Concrete - Issue 234 - 03/11/2009

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 3rd 2009

THE MIGHTY BOOSH, REBELLION AND MAN CRUSHES

UEA’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER

A FORTNIGHT OF INTERVIEWS AND LIVE MUSIC REVIEWS

ISSUE 234

MEN’S FASHION SPECIAL: THE BECKS FACTOR

INSIDE BOBBY ORR’S WARDROBE

RICH FULCHER TALKS TO EVENT

TUITION FEES: “NO CHANGE HERE” Local politicians questioned by UEA students for The Independent’s Uni-Q panel debate.

Questions vary from tuition fee policies to the BNP.

THE PANEL

NEWS

2

NORFOLK FAILS TO RETAIN GRADUATES AFTER DEGREE CARNAGE COUNTDOWN. CONTROVERSIAL STUDENT MONITORING PROGRAMME. PIPE LEAK LEAVES RESIDENTS WATERLESS.

INTERNATIONAL 8

NORWICHS’ ENCHANTING GHOST WALKS HALLOWEEN LEAVES ITS FRIGHTFUL MARK ON UEA STUDENTS.

FEATURES 12 NOUGHTIES AMNESIA: WHAT WILL YOU REMEMBER FROM THE DECADE? MANDELSON’S POLITICAL MONOPOLY.

TRAVEL CONTINUES ON PAGE 6

STUDENTS UNITE AGAINST BNP ON QUESTION TIME Gareth Coventry

MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE CHANGING FACE OF THE BAHAMAS HOW ST. IVES BECAME THE SEASIDE TOWN OF THE YEAR. A WALK THROUGH NEW YORK’S FINEST.

TURF INCREASE IN INTEREST

CONTINUES ON PAGE 3

16

20

THE GOOD LIFE: HOW HARD IS IT TO GROW YOUR OWN? DOES ORGANIC FOOD ACTUALLY BENEFIT YOU IN ANY WAY?

2 NEWS STUDENT WINS LITERATURE AWARD Nick Church

concrete.news@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 3rd NOVEMBER 2009

DONATION NOT DISCRIMINATION Lucy Moore

rules mean that you could

Students across UEA followed

they came to campus last week.

make this known to the nurse

the 1980s despite the fact

Shelley.

to meet demand.

In a statement issued

“FIND” This year prizes are awarded for

sexuality that causes these diseases.

sex with men would result in a Department of Health.

Students located in the

Todd at an award ceremony at

CARNAGE - ROUND THREE Mia Wecker

to Norwich on Monday 9th

pressure as more and more

exploited [due to lack of drinks Sweeney.

The Keats-Shelley Memorial

is always worried when an

and exists to commemorate

do not know their own limits when it comes to alcohol

the Union of Students has

NEWS 3

concrete.news@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 3rd NOVEMBER 2009

Is it right for workers to strike in the public sector?

STUDENTS AGAINST BNP

CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE inevitable that technological advances will replace workers and have more of an impact

“Obviously if the reasons are

“When things get that bad then

million, which is almost three

Mail workers the reasons are

a bit immature because no one seems to be really sure

be the sole performance of the BNP on

So there has clearly been a

general, has suggested that the BNP may be invited to make an annual appearance

paid well then why should a responsibility to the public

about; modern advances in the industry cause people to

And although it will cause huge pay to ensure workers do

NORFOLK SUFFERS BRAIN DRAIN Chris King A recent report by the University and College Union (UCU) has revealed in the numbers of those with university degrees or

have

considered

entering

the area,” rather than the

one in seven employers in Norwich have received more PROJECT EVOLVE problems

facing

employment Greg Mann

throughout the country for

LACK OF JOBS Whilst this may appear to suggest the existence of an endemic problem with the numbers entering higher

a result of appearing on the

UEA ART EXHIBIT Gordon Malloy

in

Visual graduates the

local

colleges to provide students with the necessary support to deal with unemployment and

arts

students

from

Entrepreneurship will be showcasing their work during

& Overy, in Bishops Square, designed to help graduates gain experience through its internship programme and assist them in developing transferrable skills and approaching the local and

“STARK DIFFERENCES” Speaking to Eastern Daily Press, South-West Norfolk MP Christopher Fraser said that he is not convinced that the

their work in an event that also marks the future delivery of London campus set to open in

at UEA, City College Norwich

employment for graduates, it aims to provide them with the

for graduates, and those with a degree are therefore

tutor on the course, will also exhibit recent work with his

said, “With this showcase of contemporary art at the for their perceived lack of involvement in local schools and the community, have numerous outreach programmes engaging with schools and local businesses and reaching out

in the region, the fact that such a programme is running arguably “implies a lack of and Norwich,” which can

between “haves and have nots” is widening and is

aims to give people who are in the process of establishing their arts careers the support

address the key demands and challenges of contemporary

Dominique Bivar Segurado, Elizabeth Haider and Keith

UEA, who were branded

Dr Louise Bohn, UEA Outreach Manager, believes

million people voted for the

discussing amendments to its

in Norwich and throughout

graduates away from Norwich and Norfolk to places such as London, where the chances of gaining suitable employment

been signed by ten MPs who condemned the BBC for the

“as graduates tend to be

on average 27% of Norwich residents have degrees, whilst

the areas of South West Norfolk and Great Yarmouth are the worst performers,

per cent increase in interest for

of Allen & Overy, the MA in the University of East Anglia

Earlier this term ViceChancellor, Professor Ed Acton, spoke of the “enormous opportunity to have a base in London,” especially concerning unique masters degrees,

4 NEWS THE POWER OF WORDS

concrete.news@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 3rd NOVEMBER 2009

UNIVERSITY PLANS TO MONITOR STUDENTS Danny Keillor

students.

SHOEBOX APPEAL

would have a widespread

UEA Union Council resolved all they can to oppose the in the Grad Bar on Monday November 9th.

“SPYING GAME” Sally Hunt, the

to the new visa points system, last council summit, on Thursday 29th October.

