficulties, such as those caused by Aphasia, can create barriers and miscommunications. It is important that those with Aphasia are able to participate fully to ensure that the research represents the wider population.

Allowing language obstacles to hinder this group’s research participation is not only unethical but unhelpful in the development of clinical practice.

The project has been warmly welcomed, with the launch event providing opportunities for connections between clinicians, researchers and participants.

The survey aims to continue to increase and improve feedback opportunities in order to make the clinical research environment ever more accessible to volunteers, giving a voice to those who might

not have otherwise had one.

of 70,000 hatchlings per year. population continued to decline Moreover, not only has until it reached worrying levels the turtle population in the late 1970s, creating thrived, other the need for enforced local species protection. such as the Dr João Black Caiman, Campos-Silva, r i v e r a postdoctoral dolphins and researcher on large catfish the project, are also stated ‘By showing including signs of l o c a l population dwellers in recovery. conservation Tu r t l e s practices, we w e r e can increase previously the effectiveness exploited for Image:SVG of conservation their meat and eggs, outcomes and despite efforts to protect enhance local welfare.’ them beginning in 1967. The Currently, six million people

in the Brazilian Amazon depend directly on wild nature as an ecosystem service to provide them with the necessities they need to live, emphasising just how vital it is that the local communities understand the benefits of this action.

Tropical Conservation Ecology at UEA, hopes that this success will show governments the importance of local conservation action and its role in critical environmental restoration programmes.

However, working as a beach guard is not easy for the local people.

It can be dangerous, and some feel that it is too unsafe to undertake given their relatively low pay.

Researchers aim to improve this by asking governments to invest in conservation programs now that they have a track record of their success.

Ideally workers should be provided with an independent income stream.

This will secure the long-term viability of the program after it leaves the hands of researchers.

“Patient feedback is essential to the improvement of medical care” Let us know your thoughts on the research @Concrete_UEA or find us on Facebook.

UEA aids Amazonian turtle recovery Laura Taylor Science Writer

The previously over-exploited Giant South American Turtle population is making a steady recovery thanks to the work of UEA and its partner universities in the UK and South America.

Conservation teams have implemented a bottom-up strategy of protecting the turtles’ habitat by employing local people as beach guards.

Their primary aim is to protect the turtles’ nesting areas round the clock during breeding season.

There are now over nine times the number of turtles in the populations covered by this program compared to 1997 - which is an average growth

“Their primary aim is to protect the turtles’ nesting areas round the clock during breeding season” Carlos

Peres,

Professor

of

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Do it for the kilogram Hannah Brown Senior Science Writer

Nearly 130 years after the mass of the kilogram was first defined, scientists have voted to implement a new system to redefine the measurement.

In a vault southwest of Paris, 40 feet underground, requiring three keys to open, you will find the original kilogram, or the International Prototype of the Kilogram (IPK). Even then, you would not be able to touch it.

The oil from your fingers could add more weight and potentially make the kilogram heavier. Around the world, there are six copies of the original kilogram. Every 40 years or so they are measured up against the original to check if the weight is still the same. In recent measurements, scientists have discovered that the copies are beginning to weigh differently than the IPK. The change may only be a millionth of a gram, but because the IPK may also change in weight, the kilogram is no longer

accurate. It may take a moment to understand, but because the IPK is The Kilogram, it means that that is how much a kilogram weighs, no matter if the original loses or gains mass over time.

I n d u s t r i e s that rely on tiny measurements, such as pharmaceutical companies, need the kilogram to be accurate and unchanging, and its variability has caused scientists many difficulties when trying to work out what to do about the variation.

‘At the moment, the kilogram is defined in terms of the mass of a particular thing,’ says Ian Robinson of the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in South London. ‘And if that thing is destroyed or changed or whatever, it’s awkward.’

Scientists will redefine the kilogram in terms of a natural, universal constant. The kilogram is the last remaining unit defined by an artefact – the meter, for example, is defined at the speed of light in a vacuum in 1/299,792,485th of a second. So this change, you could say, is overdue.

Planck’s constant, 6.62607015 x 10-34, will be the number to which the kilogram is now defined.

To put that into more simple terms, we need to return to the history. Max Planck was working with a group of scientists who were trying to model atomic vibrations, but kept getting it wrong. They thought that the atoms could vibrate at any frequency, but their experiments looked different to reality. Planck looked at the problem from a new perspective: he wondered if there was a baseline, which he called h, and that the atoms could only vibrate in whole number multiples from the base frequency; eg 2h or 5h but not 4.4h. He was correct. This bizarre but effective assumption is how scientists are going to define the new kilogram, using Planck’s Constant – or that h. Essentially, this is quantum mechanics.

Defining the kilogram by physics of the universe instead of a human mechanism sounds mind-blowing, but ultimately it works out best for the world, because the kilogram will always be the same and (relatively) accessible for all.

