23rd October 2018 Issue 355 The official student newspaper of the University of East Anglia | concrete-online.co.uk
News:
Changes made to extension requests Matt Nixon Deputy Editor
The University has made a number of changes to the extenuating circumstances regulations, which have come in effect for the 2018/19 academic year. Key changes include the increase in the number of selfcertified extensions allowed for students per each year. Previously, students could only self-certify an extenuating circumstance for one extension request per academic year. In an email sent to students on Thursday 18 October, it was explained that students are now permitted to two self-
cert extension requests per year. These can be used on any summative assignment and at any point during the academic year. However, self-certified extensions are now only active for three working days, as opposed to the five day extension used in previous years. The university explained: ‘A deadline set for 3pm Monday will be extended to 3pm Thursday, whilst one set for 3pm Wednesday will be extended to 3pm Monday.’
Continued on
pg3
Travel:
In wonder of wonderlust
I recently heard a story about an elderly man in Suffolk. Born and bred in the county, he was very proud to pronounce that he has never been beyond the county line.
pg20
Science:
Fingerprint drug developed at UEA
pg19
A new form of drug testing has been developed through research carried out at UEA by the company Intelligent Fingerprinting.
23rd October 2018
2
Editorial
Time flies Matt Nixon Deputy Editor
Making some big changes Sophie Bunce Editor-in-Chief
We’ve made it. A month into uni. Well done everyone, particularly third years, because I think we need all the positive reinforcement we can get. First years still have the glow of a new city and second years, well, you seem fine without it. Campus is no longer nursing freshers’ week hangovers but headaches from our actual degrees, and I think it’s about time. Uni is about the degree - right? Last week, the ambitious among us found ourselves at the Careers Fair, which I can only sum up as societies fair hysteria mixed with representatives from the finance sector. While I filled my free tote bag with pens, a flask and two notepads, I also noted down a couple of potential career paths - an hour well spent. News looks at the event and how helpful campus found it. The English students among us (me very much included) may have found ourselves in the wrong room which you can see from our Twitter poll in HeyUEA. This issue, Sport have match reports, society interviews and a brief overview of the last few weeks. If it involved exercise and UEA, you’ll certainly find it here. I particularly enjoyed Senior Sports Editor Meyzi Adoni’s article where she interviews
the Salsa Soc. I always meant to join and this may have convinced me to actually leave the Media Office. Meyzi writes in a way even I can understand, a person who thought ultimate frisbee involved a really big frisbee.
"While I am proud of our increasingly diverse team, to say we represent everyone simply isn’t true, which isn’t good enough" So certainly check that one out on page 21. Though Concrete has been doing more than taking up a big chunk of my careers fair CV chat. We have tried to make a difference this Black History Month. While I am proud of our increasingly diverse team, to say we represent everyone simply isn’t true, which isn’t good enough. Speaking to Features Editor Chloe Howcroft, Yinbo Yu, NUS International Students’ Officer and former Activities and Opportunities Officer at UEA, said ‘If you walk into the Media Offices of student newspapers, it's all white. If you look at the writers, it's all white.’ And he is totally right.
So we are making big changes. I have made diversity a fundamental part of how we operate, not just an aim or a box to tick but a practice that we are continually addressing to make sure we are doing it right. Part of this is our work with Creative Access, a charity who help foster BAME talent across the media industries, providing fair opportunities to everyone. On page 13 Chloe Howcroft speaks to Creative Access on how we hope to work with them this year. We want to do better, if you have any thoughts on how we could, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. As always, keep up to date with everything we do, particularly this Wednesday when we will find out if we won our BBC award. (Didn’t you hear? The BBC are big fans). If you fancy tuning into us via audio, listen into Livewire at 5pm on Tuesdays. Want to see our pretty faces? Check out our video content coming soon, thanks to UEA TV. We pride ourselves on print, but now you have the choice.
It’s mad to think that we’re now going into week five of the semester, it’s practically flying by! We’re nearly halfway through it (sorry if that’s as much of an anxiety inducing reminder for you as it is for me) and we’ve seen so much go on around campus; updates to strikes, transphobic stickers and now the new changes to extensions which features on this issue’s front page. As someone who has used a self-cert in both first and second year, I don’t know how to feel about the reduction to only three working days. Perhaps it is fairer, perhaps it will mean I don’t leave things until the last minute. But, to be honest, with where my dissertation is currently standing, I know a few weeks from now I’d have preferred more time. This week it has felt a little like Concrete could do with an extension too - we’re still suffering with our broken computers and Gus (Venue Editor) is away in London, so it’s once again been a real effort for our team to put this together. That said, I’m proud of everything we’ve done for it. Not only is this another good looking issue which I can get my Mum to stick on the fridge (or just for my flatmates to use to throw away broken glass), but we’ve been working on some really important material for it. It’s Black History Month, and as you’ve read in Sophie’s editorial, our Features section has covered a range of topics from Windrush to Reggae and diversity in the media. Do check it out and find out about what Concrete is doing to be more diverse as well. We’ve also covered the Nobel Peace Prize given to Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad for their work on campaigning against sexual violence. This is another really pertinent issue today and if you don’t already know, then head to page 8 to check that out. Thanks to all the team for their hard work on this issue - I hope we can fix the problems in the Media Office soon, and thanks to everyone who has picked this issue up, I hope you enjoy it (and don’t too sorely miss out on the crossword in HeyUEA)!
The University of East Anglia’s Official Student newspaper since 1992 Saturday 22nd September 2018 Issue 353 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 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
concrete-online.co.uk Concrete_UEA concreteuea concrete_UEA Front page: Matt Nixon
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
3
23rd October 2018
concrete-online.co.uk/category/news/ | @Concrete_UEA
Changes made to extension requests Students can now have two self-certs per year, but each is only valid for three extra days Matt Nixon Deputy Editor
Continued from front page As was the case in previous years, extensions cannot be used concurrently for an individual assessment. This means they cannot be combined for a six working day extension. The changes have created a mixed reaction among UEA students. One student, Lauren Taylor, told Concrete: ‘This is set to put yet more stress on students that are already in difficult situations. Although there may be the odd anomaly, most students don’t take pushing back their deadlines lightly, and they would have thought through all their options before deciding to use this measure.’ However, Taylor added: ‘It could be said that the university are implementing this measure to reduce the liberties those few students are taking when it comes to completing their assessments, and this is a valid point to consider. ‘The tightening of the regulations will mean that students can’t self-certify just because they have a busy social calendar the week of the deadline, or they’ve had a heavy weekend before they were supposed to write up their project. Self-certified extensions are used where a student has extenuating circumstances affecting their work, but does not need to provide proof through their Hub or with the Medical Centre. The university’s regulations
define extenuating circumstances as anything which negatively affects a “student’s capacity to perform to the best of their ability.” Examples include bereavement, short-term illnesses, long-term health conditions, being the victim of a serious crime, or situations where a Head of School authorises an absence.
“Previously, students could only self-certify an extenuating
Full details can be found on how to submit a request in the container on eVision under ‘Guidance Documentation’. The full regulations for the 2018/19 academic year can be found on Portal or on the email sent to students last Thursday. Concrete asked the university and Student U n i o n how they worked on the new
circumumstance for one extension request” Extenuating circumstance requests must be submitted no more than two working days after a deadline or event. If they are, the university says “good reason” must be provided as to why the request is late before it can be considered. Any evidence in support of an extenuating circumstance (non selfcertified) must be submitted within five working days of the request. If a request takes longer, a student must contact the relevant Learning and Teaching Service team. Changes to the regulations have been reflected in the ‘Extenuating Circumstance task’ on eVision.
regulations, and why the changes were made, but neither were available for comment at the time of Press. What do you think about the changes? Will they alter your plans this exam season? Let us know on Twitter @Concrete_UEA or find us on Facebook at Concrete, UEA's Student Newspaper.
Photo: Matt Nixon
Law Society criticised for social after student's death Shannon McDonagh News Editor
The UEA Law Society have come under fire following the decision to continue with a T-shirt social after being informed of the news of one of their cohort passing. Jess Fairweather, a 20 year old first year, was found dead at his on-campus accommodation in Kett House on Tuesday 11 October. A coroner’s report from Senior Coroner for Norfolk, Jacqueline Lake, later confirmed that the cause of death was hanging. Fairweather has been described by the university as an ‘engaging, very bright’ student who was ‘making a real contribution both academically and as a member of the student Law Society.’ It is believed that the Law School were the first to be informed of Fairweather’s identity in the days
that followed, due to Fairweather being a Law student.
“Students found the decision to be insensitive to Jess' recent passing” Upon being told of these circumstances, the UEA Law Society consulted with both the SU and the Head of Law to decide what course of action was best to take with regards to their upcoming T-shirt social the following week. A conclusion was met that going ahead with the social would be the best course of action. Despite this, some students
found this decision to be insensitive to Fairweather’s recent passing, reacting angrily to the Facebook announcement. This in particular seemed to strike a chord with first years who the social was aimed at, raising questions as to what the university protocol should be in times of crisis such as this. In a statement on behalf of the UEA Law Society, Activities and Opportunities Officer Oli Gray said: ‘UEA is a really tight-knit university where the loss of any member really affects those who were their friends, neighbours and coursemates. Grieving loss and celebrating the life and friendships you shared with a person are both complex and deeply personal processes, and we respect that, for some people, being around others and carrying on are important parts of that process, particularly early on in coping with
loss. UEA Law want to mark the passing of Fairweather and we’ll be working with them in the coming weeks to allow their members to figure out what that looks like for them.
“Support for both students and staff is available from Student Support Services” Their decision to continue with their social was carefully considered, and made it possible for those who wanted to be near friends at such a time.’
Speaking to Concrete, a representative for the university said: ‘Jess Fairweather, a firstyear Law student, died in his UEA accommodation on 11 October. There were no suspicious circumstances and we are assisting in any way we can with the inquest which has been adjourned until early next year. All our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.’ If you have been affected by the passing of Jess Fairweather, support for both students and staff is available from Student Support Services and can be arranged through the online referral form, by phoning 01603 592651, or emailing studentsupport@uea.ac.uk. If you are experiencing low mood or suicidal ideations, you can call Norwich Samaritans on 01603 611 311 (local call charges apply) or on their free number at 116 123.
4
23rd October 2018
News Recruitment and Opportunities fair returns to UEA Hannah Cottrell News Reporter
This week saw the return of UEA’s annual Recruitment and Opportunities Fair. Held at the Sportspark, the annual event offers an impressive variety of opportunities to students ranging from internships abroad to roles available in accountancy and medical sectors. Employers came
Bonfire and Halloween city events announced
Did students find it helpful? 37% 63%
“They're offering jobs I'd be really interested in” from a variety of industries, with representatives from the NHS, the Royal Air Force, Lloyds Bank and TeachFirst, to name a few. As well as this, the recruitment fair also had plenty of volunteer programs to join, either from charities overseas such as Intern Vietnam, Intern China or Anhui Teaching Exchange, or UK based charities such as YMCA Norfolk or
Photo: N Chadwick, Geograph Age UK. Speaking to Concrete at the event, a representative from the Enterprise Centre emphasised the impact ‘gives students the chance to see things that otherwise they wouldn’t.’ A postgraduate student expressed that the event had made her ‘feel really optimistic about [my] future’, adding that she had ‘seen a lot of companies that [I] wouldn’t have even thought about and they’re offering jobs [I’d] be really interested in.’
Another employer from ExploreLearning - a teacher training company - expressed the advantage of students engaging in the event, explaining that it is ‘really beneficial for students to come to chat to employers and ask any questions’. Employers can give you much more information in a single conversation than they can over their websites, and having face-to-face interactions like this is a great way to network and gain contacts in your chosen field. The fair also offered lots of
News in brief
information about building your CV, with one effective example being participation in the UEA Award. Speaking on behalf of the award, Law Student Rachel Fisher expressed that it enables students to ‘showcase skills and attributes outside of your degree and gives you so much more to talk about in interviews.’ The University will offer other specialist fairs throughout the year such Careers in Law, Writing and Communication and Teaching.
With both Halloween and Bonfire Night approaching, this year’s events to celebrate the festivities have recently been announced. Norwich’s Halloween Party will take place on Wednesday 31 October from 6pm to 8pm in Chapelfield Gardens. With fancy dress and entertainment, this year’s ‘Spooky City’ event promises an enjoyable evening. Following Spooky City will be Norwich’s Big Boom Firework event on Friday 2 November. This sensational evening will include an extraordinary firework display from Norwich Castle, backed to music to create a truly wonderful atmosphere. Viewers can watch the display from the city centre from 7.30pm, free of charge. The city’s Halloween and Bonfire Events annually attract over 10,000 people, and this year is sure to be just as enjoyable as the previous ones.
Norwich City Council responds to IPCC report on climate change Photo: Matt Nixon
Annabel Gibson
of 1.5ºC or higher increases the risk associated with long-lasting or irreversible changes, such as the loss of some ecosystems,’ said Hans-Otto Pörtner, Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group II.
