UEA’s Student Newspaper
Issue 290 • Free • Tuesday 3 December
Merry Christmas from everyone at Concrete! @Concrete_UEA /ConcreteNewspaper ConcreteUEA
Inside... A better use for sprouts?
Exclusive: University pledges £6m to redevelop Union House
New studies show that brussels sprouts could be used as a sustainable energy source Science & Tech P. 15
Don Jon - review We take a look at Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s directional debut Film V. 20
Secret Santa sorted Read our guide to buying festive gifts Lifestyle P. 18
Billy Sexton News Reporter In the aftermath of the #WhatIf campaign, the University of East Anglia have agreed to spend £6m on Union House and the surrounding area. Director of Estates at the University, Roger Bond, said: “Following recent discussions, the University is pleased to confirm that it intends to invest around £6m into student facilities both within Union House and the surrounding student services area. We will now be working with the Students’ Union and others to ensure that the planned redevelopments meet students’ needs, both now and in the future.” The Union has welcomed this investment, with Finance Officer Joe Levell claiming: “This is great news for students. Our members have been telling us they need more social learning space, more space for clubs and societies and better places to relax between lectures, and we’re looking forward to working
with the University over the next couple of years to deliver it.” The #WhatIf campaign gave UEA students a chance to suggest how they would like the Union House to look and what functions they would like a refurbished area to fulfil. Students were invited to write their ideas on a blank floor plan on the wall of the Hive, where the most popular suggested change was to incorporate more comfortable seating such as bean bags, sofas and booths into Union House, essentially the creation of a relaxing environment where students can go to take a break from their studies and teaching. Students also suggested the refurbishment of The Nick Rayns LCR and for this project to include a retractable stage to allow more attendees to the popular club nights at the venue. Suggestions were also put forward to improve the dance floor and smoking area. Additional suggestions included the provision of more hot food, including ‘pub grub’ and a Sunday carvery. Students also
want more vibrancy and colour in Union House, with more natural light, better toilets and an improvement in access for people with disabilities. The Union also conducted an online survey throughout the campaign, where it was found that undergraduate students consider quiet and social space as a clear priority, along with a refurbished LCR. One respondent commented: “many at the 50th anniversary said the building hadn’t changed since they left… The layout is amazing, but with a bit of new paint, new colours, modernising, new seating arrangement etc. it could look up to date and would be a much more enjoyable space to spend time.” Postgraduate students also prioritised the Union maintaining their provision of graduate social space, alongside quiet and social working space. One respondent said: “The Grad bar is a great space, so glad we have it, but it could do with some love and attention to make it more comfortable and welcoming! Some space for working other than the library or the basement would be appreciated.”
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concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk
Editorial
Editor-in-chief | Sidonie ChafferMelly concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk Deputy Editor | Sophie Witts concrete.president@uea.ac.uk Online Editor | Billy Sexton concrete.online@uea.ac.uk Deputy Online Editor | Amelia
Marchington concrete.online@uea.ac.uk News | Andrew Ansell & Lara-Jayne Ellice concrete.news@uea.ac.uk Comment | Zoë Jones concrete.comment@uea.ac.uk Global | Ella Gilbert concrete.global@uea.ac.uk Features | Bridie Wilkinson concrete.features@uea.ac.uk Environment | Peter Sheehan concrete.environment@uea.ac.uk Science & Tech | Dominic Burchnall concrete.science@uea.ac.uk Travel | Niyonu Agana-Burke concrete.travel@uea.ac.uk Lifestyle | Lydia Clifton concrete.lifestyle@uea.ac.uk Sport | Charlie Savage & Will Medlock concrete.sport@hotmail.co.uk Copy Editors | Stephenie Naulls & Lucy Morris concretecopyeditors@gmail.com Chief Photographers | Jacob Roberts-Kendall & Will Cockram concrete.photography@uea.ac.uk
Issue 290
Contributors
News | Billy Sexton Andrew Ansell, Emily Rivers, Sophie Witts, Lara Ellice, Rob Drury, Daniel Falvey, Lucy Morris Comment | Harry Mason, Olivia Grosvenor, Alex George, Anna Walker, Sophie Jackson, Dian Atamyanov, Joe Jackson Global | Sonya Qureshi, Katie Ward, Dan Falvey Features | Daniel Falvey Johnnie, Bicket, Geri Scott, Anna Walker Fay Tate Environment | Jacob Beebe, Amelia Frizelli-Armitage, Peter Sheehan Science & Tech | Bridget RandallSmith, Mabon Alis, Alice Butler Travel | Florence Amost, Niyonu Agana-Burke, Lucy Morris Lifestyle | Emily Fedorowycz, Jasmin Gray, Francesca Chapman, Lydia Tewskbury, Lydia Clifton Sport | Will Medlock, Jack Lusby, Lottie Hill, Holly Wade, James Lestrange, Lucy Mayhew Proofreaders | Chris Freeman, Calyssa Erb, Lucy Morris
Win! Win! Win! Win a mint hot chocolate by tweeting us your best Christmas jumper picture!
Editor’s column Another semester is coming to a close, and Christmas is coming faster than ever. It’s time to pull out the Christmas jumpers and get started on your Advent calenders. We’ve had Michael Bublè’s Christmas album on in the Concrete office, and there is loads of festive content in this weeks issue to get you in the mood for the holidays. Take a break from essay madness and have a flick through. Lfestyle have got a great guide to sorting out that tricky Secret Santa present, along with some
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Hayden Helps Christmas Special Hayden, I’m not sure what to get my girlfriend for Christmas. She’s quite a typical girl but I don’t want to buy her the usual present, like perfume. Any tips?
While I have no real advice for you, rest assured that your problem is one shared by many. I expect a large number of us will be forced to go cold turkey (forgive the pun) this Christmas, so when Shit at Shopping. you’re living it up during any of the last four LCR nights of the Only this year have I actually term (let’s face it, you’re going to become any good at Christmas them all aren’t you?) just rememshopping. In the past I would ber to savour the moment. See rather impersonally buy every- you there. one gift cards, but now I’ve taken to searching online for quirky gift I may have been gone for a while, ideas. In amongst the tat you’ll but as always it’s been real, it’s find some real keepers. been cute, but it’s not been real But don’t just take my advice – having consulted the most im- cute. portant women in my life, here are some ideal (though in some Hayden cases, impractical) gifts for your girlfriend: a Pandora ring/bracelet, perfume (there you go mate – who knew?), a pair of Jefferey Campbell shoes, a trip to New York, and a puppy. See what takes your fancy. If, after all that, you’re still at a loss for ideas, you could always take the advice of our Editor-inChief’s dad: “buy something returnable in case you break up.” It’s really up to you. I’ve become too attached to the LCR. Help.
tasty seasonal recipies, while Features takes a look at the best Christmas adverts that are on the box this year. Science and Tech have a different look at the best uses for brussels sprouts - and it doesn’t involve eating them. There’s also the exciting news that the Union will be able to revamp Union House - it’s like Christmas has come early. So get cosy and have a read, and have a very Merry Christmas! Sidonie Chaffer-Melly Editor-in-Chief
Lower Common Room Lingerer
Tweet of the Week “Though I despise Blurred Lines I’m glad that UEA students voted against the banning of the song at LCR. Censorship of music is just silly!”
@AnnamariaCGreen
Contact Us Union House University of East Anglia Norwich NR4 7TJ 01603 593 466 www.concrete-online.co.uk www.concblog.wordpress.com Editorial inquiries / complaints concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk concrete.venue@uea.ac.uk Got a story? concrete.news@uea.ac.uk
Concrete welcomes all letters and emails, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Letters should be addressed to the editor-in-chief, and include contact details. All emails should be sent to concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk. We will consider anonymous publication, and reserve the right to edit for length and clarity. Anonymous article submissions are permitted. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the newspaper. No part of this newspaper may be reproduced through any means without the express permission of the editor, Sidonie Chaffer-Melly. Published by UUEAS Concrete Society ©2013 Concrete BMc ISSN 1351-2773
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Vince Cable ‘not remotely Government privatises apologetic’ for fee rise almost £900m of
student debt
Emily Rivers News Reporter
Andi Sapey Andrew Ansell News Editor Speaking at the University of East Anglia, the Business Secretary, Vince Cable praised the policy of raising the cap on undergraduate tuitions fees to £9,000. Whilst he accepted the Liberal Democrat pledge to not raise tuition fees should never have been made, he remarked that the rise had been “good for universities”. Figures which show no fall in
“The Business Secretary accepted the Liberal Democrat pledge to not raise tuition fees should never have been made” applications to study at universities, in addition to the stronger revenue stream available to institutions as a result of the fees rise were cited by the Cabinet Minister as reasons for scoring the policy “nine out of ten.” However, the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) last year concluded that Government justifications for enabling universities to charge up to £9,000 per academic year in tuition fees did not stand up. Simon Wright, Member of Parliament for Norwich South, said: “I’m pleased that Vince Cable stopped uncapped fees and reformed the loan repayment system so that it works more like a time limited graduate tax. “Nonetheless… I did not feel I could support an increase in fees and voted
against it when I had the chance.” Clive Lewis, Labour parliamentary candidate for Norwich South, commented: “I would like to see tuition fees scrapped and replaced with a far more progressive and less inhibitive system. “In the meantime my party’s promise to cut tuition fees by a third, from £9,000 to £6,000, is a step in the right direction and in stark contrast to the coalition”. Speaking to Concrete, Vince Cable said that the Conservatives desired an increase of the price of tuition fees to £15,000, with the threshold for repayment lower than £21,000. He judged from his visitations to university campuses “that the atmosphere has totally transformed in the last three years because students now understand Photo: Bill Smith the system of fee loans or graduate contributions”. Dr Cable further sensed “that much of the hostility that was undoubtedly very strong three years ago has gone away because I think students now get it.”
“Vince Cable said that the Conservatives desired an increase of the price of tuition fees to £15,000.” Regarding the Government’s decision to privatise the Student Loan Book, the Business Secretary called the move “a perfectly sensible and practical thing to do”. According to the Business Secretary, protests across campuses demonstrating opposition to the student loan sell-off were ‘totally distorted’.
As many as 300,000 former students could be faced with new loan repayment demands following the Governments sale of their student debt, worth almost £900m, for just £160m to a private company well known for its debt collection practices. On Monday 25 November, Erudio Student Loans agreed to pay £160m for the loans taken out between 1990 and 1998, in a plan to reduce the public sector debt. The National Union of Students and the University of London Union (ULU) expressed concern over the sale, claiming that it made “no economic sense”. The NUS president, Toni Pearce, claims that the sale effectively means that the public is subsidising a private company to profit from Government debt. She said: “The impact of the sale won’t only affect borrowers, but will affect everybody. The simple fact is that having these loans on the public books would be better off for the Government in the long run. Selling off the loan book at a discount to secure a cash lump sum now doesn’t make economic sense.” David Willets, the Universities and Science Minister, said the deal represented “good value for money, helping to reduce public sector debt by £160m.” According to figures published last week by the Office for National Statistics, public sector debt stood at £1.2 trillion at the end of October. He added that there will be no change to borrowers’ terms and
conditions, including the interest rates charged, and that the sale “will allow the Student Loans Company to focus on supplying loans to current students and collecting repayments on newer loans.” The ULU president, Michael Chessum, warned that students should not feel reassured by the government’s promises, stating that they are “largely meaningless – there is every reason to believe that current and future Governments will simply flout commitments on higher education funding.” This follows a confidential report commissioned by the Government in November 2011 which proposed redrawing the terms of student loans taken out in the last 15 years, which would make them more expensive to pay back for 3.6 million borrowers in England alone. It is not just the economic value of the selling of the loans that is concerning. The companies behind Erudio operate in questionable ways; one of them is Arrow Global, which has invested £11m to buy the student loans book. Debt purchase firms like Arrow pay very low prices for ‘dodgy debts’ and then carpet bomb potential debtors. This has led in the past to innocent people being targeted with threatening letters, phone calls and even visits from bailiffs just because they have the same name as a debtor, or used to live at the same address as them. Chessum claims that this privatisation of the loan book stems from “a poisonous ideological motive to make students consumers, with a lifetime of increasingly malign debt.”
4 News A r o u n d Norwich nightspots to begin Norfolk breathalysing clubbers concrete.news@uea.ac.uk
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MPs’ plea to protect bus pass subsidy Parliamentarians from across Norfolk have written to the County Council leader, George Nobbs, in an attempt to persuade the Council to drop plans to cut subsidies to student transport. Elizabeth Truss MP said: “Norfolk County Council has said that savings need to be made in order to spend money on safeguarding and school improvements. I fully support the need to ensure safeguarding is adequately funded however I do not believe reducing the subsidy for school transport is the way to achieve savings.”