The visa system instructs

reported

that

various by the charity ChildSmile

General on overseas students, and

the

academic

volunteers

community. involved in the new system.

There have been some worries that the new system

students as well as to report

help

wrap

are to be sold, in the Hive

students was to occur.

There

lecturers, trainers, researchers Chris said, “As a society, we’re

to

will

be

two

academics is security.

our reach this year.

Nick Church

“BOGUS STUDENTS”

compulsory.

The Union Council voted to support Rachel Archer’s,

For any more details, or to volunteer, contact Jen on to the country. However, the

The event is held in

majority.

The

Mandelson,

the

Union

Council’s

Minister

STUDENT BURGLARY RISK

with other Student Unions, Home Secretary Alan Johnson

WELLBEING WEEK

University. publicise this issue to all UEA

STUDENTS TAKE THE PISS Rosie Stamp

students towards this issue, to believe the sudden increase

about crime, despite the Hive doors.

Each day will have a theme department

workshops will take place

show

an

each other. problem this year, with walls

where there were 5 incidents.

Campus and Services

Smith says the worse area is

said “the increased police presence has undoubtedly

with UEA Estates and its security team, Concrete discussed the new cohort

assaults on campus, and in

advise

to

take

windows are locked, and to this

REMEMBRANCE WEEK

students

always related to assaults on

year.

David

Whales,

such

as

Manchester

and

more about the week at www. various crimes on campus.

“Because most students live in communal households,

areas, the Union have taken

provide their security teams with stab vests in order

major problem on campus.

This year, 34 incidents have been recorded. Recently,

GRADUATE UNEMPLOYMENT RISE Graduate

unemployment

Cllr Evelyn Collishaw will lead a remembrance service students the city centre and a service at Norwich Cathedral.

The service will take place

outside

their

Concerns have been raised by Trevor Smith that

not been as low since the university campuses.

there were only 9 malicious

this year.

6 NEWS NORFOLK DNA DATABASE

concrete.news@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 3rd NOVEMBER 2009

UEA STUDENT BECOMES A PCSO

ZIGGURATS IN ARCHITECTURAL AWARD

Rachel Handforth

Tasha Percy Terrace - have made it into the

of innocent people in Norfolk have been added which

parliamentary

There are a total of

“THE WAVE” NUS CLIMATE PROTEST

DOMESTIC EXTREMISTS AT UEA?

PIPE LEAK PANDEMONIUM

Nick Church

Paul Wellard

“BALANCE OF PROBABILITIES”

UNI-Q PANEL DEBATE CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT PAGE

8 INTERNATIONAL

concrete.international@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 3rd NOVEMBER 2009

Scarily good times Magic and Mirth on Norwich’s Ghost walk

London Calling

Nishavitha Murthi

Chen Zhao

It was a much awaited event; rumours went around that

Since I arrived at London Heathrow airport in June, a strong impulse has driven me There was a humorous

and consequently , this year,

London area. The capital city seemed to have many secrets

order. recreated. The guide related Holding a map and a two sessions, one at 7.30pm and the other at 9.30 pm. In

proceeded along the river

tower jumped into our sights: impressive in colour, size and

I decided to go to the Tower everyone.

However,

whether

route was not as hard as we

an announcement that the name suggests, the man was

creatures hanging on trees.

The moonlight that shone

not remains a mystery.

us were laughing at others

headlines would apparently was, as there were so many

A real life Halloween nightmare!

I realised I actually did not have many requirements

Xin Chen

Why I love Halloween invited to a Halloween party

laughing a short distance

Hui Zhou

ever Hallowen experience, you can imagine how excited England,

Halloween

will

at the corner without saying a single word, wearing a expression, really made me I was impressed, so I went to

stand out either as scary or as together. He simply nodded the party and my dress. All the others were dressed

to go as a mystery lady with Halloween

is

the

a

costumes; I started to it’s also the day everyone went to the toilet.

I never thought that could

happened.

Two months later I met the girl who helped me when

t h i n g that happened on watching people surrounding us. Everyone else thought a us. Uncertainity is the most

the

narrow

toilet,

together.

10 COMMENT AND OPINION

concrete.opinion@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 3rd NOVEMBER 2009

Britain Not Persuaded After Nick Griffin’s controversial appearance on Question Time was watched by over 8 million people, Lucy Moore examines what happened on this night in political history.

Debate: Should the Daily Mail have published Jan Moir’s article?

For Against Fact box Gareth Coventry The Sun

The Press

James Dixon

Complaints

Daily Mail

Commission received a record 25,000 complaints about the article.

The article was Daily Mail

quickly spread over Facebook and Twitter.

Daily Mail

Brands such as Marks and Spencer and Nescafé removed their adverts from the page.

Daily Mail

COMMENT AND OPINION 11

concrete.opinion@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 3rd NOVEMBER 2009

Postal pressures European comeback kid?

Jack Brinded

David Biggins

teeth” as he would, once again, be

However, this strike shouldn’t be Last year William Hague gave a speech in the House of Commons which

peers seems to be that postal workers the cold, dehumanised, numbercrunching system by which they

realise that it is increasingly likely that it will be David Cameron who will be subordinate to Blair’s authority and the very thought of it is making them

of the EU from the Tory bench is none other than Shadow Secretary of State

the more likely they are to support I have never bought into the

Of course it is by no means their fault; they can only see scraps of half-truth kicked down to them by members of our “free” press, such as the Guardian columnist Mark Lawson, who set about the character

“Despite what the media would have us believe, the government caused this strike, not the union” Despite what the media would have us believe, the government They

persecuted

mail

Hague had assumed that it would be

Personally,

I

would

welcome

The cause of this strike is not money at all, it is the “urgent

as a “warmonger” over the mistakes known; that it’s leading to a rise in

pushed for by that pantomime villain Mandelson, who resides in the unelected and ancient Lords,

Ireland legacy and the Good Friday UK, that it’s raised fuel taxes, that too many laws are being made in Brussels and not enough in the United Kingdom and that it is a fundamentally

With the rise of the Chinese and longer the world’s only superpower

and downstream access (which

radical reformer to take the reigns and steer the European Union in the right

routes, heavier bags, compulsory

In the 2005 Labour Party Manifesto it was stated that Labour wanted to vote ‘Yes’ to Europe to “keep Britain a

management bullies meant workers This strike needs the people’s support; the CWU is one of the last of a dying breed: a union both willing and capable of challenging

realised that if Britain is to have a future

liberal voice heard, we’re going to need a real personality to champion

be in helping to secure a prosperous future for our country, and it needs to realise that if we want make Europe more tolerable then we will need Britain’s voice to be heard – because what hope does he have for Europe?

workers

stands for the good of the many I could go into how Royal Mail

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

private sector rivals, or that it’s more

VOICE HEARD!