‘For all times, for all people,’ is the motto of the metric system, and it seems like that vision is finally being achieved.

Tea or coffee? It’s in your genes!

Jake Walker-Charles Science Writer

Studies carried out at Northwestern University in Illinois have revealed that your choice of hot beverage may not be the conscious decision you once thought it was.

A study published in the Scientific Reports journal has suggested that in those with European ancestry, genetic variants may influence your perception of bitterness, and thus your preference for tea or coffee.

Coffee is made up of the amino acid quinine and a substance called propylthiouracil (prop for short). A person who favours coffee would not register these molecules as particularly bitter, however would generally taste greater bitterness in caffeine, making them more likely to reach for a caffeine kick.

Interestingly, the inverse was seen in tea drinkers: they would not register caffeine so bitterly, but would register quinine and prop as more bitter.

It may seem unusual that perceiving a substance as more bitter would make you

more likely to choose it. Dr Marilyn Cornelis, co-author of the research from Northwestern University in Illinois, suggested that this could be due to learned behaviour about caffeine’s psychostimulant properties. If we perceive caffeine effectively, we will associate this with the ability to stay awake and therefore we’ll want more of it.

Whilst all of our everyday choices are influenced by our environment, the amount of tea and coffee we drink (or desire to drink) is in some capacity, controlled by our genes.

You can’t, however, blame your parents for your cravings, because, due to random selection in utero, your affinity to coffee (or lack of) is completely out of your control!

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A visit to BodyWorlds These models aren’t plastic, meet the human exhibition - it’s fantastic Anna José Science Editor

Body Worlds is a unique, and now permanent, exhibition located in Piccadilly Circus, London.

Brainchild of Dr Gunther von Hagens, the exhibition uses real plastinated bodies to teach the public about what makes us human – from conception to death, and all that happens in between.

On entering the exhibition, visitors are given a headset which provides audio descriptions of exclusive exhibits. The first section of the museum is concerned with the brain and nervous system – progressing onto other body systems and functions as visitors advance through a series of specially designed rooms.

Whilst many museums use models to imitate the human form, the unique selling point of Body Worlds is its use of real human bodies preserved through plastination. This is a technique

by which the body’s water and fat stores are replaced by plastics, meaning they are free from odour and suitable for use as anatomy models.

Throughout the exhibition, exhibits range from single organs to whole bodies, the latter of which can be unusual to experience if visitors haven’t been exposed to such material before.

The exhibition does have some emotionally challenging displays, such as plastinates of a childbearing woman, and foetuses from 1-24 weeks gestation.

Whilst these can initially be upsetting, they provide visitors with a unique education about early human development.

The rooms dedicated to sex and relationships reveal how deeply intertwined the physical and emotional systems are within human existence.

Much of the latter part of the exhibition focuses on the demographics of diseases prominent in the Western world

today. Displays of organs from donors with illnesses from lung cancer to hypertension show the reality of the damage these conditions can cause. The displays bring current public health concerns closer to home, and encourage visitors to reflect upon their own lifestyle choices.

Every exhibit within Body Worlds is accessible even to those with a very limited knowledge of anatomy and physiology. The museum provides a user-friendly learning experience to people of all ages, with a range of static and interactive exhibits.

Body Worlds is open 365 days a year and will be remaining in Piccadilly Circus for the foreseeable future.

For the public, it provides a unique insight into the workings of the human body; an encounter unlikely to be experienced elsewhere.

All bodies used in Body Worlds were voluntarily donated for scientific use.

Image: Wikimedia Commons

4th December 2018

Travel

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Doing December differently Rassul Merali Travel Writer

December is a month full of religious and secular holidays celebrated around the world for a multitude of reasons.

The most notable December holiday in the Christian world is Christmas, which is made up of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Christmas is celebrated in order to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ and the customs that are performed during the holiday usually involve giving gifts, singing Christmas carols and displaying decorations such as Christmas trees, lights and mistletoe.

Apart from Christmas there are other significant religious holidays that are celebrated in December, such as Hanukkah in Judaism and Bodhi Day in Buddhism.

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a holiday that is determined by the Hebrew calendar and it is usually celebrated between late November and early January.

Historically, Hanukkah represents the closeness of God to the Jewish people and avoidance of Hellenisation (assimilation of the Greeks).

The main custom of Hanukkah is the lighting of a special candelabrum with nine branches, which is called Hanukkah menorah.

The holiday lasts for nine days, and each night an additional candle on Hanukkah menorah is lit by the special central candle called the

Shamash.

Bodhi Day is a Buddhist holiday dedicated to commemorating the day that the historical Buddha experienced enlightenment.

In the Gregorian calendar, Bodhi Day is celebrated on 8 December and traditions associated with the holiday include the study of Dharma, additional meditation, chanting of Buddhist texts and the showing of kindness to others.

The most popular secular December holiday is the celebration of New Year’s Eve, which takes place on the 31 December, and is meant to celebrate the last day of the year in the Gregorian calendar.