First Bus knife scare A Norwich man has been charged with possessing a knife and threatening behaviour whilst on a bus in the city centre. Police were called to St. Stephens Street on Monday 25 November after information that a man on the X25 First Bus service was carrying a small vegetable knife. Officers detained a man on the bus after reports that another passenger had been threatened. Wisdom Mfune, 26, has been charged with carrying a knife in a public place and threatening behaviour. He will appear at Norwich Magistrate’s Court on Monday
Sophie Witts Deputy Editor Bars and clubs in Norwich may begin preventing clubbers from entering if they fail a breathalyser test, in a new scheme starting on the 30th November. Door staff at up to thirty venues in the city centre will be armed with breathalysers in an attempt to discourage people from drinking excessive quantities of alcohol and ‘pre drinking’ before they go out. A record of breathalyser readings taken will be kept by clubs displaying ‘Are you trollied? #DeepBreath’ signs, with the findings evaluated pending a month long trial. Whilst there is currently
Nickjarvisphotography flickr Constabulary told the Eastern Daily Press: “It’s about getting people to realise how much alcohol they are drinking before heading into clubs. All too often we deal with people who are so drunk they cannot think straight and can barely walk. They lose all sense of responsibility which clearly makes them vulnerable and that’s where the risk increases of someone becoming a victim of crime, being injured or involved in violence and disorder. Problems around violent crime and anti-social behaviour in the night-time economy will not be solved in isolation and we will continue to work with venues and partner agencies to tackle these issues with traditional and innovative approaches.”
UEA student blogs from Antarctica
TB warning on UEA campus A student at UEA is currently being treated for tuberculosis (TB). Students and staff have been warned to look for such symptoms as: a persistent cough, weight loss, night sweats, high temperature, tiredness, fatigue and loss of appetite. Anyone experiencing such symptoms are urged to seek medical advice.
no set alcohol limit at which clubs will have to bar people from entering, police are launching the scheme under the assumption that establishments will responsibly prevent overly intoxicated people from entering. The initiative follows on from a successful trial undertaken in September, in which police officers worked with venue staff to encourage clubbers to take voluntary breathalyser tests in a bid to raise awareness amongst drinkers’ of the number of units they had consumed. The move is the latest by local police to combat late night crime and anti-social behaviour in Norwich, particularly in the Prince of Wales Road area. Inspector Ed Brown of the Norfolk
Lara Ellice News Editor A UEA PhD student at the School of Environmental Sciences, Umberto Binetti, has embarked on an expedition
to sub Antarctic islands after winning a place on the cruise, beating 70 entrants. Binetti is one of four students who will be joining ‘The Spirit of Mawson’ expedition, to mark the 100 year anniversary of the first Australasian Antarctic survey by geologist Sir Douglas Mawson. Binetti is blogging about his experiences on the journey. A recent post reads: “After the first meeting that the team had yesterday here in Invercargill, if I had to pick an adjective to describe this spirit, I would rather go for ENTHUSIASTIC.” The aim of the expedition is to study the evolution of oceanography technology and knowledge over the last century, and how the approach of scientists studying the ocean has changed over time. Scientists will be able to study uncontaminated natural areas in the sub
Antarctic islands of New Zealand. Binetti’s role will be “communicating science” on board the cruise, which will enable him to improve his skills and develop new ideas with the experts on board. He said: “I am really excited. There is a great personal satisfaction in being selected from among 70 international applicants. From a personal point of view, there is a big curiosity since the expedition is heading to quite remote islands where very few people have been, and it will give me the opportunity to see real penguins, seals and other animals and plants that you see so many times in the documentaries. “And being a celebration cruise, the atmosphere on board will be different from the usual oceanographic cruises and, I’m sure, pretty enjoyable.” The expedition is currently underway, and will continue until 7 December.
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UEA film explores Students vote down HIV in Africa motion to boycott ‘Blurred Lines’ Billy Sexton News Reporter The controversial pop song, ‘Blurred Lines’, will not be withdrawn from Union facilities. 2227 students voted in a referendum held between 27 Wednesday and Friday 29 November. Some 1675 students voted not
“1675 students voted not to have the song withdrawn from Union facilities” Rob Drury News Reporter According to statistics, 7.3 per cent of Uganda’s population, around 1.4 million people, are living with HIV. A group of professionals from UEA’s School of International Development are involved in a new 30 minute documentary which premiered in Uganda. It was also screened at Norwich’s Cinema City, on World AIDS Day (1 December). The work of UEA professors deals with the long term management of HIV through the use of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), which involves the combination of a range of drugs to halt the progression of HIV’s effects on the body. The treatment only started to become more widely used
in Uganda in 2004, largely due to a drop in price and a rise in international funding. Whereas in the past HIV in Africa was seen as a ‘death sentence’, sufferers are increasingly able to manage the condition and engage in life by working and caring for a family. It is now estimated that in 2012, around half the sufferers needing the treatment were receiving it. The film tells four ART success stories, and professionals hope it will increase awareness of how treatment of HIV has evolved, with focus on the effects of ART as well as discussing the need for continual support and help. The film will be located on the School of International Development’s YouTube channel after the screenings, and it will be taken into UK schools and universities
Humanities department to be restructured Lucy Morris News Reporter The University has announced that the Faculty of Arts and Humanities (HUM) will undergo reorganisation and from September 2014 will comprise fewer schools of study. The new structure will consist of four schools of study, half of the current amount. The schools of Political, Social and International Studies (PSI); Language and Communication Studies (LCS); and Philosophy (PHI) will all be absorbed into one school, The School of Politics, Philosophy, Language and Communication Studies. The current schools of Art History and World Art Studies (ART); Film, Television and Media Studies (FTM);
and American Studies (AMS) will be incorporated into the “School of Art, Media and American Studies”. The schools of History (HIS) and Literature, Drama and Creative Writing (LDC) will remain the same. All the schools will continue to offer their full range of modules, and there will be no reduction in contact hours or in the number of academic or administrative staff. Over 40% of staff are concentrated in just two schools in the current faculty of Arts and Humanities, those of History, and Literature, Drama and Creative Writing. It is hoped that the new structure will allow smaller and medium-sized schools to share their current administrative responsibilities, freeing up more time for staff to engage in scholarly and research activity.
to have the song withdrawn from Union facilities, and this number accounts for over 75% of the vote. On the other hand, 552 students opted to vote ‘Yes’, a number representing 24.79% of the total number of votes. Union Council decided that the issue should be decided by means of a referendum, just two weeks after Union
Council representatives voted to boycott The Sun newspaper from Union outlets. The referendum asked students ‘Should the song ‘Blurred Lines’ be withdrawn from Union facilities and media in the interests of student safety?’ The result demonstrates that UEA students who voted believe that the song doesn’t jeopardise the safety of students, despite around 20 other student unions across the country banning Robin Thicke’s number one single. Women’s Officer Rachel Knott, who initially proposed the ban commented: “I am disappointed that the ban did not pass on behalf of myself and other women who have come to me and stated that the song made them uncomfortable to be in Union premises. However, I am pleased that the referendum had such a good turn-out and that this has created a campus-wide dialogue about sexism.” The referendum result means that, in practice, the song can be played on LCR club nights and also by UEA’s student radio station, Livewire 1350AM.
£350m of student grants could be abolished Daniel Falvey News Reporter More than 500,000 students from lower income families may suffer due to plans being considered by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). According to a leaked Government document, the department is considering cutting £350m worth of grants to some of the UK’s poorest students. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Higher Education Minister, David Willetts, and Business Secretary, Vince Cable have been reported to be responsible for the plans which aim to overcome BIS’ £1.4bn budget deficit. According to the Guardian newspaper, who have seen internal departmental documents, the cuts would come into place after the 2015 general election and will see around one quarter of student grants replaced with loans. Students who come from a household earning of between £35,000 and £42,600 would be likely to lose most, if not all, of their access to student grants under the Government’s plans. Ministers are said to have been
informed that such a move could prevent those from lower income households accessing higher education. The shadow Universities minister, Liam Byrne, has criticised the Business Secretary, highlighting that the proposed cuts are “fresh evidence that ministers have lost control of university finances” and has called for Vince Cable to “come clean immediately on what on earth is going on, and how he’s going to clear it up”. The president of the National Union of Students (NUS), Toni Pearce, has also criticised the potential Government plans declaring that “any proposal to balance the books on the backs of the poorest students would be disgraceful. NUS research has highlighted the real difficulties that many students have covering their basic living costs, and has shown the significant detrimental impacts that their financial worries have on performance, dropout rates, and even mental health.” When a BIS spokesman was asked about the leaked information by the Guardian they refused to comment, merely stating that “a range of proposals are being considered”.
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Volcanologists create a UEA researchers to create ‘Top Trumps’ eruption Rob Drury News Reporter Volcanologists from the University of East Anglia, along with colleagues from Plymouth and Oxford Universities, have been working to create an eruption in the sales of card game ‘Top Trumps’ with the introduction of their new version, featuring volcanoes of the Earth. Working on the Strengthening Resilience in Volcanic Areas (STREVA) Project, the group came up with the idea of using the well known card game as a means to educate players about volcanoes. Past eruptions and the distress that could be caused by events in the future are high up on the list of what the scientists wanted people to learn about; with an estimated 50 volcanoes erupting at any given time, it was felt more
education was needed. Scientists have collated a group of 30 volcanoes, both active and dormant, for the game. Players will battle it out over a range of categories including how explosive the volcanoes are, to their deadliness and unpredictability. Also included was their ‘Wow’ factor, as although the volcanologists were keen to educate on the serious threats volcanoes pose, the aim of STREVA is also to inspire. Members of the project felt that the game would be perfect for the job of both educating and inspiring, and co-operation with ‘Top Trumps’ and globally-based volcanologists made the end product possible. The cards featuring the work of the group of scientists are available now, priced at £4.99. Profits made from the venture are to be donated to volcanic education and aiding those affected by volcanic activity.
3D virtual birth simulator Lara Ellice News Editor
University of East Anglia computer scientists are creating a birth simulator to assist doctors and midwives in knowing if a birth will be dangerous. The software will re-create a 3D geometric model of the baby’s skull and body and the mother’s body and pelvis using ultra-sound data. The positioning of the baby and force of the mother pushing during labour will also be simulated. Leading the project is Dr Rudy Lapeer from UEA’s school of Computing Sciences. He said: “We are creating a forward engineered simulation of childbirth using 3D graphics to simulate the sequence of movements as a baby
descends through the pelvis during labour. “Users will be able to input key anatomical data such as the size and shape of the mother’s pelvis, and the baby’s head and torso. By doing this you will be able to set different bespoke scenarios for both the mother and baby. “Because this programme is patientspecific, doctors and midwives will be able to see how a birth may take place before it has happened on a case-bycase basis. For example, you would be able to see if a baby’s shoulders will get stuck. “We hope that this could help to avoid complicated births altogether by guiding people in the medical profession to advise on caesarean sections where necessary.”
Comment 7 Repeat after me, Miss: The rain in Spain... 03/12/13
Harry Mason Comment Writer @HarryMason19 For many of us, university is the first time we throw off the constraints of our sheltered upbringings and recognise that the big wide world is filled with a huge variety of people – people who look, act and (shock horror) talk differently to us. A multitude of regional accents is one of our country’s quirkier features, and a potentially-endless source of laughter (this reporter once spent an hour hopelessly attempting to explain the concepts of ‘owt’ and ‘nowt’ to his Devonshire flatmate). However, the ugly side of accent teasing reared its head last week when a teacher, after an Ofsted inspection, was given the improvement objective of sounding less Northern. Some have argued that such a comment would only be made humourously. Nevertheless, it’s hard to ignore the continued pertinence of class in our society, and the role of accents
as a signifier of this. Our parliament is dominated by Eton-installed cut glass vowels, whilst this year a study revealed that West Midlands accents are frequently associated with stupidity, and a Black Country school banned 10 regional phrases they claim will hold students back in interviews. But as any Northerner – in fact, any Midlander – well in all honesty, anyone born above the Watford Gap who has the audacity to venture ‘daaaan Saaaaaf’ will tell you, it can be frustrating to be constantly told you’re not speaking ‘properly’. Our language is living and changing, and the idea that anyone should have to conform to one style of speaking in the workplace or elsewhere is beyond ridiculous. Indeed, with free schools and academies throwing the education system into turbulence, if the worst children have to contend with is the occasional “why’aye pet” or “ay’oop me duck”, we should feel relieved. Children are always the least judgmental people, so the last thing any Ofsted inspector should encourage
The “desensitisation to swearing” scapegoat
Olivia Grosvenor Comment Writer @OliviaGrosvenor In modern British society hearing a child swear should be like seeing a dog walk on its hind legs. Or hearing the dog swear, whichever image seems more unsettling. There’s a world of English language that should be off-limits to children. So when a profanity slips out of a child’s mouth it should really be the responsibility of a parent or guardian to steer their little angel away from what could potentially develop into an unattractive verbal habit. Of course this doesn’t always present as an easy challenge, but the rare use of offensive language should be considered a verbal art only to be practiced by adults. Is this actually the case? Sadly not. The act of swearing is quickly losing its taboo connotations as culture becomes more
accustomed to the use of such language, and parents of young children appear to follow suit. Swearing in front of a young child probably doesn’t seem such a massive issue today. But how does this affect the behaviour of kids? Can the use of language really be blamed for developing ‘naughty children’? Of course no one really wants to hear the ‘F’ word come from a child’s mouth, but realistically bad behaviour doesn’t develop from bad language. Words only carry socially constructed meaning, the absence of which isn’t going to stop children getting a black eye, or prevent him from being disruptive in class. It would be nice to live in a world where
“Words only carry socially constructed meaning” children are polite and well mannered, but in some respects desensitisation to offensive language seems to be used as a scapegoat for a wider social issue unassociated with linguistics. If a child uses a ‘bad’ word, is the world going to cave in? Probably not. But it’s an easier method of blame to ‘fix’ than the overall poor behavior of children and the wider social causes of such behaviour.
