Concrete issue 034 25 May 1994

7 CCS NIGHTMARE

14

Confused by the system?

So are we!

X-CRETE

'BYE FIFERS!

21MARK LAMARR

Farewell to Horsham after all these years ...

He's left The Word.

And he's coming to Norwich!

CENTRE

INTERVIEW

INSIDE: • CAMPUS AND LOCAL NEWS • FEATURES • ENTERTAINMENT • SPORT • LETTERS •

CLASSIFIEDS

• LISTINGS •

FREE

Issue 34: Wednesday, May 25, 1994

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SEE PAGE SEVENTEEN FOR DETAILS

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FEARS OVER UEA SAFETY STUDENTS have expressed fears over their personal safety on the route between campus and the new residences at University Village, wrlte.sMarkA.ustin

For those living in the topspccaccommodation, due to open in September, will have no choice but to use Univeristy Drive, where there are bushes and trees that possible assailants could easily hide behind.

And when asked about how safe they feel walking along the road at night, students voiced reservations.

"I was followed down the Drive on my way home one night'', said one, ''It's badly lit and there are no people or cars around late at night."

"It's not like a normal public road in that respect, and even if person behind you is completely innocent, it's the thought that you might be being followed that is the \Wrst thing." But when asked about the effectiveness of lighting along University Drive, Security Chief Maurice Morson said, "Personal attacks are not something that we have anticipated, but if there is a particular risk then obviously it will be looked at."

He recommended that any person walking at night along the Drive should not do so alone and should seek assistance at the Porter's Lodge if they feel unsafe.

Tberearesecuritycamerasthat cover the road, but as they rotate through 360 degrees and will not be trained on it all the time. However, with up to 700 students having to cross Earlham Road twice a day, there have talks with theCityCouncil to discuss building a crossing.

Qrganisers argue with Union over drinks licence A ROW has broken out between the Law Soc and the Union In the wake of last week's council go-ahead for the Midsummer Ball.

Law Soc Secretary, A.nnabel Kenl

PHOTO: Keilh Whitmore

UEA's Independent Student Newspaper

LawSocpresident,AicxRadford, accused members of the Executive of acting in an 'you scratch my hack and I'll scratch yours' manner over drinks licence applications for this year's event.

He added that the Executive had refused to send a representative to last week's licensing committee meeting at Norwich City Council because the Law Soc had decided not to award the Union a contract to run the bars on the night. .

And his views were shared by Law Soc Secretary, Annabel Kent, who accused the Union of profitecring. ''The Law Society wants to support its members - we've got the cheapest drinks, but the Union just want to make money", she said.

"They only wanted to do the bar at the Law Ball so that they could get the profits, but surely they should

6000 copies every fortnight

By---Niall Hampton support their members." But Union Finance Officer, Lizzie Watson, countered the Law Soc's claims, labelling them "blanket comments."

"We, as the Union, will have no involvement on the night, but if we had done the bars, then we would have got involved", she said.

"I felt that it was inappropriate for a Union Officer to be present at the Council committee meeting if we were not fully aware ofall the events on the night. Yes, there is money to be made, but the Union quoted the Law Soc a realistic price and had the experience of running the bars at the Law Ball before."

•Confusion surrounded the Law Soc earlier this year, after repeated irregularities in their committee elections finally led to intervention from the Executive. But Annabel added, "We've just lost faith in the Union, because when it comes down to something important, they' re not there."

Tel: 0603 250558

2 Concrete, Wednesday, May 25, 1994

Green light for But they will be resolved say officials Law Ball

University respond to Smith's death

CCS POSES PROBLEMS

T HE WEEK following the death of 55 year old Labour Party Leader, John Smi th, has seen saddened cornments from people across the campus, wrires Caroline Ad/em.

Responding to the news of Mr Smith's death from a massive heart attack on May 13, Union Communications Officer, Jacqui Mackay, said "This is a great loss to ou r po litica l system, particu larly as it comes just before the European eleclio ns" .

She added, "I hope that his death won't endanger Labour's chances of winning the next election. I believe that John Smith was an extraordinary leader of the Labour Party."

Meanwhile, speaking as Chair of the Labour Students, John Holmes said "I am shocked because I thought that John Smith would have been the next Prime Minister.

"I believe that Labour will have to work hard now to find the right leader to take his place, as people trusted John Smith." Esther Jillet of SWSS commented that reactions in SWSS to the Labour leader's death had been mixed, but said that all THE COMMON Course Structure agreed they didn ' t want Tony Blair system has brought mixed reactions to succeed him as leader. from students and staff alike, writes Wayne Spencer of the ConservaMark Austin. tive Students spoke of John Smith as Although it is intended to pro"a natura l orator, and the Labour vide more flexibi lity for students in leader with the best chance of winning back power". l-Ie added: " I terms of the content of their debelieve that politics wil be a sadder grees, many feel it is so difficult to understand that they end up hav ing place without him, but I feel that it could heral d a new era in British to do co urses they don't particularly want to. politics, dominated by younger poliSaid o ne EAS student, "They ticians."

•Liberal Democrat Students were should design a step by step proceunavailable for comment. dure that everyone can follow.

'' • •

PHOTO: Keith Whitmore People just don't know where to start."

But the problems range across all school s. ACHE student commented that, "The descriptions of the courses aren't accurate enough", whi le an EUR student stated, "Some of the courses for '95/ '96 aren't available and you don't know which ones are and which aren't, which makes it very difficult to plan ahead."

But in response, a University spokesperson said, "The implemen-

talion has been successful but we recognise that there were teething problems. We have made modifications for '95/ '96."

These are that the teaching week will begin on a Monday rather than on a Thursday, and that the teaching period in the Autumn semester has been brought forward by a week so that the break wi ll start at least a week before Christmas."

Stated Union Academic Officer Annie Hillyer, "There are definite areas for improvement. The ad vis-

ers are definitely being overstretched and many aren't equipped to answer a lot of the questions that students ask. The university should put aside a day devoted to enrolment where all the staff are in their rooms and st udents can go round and talk to them, knowing that they are available."

Reacting to this, the universi ty replied that "It sounds like the kind of idea that we ought to be looking at. If there is a strong demand from students then we have to listen."

THE LAW Ball will go ahead as planned, following the council's granting of a special late night licence, writes Nick Amies.

The decisive round of confrontation over the event came last week, when the Ball's organisers met with the angry residents of West Earl ham last week in council chambers at a meeting of the Licensing Enforcement Committee.

City Council Licensing and Enforcement Officer, lan Streeter, explained that an Occasional Public Entertainments Licence had been applied for and that the residents of Earl ham opposed the runningtimesoftheevent, from6p .m on June 11 unti16a.mthetollowing morning.

But after some discussion, City Hall officials came to a swift decision to pass the application for a licence.

Law President Alex Radford commented afterwards: "Obviously I'm ecstatic. I'm very happy with all the Councillors, they said what they had to say, they took into account what the residents have said and they've given the best result possible. it's going to be the best Law Ball yet!"

Petition Organiser, Mrs Lynne Wright vowed to fight the decision. She said: "it's fair. They said in the we didn't stand a just little people fighting a big tution.•

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Concrete, Wednesday, May 25, 1994

New chancellor for University UEA has appointed a new Chancellor, writes Carollne Ad/em.