News Reporter
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued a report on 8 October stating that there are only a dozen years for global warming to be kept to a maximum of 1.5ºC. Clive Lewis, Labour MP for Norwich South responded to the news on Twitter, stating that ‘The physics of climate change dictate we must halve our carbon output every decade for next 30 years. This isn’t negotiable. That’s the new policy bar. A high one but not as high as the price we’ll all pay for failing to implement.’ According to the Norwich City Council, Norwich’s carbon footprint has shrunk by almost half in the past decade. Norwich’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint follow on from 2008 when a joint initiative between the city council and the Norfolk County Council was introduced with the intention to reduce CO2 emissions created in the city area. ‘Labour-led Norwich City Council will be continuing to invest time, resources and energy in sustainable projects to reduce the city's carbon footprint further still and to encourage other companies to do the same,’ said Lewis. Currently the city council are investing in the development of Passivhaus housing on Goldsmith Street and the Rayne Park development in Bowthorpe. Passivhaus requires properties to be built to the highest certifiable standard of energy efficiency,
“This is't
negotiable. That's the new policy bar. A high one but not as high as the price we'll all pay for failing to implement”
Photo: Wikimedia Commons creating low energy buildings that need very little fuel for heating or cooling. In the city council’s carbon footprint report for 2017/18, the target for reduction in overall CO2 emissions is 40 percent from a
2007/8 baseline. This target exceeds the national target of a 34 percent reduction in carbon footprint by 2020. Within the next year the council have shared plans to implement projects to promote the use of LED
lighting in homes and businesses, investigate the possibility of further solar panel systems on council assets and pursue further insulation work at Sheltered Housing schemes. ‘Every extra bit of warming matters, especially since warming
The IPCC report finds that limiting global warming to 1.5ºC would require ‘rapid and farreaching’ transitions in land, energy, industry, buildings, transport and cities. Global net human-caused emissions of CO2 would need to fall by about 45 percent from 2010 levels by 2030. A number of climate change impacts could be voided through limiting global warming to 1.5ºC compared to 2ºC or above. The IPCC exemplified this by projecting that sea levels would be ten centimetres lower with warming of 1.5ºC compared to 2ºC. Additionally, coral reefs would decline by 70-90 percent with global warming of 1.5ºC, whereas virtually all would be lost with 2ºC.
23rd October 2018
5
News
Concerns arise over plans for the redevelopment of Anglia Square Jamie Hose News Reporter
Concerns have emerged over plans to redevelop the Anglia Square area of the city centre. Anglia Square is currently the oldest of Norwich’s three large shopping centres, first developed in 1970 with architecture spawning from the brutalist movement.
“Local businesses are unlikely to be at the forefront of regeneration” Over 400 comments have been submitted since the original scheme was proposed, the majority of which are negative. The redevelopment project has been undertaken by Weston Homes Plc and Columbia Threadneedle Investments. Threadneedle is a global investment company, with 2,000 employees worldwide, suggesting that local businesses are unlikely to be at
the forefront of the Intu Chapelfield alone regeneration. houses several major The Anglia shopping outlets Square website and fast food has said that chains. This these plans aim trend often to ‘regenerate’ leads to the area with a such places larger cinema, becoming new hotel, the homes over 1,200 new to big homes and businesses at a variety of the expense shops and cafés of local ones. which will be Even the city’s Photo: Evelyn Simak, operating ‘through hallowed market Geograph the day and into the is now surrounded evening.’ on all sides by large Plans for redevelopment corporate firms, such as have been underway since 2009, Tesco Express, Caffè Nero, Currys with multiple revisions due to public and a Three store. concerns. The most recent of these Weston Homes Chairman and plans involved the reduction of a Chief Executive, Bob Weston, said: 25-storey tower block to 20 storeys. ‘We are committed to providing Unfortunately for local a successful future for the site businesses, the companies that and having invested three million invest in large shopping centres pounds in the planning process so usually try to attract large chain far, we hope that the revised scheme stores in order to turn a profit. is granted consent. In addition to this, smaller Weston Homes is a highly businesses are unlikely to have the successful housebuilder of 30 years resources or number of employees standing and we have the track to compete with big transnational record and financial stature to corporations. deliver on the revised proposals.’
Comment: "Expansion is inevitable, but Norwich's identity is indestructible" Max Pleasance Comment Writer
As sad as it is, the impending threat of urbanisation is a palpable one nationwide and now it is the turn of Norwich to feel the tremors. This, I wonder as I sit aboard the top deck of the bus, peering through the steamed window at the rolling swathes of scenery beyond it. Of course, it could all look different in a few years: new homes, shops, a car park and a hotel, propositions that have of course been met with wide protest. Norwich is, unfortunately, a victim of its own success with tourism reaching the level it has, it has gleaned something of a worldwide reputation. Fears are prevalent. The scathing phrase ‘clone city’ has been thrown around among opposers, a dark image of a potential dystopia. But, as the bus came to a halt in the heart of town, I realised something. Norwich is a wonderfully unique place. From the gentle
bustle of the market on Gentlemen’s Walk, through the quiet cobbles of Tombland and all the way down to the roaring nightlife of the Prince of Wales Road; Norwich captures, paradoxically yet extraordinarily, the essential spark of town, village and city. Norwich the place and Norwich the idea are intertwined but ultimately separate. Where Norwich is, lies in the aesthetic; it’s the place on the map near the edge of the sticky out bit in the middle. However, what Norwich is, lies deeper. It’s not about the buildings or streets but the stories that the buildings and streets c a n tell. Norwich is in a place that the shadow of urbanisation can never reach and no amount of tower blocks will be able to corrupt its essence. Expansion is inevitable, true, but the identity of the town cannot be damaged.
Photo: Fernando Butcher, Pxhere
UEA commits UEA study finds climate change to Living Wage may lead to global beer shortages Lizzy Hossman News Reporter
In a significant development for those employed by the university, UEA announced this week its commitment to provide the voluntary Living Wage to its employees, commencing 1 April 2019. On campus, student staff have already reaped the benefits of this change following a pay rise earlier this year. As described on the Living Wage Foundation website, the Living Wage is designed to ‘meet the costs of living, not just the government minimum.’ Independent of government boards, this wage is calculated ‘based on the best available evidence about living standards in London and the UK’. From these calculations, the commission can estimate the minimum hourly rate at which a full-time employee could meet the ‘real cost of essential goods and services’. At present, the voluntary Living Wage (excluding London) is calculated by the Living Wage Foundation to be £8.75 an hour. This rate is £0.92 higher than the legal minimum the UK government has dubbed the ‘national living
Mia Shah
wage’, and a full £1.37 above the legal minimum for 18-21 year olds. Speaking on the move, ViceChancellor Professor David Richardson expressed his support for the decision: ‘We believe signing up to the real Living Wage is the right thing to do by our staff and it will not only benefit more than 300 UEA employees but also the wider community as well’.
“The voluntary Living Wage is calculated by
the Living Wage Foundation to be £8.75 an hour" UEA representative for tradeunion Unison, Amanda CheneryHowes, described the move as ‘a welcome boost for the staff at the bottom of the pay structure’. She goes on to express her hopes for the future of UEA employees, stating that, ‘This is a positive move in the right direction of what we hope will lead to UEA eventually becoming an accredited Living Wage employer’.
News Reporter
Newly released research by UEA Professor Dabo Guan suggests that severe climatic events will have a tremendous impact on the global beer supply. Barley, the main ingredient of beer, could be significantly affected by climate change. The possible extreme heat and droughts brought on by climate change could lead to crop failures. Reducing global barley yields will consequently increase its value. The results of the study show beer prices on average could double, and even in less extreme cases the cost of beer could rise by 15 percent and consumption drop by 4 percent. Small Brewery owner, Joe Martinez, argued that independent and smaller breweries would be most affected by this price increase. "Larger companies that produce beer will have more resources and power within the barley industry to ensure that prices won't increase that much. Independent companies won't have that luxury." In a Concrete survey, 57 per cent said they would still buy a pint of beer if the prices rose. A third-year student and avid snakebite drinker
Photo: Maxpixel argues, "I would still continue to buy snakebites even if it meant the detriment of my student loan, students will always want to have fun and not necessarily think about the consequences first." On the other hand, not all students feel this way, 43 percent said they would no longer buy pints if the prices rose. A science undergraduate and environmental activist believes that we should "stop worrying so much about the cost of our snakebite and
start focusing on the real effects climate change, otherwise, we won't have anywhere to enjoy said beer." However, there is hope for the price of your snakebite; scientists are currently working on droughtresistant strains of barley, which could mean fewer crop failures and prices remaining as they are. Prof. Guan gave this last piece of advice: "Hoarding beer today won't work - the only way to prevent this outcome is to fight against climate change."
6
23rd October 2018
News
Enterprise Centre continues commitment to sustainability Shelby Cooke News Reporter
The Enterprise Centre offers a vast array of opportunities and support to UEA students, as well as to the wider community of Norwich. For example, the Enterprise Centre provides numerous opportunities, such as business advice, financial support, networking events, tenant spaces and learning enhancement programmes for local entrepreneurs and former UEA graduates. Whether you’re an ambitious new graduate or someone just looking for a new adventure in life, the Enterprise Centre will be there to help you succeed in your business endeavours. But the work done at the Enterprise Centre goes further than just supporting businesses; they encourage an influx of larger business to come into the Norwich area, increase the local economy and provide community support and involvement. But what is most exciting about the Enterprise Centre’s endeavours is their commitment to sustainability. You may have noticed the unique exterior of the building, such as the locally sourced thatched wall panels, or you may have observed the natural lighting used throughout the building. But the sustainability of the Enterprise Centre goes even further - all the way down to the building’s reused cement frame. It’s even home to a vegan and vegetarian café, Namaste (who have two restaurants in the city), which aims to reduce plastic and food waste. Fearn Ainsworth, the new acting
News in brief SU joins People's Vote Brexit March in London On Saturday 20 October, the The People’s Vote March for the Future took place in London, with an attendance of around 700,000, 600,000 more than anticipated. Supporters marched for a final say on parliament’s Brexit deal. Last week saw members of the SU speak out in support of the march, hosting a banner making session last week, along with covering the cost of transport for a coach to London on the day. Campaigns and Democracy Officer, Sophie Atherton, appealed to students via her SU blog to ‘ensure that [our] voices are heard on the final decision for Brexit.’ The Brexit deal is anticipated to affect students in a number of ways, with potential economic and social instability meaning some may face problems with studying and travelling.
Photo: Pixabay
Photo: BDP Commercial Services Manager at the Enterprise Centre, says of the organisation: ‘I am excited to be joining such an inspiring and innovatively designed building. The Enterprise Centre is designed to enhance the incubation of small businesses and accelerate business growth. We have commercial tenants working alongside students in a dynamic and vibrant community that brings benefits to all users. Establishing a number of important
connections for collaborating and building relationships within all areas of business and Norwich.’ Although a new addition to the UEA community, the Enterprise Centre has far surpassed its ethical responsibility to the university and to the community. Yet the team are stilling finding ways to continue to their legacy of responsibility and sustainability. On 21 November, the Enterprise Centre will hold a Winter Warmer Clothes Swap from 1pm to 4pm.
To help increase the recycling and reusing of clothing, this clothes swap promotes customers bringing in their old clothes in exchange for new clothes. Each customer will receive a number of tokens for the items they choose to donate. Then, with those tokens, you can purchase new items for your wardrobe. This is a fantastic way to shed the old clothing you no longer want and, in exchange, help the environment and your wallet.
One of its kind, the design and operation of the Enterprise Centre are doing their part to ensure that it’s not just businesses within the Norfolk area that are taken care of, but also the environment, to ensure it is supported for generations to come. For more information about the Winter Clothes Swap and the Enterprise Centre’s many initiatives, visit the building’s website at www. uea.ac.uk/adapt/the-enterprisecentre.
East Anglian Book Award finalists announced East Anglia has announced its finalists for the East Anglia Book Awards. The finalists are currently being assessed by varying judges per category, revealing their results for the ceremony on Friday 23 November 2018.
Head of Education and Research and Deputy Director for the Sainsbury’s Centre for Visual Arts, Veronica Sekules, has been shortlisted for a general nonfiction piece, titled Cultures of the Countryside: Art, Museum, Heritage, Environment 1970-2015. This book has been written to try and identify links between the environment and people.
“Of the various
“The stories
works submitted,
show our region
three originate
flourishing
from UEA”
imaginatively”
Rebekah Woolmer News Reporter
With over 50 published works submitted, the shortlist has been rounded down to 18 titles across six categories. Of the various works submitted, three originate from UEA. This esteemed award is going to be offering a main prize of £1,000, supplied by the PACCAR foundation.
Photo: Adrian S Pye, Geograph One of the highly esteemed and selected judges for the Poetry category is to be one of our very own UEA academic members of staff, Professor Tiffany Atkinson. Shortlisted for the category is UEA graduate Matt Howard, whose time in UEA’s advanced diploma
scheme allowed him to develop connections with Norwich's writing world in order to produce Gall. Another previous student, English Literature and Creative Writing graduate Mitch Johnson, has also written a children's story entitled Kick.
Chris Gribble, the Chief Executive for the award, is very optimistic for this year's contestants and finalists, stating that ‘the stories [...] show our region flourishing imaginatively and full of confidence for the future.’ Let us know who you're hoping to win @Concrete_UEA.
7
its never too late to join a club or society, and we have over 200 to choose from on the app: download from uea.su/ app online: head to uea.su/join
8
Global
23rd October 2018
Nobel Peace Prize awarded to pair fighting sexual violence Roo Pitt
Global Writer
The 2018 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to two laureates who have been fighting against war crimes involving sexual violence and abuse. Nadia Murad and Denis Mukege have been fighting against the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war. Commenting on the award, Berit Reiss-Andersen, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said that the pair have been ‘crucial’ in combating and bringing attention to these crimes. Adding, ‘Denis Mukwege is the helper who has devoted his life to defending these victims. Nadia Murad is the witness who tells of the abuses perpetrated against herself and others. ‘Each of them in their own way has helped to give greater visibility to wartime sexual violence, so that the perpetrators can be held accountable for their actions.’ Murad from Sinjar, Iraq, was imprisoned as a sex slave by ISIS
Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2018: Frances H. Arnold George P. Smith Sir Gregory P. Winter
and passed around militants. She now campaigns to raise awareness of the sufferings of Yazidi women and children, alongside being a global human rights campaigner. In 2016, at age 23, she was made a UN Goodwill Ambassador for the dignity of survivors of human trafficking. Now the 17th woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, Murad also becomes the second youngest recipient after Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani activist for female education. Donna McKay, Executive Director at Physicians for Human Rights, welcomed the award for both winners. In a statement she said, ‘Dr Mukwege is not only an extraordinary physician, but a courageous human rights leader who perfectly embodies the critical role that medical professionals play in witnessing abuse and speaking out against injustice.’ As a gynaecological surgeon in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mukwege has worked to treat thousands of women and girls affected by sexual
violence. Mukwege dedicated his award to the survivors of sexual violence across the world, he said, ‘for almost 20 years I have witnessed war crimes committed against women, girls and even baby girls not only in my country, the Democratic Republic of Congo, but also in many other countries.