The celebration of the holiday usually continues past midnight into the New Year’s Day, and the festivities involve gatherings of friends and family to eat, drink, dance and watch fireworks signalling the beginning of the New Year.

For those interested in celebrating Christmas according to the Christian tradition, there is an opportunity to visit the Norwich Cathedral to experience the Christmas procession with carols on the 23 December, and an opportunity to attend the Midnight Mass on the evening of the 24 December.

Entrance is free with no ticket requirement for both of these events.

In the spirit of December magic and wonder, those who wish to meet Santa Claus personally can venture into the Santa Claus Village, located in the Arctic Circle next to

Rovaniemi in Lapland, Finland.

Lists of activities include a number of snow safaris, visiting reindeer and husky farms, and seeing the man himself in the Santa Claus Office!

Commercialisation of Christmas is part of a more general trend of the marketisation of holidays around the world as tourism and businesses use it to attract people both domestically and internationally.

On the one hand, such commercialisation turns holidays into a way to make a profit and devalues the original meaning of these celebrations.

On the other, this trend creates more jobs and brings more money to regions which benefit from this holiday inspired tourism.

Another interesting topic for discussion is the question of whether or not to s p e n d Christmas at home or travelling.

Photo: Thomas Kelley

Personally,

The student way to travel; a guide to interrailing on the cheap So, I may spent £1000

Rachel Glaves Travel Writer

Every summer waves of young people travel abroad using interrail, ready for an adventure.

This quick guide contains helpful tips on how to interrail and useful nuggets of information to set you on your way.

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Image: OpenClipartVectors, Pixabay

interrailing (and scrimped throughout my third year), but I also went to six countries and ten different destinations. Compared to a city break - where you can easily spend £500 on flights and hotel - you really

are getting a lot for your money.

To anyone planning to interrail I would suggest budgeting, but be aware that some cities are far more expensive than others.

From my experience, Amsterdam, Venice and Paris are among the most expensive places to visit. Prague, on the other hand, is cheap as chips.

Although learn from my mistake and exchange your currency before your trip!

2. Buying tickets Think carefully about where you want to go, how long you will travel for, and the routes you will take.

My friend and I took roles to make things easier, so if you are travelling as a group you could do this too.

My friend took the train routes and I took the hostels.

A variety of tickets are available: a global pass (around Europe, which includes many passes within it), a single country pass and a premium pass.

Most interrailers I came across used the global pass, but if you buy

tickets at the correct time there are always discounts flying around.

3. Where to stay Hostels are fabulous places to stay. We had some that were as cheap as 16 a night.

As someone who had hostelled before I knew what to expect, my friend, on the other hand, did not and she still ended up loving it.

Always look at hostel reviews before booking, as a good atmosphere completely changes your opinion of a place. The hostel we stayed in at Lake Bled, Slovenia (Bled Hostel) was brilliant.

I met so many amazing people here which helped to make this my favourite destination.

The people you meet are just as important as the places you visit; it is all a part of the interrailing experience.

4. What to bring take with you When packing, you should be aware of the necessary items needed for travelling: your passport, correct currency (remember that not all European countries use the Euro!), your interrailing ticket (of course), and a suitable sized rucksack (mine was 40l).

There are some things I would recommend taking: plenty of sun cream (I got burnt so badly, the tan lasted months!), a first aid kit, and ways of documenting the trip, such as a notebook and a camera.

5. What to be aware of There are some things that are important to remember: The official interrail website is www.interrail.eu – this is the only site you should buy your tickets from to ensure your travelling is problem free.

You should be aware that the price of required train reservations is not included in your interrailing ticket. Their price varies, but we never had one exceed 30.

Hostelworld is the perfect website to find cheap, reliable and sociable hostels.

Do your research. Places like the Vatican City require certain ways of dressing.

Interrailing is a great way for people under 27 to travel cheaply around Europe.

You are given a travel pack to help you plan your journey and it is a truly freeing experience. It was an unforgettable time for me.

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New Zealand: the best country for hiking Amy Newbery Travel Editor

If there’s one thing that everybody says about New Zealand, it’s that it’s one of the most beautiful countries to visit, especially for the scenery.

When I visited last Easter for my brother’s graduation, we decided to come early so we could hike along the Banks Peninsula.

Offering a variety of hiking trails, we opted to do the three day hike; it was just my dad, my mum and me.

The first day lasted for seven hours and I was absolutely shattered by the time we reached our hut for the night - it was mostly uphill which killed my legs (being honest, I’m not known for exercising regularly). I guess you could say we had it easy in someway, because we had our luggage taken from one accommodation to the next.

However, we were still carrying water and food. It may sound like I’m complaining, but the views were

stunning — one of a kind.

Being New Zealand, we also saw a lot of sheep on the pathway and up the mountains (did you know that there are more sheep than people in New Zealand?).

