NEWS
TUESDAY OCTOBER 6TH 2009
2
BLACK HISTORY MONTH KICKS OFF AT UEA. MED STUDENTS SUFFER IN EXAM. COULD UEA LIFT THE CAP?
OPINIONS 10 NICK GRIFFIN ON QT? ARE INTERNSHIPS WORTH YOUR TIME? UNIVERSITY: IT’S NOT FOR GIRLS.
UEA’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER
FEATURES 12
THE SUN & THE POLITICS OF MEDIA. ROMAN POLANSKI: TOO FAMOUS FOR DEFAMATION?
ISSUE 232
LIFESTYLE 19
BED, LEMSIP AND TEA: SOME TIPS TO RECOVER FROM FRESHERS’ FLU. THE CONCRETE GUIDE TO SAVING YOUR CASH.
TURF
21
CULTURE SHOCK: ADAPTING TO BRITISH CULTURE HAS ITS CHALLENGES. MEET THE INTERNATIONAL OFFICER AND THE ISS.
DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION UEA Student refused entry into Havana’s because of wheelchair. Havana’s manager: “No discrimination policy”. Nick Church
Adderley, a third year Philosophy student who was with Ms. Bean at
Havana night-club refused entry to Sophie Bean, a third year
“didn’t seem well informed, and I’d say dismissive. His main priority was to keep things quiet”.
claimed it is against club policy to let wheelchair users in on busy Friday and Saturday nights. The doorman refused entry on the basis that the club was expected to get very busy later on in the night, despite proceeding to let other customers in with the club being far from crowded at 12:20am on the morning of Saturday 26th. Approaching Ms. Bean, the doorman asked whether she which saying the wheelchair would
According to Ms. Bean, when she asked for his name, the doorman proceeded to shield the name
Flounders, called the incident a “Nightclubs need to be aware of the fact of ‘reasonable access’… The Health and Safety Act, 1974, must be in place, [clubs] cannot deny entry to wheelchair users on safety grounds
it gets too crowded then the club is more generally compromising there public liability insurance, which requires the safety of all persons in their property. Speaking to Concrete, Mike Baxter, manager of Havana as well as photographer for UUEAS’s Naked Calendar, said: “I was really concerned when I heard. We have anything else is completely untrue”.
He went on to say that the club have frequently let wheelchair users into the club, including Sophie herself, and that night there was a misunderstanding: “We were very near capacity that night…[the doorman] didn’t mean to phrase his concerns in a way to deter”.
to say wheelchair users were denied access due to club policy. Ms. Bean was unsure on the actual nature of Havana’s policy: “It might be something that’s said but measure; that if they have a very busy club and someone is going around at backside height it’s going to be a trip hazard.” Act of 1995 makes it unlawful to discriminate against people provision of services.
CONTINUES PAGE 2
UEA CELEBRATES 46TH BIRTHDAY WITH GLOBAL PUB REUNION Ian Savage Alumni around the world met together to celebrate the University of East Anglia’s 46th anniversary, Tuesday 29th September. A night of nostalgia with old stories shared and past friends reunited. The UEA Grad Bar was alive with memories as the university celebrated its forty-sixth birthday with a ‘Global Pub Reunion’. This was one of many alumni
events taking place throughout this and future calendar years leading up in 2013. Previous alumni events have included Christmas and end of year LCRs, lectures in London and weekend long campus reunions. The event involved UEA Alumni
globe. Venues included New York, Melbourne, London, Addis Adaba and
represented. At least 450 alumni
by
The Norwich event was organised Tristan Holding and Juliet
these alumni events are important in helping graduates maintain university”. In turn the organiser of the Dhaka reunion, Arifur Rahman, an alumni ambassador to UEA, spoke of the jovial atmosphere and
the importance of alumni events in bringing past UEA graduates together. Talking to past students come UEA has on its graduates was overwhelming. Alumni at the event spoke of the important lives. Mark Slaughter a graduate of environmental sciences in 1984 explained the importance of UEA to him, revealing how “the university was crucial to my development as a
Alumni in Dhaka join the reunion.
were favourite tutors and infamous campus hangouts.
CONTINUES PAGE 2
2 NEWS
concrete.news@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 6th OCTOBER 2009
CONTENTS NEWS
UEA’s global pub reunion birthday
1
Sportspark lose students
2
Crackdown on binge drinking
3
Pressure to raise tuition fees
4
Meningitis event raises thousands
6
A look at Black History Month
8
INTERNATIONAL
Culture shock: Students’ experiences
OPINIONS
9
10
Internships - are they really worth it?
11
12
Printing power and politics
14
TRAVEL
Megabus or mega fail?
16
Assassin squads on campus
FOOD
DATA SPAT HEATS UP paper,
showing
a
gym’ have been used, but with Law
student
and
Harrison said that the new area may even be dangerous: moving to other gyms away from the university campus
steep
at UEA are once again the
decision to reduce the size machine has been provided in the main gym but this has
McIntyre,
editor
of
the the cramped rowing machine
of temperature measurement,
fountain and the unhygienic
17 17
gym area she hopes to have
The prompted
changes outrage
have from
serious concerns over the
that
18
is convincing evidence that
‘Concrete’ and ‘Event’ Logos courtesy of Mr George Bennett
weights which has never been
if appropriate, obtain a copy
Cocktail of the fortnight
SPORT
The free weights area has been moved to the
The rapture with which the event was received was
of recent [tree ring] cores is
Giggs defies the age cap
Convenor, Tom Fadden, said:
through to connect both parts
18
TURF
no apparent queue for rowing
way in terms of the rights
Banana & Cherry cupcakes
No-meat Mondays
have been met with anger and disappointment by many of the
Waite who began his four year degree in French and German
18
LIFESTYLE
when providing access to
thriving music scene UEA has
How to bake successfully
Confessions of a UEA student
year business student and
be bound by agreements,
16
The UEA Politics society returns
Sarah Cox
Many of the graduates were impressed by the size of the current campus,
15
The wonders of Poland
FOCSOC
SPORTSPARK LOSE STUDENTS
Nick Church
A look at Roman Polanski
EDITORIAL
PUB REUNION CLUB ENTRY
regarding their treatment of
Labour party conference analysis
FEATURES
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
the
Fitness
Centre
appears to them to be out of The errors some have
19
amongst this group
over
in the argument over data
21
23
However, this is of no surprise
were inundated with Freedom
at the moment because of
Greg Mann
2 NEWS
concrete.news@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 6th OCTOBER 2009
CONTENTS NEWS
UEA’s global pub reunion birthday
1
Sportspark lose students
2
Crackdown on binge drinking
3
Pressure to raise tuition fees
4
Meningitis event raises thousands
6
A look at Black History Month
8
INTERNATIONAL
Culture shock: Students’ experiences
OPINIONS
9
Internships - are they really worth it?