The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences 2018: William D. Nordhaus Paul M. Romer
Nobel Prize in Medicine 2018: James P. Allison Tasuku Honjo
“Helped to give greater visibility to wartime sexual violence” ‘To the survivors from all over the world, I would like to tell you that through this prize, the world is listening to you and refusing to remain indifferent. The world refuses to sit idly in the face of your suffering.’
There were 331 candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize for 2018, the second-highest number ever. Of those, 216 were individuals and 115 were organisations, according to the organisers. Alfred Nobel’s will and testament established the Nobel Prize. The Nobel Foundation has recently commissioned a new English translation of the will in order to make Nobel’s original thinking more accessible. Lars Heikensten, Executive Director of the Nobel Foundation, believes that Nobel’s intentions and values are more relevant than ever. Commenting on the most significant change following the new translation, he said, ‘one aspect that might attract interest is the central formulation that the prizes should be awarded to those that have conferred ‘the greatest benefit to humankind’. The earlier version of the English translation said ‘mankind’ but this was now a natural thing to update.’
The Nobel Prize for Literature remains postponed for 2018
Vecteezy
In brief Photo: Pixabay Coca-Cola in talks with marijuana producer Drinks giant Coca-Cola has been in talks with a Canadian producer of marijuana to infuse the ingredient in their beverages. Cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive constituent of cannabis, can help ease inflammation, pain and cramping. It would be the first entry of a major manufacturer of non-alcoholic drinks to enter the market. It comes as Canada prepares to legalise cannabis for recreational use. Jake Morris Uganda’s first LGBT support centre declared criminal An LGBT activist group, Rainbow Riot, plans to open an arts centre in Uganda to provide a safe space for the LGBT community. Government Minister Simon Lokodo has declared this as a criminal act. Homosexuality is illegal in Uganda, but despite this, the project is set to continue and aims to be open by the end of the year. Jake Morris Google to lose its plus Google has announced that they are to close their social media site Google+ within the coming months. Created in 2011 to compete against Facebook’s success, it has failed to gain traction. The platform encouraged users to connect via topics that interested them. However, one Statista survey found that 60 percent of UK Google+ account holders never log in. Jake Morris Support squirrel delays flight A domestic US flight experienced a two-hour delay as police removed a passenger and her ‘emotional support’ squirrel. The passenger originally refused to leave the Frontier flight, having given notice of a support animal. However, the airline said rodents were not allowed under their policy. Fortunately, the squirrel did not suffer the same fate as happened to Pebbles the hamster in February; who was flushed down an aeroplane toilet. Andrew Ferris
Interpol ex-chief Meng Hongwei arrested Chih-Hui Chiu Global Writer
The former President of Interpol, Meng Hongwei, is under investigation by Chinese authorities for bribery, under what seems to be a new form of custody called ‘liuzhi’. Mr Meng went missing on a trip
to China in late September. Before his disappearance, his wife, Grace Meng, reported to French authorities that she received a text message from her husband containing a knife emoji, interpreting it as a sign he was in danger. As the world’s largest international police organisation,
with 192 member countries, Interpol, helps global police forces co-operate on investigations. Mr Meng was the first Chinese president of the Lyon, France, based group. His tenure was meant to end in 2020, but he resigned after Chinese authorities admitted they had detained the former president. Mr Meng is the latest target of
an anti-corruption campaign that critics say is a cover for eliminating political figures disloyal to China’s president, Xi Jinping. ‘Liuzhi’, which means house arrest or house confinement, denies detainees access to lawyers and family contact for up to six months. Interpol has since appointed Kim Jong Yang, of South Korea,
as interim President.
Diarmuid Greene, Flickr
9
23rd October 2018
concrete-online.co.uk/category/global/ | @Concrete_UEA
‘Dangerous undercurrents’ threaten global economy, IMF warns George Goldberg Global Editor
Photo: Vecteezy The International Monetary Fund has warned of growing ‘dangerous undercurrents’ that threaten the world economy. In its biannual Financial Stability
Report, the IMF provided an indepth look into markets and the banking sector a decade on from the Global Financial Crisis. Although the US-based organisation concluded banks are now safer than in 2008, governments should resist dismantling banking regulations put in place to stop a similar financial crash. US President Donald Trump has already rolled back rules in America for small and medium-sized lenders in May, saying that red tape was preventing banks from lending to businesses. In a separate report, the body revised down its economic forecasts for most countries for 2018 and 2019, which stemmed from weak data earlier this year in the Eurozone, UK and Latin America and downgraded global growth by 0.2 percentage points to 3.7 percent.
Maurice Obstfeld, IMF’s chief economist, said, ‘with geopolitical tensions also relevant in several regions, we judge that, even for the near future, the possibility of unpleasant surprises outweighs the likelihood of unforeseen good news.’ The fund said that rising inequality and intensified trade wars could ‘significantly harm global growth’, and that a ‘no-deal’ departure from the European Union for Britain could lead to a disruption in the flow of finance in European money markets. The head of the IMF, Christine Lagarde, said she was concerned by the 60 percent increase in the total value of global debt since the financial crisis. ‘This should serve as a wake-up call,’ she said, as a build-up of debt by some emerging markets would make them more vulnerable to
higher US interest rates. Recent increases by the Federal Reserve, America’s central bank, in an attempt to cool domestic inflationary pressure, may destabilise the likes of Turkey and Argentina as investment begins to flow out towards America as returns to capital are greater.
“The possibilty of unpleasant surprises outweighs the likelihood of unforseen good news”
The IMF also noted that UK finances were at a historically weak
point, with high levels of national debt and a low level of state-held assets. According to one report, out of leading industrialised countries, only Portugal’s net worth was in a poorer position than the UK’s and suggested that taxes may have to be raised to offset the lower level of revenue it was receiving from stateheld assets. It also urged the Bank of England to be ready to provide quantitative easing, the printing of money, in the event of a nodeal Brexit; adding that countries should focus on policies that would generate inclusive growth and wage increase, as despite record lows in unemployment, wage growth has been weak. What do you think of the IMF’s warnings? Let us know @Concrete_ UEA or find us on Facebook and tell us what you think in the comments.
Trump’s UN Ambassador Nikki Haley resigns
Brexit Box Jake Morris
Senior Global Writer
The UK’s withdrawal from the European Union (EU), dubbed Brexit, has continued to dominate headlines these past two weeks, so Concrete is here to give you your succinct guide to everything that has happened. As negotiations between the UK and EU on their future relationship after Britain leaves on 29 March 2019 has unfolded, there have been frequent changes to the tone of these talks. After a rise in tensions at the EU summit in Salzburg, postconference relationships continued to sour with UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt comparing the EU to the Soviet Union. EU Council President Donald Tusk described these comments as insulting. However, EU officials have struck a more upbeat tone since this spat, with President of the European Commission JeanClaude Juncker saying that the chance of a deal had increased. German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung published details of a supposedly leaked UK Government memo that confirmed a deal had already been finalised. Downing Street responded in a statement categorically denying this. The main sticking point in the EU-UK negotiations is the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. To avoid a politically sensitive hard border, whereby goods would be subjected to physical customs checks, the EU has proposed keeping Northern Ireland in the customs union even if the rest of the UK is outside the union. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), who UK Prime Minister Theresa May relies on to support her minority government, has said they would refuse to accept any deal that treats
Northern Ireland differently to the rest of the UK and would withdraw support for Mrs May’s Government by voting against the next Budget. Scottish Conservative Leader Ruth Davidson has also that any deal that compromises the integrity of the UK would cross a red line. One suggested solution is to keep the entire of the UK in a customs union with the EU during a transition period, with no specified end date, whilst a long-term deal is brokered. This suggested arrangement has been widely criticised by Conservatives including Michael Gove, Dominic Raab and Jeremy Hunt. This latest addition to the domestic pressure facing Mrs May caused her to issue a statement to say she will never back a permanent customs union. In other Brexit news, Imperial College has announced plans for academic staff to be jointly employed by Munich Technical College to enable staff to have access to EU research funding. Food giant Unilever has cancelled plans to move its headquarters from London to Amsterdam after Brexit, in a move celebrated by leave supporters. Another significant post-Brexit boost came from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who said the UK would be welcome to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a free trade deal covering 11 countries including Japan, Canada, and Australia.
157
days before Britain is scheduled to exit the European Union
Photo: Vecteezy
Photo: U.S. Mission to the U.N., Flickr
Scott Arthur Global Writer
Nikki Haley, the former Republican Governor of South Carolina, has said that she will resign from her post at the end of 2018. Despite this announcement, Mrs Haley has given no indication as to why she is resigning, leading to speculation that she is preparing a bid to run for the Republican nomination for the 2020 election. This cannot be ruled out: Mrs Haley was previously critical of President Trump during the 2016 Primaries and supported Marco Rubio over the current President. She is also said to have been critical of Trump’s so-called ‘Muslim ban.’ Mrs Haley was the first female Governor of South Carolina, and only the second Indian-American person to ever hold a Governorship. As one of the few female members of Trump’s cabinet, she is allegedly
a good friend of Ivanka Trump – the daughter of President Trump. Interestingly enough, Ivanka was reportedly in the frame to replace the Ambassador but has since announced that she would not be taking the role if it were offered to her. Former deputy security council adviser Dina Powell is also said to be in the frame. Considered a specialist on Middle Eastern policy, she would certainly offer a firm stance towards Syria and Iran, but she was also the architect of the current Administration’s warming of relations with Saudi Arabia, a move that has not gone down entirely well across the political spectrum. This resignation continues the revolving door in the Trump administration; and will potentially damage the United States’ standing on the world stage. While Mrs Haley has attacked the UN for a perceived ‘anti-Israel bias’ and has repeatedly warned against compiling a list of
countries that were not backing the United States. many in the UN saw the Ambassador as a valuable ally in controlling Trump’s more unreliable side, and will eagerly await news of her successor. The resignation is even more significant given the fact that the midterm congressional elections are on the horizon. With the ruling Republican Party facing a real fight to retain hold of the Senate and the House of Representatives, it is entirely possible that Trump will struggle to confirm a new candidate should he pick someone unpalatable to the Democrats. With rumours circulating of a possible Presidential bid in 2020 or 2024, the midterms just around the corner and a variety of foreign policy issues that need to be dealt with, it is easy to see why this resignation has come at a bad time for the Trump administration, but whether it will have any impact in November remains to be seen.
Features
10
23rd October 2018
What will you do after graduation...? Charlotte Manning Features Writer
Having studied Politics for the past two-and-a-bit years, I’m always met with the ‘oh, so you want to be an MP then?’ type questions by family, friends and even taxi drivers (who are always up for a discussion on politics).
“I’m always stuck at answering the question” However, as someone who only studied Politics due to it being something I was interested in, I’m always stuck when asked what I want to do after university or what career I see myself going into. The concept of moving on after university life is daunting. Finding yourself suddenly in your final year and realising that it’s only a matter of months before you’re thrown into the ‘real world’ can be a scary and uncertain time. The phrase
‘graduate’ scheme is sure to fill you with worried thoughts that you won’t be accepted because of your degree background or skills. It can be particularly difficult not to think this way if you’re studying a humanities subject that doesn’t necessarily lead to the certain pathway, as STEM subjects often do. I spoke to employers at UEA’s annual Careers’ Fair, in an attempt to seek reassurance about life after graduation and ask what their top tips were for securing employment. A manager from Marks and Spencer’s set the record straight, saying: ‘It’s not about your degree background, what matters is more about you as a person and that you have a good personality.’ A HR assistant from accountancy firm RSM, was incredibly encouraging: ‘I don’t think any option is out of reach for anybody, really focus on your strengths as a person and what you enjoy because
if you aren’t passionate about something that’s really going to come across at interview stage.’ Even if you’re downbeat from rejection, she told us not to be ‘put off by not being accepted by your
first role, just keep going and keep trying and you will get there.’ An ex UEA student who now works for Zatu Games told us how her project management internship actually led to her being kept on at the company. A s k e d on whether graduates needed a specific degree she said: “It’s so broad, I know some graduates worry that they’ve got really specific degrees and worry what they’re going to do with their degree. We’ve got graduates from every area in our company.’ We also spoke to a postgraduate student who is having her business idea developed by the UEA’s student enterprise scheme, and asked how entrepreneurial students can get their foot in the door. She said ‘everyone’s welcome to come in and talk, there’s an open
door policy. Quite a few students have gone onto be really successful in their businesses. If you have a business idea come in. There’s never a bad business idea, we can help with everything.’ A great hack for getting through the dreading situational judgement tests, a rep from the Barclay’s Graduate Scheme told us, was to ‘look at what a company’s values are, it should say on their website what their core values and beliefs are and use these to tie in with your own existing knowledge and ideas.’
