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14th February 2023
concrete-online.co.uk/news/ | @ConcreteUEA
Integrity of UEA executive team questioned Libby Hargreaves
on “arts” at The Gallery, Cromer, and a myriad of business trips to locations including Tokyo, costing hundreds of pounds which included Professor David Richardson, the lavish meals expensed. Vice-Chancellor (and President) of UEA, has come under intense His total expenses from 2014 to scrutiny in recent weeks- with some 2018 are £51,880. From July 2018 even calling for him to resign. to January 2020, his expenses amounted to around £15,000. He has Amidst the University deficit however, reimbursed the University and redundancies news, the for his consistent use of the mini bar Vice-Chancellor's pay has been and some bottles of wine. The full questioned. His official salary is list can be found at FOI_20-031 and £283,000, though he has stated FOI_19_091 on the UEA website, he will be taking a “voluntary paycut" of an unspecified amount, in light of the debt. He took a similar voluntary pay cut post-pandemic; Concrete has created this timeline of his pay since he assumed the position in 2014. In addition to this salary, the Vice-Chancellor receives an expenses allowance and has previously resided in a University expensed house worth £1.7 million. Editor-in-Chief
A Freedom of Information request found University expenditure on Professor Richardson’s premisesWood Hall- to include nearly £32,000 worth of garden maintenance work. Other expenses include 10p spent on two sachets of soy sauce, a £63.25 trip to Kofra coffee, Snappy Snaps passport photo, £130 simply
whilst some information was found One student expressed their in 2017 and has since expired from frustration at these figures, stating the website. it “frankly seems ridiculous”, whilst UCU describe pension cuts as a In addition to his salary, expenses reason for the current strikes: “ The and Wood Hall, the University also package of cuts made last year will provided the Vice-Chancellor with a see the average member lose 35% of £60,000 contribution to his pension their guaranteed future retirement in 2021/22, an increase of £7,000 income. For those at the beginning from the previous year. “As part of of their career the losses are in the the decision to cease using Wood hundreds of thousands of pounds.” Hall...SORC confirmed that the value of the taxable benefit in kind should Professor Richardson’s wife, be added to the Vice-Chancellor's Andrea Blanchflower, also works base salary ”. for the University- in addition to being a Governer for City College Norwich. She is on the Governance Committee for UEA, which ensures “the University follows best practice in governance matters including maintaining an over-arching view on corporate governance of the University, considering recommendations from the Committee of University Chairs and commissioning independent Photo: Pixabay reviews of governance at least every three years” amongst other duties.
Cnossen, was previously named in a 2016 vote of no confidence at Thompson Rivers University. Just under half of the faculty voted, amounting to an overwhelming 81% in support of a lack of confidence in the senior management team. This followed the suspension of Derek Pyne, after he spoke up about his colleagues’ role in publishing for “predatory publications”. It was reported that Bovis-Cnossen's response to the outcry and request for more information on the reasons for Pyne’s suspension was that the University “can’t divulge personal information” about him “without his prior written consent”, to which Pyne responded with his written permission. History could repeat itself for the Provost as UEA UCU have already released its “don’t destroy UEA” campaign which calls for a “no confidence” vote in the UEA executive team”.
The Guardian ranked UEA as the Other members of senior 14th best UK University in 2015, and management have also had their the 41st in 2022. integrity questioned. Concrete has discovered the new Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost, Professor Christine Bovis-
New study: Sex drive and antidepressents Plum Bristow
difficult to t alk about.
News Writer
Content warning: antidepressents.
depression,
Student life can be difficult; moving away from home for the first time, pressures of exams and deadlines, and coping with financial difficulties - it’s no surprise that many students are vulnerable to depression and other mental health struggles. According to the student support organisation, Ranstad, over a quarter of students experience a decline in their mental health during their journey through university. There are different approaches to treating depression, including talking therapy, mindfulness and exercise, but sometimes a doctor might prescribe antidepressants. Antidepressants can help alleviate some of the symptoms of depression, lifting mood and enabling a person to regain focus and begin to engage better with their studies. Whilst these drugs can be a highly effective way of improving symptoms and overall functioning, there are some side effects which some people might be embarrassed about or find
dysfunction, specifically reporting Temple, who told us, “Reduced libido difficulty around orgasms or (and sexual dysfunction more widely) A recent study involving the completing orgasms. can be a symptom of depression. Behavioral and Clinical Neuroscience Institute in Cambridge examined the This is not the first study to highlight It is true that sexual dysfunction effects of the antidepressant drug a link between difficulties with could impact mental well-being, escitalopram, revealing that one orgasm and taking antidepressants. but the more salient point is potential side effect of the drug was Sexual dysfunction is often listed as that being depressed is likely to difficulty experiencing a full orgasm. one of the side effects within impact sexual functioning too, so The study involved 66 volunteers, the information that comes with the leaving it untreated can be equally placed randomly into two groups, medication, but many recipients have detrimental” 32 receiving the active drug and 34 reported being unaware of these. Dr Temple felt it was important receiving a placebo. to talk openly about sexual To understand how this may impact functioning and mental health, students, Concrete started as this might enable people by talking to a student who has experiencing difficulties with experienced depression. The student their sex life or struggling with - who opted to remain anonymous their mental health to speak up - described how antidepressants and seek appropriate support. helped her through her depressive He went on to emphasise how anyone illness but did have side effects, experiencing difficult side effects including a reduction in her sex drive. from antidepressants should not simply stop taking them but instead She described feelings of frustration talk to their doctor. This is because around the changes in her libido but suddenly stopping medication balanced this out with the longer- can cause unpleasant withdrawal term gains to her mental health. It symptoms, including trouble was clear from her how much the sleeping, stomach problems, and medication had helped her through feelings of irritability, confusion, or The volunteers were then tested her recovery through a difficult time, anxiety, which can last several weeks. using a range of measures, including even suggesting it saved her life by cognition, mood and a questionnaire stating, “if I hadn’t been on the There is help here at the UEA; you examining changes in sexual I mage: Pixabay can self-refer to a number of support functioning. The questionnaire services, including talking therapy, results were compared for the medication, I don’t think I’d be via the UEA medical centre. Other active drug and placebo group, and here today”. sources of support include Mind it was found that the active group To gain a medical perspective, (www.mind.org.uk) - a mental health scored significantly lower in sexual Concrete spoke to NHS Psychiatrist Dr charity that can provide support and
"Dr Temple felt it was important to talk openly about sexual functioning and mental health"
information on managing student life, well-being and understanding more about mental health treatment. Most importantly, there is your GP; they will be in the best position to listen and guide you through your options so that you can decide the best way forward.
Photo: Unsplash