11
A look at Roman Polanski
12
Printing power and politics
14
TRAVEL
Megabus or mega fail?
16
Assassin squads on campus
FOOD
17
Banana & Cherry cupcakes
18
Cocktail of the fortnight
18
TURF
No-meat Mondays
SPORT
Giggs defies the age cap ‘Concrete’ and ‘Event’ Logos courtesy of Mr George Bennett
no apparent queue for rowing
Convenor, Tom Fadden, said:
The free weights area has been moved to the
weights which has never been
thriving music scene UEA has in terms of the rights and Waite who began his four year degree in French and German
through to connect both parts The rapture with which the event was received was
excuses such as ‘We don’t if appropriate, obtain a copy gym’ have been used, but with student
and
DATA SPAT HEATS UP
Harrison said that the new area may even be dangerous:
Nick Church
proximity to each other, the
at UEA are once again the
decision to reduce the size
moving to other gyms away from the university campus
machine has been provided in the main gym but this has
McIntyre,
editor
of
the the cramped rowing machine huge expense and a major
fountain and the unhygienic
gym area she hopes to have
The prompted
17
18
LIFESTYLE
have been met with anger and disappointment by many of the
of temperature measurement,
How to bake successfully
Confessions of a UEA student
when providing access to
be bound by agreements,
16
The UEA Politics society returns
year business student and
15
The wonders of Poland
FOCSOC
Sarah Cox
Many of the graduates were impressed by the size of the current campus,
Law
10
EDITORIAL
PUB REUNION CLUB ENTRY
SPORTSPARK LOSE STUDENTS
regarding their treatment of
Labour party conference analysis
FEATURES
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
changes outrage
have from
expressed serious concerns over the raw data which that
recent [tree ring] cores is is convincing evidence that
19
the
Fitness
Centre
appears to them to be out of The errors some have
amongst this group
over
in the argument over data
21
23
However, this is of no surprise
at the moment because of were inundated with Freedom Greg Mann
NEWS 3
concrete.news@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 6th OCTOBER 2009
Does the Union do enough to promote sensible drinking?
POLICE MAKE BINGE DRINKING DVD
Gareth Coventry
copies of the DVD from Norfolk Police, who have also been
with Norfolk Police, warning of the dangers of binge drinking has been screened in the Union
in the region and to other police forces. students who have seen the
the semester. Tom Nunn, a postgraduate
“I do think it should be part of their role, I think too many students probably do drink too much, but again it would probably be a very hard message to put across because unfortunately it is a very big part of our university culture, to drink a lot. “
“I think they do too much. It should be your own responsibility how much you can kill yourself, it’s up to you. I don’t really know what they do except not having happy hours.”
Emily Bales, PSI 3 “I don’t really think they do anything to promote sensible drinking. There’s no posters, that you’d expect for students, especially in freshers’ week. We are old enough to make out own decision, but they are selling the alcohol so have a duty to the consumers.”
“I don’t see binge drinking as a problem or anything like that around campus. I haven’t irresponsible like people being passed out. To be honest, I haven’t heard a lot from the Union but I don’t really think there’s a need for them to.”
NEW VICE-CHANCELLOR ENVISAGES GREAT POTENTIAL AT UEA David Churchill Like many plucky young freshers, the new ViceChancellor of the UEA, Professor Edward Acton, is embarking on a new adventure. Despite recently being appointed to his new role, he has already set forth a plethora of projects which he believes will facilitate the
In a recent interview with Concrete, he expressed his hope that students across the University will share his enthusiasm with regards to which lie ahead: “I want to build on, and strengthen, the about studying here.” UEA LONDON One project designed to “enthuse” students is the current development of a UEA campus in London. The ViceChancellor not only hailed the new campus a “great
but stated that it would also provide a “cornucopia of Under
the
proposals,
many
of
the
University’s
to the new campus, giving students the opportunity to study a semester of their course in London. The aim is to give students access to the abundance of recourses
new MA course in Carbon Management. The projects are aimed at increasing the research capacity of the UEA
story of a male and a female character on a night out. The Sliding Doors style, showing two outcomes with a happy night if the characters engage in moderate levels of drinking, but an unhappy one if they binge drink, leaving the female character with a bloodied nose and an uncertain
people know the dangers but
concerns from some students about binge drinking. Anne Campbell, who
however, by saying: “Anything reducing alcohol-related harm
“What if she did this?” or “What if he did that?” and encourages the students to think about
that a cut in funding would be detrimental to any longChancellor’s concerns feed into a much wider debate about the amount of funding
September with other local
a short play about the issues raised. At the conclusion of the lesson, students will be
be available to those studying subjects which fall under
United Kingdom already commits less funding to
has already earned the UEA a place on the shortlist for a
development. But Prof. Acton talked of further plans to open Centre”, and create a brand
people make informed decisions about their own that Norfolk can lead the way
with the diversity of their experience. Although these
new Biomass facility. The facility, which will cut the University’s carbon emissions by 30%, and is hoped to be
Chloe Smith, the new North
who will be encouraged to
it is enough to compete on a global scale. According to the most
to cut carbon emissions. The desire has partly manifested
of Students, said the DVD has a “good message: there
their own will not solve the problem…they will help people
enabling them to impress
Carbon Management, the franchise could eventually be extended to cover a whole array of subjects. Further plans include the desire to establish the UEA as
work for a younger crowd.” James Sparrow, who is also a postgraduate Law student, stated that “[the DVD] doesn’t typify a night out with my friends”.