“I don’t think any option is out of reach” Another great tip the graduate who works for Zatu Games gave us was, “Don’t necessarily look for something with the word graduate in it, they might not necessarily be the best jobs for you as a person.” So you don’t even need a finance degree to work in a bank, who knew?
£ £
£
£
£
£ Jess Barret Features Writer
Having relevant work experience is now a must on any student’s CV. The surrounding debate on internships is heating up, as the financial pressure on young people increases. So many companies only offer volunteer positions for students, but is it worth the hassle without reaping the pay? A second-year student said it was ‘cheeky’ and ‘manipulative’ to ask students to volunteer their time and skills without receiving any form of payment. This appeared to be the consensus across the board, many
£
£
£
£
£ £
£ £
£
£
£ £
students saying a flat out ‘no’ to unpaid work unless it provided experience beneficial to their future career path. Another second-year student argues “you’d expect to be paid by an employer so why would an internship be different?” In the process of securing an internship, interns go through the same application process as other employees do, so they should be treated the same. Another UEA undergraduate accepting an internship without pay is simply not an option: “I would have to work for pay, no matter if the job was related to my career or not.“ Accepting a non-paid internship is often a luxury that most students
£
£
£
£
£
£ £ £
cannot afford. Internship and Placement advisor at Careers Central, Raymond Marlborough, acknowledged the difficulty that unpaid internships have on poorer students.
“Having relevant work experience is now a must on any student’s CV” “I believe that although unpaid internships could lead to ‘useful paths’, they put more strain on
£
£
£ £
£
£
£
£ £
£
£
£
Should all internships be paid? £ £ £
£ £
£ £ £ £
students. So Career Central only advertises paid internships that meet the required minimum wage set by the government and they often encourage employers to pay more and ensure that students of all backgrounds have the opportunity to take on relevant paid work experience.” However, many students applying for internships, particularly in the charity sector are loosing out because charities cannot afford the pay them. A second-year development student, who completed a summer internship with an Oxford-based charity was only able to work two days week. “I was disappointed. I feel if I had more time I could have learned
£
£ £
£
£
£
£
so much more but the charity could not afford to pay me more hours and morally they did not feel it was right to let me work for free.” Nowadays, having relevant experience on your CV is a must for any graduate. Being paid for their work makes students feel respected and valued within their internship, incentivised hard work and opened up the opportunity to students struggling financially to gain relevant experience. However, while being paid does reduce the financial strain, sometimes the experience gained from an unpaid internship can be just as valuable so shouldn’t be written off straight away. Have you ever done an unpaid internship? Let us know @Concrete_UEA.
11
23rd October 2018
concrete-online.co.uk/category/features/ | @Concrete_UEA
Decolonising the curriculum Sophie Bunce Concrete Editor
Whether in Comment, News or Features, Concrete has repeatedly returned to the discussion of decolonising the curriculum. As Black History Month reignites the conversation once more, despite being in agreement that things should change, it’s questionable whether anything actually has. We can maintain thoughtful, intelligent conversation, but how long will it remain just that: just a conversation with no causation. African-Caribbean Society’s Events Officer Koshesai Fundira thinks ‘awareness of the issue is more prevalent than it has been before,’ and these conversations have brought it to the attention of academics and universities. Though despite recognising the issue, she suggests that decolonising the curriculum isn’t ‘something many of us have actively seen in our curriculums’ at UEA. As a community, UEA is for the changes and certainly vocal about it but ‘there still is a lot of progress to be made.’
This is a sentiment shared by Ryan Jordan, SU Ethnic Minorities Officer, who insists these changes are ‘essential.’ He hopes that a ‘shift will come sooner than later’, but from discussions with his lecturers, he has found change to be a slow and stubborn process. UEA is making efforts to work towards change. During Black History Month, the campus has seen a wide range of discussion panels and events to bring attention to the issue. Professor Tessa McWatt, Professor Alan Finlayson, Dr Jeremy Noel-Tod, Dr Claire Hynes and guest panellist, Professor Robert Beckford of Canterbury Christchurch University, hosted a panel titled ‘Decolonising the curriculum: how should British universities respond’. Jeremy Noel-Tod, Head of Literature, said: ‘It was really heartening to see such a strong turn-out for the Decolonising the Curriculum event: the 80-seat lecture theatre was standing room only. Many points of view were shared, but there was a consensus that British universities need to think critically about whiteness as a history and an identity that
structures assumptions about academic life, from research to teaching.’ He added: ‘We began to have this conversation seriously in the School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing last year in response to students asking ‘why is my curriculum white?’. What really struck me about the audience discussion was how many students from different UEA schools — both humanities and sciences — came and took part. The event officially ended at 7pm, but students remained in the room talking until nearly 9pm. That gives me hope that the conversation will continue, and that the call for change will be heard across the university.’ It seems awareness is at an all-time high, with everyone from academics to students actively assessing how we can make real, tangible changes to the curriculum outside of the white male box that we are accustomed to. Though it’s hard not to be disheartened that these are still discussions that need to be had. It’s hard not to be frustrated that a year later, we are all in agreement, but within our restricted curriculum.
different every single day do something
something
different
Do something different encourages students to try UEA’s Huge RANGE of Activities for Minimal cost, sparking their interests and developing new skills fInd out more: ueadifferent.com Photos: Yutian Lei
12
23rd October 2018
Black History Month Special
A brief history of Reggae, Windrush and black progression Black History Month Bryan Mfhaladi Features writer
From the mid 17th century, black slaves were being sold, auctioned and inventoried by slave masters until 1833, when the British government passed an act in parliament abolishing the slave trade. It had taken the hard work of numerous people, both black and white, working together to abolish slavery. They included the likes of Olaudah Equiano, William Wilberforce and Thomas Clarkson, to name just a few. Ever since the 1833 act, several strides have been taken to create a level of equality for all races in the United Kingdom and the rest of the world. Despite it being two centuries since the abolishment of slavery, racist attitudes and structures have remained ingrained in society. Perfection is unrealistic in situations of this magnitude, however it is worth taking a look at the progress that had been made. According to the NatCen Social Research centre, racism has fallen by a third in the past six years. Furthermore, interracial marriages are on the rise, black people are getting decent jobs with better salaries and job security, and more black students are going to university and graduating with First- Class Honours. However, regardless of the strides that have been made since 1833, the number of reported racist incidents in England and Wales have been gradually increasing, particularly since the Brexit vote. Statistics from the ONS showed that in 2017/18, there were 94,098 hate crime offences recorded by the police in England and Wales, an increase of 17 percent compared with the previous year. Data on hate crimes and prejudice, however, is not very accurate because many racist incidents, especially in the black community, go unreported because of their lack of trust in the justice system of the country. This lack of confidence has been
brought about by the fact that black people are more likely to be stopped by the police even though the vast majority produce no evidence of involvement in crime. In an attempt to eradicate racial discrimination as a whole, the British law has done its best in condemning racism with the Race Relations Acts and the Equality Acts. The law is also now harsher on the use of racist words and slurs, by giving prison sentences in some cases, largely to act as a deterrent. All that is left is changing people’s mindset on racism and equality and even here, despite the increase in cases of racism worldwide, positive changes can be seen.
“The process
will never end until there is a complete elimination of discrimination”
There has been a decrease of segregation, more people are standing up for minority groups, more youth have proven that they have friends of other races, especially black, and there have been cases of all races working together to tackle racism in universities and communities. An example being last year’s case where a UEA student writing a racist Facebook post that called black people ‘violent, aggressive and racist’; UEA were quick to investigate the matter because of their zero tolerance on any form of hatred or discrimination. However, due to the fact that these instances still occur, it seems that academic institutions need to change the way they deal with instances of racism and discrimination in order to ensure any real progress is made. There is certainly more work to be done. Let us know your thoughts on Twitter @Concrete_UEA.
Concrete catches up with the award-winning Reggae artist Scratchylus ahead of his BHM tour Ryan Jordan
Ethnic Minorities Officer I’m Ryan Jordan - your Ethnic Minorities Officer. The theme for this year’s Black History Month is the 70th anniversary of Windrush: a notable period in history in which the ship MV Empire Windrush carried several hundred individuals from Caribbean countries to the UK. Its first voyage took place in 1948, however it’s not only people it carried along the way, but decades of discrimination and controversy too. In order to celebrate BHM this year, the Womanist Society, the African Caribbean Society and I have organised a showcase of music and art. Despite touring around other universities across the UK to promote his educational and politically-charged songs, award-winning artist Scratchylus will be coming to our campus on 27 October, to perform in the Hive along with UEA students. I had the pleasure to interview him about his music and experiences of Windrush: When did you get into writing and performing music? I have been writing and performing music for the last 20 years. What are your inspirations and why? I am inspired mostly by my mum and by the words spoken in all music, especially Reggae. Reggae music highlights truth and justice; it brings communities together and has a heavy bass line with words, sound and power. What are you hoping to achieve while touring around universities for Black History Month?
The main aim of the Black History Month Tour is to raise awareness about the Windrush Generations; to highlight the arrogance, naivety and false perceptions that surround it, and of course to interact with the students, have fun and Reset The Mindset. Can you speak to me more about Windrush? To start off with Windrush was a boat that brought invited people from all over the Caribbean to help rebuild the UK after the devastation of the Second World War. They came as doctors, nurses, labourers, working on the London Underground and within the Royal Mail. They also came with manners and courtesy, but because of willful neglect, racism, arrogance and naivety, they found out after all these years, after all the sores and the blisters, that they still had no status in the UK. Do you think music can help reach an audience in order to make a difference and how so? Music is a universal language and spoken word can transcend and resonate with people that are thinking the same things but don’t know how to articulate it in a contextual way. Therefore, music acts as a vehicle of education. Do you have any advice for black students trying to make it in the
performing arts industry? My first advice to students would be to stay focused, nurture your skills, practise every day. Know what you want out of the music business, and listen to good sound advice from people with experience. What are your career plans for the future? My plans are to keep Resetting The Mindset near and far. This will be an open-mic event, with the opportunity to showcase art in a gallery space. If you are a black student and would like to perform or showcase your art, contact me via e-mail: ryan. jordan@uea.ac.uk
Leave to remain does not give the right to permanent residency Immigration Act but has been allowed to Hostile Environment November: Paulette stay in the UK without Act introduced Wilson opens up about introduced and time limit. being threatened to to crackdown on commonwealth citizens immigrants in the UK. being sent back to granted leave to Workers from the Jamaica, a place she remain. Caribbean start hasn’t been for almost arriving in the UK. 50 years.
Fifty years of Windrush: 1971 A timeline
1948-1971
2010
2017
13
23rd October 2018
Black History Month Special
Diversity in the creative industries Chloe Howcroft Features Co-Editor
‘White, male and middle class.’ There’s always something so poignant about a power of three to emphasise a point, isn’t there? But perhaps the use of the word ‘power’ here may also emphasise a hint of irony, for this triple threat can often act as a hindrance to many individuals striving to work within a myriad of sectors - the creative industries being a prime example. Now what if we were to take another ‘power’ of three? Black, Asian and Minority E t h n i c (BAME), f o r example. Not such a triple threat, some might suggest. But why? According to the Employment Census published by Creative Skillsets in 2012, BAME represented a mere 5.4 percent in the creative industries, yet the UK prides itself on being a largely diverse and inclusive nation. Are we sensing more irony here? More to the point, if there is such a vast imbalance in the sector, what hope do young individuals from underrepresented communities have when wanting to pursue careers in the industry? Third year Politics and Media Studies student Edu Opaluwa aspires to become a Political Editor, but shares her concerns about the future of her chosen career. ‘I’ve always been interested in becoming a journalist, and becoming an editor would just be the icing on the top. ‘[But] if I’m honest, it wasn’t until I realised how very few BAME journalists there are in high positions compared to non-BAME that I noticed there was a problem. I think being so aware of my skin colour and how it can be perceived and linked to out of date stereotypes
worries me. ‘I definitely have faith in the newer generation of individuals, but there are loads of people who still have preconceived notions of black people, and those people still have a lot of power in the industry.’ While there is no magic formula that can change structures that have been ingrained into our society and culture for countless years overnight, hope may still prevail. Cue: Creative Access, a not-forprofit social enterprise which prides itself on being ‘the only organisation in the UK dedicated to recruiting BAME talent in the creative industries’. Founded in 2012 by Josie D o b r i n , C h i e f Executive of Creative Access, and two other
5.4% BAME representation in the creative industries
entrepreneurs, the not-for-profit offers internships across ten different creative sectors, from newspaper and magazine publishing to radio and television. ‘It was a perfect storm, the way Creative A c c e s s came about,’ Dobrin tells me as we sit in one of the meeting r o o m s provided by ITV at their Holborn office in the heart of London (which, according to the British census in 2011, was 40 percent BAME and 14 percent non-
white). ‘We were of the belief that media and creative companies had to be creating content that would reach all audiences. We began getting in contact with professionals across the sector who could train individuals. ‘The bread and butter of what
“I’m a big advocate for positive discrimination” we do is placing interns or trainees in creative companies, [which] are all paid internships, typically between 3 and 12 months.’ Support is offered throughout the process, from guidance with CVs and cover letters, to a buddy system which pairs up fellow interns to share experiences. After ‘graduating’ from an internship, an individual can move on to their development programme, an area in need of more funding. At present, Creative Access has trained nearly 1,000 interns and holds partnerships with over 300 employers, including ITV and the National Theatre.
December: Anthony Bryan is the second of the Windrush February: Senior generation facing Caribbean diplomats deportation due to the Hostile urge the Home Office to adopt a “more Environment compassionate” policy - legal intervention at approach towards retirement-age the last minute Commonwealth stopped citizens. him being deported.