12 FEATURES

concrete.features@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 3rd NOVEMBER 2009

Mandelson’s Monopoly

Noughties As we approach the end of this century’s first decade, Gareth Coventry takes a look at two of the most prominent features of the last ten years; the meteoric rise of the internet and our growing obsession with celebrity culture.

Digital Britain Report are successfully implemented, with the aims like breath to see whether the Millennium and an increased online presence for state-provided services.

be over and, inevitably, the debate has

internet in order to gain access to a wider audience. Devices which as WebCameron, which was launched

be remembered for. Among the most have been the rise of the internet and the cult of celebrity. So what has been

broadcast their message directly to the public. However if you wanted to be cynical, it could mean that the leaders are able to put across their message In turn, the internet has provided more

Despite being a product of the Cold

signatures before it closed last week.

Although the internet has become increasingly intertwined in our everyday lives, it should be remembered that

Peter Mandelson has been described in recent years as the “most powerful man in Britain”; he created the New Labour Rose and he’s had more reinventions than Madonna. David Biggins profiles the most fascinating character in British politics.

When the former Work and Pensions Secretary, James Purnell, resigned from Gordon Brown’s cabinet earlier this year, Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, and Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport, Andy Burnham, were supposed to follow, causing a coup that would have surely ended Brown’s premiership.

to the internet, with evidence to suggest that the uptake is coming slower, and that non-users are becoming increasingly ‘militant’. Also a recent survey by Harvard has cast doubt on the

Mandelson the door it was quickly closed behind him. It is generally accepted that the was the prince of darkness, Peter Mandelson. Somehow, at the last moment, Mandelson appears to have persuaded the remaining rebels that

than Clarkson of becoming Prime start) as he frequently demonstrates Party and could readily command

rumour has cropped up in a variety of newspapers and blogs about the possibility of there in fact being one very strong contender for the role of Labour leader Mandelson himself.

The whispers started turning into screams earlier this year

ten per cent of users with an average tweet posted every seventy four days. remarked that in the future everyone This saying has been updated for the on the web, everyone will be famous

is likely to be fought with a heavy

Jack

Straw,

announced

may

never

gain

has, and never will never escape Mandelson. He may have caused

to lead the Labour party into the next

with the internet enabling voters to people gaining wider access and faster bandwidth speeds. The internet has

FEATURES 13

concrete.features@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 3rd NOVEMBER 2009

Lord can become Prime Minister (Lord Salisbury, for example) but it is a generally an unworkable scenario as they cannot enter the House of Commons and therefore they cannot answer to Parliament. Furthermore, as we don’t elect our Lords it would not in charge of our country! become Prime Minister, there’s no evidence to suggest that the country

announced at the end of last year that he would be returning to Government going to be in for an easy ride. In March this year, he had green custard thrown in his face by Leila Deen, a Plane Stupid campaigner, who claimed that Mandelson had ‘bullied’ Ed for a third runway at Heathrow airport.

She angrily claimed that it was an outrage that Mandelson was allowed to represent Britain’s green interests and that “the only thing that’s green about Peter Mandelson is the slime coursing through his veins”. Harsh words, but Deen is certainly not alone

him as ‘the red rose man,’ referring to Mandelson’s decision to change Labour’s symbol from a militant red banner in favour of a friendlier, more electable red rose. This is a simple, though striking, example of how Mandelson is regarded as one of the key architects in modernising the Labour Party and was partly elected. Furthermore, he is also said to have had enough power to play

The idea of Prime Minister Mandy His ability to make governments and kings and silence rebellions is eerily

ability to calmly bat away unwanted use of social networking sites such as Facebook. About 25 million people in the UK who are at present on a social networking site. These sites have helped

up” that would allow, for account on a social networking site.

Gordon for example MySpace has provided the opportunity for up-and-coming musicians, like Lily Allen, to establish an online fanbase. The internet is likely

Brown’s

performance

on

true, with people becoming famous for being famous without any discernable talent. This facet is what has separated this decade’s cult of celebrity from previous decades. The thirst for fame

that is needed is an entry to a talent

have taken on a more aggressive form.

Gordon Brown had his credibility as

expenses has been widely ridiculed and The X Factor, and where a couple, who had previously appeared on the US version of Wife Swap, pretended that their young son

media exposure would gain them a TV reality series.

women were concerned more with the cult of celebrity than their own health.

“32% of pupils cite Paris Hilton as a role model”

many of their pupils thinking celebrity

was remarked in contrast to his handling over the release of the Lockerbie bomber, which took him almost two weeks to comment on and a father whose son was one of the hostages killed in Iraq lambasted Gordon Brown for failing to contact him while making

their art beforehand rather than being

Teachers and Lecturers (ALT) found cited Paris Hilton as a role model. ALT went on to conclude that the cult of celebrity is actually reducing their

he phoned Piers Morgan and Simon Cowell to check on the welfare of Susan

brainwash our naïve public with his for The X Factor. The same is true for Alexandra Burke who also comes from a singing background.