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is close-mindedness about something as trivial as accents. It’s high time we learned to look past them, and focus on what people are saying rather than
simply how they say it. And if not, a swift roll/bap/cob/batch/balm-cake (delete as appropriate) to the head should knock out such silliness.
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The lethal politics of the lethal injection Alex George Comment Writer It’s a dangerous time to be on death row in the United States. Across Europe, capital punishment is outlawed, and the European Union has taken steps to prevent EU-produced drugs being sold to US state governments for executions with their 2011 ‘Torture Regulation’. Even in the US, drug companies don’t want their drugs to be used in executions – consumers aren’t going to buy a drug famed for its ability to kill people. This lethal combination of commercial and governmental bans has finally begun to achieve its aim – states are running out of drugs with which to perform their executions. A desperate Texas has been accused of falsifying prescriptions to get hold of the drugs it needs. Bearing this in mind, does this mean the EU is achieving its aim: the US outlawing the death penalty? Commonly, a three drug combination is used in executions. The first will make the convict unconscious, the second will paralyse, and the third will stop the heart. This three-drug approach ensures that the execution is humane – the convict is unconscious and paralysed before he is quickly killed – but states are running out of the first, the anaesthetic, and rather
than giving up, are looking to alternative drug combinations – combinations that could result in the painful death of a conscious but paralysed victim. States are playing chicken: nobody wants to be the first to try, and fail, with a new set of drugs. If the method of execution causes the convict pain, it will breach the 8th Amendment’s prohibition of “cruel and unusual punishment”, and the method can be outlawed by a federal court. Last week, Ohio delayed an execution because the convict agreed to donate organs to his family – a probably cop-out, he was to be executed with a new two-drug mixture. Meanwhile, a white supremacist serial killer left Missouri in an awkward position. The governor could either execute him with a new, single drug, or give him clemency – a political nightmare, given his crimes. They chose the former. A legal battle ensued, but the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a stay, noting a lack of evidence that the new method was painful, and the Supreme Court rejected his appeal. Six hours later than planned, he was executed. The European Union think their measures will halt capital punishment, but for the time being all they’re doing is forcing politically-stubborn states to try an array of potentially excruciating new methods of execution.
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Comment
Diving into issues of body image Anna Walker Comment Writer Rebecca Adlington, two-time World Champion and four-time Olympic medal winning swimmer, is a woman at the peak of athletic prowess and physical fitness. Her figure then, presents the embodiment of a female physique honed to perfection, extreme dedication, strength and skill. So how is it she finds herself beamed to thousands of ITV viewers, from a jungle in Australia, crying over her appearance? Whether you’re a fan of I’m a Celebrity or not, you’ve most likely seen clips of the Olympian escaping camp debate for some emotional privacy. Her own insecurities became too much as fellow contestant, former Miss Universe GB Amy Willerton, had been defending her industry’s role in a culture that leads to mass body insecurity. She claimed she had never felt like “a piece of meat” and that you’re “always going to get nasty remarks”. Is this enough? Can we simply accept that anyone in the public eye is open to receive any variety of emotionally
abusive comments? Adlington broke down as she described the copious weight of negative remarks she receives, saying “I was an athlete, I wasn’t trying to be a model and yet…every week on Twitter I get somebody comment on the way I look.” In response to Adlington’s upset, Willerton conceded somewhat, professing “nobody should ever be
made to feel like they’re not beautiful.” As classic a response as this may be, it’s hard to feel that this typical rebuttal isn’t somewhat missing the point. Rebecca Adlington does amazing things with her body; more amazing things in water, in fact, than anyone else in the world. Yet the media constantly places value in the way her body looks rather than what her body can do. Surely it’s time,
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rather than telling women that they are beautiful regardless, that we begin to acknowledge how it doesn’t actually matter whether you are beautiful or not. Superficial appearance is not where your value lies. It’s time the media stopped teaching us that it is. Our culture, obsessed by the superficial, has to stop teaching both men and women that what matters is how they appear, not what they say and do. The point isn’t that it’s unfair women don’t feel they can match up to these supermodels, it’s that they feel they are supposed to in the first place. We are in desperate need of a cultural shift in the way we think about and teach body image. How you look will have a bearing on how you think about your world, undoubtedly. But the idea that it should affect what you can do with your life, who you can be, and how valuable you are is both damaging and dangerous. It runs the risk of a generation of women, talented beyond belief, crippled by a body image so low that they feel they have no value at all.
Christmas: Materialistic and meaningful Sophie Jackson Comment Writer @Sophlynne Every year, the Christmas season sneaks quietly in throughout October and November. As soon as Halloween is over, advent calendars and tins of chocolate appear in Tesco, and it’s not long before Christmas adverts start showing up on TV. Christmas sales and specials begin long before most towns have put their decorations up, getting people in the spirit of spending. So really, the holiday season starts when companies decide to start selling us Christmas. It might seem that something like Christmas cannot be advertised – the values of Christmas are hardly compatible with the values of advertising. However, Christmas advertisements are almost entirely different from the typical yearround ones. Ed Kitchingman named the release of the annual John Lewis Christmas advert a ‘national event’, and it seems he is right, as thousands took to Twitter after the release of this year’s production The Bear and the Hare. Since
2007, John Lewis has been producing Christmas adverts that are increasingly more like short films than product advertisements. Other retailers such as Marks & Spencer, Debenhams and Tesco are producing adverts with a similar message. The holiday season seems, for a time, to make people value family significantly more than material things, so advertising reflects this. The Bear and the Hare is deliberately sentimental and appeals to emotions of the audience, rather than appealing directly to their wallets. The Hare’s Christmas present to the Bear is an alarm clock. The present itself is not important; what is important is that it allowed the Bear to spend the holiday with the other animals. This message seems to have taken over Christmas advertising in the past few years. One example of this change is the fact that Christmas advertising has become about storytelling. The main message of an ordinary advertisement is simply ‘you need this product because (insert apparently desirable trait here)’. Christmas advertising conceals this message, and instead presents stories about family and love. Sainsbury’s, Morrison’s and Boots all produced adverts last year about how their products could make your family’s lives easier, playing on the worn-out mother stereotype for sympathy. John Lewis excludes products
entirely, and so expects the audience to infer that they care the most. If you believe the advertisement, this means the shoppers that truly care about their loved ones should do their Christmas shopping at John Lewis. Following the release of The Bear and the Hare, John Lewis introduced a range of The Bear and the Hare gifts just in time for the holidays. Clearly this new type of advertising is still bringing in cash, as telling emotive stories at Christmas time will always sell. It would be easy to become disillusioned with Christmas, thinking about all the ways shoppers are manipulated by
Flickr: Crown exclusive
‘caring’ retailers, but the underlying message of Christmas advertising has to be the same as for all adverts. No matter how cynical the concept of advertising might be, these adverts can be appreciated for what they are - short stories about the value of generosity and family. Because of this, adverts have become part of British holiday tradition. Some people anticipate the John Lewis advert like it’s a new episode of Doctor Who. In the end, Christmas adverts, like Christmas itself, are both materialistic and meaningful, and that’s the way it should be.
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Does Deng’s lecacy spell doom for China? Dian Atamyanov Comment Writer @Dragoonfire The great Chinese Communist Party has recently announced it will finally abolish labour camps and significantly alter its controversial one-child policy, making it easier for parents to have a second child. While some human rights organizations hail this as welcome news, others are worried the latter might already be too late for China’s stagnating population. Following the establishment of the communist regime, many catastrophic social and industrial plans have seen the country on the brink of collapse: From the Great Leap Forward that caused a famine killing tens of millions, to the Cultural Revolution that destroyed much of China’s heritage. However, none of these can compare to Deng Xiaoping’s severe population control measures. Implemented in 1979, the family planning policy was set up in an effort to counteract the potential disaster of overpopulation. Since then, it has been reported that more than 400 million births have been prevented as a consequence of the policy. Many women have been forcefully aborted and sterilized, while others to date desperately try to conceal their illicit offspring.
But it doesn’t end there. With most children growing up as singletons, some fear the so-called ‘Little Emperor syndrome’ – the idea that China’s new generations would be raised spoiled and selfish. Researchers are sceptical, as there is little evidence to back this up, though it is not entirely out of bounds to say these kids are still to carry the burden
of this restrictive policy. As they grow up, these future builders of the nation would have to look forward to taking care of many more elderly than they could realistically manage. What’s more, the traditional preference for males over females in Chinese society has already sealed the fate of over 35 million men who will most likely never marry. The female
population of China is shrinking due to the toxic combination of regional culture and bad policy, and as a result, instances of female infanticide have become all too common in this 21st century modern state. If the government doesn’t abolish the policy altogether, then it’s safe to say that China will soon be no country for young men.
Edd Jones/AFP/Getty Images
A clouded memory of JFK? Joe Jameson Comment Writer The 22 November, 1963, Dallas, Texas. President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was visiting the American South, unofficially launching his re-election campaign, when he was shot three times by Lee Harvey Oswald. Kennedy’s Presidency ended in the most brutal and abrupt way possible, and many Americans still feel that they were robbed of one of the greatest Presidents of all time. Elected to the White House in November 1960, JFK was the youngest man to become President at the age of 43, having fought an incredibly close campaign against Senator Nixon. Son of the very successful business man, and former American Ambassador to Britain, Joe Kennedy, JFK was born
into one of the richest families in the United States. Jack, as he was known to his friends and family, had served in World War Two, as a Motor Torpedo Boat Commander and was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for bravery after his boat was rammed by a Japanese destroyer, and he rescued his crew. After choosing a career in politics and with his father’s backing, (sometimes not always welcome), Jack progressed through the House of Representatives, to Congress, before preparing to stand for the Presidency in 1960. So what is is about him that has stuck with us for the 50 years since his assassination? Partly, the obsession has to be down to the international event which overshadows the decade; the Cuban Missile Crisis. On October 14, 1962, the CIA’s U2 spy plane flights over the Caribbean island of Cuba, revealed that the Soviet Union had started installing medium range nuclear missiles all
around the island, which would have put nearly every major US city in range or nuclear attack. The following two weeks brought the Cold War ever closer to the brink of Nuclear war, but Kennedy resisted military pressure to invade Cuba and sought the Soviet Premier, Nikita Khrushchev’s agreement to dismantle the missiles, following an intense standoff between the Soviet and American fleets in the Atlantic. Kennedy’s approval ratings shot up from 66% to 77% following his success in Cuba, and many admirers argue that he saved humanity. However, there is a dark side to the 35th President of the United States, blemishes which have been slowly overlooked as time has moved on. In office, Kennedy did not always get things right. The Bay of Pigs disaster nearly ended his political career, not even four months into his Presidency. Cuban rebels trained by the US were sent to invade Cuba and depose of
Castro, the Cuban Leader. However, the Cuban army had been tipped off and the mission failed with the rebels suffering huge losses. His political integrity has also been questioned in regards to his success in the 1960 election, specifically his victory in Chicago generating accusations of links with Sam Giancana, the powerful gangster and the suggestion that Kennedy’s father bribed Giancana to deliver electoral success for Jack. JFK has also become infamous for his womanising. Faithfulness in his marriage to Jacqueline Bouvier was something which he seemed completely incapable of achieving. He had affairs very frequently, and not always discreetly, he was most famously involved with Marilyn Monroe. JFK was a very successful President who very much deserves our praise and respect. He was also however, susceptible to the failings of human nature, you can decide whether this matters.
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Global Christmas in the city: down and out in Paris and Berlin concrete.global@uea.ac.uk
Sonya Qureshi Global writer You might know him as Santa Claus, Sinterklaas or Father Christmas – but it’s unlikely that Saint Nicholas is going to be swinging by the stockings hung at the mantelpiece of many homeless people this year. A piece detailing the root causes of homelessness featured in the last issue of Concrete, and it is important to assess some of the more seasonal issues surrounding it. Christmas serves to enhance inequality – across the world, the rich put on displays of affluence and opulence, while those who cannot afford it are left to stare longingly at shop windows, feeling inadequate. Never is this more pronounced than for those without a home to go to. Berlin’s ‘winter buses’ actively search out homeless people with nowhere to go,
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finding them shelter and food during the coldest months. It is at Christmastime that the number of people using Berlin’s soup kitchens soars – many of them victims of unemployment and being undercut by younger workers.