We reached the summit of the hike, which was 806 meters high, on the second day. I remember it being extremely windy and almost being blown over. By the third day, I was ready to collapse and kept sitting down - to my father’s exasperation.

What I love about New Zealand is that they know how to do tourism; they’ve made hiking a popular tourist attraction without jeopardising the wildlife. They prioritise the

protection and conservation of flora and fauna, which is how it should be everywhere. The accommodation is environmentally friendly and you are expected to carry your rubbish with you until you find somewhere to dispose of it properly.

After my brother’s graduation, we stayed an extra few days to travel to Stewart I s l a n d where we took a ferry to Ulva Island which houses a b i r d sanctuary.

Armed with cameras and a bird-identifying book, we leisurely walked at our own pace while frequently spotting different species of birds.

They were obviously used to

human presence which made it all the more exciting as they would approach us at times. I didn’t think I would take to birdwatching so much — even my parents were surprised.

There was something so enjoyable about switching off from the outside world for the day and enjoying the nature around us.

To top the day off, on our ferry ride back we watched in amazement as a swarm of albatrosses followed us, riding the wind trail we left behind.

I think New Zealand is a must-visit place for those who enjoy outdoor activities as there is something for everyone: for all ages, all experience levels and all preferences.

The people are also incredibly friendly and welcoming. I’ve had the privilege of travelling to quite a few countries and I have to say New Zealand is one of my favourite places. No matter how many times I visit, there’s always something new and exciting to experience.

The best noodle dishes in Asia Sylvie Tan Travel Writer

It’s the time of year when you try to run away from the winter blues by eating warm, delicious and comforting food. For many of us international students, noodles often remind us of home. As a tribute to all my cold and homesick Asian brothers and sisters out there, here are some of the best noodles dishes that you can find in Asia.

Noodles in China date all the way back to the Han Dynasty and are a staple food within the Chinese community, especially in northern China where wheat is used more than rice. The well-known noodle dish from Lanzhou, La Mian, is usually served with beef-flavoured soup. The intense process of kneading and pulling the dough by hand to separate the noodle strands is an art and skill that chefs master only after a lot of practise.

Slurp loudly when enjoying a hot steaming bowl of La Mian to show just how delicious it is.

Similar to China, Pho was born in northern Vietnam during the 1880s and is heavily influenced by French and Chinese cuisine. The French influence is reflected in the use of red meat, such as beef, while the noodles were imported from China. Pho uses rice noodles and is served with slices of beef in beef soup that has been cooked with star anise, cinnamon and ginger. The condiments to accompany a bowl of Pho are usually fresh bean sprouts, chilli, lime wedges and fresh basil.

The spices in the broth make each sip refreshing, especially after you have squeezed over the lime.

The Japanese were also inspired

by Chinese wheat noodles. Tonkotsu Ramen, pork bone ramen, is one of the best ramen dishes originating from Fukuoka in Kyushu. The broth is made by boiling pork bones for at least eight hours to capture the flavour of the meat in the soup, giving it a cloudy appearance.

Before it's popularisation, Tonkotsu Ramen was made as a fast food for labourers at the fish market, but after World War II, the trade of flour with the US made it cheaper to make ramen, hence there was a spike in ramen stalls in Japan. A bowl of Tonkotsu Ramen can be enjoyed on its own, or with a side dish of gyoza (dumplings).

For those who like spice, Laksa is the way to go. This noodle dish originates from the Chinese immigrants who settled on the coasts of Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia – the Peranakans. It is influenced by both the Chinese and Malay/Indonesian cooking style where rice noodles are served with a spicy soup that is either chicken, prawn or fish based. The two main Laksa variations are Curry Laksa (coconut based) and Asam Laksa (tamarind based). A bowl of Laksa may look intense and overwhelming, but with just one mouthful you can

taste a unique blend of flavours and spice.

Pad Thai, from Thailand, was also influenced by the Chinese, but the locals added their own twist by adding in dried shrimp, fish sauce, peanuts and palm sugar for that sweet after taste. The popularity of Pad Thai grew post WWII when there was a shortage of rice and the government encouraged the consumption of rice noodles, helping to establish Thailand’s national identity. It’s an affordable dish found at almost every street food market in Thailand and is known worldwide.

Noodles themselves may be just a simple staple food, but cooked in

different flavours and with local twists, there are hundreds of dishes that can be made from them.

Coming to America Chapter 6 Amelia Rentell 4 Final Pieces 3 Hour Calls 2 Bus Trips Later And a cockroach nest behind the fridge Hello doting fans, it is I returning in a much better mood than previously. Why so? - I hear you ask. The past week has been Thanksgiving Break here in the US which means students flock home in their masses to be fed turkey and mashed potato, which ultimately left me alone in my four bedroom apartment, no family in sight and feeling quite like Bridget Jones on New Year’s Eve. It did, however, allow me to finish two and a half of my final four research papers all due in the upcoming weeks and watch pretty much all ten series of Friends. All in all, not a bad week looking back. Oh wait...