A distinguished scientist Sir Geoffrey Alien, FRS will be UEA's fourth Chancellor.

He will assume office at a ceremony on July 61994 when his first duty will be to confer degrees on students at the congregation ceremonies on July7and8.

Sir Geoffrey is currently the executive advisor to the president of Kobe Steel. He is also a former main board member of Unilever In the U.K and the Netherlands.

A fellow of Imperial College and UMIST, SlrGeoffrey holds 12 honorary doctorates of science from British universities.

He told Concrete: "This is a wonderful opportunity to encourage the community of scholars and students a~ UEA to build on the framework and the entreprenerial activities already developed here, and to play a part in taking UEA forward as a leading university into the 21st century".

'Jurassic Park' was discriminatory, says a Manchester academic. . The stars with dark hair were maimed, whilst all those with blonde hair managed

3

Recycling motion

passed AS UEA's new Environment Officer, Josh Busby's first task next year will be to implement the motion on recycling passed bytheMay 12EGMinthesquare,

Ford say they can•t fit life saving three ~oint seat

writes Dominic Scho/field.

belts to older vehicles SEATBELTS will not be fitted in the Union's minibuses, despite the recent spate of tragic accidents, and a crash involving the UEA Hockey team in 1992.

For Concrete 's investigations have revealed that Ford Transit vehicles such as those used by the Union and the one involved in the A59 accident in Yorkshirecannot be fitted with three-point belts.

Ford say buses made before 1991 are not strong enough to accommodate the strain of seat belts and need strengthening before this can be done.

Norwich dealer, Bussey's, confmned this, saying they had to last week turn away a school wanting belts fitted, as it is a virtual impossibility.

"We are currently looking at the situation, and the production of a fixing kit, so that seat belts could be fitted, is under consideration," said a spokesman for the company.

[

Exclusive by Mark Austin

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Ford have fitted belts to all their buses made since 1991, but two of the Union's buses were made before this and do not have belts in the passenger seats.

With a call for legislation making seat belts mandatory in all minibuses being made in Parliament, Ford recognise that something has to be done urgently.

However, they have warned that people have to "exercise caution against rushing out and fitting belts" to vehicles made before the crucial 1991 date, as this could present an even greater risk to passengers, due to the vehicle not being able to stand the greater stress resulting from the belts.

Said Union Communications Officer,JacquiMackay, "The Union's policy is that all buses bought from now on will be fitted with seat belts."

PHOTO: Keith Whitmore

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The motion, which mandates the Union Executive to negotiate with the university on recycling and environmental responsibility, was passed unanimously, and was unopposed.

It was drafted on the basis of a study carried out by Josh Busby and other members of the Society for Environmental Action.

They point out that the University's figures show that UEA spends £65,000peryearon waste disposal, and that at least£ 14,000 of this could be saved by more effective recycling.

Of particular concern is the vast quantity of high quality office paper wasted by various departments, most of which has high resale value.

The motion passed also pointed out the hypocrisy of a university that promotes itself on the basis of its environmental research and yet has no coherent environmental policy.

It therefore mandates the Union to extend its negotiations beyond recycling,and to open debate on wider issues such as ethical purchasing policy, seekingtobasethisdebateonaGreen Manifesto developed by SEA for the University.

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Concrete , Wednesday, May 25, 1994

Non Sabbs elected ,.....--By---Adam Bowden ELECTIONS took place last week to appoint the non-Sabbatical officers who wi ll sit on the I 994/5 Executive Committee.

The seven positions for election were; Community and International Officer(Lara Woolford);Ciubsand Societies Officer (lames Tansey); Environment Officer(Josh Busby); Internal Affairs Officer (Dave Manningham); Publicity Officer; NUS Officer(Greg Price )and Sports Officer(Aiex Bainbridge).

An Internal Sports Officer was also elected although this is not an Executive post.

The newly elected non-Sabbaticals will essentially work within their respective portfolios.

JoshBusby... votedinasEnvironmental Officerfor 199415

STUDE VOTES IN HISTORIC ELECTION Easter vacation extended so Nonto Beko can vote for first time in South Africa

Greg Price ... voted in as NUS Area Officer for 1994/5 Sitting on the Executive Committee they will have to ensure that the Sabbatical Officers are held responsible for decisions made at Management Committee level.

In addition the elected will be required to report to Forum and UGM 'sand generally work for the benefit of students on a daily basis. lames Tansey, newly elected Clubs and Societies Officer told Concrete, " l hope to minimise the damage to SocMart following the University's cancelling of it next year.

I also feel there is a need for a specific policy regarding Wednesday afternoons."

• Other posts were also up for election, incl uding LGB Officer, but they are not covered by the crosscampus ballot system.

A STUDENT from UEA returned to her native South Africa last month to take part in the country's historic vote, writes Jo Stubbington.

Ms Jacqui Freeman and Ms Esther Jillet Concrete would like to make it clear that whilst Ms Jacqui Freeman and Ms Esther Ji llet were amongst a group of protesters at the NUS Confe rence ('UEA's Union Slams Conference Hecklers'), they were not involved in action that included heckling ANC and Stonewall speakers, verbally and physically abusing sta!T and delegates, or damaging a wheelchair.

Non to Beko ... now back at UEA

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Nonto Beko Qangule-Mafu,a third year DEV student, was granted permission fro m the University to extend her Easter vacation visit to her home town of Randburg, so that she could take part in the polling.

A landslide victory for the ANC saw Nelson Mande la sworn in as President.

Non to Beko toldConcrete, "We live in Randburg which is north of Johannesburg. We looked around to see which polling station had a re latively short queue.

"There were about eleven in Randburg and the shortest we could fi nd was in Sharonlee. " We were in the queue from 11.30am and we didn't cast our

vote until seven in the evening."

Nonto Beko had to return to England before the results of the vote were announced but has kept in touch with the country's events.

"It wasn't tense because I think it was apparent to everybody that the ANC would get a majori ty," she said.

"Everybody was very excited, but after the M on day whe n Mandela was sworn in as President things went back to normal."

"As for the future, I know that there wi ll be problems in terms of the economy, which is not at its best at the moment. " We've got unemployment problems, a high rate of crime and violence and the main problem is that peoples expectations are high." And she added, "The portant thing is that everybody hoping for the best.

"Everybody is very positive ."

Concrete, Wednesday, May 25, 1994

Graduate Studeids Association

FRENCH KISSING IN THE GSA

FOLLOWING the article 'An InTents Experience' which appeared in the last issue of Concrete, the Careers Centre has been inundated with enquiries about the EFCO project.

The EC based scheme offers students with an interest in tourism the opportunity to work abroad in European holiday parks this summer.

Successful applicants will be matched to the most suitable of the hundreds of participating holiday parks from twelve European countries.

Unfortunately we forgot to print the address to write to for an application form . It is: EFCO Exchange Project Cllichester House 6 Pullman Court Great Western Rd. GloucesterGL13ND. Concrete would like to apologise for any inconvenience the omission may have caused.