sustainable technologies. FUNDING It was also made clear that the issue of funding was paramount with regards to the success of the University and its students. With the imminent cuts in public spending soon to be implemented by government, Prof. Acton said he was united with many other Vice-Chancellors who would be “arguing strongly” that the government do not cut back on funding for higher
emerging powerhouses such as China, India, Korea and Japan. Prof. Acton has been
Vice-Chancellor on October
sheet’.
UEA has received ten
UEA CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Joey Millar
Month, with the University organising several events on campus. in the lecture theatres, a musical band night has been organised and an African market visits UEA. Meanwhile Obama-style posters are being put up across the campus at
specialising in Russian history,
body of Vice-Chancellors for Chancellor’,
a
misnomer,
with the Pro Vice-Chancellor
Chrissie Ogunlusi, president of the African Caribbean Society, told Concrete that the events aim to “educate people about the struggles as well as celebrate the achievements.” She stressed her indebtedness to these men and women who “fought for people like me to
such as ours.”
heavily on student and society
weeks of the university year.”
when students have become accustomed to university and school life. Anthony Bush, an exchange student at UEA from the US, said: “I appreciate there
outside of this month”. Events are also planned
music evenings all scheduled.
4 NEWS ABC TAXIS COMPETITION WINNERS
concrete.news@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 6th OCTOBER 2009
PRESSURE MOUNTS TO LIFT THE TUITION FEE CAP Concrete examines the latest discussion about student fees Richard Joslin
TWO-THIRDS GET TWO-ONES STUDENT REACTION
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20% DISCOUNT FOR UEA STUDENTS WITH VALID I.D.
10 ST MARTINS PLACE PLAIN NORWICH NR3 1RN TEL NUMBER 01603 762076
www.beglamorous.co.uk
6 NEWS
concrete.news@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 6th OCTOBER 2009
UEA’S MOST ENTERPRISING STUDENT Andrew Chamberlain, a business management student at Norwich Business School,
RECORD NUMBER FAIL FINAL MED EXAM CAMPUS SAFETY IMPROVED Medical actor fails to turn up for final year medical exam
Lucy Moore
Chris King
previous years students who 6% compared with last year measures to catch and prosecute those who commit any crime on campus and in
could have passed even with a low clinical score. Student”, 14th October. Carrying Andrew
area.
to
criminal damage to burglary.” to pass the clinical side,
maternity and nursing lingerie company, where he helped develop a sister company
were supposed to help out
people in a smaller area. been visited personally by
retail structure. gives students and graduates the opportunity to apply
anxious students. This coincided with the had
context. 600 students are paired with small to medium sized companies every year. The programme has been running since 1986.
THE MEANING OF LIFE
been
changed.
that without these changes the pass rate would have been the same as previous
In
THOUSANDS RAISED FOR MENINGITIS FUNDRAISER Katy Staines
allows students to register their property so that it can stolen.
June and remedial classes to assist their revision.
whilst other incidents remain the priority status given to
CAMPUS CARD CHAOS access the library or printers
Tasha Percy
three old boy teams now campus and other events play against each other and mates such as running the marathon.
last year, are organised by the on October 8th.
higher than in the surrounding areas, mainly due to the
changes to the programme that it deems to be necessary.”
students.
told that their campus cards
needed his card sooner to
Topics are
members,
there
members
are
is
sense campus cards because the
more
than
receive their campus cards.
played with have organised
ETHNIC MINORITY CAMPAIGN CONVENOR ELECTION
about a thousand pounds each year.
interested in issues that might
Danny Keillor
their
university
Covell, reported that since 2000 they have raised around
each match the teams stood in a circle and remembered their
this Concrete reporter that
were trying to get bus passes, sports insurance and register at Sportsmart and Socmart. One returning masters student, Sarah Cox, could not
the last minute”.
RESIDENCES AND SERVICES DEPARTMENT SHAKE-UP disciplinary procedure.
experience
opportunity to revaluate”. undergo considerable changes to its structure when Jenny
Campaign Convenor. Students points to the history
A
university
statement
Convenor are also running, The Residents and Services
claims that there will no longer be an independent system
with students as it controls
Tutor system and argues that currently controls the Resident
except an improved service
to an independent appeals
views and opinions are represented, is maintained and developed.”
8 NEWS
concrete.news@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 6th OCTOBER 2009
“Rosa sat so Martin could walk, Martin walked so Obama could run, Obama ran so our children can fly.” Jordan Jackson
Black history month what did it mean, what does it mean? Rachel Joseph
INTERNATIONAL 9
concrete.international@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 6th OCTOBER 2009
Culture shocks
British Gentility
American-English to British-English
“The British generally have a great sense of
“I’m incredibly tired, but I’m from America, and I should understand English no matter how
social responsibility, which I have named ‘the
exhausted I am”
modern spirit of the gentleman’”
Julia Sherman (USA)
and “course?” Is she asking New Vocabulary
Qi Wang (China)
Then I realize what is so and asked whether I needed
year at uni? What course are you doing?” and
I
should
understand
wrote everything down on the
- Jumper: - Trousers: - Blank: - Jacket potato: - Hob:
I have no I idea what she is Finally I get the general have a great sense of social
Two months in the UK: language & lifestyle Dao Minh Trang (Vietnam)
During sixteen hours on the lot of students here are very I was totally lost although I
Meet your International Officer
Meet your International Student Society! Rubina Kalra
09-10
which
involves
student
regarding several issues each salsa lessons and weekend
East is East
students and therefore every
you with ways you can get
Do you want to write for us?