My housemates are messy. No, not messy. Dirty. Dirty with a capital D and not in a good way. They swept off on their various trips to NYC, New Orleans and Colorado, leaving washing up, rotting food and cartons a kimbo. On my return from class I discovered a large red carton of fruit punch had eroded a hole in its bottom and spilt all over my counter. All down the sides. All over the floor. In order to clean up my soggy kitchen I had to pull the fridge out to get the sides of the counter and, to my horror, discovered a cockroach nest. These ugly little creatures crawl all over my kitchen and some have made it as far as inside the toilet roll package. Quite the bathroom fright.

Once I’d gotten over the horror of the bugs, I spent various hours on the phone with my loved ones, which was, of course, lovely. Special credits to my boyfriend, my mother, my sister and my best friend for all repeating similar mantras of ‘oh dear, it’ll be okay’.

One day I’d decided to navigate the bus system to buy dollar store Christmas decorations - to brighten up the apartment I shared with the bugs… and my roommates (who aren’t all bad). Let me tell you, it was no 25, 26 and sometimes 22. It was like playing snakes and ladders trying to figure out the route. I like to think of myself as rather public transport savvy, but I’d met my match. Two odd buses later the dollar store had been made up and an Uber had been called to the rescue. At least I tried.

That’s all from me, I hope you’re all feeling the Christmas buzz. I believe it is the only time of year where there could actually be a possibility that magic is real. If you haven’t watched Love, Actually yet this year, pop it on, light a candle and good luck with your end of term prep. Go to all the balls, take every opportunity to dress up and enjoy the complimentary alcohol. Save me some mince pies. ‘Tis the season.

Sport

4th December 2018

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Meyzi Adoni Sport Senior Writer

We talk to UEA’s clubs

UEA’s This Girl Can week took place on campus last week and, I must say, it was an amazing couple of days full of events and new experiences.

There are a lot of women who don’t feel comfortable participating in a sports team, or haven’t yet had the chance to try a sport.

This Girl Can week allows women to experience doing different sports; it also motivates them, and reminds others, to be more active. Most importantly, it shows everyone how powerful women are!

Back in my first year, I remember going to a This Girl Can self defence class. I always loved doing sports, but that class was something I had never experienced before. And, even though I did not continue going to regular classes, I still talk about that one-hour session because it had a positive impact on me, and it introduced me to a different part of sports.

I think that having a week like this is very important for female empowerment; it increases your self-confidence and shows you what you are capable of doing, while also having fun.

I wanted to ask members of different UEA sports teams what they think of This Girl Can week, and if they find it beneficial or not.

Firstly, I asked Emma Hyde, member of the Women’s Rowing team, how she feels about this week in general. She responded by saying that ‘[T]here is definitely some girl power magic happening that week.

I think it can be really beneficial; for me having a dedicated week of involving women in sports really solidifies womanhood for us and

encourages us to try out for sports we would otherwise be too nervous to do at any other time of the year.’

Tabby Reuben, Lacrosse Women’s Vice-President, said that, ‘I think This Girl Can is a brilliant campaign to get women active. At university, joining a sports team can sometimes be a bit intimidating, so having extra sessions on to try and get more women involved in sport is great, as keeping active is really important for your overall wellbeing.’

Women’s Basketball also had a session on during the week. Some people think basketball is a sport for men or some are not that interested in it, which is why I asked the President, Giulia Corsetti Antonini, how the class went and if she was happy with the turn out.

She said, ‘We had so much fun!

The turnout was incredible. It was nice to see so many girls being interested in seeing what goes on in our club.

There were many girls who had never played basketball before, which was really nice because we know that it didn’t stop them from giving it a try.’

When I asked her about her thoughts about the week in general, she said: ‘As someone who has been playing sports my whole life, I do believe that it’s important to push girls to go out there and simply discover new things and passions!’

This Girl Can week is one of the most special weeks of the year, and as a woman I am proud to see so many people interested in trying out different sports.

Events like this send out a message to everyone, which says that women are also a part of the sports industry, as equal as men, and they can do anything they want to!

Mixed fortunes for UEA in cup Tony Allen Sport Editor

No sooner had the last issue of Concrete hit the press than many of UEA’s sides turned their attention to BUCS cup action.

There were mixed fortunes for our sides, several of whom have now reached the quarter-finals.

In Men’s football, goals from Luke Young and Mohammed Hassan, returning to the team, saw the firsts beat Leicester thirds 2-0 at Colney Lane, and advance in two competitions in three days after their Norfolk Senior Cup exploits that Monday.

The seconds lost 5-2 at De Montfort, which denied them a quarter-final tie with UEA’s own first team.

The firsts will therefore travel to Leicestershire in the new year hoping to continue their cup run, in which they have already dispatched Loughborough thirds and Wolverhampton seconds.