2018
diversify the workforce. ‘I think it’s really important that companies don’t do this just to tick boxes, which is why our training programme works really well because it’s a real commitment on both sides. I think it makes a difference if people can progress, to have a path to go through. ‘I’m a big advocate for positive discrimination because I feel that the truth is, white people have had that privilege for so long. This issue of diversity is bad at entry level, but is terrible at senior level. What we are trying to do is create leaders of the future.’ Looking closer to home, the reality of diversity within the student media alone is also of interest. It was Yinbo Yu, NUS International Students’ Officer and former Activities and Opportunities Officer at UEA, who suggested in the 2017 War of Words Conference that the UEA Media Collective lacked BAME representations. He brought attention to the fact that, having participated in student media himself, it is largely all white and lacking in diversity of other ethnic origins: ‘If you walk into the media offices of student newspapers, it’s all white. If you look at the writers, it’s all white.’ Which is why - drum roll Creative Access is Concrete’s chosen organisation to fundraise for during this academic year. Sophie Bunce, Concrete’s Editor-in-Chief, had further constructive criticism for the student newspaper itself. ‘The Media Collective is a thriving creative and inclusive space and I feel incredibly lucky to work within our diverse group. B u t to say that we represent everyone simply isn’t true and something I a m making active changes to address. ‘Through our w o r k
with Creative Access, I hope to show our commitment to diversity, making it a fundamental part of how Concrete operates. Our publication has elevated student voices for the last 27 years and I want to ensure that involves everyone. It is a pleasure to be working with [them].’ On behalf of the Creative Access team, Dobrin expresses the gratification of this partnership with Concrete. ‘It’s so important to us to have support from the ground. Young people are who we live for, and every penny makes a difference.’ We hope that you will follow our progress in making the student newspaper a more diverse and inclusive creative outlet, as well as our endeavours to make small changes in tackling the imbalances
“Being so aware that my skin colour [is] linked to out of date stereotypes worries me” across the creative sector as a whole. We will keep you updated on how you can get involved with any fundraising efforts across the year. Three final words: diversity, inclusivity and fundraise. If you would like to get involved, get in touch with us via our Twitter @Concrete_UEA. Photo credits: Silhouettes Pixabay. Sratchylus wikicommons. Timeline below (L-R): wikicommons, BBC, Pixabay, BBC, wikicommons, Chris McAndrew
Tr a i n i n g is also provided to employers too, in order to
March: Public anger spreads as it emerges that a man who has lived in England for 44 years is told to produce a British passport or face a £54,000 bill for cancer treatment – forcing him to go without.
April: Bishops plead April 23: for an immigration The Home Secretary says the amnesty, Downing Home Office Street says no to a will waive formal diplomatic citizenship request to consider the issue at a fees for the meeting with Windrush Commonwealth generation, and leaves heads of position government. later that week.
Hey UEA
14
#UEA
@norwichnightline
23rd October 2018
@ueawfc
@duulcie
Media Collective News ‘Did you go to the recruitment fair?’ 35% 65%
Livewire is hosting the Student Chart Show on Sunday 28 October (2-4pm) which will be broadcasted nationally across other student radio stations! It’s their biggest show of the year and this year is Halloween themed and jam packed with the hottest hits, prizes to be won and much much more! Tune in at www.livewire1350.com so you don’t miss out! UEATV will be screening the 48 hour film entries at the forum on Tuesday 30. Anyone’s welcome! More info on Facebook/Twitter.
Want to feature in our roundup? Find us at @Concrete_UEA or use the hashtag #HeyUEA
Scan the code to become a Concrete member
23rd October 2018
15
The archive:
While our front page story for this issue explores changes to Hub procedures regarding extenuating circumstances and extensions, this issue’s archive looks at criticisms to school Hubs in May 2012. Ex Editor-in-Chief Amy Adams reported that over 90 percent of students were receiving coursework back after 20 days. Do you think things have improved with the Hub? Will changes to extensions affect how work is processed and returned? Let us know how you feel on Twitter @Concrete_UEA.
run by students, for students buddy(su) is the number one way to settle in at UEA, make friends, get to grips with uni life and find your way around campus and the fine city of Norwich. sign up now: uea.su/opportunities/buddysu
Comment
16
23rd October 2018
Black History Month “All histories, heritages and peoples should be equal” Photo: Pixabay
Seàn Bennett Comment Writer
Wandsworth Council’s renaming of Black History Month, a tradition that’s over 30 years old, to Diversity Month has unsurprisingly prompted
no shortage of responses, many of which were less than positive. It’s odd it’s happening now, four years after the change actually took place.
However, the move did raise some interesting questions about the event that remain largely unanswered today. Is it still necessary? Is it inclusive enough? What does it achieve? Ok, let’s get this out of the way first: Black History Month is, objectively, a ridiculous thing to have to be doing in 21st century liberal democracies. In societies such as ours. All histories, heritages and peoples should be equal. End of story, no exceptions. Sure, we can expect English schools to focus more on English history, just as any nation teaches its own history more than others; but that doesn’t mean English history is better or more important, and it certainly doesn’t mean that we need to anglicise history as a whole. But, in many cases, we do. It is an uncomfortable truth for many, but history really is written by the victor. Consequently, the stories and heritages of the oppressed tend to become buried and tarnished by biased accounts and guilty redactions. The ethos behind Black History Month has never been to carve out a time where Black History stands above all others, only to return to inaccurate obscurity for the other 11 months of the year. Rather, it serves as a reminder there are many sides to history and the view you were first shown is probably not the full story. History viewed from just a Black perspective, or a Hispanic perspective would be equally incomplete. Race aside, any event
witnessed by more than one person will produce multiple historical perspectives. Only an amalgamation of those differing accounts would serve as an accurate representation of the event. I see what Wandsworth Council were trying to achieve with their change to Diversity Month. They wanted to reflect on all of the alternative histories and heritages represented in their society. It’s actually quite a good idea and a noble intent, no doubt, but perhaps slightly misjudged. By lumping all ‘diverse’ groups together, there is a risk that the old ways of ‘us and them’ might prevail. That we will once again lack the minorities view, and instead the view of the majority will prevail with very little nuance. But then, maybe not. Perhaps by changing Black History Month to Diversity Month we might usher in the next age of internationalism and inclusiveness in history and culture for all. In the end, the main take away is this: like Pride Parades and Gender quotas in business, Black History Month or Diversity month are short term fixes to long term, systemic problems of inequality and oppression. The open-minded, equal and liberal democratic society we want to live in simply does not exist yet, and we have to realise that to move forward. That’s not to say that in our liberal utopia we won’t still celebrate our differing cultures, histories and identities; we just won’t have to raise awareness for those things, because we will all be celebrating together.
Forget Brexit, Denmark is next and reasonable trade, it was almost inevitable we were going to crash out. So the question is, are there any other countries like us? The UK is one of a few countries who give more money to the EU than they receive back, with a loss of about £7bn to £8bn. That forgets about the economic boosts the EU provides, but disregarding those, the UK makes a loss in terms of direct money in to money out.
Matthew Branston Comment Writer
A recent survey by Friends of Europe said 64 percent of Europeans aren’t convinced life would be worse without the EU. Coming in the wake of Brexit, it’s interesting to wonder if more and more countries will leave the EU. Will Sweden become SweDONE? Will France be saying AdiEU? Apologies, and I think not. The UK is a special case in the EU. It’s separate to the other European nations, both in a literal ‘we’re an island’ sense, but also within a greater ideological gulf. I don’t think the UK ever took the idea of the European Union and ran with it. It’s kind of been like the toddler who was given a plate of Brussels sprouts, peas and broccoli and told they must eat them before getting dessert. So the UK has been agreeing to all these regulations, laws and agreements, with the promise of getting the economic benefit for dessert, but one day realised they might as well try and bake their own cake. Now I’m not going to insult Her Majesty’s Government, but generally toddlers are bad bakers.
The issue is that we never wanted to be part of this homogenous state, with a shared currency, shared politics and shared laws. The fact is that Britain signed up for an economic partnership. Whether or not that was an accurate reflection of what was offered, it certainly isn’t what the founders of the EU were imagining. When the EU was mandating things beyond agreeing on fair
Photos: Wikimedia Commons
Another country in that situation is Denmark. Just as the UK infamously does not use the Euro (something I’m personally in agreement with), Denmark is exempt too.
“We never wanted to be part of this homogenous state” Finally, the second largest party in Denmark is the right wing, nationalistic Danish People’s Party, who thrive on Euroscepticism. Denmark seems pretty close to the perfect storm that led to Brexit. So if the question were what is the next Brexit, my guess would be Denmark. I don’t know if it will happen, and I certainly hope it doesn’t. But with the increasing possibility of major economic turmoil, and the rise of nationalism and far-right politics, you have to be doubtful about the future of what could’ve been one of humanity’s greatest successes.
17
23rd October 2018
concrete-online.co.uk/category/comment/ | @Concrete_UEA
Joe Williams: “Religion is good for society” In Concrete’s previous issue, Comment Writer Matt Branston cited research from St Mary’s University in Twickenham, which found that 70 percent of 16 to 29-year-olds in the UK have ‘no religious affiliation’. After listing a number of criminal organisations, Branston concluded ‘it won’t be a loss to the world if religion dies out.’ This is a fanciful overreaction. Whilst it’s true atheism is now the norm, religion isn’t going anywhere. Nietzsche, hardly the first atheist, proclaimed the death of God back in 1882. How then do as many as 30 percent of today’s young remain believers? If atheism really is the global movement towards truth and enlightenment many claim it is, then this rebellious proportion should be far lower, with religion relegated to the status of a conspiracy theory. But the fact religion has survived such buffeting for hundreds of years is proof of its endurance. The survival of religion really isn’t a bad thing. On the contrary, religion is good for society. We only have to look at our own campus for proof of that. All students and staff can enjoy
a number of societies and their events, from regular religious observances such as the Catholic Society’s celebrations of Mass, to special events such as the Indian and Hindu Societies’ annual Diwali Ball, or the Islamic Society’s Halal Food Fest later this month. These all contribute to UEA’s rich campus culture and emphasise that religion is actually about community and shared experiences.
“Just because it doesn’t help you doesn’t mean it’s not the backbone of other people’s lives” Particularly important is the support network religious groups provide, especially with the current crisis in mental health services nationwide. Are we really more enlightened today than we were back in the dusty, candle-lit cloisters of our distant religious past? Of course not. Just look at how awful the world is. The popularity of
atheism today is less to do with some kind of scientific progress towards mass intelligence and wisdom, and more to do with the pervasive nature of capitalism. The atrocities and criminal actions a small proportion of people commit in the name of religion should not overshadow the great things religious groups do to oppose capitalism and its ruinous effects. Climate breakdown, poverty and famine are all on the agenda of various religious charities and organisations. Take Zakat for example, one of The Five Pillars of Islam, charitable almsgiving to the poor, which is at odds with the greed of our contemporary society. Or look at the teachings of Jesus: ‘It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’ The great thing about the modern world is the ability to decide for yourself what you do and don’t believe, and that survey’s data is proof that a large number of young people are still gaining a lot from religion. We should praise religion and its survival. Just because it doesn’t help you doesn’t mean it’s not the backbone of other people’s lives. And long may it continue.
Rubbishing the revamp Dan Box
Comment Writer
The SU shop: that mythical land of the meal deal, birthplace of the far too tempting garlic bread slices and the majestic citadel of those industrial sized bottles of Lambrini. It’s the stuff of legend, with tales of warmth and joy passed on from generation to generation. Okay, so it’s not quite first-trip-to-IKEA amazing, but I’m sure we can all agree it’s a pretty good shop. At least it was until the revamp. Let’s get one thing clear to start off with: living as a student is not cheap, not by any stretch of the imagination. Managing to keep your food bill down is easier said than done. Often the smallest things make the biggest difference. Take meal deals for example. Last academic year the price of a meal deal was £3.29, now it’s £3.49, which is a real kick in the teeth for those students who literally end up counting their pennies. For many a cheaper meal deal was a potential lifeline, a small but significant jigsaw piece that made student life a little bit more affordable. A d d i t i o n a l l y, the shift from the SU shop’s partnership with the Co-Op to SPAR is at
best poorly considered. This switch of partners means students can no longer get their ten percent NUSExtra or TOTUM card discount. Many students already have their wallets pushed to the limit by the unfairly high rent prices of halls. This shift from the Co-Op to SPAR may mean the difference between being able to afford three nutritious meals a day and only being able to afford two. Did the SU really consider these changes? Sure, the pseudoWaitrose aesthetic makeover looks lovely. Sure, the Value-SU might help some people on a tight budget. Yet the SU shop goes nowhere near far enough. Fiveways offers Tesco’s generally lower prices as well as Co-Op’s bargain wonky-veg section, discount section and the 10 percent NUS-Extra or TOTUM discount. Students shouldn’t have to make the ten minute stroll from campus to find cheaper goods. A Student Union shop should be a resource to make day-to-day life easier for students and make necessities more affordable. Maybe next time the SU fancies making changes, it might just pause and wonder how they will affect the students who are struggling to get by.
Photo: C. E. Matthews
Social media: “an alternate and enhanced reality”
Photo: Pixabay
Sophie Leach Comment Writer
Yes, I’m afraid this is an article bashing millennial culture, and this time it’s coming from one of your own instead of a middle-aged white man who thinks Instagram is worse than purgatory. I’m a traitor.
