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
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.
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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.