CONCRETE HOUSING GUIDE FOR 2005
Issue 174 · Wednesday, February 23rd, 2005
SPECIAL PULL-OUT SUPPLEMENT INSIDE
UEA’S AWARD-NOMINATED STUDENT NEWSPAPER
Free - Please Recycle
IN MONTY PYTHON REDISCOVERED
Page 8
BILL MURRAY SWIMS WITH THE FISHES Page 4
WE BORE THE PANTS OFF JOANNA TROLLOPE Page 6
NO SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE
UNION PUTS FORWARD MOTION TO BAN SMOKING IN THE HIVE Katharine Clemow Deputy Editor
Voices have been raised around campus since it was learnt last week that a motion had been proposed at Union Council to ban smoking in the Hive. The popular hang out spot plays host to large numbers of students who meet to chat, have a drink and a bite to eat, and often also a smoke. Since the catering block
The only eatery on campus to allow lighting up could soon be smoke-ffree after a recent motion put forward at Union Council was refurbished last summer and became entirely non-smoking, the Hive has been one of just a few places around campus you could light up with impunity. On Tuesday, February 8th, however, it was suggested that it
too should become smoke free. The motion was proposed by Academic Officer Chris Ostrowski, who is not a smoker but has no problem with the habit himself, and seconded by Helen
Davis, Sports Officer. Mr Ostrowski said he was acting in response to the many people who have approached him since he took up office in September who don’t want smoking allowed in the Union House café.
The motion was opposed by Finance Officer James Drakeford for a number of reasons. He says that ‘the Hive was ‘specifically designed to provide a nonsmoking area with 80 seats and a smoking area with 60
seats’ and has ‘a natural ventilation system using air currents to take smoke away from the non-smoking area and to remove it from the area itself effectively and efficiently.’ While he doesn’t smoke he is concerned on behalf of the economic welfare of the Union that the ‘design was specifically undertaken, at considerable expense, so as to create a non-alcohol but smoking space for those students who by choice or cultural background do not wish to congregate in an alcohol space to smoke.’ He goes on to say that ‘if the Pub is the only indoor smoking space it is likely that the mechanical extraction system will have to be upgraded to make it a pleasant place for both smokers and nonsmokers.’ Mr Drakeford states that according to national statistics, over 40% of students smoke and ‘the non-smoking social space in the University already occupies well over 70% of the social areas available to students.’ Student feedback to the proposed ban has taken a variety of forms. One student who is studying an MA in Creative Writing says he More on the potential ban See page two
NORWICH BACKS CAMPAIGN FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT Katharine Clemow Deputy Editor On Friday the 18th nationally and internationally respected peace campaigner Bruce Kent was in Norwich talking about the need to end the threat of nuclear weapons to every country in
the world. Braving the wintry weather Kent and his fellow activists talked about the history of nuclear weapons, saying why they think the manufacture and use of warheads should be banned, and asking people to sign the petitions urging Tony Blaire to set an example of how a Government can
desist can pull away from using the threat of weapons against their enemies. The talk was held at the charity stall on Hay Hill in the city and was initially well attended but the area cleared when the rain started though the half-term crowd of shoppers and other people browsing the market
were drawn back by the arrival of Ian Gibson. Norwich North MP Gibson, best known for his outspoken stance on Top-Up Fees, also feels strongly about the need for the for an end to the manufacture and often-used threat of nuclear weapons. He supports the campaign to bring about the
end of the nuclear era saying the weapons are a ‘waste of money and effort and the resources being used on them should be going towards the NHS instead.’ He goes on to say that there is no longer a Cold War and nuclear capabilities are used as threats from one country to another with the argu-
ment boiling down to ‘ours is bigger than yours’. He also points out that only a few years ago Tony Blaire himself was a member of CND and ‘it’s no good blaming Iran and Iraq when you have nuclear weapons yourself!’ Mr Gibson is just one of Kent’s campaign See page four
NINE TEAMS MAKE KNOCK OUT AT BUSA SEE SPORTS PAGES