10 COMMENT AND OPINION
concrete.opinion@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 6th OCTOBER 2009
Labour Party conference analysis
After the Labour Party conference ended in a media flurry this week, Gareth Coventry gives us his views on whether the conference was a success or a failure. Check out the next issue of Concrete for a Conservative Party conference analysis. The recent Labour Conference should mark as one of the most important in
means it is more lead by its readers The conference is best likely to be
has seen the party take a sustained
The Sun declared that Labour had lost its support. While The Sun for Labour is that this could mark the point of no return. It seems that,
for the party is in third place behind the Liberal Democrats. Its importance
represents another silly and pointless
The Sun
“The only problem is getting the balance right between appealing to party activists and the wider electorate”
The Sun is foremost a
for him to lead Labour into the next
remixed
and
represented
as
back then the conference has been
opportunity for the leader to spell out
Debate: Should Nick Griffin be allowed on Question Time? For
Fact box The programme is
Duncan Nichols Time is a painful necessity, but a ne cessity all the same. Democracy does
due to be broadcast There is, of course, more to con
on BBC1 on 22nd
Against David Biggins to appear on
. The
October. Justice Secretary Jack
the sand to ease the cares of deli
interest of democracy. It is important
Straw has said that he
“chemotherapy”.
will face Griffin on the programme. The Lib Dems have
because recently the Trade Union
said that Chris discussion of the social problems they
Huhne, home affairs spokesman, will probably be their representative of
blunt its appeal. mentary is appropriate for mature
choice.
described Islam as a “cancer” that
reach four million.
concrete.opinion@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 6th OCTOBER 2009
COMMENT AND OPINION 11
Internships - are they really worth it? With jobs being harder and harder to find, many graduates are turning to internships. Lucy Moore looks at the inner world of life after university as an intern.
Fact box In a survey conducted
up for an internship? Are they really
“Far from contributing your brilliant ideas to the boss, you will be grappling with a filing system that has been neglected since before you were born”
by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 46% of
Students
are,
despite
the
employers said they would pay larger salaries to new graduates with some sort of internship experience.
to penalise people desperate to get a
University : it’s not for girls The apparently sexist comments of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buckingham provoked outrage this week. Harriet Stephens offers her views on the implications of his comments for society as a whole.
“It highlights the gender hierarchies within what is supposed to be a place of enlightened thinking”
“This blame culture seems to be indelibly fixed within society”
Another serious point is that it
IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT OR OPINION THAT YOU WANT TO GET OFF YOUR CHEST ON ANY ISSUE, THEN THIS IS THE PLACE FOR YOU. PLEASE CONTACT CONCRETE.OPINIONS@UEA.AC.UK AND WE’LL GET YOUR VOICE HEARD!
12 FEATURES
concrete.features@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 6th OCTOBER 2009
Too famous for defamation? Acclaimed Hollywood director Roman Polanski was the victim of a surprise arrest at an airport
Roman’s famous filmic credits The Pianist
It’s 2003 and the Oscar for best director is about to be announced. The orchestra pipes up with John Williams’ familiar Raiders March as a shaggy looking Harrison Ford takes to the stage. Instantly, it becomes clear who’s going to win. Out of all of Stephen Daldry, Rob Marshall,
Geimer), with promises of fame before whisking her away to a photoshoot at
Tess
Rosemary’s Baby
Chinatown
The Ninth Gate
Rosemary’s
starring actor Jack Nicholson. In 1991,
Johnny Depp, The Ninth Gate failed to
comes to realise that they are witches
it was deemed to be “culturally,
Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy, showing Tess’ tragic descent into
in Zurich after nearly three decades of eluding capture for child rape allegations. Now, with a full-blown celebrity trial imminment, David Biggins explores the question of his guilt.
FEATURES 13
concrete.features@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 6th OCTOBER 2009
The
story
follows
musician Wladyslaw Szpilman. only one award, at the European Film
heads in confusion then don’t worry, it’s perfectly understandable. This
talking about why he chose the genre, another of which was Best Director. In
Switzerland during his exile. The current
won Best Director at the Golden Globes along with three other awards.
be successful. It keeps people’s minds
her with champagne, drugging her and then sodomising her. pleaded guilty to the charge of unlawful sexual intercourse with an underage
defence, he maintains that the sex was consensual and Samantha Geimer has Regardless, the arrest has generated an dropped. There has also always been a strong well of sympathy for the French/
the end of it. His lawyers had managed , a tense thriller from 1988 that sees Ford frenziedly scour the streets
since died) that this would be his full
separated from his father who was sent
his missing wife). duly announced as the winner, the audience goes wild. There is an instant wolf whistles and real delight spreading across Of course, the now infamous
as a child. His mother was gassed at
since tried to get the case dismissed. Espinoza
concedes
that
there
is
to quash the case while the accused Chinatown and Rosemary’s Baby director’s shocking misdemeanour didn’t impede
incident in 1977 when he had had unlawful sexual intercourse with the 13 year old Samantha Gailey
Perhaps surprisingly, the Chinatown and Rosemary’s Baby director’s shocking misdemeanour didn’t impede his career.
to scrape together enough money to
Hollywood, his wife, Sharon Tate, was murdered by the Manson Family along with two close friends of his. Tate had been eight months pregnant with
The Industry’s response to Roman FOR
“I can only think this is the result of some district rich and powerful can get away with crimes that no
Women’s Law Center.
is that just when you think the story Ronald Harwood, screenwriter of The Pianist. monogamous and, prior to the murder
law. I don’t know the details of this case, but I think that when you don’t show up for trial, you are Whoopi Goldberg, actress. Rush Hour 3, Roman equally unimpeded and, truthfully,
Weinstein, producer of Lord of the Rings, Sin City and , is determined to bring what he calls a “miscarriage
point, you can’t be blamed for
rape,
sodomy,
murder,
adultery…
“I profoundly regret that a new ordeal is being
suggest that he’s going be detained Hollywood that’s outraged.