Although there has always been an element of the cult of celebrity in

opportunity to bring down the higherups from the comfort of our swivel the rise of celebrity culture almost

“Mandelson may never gain credibility with the British public”

(previously, only hereditary peers such as Tony Benn and former Prime Minister Alec Douglas-Home were allowed to give up their place in the Lords). If that move wasn’t enough to raise eyebrows around Westminster, last week a radical reform was proposed which would allow members of the House of Lords to enter the House of Commons to answer to Parliament. These reforms

involved in so many scandals that he’s earned the nickname ‘the Comeback

interest when he failed to declare a private loan from the Paymaster

such as Andrew Marr and Jeremy Paxman probably does him more harm that good as his previous experience in television (where he worked as a researcher and producer for the current events program Weekend World) gives Mandelson the now

never translated quite as well into the public sphere (or even into the business world as he has yet to miraculously solve the Royal Mail dispute, which, as Business Secretary, falls under his remit). The man himself, in his usual headline-tantalizing way, has never denied the possibility of running for

public’s and the media’s eyes at least)

damaged Tony Blair’s credibility during the later years of tenure.

such a move may be “one comeback too many.”

been forced to resign from the role of Secretary of State for Trade and

Mandelson was able to cheerfully return to Government a mere year later as Northern Ireland Secretary. alleged that Mandelson had lobbied

Technically, Mandelson could become Prime Minister today as the Queen can appoint whoever she likes to rule the country, although

one million pounds to the Millennium had been in charge of as Secretary of

ability to govern. For example, if the inquiry, Mandelson was cleared of any Clarkson to Buckingham Palace and ask him to form a government. However, if Clarkson put forward a proposal that banned all cyclists from the road, no one would vote for it, so it couldn’t

Blair had already forced Mandelson presence would make the Government appear ‘sleazy’.

14 FEATURES

concrete.features@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 3rd NOVEMBER 2009

The Morbidity of Media There have been an inordinate number of high-profile deaths over the past year - but how have print and online media chosen to write about it? Alice Violett delves into the journalism of celebrity death - do they ask the questions everyone wants to know or are they simply disrespectful?

Celebrity death is a real boon to media outlets. How many people headed straight for a reputable news website or turned on

tabloids; the three months it took Jamaican police to conclude he had not been murdered

celebrity death is as follows: news of the death

what had happened. The message is clear; that Michael Jackson was dead? The deaths of household names are a great excuse to

take Wikipedia with a pinch of salt; contrary papers.

“The fact that Gately was gay made the story even generated nature of the internet means that

juicier”

the details of their death. How can someone

conspiracy theories can arise surrounding such such as Moir’s that sully the memory of the it easy to feign insider knowledge. It seems restrained than newspapers when it comes come to die. behind? any unexpected celebrity death. It took a the Daily Express accident; she was in the prime of her life and a there just had to be some kind of conspiracy.

To use the more recent example of Stephen

TMZ.com, complained and forced an apology from Moir was that speaking ill of the dead was simply outpouring of grief but the public was also reminded by the media that he was tried for paedophilia; something he was not found

respect for his nearest and dearest who might prefer to remember the years when he was at

makes one dead celebrity more worthy of This reporter remembers recently reading Merchant which concentrated almost wholly

could not accept the possibility that a healthy Moir of the Daily Mail being a notable example of a journalist denying medical fact. The fact juicier; a story about someone dying because more people talking than one where they die

his health and the circumstances surrounding his death were published in the Sun; some of later dispelled or quietly dropped. The death

only so far a breaking story about death can be stretched on TV. What usually happens

families of the deceased.

LETTERS AND EDITORIAL 15

concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 3rd NOVEMBER 2009

EDITORIAL 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 Rachel Handforth, Amanda Hill, Sarah Cox, Hazy Hale, Mia Wecker, Lindsay Harris

NEWS EDITOR concrete.news@uea.ac.uk Nicolas Church Reporters Emma Parrott, Gareth Coventry, Mia Wecker, Lucy Moore, Chris King, Rosie Stamp, Gordon Malloy, Danny Keillor, Natasha Percy, Rachel Handforth, Paul Wellard

INTERNATIONAL EDITORS concrete.international@uea.ac.uk Qingning Wang & Filipa Mendes Writers Xin Chen, Chen Zhao, Hui Zhon, Nishavitha Murthi

OPINIONS EDITOR concrete.opinion@uea.ac.uk Davina Kesby Writers Jack Brinded, David Biggins, Gareth Coventry, James Dixon, Lucy Moore

FEATURES EDITOR concrete.features@uea.ac.uk Melissa York Writers Alice Violett, David Biggins, Gareth Coventry

LETTERS Writers Lauren South, Alex May, Gemma Henzley

FOCSOC EDITOR concrete.editorial@uea.ac.uk Alice Violett Writers Naomi Fraser, Nick Clinch, Alfie Kirk

FOOD EDITOR concrete.food09@gmail.com Edward Leftwich Writers Emma Richardson, Sarah Cox, Danie Hadley, Hayley Hurrell

LIFESTYLE EDITOR concrete.lifestyle@uea.ac.uk Samantha Lewis Writers Bruce Sigrist, Grace Alten, Vicki Wheatland

TURF EDITOR concrete.turf@uea.ac.uk Rebecca Wiles Writers Tom Hunt, Miha Klement

SPORT EDITOR concrete.sport@uea.ac.uk Danny Collins Writers Ben Frith, Robert Schatten, Georgina Wade, Lucy Bowers, Beth Robertson, Chris King, Ian Hobbs

NON-EDITORIAL CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER Greg Mann

Photographers Simon Partridge, Kyle Spencer, Laura Smith

TRAVEL EDITOR

DISTRIBUTION

concrete.travel@uea.ac.uk Rachel Conquer

Martin Lippiatt

SOMETHING YOU WANT TO WRITE ABOUT?

There are many ways to get in contact: - Come to the Concrete office upstairs in Union House.

- Email a section you’re interested in writing for.

- Email Hannah at concrete. editor@uea.ac.uk.

CONCRETE PO BOX 410, NORWICH, NORFOLK, 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.

An open letter to UEA students Do students who persist in parking on the Earlham Park car park realise how selfish their actions are?

By taking spaces meant for genuine users of the park i.e. walkers, dog walkers, runners and families, they are preventing them from enjoying their activities.