The French evening that was held in the Grads last Friday was excellent fun for all involved. There was a wide range of smelly cheeses, good wine and dodgy French music. A large concentration of French nationals meant that if you closed your eyes you could almost be transported to a bar in Paris. Depending on how much you had to drink of course. Fresh from their fashion show debut the 'French Hot Peppers' were much in evidence on the dance floor, along with many other boppers. Thanks to Thierry, Philippe, Stephane, Thierry, Matthieu and Paul for their organisation and hard work.

.ANNUAL 5-A-SIDE FOOTBALL COMPETITION

noticeboard in the bar .

This will take place on-the afternoon of Sunday 12th June on the astroturf sports pitch. All teams must include at least two women as this is a mixed event. There will be prizes for the best team so get your kit on! If you are not feeling sporty come and supporty. lfyoufeellike a spot of cheerleading all teams must include at least two men!! Look out for further details on the

please sign your name on the entry form that will shortly be put up on the grad bar notice board. We need to know how many people are interested in this so sign up quickly please. There will be prizes galore.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN A CHESS COMPETITION,

WIN A FREE FLIGHT TO NEW YORK STACHANOVITE FOUND IN BAR! ALTHOUGH living on campus Is often acknowledged as being a bit of a drag, anyone living in residences this week be jumping for joy, as have an exclusive chance to win a free flight to New York. lt works like this: with this

issue of Concrete, anyone living in any campus residence should have received a questionnaire, puttogether by NUS Ents in association with Levis and the Terrence Higgins Trust. Anyone who bothers to fill in the survey and return it (no stamp is needed) will

receive free dog tags courtesy of Levis, and all completed forms will go into a grand draw to win the flight.

See the leaflet for more details. •Please notethatthis survey is being distributed to other universities in the country.

GSA President Tony 'pedantic' Burton has at last found a dictionary that contains the word stachanovitel Naturally everybody is thrilled, none more so than Tony who has laboured long and hard to persaude everybody that he had not made this word up. A prize at the bar for the first person to arrive with the correct definition. Tony excluded.

Thts section is wntten and patd for by The Graduate Students Association

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Concrete, Wednesday, May 25 , 1994

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• ---By--Jo Stubbington THE 'TREND Guide For Hig h Summer '94' has been issued

by Topshop/Topman , which , they cla im , is guaranteed to keep dedicated style gurus one step ahead.

t • • '-· •

The sporty look comes sprinting into fas hion with jersey leggings, cropped vests and stretch skirts in pev.'ter and sugary pastels for her and joggers and v-neck T-shirts for him .

The ever popular Adidas hats and trainers complete the look, with shoes from the 'Dead Basic ' range in silver, red , blue and black.

The active feel is maintained in the 'beachgames' collection where anything skimpy goes with colours ranging from shimmering silver to sea brights with tight , cute T -shirts the order of the day .

Boys, they say, muscle around in Topman' s ramie wai stcoats , worn bare-chested v. ith loose fittingjeans, or with a pair of jams!

Loose pyjama pants or kneelength shorts in multi-colourwoven

stripes or bright checks are also teamed with plain or subtly striped grandad shirts.

Eco logy plays a large part in the Topshopffopman summe r collection with a definite trend towards

neutral shades and bright wh ites, ''hich are l ayer~d '" ith ti~ - dyc effect s and noaty layers.

Modestly priced, the collection has great basics that can mix and match '"ith the latest essentials to

make an o utfit for every A ltenative ly a pair of Dad's old pyjamas and half a bikini (it doe sn't really matter which ha! f) will probably have the same effect!

Whit bread TAKE OFF WITH announces CHEAP AIRFARES awards

COURTESY OF SPECIAL STUDENT DISCOUNT CARD

GOING on holiday should be 'plane' sailing for holders of a special airfare discount card .

---By----.

NickAmies

The new membership package for Under 26 card holders offers the chance of special low cost ai rfa res to hundreds of destinations world wide.

Other di sco unts offered include money off trave l equip ment, a 24 hour travellers helpli ne and reductions and concessio nary rates on O\cr 200,000 goods, services and places to visi t both at home and with in part ic ipating countries.

And the Under 26 travellers

hc lpli ne will prov ide 24 hour advice and emerge ncy ass istance services, access ible fro m anywhere in the world .

The unique card costs £6 and that includes a free Micro Directory whi ch lists all participating services, stores, clubs. museums etc . in the U.K. • Both are available from specialist student and yo uth travel agencies, or call Campus Travel on 07 1 8235363 for more details.

THE TWELFTH Whitbread Volunteer Action Awards were again launched in May this year , offering category awardsof£1 ,000tovolunteers and groups for their work in the community, writes Jul. Cunliffe.

A further £1 ,000 is to be awarded to the overall winner. The scheme, backed by the Volunteer Centre UK aims to provide recognition to the tireless efforts and dedica tion of young people and groups (up to the age of25) for their outstanding yet often unnoticed contributions to good and needy causes in the community.

Last year, award winners included a group who had transformed derelict land and a 20 year old volunteer for his work with young people ad dicted to drugs.

The deadline for entries fo r this year is September 231994.

Nominations to be obtained by writing to: Whitbread Vol unteer Action Awards , Freepost, LOL 1936, Luton , Beds, LU1 3YR, or phon ing (0582) 397759.

• For further information contact either Ph ili ppa Bevan, Carolyn Rose or Gail Dibble on (0272) 292311 .

Concrete, Wednesday, May 25, 1994

DOYOUHAVEA STORY FOR 'X-CRETE'? IF SO, WRITE TO THE EDITOR AT 'CONCRETE', UEA.

BOWLED OVER BY FOUNDERS GREEN

AIV ALTERNATIVE VIEIIV OF CA/V/PUS LIFE

I I

You could just imagine it, "Yes, well this course in Molecular Enzymology will cost you the grand total of £455 .57, but never fear, we'll lend you the money at a nice cheap rate of interest... just pay it back when you start earning over £49a week."

A closer inspection reveals all the usual UEA acronyms, indecipherable codes, percentages and credit scores (What' s this? Nat West's mortgage almanac?).

And don 't forget that old chestnut, the ' Timetable Slotting System '.

This is completely mental, and not the sort of thing you sit down and try to understand whilst sitting in front of ' Eastenders' .

Chances are you' d strangle the nearest person to you.

But never fear, choosing courses just couldn' t be easier.

Find something that you like the sound of, work out whether it's restricted (they usually are), but don' t worry about clashes ' cos it' ll probably make the Registry computer crash.

When you ' ve done that, have a look who ' s teaching it (but don 't worry, they' ll probably have left by September due to cost-cutting) and, most importantly, HOW IT'S BEINGASSESSED. As a general rule of the thumb, avoid courses where the coursework element is any less than I 00 per cent.

And wouldn't it be nice if they included a little 'doss factor ' category, - whether the exam board is

goingtobeSOC,FAS, LA W, WAM, 810 or perhaps, more easily for most students, the LCR or The Hive - with a score out of ten, for example.

So then the CCS course profiles could read something like this: Title, School, Organiser, Assessment, 1994-5 status, Coursework, UCU, Doss Factor, Slot, Exam Board, Reserved for Course Codes ...