One blogger on the website of Psychology Maga.
The Pianist). “If Vanessa George, the nursery school paedophile law! The fact that his crime Debra Winger, actress. The Ghost happened. He was detained and all the more unfathomable. Unfortunately, looking into
Sarkozy has been following the drama this is a story that’s going to be making headlines for a long while yet to come.
country for 30 or so years and turn during that
AGAINST
14 FEATURES
concrete.features@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 22nd SEPTEMBER 2009
Printing Power and Politics Last week, The Sun announced that they were not going to support the Labour Party in the next election. Should we care? Deputy Editor Alice Violett explores the relationship between print media and politics. Last week, The Sun The Sun The Sun
The Sun
The Sun
The Sun Daily Mail Guardian
“People read The Sun
Telegraph
newspapers hoping for at least some
The Sun
grounding in reality”
The Sun
The Sun
Sun
The Sun’s
LETTERS AND EDITORIAL 15
concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 6th OCTOBER 2009
EDITORIAL
NON-EDITORIAL
CONCRETE PO BOX 410, NORWICH, NORFOLK
EDITOR
concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk Hannah Livingston
DEPUTY EDITOR
concrete.editorial@uea.ac.uk Alice Violett
CHIEF COPY EDITOR
concrete.editorial@uea.ac.uk Denise Bartlett Proofreaders James Marlow, Rachel Bywater, Sarah Cox, Frances Taylor, Rachel Finlay, Stephanie Artley, Mya Wecker, Ella Fairhurst
NEWS EDITOR
concrete.news@uea.ac.uk Nicolas Church Reporters Ian Savage, Sarah Cox, Gareth Coventry, David Churchill, Joey Millar, Richard Joslin, Lucy Moore, Katy Staines, Danny Keillor, Chris King, Tasha Percy, Jordan Jackson, Rachel Joseph
INTERNATIONAL EDITORS
concrete.international@uea.ac.uk Qingning Wang & Filipa Mendes Writers Julia Sherman, Dao Minh Trang, Rubina Kalra
OPINIONS EDITOR
concrete.opinion@uea.ac.uk Davina Kesby Writers Gareth Coventry, Duncan Nichols, David Biggins, Lucy Moore, Harriet Stephens
FEATURES EDITOR
concrete.features@uea.ac.uk Melissa York Writers Harriet Stephens, David Biggins, Alice Violett
TRAVEL EDITOR
concrete.travel@uea.ac.uk Rachel Conquer Writers Tom Hunt, Carrie-Anne Elsden, Gemma Henzley
FOCSOC EDITOR
concrete.focsoc@uea.ac.uk Alice Violett Writers Seth Vitalis, Claire Collis
FOOD EDITOR
concrete.food09@gmail.com Edward Leftwich Writers Samantha Minny, Daniella Hadley, Hayley Hurrell, Sara Barnard, Sarah Cox
LIFESTYLE EDITOR
concrete.lifestyle@uea.ac.uk Samantha Lewis Writers Felicity Darling, Jessica Ball, Kristina Stephens, Bruce Sigrist
TURF EDITOR
concrete.turf@uea.ac.uk Rebecca Wiles Writers Sonja Klingberg, Fran Rogers
SPORT EDITOR
concrete.sport@uea.ac.uk Danny Collins Writers Ian Hobbs, Jessica O’Sullivan, Harriet Denvir, Ross Grant, Robert Schatten, Sam Johnson
CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER Greg Mann Photographers Andrew Westcott, Katy Staines, Simon Partridge, Laura Smith
DISTRIBUTION Martin Lippiatt
LOGO DESIGN George Bennett
NR4 7TJ 01603 593466 Concrete is published by UUEAS Concrete Society ©2009 Concrete. ISSN 1351-2773 Letters should be addressed for the attention of the Editor, Hannah Livingston. Letters must include contact details, but we will consider anonymous publication. We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity as necessary. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Publisher or Editor. Use of the name The Event is by arrangement with the copyright holders, Planet Zog Ltd. No part of this newspaper may be reproduced through any means without the express permission of the Editor, Hannah Livingston. Printed by Archant.
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16 TRAVEL
concrete.travel@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 22nd SEPTEMBER 2009
The wonders of Poland After visiting 20 countries and 27 cities
Megabus or mega fail? many others had learnt of Megabus’
on an InterRail Trip
Carrie-Anne Elsden
across Europe, Tom Hunt
As an unemployed student without
space at the far back, and my journey began.