UEA Women’s Lacrosse advanced again in the second

round of the Conference Cup after their previous rout of Nottingham fourths, defeating Derby 18-0 in their second win of the season.

They will host either Nottingham Trent seconds or Staffordshire in the next round.

The seconds are out, losing 18-1 at Oxford Brookes seconds. Beth Heritage continued her recent good goalscoring form with UEA’s consolation.

Men’s Lacrosse Captain Travis Payne hailed his makeshift team, missing half of their regular starters, as going ‘above and beyond’ in a competitive 10-8 defeat to Hertfordshire in Hatfield.

UEA recovered from an early 2-0 deficit to make a good impression in the club’s first game in the national BUCS Trophy after last season’s promotion.

Jhan Tibudan was UEA’s deserved man of the match. A

constant threat who scored and assisted several, Tibudan’s best was a

superbly placed effort that snuck in from

what seemed like an impossibly tight angle on the left.

Other notable performances came from fresher Paddy Watt, who was outstanding on his debut in UEA’s defence, and midfielder Owen Wilson who scored twice.

Payne said: ‘[W]e had a lot of freshers who hadn’t played much in BUCS and went above and beyond.

Paddy stepped up, I’m very proud of him.’

Both Hockey teams carried their impressive league form into their respective Conference Cups.

The men travelled to Birmingham and saw off Aston 3-1, thanks to a Harry Badger hat-trick.

The women beat Oxford Brookes 2-1 at the Sportspark, with first-half goals from Bente Eggink and Beth Rosier.

Both teams are now in the quarter-finals, with each hosting their Coventry counterparts in February.

UEA Women’s Rugby went down to a 17-12 defeat by Sussex in a close game at Colney Lane in their Trophy, but the seconds beat Northampton 30-25 away in the Conference Cup. The men endured their first defeat of a great season so far, losing 31-23 to Birmingham seconds, although the third team beat Lincoln’s seconds 43-17 away from home in the Midlands Conference Plate to advance to the last eight.

Our Ultimate Frisbee side are through to the next round of their Conference Cup after a 15-2 win at Leicester seconds.

They travel to Worcester next, in the last qualification round on the road to the final, which will take place at the national weekender in Spring. UEA’s Squash teams both lost out at the Sportspark, the men 5-0 to Nottingham thirds and the women 3-1 to Warwick, although they did win three games.

UEA Women’s Basketball team were edged out 46-44 by Queen Mary in the Trophy, with the men previously having lost out to Anglia Ruskin in the Conference Cup.

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4th December 2018

concrete-online.co.uk/category/sport/ | @Concrete_UEA

Positive start for UEA Cricket’s indoor season James Knight Sport Writer

UEA Men’s first and second teams opened their indoor campaigns in the BUCS Midlands C Division with positive starts for what promises to be a thrilling season.

Both teams travelled to Leicester to open their account, which saw our first team comfortably top the table unbeaten in three games with nine points.

Meanwhile, the second team gained only three points and sit near the bottom of the table with four games remaining.

The first match of the day saw both UEA teams pitted against one another, a clash which first team captain Jake Lawrence conceded is ‘always a challenge’.

Despite this, a strong performance all-round saw UEA’s first team to a comfortable victory.

Useful contributions with the bat from Lawrence (29*) and Jack Dudleston (27*) allowed the team to post a big first innings total. 139 for the loss of just three wickets from their ten overs was the result.

UEA’s second team struggled initially in reply, losing five of their six wickets for just seven runs.

This was brought about through some good spells of bowling from both Harry Bailey (two wickets) and Brendan-James Smith (two wickets).

However, UEA second’s Ben Wiles dug in to make a commendable 28, but it was not enough as the team were bowled out for 53 in the eighth over.

The result: an 86-run victory for the UEA first team.

Next, Northampton and UEA’s first teams were pitched against one another. Batting first, UEA faltered early on, losing Lawrence, Bailey and Smith cheaply.

Dudleston and Theeshan Satkunaseelan re-convened at the crease and battled hard to lead UEA to a defendable score of 78 all out from nine overs. It was UEA’s discipline in the field that truly shone.

“The UEA first team have a strong chance to proceed to the championship for the first time in five years” Useful scalps from Lawrence (3 wickets) and Smith (2 wickets) helped to prevent any partnerships from developing.

Richard Ewart, an ‘ever-reliable’ stalwart of UEA Cricket according to Lawrence, delivered some excellent performances with the ball, but also behind the stumps with the gloves.

Northampton were restricted to 65 from their ten overs, recording a second victory of the day for the UEA first team by 13 runs.

UEA first’s final game of the day was played against Anglia Ruskin 2’s. Ruskin were put into bat by UEA, and following the formula of

the day, UEA’s bowlers excelled.

Tight bowling and fielding performances meant that Ruskin were limited in their run-scoring, making 79 for the loss of five wickets from their ten overs.