“We scarper away from the reality of talking directly to one another” Despite my reluctance to side with people belittling our
generation’s digital presence, social culture and political activism, or the fact we all look weirder than they did in the 80s, we shouldn’t be afraid to self-analyse. If you step outside the bubble of personal broadcasting, selfies and memes - what’s deemed the social norm among our peers - it’s alienating to observe social media from a distance. I started thinking about it after an odd encounter at the restaurant I work at. A girl I went to school with who regularly engages with my social media content sat down in my section. I feel slightly awkward when I’m forced to serve people I know because my customer service voice is creepy; but I smiled and said hello in anticipation for five minutes of politely strained catching up before
we could both move on with our respective days. I was surprised when she replied with not even the slightest token of friendliness or recognition and instead bluntly listed her order. Granted, I hadn’t seen her in years, but this is an individual who has liked pictures of me drinking out of a giant Wetherspoons cocktail jug, sent cry-laughing emojis in response to videos of my friends and I, and complemented videos of me singing. Yet when looking at me dead in the eye in real life, she couldn’t muster anything more than a rushed demand for service. It was surreal. I had never really processed how vastly different our online behaviour translates to real life. It also made me question why I broadcast my life in the first
place for people who won’t even acknowledge me in person. These are people who can happily sprinkle likes and comments around but can’t have a conversation with their recipients. It’s as if we’re peering into soundproof cages at a zoo, monitoring the activities of our acquaintances from a safe distance. Yet, when that barrier dissolves and we’re stood face to face, we scarper away from the reality of talking directly to one another. It’s easier to absorb information about other people from the comfort of a screen. The problem is we’re not just broadcasting our lives, we’re manufacturing an alternate and enhanced reality, which we in turn absorb from other people. We select and edit photos
or posts to best emphasise the experiences we’re having for no other reason than to boost people’s reactions to them. It’s as if they’re living vicariously through our glorified filters. When we’re doing something impressive or fun our first instinct is to pick up our phones and share it on social media with people who we barely know or interact with in real life. Why do we do this? Are we so desperate to validate our actions and existence that we crave it even in a superficial digital form from people who aren’t present in our intimate lives? It seems to me we at least need to acknowledge the synthetic qualities of our online behaviour and its potential incompatibility with real life.
18
23rd October 2018
Science
2
Is the internet making us ill?
2
Cancer Therapy wins Nobel Prize for Medicine
Freya Hartshorn
Science Writer
The 2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to two immunologists who have discovered how to fight advanced skin cancer with the body’s own immune system. Professor James P. Allison and Professor Tasuku Honjo will share the Nobel Prize sum of nine million Swedish kronor (£763,866) for their discovery of immune checkpoint therapy. Prof Allison of the University of Texas is the director of the Cancer Research Institute scientific advisory council; his career and findings have been based around his longstanding interest in white blood cell development and activation. Prof Allison discovered a ‘brake’ (or immune checkpoint) on white blood cells which limits their fighting potential so that our immune system does not attack our
own body. If this brake were to be released, there would be the potential for our own white blood cells to attack cancers within our body.
“Professor James P. Allison and Professor Tasuku Honjo will share the Nobel Prize sum” Ipilimumab, a drug that releases these brakes, was approved by the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) in 2011 for the treatment of malignant melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. Prof Tasuku Honjo of the Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine at Kyoto University is the former president of the Japanese Society for
Anna José Science Editor
Reports of internet-related medical conditions are on the rise. From Cyberchondria to Cyber Hoarding, many of these techno-age disorders are thought to be digital versions of analogue conditions. Whilst most internet usage is not dangerous to health, specialists are interested in understanding whether these new conditions are likely to be short or long-term issues, and who is most at risk. Dr Valerie Voon, Senior Research Associate at the University of Cambridge, has said that once health professionals have identified internet-related issues in their patients, they should try to mediate and mitigate [that] vulnerability, and perhaps identify treatment options earlier rather than later. Prof Naomi Fineberg,
Immunology. Prof Honjo discovered another brake of a similar nature on the white blood cells that operates by a different mechanism. The release of this brake using drugs proved to be a promising strategy in the fight against cancer. Immune checkpoint therapy is being used by the NHS to treat people with malignant melanoma. Unfortunately, it does not work for every patient, but for many it is able to remove the tumour entirely before it can spread throughout the body. This treatment has also been used in patients with advanced lung cancer. Prof Allison and Prof Honjo’s successes have changed the way in which we think about cancer treatment. Some patients who could not be cured in the past now have a way of managing their disease. Although this method of treating cancer is still relatively new, it is exciting to see how the field will progress in the future.
C o n s u l t a n t Psychiatrist at University of Hertfordshire, suggested that internet-related conditions merit scrutiny. The European Problematic Use of the Internet Research Network has been created to examine patterns of internet usage and its implications on health in more detail. Although, large studies could take years to complete. Two conditions which Prof Fineberg has seen an increase of in her clinic are Cyber Hoarding and
Cyberchondria. Cyber Hoarding is the reluctance to delete information gathered online. The information hoarded is often of no relevance to the user, yet deleting or removing it can cause high levels of anxiety. For example, the user could be worried about losing one important email, so chooses not to delete any of their emails for fear of accidentally removing the important one. Cyberchondria, much like its non-internet related counterpart, Hypochondria, involves compulsively searching for reassurance about medical fears. Users can spend hours trying to match their symptoms to often unreliable online sources. This can lead to false self-diagnosis and unnecessary distress. Due to the recent rise in the prevalence of such conditions, it is likely that health professionals will begin to work in collaboration w i t h
technology companies to flag the most vulnerable users. Methods of detection could include using digital biomarkers, which track patterns in personal internet usage and alert at-risk users. Despite the concerns raised, it is important to remember the many benefits of moderate internet usage, which has completely revolutionised the way we live our lives over the past thirty years.
Science Festival returns to Norwich Hannah Brown Senior Science Writer
If you are reading this article, chances are you have an interest in science. If this is the case, you probably would be interested to know that Norwich Science Festival began on the 19 October, and will continue until the 27. Norwich Science Festival is your
chance to explore the wonders of the universe, meet the scientists whose research has changed our world. The event also offers the opportunity to debate big questions with some big-thinkers, says the festival’s website. The festival definitely has some great events both paid and free, being offered. The festival has dozens of events
taking place at different venues around Norwich, although they predominantly take place at The Forum, where they are coordinated by The Forum Trust. Whilst there are some events catered to children such as The Ugly Animal Roadshow and Fartology, there are many for adults, from talks and debates to workshops and larger events. With categories from every part
of the world of science, there is something for everyone, whether your interest is in astronomy, engineering, medicine, physics, the environment, or more advanced technology. Headline events include talks from Prof Alice Roberts, cameraman Doug Allan, and a Women in Science panel featuring Angela Saini, Chelsea Slater, Dr Ozak Esu and Dr Suze Kundu.
To get involved, simply go to the website norwichsciencefestival. co.uk and search for the events you are interested in. Alternatively, there are booklets featuring all of the events around Norwich City Centre visit The Forum (next to the Market) for more information. Photos: Pixabay, Wikimedia Commons
19
23rd October 2018
concrete-online.co.uk/category/science/ | @Concrete_UEA
Genetics research ‘biased towards studying white Europeans’ Sylvie Tan Science Writer
Images : Pixabay
Professor David Curtis, a geneticist and psychiatrist from University College London, has raised an issue concerning the heavy bias within genetic research towards white Europeans. Prof Curtis claims that the utilisation of white European samples for genetic tests are insignificant when applied to other ethnic minorities because of genetic variation between ethnicities. Prof Curtis wrote a letter to the Medical Research Council (MRC) and Wellcome Trust last December, in which he detailed his concerns and notified the leaders that the diversification of genetic testing is needed as UK medical science stands at risk of being accused of being institutionally racist. Certainly there is a bias towards European samples. ‘It definitely stands to
reason that European populations will be first to benefit,’ said Doug Speed, a statistician studying the genetics of disease at Aarhus University in Denmark.
“Ethnic minorities are underrepresented in the UK Biobank” With the expansion of the clinical application of genetics over the next decade, this calls for an urgent and equal representation of ethnic minorities in genetic studies. Currently, ethnic minorities are underrepresented in the UK Biobank where 94.6 percent of the Biobank samples are from white British participants, while the rest of the samples are from minority groups. Clearly, there needs to be an even ethnic distribution to represent everyone.
Prof Curtis reinstates the need for diversification by pointing out the case of polygenic risk scores - an individual’s risk of disease calculated by the contribution of genes. These risk scores can predict the likeliness of gene-related conditions such as high blood pressure and schizophrenia. Using this score, Prof Curtis discovered that the test predicted those with African ancestry to be ten times more at risk of schizophrenia than those with European ancestry. This was found to be the case not because people with African ancestry are more prone to schizophrenia, but because the genetic markers used were from studies where participants had European ancestry. Thus, to secure equality in health, there needs to be more ethnic groups involved in genetic studies in order to confidently offer ethnic minorities the same tests provided to white Europeans. Prof Curtis states: ‘It seems grossly unfair to me that people from ethnic minorities are funding Photo: unsplash.com this research through paying their
taxes but are then not receiving the full benefits from it.’ Leaders from both the MRC and Wellcome Trust have acknowledged Prof Curtis’ concern and are funding projects such as the East London Genes and Health and the Human Hereditary and Health in Africa Initiative to re-address the balance. Dr Richardson, the head of molecular and cellular medicine at the MRC said, ‘the MRC will continue to support population research that looks at health and disease in diverse demographic groups, including ethnic, socioeconomic and age.’
Fingerprint drug developed at UEA
Evlyn Forsyth-Muris Science Writer
A new form of drug testing has been developed through research carried out at UEA by the company Intelligent Fingerprinting. The revolutionary drug screen can detect four groups of drugs from the sweat on just one fingertip, making it as easy to test for drugs as it is to unlock your smartphone. The four drugs which can be tested for are Tetrahydrocannabinol (cannabis), cocaine, opiates
(heroine) and amphetamines (e.g. crystal meth).
“The new test can test for all four of these drugs simultaneously” The test works not by detecting the drug itself but the products your
body produces when it breaks it down, which are called metabolites. These metabolites exist in the sweat after a person has taken the drug and are specific to the type of drug that was used. The new test can test for all four of these drugs simultaneously in just ten minutes, and the sample takes just five seconds to collect on a cartridge about the size of your campus card. It’s simple and easy to use and less embarrassing than a urine test. And because of the nature of the sample it’s not a biohazard like
a urine or blood sample would be, meaning no special preparation facilities or waste disposal measures are needed. Because of these advantages over traditional testing, the fingerprint testing can be used in a wide number of environments from the workplace, airports and prisons, to in the field with the army. Itís also been shown to be effective on the deceased, enabling the coroners service to have quick and easy access to a potential cause of death. This can lead to improved
decision making for autopsy plans and speed up police enquires. One version of the test was even able to detect a date rape drug Lorazepam, which could assist the police in dealing more considerately with victims. And none of this compromises on the accuracy of the tests, with cannabis having an accuracy of 99 percent and amphetamines having the lowest at 93 percent, comparable with traditional blood and urine tests. A new era of drug testing could be just around the corner thanks to UEA research.
23rd October 2018
Travel
20
Exploring Halloween across the globe Sam Hewitson Travel Writer
It’s time for people to knock on your door trick or treating, carve pumpkins, and most notably, the more recent tradition of going to a party, probably dressed as a zombie, in order to drink a little too much and be a literal zombie the next morning.
recently, Disney’s Coco (2017), have made it more widely recognised, but what is actually celebrated? On 31 October, the gates of Heaven open, in order for souls to return to their families, with homemade altars of fruit, nuts, chocolate, drinks, and more
"The gates of Heaven open, in order for souls to return to their families" Halloween as we know it is a largely Western and Americanised event, but how are Halloween, and similar festivities, celebrated outside the Western world, and what factors tie all of the varying celebrations together? The most prevalent alternative to Halloween is Dia de los Muertos, The Day of the Dead, in Mexico. Its representation in mainstream films such as the opening of the Bond film Spectre (2015), and more
awaiting the families’ returning ancestors and relatives. To coincide with this, parades and parties are thrown to celebrate the
Pixabay
specifically, Pan de Muertos (bread of the
dead)
deceased, with a huge emphasis on costume and decoration, which is reminiscent, of course, of our Halloween festivities. In a similar vein of welcoming
returning souls, the Hungry Ghost Festival in Hong Kong, which is held from the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, around mid-August to mid-September, is dedicated to feeding the souls that are said to roam the Earth due to their annual restlessness around this time. In India, the celebration of Pitru Paksha occurs, which derives from certain beliefs in Hinduism. In Hinduism, when someone dies, they are taken to purgatory
to join three generations of their family, only to return to Earth to visit their living family during Pitru Paksha. During this festival, the ritual of Shraddha, a fire ritual, must be carried out to guarantee their family’s place in the afterlife. If this ritual is not performed, then the souls that have returned from purgatory are subjected to roam Earth for all eternity and not progress to the afterlife. The common thread here, which our Halloween celebrations miss, is the idea of paying respect to the dead and honouring them. The focus on the ancestors that have left us transcends multiple cultures and religions, which subsequently highlights the increased triviality of Halloween celebrations of the West. The West simply uses Halloween as an excuse to dress up and have fun, but just with a theme of horror and spookiness, whereas alternative cultures still maintain the fundamental reasoning for the festivities, and although elements of triviality have inserted their way into the celebrations. For example, costume, it is used as a manner of respect, and triviality has not taken them over entirely.
Sean Bennett: in wonder of wonderlust I recently heard a story about an elderly man in Suffolk. Born and bred in the county, he was very proud to pronounce that he has never been beyond the county line. All he had ever known was Suffolk, for 80 plus years. He had never travelled, never gone out to see the world, and now, as he approached the end of his life, he almost certainly never would. And though he himself didn’t seem to mind this, I found myself suddenly overcome with pity and an acute sense of loss on his behalf. I felt that this life, the life of a man who I would never meet, had been wasted.