Despite growing encouragement from our government to use ‘greener’ modes of transport, average train
chorus of screaming children, was the surprising lack of leg room (and I am quite short). Unfortunately, my
reflects on Krakow in Poland, one of the many countries that stood out
out of my meagre budget. However,
to him while on the trip of a lifetime. This summer I embarked on a trip across Europe, taking in 20 countries and 27 cities in 30 days from Belgium to the edge of Asia and back again, all on the European rail network. One of the many places that stood out most was Krakow in Poland, which we reached by night train. We struggled to sleep in a rattling carriage with no-one else but an old Polish guard who couldn’t speak English and didn’t know what a Mars Bar was. Trundling through the night, we arrived at Krakow Glowny station in south western Poland, early the next morning at 6am. Krakow, best known for the film Schindler’s List and its proximity to the Auschwitz concentration camp, is a definite must on any tour of Europe, as it has a unique vibrancy of life to offer. Under bright blue summer skies we traipsed Wawel Castle, resplendent in its grandeur as the seat of the Polish kings. Posing for a photo with local celebrity Pope John Paul II, we entered the sanctity of the silent cathedral, touring the holy site from top to bottom: the beautifully decorated altar, the cool crypt deep beneath full of tombs of Polish royalty and the creaky wooden bell tower careening into the sky above. We climbed the ladders up a vertical maze to the very top – the home of the biggest bell in all of Poland. When tolled its chime can be heard 18 miles away! From there we descended into the city, a place full of life. There seemed to be children spread across all the streets, each playing an accordion, collecting bowls of Polish zlotter by their sides. In the grand square, the largest in Europe, we saw Michael Jackson perform (though there were strings attached and it was all a bit wooden). We crawled up the
clock tower and spied on the people below with telescopes, strolled down the Cloth Market without the intention of buying any cloth, explored the inside of a giant head, and made our eyes sore by gazing at the stunningly colourful interior of Krakow Cathedral, where not an inch of space is left undecorated. We applauded traditional Polish breakdancing over a drink, examined the benefits of Polish bagels and
“It was a chilling place and strange to see that it actually existed and wasn’t just a horror set.” dumplings in great detail, accepted in good taste the over-zealousness of a drunken man’s devotion to the Virgin Mary he wanted us to kiss, looked on bemused as a man sat arguing and wildly gesticulating at thin air for a good half hour, and tried to work out why two pints of beer were walking continuously around the Square. We ate massive candy floss, had photos taken with the bizarrely disgruntled Subway crocodile and looked on as a bunch of over-protected and nervous police took an age to remove an angry wasps’ nest from a restaurant umbrella. All the while we were
trying to avoid our creepy roommates in the old Jewish quarter of the city. One of them was just like Michael Jackson – in fact I’d almost go so far as to say that Michael is alive and well and living in a hostel in Krakow. An Australian room-mate was over-eager to show us every single item of his disgusting antiques collection, bought at a rip-off price. We patiently sat through it all before we were allowed to go to sleep. The next day, quite a different mood prevailed as it was time to go to Auschwitz/Birkenau and contemplate humanity as we walked through the prison, gas chambers and concentration camp there and stood on the railway tracks on which every doomed person was carried to their end. It was a chilling place and strange to see that it actually existed and wasn’t just a horror film set. There were many distressing elements which I could go into but would prefer not to divulge here. Suffice to say that everyone should go to wholly appreciate what happened there and comprehend what people are still trying to get over. On this rather drab note, our time in Poland reached its conclusion.
to such money-stretching problems: Megabus. Providing that you’re travelling inter-city, and between places that the service operates, Megabus could well save you a fair sum of cash. With under £20, and many for even less, it’s easy to see the appeal of such a service. But having been a customer, I propose that some users may face an
coach. But even more unfortunate for immediately opposite the toilet, and the toilet door was broken. Being toilets I avoided the use of it for the
(which was more than frequently) was enough to ward most away.
My journey: Exeter to London.
details of my own experience, and the events of my Megabus journey could
start. Having shown the driver our
the same for every passenger. For
Exeter passenger scrambled aboard to
luxury, but feel Megabus could improve their service. However, if you are looking for cheap, non-luxurious travel, this could be for you.
out along the already claustrophobic walk-way between seats. Obviously
Travel London! Gemma Henzley
Soho is always busy, always overpriced, and always vaguely
city? In my opinion it’s the people that surround you, and their undeniable oddness, that makes the city what it is; it’s the humanity of the place that makes it so special. This could make a trip to Highgate Cemetery sound
from Soho’s centre, is such a surprise.
me. Highgate Cemetery is a rather typical nineteenth-century burial
all very friendly, and intent on making sure everyone has fun, with their own brand of London charm. Speaking of Camden, it is very easy to forget all the other markets that
grave stones, which are actually quite are interested in Gothicism. However, what is really cool about Highgate Cemetery is that it has its very own vampire! The Highgate Vampire was there was a mass break-in one night to try to stake the beast. Surprisingly, the mob failed, so head down there at dusk and you may just catch a glimpse of the dreaded neck-biter for yourself.
Camden for London’s metal fans, and has a much warmer atmosphere than other local bars. Be assured, you don’t have to be a metal fan to
is so revered. But a short trip south of the river, to Greenwich, takes you to one of the most varied markets in London. Greenwich Market is a hive of clothing, to bone-china teacups, to the best brownies in town. When’s the next train to London?!
FOCSOC 17
concrete.editorial@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 6th OCTOBER 2009
Let’s Get Political Seth Vitalis
The Sun
Warning: Assassins operating in this area When can Assassins and Politicians be mentioned together positively? When speaking of rejuvenated societies at UEA, of course! Claire Collis
Want to write for FocSoc? concrete.editorial@uea.ac.uk
Some weapons used by Assassins...
