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>> P.11 >> P.16 >> P.18 22nd November 2016 Issue 331
The official student newspaper of the University of East Anglia | concrete-online.co.uk
Red poppies: 'symbol of oppression'
History professor refutes "wrong " figures used in union council poppy debate
Jessica Frank-Keyes
Deputy Editor UEA SU has passed Motion 2006 Remember: Don’t Repeat. This mandates the union to stock both white and red poppies on campus in the run up to Armistice Day in future years. The motion states: “the red poppy is considered by some to be a political symbol with multiple offensive, upsetting and actively negative connotation.” The motion also included language describing the British armed forces as “imperialist.” The motion was debated and passed in the final minutes of last week’s union council (17th November) and means that
an equal number of both red and white poppies will be available on campus in the days before 11th November, from 2017. The union must also provide information leaflets to go alongside the displays of both poppies. The motion, proposed by Finn Northrop, SU non-portfolio Officer, and seconded by Abbie Mulcairn, SU women’s officer, stated: “the imperialist nature of the British armed forces throughout history means that some see the red poppy as a celebration of the British armed forces and by extension, the atrocities perpetrated by the British armed forces throughout history.” Finn Northrop
told Concrete that: “while many wear red poppies as an act of remembrance, many others find the red poppy and its symbolism problematic.” He stated that: “Motion 2006 both validated the right of UEA students to reach a personal view on the issues and mandated the SU to stock both red and white poppies in the future. It sought to explain the views of those who prefer a white poppy, while recognising the diversity of views on campus on this issue.” The motion also stated that: “all staff and students at UEA have the right to mourn the loss of life in conflict in the way they deem most appropriate." However, according to the proposal, the allegedly negative associations of the red poppy mean that: “it can be distressing for students affected by one or more of the issues to be surrounded by something they see as a symbol of oppression and persecution and this
compromises their wellbeing on campus.”
"Professor Thomas Otte, a historian of British and First World War history stated that: "the numbers cited are wrong, and the whole issue was much more complicated." Mentioned specifically in the motion and during the debate in council was the arrest of 16,000 conscientious objectors during the First World War. The motion claims that this is: “part of the ‘war effort’ which is glamourized by the poppy,” and states that: “16,000 people were arrested as CO’s. CO’s were subjected to gross invasions of privacy, psychologically damaging “evalua-
tions”, hard labour and in some cases execution.” This claim is cited to a Quakers in WW1 history website, but this webpage does not specifically mention the figure of 16,000. A UEA history professor said that “scepticism is justified” when examining the figures put forward at union council. Professor Thomas Otte, a historian of British and World War One history stated that: "the numbers cited are wrong, and the whole issue was much more complicated." Professor Otte told Concrete that while "16,500 men identified themselves as conscientious objectors,” most of these men “cooperated with the tribunals set up to examine their cases, and 90% of them accepted alternative service, e.g. as ambulance drivers.” “1,298 of them refused all service, and these were imprisoned." Responding to this, Northrop
Continued on page 4
University commits to relocating Nightline Emily Hawkins News Editor The university has said that they will commit to the relocation of Nightline from the UEA Library to a space fit for purpose by the end of this academic year. The listening service are currently using a room in the Library where volunteers cannot eat or sleep, following being forced to move from their old office in Suffolk Terrace. Nightline told Concrete in October that this move has rendered them unable to offer drop-in services owing to student confidentiality being compromised by Library Security. The university has admitted that the space being used by Nightline “is not appropriate for the work they do, particularly the lack of sleeping provision.” A spokesperson for the university said that they are “absolutely committed to finding a proper location for Nightline before the end of the year, and has agreed this plan with the team.” Joanne Bridgland, External
Coordinator of Norwich Nightline said that they have been “working closely” with Jon Sharp and are “incredibly grateful for his commitment to helping us find a space more appropriate for the needs of our organisation.” Bridgland stated that the university’s public commitment “solidifies our trust that Nightline's situation is soon to be improved.” She said the service’s proposed relocation was “exciting for the future of the support service we offer to the students of Norwich.” The university has not offered any public details of when Nightline would be able to move from their inadequate office to somewhere better-suited, or given any indications of possible spaces for relocation. However, a spokesperson for the university said that they intend to “relocate the service as soon as possible.” UEA SU non-portfolio Officer Chris Ball told Concrete that: “following the motion passed at a previous Union Council on supporting and defending Nightline, we’ve been attending a number of meetings with the new
Student Support Service (SSS).” “This includes working with them to help [Nightline] in the short term, but most importantly to locate and secure a long term space for the service by the end of the academic year.” He added that: “as well as recognising Nightline as a central
component of its emergent mental health strategy, UEA SSS have also found a number of possible new locations for the service around campus that will allow Nightline to expand their services over the next few years.” Responding to the university’s
announcement, a Nightline volunteer told Concrete: "it's amazing that they've committed to giving us a new space more appropriate for our services, so we are able to continue to properly provide a listening ear to UEA students."