Much better - what an improvement all round. · Finally, takeyourcompletedfonn - hope you haven 't forgotten to choose 20creditsfromoptionsrange A, 20 creditsfrom options range B, 40 creditsfrom options range Cas long as it meets the requirements of your degree and has been approved by your course director who's always in his office and never has long lunches in the Sainsbury Centre or whosimplydisappearsintheGolden Triangle for extended periods of time, and 40creditsfromfreechoice, as long as you 've approved them with faculty and have worked out that they 'I/ fonn a coherent minor and won't clash with anything else so help me God- to your adviser, who '1/mostlikelyte//youthatthey're all hopelessly incompatible with your degree programme.

And when you ' ve sorted that out -which'll probablytakethreeweeks, you ' ll remember that essay that should have been given in at the end of Week 12, so it doesn't really matter about next year at all .. .

Thanks UEA. Long live the CCS. We love it.

Honest.

STUDENTS hoping to launch UEA's first ever Bowls Club have received an unexpected setback from the University.

For the area near the Registry they thought had been laid on for them has in fact been christened 'Founders Green', and not 'Bowling Green' as originally hoped.

This is supposedly to reflect the founding spirit of the University, according to a silver plaque erected next to it (and like the latest prospectus, probably sponsored by Bacofoil). But quite how you can connect a half-hearted attempt at a sunken garden for the spirit of an academic institution is beyond us at X-Crete.

Suppose it's just UEA doing different.

Again.

Why doesn't the book contain a 'doss factor' guide to courses?

ONE of the major joys of the beloved Common Course Structure is that Registry chiefs have an uncanny knack of asking students to fill enrolment forms when they've simply got nothing better to do. .

As if.

For last week was the deadline for coursework to be completed before UEA launches itselfinto exam overdrive mode. happy time of year sees the 'er~tmrned to capacity, books all out on loan, PCs woefully in demand and all that UEA can do is to ask students to make the decisions on next year' s courses.

Thanks for the consideration, and thanks so much for making the CCS, well, so user friendly.

Not. Because it 's not just the case that students fmd it akin to a Times crossword on speed, it's that most advisers find it a nightmare as well.

Consequently, trying to even think about poring through CCS brochures isn' t the sort of thing that you 'd want your worst enemy to go through.

Look at the bufTbook, cunningly entitled ' Course Catalogue for 199495 : Volume 1'.

You mean there ' s more?

More than 246 pages of complete*@&*!

It's like a mail order catalogue without the gormless models, useless household appliances and tacky clothes, but if the Government had anything to do with it, there ' d probably be prices next to the courses as well ...

7

es lues 31 ckets from oundclash, Shop, UEA Union,

Andys, City T.unua 0603 505401"

r

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Concrete, Wednesday, May 25, 1994

Letters & 路Clossifleds

concrete 0603 250558 University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ Publisher: Stephen Howard Editor: Peter Hart Deputy Editor: Niall Hampton Assistant Editor: Joanna Stubbington Sports Editor: Stephen Hawkes Film & Listings Editor: Caroline Jenkinson T\1, Video & Radio Editor: Miche!le du Randt Picture Editor: Keith Whitmore Advertising Manager: Simon Mann Chief Photographer: Mark Turner Editorial Contributors: Carolina Adlem, Mark Austin, Julie Cunliffe, Carolina Adlem, Nick Amies, Dominic Scholfield, Adam Bowden, Julie Drewitt, Tim Walker, Steven Stone, Robin Powell, Binoy Dharsi, Suzi Fenn, Seth Levine Proof Readers: Tony Lansdowne, Alastair Cushion Technical Advisor: Neil Bamden Special thanks to: UH Stewards & Mogwai

Copyright (C) 1994 Planet Zog Ltd

Concrete Is published Independently at UEA. Opinions expressed are those of the Contributor and not necessarily those of the Publisher or Editor.

Printed by Eastern Counties Newspapers, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich Concrete Is printed on recycled paper using biodegradable inks

FEEL LIKE YOU DON'T FIT IN?

Concrete welcomes your letters on any subject. Whether it is something we've written about and you want to take issue with, or you simply want to make a point, we want to hear from you. So why not drop us a line?

The address is simply 'Concrete', UEA, Norwich. Anonymity will be respected but you must include your name and address in the first instance.

EGYPT IS SAFER THAN YOU SPHINX M

Y objective in writing this let ter is to di !fuse the myth sur rounding the notion that Egypt is no longer a safe country to visit.

Indeed I felt rather overwhelmed when an American friend expressed reluctance to accept a friendly invitation to visit Egypt for fear of being victim to terrorist attacks.

I'd like to say emphatically that this is a total misrepresentation of our country. I'm sure anyone who has had the opportunity to visit Egypt would agree with me that it is a beautiful country rich in both ancient and modern history.

As a matter of interest, Egypt is the Arab Republic of East Africa.

It lies at the meeting point of Asia and Africa; its area is about 1,OOO,OOOsq.k; the population is about 58 million.

Egypt has always maintained its own distinct identity. It has one of the oldest and the greatest civilisations in the world.

Its soil is rich and fertile and some of its manufactured products include cotton, ceramics and handicrafts.

The standard of education is very high compared to many developing countries.

We have several large universities, very good secondary schools and colleges; also primary schools are of a very high standard.

The population is predominantly Islamic and about 20 per-

8PM-8AM EVERY NIGHT CONFIDENTIAL, NON-JUDGEMENTAL, STUDENT SUPPORT & INFORMATION SERVICE Norfolk Terrace C03-12 Ground Floor, Private Entrance From Road

cent are Coptic Christians. Both religious sects cohabit in peace and harmony thanks to the astute and dynamic leadership of our Beloved President Mohamed Hosny Mubarak who exerts con-

A DISAPPOINTING TURNOUT AT MARCH We are writing to express concern that only a disappointing 17 people from a student population of 7000 represented UEA at the NUS protest march against the grant cuts in London.

PHONE 503504

Above: Land of Eastern Promise! Right: Sa mmy Lotfy Salama

Fantasy island?

T

he ultimate nightmare, you're on an island, the only reading matter you have is a UEA catalogue.

Ten years go by, and you still don't understand it.

Tony Crush, EUR 1

Not only was the turnout embarrassingly low, but notable by their absence were the Union Exec. of whom not one was present Perhaps this is due to the minimal amount of publicity the march received around campus.

We understand that the NUS waited 5 months to call a national protest, that the march was indeed cancelled at least once and was eventually organised close to exam time.

However, writing as two students whose grants will be axed by 10% next year, we do feel that for the Tory grant cuts to be beaten, a much larger UEA voice needs to be heard at every national demonstrati on.

S Ri/ey WAM I S Robson EUR 11

siderable efforts in creating unity amongst all the factions of Egyptian society.

Our standard of living is by all means satisfactory.

Our domestic policy is geared towards self reliance and innovation in terms of modern science and technology - a crucial factor in the formation and development of our country.

Egypt has a glorious history and a promising future!

Its peoples are known for their warmth and their hospitality towards foreigners.

For most people, a single visit to Egypt is never sufficient; they always return for a second experience.

You are therefore welcome to visit Egypt and see for yourselves.