- Water pistols - NERF weapons
18 FOOD
The Baker’s Dozen
concrete.food09@gmail.com TUESDAY 6th OCTOBER 2009
Cocktail of the Concrete solves your food woes Fortnight The Tequila Sunrise
Basic Equipment:
Win Toastie Heaven
Butternut Squash, Sweet Potato & Coconut Soup
Banana & Cherry Cupcakes Dairy Free Cinnamon Loaf
LIFESTYLE 19
concrete.lifestyle@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 6th OCTOBER 2009
Confessions of a UEA student Bruce Sigrist confesses
this week about the
Freshers’ flu - is it the swine? Freshers’ flu has lodged itself firmly in the student urban dictionary and is a phrase currently being bandied around campus. If you are one of the unlucky ones suffering, curl up with Concrete, boil the kettle and whip out that sachet of Lemsip. Felicity Darling
pitfalls of student living and the irritation of talking bin bags. “Moving from halls to a house is one of those ‘big steps’ we students take in adults. Not only does it drive home the fact that we’re out in the wild, it gives ample opportunity to goof around with fabled experiments Mum/ Dad/resident tutor banned. Armed to the teeth with BB guns, novelty hats and a small forest of toilet roll took no chances as we moved in six weeks early to indulge in free-house syndrome before academia loomed over us. Unfortunately, being the sole inhabitants of a building does have its setbacks. As days turned to weeks,
bleach and soap threw us back, the all our possessions became coated however, proved to be the biggest problem. Given our inexperience of recycling, every last bit of meat, egg and teabag got lumped together
early night. as hundreds of students from all areas of the country come together. You are buying a pint of milk in the UFO, as you are from exchanging saliva in the LCR. With an abysmal diet where your
up and down the country might have to be postponed. One university has announced they plan to make sure the desks are placed one metre apart
body’s way of responding to the a bad cold you have to worry about. Since the H1N1 virus, commonly
students to pair up and care for each other. Some have even begun don’t fall behind.
Apple Sourz and the salad from the end of the night burger, combined
a temperature of over 38 degrees.
new surroundings, it is no surprise that your immune system begins to let you down.
if you have been diagnosed with remain in your room, rest and drink
and upper airways and the symptoms you should experience come in the form of a headache, fever, sore throat
meaning unfortunately you have to sweat it out. A well respected source (Wikipedia) states that 90% of students will experience the woes of
have worried that a pandemic could over the summer months, reports were released that Freshers’ weeks
would rather have the mother of all hangovers than go through that again. It is so bizarre to be boiling hot yet feel freezing cold … I will never have another bacon sarnie again”.
To avoid Freshers’ flu Jessica Ball recommends: “eat fruit and vegetables, don’t overindulge on alcohol, get a good eight hours’ kip, keep your bodily fluids to yourself and be a conscientious flat mate. Ok, so I just read that back; it is unlikely to happen, so just stock up on Strepsils and Lockets and ride it out. Get well soon!”
Scrimp and save With most student loans finally appearing on our bank balance, Kristina Stephens has some tips on how to look after the pennies.
ready meal packaging. In short, ten Freshers’ week is now well and truly over, the hole it burnt in your pocket
queue jump and entry at several bars and clubs. Don’t worry if you missed out on these booklets as the same
In true sitcom style, we had just
bags, however, had other plans and were evolving into a humming mass and had to be covered in three layers before the smell and noise had been
of all the deals available to help your loan stretch as far as possible. University students instantly become eligible for various discounts.
giving it a go. Either that, or get yourselves one of those built-in sink
your free campus card will reward you a discount at many places on the high street. Local restaurants and takeaways, hairdressers, cinemas and independent stores are also likely to
do smell of egg though…”.
worth asking. Dig out your freebies from
for recycling, but for the sake of
Freshers’ fair and don’t forget that the discount booklets handed out plastered it with posters. Keep an eye out for student
at www.studentdiscountbook.co.uk. start saving with websites tailormade for you; Student Beans is constantly updated with hundreds of
has introduced a new Loco student
is always free with a pub2club In Need is a new scheme that focuses on online student discounts
Qlo to name a few. Also, online photo
Whilst cheap drinks and nights out are probably a priority, discounts are not restricted to entertainment.
from Amazon always go down a treat!
TURF 21
concrete.turf@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 6th OCTOBER 2009
No Meat Mondays UEA’s Environmental Campaigns Society is encouraging students to forfeit meat one day per week. Sonja Klingberg reports on the link between meat consumption and the environment. and so ‘going veggie’ actually has even
The Environmental Campaigns Society has recently launched a campaign environmentally friendly choices we introducing ‘No Meat Mondays’. The concept of a meat-free day is fairly
‘No
Meat
Mondays’
should
remains: how is ‘going veggie’ for one day a week going to save the world?
good than you may think. Professor specialist who spoke at the University’s
“a vegetarian’s water footprint is
how easy it actually is to cut down our carnivorous tendencies. In my
footprint is a familiar concept to most.
only half the size of that of a meat-
how expensive it is to keep up the
moving towards vegetarianism as a means to cut greenhouse gas
18% of all emissions are produced through livestock farming.
No meat Mondays reduce climate change! and they are all linked to meat
eater” measures the environmental impact of
change. encourages all of you to do our planet consumer stereotype wrong... at least every Monday.
10:10 for dummies
UEA’s Student Union has pledged to cut carbon emissions by 10% during next year, but how can this be achieved?
Fran Rogers If phrases used in environmental
climate change in micro form’ sound
Turf’s environmental product of the fortnight meat - Quorn
The kind people on the 10:10
on 0800 512 012 couldn’t hurt.
ways in which we - the people - can work to tackle our own 10%. Here Concrete summarises 5 favourites for you. Quorn products are made
alone. Concrete has previously reported on the move of the Student Union to join the 10:10 pledge to achieve a
to holiday in the UK and Europe and
with fresh ingredients. Keep your goods good: check
environmental research into climate changes and is in the process of developing a Biomass fuelled
or readers of The Independent
emissions. Eat foods that are locally produced and that are in season. Highly processed food cause more
emissions. Let me remind you that on coach trips you may get to partake in sing-alongs.