"Born and bred in the county, he was very proud to pronounce that he has never been beyond the county line"
The thing about wanderlust is that it’s not just a personal, individual desire to travel and see the world - it’s the belief that travel is a fundamental necessity of the human condition, shared by all.
It’s a conviction of almost religious significance, a feeling that needs to be shared, but why? It is the sights, sounds and interactions with those quite different from yourself. It’s education without a classroom and experience without the guide. It is, in short, the human race getting to know itself, and improving all the while because of it. What is it about travel that seems to have us all so enchanted? I believe that wanderlust is a symptom of something: the desire isn’t actually for travel, but for self improvement. Everybody spends their lives looking to be richer, more fulfilled, happier and healthier, and when we have loving family and friends, we wish for those things for them too, just as they do for us. We seek education, experiences and challenges, all of which will enrich us as people and make us more knowledgeable, more interesting and more successful. All traits which travel can provide us with. We’ve all heard the phrase ‘travel broadens the mind’ and as cliché as it sounds, it really does have a ring of truth to it. The value of experiencing different cultures, especially those very different from our own, cannot be overstated. There is an inherent education in spending time outside of one’s cultural comfort zone. It’s
not just an experience that will make good stories, it’s a crash course in the human condition.
"The best way to dismantle unconscious biases and unrecognised privileges to see the world outside of your own" You learn about the hardships and history of the country you are visiting, you sample their food and see their art and when you return home, you understand the world and it’s people just that little bit better. The best way to dismantle unconscious biases and unrecognised privileges is to see the world outside of your own, especially coming from a country as wealthy and developed as the UK. It’s important for us to see that our way of life is not the only way, or the right way, it’s just the way we know. Revelations like these are the perfect antidote to intrusive biases, because they broaden our frame of reference for the world. When unconscious, internalised racism or xenophobia strike, we have the
Im
ag
e: P
ixa
b
ay personal experiences to combat them. In short, I believe travel can do more than just open your mind; it can make you a better person, and who doesn’t want to become a better person? Philosophy aside, travel is just fun; the freedom to fly away and separate yourself, even if only for a few days, from work, school and responsibilities is addictive, and the ease with which travel is now accessible makes it all the more so.
Being surrounded by things that you neither know nor understand is like being a child again; confusion and nervousness become transformed into curiosity as you walk the streets of cities many thousands of miles away from home. Wanderlust, you should try it sometime.
21
23rd October 2018
concrete-online.co.uk/category/travel/ | @Concrete_UEA
Edward Grierson Travel Writer
If Kinloch Castle didn’t exist, I wouldn’t believe that it could have. At the same time, learning about it only increases disbelief. The passion project of an industrialist from Lancashire, who spent months at a time travelling the world on his private yacht; the garden built on a quarter of a million tonnes of soil imported from Ayrshire; a greenhouse which was home to alligators and hummingbirds, and tales of secret orgies and bondage. P.G. Wodehouse couldn’t have made it up. But this article is getting ahead of itself. The Isle of Rum in the Inner Hebrides was bought in 1888 by textile manufacturer John Bullough,
who was looking for land for deer stalking. John died just three years later, and the island passed to his 21-year old son George, who set out to built himself a residence fit for someone of his status. The result is exactly what you would expect from a Victorian playboy with too much spare time, and open to visitors for most of the year, with tours held every hour. Half the walls are adorned with stags’ heads and metre- long tarpon fish, providing a glimpse into the sporting culture of nineteenthcentury landed gentry. Lord Bullough’s obsessive collecting from his yacht, the Rhouma, is also demonstrated in the art, artefacts and curios he assembled, ranging from a Japanese bronze eagle which he reportedly outbid the emperor of Japan for,
to the world’s only functional orchestrion, a mechanical organ that can play the Monty Python theme tune. But Kinloch Castle is not just the world’s most expensive nicknacktory; there is also insight offered into Lord Bullough’s life and philanthropy, such as creating a hospital onboard the Rhouma for soldiers during the Boer War, for which he received a Distinction from the council of Cape Town. Other aspects of his life were more devious: George may have been a closet homosexual, and both him and his wife are suspected to have had affairs. Rumours of erotic sex resurfaced when handcuffs were discovered in one of the cellars. Whatever the truth, Kinloch Castle is one of a kind, and well worth a visit. Sadly, however, it faces
a crisis: the porous red sandstone which it was built from wasn’t suited to the moist climate of the Hebrides. Mould and decay have proven to be a serious issue, but Scottish Natural Heritage, the current owner of the castle, has insufficient funds. There is hope, however, in the form of ordinary people. The Kinloch Castle Friends Association began as a group of visitors who were upset about the castle’s plight. Their plan is to raise funds to buy off Kinloch Castle through a community investment trust, and set up a restaurant and bistro to fund repairs. If you go to kinlochcastlefriends. org you can find out how to donate; after all, somewhere as unique as Kinloch Castle shouldn’t just be confined to history.
The best hiking trails around Norfolk Sylvie Tan Travel Writer
When one thinks of Norfolk one might associate it with flat fields and farmland: not the most ideal place to hike. However, here are some recommendations for the best hiking and walking trails from Norfolk’s locals, where you can escape from reality, clear your mind and reconnect with nature. Coastal path Being located in the far east of the UK, Norfolk is privileged to be located next to the North Sea. One of the most popular and scenic footpaths along Norfolk’s coastline is the Norfolk Coast P a t h National Trail. This walking trail is 84 miles long and stretches from Hunstanton
in the west to Sea Palling in the north-east. It is the best place to go for a hike or stroll if you are the type of person who enjoys the sea breeze and the magical views of the sand dunes, salt marshes and the horizon. Don’t forget to t r y a nd spot the seals while you’re there! Historic path Keen to hike where the Romans and pilgrims used to walk? Peddars Way is another National Trail that is 46 miles long and was once an ancient Roman road - its first appearance was in 1587 AD. Its name was said to come from the Latin word pedester, meaning ‘on foot’. The path offers landscapes of Norfolk’s north-west chalk hills, river valleys and the Brecks. The Brecks is as unique as it is rich in history; it used to be the homeland of the Celtic
tribe
o f Iceni 2,000 years ago, as well as the Flint capital of Britain. Travel back in time along this path and appreciate its antiquity, but do look out for Black Shuck: the black hound who is said to haunt the trail and symbolise death.
"Fancy a stroll in Norfolk's largest ancient woodland?"
Hill walk For those that are keen for an uphill walk, the Gramborough Hill walk in Blakeney is the one to visit. It is a 4.8 miles circular walk that brings you through different
habitats, from the shingle beach heading inland and uphill. The path leads you back down to the beach where you can enjoy the coastal view. Be sure to bring your binoculars along and spot the Red Shank and Snow Bunting in the winter! Woodland walk Fancy a stroll in Norfolk’s largest ancient woodland? Just 25 kilometers north-west of Norwich lies Foxley Woods. It is 300 acres and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The woodland is rich in diversity with over 250 species recorded. This woodland is the place to be in the spring when the bluebells begin to blossom; the bluebell carpet will make you feel like you’re in an enchanted forest. Be sure to check this place out! There are so many trails to explore. The Norfolk Walking and Cycling Festival (up till the 30 October) is a great opportunity to explore the county while meeting new people. Get your walking boots on and head out to discover our beautiful
a
Kinloch Castle: stranger than fiction
Coming to America Chapter 3 Amelia Rentell
Well, what to tell you this time. It’s been quite the few weeks. Having finally resurfaced from midterm exams and essays, I am pretending to be ready for the next wave. There’s no reading week here nor any fall break which means it’s all been go go go for about nine weeks now. This side of the term brings me final project decisions… and actually doing the project. Perhaps the biggest drama of recent was when I accidentally tipped my pet fish down the sink. My fish, Remo, is a gorgeous blue siamese fighting fish; he doesn’t do much except swim around every now and then and sit under his ceramic castle figurine - but so far our relationship had been going well. Swimmingly if you will. My mind had run away from me due to a week of midterms, essays and passive aggressive lecturers. I began to pour Remo into his holding bowl but the water gushed out too soon and before I knew it he had gone down the sink hole.
"I accidentally tipped my pet fish down the sink" Now, luckily in America everyone has garbage disposals. So Remo wasn’t yet dead, he was just flapping about on some old potato peels. I screamed and screamed as for all intents and purposes I had just tipped my only son down the drain. My boyfriend at the time hadn’t even met him yet, I had to keep him alive until at least November. Anyway, all the screaming caused my very kind housemate to spend five minutes with her hand down the hole trying to grasp him whilst I held the flashlight. Eventually, she saved him and I stopped screaming. I hadn’t managed to kill him. Result. This weekend I went to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. It was a sensational performance of nearly 600 balloons that ascend into the sky. Shapes from Darth Vader and Gollum, to a huge milk cow, a frog and a bumble bee. Even Van Gogh roamed the skies. We woke up at 3.30am to get to the park and ride. In the freezing cold and darkness we found coffee and a blanket to sit on until the morning festivities began. I have never seen anything quite like it. The eight hour drive there and back was worth it. On our return to Oklahoma, it seems that autumn is not happening this year and instead the temperatures have dropped to below ten degrees. I can finally wear my coat. Image: Vecteezy
Sport
23rd October 2018
22
UEA Salsa soc: Meyzi Adoni on all you need to know Ever wanted to dance but couldn’t find the opportunity? Maybe you’ve seen a group of people dancing at the Hive on Tuesday afternoons and felt like it might be something worth trying? Last year I was one of those who always enjoyed watching people do Salsa. Whenever I was walking from the Union Building on a Tuesday afternoon, I always told myself that I was going to try it someday because everyone looked really happy. So this year, I kept my promise and started going to Salsa classes. I must admit, after only 3 classes, I can easily say that it is one of the best things I’ve ever experienced at UEA; it is a chance for me to clear my mind for a couple of hours and it’s a great opportunity to socialise with other people. For this issue of Concrete, Daniela, the President of Salsa society, kindly responded to all my questions and talked about their plans for this year. So if you’re in search of a new hobby or are interested in Salsa and Bachata but have so many questions on your mind, keep reading this interview. Who is teaching the Salsa and Bachata classes? The Salsa classes are being taught by a Cuban teacher Jose Ferrera and Will Richardson. Our Bachata classes are taught by Gabor Kiss. All of them are very experienced, funny and enthusiastic people and they’re really good teachers. A lot of people turned up to the ‘Give it a Go’ session and the
first class of the semester was very crowded. Do you think dancing in the Hive helps you get more attention and makes people curious about what’s happening? We did have people coming to the ‘Give it a Go’ session because they saw us dancing at the Hive, so I think it definitely helps to catch the attention of the students. On our
“we give people of different skill levels a chane to learn something” first class this year we had quite a lot of students that stopped to take pictures and look around. Some of our beginners are intimidated by this at first, but once the music starts the shyness fades away. Can you talk about how you divide the classes? Because everyone is not at the same level. (beginner/intermediate/ advanced) All our classes run for two hours, so we can give people of different skill levels a chance to learn something new. We have our
beginner’s class in the first hour of Bachata and Salsa, where we teach the basic steps in the first few weeks and then continue on to increasingly more complicated moves. Some people join in the second semester so we run a smaller absolute beginners class on the side, but we encourage them to join the main beginners class later on so they can start learning all the more exciting turns. On the second hour of Salsa, we divide into two groups: one for improvers/intermediate dancers and one for advanced dancers. Improvers is basically for anyone that was coming to Salsa the previous year and wants to practice old moves and learn more complicated ones. We also advise beginners to try it out if they have a dancing background or if they feel ready for something a little bit more challenging. Advanced is for more experienced dancers, and we often get people from the city who have been dancing for a couple of years to join us in this class as well. Bachata runs similarly, first hour beginners and second intermediate/advanced. If someone starts as a beginner, do they have a chance to finish the year as an advanced dancer? Yes, of course! We have a couple of people in advanced this year that started dancing at the beginning of last year. Obviously it takes a lot of practice and dedication, and we have found that learning to confidently lead and follow is almost as important as learning the
moves themselves, but with enough commitment some beginners might be able to skip right over to advanced if they stay with us next year. Even our more casual members have a solid dancing basis by the end of our classes in May, and most of them finish the year as confident dancers. D o people have any other opportunities to dance apart from the classes on Tuesday and Friday? Yes, apart from the classes we have monthly parties for our members and Vecteezy collaboration with we often collaborate with other the Latin American societies to make the parties more society and the inclusive. We also advertise events Language society. We also want to in town like the weekly Thursday have more non-dancing socials, parties at Cuba Revolution and perhaps a collaboration with Horror the monthly Candela parties at the Film society for Halloween, just so Canary Club. Both parties have that we have time to properly chat a mixture of not only Salsa and with the members and get to know Bachata but Merengue, Reguetón them better and have fun. and Kizomba (other Latino and Last year you did a live Afro-Latino rhythms). We are performance, Are you planning planning a couple of workshops this to do it again this year? year for our members who want We would love to do more to get acquainted with these other performances and we plan to types of dance as well. perform again this year in the dance Are you planning any socials show and maybe in Go Global too. this year? If more opportunities were to arise, We do have some socials we would consider it for sure. In planned. We are working on our first fact we are already talking about party right now, and it’s going to be a choreographies.