Because most students do not patronise the cafe in the park, preventing genuine users from being able to park and therefore patronise the cafe means that the young man who runs the cafe is being deprived of his livelihood. Since term started, his takings have dropped significantly and there is a danger that he will only open at weekends. For park users like myself who live alone, the chance to have a meal or coffee with other users will be taken away, meaning that our chance of social interaction for that day will be gone. For some, it may be the only time that they talk to another person all week.

May I remind students that the notice at the entrance to the park states that the car park is “Strictly for park users only”.

I appreciate that you need to attend lectures but there is an excellent bus service to UEA and there is the bicycle!

I know for a fact that several of you live off Unthank Road (I have been followed on several occasions by students from the car park and down Unthank Rd where they have turned off into the side roads.) so why not bus or even walk! Worse still are the students who drive over from the Village side of the road to the car park and the student who parked in a disabled space and put a note under the windscreen wipers stating that they had broken down and would be back in two hours!

Please be more considerate.

Sincerely, Pat Gyte (Mrs)

Notice

16 TRAVEL

concrete.travel@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 3rd NOVEMBER 2009

It’s better in the Bahamas Lauren South tells us why the Bahamas is such an amazing place to visit and how some of the islands are being changed forever.

“It’s better in the Bahamas” is what the commercial promises and yes, I would have to agree. The Bahamas certainly deliver in way of desert island paradises, white sands and a turquoise sea. But it all depends on what you want out of a holiday - and I choose the word holiday because no matter how action packed you make it, no matter how much scuba diving, lobster spearing or water sports you cram in, you do it alongside drinking a plethora of rum, rum punches and Goombay Smashes. There is no escaping the snail’s pace of life and that is why three weeks here is heavenly for some and stifling for others.

The Bahamas is actually an archipelago of over 700 islands, many of which remain secret from the vast majority of tourists and thus the beautiful beaches are untouched and almost exclusive to the extent that some couples feel entitled to use them as their own private beaches.

Contrary to popular belief they are not part of the Caribbean and by no means should be confused with Barbados or Bermuda; they are in fact in the Atlantic Ocean and considered to be part of the West Indies. I spent my holiday in Green Turtle Cay, Abaco.

‘Vacation in the Bahamas’ sounds glamorous; you would expect entire American families decked out Ralph Lauren prep style. However, this is not really what I saw - for starters there are no palm trees here.

Also, the landscape is surprisingly inhospitable, leaving the Bahamians with no natural resources and a huge dependence on the sea for their livelihood. Fishing is still the main occupation on the smaller islands and there is an abundance

UK: St. Ives Alex May

Take a leisurely stroll through the ancient cobbled streets of St Ives, meandering between quaint history and culture, and one cannot fail to be mesmerised by the town’s year 2007,” as voted by readers of the Guardian - evokes images of a tacky Cornish holiday resort, overrun by tourists and ruined in high summer.

But the reality could not be farther from the truth.

of marine life to be glimpsed even by a less than competent snorkeler.

For me, what made visiting the Bahamas better than visiting other Caribbean islands like Jamaica and Antigua was that we were not staying in a hotel. The 20 foot Boston Whaler named ‘The Boombastic’ gave us the freedom and independence to see the Bahamas beyond our own small island. The islands are tiny compared to anything at home - the main modes of transport on the island are golf karts. Everyone knows each other and as tourists we felt genuinely welcomed to the country.

On top of that everyone is relaxed and the atmosphere is consistently chilled – even on the plane over,

“Everyone knows each other and, as tourists, we felt genuinely welcomed to the country” the charming yet alarmingly lax pilot gave no concern to safety regulations and carelessly skimmed over the instructions to open the fire exit. It is easy to be lulled into a sense of complete security in this extremely pleasant climate and very easy to forget that the boat you are driving is not part of a Disney ride and that safety precautions must be taken. Yes, the water is known to be very safe, and it’s so clear you can practically see what you are swimming with, but take the boat out to about eight

metres deep and the radar picks up various shadowy outlines of lengths reaching up to six foot; a reminder that one danger here is a real threat.

And this was our routine for the next couple of weeks: snorkelling, beachcombing, eating, drinking and sleeping. We hunted for sand dollars on the empty white beaches, read trashy novels in hammocks slung between casuarina trees, took the boat out to stranded islands and snorkelled in any spot we liked. There was no TV and no real night life beyond the occasional reggae band or chatting with locals and other visitors at Nippers, the nearest bar.

Within a few days we felt part of the community, which was brought home to me one morning as we returned from our first dive to be presented with two filleted barracudas from our next-door neighbours.

So it was with mixed feelings that we learned that Green Turtle Cay is about to change forever. Over the next two years, the island will be developed into a 180-acre golf and spa resort, which will bring muchneeded revenue. Most controversial are plans to build a large marina in place of the picturesque harbour.

Property prices will soar, and luxury yachts, of the kind already festooning Treasure Cay, will for the first time be able to dock at Green Turtle. The transport links and infrastructure will improve, and so will the average standard of living. And yet this is a classic tale of mixed blessings; with these changes a more relaxed way of life will disappear, causing sadness for some but for others, will completely consolidate the epitaph “it’s better in the Bahamas.”

Peter Lanyon and Sir Terry Frost, it is no surprise that St Ives is primarily renowned for its artwork. The world famous Tate St Ives - opened in 1993

by H.R.H. Prince Charles - stands Porthmeor beach, where surfers, children, locals and holidaymakers

of Barbara Hepworth - the famous

sculptor who lived and worked in the town - where her works have been lovingly preserved and displayed for the public in her very own garden.

Aside from art and culture, which can be found around near enough every corner of the town, there is an done. Why not take a walk down to

the delicacies from one of the many wonderful restaurants along the sea front? You could always take a stroll along one of the numerous sandy bays and let the silky white sand glide through your toes while paddling a picnic, set up camp on the small sandy cove of Porthgwidden, and wait for a glimpse of sea life: dolphins, porpoises and basking sharks have all been seen swimming in the bay and its surrounding waters. Whatever you do, there is one thing which is sure; the simple beauty of St Ives will not fail to take your breath away.