Lawrence finished with another two wickets to his name, with Smith taking two.

UEA’s run chase was steady, but led to a close finish, with Dudleston and Smith finishing the game off with just three balls to spare.

Three wins from three games for UEA 1’s completed a thrilling day of cricket.

Lawrence reflected: ‘[I]t was a really positive weekend for both teams and the squad is as strong as I’ve seen in my time at UEA.’ The Midlands C table was perfectly poised as the secondhalf of fixtures got underway on Saturday 24 November.

The UEA first team have a strong chance to proceed to the championship for the first time in five years, with four matches remaining to cement their place at the top of the table.

For the UEA seconds, there remains a great opportunity to also progress through to the trophy stage of the competition.

What truly makes the UEA second team an exciting prospect is their relative inexperience.

Lawrence commented on this spectacle, claiming that they had shown ‘great promise in a team with a number of freshers who had never played indoor cricket before.’

Time will tell as to whether both teams can capitalise on their strong positions in the competition, but the opportunity is certainly there for the taking.

UEA Judo success in Littleport Neith Charlesworth Sport Writer

UEA Judo attended their second competition of the year last Sunday, and their achievements did not disappoint.

With a total of five competitors, supported by the Head Coach and committee members, the club travelled up to Littleport to represent the university at a regional level competition.

For three of the fighters, it was their first ever competition, having taken up the sport at university.

The round up concluded with a gold medal for one of the club’s coaches, Pedro Antunes, two silvers from first-time competitors Daniel Simpson and Ahmad Malik, and a bronze for another of the club’s

coaches, Neith Charlesworth.

Player of the day went to James Postle, another first-time competitor, who only joined the club last Christmas.

His weight category had the highest amount of entries, as well as the highest demonstration of skill.

Postle missed out narrowly on a medal, however his coaches recognised his efforts and determination.

Postle reflected on the day: ‘I was nervous but excited. It was finally time to test the skills and techniques that I had practised and practised and practised.

And even though I lost more than I won, it has driven me to win much more next time.’

The university Judo Club is coming up to its fourth birthday this May, and last academic year

saw their debut competitive performance at BUCS. This year they have already doubled the number of competitions and medals, with still many more to come.

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medals won

first time competitors

Dancesport visit Nottingham Claire Bilsborough Sport Writer

Our competing couples headed to Nottingham University’s annual competition held at King’s Hall in Stoke. The day began with Ballroom, where we received 22 call-backs between us.

Latin took place in the afternoon, where we received 16 call-backs! We are exceptionally proud of beginner couple, Will Matthews and Ruut Wasama, who made all four of their finals,

especially coming second in Jive.

President Katie Ingram said: ‘Nottingham was a great day for all our dancers. It was their first competition for many of our beginners, and they all did incredibly well with some achieving medals. Also a big congratulations to our higher level dancers who won the 2nd division team match.’

At the end of the competition we took first place in ‘Team Match’, a fun event where universities enter teams of four couples to dance one of the main four dances (Waltz, Quickstep, Cha, and Jive).

Trampolining takes Loughborough Claire Bilsborough Sport Writer

Trampolining has had some great achievements this term, and as we’re a growing club you might not be aware of everything we get up to. We’ve had a good intake of freshers this year, all of whom are really keen to improve and work hard.

On 24 November, UEA Trampolining took part in its first competition of the year, the Loughborough Open. This was a small but tough competition, with only eight universities in attendance.

The day began with the Ladies’ Northern England University Trampolining (NEUT). Everyone performed to a high standard, and UEA came second for form (neatness of moves). We broke our club record for medallists, with new members, Emily Ralfs (NEUT Six) and Aisha White (NEUT Five) taking first place, and Louisa Harris (NEUT Four), our Secretary, and Lizzie Payne (NEUT Three) coming second place in their categories.

Synchronised Trampolining then took place in the afternoon; this was the first time our club had taken part in synchro and we exceeded our expectations! NEUT

Three competitors Sophie Barker and Adele Morley, and Katie Clough and Maddie Cole did really well; with Barker and Morley coming sixth, and Clough and Cole coming tenth. Harris and Payne competed together and came fifth.

President Maya Omri said that she’s ‘so proud of everyone! So many medals and personal bests.

It was such a great competition for UEA.’ We’ve had a great term of socials so far this year, including a ‘Last of the Leotards’ social to celebrate our successes at Loughborough, and getting new leotards with Gymnastics.

Our favourite social so far was our joint ‘T Social’ with Tap. Charlie Clements, Tap Vice-President, said that ‘doing a joint social was loads of fun. As there were so many people, the friendly buzz of conversation across both Tap and Trampolining was brilliant!

It was also nice to see, talk to and hang out with people we wouldn’t necessarily see all the time. And celebrating sports night with such a lovely club topped it all off! Tap had a brilliant time and we cannot wait for the next one!’