“Almost one in five German children live in poverty” Public departments are usually responsible for providing welfare for the city’s most vulnerable people, but it is left to aid agencies and charities to run things like the winter bus and soup kitchens. The municipality, it seems, would rather spend its tax dollars on lavishly coating the high streets in glittering baubles and fairy lights to encourage people to spend, spend, spend for Christmas. Meanwhile the Berlin senate, citing monetary difficulties, indiscriminately
cuts services like libraries, youth clubs and elderly day care centres. Amongst all the glitz and light it would be easy to forget about the people who huddle in shop doorways to escape the wind, or about the almost one in five German children who live in poverty. Despite Germany’s perceived relative wealth in Europe, inequality between its rich and poor is increasing – and it’s a problem. Social workers agree that anger is rising with the way things are, and that soon things will explode: in a ‘crisis of capitalism’, as one puts it. It is similar across Europe – while on the surface, countries may be ‘recovering’ from economic crisis, on closer inspection, an economic crisis of a different kind is taking place – one of gross division between the richest and poorest members of society. While many people will be tucking into their Christmas feasts this year, the 10,000
people estimated to be homeless in Berlin will not. What better emphasises such disparity than that? Berliners cannot forget about the
“Things will explode in a ‘crisis of Capitalism’” homeless ‘underclass’ in their city, however; a new ‘Down and Out’ tour run by homeless volunteers gives an insight for tourists and residents into the city in a way they don’t ever get to see it. Carsten Voss, who helps organise the tours, says of his time on the streets: “the worst thing was being invisible.” Perhaps things like this, juxtaposed against the blatant extravagance of Christmas, will prompt residents to take a look at their city with new eyes, and perhaps see people whom they ignored before.
A heartwarming Christmas tale: Batkid saves the day Katie Ward Global writer Recently, Britain tuned into Children in Need to support sick and underprivileged children that needed our help. Every year, clips of children melt the hearts of many and the public dig deep to help those less fortunate than themselves. But on the 15th November, San Francisco managed to go the extra mile, making a little boy a local hero in a heart-warming exhibition of public kindness. Miles Scott, aged 5, was diagnosed with leukaemia when he was just 18 months old, a life threatening illness that
attacks the bone marrow in a person’s body. To realise his dream of saving San Fran like his favourite hero saves the city of Gotham, the Make A Wish foundation organised over 10,000 people in a well-orchestrated performance of epic proportions. The story featured starring roles for Police Chief Greg Suhr, the infamous villain the Riddler, and the Penguin, whose plans Miles defeated, finally roaring away in the Batmobile, with support from the US justice department and even President Obama. It seems that Miles’ bravery and resounding cuteness is enough to warm the cockles of even the most cynical of hearts.
Santa Claus - no wait - Black Pete is coming to town Dan Falvey Global writer Every year, thousands of white people living in the Netherlands paint their faces black and wear afro wigs to celebrate the arrival of Black Pete. Along with Father Christmas, Black Pete sails in at the end of November on board a ship to mark the start of the festive season. Although unfamiliar in Britain, the festive character is one of the most popular Dutch traditions. According to tradition, Black Pete, one of Santa’s little helpers (or Sinterklaas as he is known in
Holland) travels with the bearded man, jumping down the chimneys of the world to deliver presents on the behalf of Father Christmas. Some believe that the soot that gathers on Black Pete’s face while doing this task is the reason for his dark skin. However, the iconic figure has recently been deemed racist by the UN, who have called for the tradition to be abolished after receiving a complaint that Black Pete was a “living trace of past slavery and oppression” and that it “fostered an underlying sense of inferiority of African people in Dutch society.” Netherlands’ folklore portrays a much darker origin to the jolly figure of Black
Pete, indicating he used to be Sinterklaas’ slave, who upon his release, decided to stay and support Father Christmas out of appreciation. In recent years, some have highlighted that the afro wigs of Black Pete hint that there is more to the story than an elf with soot covering his face, and suggest that folklore origins clearly indicate that there is a racial issue surrounding the tradition. In 2001, Caribbean poet Quinsy Gario was arrested for staging a silent protest at the Sinterklaas parade. In his eyes, the magical ‘elf’ merely reinforces racial stereotypes and makes light of historical oppression and slavery of Africans.
Gario has expressed that he believes that the celebrations in Holland and Belgium are out of date: “There’s a white guy on a horse, and he is served by a lot of black people. They’re still jolly fellows, they still sing and dance, they’re still acting a bit silly. And that’s a stereotype.” Most Dutch people, including the Netherlands’ Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, deny that there is any racist intent. Rutte simply states that “Black Pete is black and that’s that”. Last month a Facebook petition was set up in support of keeping Black Pete as a part of Holland’s Christmas tradition; within one month the plea received over 2 million likes.
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Ending political apathy
Features writer Johnnie Bicket discusses why we need to reinvigorate British politics, and how Alternative Voting could be the solution. Political apathy is no longer a phenomenon, but a central feature of our democracy. Although politicians have often been looked on as hate figures in our history, in earlier generations trusting and supporting a political party was an activity that almost everybody was involved in. The rich and affluent voted Tory, the working classes voted Labour, and the middle classes bounced between the two, occasionally toying with Liberalism. Ideology played an important part in this decision. The rich wanted to protect their interests, and Labour’s core Socialist doctrine was attractive to working families and communities. Now, we exist in a political era without the same simple societal divisions. More people now occupy the middle-ground, not strongly identifying with the main parties. There is a definite stagnation occurring in Westminster. Ideology has vanished in a slow, mass centralisation of politics, a quick-fix to dropping voter turnout, the main parties trying to appeal to everyone, becoming so-called ‘big tent’ or ‘catch all’ parties. Now we essentially choose the one we see as presentable, or the one that we detest the least. It was this sort of rationale that carried Cameron to victory in 2010. So, if we can’t trust or identify with anyone, why should we vote? It’s a valid question. Russell Brand’s admittance of having never cast a vote in his life has raised many eyebrows. It is true that to neglect your right to vote is to take our privilege for granted. Some would say it disregards all those who have fought and died for
Flickr: @Pharmphoto
our democratic rights. But if we cannot invest trust in politicians without being made to look like fools, then why should we bother? Can we really progress with the current system? I think Brand’s calls for people to start talking about revolution are baseless in a country with no real history of revolution- the British collective consciousness has no revolutionary precedent to act on. Revolutions require clear ideological direction and selfless leadership, if one wants to avoid instability and potential civil war. I do not disagree with the concept of revolution, but as a nation, there are fundamental things we can do to strengthen democracy and individual rights without having to sweep away everything first. Reinvigorating British politics is not going to be easy, but it can be done. Does anyone even remember the Alternative
Vote referendum? It was rolled out a year after Cameron was elected, an unusually short amount of time between the announcement of the referendum and its occurrence. Call me cynical, but it was clear to me at the time that the Tories were simply ticking off an obligation to the Lib Dems - Cameron has recently announced a 2017 referendum over EU membership, allowing four years for people to make up their minds and think over their vote properly. Changing our voting system to AV stood to open the door for smaller, newer political parties, so Cameron understandably didn’t give it a chance to gain momentum. We were told that AV would give a voice to fringe groups like the BNP, so most people voted against it. As long as we have First Past the Post voting, there is no chance of relieving political apathy. Grassroots
movements are shut out in the cold, and the traditionally radical and active youth are destined for a permanent state of disinterest. I’m not saying that AV will save us, but it may well force the door open to a multitude of voices. Healthy democracies include a variety of smaller political parties who are forced to work together in the national interest. There was hope that there would be greater consensus in the Coalition Government, but the Lib Dems have rolled over so many times they are barely even remembered as an entity, subsumed and subjugated by overwhelming Conservative doctrine. AV would end the monopoly of Tory and Labour, parties that have been hollowed out by media spin and the celebrity of ‘professional politics’, grandstanding at election time and making impossible promises. Democracy functions on the basis of an engaged and politically active population. Out of frustration, or out of a belief that politics is out of their reach, many people have turned their backs on this obligation, concluding that “nothing changes whoever I vote for.” That may be true, but the onus is on us to remedy this. The political system is not going to change itself, and if we continue on this apathetic road, the likely ending will be total plutocracy, the poor disenfranchising themselves out of sheer frustration. First Past the Post is absurdly out-dated. We need to start talking about Alternative Voting now, or our long-term political outlook will just get bleaker and bleaker.
Relationships at University: can they work?
Can a university romance survive past graduation? Features writer Geri Scott looks at the odds of campus relationships working out. We have all heard the age old wisdom that is usually doled out to us either at open days, during welcome week, or at any point during our time at university. Apparently, one-third of us will meet our future husband or wife right here on campus. You could have headed off to university as a single pringle from the start, or you could have decided that long distance just wasn’t working for you and your love. However you ended up in singledom, have no fear. There definitely isn’t any lack of opportunity to meet somebody at university. On your course and in societies you’re surrounded by people with similar interests, and the romantic magic of the LCR definitely aids with any awkward ice breakers. But is having a relationship during university really such a good idea? And if it is, will it survive in the “real world”? A degree definitely takes a lot out of you. It involves hard work, intense commitment and a very large chunk of your time. Just as a relationship does. Between socializing, sporting events, nights out and the occasional library session, it’s easy to
understand why a relationship may not fit into the time constraints of the average, busy student. However, whilst some of us may cower away from the prospect of being tied down to something, others might relish in the opportunity to share their university experience with somebody else. Even if you are one of the former, it is more than likely that you will have some kind of relationship at university, even if it only lasts one night - and possibly an awkward morning after. A relationship of a more committed nature face plenty of hurdles at university. These could include the secret smugness when you finish the year with a better grade than your partner, or the not-sosecret jealousy if you don’t. However, further problems may be faced when your relationship leaves the cloistered, cushioned surroundings of campus life and carry over into the world outside of university. Relationships that appear rocksolid for one, two, or even three years, will encounter a complete overhaul when the lecture theatre is swapped for the workplace. The stresses of finding a career
will be made slightly more strenuous when paired with relationship issues. At this point, many university couples may be forced to make the decision of whether to move in together, or move on without each other. This choice will have a massive influence on any possible future opportunities. But this isn’t to say that all relationships cannot work during study or after graduation. After all, you have still met somebody who you have loved and been close to for the past three years. They’ve been there for you through all the trials and tribulations of university life. Alongside this, research shows that we are more attracted to those who are most like ourselves, and are more likely to build relationships with others who are nearby and have similar interests to ourselves. If this doesn’t sway you, then don’t forget the many examples of couples who met at university and are still going strong today. The most notable examples include Barack and Michelle Obama, Prince William and Kate Middleton and Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan to
Flickr: @duncan name but a few. The key is being able to balance your relationship, social life and deadlines equally, and there are many people who have managed to do this successfully year on year. If you keep a positive outlook, and work at your relationship, you’ll find that the love that you developed over post-LCR hangovers and all-nighters in the Library will stay strong even when you’ve left the concrete campus behind you.
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Issue 290
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A Guide to Surviving Christmas
03/12/13 Flickr: @Pimtheda
Features writer Anna Walker advises students how to adapt to spending Christmas back home. As first semester draws to a drizzly close, most students are more than ready to revel in the luxury of central heating at home for the Christmas holidays. By now deadlines have killed any will to leave bed, the kitchen has become a site of major health concern and having spent your entire first loan installment on fancy dress and glitter bombs, you’d really just like a home cooked meal and some sleep. Returning home for the holidays isn’t all free food and presents however. As joyous as the comforts of home can be, readjusting to being part of the family after independent living means even the most festive Christmas spirit can take a knocking. Concrete is here to provide you with some tips to make sure you’re less Grinch, more Buddy the Elf this holiday season. Heading home for Christmas means the independence of university can feel suddenly revoked. Saturday nights no longer find you stuck to the LCR floors, but wrapping up a sensible scarf for your grandma whilst your Dad wrestles with some fairy lights. No longer can you party till the early hours without dropping Mum a text when you get home and neither can you exist purely on a diet of Nutella and chicken nuggets. This new lack of independence can feel seriously frustrating as the adult life you’ve grown accustomed to over term time is replaced
by old routines of rules and curfews. Try to have a conversation with your parents before you travel home for the holidays about how you’d like to be treated upon your return. Outline, in the most positive way possible, how well you are doing with independent living, and how much you’re looking forward to demonstrating this new found independence when you get home. Having a discussion beforehand, about how you want certain routines or curfews to change or readjust, can save a lot of bickering down the line. A major concern for any budget conscious student can be the cost of Christmas gifts. Having by now exhausted your student loan, expensive gift options can begin to seem bleak and an optimistic trip to Pound Land more and more inviting. The trick is to manage thoughtful, appropriate gifts without restricting yourself to a diet of Alphabetti Spaghetti for the entire next term. Making sure you get people just the right present needn’t be expensive. Homemade gifts are a student standard and family will appreciate them all the more for the effort you’ve put into their creation. If you’re a crafty type try knitting up a scarf for an Uncle, if you like baking, make some Christmas treats for younger cousins or if neither of these appeal, try compiling some CDs of your favourite songs from the previous year; it
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A Merry Christmas on a Budget
Features writer Fay Tate offers her tips for those who are feeling festive, but lacking funds.
might even get Cliff Richard off the stereo for an hour or two. As the big day itself rolls around, it’s time to prepare your winning Miss Universe answers to that annually dreaded question; “what’s the plan after your degree then?” The key is to prepare an answer early, and stick to that answer. You will be asked this at least twice by every relative you see and preparation is crucial to avoid the blind panic that will otherwise ensue and the resulting answers that somehow bear no resemblance to your actual plans – professional turkey farmer anyone? Get back in touch with friends. They will be a vital part of offsetting the stress of family members who want to know your ten year life plan, how studying is going and the minute details of your love life. The friends you spent all summer with are crucial to surviving a family heavy Christmas so make sure you get in touch early and plan away early for the holidays. With a little preparation, lots of patience and a determination to be full of festive spirit, the transition from university to home needn’t be the Nightmare before Christmas. So dig out your mixing bowl, give the parents a call and make sure your calendar is stuffed full of plans with friends: after all, when the stresses of festivities subside, it’s only a week until New Year’s Eve. God bless us, every one.