New York!

Gemma Henzley

“I want to wake up in the city that never sleeps. New York, New York.”

Wise words, Mr Sinatra, wise words. I mean, who wouldn’t want to open their eyes in one of the

government don’t really take our desire to travel into account when paying student loans into the bank. guide you around the Big Apple in Without being too obvious, The Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty are both solid places to begin any trip to NYC. As emblems of not just the city, but of the whole of the USA, they add a great deal of majesty to the place. A visit to

nonchalant of tourists cannot help

is rather poor, but the simply awebeyond more than make up for any disappointment you may be feeling over mediocre knick-knacks.

If museums and art galleries are your thing then New York will certainly not let you down. The Met, The Guggenheim and MoMA are all world-famous establishments and a day spent browsing them is a day spent browsing some of the most

the sense of what it means to be

in the world.

Let’s not forget shopping!

Bloomingdale, Saks and Macy’s are the Mecca of New York shoppers, yet Brooklyn and Coney Island have some of the quirkiest purchases

of course, the rather extensive

“New York, New York.”

FOCSOC 17

concrete.editorial@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 3rd NOVEMBER 2009

Discover Europe with ELSA Naomi Fraser

extent of our mission. As your CV, a large part of the

past socials have proven a success and there are many more great events lined up for the upcoming weeks.

events? If you have a passion for learning about and all for less than £100. and, of course, having fun, The main event in the

those who have any curiosity about the academic and legal

If you’d like to learn more city at student rates. There’ll be organised tours of the

professional excellence in these areas is not the full

contact t.wilcocks@uea.ac.uk

host of cultural delights with tournaments?

Or

perhaps

Plenty of Greens Something for everyone This issue, Nick Clinch extols the virtues of Alfie Kirk explains to FocSoc that there’s more to Games the Green Party’s presence on campus. Society than you might think.

largest and most successful

tackling environmental issues?

If change isn’t brought about soon we are going to be the

the country. We have a great to us by previous governments who lacked the will to tackle the issue with real fervour and

talk about the world of green We’ve also had the obligatory jaunts to the pub, canvassing sessions around Norwich and we’ve been working with other as climate change. A trip to the

We are part of a movement championing the value of our planet and the importance of

Most people only know the Games Society as that bunch of weird geeks with the foam weapons and medieval armour, seen on Sundays around campus. In truth, this is just the most visible face of one of the larger and it the familiar board games everyone fondly remembers from childhood or the

our desire for real change, not

driven madness of Zombie (played overnight, in the once a semester), the Games Society probably plays it.

Tabletop roleplaying games, including the famed Dungeons and Dragons, make up a

games, war games, card games, live games (similar

one with the foam weapons) all make up elements of the society.

A commonly held

quo and gradual slide into the Games Society is comprised

is also on the cards!

The Greens can claim to have some of the most relevant policies for students.

Greens or help Adrian beat Charles Clarke at the next contact us at ueagreens@ gmail.com, or join our

and join us, nothing beats the rewards of being green!

Want to write for FocSoc? FocSoc needs you! If you’d like to see your society or club in Concrete, please email concrete.editorial@uea.ac.uk

geeks. Nothing could be further from the truth (except perhaps the geek part), as the revolve around socialising with friends...and running away from zombies. Don’t dismiss the more bizarre

This is a society dedicated to having fun, whether that involves releasing the inner child and playing Monopoly, bludgeoning one another with foam swords, desperately holding gun or bravely delving into monsters from ravening princesses. Come along to every

Wednesday

of the fun. their eccentric appearance.

in

the

18 FOOD

concrete.food09@gmail.com TUESDAY 3rd NOVEMBER 2009

The Ten Bells tunes into student taste buds Cocktail of Emma Richardson the Fortnight changes weekly. We tried the beef curry,

uses seasonal and local produce so you can

beef, and just the right amount of spice, my only complaint was that my rice was a bit watery. We also tried the rabbit, onion and

you’re food miles, and know your helping the local economy. That’s today’s good deed done!

Dessert was more limited with only three

impression of The Ten Bells on St Benedict’s signposts and a telephone box; The Ten Bells

Danie Hadley and Hayley Hurrell We know it’s a tough

country charm about it. Imagine combining roast parsnips, which was tasty. The rabbit was generally lack in substance.

plum and pear crumble was a modern take on an old winter classic, but when coupled with

meats, with pheasant appearing on the menu

The most outstanding thing about this gem was the price - simply £5 for a main course

made between the kitsch sofas (good for hung bit more formal. Also with a sprinkling of fairy lights and absinthe at the bar this could be a new student home.

The menu was quite limited, but we were impressed with the originality and it was certainly no standard pub grub. The choice

looking at the menu that not only is the chef passionate about what he makes, but is deeply concerned with making sure that his menu

and now your lecturers are all about the essays. Dull, knackered from 6 weeks of LCR-ing, the nights are drawing in fast and 9am is not your friend. Concrete

to put a wee smile on your face, and a dreamy from a menu based on what you fancied rather Although the pub was a bit dark, it’s a rough diamond perfect for a cheap and more we’ll be making sure to try the mulled wine Road and Dereham Road and its large beer

retro telephone box inside!

a warming, decadent drink and is just enough to keep you going for just that one more hour with your damn seminar work. Let’s just say, that a drink this good will take the pain away.

Shake together with ice: Don’t forget to add a 50ml Baileys cheeky 10ml Vodka sprinkle of cocoa 15ml Chocolate powder!

Liqueur Strain into glass.

From pastries to pickles, Pumpkin and orange local shops have it all dark chocolate brownies Sarah Cox

Sarah Cox

found yourself back there? Shopping locally

but don’t be afraid! Between the dodgy neon

as long as you know where to go.

It’s a great way to support local business,

sale. Whether it’s the cheapest cup of tea in

packaging.

Norfolk ice cream, or a jar of pickles bigger than your head, there’s almost nothing that can’t be

some you probably can’t, it also has a huge range of seafood, bread, milk, eggs and the best Danish pastries in the city. Who needs that new Tesco on Unthank?