Then apply for a grant to insulate student residences this is not always
heat and power. Impressive.
to your landlord or free-phoning your local Energy Saving Trust advice centre
climate change and from now you can just nod with a knowing smile during those occasionally confusing
protein. This was developed in the 1960s as a response to a predicted this food were that it should have a ‘delicious to eat’. Enjoy trying new food and protect
22 SPORT
concrete.sport@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 6th OCTOBER 2009
Canary Corner
Five minutes with... Eve Steward Jessica O’Sullivan and Harriet Denvir catch up with the UEA Netball president.
Ian Hobbs
How did you start playing netball? I started playing when I was about 6 years old, trying to be more grown-up like my older sister but as I got older I found that I was of a reasonable standard, so started to
great, Darren Huckerby. an end product, and therefore has
Premiership in 2004. He was adored by the fans for his mazy runs and his paltry £500,000 transfer fee with many a ‘man of the match’ performance. season he was released by then manager Glenn Roeder and many majorly to Norwich’s subsequent,
The social side is one of the best of socials throughout the year, netBALL. Derby Day is always one of the highlights of the social calendar, as is Netball/Futsal pub golf, where
What does UEA Netball training consist of? He was instrumental against Gillingham a fortnight ago, where, the game, the Canaries managed to
Weston in the box, and the in-form goal of the season to put the Gills 1-0 ahead. Gillingham failed to capitalise on
the pond to the San Jose Earthquakes, a Major League ‘soccer’ team whose only claim to fame is that they legend, George Best, to the west
and in local leagues.
What’s the social side of the club like?
header to ensure the spoils were shared.
Training is always quite relaxed and enjoyable on a club night (Mondays 5-7pm). We do a few drills, play a few games and generally gossip about the last social or Saturday’s LCR. Monday nights are open to anyone that wants to meet new people and get a basic to the gym. Things become more intense on a Friday night when it’s circuits are not something you look forward to at the start of the season!
standard the next morning!
You went on Tour to Salou, near Barcelona last year, what was that like?
How did the club fare in BUCS are the targets for this year?
Tour is always a highlight of the year for the club. The banter between the girls and the funny stories you come back with make the 30 hour bus journey worthwhile. It may not seem that funny on paper but our been when we dressed in shower caps to keep us dry, acquired room key cards from other hotels, gained bidets, went for a midnight swim in the pool wearing Buzz Lightyear
last year in the BUCS league, which we were reasonably happy with.
the local indoor league!
Describe the club in 3 words. Fun. Friendly. Amazing!
Many had hoped he would return to Carrow Road for another spell, but
that his future lies away from the
Hoolahan is probably the closest
showed maturity beyond his years,
debut performance earned Rudd a start against Leyton Orient. The Tuesday night game against Orient saw the return of Gary Doherty, who had also fallen out
player these days. Paul Lambert early in the season he has now been transformed into a Hoolahan, despite his natural
of lacklustre performances. City started the game well,
The turning point in the game came late in the second half when
Aussies dominate England in Champions Trophy Ross Grant England cricket fan. Their somewhat Jekyll and Hyde nature when performing on the big stage has been highlighted once again this week in the ICC Champions Trophy. Throughout the tournament,
is able to dictate the match tempo,
Natwest Trophy a fortnight ago.
not in this match. In stark comparison, the semi-
recorded an unbroken partnership
wickets. managed to scrape a respectable
determined their fate. To reach the marching orders. South Africa was sublime, striking a goals from Michael Speilanne, Grant Owais Shah’s innings was a balls. A further thrashing was to follow on Saturday when the Canaries
30, this indicated a performance in which England were playing at the
team that faced Australia was just Bresnan’s stand of 107 with Luke
Holt, Cureton and Hoolahan helped Norwich to banish the demons of an
inexperience.
The inclusion of Shah at No.3 His habitual role at No.6 allows his
blushes. Australia then obliged to show
to play with such character, the England ODI side promsingly has
SPORT 23
concrete.sport@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 6th OCTOBER 2009
Giggs continues to prove that age is no obstacle The fact that Ryan Giggs has scored one goal and created three more in Manchester United’s last two games isn’t as remarkable as it might look – Giggs has been doing that month in month out for the
both occasions, Giggs was one of the best players on the pitch. Giggs, the only one to play – and score – in every Premiership season to date, has been a regular in the
success has seen him become the most decorated footballer in English league history. It’s always
the remarkable part. This week, we’ve seen why Giggs, now almost 35 years old,
suit that legendary success, too – and none come more easily to mind
a shot at the Treble. In many ways, his career can be said to mirror that of George Best – both have been hugely successful for their clubs on the (although their private lives have
watched a lacklustre 45 minutes by his teammates before coming
But the team achievements are only one part of his story. Giggs
win. Four days later, he played the
for United – his only club – and
Giggs has shown no sign of slowing down in the last few
capped players in club history,
the phenomenal pace he once
appearances. None of them – least of all the mercurial Giggs – show any sign of winding their amazing careers down just yet.
represented England as a schoolboy – a great shame, then, that he chose of Germany, scoring one goal and birth to a decade of discussion on
Obama influence fails to spoil Rio’s Olympic party Danny Collins
to do what it does best and not short in that department either, taking a certain Pele in their party. man of the moment, but even his brand to new and uncharted territory
for all’ message around the globe.
In their decision on Friday, the
would have staged a poor Games, however, for the Games to return to the truly over. This would be to do a
and then Madrid – would suggest an unacceptably Europhile bias.
the very least they have ensured one
concrete.sport@uea.ac.uk
TUESDAY 6th OCTOBER 2009
GOLDEN GLEN FOLLOWS OLYMPIC DREAM IN USA Danny Collins struggle to run three kilometres.
HOCKEY SUCCUMB TO SECOND PRE-SEASON DEFEAT Sam Johnson UEA Mens 1st XI – 1 Dereham 2nd XI – 6