I'd 1i ke to express greatest thanks and best wishes to professors and staff in the school of Education on behalf of all Egyptian students at UEA for their support and warm compliments vis-a-vis all Egyptians at UEA. A big thankyou also to the editor and staff of the UEA newspaper 'Concrete', for without their cooperation, the humble Egyptian viewpoint would

remain unheard.

We are enjoying our stay in the United Kingdom, and hope to learn more about the way of life in England. The chaplaincy staff are generous in communication and immensely supportive.

We are also grateful to the Students Union, the Resource Centre and the UEA Library staff.

I thank you once again for the kindness and generosity shown to us and hope that the fraternity between England and Egypt will grow forever!

I wish you a happy stay in Egypt if you do come!!

Sammy Lotfy Salama, Representative of Egyptian Students at UEA

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c:e

The latest news from your Student Union. Issue Twelve, Semester Two, 1994

We exist to serve our members by maintaining a safe, positive and non-discriminatory environment where we aim to: ebe the principle body informing and seeking students' views on matters of interest; raising consciousness, campaigning on their behalf and representing their views both within the University and wider community; •foster a sense of community by contributing to and enhancing the social, intellectual, cultural and sporting life of the University; epublicise ourselves to and strengthen our contacts and reputation with the local and wider community; •enhance their educational experience by supporting a wide variety of extra curricular activities (both within and external to the Union) and develop their range of transferable skills; eprovide complementary support services to those of the University for our members encountering difficulties and take appropriate action to resolve and prevent their problems arising in the future; •develop our non-commercial and commercial activities, as appropriate, to meet the changing requirements of students, technological and other developments; •expand our market base of non-students for the benefit of students whilst ensuring our ability to maintain and develop existing services, and also ensuring that current and future students' needs are not jeopardised.

'Cement' is written and compiled entirely by the Students Union. lt appears here by commercial arrangement with Concrete

I

10 Concrete, Wednesday, May 25, 1994

'Features

h

'

.. ~

'Galliano' have returned with a new album and a new line up after more than 2 years away. Mark Austit}~ talks to lead vocalist, Valerie Etienne

B

e prepared for some more joyful noise from all quarters.

Galliano have returned with a new album, a new tour and a new outlook. It's been two and a halfJ. s in the offing, during which they've taken time . out and worked out the next step.

I""~ The make-up of the group has \ changed in the meantime, with the departure of the energetic Brother Constantine, the master of the oneliner.

To more than compensate, they've gained the soaring vocals and song writing talents of Valeric Etienne.

Since their last album "A Joyfu l Nois.: Unto The Creator", the band have spent the majority of their time touring and from May '92 to July '93 they played a total of 82 gigs which were 97 per cent sold out.

It's a long way from the time when Galliano was one man and a notepad dropping lyrics live at Babylon and Dingwall 's in th e sum mer of 1988.

A hard working approach to touring has resulted in the build up of a large and devoted live following- a fact that has, however, not meant a corresponding crossover into chart success.

For a band with so much obvious talent and potential, it is taking Galliano a long time to get the message across commerciall y.

Hit singles aren't somet hing they're desperate fo r though, although they would be nice.

Anyone who has seen Galliano live will know what it is that drives them.

"We love touring," enthuses have a following of people who see Valeric. us live."

"Basically because we don't make Their new tour is called "Troddin singles. We try, but it 's really hard to '94 (Any time , Anyplace, Anyput music into a compact three minwhere)" which simply means 'goutes and we always make seven ing.' minute singles with long monologues " lt 'sjust a word that Rob uses all and stuff. But touring is very impor- the time and we were just sitting in tant to us. the studio thinking what we should "It's how we got our following call the tour, and we came up with because we ' ve never had a hit and I "Troddin - Anytime, Anyplace, think that's why our record company Anywhere"- like in the Martini advert. is still hanging in there- because we

,..,.

I

of UEA•s 7500 students read 'Concrete'

THANKYOU! STILL FREE OF CHARGE

That's how it came about rea~.

It just means trodding the land walking around."

On hearing the new si ngle and album, you may well notice a change in the sound ofGalliano.

For the first time the band claim to be near to capturing that elusive Galliano sound on vinyl.

They brought in A dam Mosely to produce the new album, on the recommendation ofGilles Petersen.

It's the first time they've had a proper producer rather than someone who is a friend of theirs doing it.

According to Valeric : "That has made a difference and also, there was a lot of time and concentration put on the sound of the guitar and the drums and things, before we started recording."

The artwork has also changed since the last album.

"It's just a conscious thing, a change really.

It's a new direction.

The artwork is Celtic based with an Arabic lilt to it as well.

This came from a book that Rob had of Cel tic drawings and we joined them together with Arabic flashes and came up with the logo."

As she explains, the title of the new album, "The Plot Thickens", is "just and Englishism really.

It's the kind of thing you can imagine in a murder mystery - 'A ha, the plot thickens' ".

The change of direction with the new music hasn't come out of the blue.

Wh ile they've been on the road in the past couple of years, the band have been listening to a wide range of musical styles, which has meant an expansion in thei r musical tastes.

These influences are expressed in the new music.

"I think people expected us to do the same old thing as the last few

years and basically we needed a change.

We could easily have done a rap album full of samples with lots of 'oohs' and 'ahs' in the background, but we wanted to reflect what we've been getting into."

However, Valeric is quick to point out that this does not mean that the role and purpose of the music has changed at all. " Music is a powerful medium", she says.

"You can convey a lot of emotions and you can tell people a lot, and people get so many things from it, especially as Rob is the main writer and he doesn't write completely from a personal point of view. he encompasses all the things that arc happening ar.ound him as well."

The new single "Long Time Gone" is a cover of an old Crosby, Stills and Nash song, and is "quite apt in this day and age. " "It was written about 28 years ago, and I don't know what David Crosby

The song says 'They say save the children, but we're getti ng kid of old now ' and when David Crosby wrote that, we were the children and now we' re carrying on the message."

As anyone will know who caught Galliano the last time they played at UEA, fun seems to be a primary part of Galliano 's make-up, but Valeric is keen to dispel ideas that it 's in any way a conscious thing.

"We have fun , we enjoy it, therefore it just comes across to the audience.

We get just as excited and think 'What's Snafe gonna wear, how's he going to end a song.' We watch him in the way you watch us.

That's where the humour comes from - it's a natural thing.

We like to have fun- why not?"

Never ones to follow trends when there are new ones to be set, Galliano have changed with the times.

The explosion of the 'Acid Jazz' scene over the last five years has meant the term being stretched ever

"'Acid Jazz' is just a term that the media put above bands like us as a banner. I fin d it really difficult to say that we are Acid Jazz, because I don't know what Acid Jazz is." - Valerie Etienne, Gal/iano was writing about, but at the time he wrote it I presume it was to do with the war in Vietnam, the race riots and that kind of thing.

"All these things are relevant now.

wider to include bands from The Brand New Heavies to Corduroy.

The result has been the creation of a labelled section of music which has been plastered over bands who

are fundamentally different.

Whatever others may say, Galliano don't see themselves being contained in this bracket.

"I think we're moving away from a labelled, pocketed type of music.

We never thought of ourselves as 'Acid Jazz' - it was just a term.