Venturing into the city centre, Norwich

six free range eggs for a quid, which is cheaper

Ingredients:

to resist the smell of Henry’s Hog Roast.

250g Dark chocolate, ideally 75% cocoa

on how best to cook it, check out C.J’s Fruit and

250g Caster sugar

Zest of one orange Total cost for one batch: £4.50

pumpkin.

Method:

greaseproof paper.

LIFESTYLE 19

concrete.lifestyle@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 3rd NOVEMBER 2009

Confessions of a UEA student Grace Allen tells all about what lies ahead for us

Concrete Pub Guide 2009/10

Following last issues Confession, Bruce Sigrist went out this week consuming beverages strictly for research purposes to bring you the ultimate guide to pubbing in Norwich.

The Garden House Pub

A wise man once said: “I love pubs,” men? With this air of nonsense in mind, Concrete set out on a mission

all; the place prides itself on a sizeable,

poor indebted students.

I am currently in my last year of university studying History of Art, which means that I’m one of many trying to come to terms with the prospect of entering into the ‘real’ world.

I recently stumbled across an Grazia (this is what I’m reading when I should be doing

Obviously this is weather dependent, Norwich’s famed pubs.

is open.

Prince of Wales Pub

Norwich Playhouse

it’s within an arm’s reach from a lot of students. When Concrete visited

over £4 for a Jagerbomb though.

of the clientele, which explained the

The Birdcage of the Norwich bar scene. Situated in

if memory serves, a great place to where we’ve been buying our Carnage

a 23 year old and a 37 year old

agree with the older lady; perhaps

vintage for that with a great atmosphere and some daring décor. It’s worth

which is why you’ve probably already heard of it.

understandably small but even by

The Compleat Angler

against some of the bigger pubs in

a year.

Beluga Bar On the more ‘suave’ side of things,

graduated

out for some of these gems. Most are surrounded by neighbouring pubs and palace rather than a Norwich boozer.

last a great place to go not just before a meet or a train, but if you’re of

Student Union also warrants a shout out…converted church anyone?

display, you don’t need to try hard to be pleasantly surprised.

Apparently a new establishment, this

are rather pricey; perhaps that’s one outstanding.

My brother

pub crawlers once word gets around.

It’s one of those places that hasn’t made up its mind whether or not it’s

spontaneous, unplanned nights that

terrace and allows plenty of room for

course. It sounded hard going; on a Spanish guy with halitosis and a

at the end of it and once again was

Can you face winter?

Vicki Wheatland

has. As the largest organ on the

on your face is exposed every day to the harsh winter elements. For you lovelies who may already be clued and UVB rays. What more could you using your normal tried and tested moisturiser may not be enough to

unpalatable; living at home again, job and wondering what good all those years of studying did. So I say this: it isn’t going to be plain sailing, so get as much out of UEA as you can before everything gets that bit more serious.

bones. With winter fast approaching and bringing its entourage of icy winds, freezing temperatures and

Best Buy for Oily Skin – 3 stars

factor in the winter. Whilst a reminder that the summer months have past, usual radiant self. lipids and these molecules prevent it from losing moisture. Although

able to moisturise and protect without But what moisturiser to choose?

evaporates, during the winter months it loses the opportunity to moisturise

Concrete’s star buy! - 5 stars shortlisted the best of the best (You

Best Budget Buy – 4 stars Simple Skin Replenishing Moisturiser. may have that new snug winter coat

Rich

is great for everyday use. Light enough

with

minimal

greasiness

and

is without doubt the holy grail of all winter moisturisers, and at a great price. Sold.

20 TURF

concrete.turf@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 3rd NOVEMBER 2009

Diary of a student smallholder The concept of ‘food miles’ is now being widely talked about in the media. Tom Hunt reports on the successes and challenges of an attempt to produce food closer to home.

It all began with a crazy idea: why not keep chickens in our own back garden to provide free-range eggs and give the local community something to work together on? Before we knew it, the idea had become an impending reality as the long summer weeks ready to pick up our poultry.

Over the course of the past decade, Britain has lost 200,000 allotments to developers. According to Country Smallholding, around 100,000 for land. With this backlog, we set about making our own way towards smallholding.

A patch of waste land opposite the house had been chosen for the and bracken that we vigorously set

out of the car before their droppings and a mountainous compost heap, we put together a ramshackle pen held together by chicken-wire and bamboo. With some help from the neighbourhood kids, we had transformed a wild spot into a secret garden. Finally, a chicken run arrived through the post, was quickly assembled – upside down – reassembled correctly and placed in the centre of the hideaway. Now all we needed were chickens.

the tunes of Michael Jackson. On our arrival at the farm, the farmer plucked up four lucky cluckers: for a pound apiece they were bargains.

Hurrying home, we were keen to introduce the warbling fowl to their new abode and to get them

the cardboard box. Mess averted, we set them down and opened the lid. A cacophony of cackling and

later, scratched and exhausted, we had them all gathered together again from various neighbourhood gardens and adjusted them to their new surroundings. smoothly enough and we quickly

unlocked, they had been swiped from

held up well, keeping the chickens secure from foxes and other

it appeared that West Earlham was plagued by a mysterious chicken thief:

soon hit a serious snag. One evening, we gathered them into bed and locked them up for the night. On returning to replenish their water, we were

series of chick-nappings, which went on over the summer. the fate of Meg, Muriel, Marjoram and Madeleine, brooding over a few

we wondered why the perpetrator couldn’t have gone up the road to take chickens being given away for virtually nothing instead.

Now all we have is a pen full of thriving corn stalks, a sad testament to our lack of chickens. Nevertheless, we remain convinced that it can be done and the idea of student smallholding has not been abandoned.

The organic myth? 5 minutes with: It is commonly taken for granted now that buying organic food is better in a number of ways.

Miha Klement considers whether there is truth in the organic claims.

answer as to whether organic farming is the way to go. evidence that organically produced is

possibly lesser worries in the minds of organic shoppers: claims that it is health are more commonly cited.