It’s now December and that means dissertation and essay deadlines are just around the corner – but so is Christmas. It’s that time to play those famous and beloved tunes, eat copious amounts of turkey, chocolate and Christmas pudding and create that great Christmassy feeling with lots of decorations. What’s more, this Christmassy feeling can be created at university and on a budget. One of the best parts of Christmas is to decorate the place with snowflakes, tinsel and figurines of Santa Claus, elves and Frosty the Snowman. Decorations can be expensive but all is not lost. Pound Land, the biggest single-price retailer in Europe, has everything needed to decorate the home – wreaths, novelty figures, window stickers and even a 60cm Christmas tree all for £1 each. Take a couple of hours out from revision, dissertation and essay writing, switch on those Christmas classics – Slade’s Merry Christmas Everybody is a must – and create a Winter Wonderland or Santa’s workshop with your friends. And for the creative minds, download the app Pinterest on your phone or tablet and browse the various ways you can create your own decorations from scratch. Those empty vodka bottles may be useful after all.
Christmas at university would not be complete without attempting to cook a Christmas dinner. Team up with the flat or house next door, split the costs, share stoves and ovens and a university Christmas dinner may just be successful. Head on down to Iceland where you can pick up a turkey breast joint that serves ten to twelve people for just £10 – that’s a quid each between ten people – or for the more ambitious, Asda is selling a
“Take a couple of hours of from revision, dissertaion and essay writing and create a Winter Wonderland with your friends” large turkey crown for £8. After that, it’s just potatoes, parsnips, stuffing, pigs in blankets and vegetables to sort out. There are tons of easy recipes online so cooking Christmas dinner should be successful and effortless – Channel 4’s ‘quick and easy Christmas dinner menu’ is a good place to start. Christmas is the time for giving and what better way to start than organising Secret Santa among your house or flat? It may seem like a lot of work but it’s very simple – everyone involved picks a name from a hat, set a price limit of, say, £5 and
let your imagination fly. Have a look in Gifted, a shop located on the first floor in Castle Mall, for silly, fun, cute and just plain awesome gifts for a low price. Then exchange those Secret Santa presents over Christmas dinner and enjoy the silliness and fun that follows. For those musically talented people – and those who just want to make some noise – get a group of people together and head out Christmas carolling. It’s that time to sing Jingle Bells, Away in a Manger and all those treasured carols we sang every year at school. To really put on a show, find someone who can play a musical instrument, dress up all Christmassy – Santa hats, elf ears and reindeer antlers would be acceptable – and wander around the Golden Triangle and campus to spread that Christmas cheer. To top it all off, head down to the Norwich Cathedral in the centre of town for a night of carol singing on 5 December. With a bit of saving, ingeunity and help from your friends, Christmas cheer doesn’t have to be something that is only reserved for when you get home. You can spread the holiday spirit right here at university. Merry Christmas everyone, and remember - don’t forget the mistletoe!
The Great Christmas Advert Race
Features writer Daniel Falvey looks at the competitive nature of Christmas advertising, and asks what exactly makes seasonal marketing successful. Coca Cola have successfully established themselves as part of the Christmas build up. Many joke that once they see the Santa in the Coca Cola truck on TV they know that Christmas has arrived. However, in recent years, John Lewis and Marks and Spencer have also began to invest an extortionate amount of money into marketing at Christmas. Now the build up to Christmas can be seen also as the build up to a great race between the companies for the best Christmas advert. This year, John Lewis’s advert tells the story of an animated bear and a hare
who are best friends. But when it comes to winter the bear must hibernate, and therefore misses Christmas. This year to make sure his friend doesn’t miss out on the festive spirit the hare buys the bear an alarm clock for Christmas to wake him up on the 25th December. Featuring a cover version of Keane’s Somewhere Only We Know, sang by Lily Allen, and the tag line “give someone a Christmas they will never forget”, the advert has had much success, with social media widely discussing John Lewis’ Christmas story and Allen’s song making it to number one in the Official
“Now the build up to Christmas can be seen also as the build up to a great race between the companies for the best Christmas advert.” UK charts. Meanwhile, Marks and Spencer have decided to approach their advert by trying to make its adult audience rediscover their inner child. It focuses on a variety of traditional childhood stories including Alice in Wonderland, Aladdin and The Wizard of Oz. A white dog called Sparkle has ran away from their owner (who just
“Nowadays, Christmas adverts act as the start of the festive season. Whether we agree or not, they are a definite part of the build up to Christmas.” Photo: The MIrror
happens to be model Rosie HuntingtonWhiteley). As she tries to catch her pet, she is taken on a magical adventure through the exciting fictive lands of our childhood. Everywhere the young woman goes she can be seen to be surrounded by beautiful products, which the viewer is hinted to believe can be bought from Marks and Spencer. Right at the end of the advert the retailer unleashes its secret weapon in this year’s race, a star appearance of Helena Bonham Carter. So which advert has won over the public? Judging by its popularity on social media, many would say that John Lewis’s Bear and Hare is the winner of the race this year. But why? Is it because of Lily Allen’s no.1 hit soundtrack? Or is it the idea of animals buying each other gifts? And just why was Marks and Spencer’s advert not as good? The answer may be down to the Christmas message presented in John Lewis’ story. Right up until the last frame of the advert when the John Lewis logo appears, there are no hints as to whom the advert is for or what they are be selling. It is purely an old fashioned story
about friendship and giving. Some even feel that it is more like a short film than an advert because of the lack of commercial references. In comparison, despite Marks and Spencer’s advert being based on childhood
“Maybe the best way to win the great Christmas advert race is not to focus too much on the selling aspect, and instead focus on the festive spirit” magic and imagination, throughout the advert the constant appearances of the brand’s products reminds those watching it that it is all a commercial stunt. Although a very enjoyable advert, it is not quite as warming as John Lewis’s message of goodwill, which perfectly captures the Christmas spirit. Maybe the best way to win the great Christmas advert race is not to focus too much on the selling aspect, and instead focus on the festive spirit. Indeed, there have been catastrophic
results for adverts which didn’t appear to spread the Christmas cheer. When Littlewoods made their Christmas advert two years ago, it came under severe criticism for suggesting that Santa Clause was not real, and instead, his efforts were the work of parents. The advert received 456 complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority, and the company were left desperately trying to show their customer that they weren’t as Scrooge-y as the advert led them to believe. By not going along with the magic of Christmastime, the company’s image suffered. Nowadays, Christmas adverts act as
“To win the advert race, all the companies have to do is show they have a heart. And that is something that, at least when it comes to marketing and advertising, is always easier said than done.” the start of the festive season. Whether
Photo: theinspirationroom we agree or not, they are a definite part of the build up to Christmas. But what advertisers should remember is that it is not necessarily the companies or the products that they are selling that sparks the seasonal excitement. Adverts that promote the “true meaning” of Christmas as a time goodwill and giving are the ones that the consumers embrace. John
Lewis’s decision to focus on creating a story that reflects this feeling has given the brand media and cultural attention. To win the advert race, all the companies have to do is show they have a heart. And that is something that, at least when it comes to marketing and advertising, is always easier said than done.
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concrete.environment@uea.ac.uk
Issue 290
03/12/13
Environment
Is the Coalition the greenest government ever? Science funding: ditch the focus on “pet projects”
Jacob Beebe Environment Writer It is very common for governments to fly the environmental flag to help win over the public. Promises to be better than “the last lot” abound when it comes to green issues, and promises can’t be broken, right? It often seems, however, that progress in environmental issues can be painfully slow. It could be argued that this is the prevailing opinion purely because often bad news makes for better reading, providing the everyday Brit something to have a jolly good grumble about. And it may just be that steady progress is not necessarily reported, or even that it simply is not possible to implement the necessary changes with any urgency. But is this actually the greenest government ever? A recent report, approved by 41 NGOs, states that the Coalition government’s record for tackling environmental issues has steadily declined, and that more than a third of its pledges have not being met. These organisations, such as the RSPB, WWF and the RSPCA believe that the current government is falling short when it comes to farm-animal welfare, marine conservation and tackling wildlife decline. The government’s green credentials were also questioned when David Cameron came under fire for allegedly ordering aides to “get rid of all the
Amelia Frizell-Armitage Environment Writer
Flickr: Robert Sharp green crap” from energy bills. Although Number 10 has said that it does not recognise that such reports are true, it does raise the question as to whether pledges are being implemented. According to the report, 79% of the population believe that the government have not lived up to their pledge to be the greenest government ever. What of our neighbours on the other side of the pond? Similarly to the Coalition, Obama has also been criticised with regards to environmental issues. It was said that Obama had not done enough to combat climate change in his first term. This has become a focus issue for his second term and it would appear to have become a higher priority.
Flickr: marcn Hopefully, Obama has his eyes set on a brighter environmental future – rather than following an apathetic Sarah Palin-esque stance of “we can drill our way out of our problem”; that climate change is not a result of human actions; or that polar bears should not be classified as an endangered species. It appears that the Coalition government could be doing more for environmental protection. It is in their interest as a result of the economic and social value of environmental preservation. Where pledges have been made, they should be met. However, it should be recognised that changes cannot always be made overnight, and that rapid environmental progress and may not always be plausible.
Science might stop working: what I learnt from the Daily Telegraph Peter Sheehan Environment Editor Sean Thomas: “novelist, journalist and travel writer”. And, it would appear, environmental scientist of considerable repute. So much so that he is good enough to rattle off some 800 words on the subject of climate change for the website of the Daily Telegraph. Rest assured: this is not your standard rant from your standard climate change denier. (Unlike those of Thomas’s colleague, James Dellingpole, a man whose environmental commentary is as irksome and ignorant as it is studiedly iconoclastic.) Thomas protests his faith in climate science and in its learned practitioners. He promises that he has a “basic respect” for climate scientists and for science more generally. After all, he knows it is science that has given him the ability to pop pills on flights to Thailand, a breakthrough for which he appears to be truly, if bizarrely, grateful. Then proceedings take a turn for the worse. It goes without saying that he
drags out the tired old non-truth that climate change stopped in 1998 – noone flogs a dead horse like a climate change denier – but he also points out that it snows in winter in parts of the United States, and that he sensed a “shrill religiosity” in some of those who see climate change as something of a threat. Clearly we are to take this as proof positive that the scientific basis of climate change is hokum. But rather than asserting that Marxism-climatism is the greatest threat to civilisation since the European Union, Thomas strikes a markedly different tone. While researching his upcoming novel – and how many Nobel Prize-winning scientists can say that? – he came across a mysterious theory called Cosmic Habituation. Apparently, “in all manner of scientific disciplines… scientific truths are losing their truthfulness”. That is, the more times we perform the same experiment, the less “impressive” the results become. “Is God teasing us?” Thomas asks, leaving it up to us to decide whether or not he is being serious. Thomas’s main contention is that the
cheeky hand of Cosmic Habituation is creating merry hell with climate science. Even as we thought things were steadily becoming clearer so they are actually poised to unravel from the seams to the centre. And so the esteemed writer of The Bible of the Dead, armed with nothing but the truth and a first-draft manuscript, knocks on the door of the establishment to politely tell those poor old boffins that they are most probably wrong. But it is not their fault: they are just stuck in the paradigm. Quite why climate science is more susceptible to divine tinkering than, say, germ theory is never fully explained. In truth, it is not terribly clear how Thomas manages to ramble from accepting climate science, to suggesting that global warming will become progressively less so each time we look at a thermometer. But if he is truly worried that science stops working if we use it too much, perhaps he should stop using aeroplanes: we never know when God might decide that physics just isn’t working for Him anymore. In the meantime, perhaps Thomas should get back to his novel.
A recent report on investment in scientific infrastructure has come to the conclusion that science funding in recent years has not been strategic enough. Ministers have been taking a short term view, selecting and funding a few so called ‘pet-projects’, that may or may not be representative of the UK’s research needs. This leaves some research groups, who may be doing vital science, struggling to find adequate funds, whilst the select few prosper. This needs to stop, in particular when there is so little money to go round. Plans have recently emerged from The Department of Business, Innovation and Skills to cut the science budget by £215m. This is equivalent to around 2000 academic positions and 700 PhD students, presenting a serious threat to the scientific community. All sectors in our society have suffered in the recession, and it would be unfair to ringfence science as the only industry where budget cuts do not apply. However, science is at the cornerstone of our modern society. Almost everything we now have is a result of good scientific research. In addition to this, science is now a truly global industry. If UK research is not sufficiently supported, we will not be able to compete on a global level with other countries that invest heavily in science.