It was something that Gillcs Petersen came up with way back in l987,just as a joke.

When Rob and Gilles recorded "Fredcrick Lies Still" way back then, acid house was a big thing, and Gilles suggested why not put Acid Jazz in the middle of the record label.

"From then on, it's been really difficult to define what 'Acid Jazz . is. I don't know what it is! lt 'sj ust a term that the media put above bands like us as a banner. I find it really difficult to say that we ' re Acid Jazz, because l don't know what Acid Jazz is."

This is all part and parcel of Galliano 's process of creation and maturation.

Valeric is hopeful of what the future holds for the band :"I think this is the beginning of a hopefully new sound, and I think we're getting better at what we ' re doing.

This album reflects that we 're getting better at making music and hopefully, in two or three albums time, we'll have a really classicalbum that we can put on the shelf and say ' Yeah , that is '96, isn't that great?'

"I really like this album.

I'm really interested to see what people think of it actually. It 's a new so und and a new beginning for Galliano - we're starting again really." • Catch Galliano live at UEA's LCR on Friday May 27, tickets are available from the usual outlets, including the Union House Finance Office. priced £9.50 in advance.

Concrete, Wednesday, May 25, 1994

11

Features

••• ••

Going Red in Europe Labour Euro-MEP candidate Clive Needle launched his election campaign with a visit to UEA last wee~. Interview by Nia/1 Hampton by launch Labour's campaign for tbe Norfolk South MEP seat at UEA?

W

" We ' ve actually started our campaign here at UEA because we feel that the elections really ought to interest young people.

I've been up here many times before and we' ve found the level of understanding and appreciation of European issues much higher here than it is in the country as a whole.

Obviously a lot of young people at university are looking towards the future and are taking up some of the job schemes.

And now that Europe has a role to play in education issues, it's even more important for young people. The main priorities we' ll be talking about in this campaign are very much things that should interest young people.

There are three things that we' ll be thrashing out - about jobs, creating new opportunities and improving training, about rights, which will concern increasing opportunities for women, for people, for disabled people, ethnic minorities and people at work, and about environmental issues. It's the trite thing to say that pollution knows no boundaries, but often when I'm giving examples to members of the public about how Europe works, we ' re getting into debates about where decisions should be taken.

Environmental issues are the obvious ones to bring up to say that you cannot deal with them purely on a local or national basis.

You need to think in an international or global context.

And so there, the European parliament really has been leading the way. We've started the campaign this morning and we've got with us one of our front-benchers, Smith MP, our spokesman European economic issues.

For now that the local elections are out of the way, we're into the campaign proper."

So bow crucial will Labour's performance in the local elections be in deciding tbe Eurovote? " Because we were defending such a high point from four years ago, we were concerned to ensure that we retained at least our share of the vote. But in fact, we' ve actually increased it and the results were far better than before.

We took 29 of the 50 seats in Norfolk and in the country as a whole, we won more council seats

than the other two parties put together.

In Norfolk, we got over 50 per cent of the vote in Norwich, over 50 per cent of the vote in Yarmouth, and only fractionally under 50 per cent for Norfolk as a whole.

So this really confirms what we've been saying all along, that we're in the driving seat and it's going to be a two horse race between us and the Tories to win the Norfolk Euro-seats."

Do you see a possible correlation between tbe local results and the Euro results?

"Yes, I think a lot of people will vote according to the national results.

They'll be delivering a verdict on the Government's performance as much as anything else - clearly that 's what they did the other night, and I think a lot of people will be doing it again.

But it's a bigger test this time, because half the people in Norfolk didn't get a chance to vote in the council elections, so they' re still waiting to give their verdict.

And we' ve got evidence that their views are going to be the same. The other point about it is

that the tumouts in European elections are almost exactly the same as they are in council elections, so it's more relevant to compare them than to compare those of a General Election, because it's fought on a very different basis."

What are your personal views on Europe?

"It's one of positive criticism, for I believe that there are a number of things that we want to change in Europe - we certainly want to open it up.

The whole notion of democracy and accountability is fundamental to our campaign.

We want more of a local vested interest and not one conducted behind closed doors in the Commission of the Council of Ministers, so that MEPs are truly accountable and have the right, for example, to initiate legislation rather than act as watchdogs for legislation coming from other sources.

Then people will get the sort of information about what's been done in their name. But we are very much a leading party - Labour is far and away the largest political party in the European parliament.

&~OOADlE~i•

We've already got45 MEPs, the Conservatives 32, and the Lib Dems don ' t have any at the moment. So, in terms of what we can do in the European Parliament, we' re very much leading the way, and assuming that she gets reelected, we're hoping that Pauline Green, who leads the Labour MEPs, will then become the leader of the Socialist group- in turn the largest of all the political groupings in the European Parliament: Then we'll be right at the heart of leading the European Parliament for the next five years.

There's an enormous amount we can do in it, and it's in that positive spirit of what we want to do, we can really lead the way in the Parliament, set the agenda through there and make sure that it's a Europe not just aimed at farmers and businessmen but to really swing it so that it's a Europe aimed at ordinary people.

"That's the thrust of our campaign."

•Voting in the European Parliament elections takes place on.

Thurdsay June 9.

•Shortly after this feature was preJ?ared, we learned of the tragic and untimely death of Labour Party leader, John Smith.

••• •• ••• ••

•• •• •••

SAT 28 MAY £3.50 9-f.30 : I

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12 Concrete, Wednesday, May 25, 1994

Features

•

-- ra1n W

ith the British economy showing little sign of emerging from its present stagnant state, employment opportunities for graduates in the UK look increasingly bleak.

Combined with the massive increase in student numbers, a degree is no longer the passport to job security that it once was.

Even if the economy recovers from the current slump, it is unlikely ever to match the boom proportions of the 80's.

It is therefore not surprising that so many graduates arc looking to job markets further afield to gain experience or to establish a new life.

Europe's economic problems and America's strict policy on foreign employment make these severely restricted markets.

And in the current climate of 'world' recession, many people are looking towards Asia as the new land of opportunity.

Probably most reflective of this phenomenon is Hong Kong.

Situated on the door-step of potentially the biggest market in the world, Hong Kong is a veritable magnet for ambitious, young job hunters.

Each Saturday, The South China Morning Post (Hong Kong's lead-

•

ra1n

In the late 1980s, many high-fliers deserted Britain for Hong Kong to find their promised land. And, as Seth Levine reports, there are still many opportunities for the increasing amounts of graduates forced to leave these shores by poor career prospects

ing English language newspaper) carries a classified employment section equivalent to the size of the Sunday Times.

Whilst there are problems created by the language barrier, there

are still plenty of multi-national firms willing to employ eager graduates.

This is especially true in the huge media and communications industries in Hong Kong.

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English is still the primary business language throughout Asia, and as such, is considered desirable by the emerging middle-class.

This has lead to a need for native English speakers in education, the media, finance, technology and the building trades.

The eighties acronym 'FILTH' (Failed In London, Try Hong Kong) has become increasingly poignant as people bypass Britain altogether in search of a new promised land.

And the attractions of working in a city-state such as Hong Kong are obvious.

There are no bureaucratic obstacles for British citizens, who can obtain work without a permit.