While it remains unclear whether

food. A team from the London School

has ever seen an African salt mine can tell you that the only organic thing is organic label is that is symbolizes that the person who buys it cares about everything from famine in the third It’s like Nike promising you that if

be a change in thinking as we move

are passionate about the need for

to be a health hazard, it is certainly

people work together.

examined 162 papers that compared food and concluded there is no evidence to support the claims that claim made is that ‘organic food tastes

to reduce our carbon footprints.

When

considering

the

cent of the subjects picked the organic things like; “It actually tastes more like a banana, if that makes sense.”

: Join the ‘Norlets’ scheme Anne

that organic food generates healthy soils and reduces soil erosion. In this case organic farmers do frequently rotate crops, but in some cases the actually causing erosion. So it could

half. One half is then labelled organic and the other non-organic. Random passers-by are then asked to taste

performance will increase.

But of course it’s not all that

use herbicides to tackle the problem.

It has come to a point now where

techniques have many faults of their

that we must become less dependent on oil and more focussed on local

is a scheme based in Norwich where people can trade skills, services and

not narrowly focus on which is sustainable. In the world of peak the world, this will become an increasingly pressing issue. What is

and cheap supplies of fossil fuels,

Similarly, using freecycle.org is a way to engage the community in

develop a lifestyle not dependent on oil, which will require radical change.

Anne: It’s important to reduce our food miles and buy local produce.

Anne: We need to localise our economies as much as possible, especially when it comes to food

the best thing is for students to become a part of it.

to these issues. All organic shoppers with regard to organic foods and make sure they are not just a part of a huge farming religion, that in the US alone brings in some $23 billion.

22 SPORT Canary Corner

concrete.sport@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 3rd NOVEMBER 2009

Five minutes with: Harry Low Ben Frith speaks to the UEA Korfball president.

Women’s Basketball lose out to Wolverhampton

BUCS Results - Wednesday 28th October

SPORT 23

concrete.sport@uea.ac.uk TUESDAY 3rd NOVEMBER 2009

‘The Viking’ prepares to raid the PDC ranks Danny Collins It has become something of a phenomenon amongst sportsmen in

Fordham is an amiable man, and this trait is evident both in his

“...it was not unknown

accompanied his years at the top

for him to drink up to twenty-five bottles of become common among the ranks of

lager before a match”

resolve that he has been able to conquer his alcohol demons despite

So it is refreshing to read come many changes, especially to The Viking

Asked if he could see himself of adjustment, like learning to play chance to play his beloved game again myself being back behind the oche at

his legendary drink-fuelled escapades,

star and undertake a training regime that helped him shed half of his body

Button finally realises potential Chris King Back in December last year you could have been forgiven for thinking that the career of

recklessly brilliant performance, scything past Barrichello, and under the tutelage of former

near-faultless reliability and race pace far superior over the course of the season to that of any other

“For the first time since 2004, he has had a car to match his ability...”

a prayer, running a car built on a shoestring behind it and a driver under no illusions as to his lack of achievement in Formula One, despite an

concrete.sport@uea.ac.uk

FORMULA 1

Chris King charts Jenson Button’s long-awaited ascent to the pinnacle of motorsport.

TUESDAY 3rd NOVEMBER 2009

CANARIES

DARTS

Concrete investigates Norwich’s F.A. Cup first-round opponents, Paulton Rovers.

Concrete catches up with former darts world champion Andy ‘The Viking’ Fordham.

KORFBALL

Ben Frith speaks to the UEA Korfball club president Harry Low.

Gunn on target as UEA ease past Loughborough

Women’s Rugby see off Medics

Danny Collins

Lucy Bowers Beth Robertson

UEA 1st XI - 2 Loughborough 4th XI - 0 The UEA Men’s Football 1st XI eased into the second round of the BUCS Cup with a comfortable 2-0 win against Loughborough 4th XI at Colney Field on Wednesday.

Year’ at last year’s Union CASAs and already it seems to be an award they talent and a convincing pre-season win against the UEA Medics under form for the season ahead.

superiority in a game in which they were never truly troubled. And against a Loughborough side that they will face twice more this season, this the coming months.

the Loughborough defence apart.

be a stubborn opponent. a penalty in the 70th minute when the referee deemed the ball not to have

capitalised on disorder amongst the Loughborough defence to slot past The inability of the opposing defence to clear danger from the

some pin-point passing that stretched the Loughborough defence, but a mixture of last-ditch defending and

However, aside from this minor scare, chances proved few and far between.

If Loughborough were feeling the pressure of the occasion they certainly made it apparent with a double

possessed pace in abundance; however, the touch and end product of their right-winger was certainly

defence, gaining the upper hand in the scrums before the decision was The opening try was scored showing followed by a comfortable

when Loughborough failed to clear

stepped up to slot the ball away for his, and UEA’s, second.

Loughborough, in their increasing goals down. with ample opportunity to counter-

soon followed by tries from winger

half showed a balance that will stand the team in good stead for the forthcoming season.

However, they somewhat fortuitously

Midlands counterparts, the UEA defence, marshalled commandingly

explains: “A lot of new players have joined the club this year and we always have a great turnout at each training session.”

The home game turned out to be a crucial test for a lot of new players, many of whom had never before set foot on a rugby pitch. Despite

into league campaign and push for

match as it closed on a respectable 27-12.

The side’s 09/10 BUCS campaign opens with an early start on the much awaited trip to Coventry

Ziggurat football: LAW smash three past DEV in final Georgina Wade

The preliminary round saw the Pharmacy school on top form,

Men’s Football was the fourth event on the 2009/2010 Ziggurat calendar,

round in which each school could submit two teams; the top 16

out

matches:

Law,

Languages,

Following the football, Biology

The Law team gave a sterling

strong form, with both teams advancing through to the second round of matches.

close match, Development edged out Language in a penalty shoot-out that lasted longer than the game!

the combined SWP, Art and Music schools.

The next round of the Ziggurat

the preliminary rounds of the mixed three goals past the Development

season with a win.