Flickr: bisgovuk
£215
million
The amount the government wants to cut from the science budget
With less funding comes a greater need for good planning and strategy. Randomly assigning the money to a select few projects that ministers find interesting is not an acceptable way forward. We need collaboration between politicians, scientists and the research councils to make long term plans, identify key research priorities, and decide how to distribute the budget. Only then can we build a world-class scientific community.
Science & Tech
03/12/13
Issue 290
concrete.science@uea.ac.uk
15
A better use for sprouts this Christmas
Bridget Randall-Smith Science Writer Sprouts are not the most popular vegetable, and most people would rather see them absent from their Christmas dinner. However, a team of scientists and engineers have found another use for the brussels sprout - as a sustainable alternative power source. A team from the creative consultancy Designworks has created a ‘sprout battery’. The idea was conceived by the Big Bang science fair after a survey of 1,000 children revealed that 68% of them despised the green vegetable. The battery uses five power cells each containing 200 sprouts, producing 63 volts from the 1,000 sprouts. This is characterised as ‘extra low voltage’ so, is safe to touch. The eight foot Christmas tree stands along London’s Southbank and was switched on the 25 November. The science behind the battery is very simple electrolysis. A weak acid produced
by the sprouts acts like an electrolyte. Copper and zinc electrodes were inserted into each sprout creating an electrical potential difference so electrons can flow between the electrodes through the electrolyte. This produces a small current and collectively enough sprouts generate sufficient electricity to power simple appliances. The power is stored in a capacitor and released through 100 highly efficient LED bulbs. The battery life is dependent on how long the sprout stays fresh. As long as the sprout remains fresh it will produce the acid used as the electrolyte to conduct electricity. The whole battery is estimated to last for approximately a month, though the sprouts can always be replenished. The sprout isn’t even a very efficient fruit or vegetable for generating electricity; higher liquid content and acidic fruits such as lemons and limes are significantly better electrical conductors. This makes the feat of a sprout powered Christmas tree even more amazing and, better still, helps keep them off the dinner plate!
WorldNomads.com
Photo: msn.com
Countering the Christmas Dinner The Children of Typhoon Haiyan Mabon Elis Science writer It’s December, that time of year when we’re never more than a few days away from a Christmas party or an impossibly large feast. Such excesses of food invariably lead to the overeating, and subsequent weight gain, which inspires ill-fated News Years’ resolutions concerning tracksuits and fluorescent wristbands. The World Health Organisation estimates that, in 2008, 35% of the world’s population was overweight. Brits are particularly guilty, with 24% of men and 26% of women in England found to be obese in a 2011 study. Such excessive weight can cause severe health problems, including Type 2 Diabetes, various cancers, and cardiovascular disease. Foods high in fat can also lead to elevated fat levels in the bloodstream, which increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. But research in the latest issue of Nature Communications has shown that these blood fat levels can be used to combat obesity. Researchers in Basel used synthetic biology to develop a genetic circuit that can be implanted into obese mice. This circuit involves the expression of pramlinitide, a clinically-licenced hormone, to supress appetite and promote satiation (fullness) in response to high blood fat levels. Obese mice fed on a high-fat diet showed a noticeable drop in body weight in response to the regulatory circuit. And because the expression is blood fat-dependent, normalweight mice fed on a low-fat diet ate normally, without losing weight. Martin Fussenegger, who led the
research, believes that we may, one day, see his method being used as an alternative to liposuction and gastric bands in obese people. He said: “The advantage of our implant would be that it can be used without such invasive interventions.” But Sir Stephen O’Rahilly, professor of clinical biochemistry and medicine at the University of Cambridge, says that many hurdles will need to be overcome before this can happen: “Firstly, the hormone they used is only modestly effective for weight loss in humans – much less so than in mice – so it’s not at all clear that it would cause significant weight loss. “Secondly, one would have to find a way of safely encapsulating cells and keeping them alive in a compartment in the human body in a manner that allowed them to function for long periods of time. If these are foreign cells, they will be prone to rejection. If they are cells from the patient themselves, then it could be prohibitively expensive to have to engineer a bespoke cell population for each patient.” So as things stand, the easiest way to keep off unwanted podge for the moment is to refuse that third helping of Christmas pudding.
Alice Butler Science writer While many of us are gearing up for the season of plenty, as always there are those who are not as fortunate. Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines earlier this month with the estimated death toll of over 5,200. This natural disaster has left many without food, water, shelter or electricity but the long term consequences could be even worse. It has been shown that the number of deaths related to the typhoon over the next year could be 15 times those killed as a direct consequence of the disaster, with many of these being female infants; this works out to 78,000 people. Jesse Anttila-Hughes from the University of San Francisco, and Solomon Hsiang from the University of California, analysed the wind speeds of 81 provinces between 1978 and 2008 and compared this to the number of deaths over the same period; they also looked at family income and spending. They found that the death rates of infants under one years old increased in areas hit by higher winds, and this closely matched the rising loss of income caused by the disaster; as many of the children were not conceived when the storms occurred, it shows that they did not die as a direct result of this, but rather the economic impact. Furthermore, many of these excess deaths affected female infants and overall the chance of them dying doubles in the two years after a typhoon compared to those before them. Anttila-Hughes predicts that the reason for this may stem
from the fact that, in the Philippines, baby girls are seen as stronger than boys, as males normally have higher death rates. Therefore in difficult situations such as the typhoon, mothers are more likely to stop breast feeding earlier so they are able to return to work and earn money. However the weaning food then given to female infants is often made using the polluted water following these disasters, and this may well lead to the increased mortality rates. This emphasises just one of the possible long term consequences of this typhoon and the need for continued support to go to the Philippines for the next few years as they overcome this disaster.
Photo: The Atlantic
Credit: SpaceX
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concrete.travel@uea.ac.uk
Issue 290
Travel
03/12/13
The fairest Winter Wonderlands of them all Florence Amos Travel Writer Whilst the dark winter nights and heavy coursework deadlines may seem all doom and gloom, Christmas remains the light at the end of the tunnel. So while you are spending your days in the library, stacked under a pile of books, pining for freedom and festive fun, why not plan a visit one of the many Winter Wonderlands happening across the UK. Hyde Park, London Our humble capital is home to the UK’s most well-known and most spectacular Winter Wonderland. Even just a cursory glance at the event on Google will show you the reason why; some of the attractions include an ice rink, a giant observation wheel, The Magical Ice Kingdom, Zippos Circus, live music, gift markets, a German Christmas market and much more. Not only is the event located in the glorious setting of Hyde Park, which as well as holding an important place in British history (it was Henry VIII’s hunting ground), won the 2013 Trip Advisor Award for best attraction in London – evidence that Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland is above
supporttheroyalparks.org the rest. For us cash strapped students, fear not, entry to Winter Wonderland is free. Manchester City Centre Christmas Wonderland For those of you a bit further towards the North Pole, or who want to combine some last minute Christmas shopping with some festive fun – brace yourselves,
as Manchester is hosting a spectacular Winter Wonderland. One of the UK’s largest indoor shopping centres has undergone a Christmassy transformation. Whether you are a nervous novice or a seasoned skater – jump on the ice at Hardman Square, Springfields in the City Centre, open from now until the 5 January. Why not combine your Winter
Wonderland experience with late night shopping? And of course, for the festive loving, inner child in all of us, Santa will also be making an appearance, doing his bit in raising money for charity. If you enjoy a good carol or two, why not tune in to the local orchestras? For those of you due north of Norwich this Christmas, don’t miss out! Bristol Winter Wonderland A little further afield, though still closer than the North Pole, Bristol are going all out with the festivities this year. They’ve continually managed to wrangle some of the top bands to carol visitors into the Christmas spirit, and they’re continuing their streak with The Saturdays this year. Whether you like The Saturdays or not, all the ticket sales have gone to Help For Heroes – a very worthy cause. The Winter Wonderland is open until 5 January and includes loads of attractions – Bristol boasts the largest Ice Rink in the South West, a Santa train, the switch on of the Christmas lights and much more! So, whilst the deadlines may seem never ending, there’s light ahead at some of the UK’s best Winter Wonderlands!
Travel
03/12/13
Issue 290
concrete.travel@uea.ac.uk
17
Strasbourg: The capital of Christmas Niyonu Agana-Burke Travel Editor Strasbourg is a culturally rich and eclectic town. Sitting in the north east of France bordering Germany, it has been part of both countries throughout its long and varied history. As the principal city of the Alsace region, the whole area is famed for the intricate blend of German and French customs. Alsace is that in-between place where the best of French and German traditions meet; both beer and wine are loved in equal measure, and bakeries offer the most delicate pastries alongside a selection of heavy baked breads and pretzels. If you listen closely as you wander the peaceful streets of any Alsatian town, you may even catch an older native speaking the local dialect heavily influenced by the language
across the Rhine. Among the many titles given to Strasbourg is ‘the European Capital’. Home to the European Court of Human rights, the European Parliament and the Council of Europe; Strasbourg plays host to some of the largest and most influential bodies in international government. Rightly so, when it so wonderfully embodies the values of the EU: the sharing of cultures, languages and the eradication of borders. One could easily walk around ‘la Petite France’ district and think you were in among the back streets of Paris. Equally as you stroll the cobbled streets around the infamous 500 year old cathedral, you may think yourself in medieval Germany. This is a sentiment echoed by UNESCO who named Strasbourg’s entire ‘Grand Ile’ city centre a world heritage site in 1988. The combination of all this will have you feeling as though you have
discoverfrance.com
stumbled into a Disney film; Beauty and the Beast to be more precise, since fair Belle grew up in Alsace. Another title worn proudly by this unique city is that of ‘Capitale de Noël’. It is here in a town once plagued by territorial conflicts, that the spirit of Christmas truly comes alive. Strasbourg holds its title partially due to the sheer volume of Christmas Markets it unveils around the city (12 in 2012), and partially due to the profundity with which the city throws itself into all things Christmas. The heart of the city, Place Kléber, sees a 98’ Christmas tree erected at its centre every year, while Christmas lights, both traditional and more inventive (last year’s selection included chandeliers in Perspex boxes) hang high and extravagantly around the city. To mark the auspicious occasion that is the start of the markets in November, there are a series of concerts and performances. Past performances have included a spectacular light show projected onto the city hall, and acrobatic dancers suspended above the audience; just in case you thought there was a limit to the opulence. The markets themselves are rows upon rows of wooden huts (each big enough to house Mary, Joseph and several Wise Men quite comfortably) filled with enthusiastic staff and the most enticing array of Christmas gifts. From bespoke candles, colourful silk scarves and handmade gold jewellery; enough to make you feel transported to the markets of Agrabah. Be warned though
that around two million visitors come to Strasbourg’s markets every year so it can get rather crowded as you browse. While some of the gifts may be out of touch with your average wish list in 2013 (less iPads, more gold, frankincense, and myrrh) it’s a great place to pick up your festive Christmas decorations; lights of every colour, tinsel by the yard and handmade glass ornaments for your tree. Dotted among them are huts serving traditional thick hot chocolate, mulled wine, spiced orange juice, crepes and waffles of every flavour which should be incentive enough. Strasbourg at Christmas time is Europe’s very own Whoville. There is no escaping the Christmas cheer and it is surely enough to put childlike excitement into the hearts of even the most steadfast of Grinches.
Christmas customs on the continent Lucy Morris Travel Editor We all know how surprising the local laws and customs of a country can be; even more so if you’re already there! Just a little research before you travel abroad can go a long way. Just think of the laws governing public kissing in parts of the Middle East, or the number of tourists in Japan each year who don’t kick off their shoes before entering a home or temple – and then locals kick up a fuss. With a little local knowledge, you can not only be respectful to local customs but have a great time taking in all the country has to offer; you may even impress your friends with your knowledge. In the spirit of the season, we’ve got a few tips on Christmas customs around Europe so you can enjoy all those infamous Christmas markets. In some Catholic regions of Europe, including German-speaking Austria,
Switzerland and Liechtenstein, the figure who brings presents on Christmas Eve isn’t Santa Claus, but a representation of the baby Jesus himself – the Christkind. In this Christmas tradition, the gift-bringer is invisible, and his leaving is announced by the ringing of a bell. Parents tell their children that the Christkind will not come and bring presents if they are curious and try to spot it. Sneaky parents seem to be an almost universal Christmas tradition! In the Netherlands, children leave their shoes out to be filled with presents instead of stockings. “Sinterklaas” is also represented, not as a jolly man clad in red and white, but as wearing attire similar to the Pope – a holdover from when St. Nicholas was Bishop of Turkey. He is also accompanied by one or several men in black face, traditionally known as ‘Zwarte Piet’ or ‘Black Peter’, the Moorish slave come servant come friend of Sinterklaas (depending on what century you’re asking in). Due to
the traditional presentations o f ‘Zwarte Piet’ as a white man wearing blackface, the custom has been critiqued as being racist in recent years. The satirical essay ‘6 to 8 Black Men’ by David Sedaris recounts the multifarious customs and controversies. In Spain, 28 December is the Spanish version of April Fools Day. Called ‘Día de los santos inocentes’ or ‘Day of the Innocent Saints’, newspapers run silly stories and people try and trick each other into believing far-fetched jokes. (Tourists are a particular target for this, you’ve been warned). Incongruously, it’s also the day on which Christians all over the world remember the slaughter of babies (the “slaughter of the innocents”) by King Herod in his quest to kill the baby Jesus – perhaps a slight downer. Visit www.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo, a campaign specifically designed to enlighten students about what they need to know before travelling abroad.