UEA footballers get Swifty with 2-0 Trent win Connor Southwell Sport Writer
UEA’s men began this year’s football season with a hard fought 2-0 win over Nottingham Trent at Colney Lane in their opening fixture of the new season. After their promotion-winning exploits of last season, there was an air of anticipation surrounding how the team would fare at a significantly higher level of competition. This ultimately resulted in a slow start out of the blocks for their side as Nottingham Trent pressed relentlessly in the opening of the game. However, the physicality of UEA’s defense line was pivotal in negotiating through this period without any serious damage to the team. They managed to find a foothold in the game after 15 minutes, with some lovely interplay between the two strikers on display, helping UEA connect the midfield and offensive unit. Progressive sequences of play were evident for prolonged periods by the home side, but they often
struggled to maintain possession in their opponent’s half. UEA were the dominant team from 20 minutes through to half time, but two golden opportunities were squandered. After some
industrial play from UEA’s striker Ryan Swift, Luke Young headed over when a goal looked to be the most likely outcome. Five minutes later, a shot was blazed over from close range after some enterprising work from UEA’s
left wing back. At half time, the fixture remained at 0-0, but it was competitive and seemed to hang in the balance with the better opportunities falling to the home outfit. Nottingham’s back three were struggling to deal with the partnership of Young and Swift up front, but it was apparent that UEA’s dominance needed to be cemented with a goal. Both UEA and Nottingham opted to operate with three at the back formations, making this a possession-based fixture with both sides looking to play aesthetic but effective football. It was a total of five minutes in the second half which determined the outcome of the game, with Swift being the major protagonist: his work was a major contributing factor in the opening goal. His close dribbling and changes in direction coupled with his physicality made him too much for Nottingham’s defence to handle. He weaved his way past two challenges before putting in a delightful low cross for Young to tap into the net, achieving the first goal. From then on, UEA asserted
their offensive dominance, constantly working openings and overloading the middle of the pitch so one of the strikers could drop in. Swift’s work for the first goal was replicated as the striker displayed great endeavour and unstoppable power before slotting beyond the keeper to double the home sides advantage. Game management was key for the hosts - for the most part, they nullified the supply line to Nottingham’s front three. A red card was brandished for an off the ball incident in the 75th minute for the hosts who also saw their centre-back leave the field with injury which resulted in ten minutes added time. Overall, it was an impressing outcome considering the increase of level in competition for UEA. Getting three points on the board in the opening fixture will provide them with the confidence they need to push on from here and attempt to harvest some upward mobility. In the end, that period of dominance in the second half of the game proved to be the difference between the sides in an entertaining contest.
23
23rd October 2018
concrete-online.co.uk/category/sport/ | @Concrete_UEA
Lacrosse beat Notts Hockey thirds remain undefeated Continued from back page By then, the result was a formality, with UEA claiming a highly unexpected and muchneeded three points. UEA’s man of the match was Sean Cullum, who reclaimed his place in the team with a fine performance, adding bite to the Eagles’ attack with his physicality and pinpoint distribution. After the game, captain Payne reflected: ‘The boys stepped up. They wanted to win. ‘We didn’t relent, no-one stopped, everyone kept their heads. We matched [Nottingham’s] intensity, it was a different UEA team to what I’ve seen in previous years.
“Michelle Ward’s women’s seconds started their BUCS season with a big home win” ‘If everyone does their job individually, we’ll be cohesive as a unit. It comes down to the discipline we’ve worked on, and our unity.’ On his recent goals, Payne reflected: ‘Both of them [today] were assisted, my boys did the hard work. All I did was my job. They did their job, I did mine, and when we do that together we score goals.’ Tomorrow, the squad travel to Cambridge for what is a difficult looking fixture, but the camp is full of confidence following their first victory of the season.
Photos: Tony Allen
Meanwhile, the women’s first team have welcomed a number of skilful freshers into their squad, alongside the return of Georgie Sutton and Fiona Smith from study abroad adding much needed experience to UEA’s ranks. Despite going down to two defeats at the start of their season, hopes are high for the campaign. Alex Sturdy was named woman of the match in the 11-3 away loss to Warwick seconds on the opening day, with last season’s seconds’ star Shannon Eagles standing out on her debut for the firsts. Phoebe Hartz scored a great goal and was named UEA’s best player as the team went down 10-4 at home to Leicester last week, with fresher Carol Li also finding the net. Captain Sutton told Concrete: ‘Against Leicester it felt like we were much more cohesive as a team. We had some great assists, better communication, and it felt good despite the constant drizzle and scoreline, which really didn’t reflect our efforts.’ Michelle Ward’s women’s seconds started their BUCS season with a big home win, defeating Leicester’s seconds 16-6 at Colney Lane. Megan Lodge and Catherine Andrews shared goalkeeping duties – both playing their first competitive game in the position – with notable performances from the experienced Adela Milà-de-Puri, Beth Heritage and Ward, as well as a number of new players making their debuts. Following a week off after their fixture at Coventry was postponed, the women’s seconds have been working hard on the training pitch, and face Northampton firsts tomorrow at Colney Lane with a 2pm draw.
Photos: Tony Allen
Tony Allen Sport Editor
UEA men’s third hockey team had to come from behind at the Sportspark to beat Dereham thirds 4-2 in an end-to-end affair and extend their unbeaten season so far. Captain Dan Mcmahon was the star for a UEA side which also included the returning Josh Glasford (pictured), who has recently resumed competitive action following more than a year on the sidelines with a serious knee injury. It was the visitors who drew first blood early on, with a looping effort threatening to halt UEA thirds’ successful start to the season. But UEA established themselves in the game with a good spell of attacking pressure. Glasford managed to tame a ferocious through-ball from midfield lynchpin Matt Thompson and crossed it into the danger area, where the referee awarded a foul against a UEA attacker. UEA couldn’t make anything of the resulting corner, or a couple after that, but kept up the heat on the Dereham defence. A scramble in the UEA area led to a short corner for the visitors which came to nothing, before the lively Glasford had a shot saved. UEA’s goalkeeper Tommy Blanden made a superb save from a Dereham short corner before captain Mcmahon poked home the equaliser on the stroke of half-time to restore parity. Mcmahon nearly started the second period where he left off, letting rip a decent shot, before heroically managing to keep the ball in play on the left wing. The resulting UEA effort nestled high into the goal from range but was subsequently ruled out. UEA maintained their attacking intensity. A UEA cross was palmed away by the visiting goalkeeper before George Anderson unleashed a belting shot which gave the stopper no chance and put UEA 2-1 up. Having come from behind to lead, UEA now exerted an intense
period of pressure. Glasford flashed a shot just wide after another good save from the Dereham keeper, before he made it 3-1 with a goal from a short corner, assisted by good work from Mcmahon, the pair linking up well. Glasford then turned provider, his parried shot teeing up Mcmahon whose effort looked almost certain to be heading into the far corner before Henry Pease poked it in to make sure. UEA conceded from a short corner a minute from time to make it 4-2, however this hardly dented the party atmosphere among UEA’s healthy support as there was no time for a full Dereham comeback. Next up was an entertaining game for the women’s firsts against Harleston Magpies thirds which ended in a four-all draw. They also went 1-0 down in the early stages after the Magpies made a good passing from a short corner. UEA goalkeeper Kaylee Dickerson made a superb save before UEA had two of their own efforts blocked by the visiting stopper. Dickerson then made another great stop, coming well out of her goal to narrow the angle and deflect a shot away from danger. UEA were enjoying themselves going forward now. A fluid passing move all the way from defence to attack nearly yielded a goal, but the teams were soon level through forward Amy Jones who converted a second slick attack from UEA in as many minutes. UEA could have taken the lead soon after, flashing wide from a short corner, but they then made their pressure pay as a shot dribbled in at the near post to make it 2-1. The Magpies then took control of the rest of the half. First they rattled UEA’s post, with Dickerson equal to the rebound. However she couldn’t stop the visitors equalising soon after to see the sides go into the half-time break level at two apiece. The second period started with good work from the lively Áine Gransden, who couldn’t on this occasion fashion a chance. She then used her pace to race away from the visiting defence, rounding the goalkeeper one-on-one but just dragging the ball too far in doing so and only being able to create a crossing opportunity which was dealt with well by the Harleston back line. UEA went ahead again from the resulting short corner, with Beth Rosier slamming in an unstoppable shot. UEA could have netted from another well worked short corner moments later, just slotting wide. There was some brave defending from UEA to maintain their lead following a short corner award to the visitors. With UEA looking fairly comfortable, putting wide a well-
worked short corner, the game then took a rapid turn. The home defence had to be alert to defend a short corner, but moments later a beautiful equaliser made it 3-3, before a sucker punch saw UEA 4-3 down as the Magpies’ forward beat UEA goalkeeper Dickerson to the ball and tucked in. UEA rallied after this, helped by some quality attacking midfield play from Harriet Scott-Clark. A UEA short corner was kept at bay, before Gransden dribbled through the Magpies’ defence but couldn’t notch up a deserved assist. However, UEA weren’t done there. Nicola Ralph scored a dramatic late equaliser for 4-4, a draw probably a fair reflection of an end-to-end, exciting seventy minutes of hockey. Also at the Sportspark, the men’s second team named an experienced side against North Norfolk including Sam Green and Dominic Strong in defence, with Tom England and Tom Price leading the attack. After a neat save from captain and goalkeeper Pranav Hegde, forward Henry Ashcroft blasted in an unstoppable shot to give UEA the lead. UEA’s Will Langton was running the show in midfield. After composed play from club man of the match Matthew Wavish, Price set up Ashcroft with a good looking chance, but the latter couldn’t get a clean connection under pressure from the visiting defence and had to
“UEA maintained their attacking intensity”
be replaced after sustaining a nasty looking finger injury in the process – an unfortunate curtailment of a game in which he was one of UEA’s brightest threats. George Robbins was another playing well, and after his impressive strike was acrobatically saved by the Dereham stopper, England’s goal from the rebound was chalked off by the umpires. UEA still looked dangerous in attack in the final twenty minutes, but the visiting defence remained organised. The goalkeeper made another extraordinary save to keep out a stinging Green shot from a short corner. UEA then agonisingly conceded against the run of play to leave the score tied long after the hosts should have been comfortable. To their credit, UEA kept pressing but to no avail, with Hegde needing to stay alert to make a pair of smart saves to preserve the point towards the end of the match. The men’s firsts travelled to Ipswich and East Suffolk thirds and picked up a 2-1 victory, with both goals coming from Ben Thompson.
24
23rd October 2018
Sport
Photo: Tony Allen
Tied up in Notts! Tony Allen Sport Editor
UEA men’s Lacrosse team are off the mark in Midlands 1A, but not how anyone imagined. Making the long journey to Warwick in the blazing heat, hopes were high. And after going 2-0 up, it looked like UEA were on track for a win in what was billed as a game that would make or break their season, with it being their first in 1A after promotion last term. But with the score pegged back to two apiece at the end of the first quarter, and UEA 5-3 down by halftime after bad luck for American exchange student Eric Ritchie with the woodwork, the afternoon was always going to be a tough one against one of the teams expected to be around UEA come the end of the year. The home side led 6-4 by the end of the third quarter, with the game ending 10-6 to Warwick after an
entertaining final quarter which saw Ritchie and captain Travis Payne both add to their goals earlier in the match. The team tried to focus on the positives, like the good performance of UEA’s new-look defence. With Charlie Albuery taking up position in goal, behind the experienced Will Vickers and Chris Groom; fresher Luke Griffiths impressed on his full debut, with forward-looking LSM Harry Harris and the strong, disciplined Ollie Forster-Vets completing the defence. The club were due to play Hitchin that weekend at home in their first SEMLA local league game, but it was cancelled due to a lack of visiting players. There was a slippery surface at Colney Lane as UEA welcomed Nottingham seconds to Norwich on Wednesday. That morning, UEA alumnus and Luxembourg Assistant Coach at this summer’s World Championship Rob Ingham-
Clark took a training session for the club’s new players and was on the sidelines to coach the first team. After conceding to a nice passing move early on, UEA were soon level thanks to Ritchie. The visitors flashed a shot wide but soon UEA were ahead thanks to Jack Govey who cut in from the left to emphatically put his side ahead. Wide attacker Govey was a constant menace to the midlands side, creating space and passing options for the UEA front line. Club President Seb Grant played on through injury to win the majority of his face-offs and start several good UEA attacks, allowing them to retain possession. Payne then had an opportunity, just poking wide, before Ritchie made it 3-1 with a piledriver from the right. The second quarter began with the visitors netting a nice finish from range into the bottom-left of Albuery’s goal after a composed
passing move in transition. UEA kept up the pressure, the impressive Ollie Briggs made a defence-splitting run from midfield but wasn’t able to find the target with his shot, and Payne once again went close. Ritchie then tried his luck with a powerful bouncing effort which the keeper couldn’t get to, making it 4-2 to UEA. Payne stung the keeper’s legs before Albuery was called into action to make a superb stop with his upper body from point blank range. Another great run from Briggs piled on more pressure, before newly appointed vice-captain Forster-Vets made an excellent block. Mitchell Hoverd tried his luck with an effort before the interval but couldn’t increase the UEA advantage. The second half started with pressure from Nottingham, but they were again frustrated by UEA. Ritchie cradled forward, setting up Sam Campbell who came very close.
However, it wasn’t long before Briggs netted the best goal of the game, a delicious bouncing shot which gave the keeper no chance. As UEA began to pull away, Payne got on the scoresheet next to make it 6-2 with a high effort which snuck under the crossbar, before the captain scored again to make it 7-2 and spark delirious celebrations from the sizeable Colney Lane crowd, who had braved three quarters of rain before the downpour finally abated. UEA then conceded, but Ritchie was soon on target again with a powerful effort to make it 8-3. Hoverd nearly got in on the act again in the closing minutes, seeing a fierce shot from range saved after a brave run from energetic midfielder Matt Dewhurst, who shook off the attention of several opponents before finally being wiped out.
Continued on Page 23