Incentives in terms of pay- particularly for those recruited from overseas on so-called 'ex-pat terms' - are far in excess of what one with similar qualifications and experience in the UK may expect.

For a relatively inexperienced person may gain experience that would not be possible in their home country.

Add to this a standard of living envied anywhere in the world, and it is easy to see the lure of Hong Kong.

There are, however, some serious drawbacks.

Hong Kong is possibly the most concentrated bastion of capitalism Jell on Earth.

Those of a moral disposition, or anybody who felt a slight sense of revulsion towards eighties London, may do well to avoid it.

The prosperity of Hong Kong is omni-present, manifesting itself in a proliferation of iconoclastic objects such as mobile phones and electronic pagers- Hong Kong was the first city in the world which extended its mobile phone network to include the underground train network, such is the city's reliance on electronic gadgetry.

And if the cliche that money

talks is true, then in Hong Kong, it is positively articulate.

This aftluence, however, must be put into context.

Compared to much of Asia, Hong Kong does have a very high standard of living, but it also suffers from squalor and social deprivation.

The towering offices of Central and the roof-gardened glamour of The Peak and Mid-Levels belie the urban nightmare of areas such as Sham Shui Po, reputed to be the most populated area on Earth, where crime and prostitution are rife.

Whilst many ex-pats seem content to live in affiuent isolation on Hong Kong Island, it is difficult not to be affected by a sense of guilt, and the aggressively modem aesthetic that Hong Kong presents to new arrivals makes the culture shock that much greater.

With its abundant signs of Westem influence, !Tom fast food chains to luxury cars, it is easy to forget

Tempting, isn't it?!

that 98 per cent of Hong Kong's population is Chinese, putting certain aspects of Hong Kong society into perspective.

Despite the fact that the native English speaking members of the archipelago account for less than one per cent of the population, Hong Kong law is still administered in English by English speaking barristers and presided over by English spcakingjudges.

The same situation may be found in other areas, where jobs which may be seen as rightfully belonging to Hong Kong Chinese are held by ex-pats.

In an attempt to rectifY this situation, a drive has been made by the Hong Kong government and big business to 'localise' -namely to replace foreign workers with Hong Kong Chinese.

But this seems to be having little effect at present, although it remains to be seen how the imminent return of the colony to China in 1997 will affect the situation.

Yet despite these problems, many more graduates will undoubtedly be drawn to Hong Kong over the next few years.

The city is probably one of the most impressive in the world.

Having risen in the shadow of the oppressive regime only thirty miles away, its achievements are all the more remarkable.

Although the change of sovereignty in 1997 may right many of the wrongs inflicted by the British Government on Hong Kong, most Hong Kong Chinese would probably forsake democracy or a change of Government to preserve Hong Kong in its present state.

It is unlikely that the Chinese Government will inhibit the Hong Kong economy, as it is attempting to create similar cities over the border with the use of Special Autono• mous Zones such as Shenzen.

But until 1997, the opportunities for ex-pats in Hong Kong will remain, and those willing to brave the humidity will undoubtedly be rewarded.

A

year ago a group consisting of a dozen performers and teachers in the field ofNew Circus and Circus Theatre had an idea.

This was to establish a per· manent building in Norwich for the development and performance ofcircus skills and related arts; to be used as a training resource and performance plat· form for the region, county and even the country. And the Centre has grown from this initial thought into "thousands of hours of training enjoyed by hundreds of people."

Its success is based on the high level of tuition provided, for example, acrobatics tutor Mark Digby, and the low prices of the sessions- enabling a wide attendance from the commu· nity.

I attended the general Circus Skills Workshop, hold on Sundays between 2.30pm and 5.30pm, which will burn just a £2 hole (£1 concessions) in your pocket.

Oo arrival I was approached and informed of what was happening in each part of the modernised church. _ _ These workshops are open r anyone to wander into to earn and develop the arts of New Circus • which differs from the traditional circus in that the people involved do not work with animals and do not come from circus families.

In the becalming ambience of the centre, everyone is encouraged to progress at their own pace.

Thankfully, no-one has to sit down and be lectured to.

As a novice at juggling I was given a few hints to master the skill by lengthening my throws and concentrating on a twothrow movement.

Others, who were ready, ~re shown a few tricks they could be left to practise.

The Centre has already established a need and desire for a circus-training facility and has stimulated interest from the community.

Suzi Fenn spends an afternoon at Norwich's newly-launched Circus Centre Groups and individuals have the opportunity to practise and rehearse the skills they have learned and also to learn from others who have been to the Centre.

When I was trying to learn diabolo, I found that people both older and younger were

giving tips about tricks and skills they had already learned.

In the circus, age does not seem to be a classification in ability or achievement as it often is in other activities.

One seven year old boy at the centre has progressed from coordination problems to being a

four-ball 'star' juggler.

Although I only attended the general circus skills session which included activities such as unicycling, diabolo,juggling, staff-turning and plate-spinning, the Centre has also staged other events.

For example, there have re·

cently been successful trapeze, acrobatics and mime work· shops.

The Centre is completely open to new ideas and so long as an interest is created, will allow other sessions to be held.

This was demonstrated by a recent workshop featuring Pe-

PROCESSING

king Opera techniques, set up

by Sarah, who taught me staff· turning.

She found a curiosity for the subject and organised the event successfully.

After staging over 200 work· shops, the Circus Centre has just received confumation that it may use a church located near to the Norwich Arts Centre.

Here it is hoped a permanent circus-training centre will open, becoming the third one of its kind in the UK. lt will focus not only on staging activities relating to the community, but will also be a "pursuit of excellence".

The venue will probably be used for performances and workshops as well as general practice space, and some clowning/ slapstick sessions may also take place.

Individuals will be able to gain whatever they want from it - whether it be enjoying circus as a sports activity or as an art form.

It will also draw people to· gether within the community and to the region through its recreational learning, and other organisations may also draw from it.

For the Foolhardy Folk Clown Troupe have just used three acts from some talent at the Circus·centre for their rural tour ofNorfolk.

Before the permanent centre opens, however, there is still at least another years' work ahead to raise funds.

ITfyou find yourself inexplicably attracted to the delights of circus, get involved by going to one of the workshops at St. Michael 's Church, located behind the Duke Street Centre on Duke Street.

• General Skills workshops are held on Sundays between 2.30pm and 5.30pm, cost £2 (£1 concessions); Acrobatics workshops on Wednesdays at 4.00pm, cost £1.50.

Alternatively , you can call Will on (0603) 613445, or write to 194 Nelson Street, Norwich, Norfolk.

Co ncrete, Wednesday, May 25, 19 94

15

Features

s the closure of the Fifers Lane residences approaches, thoughts turn towards nostalgic memories for anyone fortunate enough to have spent a year or more living there.

But Fifers Lane, or 'Horsham' as it is more affectionately called, has a history which goes far beyond its image as a collection of dilapidated and run-down buildings, miles from anywhere and cut off from the rest ofUEA and civilisation.

Built as an RAF bomber airfield and opened in 1940, Horsham St Faiths remained active throughout

A

have a good time, and when it was a special holiday like Christmas or Thanksgiving, they really let their hai.r down."