Share your travel stories and photos! Email concrete. travel@uea.ac.uk
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concrete.lifestyle@uea.ac.uk
Issue 290
Lifestyle
03/12/13
Secret Santa: sorted
Jasmin Gray Lifestyle writer It’s that time of year again. Whether you love it or loathe it, Secret Santa is pretty unavoidable during the Christmas season. While it can be a great, cost-effective way to share the love amongst your friends, flatmates and colleagues, there is the very real possibility that you will get stuck buying a gift for the guy in your halls who hasn’t left his room for a month. Never fear though: the Concrete guide to Secret Santa is here to point you in the right direction. The Work Draw Possibly the most stressful type of Secret Santa because you might end up picking someone you barely know. Not only this, but while it might seem hilarious to buy your boss a ‘surprise mug’ with an offensive message written on the bottom of it after a few glasses of mulled wine, it’s just going to cause awkwardness when you’re back at work in January. The perfect types of gifts for this kind of draw, therefore, are ones you would be happy to buy for your Gran; thoughtful, but impossible to be misconstrued if you are discovered as the present giver. For example, try to find out their favourite treat or tipple. Gift sets of this type are in abundance and can be found at reasonable prices; department stores like John Lewis and Debenhams are
great places to pick these up. Flatmate Secret Santa Most people tend to be friends with those they live with, but if you mainly socialise outside of your flat or house, this draw can still be a conundrum. However, even if you’re not particularly close with your housemates, it’s pretty easy to pick up ideas. Are they always baking, for example? Why not put together a cupcake kit together for them, made up of cute and artsy decorations, toppings and cases? These can be found in most supermarket chains and convenience stores. Do they keep you up till all hours blasting their music? Look into merchandise of their favourite band or singer; posters and calendars can be picked up fairly cheaply, especially if you visit the pop-up stalls that can be found in the city. Gifts Amongst Friends Surely the most enjoyable type of Secret Santa; taking part in this tradition with your mates not only saves a lot of money, but can be a really good opportunity to show how well you know someone, even if it’s supposed to be a secret draw! Whether you end up giving in and buying them that top they’ve been drooling over all semester, or tickets to a gig, it is important to make this present thoughtful and if possible, exciting! If your student loan is long gone, why not
make them IOU cards that they can cash in with you throughout the year? These can be for anything, whether it be their
favourite drink at the LCR, or an offer to do a chore they really hate. It’s the thought that counts after all!
Flickr: alliecreative
Christmas time in Norwich Francesca Chapman Lifestyle writer With the end of the semester upon us it’s only natural to want to get into the Christmas spirit and have some fun, but there is much more to do than decorating your room with trashy decorations. Christmas is, after all, the time for giving so why not buy loved ones something a little different at Lou Lou’s Vintage Fair Christmas Special at St Andrews Hall on Sunday 8 December? With tea and cake provided by Biddy’s Tearoom it’s also a great chance to treat yourself. If history is more your thing why not pop to Dragon Hall’s Medieval Christmas market the same weekend, it’s a great opportunity to visit one of Norwich’s oldest buildings, and being in the centre of the city it gives you the chance to see Norwich lit up. If you’d rather do something charitable, get involved in some volunteering or go to Gig2Give a charity event run by the UEA Red Cross Society on Thursday 5 December. If something musical, but maybe more traditional takes your fancy, the Christian
Union is holding Carols at the Cathedral the same evening starting at 7.30pm, a free event followed with mince pies and mulled wine. It’s a chance to feel Christmassy as well as see inside the beautiful Cathedral that you otherwise have to pay to visit. However if audience participation and ‘booooing’ at the ugly step sisters is of more interest than singing carols, then why not visit The Norwich Theatre Royal to see the pantomime of Cinderella. When most people are asked what their favourite thing about Christmas is, the common answer is lots of food enjoyed with close friends and relatives. So why not cook Christmas dinner with friends, sharing out the roles and dividing up the cost. If your housemates cooking is rather suspect or the thought of all the washing up puts you off, then you could enjoy a roast out in one of Norwich’s many pubs and save the fuss of cooking. After dinner why not exchange secret Santa gifts and enjoy some board games or a Christmas film, who doesn’t love Elf? However if the thought of going a month without a visit to the LCR makes your heart ache then you’d better get your Christmas jumper at the ready for the final Tuesday night of the
year on the 10 December. If deadlines are quickly creeping up and the last thing you can think about is
getting into the Christmas spirit, then why not enjoy a mulled cider or wine after a day in the library as a treat!
Flickr: gerry balding
Lifestyle
03/12/13
Issue 290
concrete.lifestyle@uea.ac.uk
Tis’ the season to be drunk
Emily Fedorowycz Lifestyle writer If there’s any time to get a bit merry, it’s at Christmas time. We all remember being allowed to try a little sip of mulled wine or eggnog when we were younger, but now we’re adults too we can have our own glass. Drinking with the family isn’t the same affair as it used to be, now it’s our responsibility to regulate what we consume, rather than our parents’. Family members can sometimes find this shift a bit strange. As we grow up, they increasingly find they must treat us and respect us as individuals, and not just their child, or grandchild anymore. Joining them for a drink can feel either alienating or empowering, or maybe even a bit of both. There are obviously the exceptions who may not drink at all at Christmas and don’t really see it as a part of the celebration, or those who have been encouraged to get drinking from an earlier age, so they fit right in to the merriness. But whichever you feel encompasses your experience of drinking with your family, it’s always good to take a look at why we do what we do. Why do we drink at Christmas? Is it
just another big party where we can get smashed? Probably not that appropriate with grandma and granddad watching (though if grandma’s hammered anyway, then why the hell not). It could just be that we’re used to seeing certain types of drinks, like mulled wine, at this time of year. It’s a seasonal treat to sit by the fire with a steaming glass of aromatic red adorned with fruit. Perhaps. Or maybe it is actually to do with something more traditional?
Mulled wine is actually an interesting example itself. The recipe dates back to the Roman era, but the drink was never associated with a season or celebration until mentioned in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. It was also used in the classic Christmas movie It’s a Wonderful Life where Clarence the angel visits a bar and orders one “heavy on the cinnamon and light on the cloves.” Spiced drinks also seem to stem from as far back as the story
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of Jesus Christ’s birth himself, as the wise men are suggested to have drank spiced cider. Thinking on this, it’s kind of nice. Knowing that the drink in our hand means much more than its ingredients can give us a sort of warm feeling, (a warmth not to do with the alcohol, mind you) but just in the way it feels to be connected to the past or something greater than where we are here and now. But whatever the tradition or origin of our Christmas beverages, Yuletide should not be taken over by our unhealthy drinking culture. There’s always the potential danger of overdoing it, and it wouldn’t be a very merry Christmas with your head over the toilet. Alcohol doesn’t even have to enter the equation – and it doesn’t for a great many households – as there are always soft versions of the typical drinks, with all the flavours and spice of the original. The main thing is to not worry about drinking. Enjoy it if you want to: enjoy the tradition, the flavours, the merriment. But always remember that there’s so much more to the season than what is in your glass, so make sure you enjoy that the most. A Christmas hangover is a bit of a dampner.
The best Christmas reads Lydia Tewkesbury Lifestyle writer Christmas is coming. Get past your deadlines, breathe a sigh of relief and… start reading again. You know, that fun reading that gets lost in the hectic essays, presentations, hangovers and time on Netflix that make up an average semester. All reading should, of course, have a Christmassy theme. Here are some of our suggestions: A Christmas Carol Charles Dickens Yes, it’s obvious. But sometimes, obvious is good. Spend some time on those snowy Victorian streets with Scrooge and it becomes impossible not to be excited for the holidays. Fly with Scrooge and his ghosts through his personal moments and mistakes and turn inwards. Consider yourself. Scrooge reminds us to embrace life while we can. And there’s no better time than Christmas, of course. Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle Now we’ve got our classics covered
it’s time to catch up on our young adult fiction. These three interconnected stories take place during a Christmas blizzard, perfect for curling up in a blanket with. The book tells the tales of Jubilee Dougal, separated from her parents over Christmas when they a arrested after being caught up in a riot buying Christmas decorations, Tobin, whose parents got stuck in Boston and Addie, pining after her maybe ex-boyfriend. The three stories throw their protagonists in the way of the cute, Christmas-ey romance we all secretly want to have. How The Grinch Stole Christmas Dr Seuss Yes, it’s a throwback, but you know you love it. Read it aloud to family old and young and enjoy Dr Seuss’ classic festive tale. Christmas as Rosie Hopkin’s Sweetshop Jenny Colgan A more unusual Christmas read, but a funny and heart warming book all the same. Good if you want a longer book to get your teeth into this Christmas. It’s an easy read but a love story bound to make you laugh. Happy reading!
spinoff.comicbookresources.com
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concrete.lifestyle@uea.ac.uk
Issue 290
Lifestyle
03/12/13
Christmas time, food and wine Spiced mulled wine
Lydia Clifton Lifestyle writer A spiced version of the classic Christmas drink to warm you up after a cold day in the snow. Ingredients • ½ bottle red wine • 1 cinnamon stick
• • • • •
2 star anise 2 cloves 1 orange, sliced 1 lemon, sliced 50g/1¾oz brown sugar
Method 1. Simmer ingredients in a sauce pan for 10 minutes. Make sure it does not boil. 2. Serve in a heat proof bowl
Flickr: satbir singh
Peanut butter fudge Lydia Clifton Lifestyle writer Peanut butter fudge is not only delicious but a great Christmas gift idea. Wrap up in a little bag with some ribbon and you have an adorable present! Ingredients • 125g/4½oz butter • 500g/1lb 2oz dark brown sugar • 120ml/4fl oz milk • 250g/9oz crunchy peanut butter • Vanilla flavouring
•
300g/10½oz icing sugar
Method 1. Melt the butter in a saucepan 2. Stir in the milk and brown sugar 3. Bring to the boil and leave for three minutes 4. Take off the heat and add the peanut butter and as much vanilla flavouring as you fancy 5. Pour this micture into a bowl with the icing sugar and mix until smooth 6. Pour into a baking tray, leave to cool slightly and then put in the fridge
Flickr: liz farla
Mamma’s Mince Pies Emily Fedorowycz Lifestyle writer 3. Mince pies are a Christmas classic and all round favourite. Homemade beats shop bought any day, and can be used as gifts and party snacks. Ingredients • 300g plain flour • 50g caster sugar • pinch salt • 150g butter • 2 egg yolks and an extra egg to glaze • 2tbsp cold water • 400g mincemeat (Top tip: buy a bigger pot. Mincemeat is great on a biscuit for a little extra Christmassy treat when the pies are all gone!) • Icing sugar to finish (optional) Method 1. Pre-heat oven to 190C, gas mark five. 2. Mix the flour, sugar and salt together in a bowl and rub in butter to form
4. 5.
6.
7.
8.
a breadcrumb consistency. Food processers are great for a quick cheat here. Whisk the water and yolks together and then combine with breadcrumb mix until it forms a dough. Rest dough in oven for 10 minutes. Roll out dough to 3-4mm thick and cut out a pair of large and smaller circles, for the bases and lids. If you don’t have cutters, a large mug and a smaller glass would do the trick. Be resourceful and inventive with your kitchenware! Arrange the pastry bases in a bun tray or in paper cake cases, and fill each with a teaspoon of mincemeat. Be careful not to overfill them as they may spill out of their cases while cooking. Beat the extra egg and dab around the edge of the pastry. Place the smaller pastry circle on top and press the edges to seal. Glaze the top with the egg. Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown, and then dust with icing
Flickr: dark dwarf
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concrete.sport@hotmail.co.uk
Issue 290
03/12/13
Sport
Roy Hodgson’s World Cup 2014 Wild Cards Jack Lusby Sports correspondent
Editor’s column Will Medlock Sports Editor While it would be naïve and ill-judged to speculate on the exact cause of Jonathan Trott’s ‘stress-related illness’, it is necessary to commend the man for making a strong and bold decision to leave the Ashes tour. It is possible to at least assume that the opportunity to conquer the Australian cricket team in front of partisan opposition supporters is a feat that he would have relished. Such grand occasions in sport can be used to quieten remnants of previous disappointments and to write new chapters for future generations to gush over. While it is a shame that Trott has decided his place in the short-term is not in Australia, it is a great tribute to the Warwickshire batsman that he has shown the courage to take a step back. Too often in life machismo dictates to males that they should not give credence to any emotions that leave them open to being perceived as weak. It is often difficult to accept that by conceding that a situation has become too much you are no less of a man. Clarke Carlisle’s painfully raw documentary on the issues that he struggled with earlier in his footballing career is the most poignant point of reference when discussing the issue of an athlete’s vulnerability. Carlisle, the former chairman of the Professional Footballer’s Association, admitted that he had considered suicide when told injury may prematurely end his career. Perhaps the stiff posture adopted by the recently deceased Bill Foulkes, who survived the Munich air disaster in 1958 that killed 23 people, best personifies the other end of the scale. Foulkes, who died aged 81 last week, was said to have been a man who endured; the death of eight of his team-mates would have undoubtedly left a psychological wound, yet he played for Manchester United just 13 days after the tragedy. Pursuing a career in sport means obeying to an unwritten rule. It’s a rule that requires the most demanding of circumstances to be challenged head first and not shirked. This does not always mean playing on through crippling adversity, but taking as objective a view as possible and realising what needs to be done for the best of the individual’s career. If time is what Trott needs then he has made the right call. With any luck, young male athletes will take note.