We have a Winter Ball coming up in December with Gymnastics and Pole Fitness at the Rooftop Gardens which we’re really excited for; we can’t wait to dress up for it!

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4th December 2018

Sport

UEA football record historic win Tony Allen Sport Editor

UEA Football Club secured a historic result by beating Kings Lynn Town 1-0 in the Norfolk Senior Cup under the FDC floodlights in Bowthorpe.

A second-half goal from Richard Black was the difference against Norfolk’s second biggest club, with UEA now in the Senior Cup quarterfinals.

Linnets boss, Ian Culverhouse, sent a youthful side to Norwich, resting a number of senior players in a squad hit by injury and fatigue.

However, despite lacking exprofessionals like Adam Marriott, Michael Gash, Ryan Jarvis and ex-Norwich City scholar Michael Clunan, Lynn did give a debut to experienced goalkeeper Paul Bastock, a lower-league journeyman who at the age of 48 holds the record for the most competitive appearances in world football.

And it was the young Linnets, the highest ranked side in the competition, who had the majority of the early possession, using their width to good effect.

The slick surface created by a torrential downpour in the first half helped them make use of the flanks in a half relatively low on good chances.

UEA did try their luck with a promising through-ball which was

comfortably dealt with by Bastock, while Lynn replied with a chance smashed just over. UEA keeper Tom Smith was then called into action to make a smart save, but the offside flag was already up.

The FDC pitch has never been a carpet in central areas at the best of times, and the weather contributed to the scrappy first period. UEA pressed more in the final fifteen minutes.

Livewire forward Ryan Swift hit the side-netting from a tight angle on the half-hour mark. Luke Young had an effort saved before the pacy winger was caught just offside.

“The win was thoroughly deserved. We stuck to our game plan well” UEA couldn’t make anything of a free-kick and then had a corner cleared after Swift and Young linked up well. UEA then put another freekick straight at Bastock.

Smith saved a free-kick of his own with five minutes left in the first half, which finished goalless after Young couldn’t get a true connection on a cross from Swift

which agonisingly trickled wide.

UEA really turned on their attacking threat in the second half. There were calls from the impressive, UEA-dominated support for a penalty as Young was fouled in the D, but a free-kick on the edge of the area was correctly awarded, Swift lobbing a weak effort into Bastock’s grateful hands.

Smith was equal to another Linnets free-kick and soon UEA were on top.

The menacing Swift beat his man on the run but saw his shot parried. Rinor Plepolli’s resulting corner was delivered right into the danger zone, sparking a scramble in the six-yard box with Young and skipper Ben George in the thick of the action.

But after what seemed like an age of the ball bobbling around the goalmouth without a decisive touch, it was centre-back Black who pounced, poking in the loose ball to put UEA ahead.

Commanding defender Black has a habit of scoring when it matters, also having netted on Derby Day. A 1-0 lead in a big game with plenty of time left on the clock (nearly 30 minutes) can make some teams jittery and nervous.

Perhaps it was UEA’s good performance until this point that actually meant that getting a breakthrough eased the pressure and added impetus to their attack.

Young was dispossessed after a good run, while dangerous midfielder James Baughurst had an attempt saved, Bastock being alert to come out of his goal to keep the score at 1-0.

Another Plepolli corner was this time headed away from danger as UEA pressed forward, Young flashing a shot just wide and Baughurst seeing another attempt narrowly miss the target.

The game was by no means over, however, with three Lynn corners in quick succession somehow kept out

by UEA’s disciplined defence, who were under immense pressure.

Swift had a shot deflected out for a corner, but for all UEA’s endeavour Lynn stayed tight at the back and the final score would stay at 1-0 for the nervy final minutes as UEA recorded a famous win, sparking wild celebrations afterwards from UEA’s players and the vocal support who turned up in their numbers.

UEA Head of Football, Paul Neary, has good form in the competition after he and his assistant Ray Harrison guided Downham Town to the Carrow Road final of last year’s competition.

He reflected: ‘I thought [the win] was thoroughly deserved. From start to finish I thought we were the better side.

[Lynn] started fast, they started pinging the ball about, trying to dictate the play. We stuck to our game plan well in possession, out of

possession and in transition.

‘The chances we created outnumbered their chances. We didn’t get overawed or intimidated.

It was very, very good.’

“You can see what it meant to the fans at the end”

On Lynn’s team selection, Neary said: ‘[Y]ou can only beat who’s in front of you.’

Club President Jody Scowcroft added: ‘[T]his result puts us on the map in Norfolk.

We’re one of the top teams, we can beat anyone. We don’t want to knock one of the biggest teams out of the cup and not win it!

‘There’s a real family atmosphere in the club now. I’m massively pleased to see everyone down here supporting, you can see what it means to the fans at the end, everyone celebrating, smiles on everyone’s faces.’

UEA have been drawn at home against Swaffham in January’s quarter-final, with the venue and kick-off time to be confirmed.

Photo: Tony Allen