Photo: The Independent
Nathaniel Clyne While Glen Johnson seems to have rightback tied down when fit, the currently undisputed second choice Kyle Walker, while possessing a potent threat going forward, lacks the defensive qualities required. A healthy replacement would be Southampton’s Nathaniel Clyne who, alongside compatriot Luke Shaw, is part of the Premier League’s best defence. Everton’s John Stones and Arsenal’s Carl Jenkinson may also have designs on this position in the future. For the time being Clyne, who has contributed to the Saints’ six clean sheets this season, seems the most suited to challenge Walker’s position as deputy. Steven Caulker A talking point during England’s recent friendlies was Hodgson’s lack of a defined central defensive partnership. Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka are the clear favourites but neither possess the natural leadership skills required to shore up a defence of their own. Now Cardiff captain, Caulker hasn’t yet been
given a chance to build on his impressive first international cap, but Brazil 2014 may be the time. Dominant in the air, adept at organising a back line, and physically capable of dealing with the most hulking South American centre forwards, Caulker should now be considered a genuine contender ahead of the versatile, but under-performing, duo of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones. James Ward-Prowse If there is a hole to be filled by the omission of vapid, reputationchoice Tom Cleverley, Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse should be considered. Ward-Prowse is part of a select crop of young English players who boast the ball retention skills that forward-thinking managers savour. The head of a group with the likes of Will Hughes and Tom Carroll, the midfielder has caught the eye of many with impressive displays in a successful start to the Premier League season. Under the stewardship of Mauricio Pochettino, Ward-Prowse is well poised to enjoy a flourishing development.
UEA Korfball surge to finals after Northerns blitz Lottie Hill Sports correspondent The British Student Korfball Association held their regional qualifier last weekend on the 23 November, and the UEA 1s made their way to the finals at Northerns with a number of confident and inspiring performances. Coming in to the tournament as potential favourites after beating Nottingham 12 - 9 in last year’s national championships, UEA did not fail to meet expectations in Leeds this time around. Their first game, against host team Leeds, was a solid 4 - 0 victory, with goals coming from two penalties,
Photo: Lizze Reeves
scored by Mark Varley and Joe Skeet, and two in open play from Lizzie Reeves and Bexx Thornberg. After the best possible start, UEA gained momentum and took that through the rest of the pool games, beating St. Andrews 7 - 1 , Sheffield 3-1 and Sheffield Hallam 7 - 4, with hattricks from Alicia Nolan and Joe Skeet against St. Andrews and Sheffield Hallam respectively. Two of the goals against Sheffield Hallam also came from two players making their regionals debut: Claire Green and Andy Keel scoring some fast-paced running shots and a turning feed. The resounding defeat of Sheffield
Hallam ended UEA’s morning on a fantastic high note, leaving them undefeated and at the top of their pool. UEA continued their route to the final in the afternoon games in the same confident style, winning their first game against Edinburgh. With two goals each for Matt Lunn and Skeet, and one apiece for Thornberg, Varley and Heather Stokes, some incredible defending saw UEA to a 7 - 2 victory. Their next opponents, Nottingham, were dispatched with ease as UEA maintained their high scoring streak and outstanding defending, with a clear 7 - 4 win. Advancing ever closer to their place in the final when the tournament comes to Norwich in the New Year, UEA made it look effortless against Lancaster, securing a 4 - 0 win, with another two goals from Skeet, an additional goal for Varley and one from regional’s debutant Joe Pengelly. After defeating all of their opponents in outstanding style, UEA are unsurprisingly going into the final leg of the competition as firm favourites on home ground. This year’s BUCS Korfball championship is being held at UEA’s very own Sportspark on the 7 and 8 March 2014, with an open invitation to anyone at UEA who would like to come and support the team in the final leg of the tournament.
Sport
03/12/13
Issue 290
concrete.sport@hotmail.co.uk
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Netball 1s secure passage to the 3rd round of Conference Cup As UEA’s teams took a week off from their respective BUCS leagues to focus on cup duty, Holly Wade reports on the netball 1s efforts against a physical Birmingham outfit. Holly Wade Sports correspondent Last Wednesday, the UEA netball 1s competed in the second round of the Midlands Conference Cup, hosting the University College Birmingham’s 1s. Despite a slow start, UEA booked their place in the next round with a 61-20 victory. Birmingham played aggressively from the off and were better than has perhaps been anticipated. UEA were forced to work hard, but goal shooter Alex Makin’s stunning first goal gave the girls something to build on. The UEA defence performed particularly well yet again, with Charlotte Moorhouse, Rachel Dean and Natasha King frequently intercepting Birmingham’s passes. However, the away side were marking well in the opening stages, with UEA seeming a little lethargic in their movements. On more than one occasion, the opposition seemed to be everywhere at once, with their defence putting in a forceful display. The Birmingham goal defence was constantly brought up by the umpire for
obstruction and contact. Her manic and wild play often caused problems that lead to the girls struggling to obtain the ball. However, after a tricky first quarter UEA lead 8 - 5. Into the second quarter, UEA picked up the pace and in the process left their lethargy behind. Despite the improvement, the girls were still sometimes unable to get to the all-important rebound when shots were missed. Centre Sally Grice performed
excellently, always pushing forward with the ball and intercepting at every opportunity, with help coming in the form of wing attack Sophie Parker. UEA scored in quick succession and this seemed to spur the girls on, as they began to thrive under Birmingham’s attack. Makin and goal attack Sarah Clark were on top form, pairing well together to create goal opportunities. Birmingham’s defence continued to prove very aggressive with the ball and Clark had to call time after she was injured by one of their players. By the third quarter, UEA were leading 24 - 8 and a change in the team positions gave the home side an edge. Asha Williams and Becky Killett, as the shooters, were a force to be reckoned with, continuously moving for the ball and trying to create space. Amber Parrott as the new goal keeper was on form, leaping for the ball with a strong determination. There was some fabulous circle work between Williams, Killett, Grice and wing attack Lily Gibbons. The foursome worked well in passing the ball into spaces that Birmingham could not anticipate. Gibbons in particular brought some
new, fresh energy to the team, constantly pushing forward and making original moves for the ball. The final quarter followed suit, with Hannah Matthews aiding the shooters. UEA managed to turn around the Birmingham centres and secure a well earned victory. The team remain unbeaten season, with a trip to Nottingham in the league up next on 4 December.
Conference Cup results UEA Men’s Football 1s 2-0 Bedford 3s Leicester 2s 1-8 UEA Women’s Hockey 1s UEA Men’s Rugby 1s 62-6 Leicester 3s Oxford 1s 65-18 UEA Women’s Netball 2s UEA Men’s Tennis 1s 10-2 Northampton 1s A. Ruskin 1s 47-40 UEA Women’s B’ball 1s
This week’s Student Voice is with... James Lestrange
Every issue, we’ll be talking to a member of a UEA sports club to ask their opinions on the most recent sporting issues. This week, we spoke to UEA Rovers’ James Lestrange Concrete: England cricketer Jonathan Trott has left the Ashes test in Australia due to a stress-related illness. How important is it to both supporters and other athletes that illnesses like Trott’s are made public knowledge? James: Firstly for the supporters, it is important for them to know reasons behind why such a key player needs to go home, so assumptions aren’t made about why he has left. Even though Trott may not want the public to know his reasons of leaving The Ashes, it stops supporters scrutinizing the situation. It also allows other athletes to not stand in the dark when they suffer from a similar illness to Trott.
If you’d like to be interviewed, then email us at: concrete.sport@hotmail. co.uk
C: Do you think that football’s governing body should do more to enable teams who perform exceptionally in tournament qualifiers to reach the main event? For instance, Egypt won all six of their World Cup qualifier matches, but lost in the play-offs. J: Having your nation play in the World Cup is a fantastic feeling for the whole country, and in Egypt’s case, they
definitely would have felt robbed by not proceeding to the World Cup. However, I don’t believe there is much FIFA can do in exceptional cases like this, as there are so many factors which will need to be run through. For example the quality of the opponents, and what determines exceptional performances. It is a nice thought of allowing these teams to reach the Finals, but the rules of qualification can’t be changed just because of good performances.
Most mainstream sports are shown on terrestrial TV and these are the sports that youngsters tend to take up.
C: Important boxing matches, such as last week’s fight between Carl Froch and George Groves, are normally only available to people on a pay-per-view basis. Do you think that perhaps being unable to afford to watch big sporting events at home may dissuade young people from taking some sports up?
J: Due to how competitive sports have become, I believe it is essential to have as many definitive answers as possible. Goal line technology in football has been an issue for many years. In one of the most crucial times it was needed, in the World Cup of 2010, England were denied an equalising goal against Germany. The fact that this goal didn’t count decreased excitement and interest in the game for England supporters and other spectators. Even if some people think technology is taking away excitement, I believe it is essential to keep sports competitive and fair with the aid of technology.
J: Maybe the young person may not have been exposed to certain pay-perview sports so couldn’t pass judgement or whether they want to take up that sport, but if they had a real interest then they would go out of their way to watch or be a part of the sport.
C: The R&A and United States Golf Association have ruled that video technology will not be used against a player if an incident was not obvious to the naked eye. Do you feel that perhaps technology is taking some of the excitement out of sport by providing definitive answers, when controversy can increase interest?
@concretesport
Concrete Sport UEA
SPORT
Issue 290 03 December 2013 Sport Student Voice
Photo: Moji Adegbile
Page 23
Gareth Simons
Rowing club make bright start to season Lucy Mayhew Sports correspondent UEABC made a promising start to their racing season at the annual Cantabrigian Winter Head, which took place on Saturday 16 November. Rather than racing alongside other boats, a ‘head’ race is a time trial, in which crews start individually and are ranked by the time it takes to row the same distance (approximately 2.5km). For many of the novices, the event at Stourbridge Common, Cambridge, was their first race, having only started rowing in September. Some of the girls in the novice crew even made it into the top boat for the occasion. The first event of the day was the Men’s senior 8, who exhibited plenty of power and technical ability and finished with an astonishing time of 9:07. Evidently, the crew’s core strength and determination, as well as smart coxing from Lucy Ysselmuiden, all contributed to the crew finishing 14th in their group of 30 crews, and a thoroughly deserved 22nd out of 230 overall. Soon after, it was time for the Women’s senior 8 to carry their boat down to the water’s edge. Of the eight
onboard were Lizzie Clarke and Caroline Busby, who competed in both women’s races, and novices Sam Redgrave and Rebecca Moore, who managed to gain places in the senior boat. The crew rowed confidently until they caught Downing College on the tight left-hand corner. There was a clash of blades, leading to a close encounter with the bank and a loss of 40-60 seconds. However, with Ysselmuiden instructing from the cox’s seat, they proceeded to race down at 34 strokes per minutes (spm) and powered past Downing, finishing the 2.5km course with a well-earned time of 10:48. Then came the men’s novice 8, who had reason to celebrate regardless of coming last in their group. With an impressive time of 10:16, the boys beat all of the beginners boats and a couple of the seniors, even with a malfunctioning cox box. They rowed a solid race and kept a good rating and strong rhythm despite being unable to hear the cox for most of it. Up next in the novice category were the Women’s 8, who, considering their limited coaching, were mostly aiming to get around the course safely. Nonetheless, the girls persevered under intense pressure from the Imperial
Medics senior squad, holding them off at 30spm for much of the race. This was the first time they had ever raced at such speed, usually rowing at around 24 strokes per minute in training, so it was a great achievement for the novices. They came 9th out of 12 in their group, beating all but one in the women’s beginners category. It wasn’t long before the Men’s senior 4 were called to the river, giving an absolutely superb performance. Cox Matt Everett could be heard taking an aggressive racing line to test the crew’s racing capability, not letting any of their strength be wasted, as they raced home in the final stretch to finish 1st in their category with a time of 9:49. They rowed a near faultless race and diced well with the crew ahead, using their power and stamina to continuously close the distance and overtake them in the final 1km. In the final instalment of the day, the Men’s novice 4 put in a bold effort, rowing with strength and confidence. They came 7th in their group with a time of 10:47. Captain of the women’s team, Olivia Cook, described the day as “a really valuable experience for everyone who raced, and all the girls did exceptionally well. It’s very exciting for the future of the squad.”
World Cup Wild Cards
Page 22 Netball
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