The base was handed back to the RAF in 1945 and finally closed in July 1963, the very year when the site for the soon-to-be built University of East Anglia was being decided upon.

It might be surprising to UEA students to discover that their university could have been built on the site where Norwich Airport now resides, right next to Horsham.

For in 1963, the residents ofOid Canon were battling it out with Norwich City Council in a bid to

Fifers Lane closes its doors to students for the very last time next month. In the first of two reports, Michele du Randtcharts the history of the popular off-campus residences and dispels a few of those famous Horsham myths

"The Americans from the US Air Force always had time for the local people, especially the little kids who used to hang around the base. They'd give them sticks of chewing gum and chocolate bars as presents."

Peter A/den, a plumber at Fifers from 1944-1962 the war and in 1942 saw the arrival of the US Air Force.

In the three years spent there, they made quite an impression, not only on the locals, but on Norwich itself.

Peter Alden, who worked with his father as an apprentice plumber on the site between 1944 and 1962, remembers the American airmen well.

"They always had time for the local people, especially the little kids who used to hang around the base", he said.

"They'd give them sticks of chewing gum and chocolate bars as presents."

"The Americans knew how to

have UEA built next to their village.

They wanted the new university to be constructed on the St Faiths airfield rather than what was then the Earlham Golf Course.

One local Canon resident at the time thought it would be a good move.

"The hangars could be converted", he suggested, "One would make a fine athletics track and the other could be converted into a swimming pool of Olympic proportions."

Perhaps, if the plans had been approved, we would now be having LCR discos in the Airport's control tower, and a mobile library

Above: A wartime aerial view ofFifers Lane/ Above Right: ABC block as it is today in the form of a Spitfire fighter plane.

But in th~ end, UEA was built off Earlham Road and the former RAF living quarters were opened as student residences in October 1965, originally on a 21 year lease, as it was intended in time to build extra accommodation nearer the

Plain. ABC Block, as it is now called- which houses the infamous Horsham Bar - was originally the Officers Mess.

It hasn't changed much physically frdrn its wartime days, except that the j ukebox now plays U2 instead ofGienn Miller, and you can't get a

snoo\(et ..

Md a Vlholelot more\

round for two and six in 1994.

The Sergeants Mess was converted to FGH Block. with the rest of the H-shaped living quarters becoming J to P Blocks- while the Airmens Mess is now the card factory facing M Block.

In front of this, and formerly the RAF station's parade ground, Fif-

Ghosts and headless ainnen were supposed to frequent the blocks' basements•.. but, as Concrete's exclusive photographs can reveal, the mystique of the tunnels has paled with the finding that they are in fact little more than subterranean broom cupboards with a ladder to a trapdoor above ground ers' main car park is rumoured to lie on top of a maze of tunnels culminating in a supposedly top-se· cret control room below.

For each block was thought to have been interconnected by a network of tunnels and underground shelters designed to form a refuge from wartime bombing raids.

And when students arrived some twenty or so years later, horr 'ies abounded as to what perulffi'es UEA authorities might impose on those trying to gain access to the Fifers Lane catacombs.

These involved rumours that those caught attempting to explore the famed ceJ(ars would be sent

down from the university, or that the disused and flooded rooms might suddenly disintegrate.

Ghosts and headless airmen were also supposed to frequent the blocks' basements - stories no doubt fuelled by superstitious students hearing strange wailing sounds in the middle of the night

with the rumble ofwartime bOmbers flying overhead.

But, as Concretes exclusive photographs can reveal, the mystique of the tunnels has paled with the finding that they are in fact little more than subterranean broom cupboards with a ladder to a trapdoor above ground.

Student folklore also has it that World War Two classic 'The Dambusters' was filmed at Fifers Lane - due to reported sightings of the former ABC Block Breakfast Room and the Blue Dining Room in the film.

But many other RAF bases such as Coltishall and Duxford in Norfolk were built as exact replicas of Horsham St Faiths, and our enquiries have revealed that they were more likely to have been used instead.

The original student residences at Fifers Lane also featured several prefab buildings including D and E Blocks- designed for female licensees due to their proximity to the Porter's Lodge then in ABC Block - and provided accommodation for over 600 people.

But in October 1969, due to increasing student numbers and an ever-expanding need for accommodation, Z Block, "a 3-storey, 212-room block of flats", was planned, designed and built in less than 15 months. Rumours that Z.. block is suffering from subsidence are quite possibly correct, if the 18-foot long cracks in the walls are anything to go by.

And· over the past few years, Fifers Lane has slowly been

wound down as its closure approaches, with over 90 rooms being lost due to the closure ofO and P Blocks in January.

Despite this, students at Horsham both past and present should consider themselves proud to be a part ofsuch an intrinsic part of the UEA experience- especially those mov~ out for the last time next month.

For they will be the last ever residents of Fifers Lane, except of course for the ghosts who will no doubt continue to roam the site for a long time to come...

• The second instalment of this feature can be read in the next edition of Concrete, out on June 8. It will look at the sadness felt by cleaners and porters as the fading Fifers is replaced by en-suite residences at Wilberforce Road, opposite the University.

The entrance to one ofthe underground 'tunnels'

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Painter, cartoonist, comeaian and ~ nger, Rolf Harris, is a livin ~ •es~nd . . . 's on t · hone o COhc 'ki nson I've been thrown in at the deep end before, but never like this.

My first major interview, and it's with a legend in the world of entertainment, a man who can turn his hand to virtually anything you can name. Singing, painting, comedy, and playing the didgeridoo.

Yup, you've guessed it; it's Rolf Harris, star of 'Rolfs Cartoon Club' and chart-topper with his unique rendition of the rock classic 'Stairway to Heaven'.

Fortunately for my nerves, Rolf turns out to be an extremely pleasant man, who's only too willing to talk about his sudden elevation to cult status. Student Unions are now falling over themselves to book him; which is why" he's playing at UEA on June 4. This gig isn't his first visit to the region though, as he explained. "I've been to Norwich many times; he says. "I did summer seasons in Yarmouth in the 60s, and I did 'Survival' [Anglia TV's wildlife programme] a couple of times

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too. "I also learnt the language; he laughs, and promptly gives me his version of the Norfolk accent, which, for an Australian, wasn't too bad.

However, he won't be talking loike thaaat on stage, even if he is in Norwich. Instead, he'll be "doing all the things I'm known for", which will include sketching and painting on stage, and renditions of all his best known hits; 'Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport', 'Two Little Boys' , 'Jake the Peg' and of course, 'Stairway to Heaven'. lt was this song, which went into the top ten last year, which really revived his career. • Just before 'Stairway to Heaven' I was thinking of retiring ; he confesses, "but since then I've never been so busy!"

The popularity of the single took him all over the UK, and it was the success of these gigs that prompted Rolf to get involved in something bigger.

"The reaction at university gigs gave me the courage to approach the people at Glastonbury,· he says. Rolf at Glastonbury? Surely he would have been somewhat out of piace at a rock festival?

Apparently not. "The roadies said, "you're the only one we want to see ... we can't wait to hear 'Jake the Peg'." And the 80,000 strong crowd was equally as responsive, singing along to all the classics. "I couldn't hear myself above the crowd at one point, and at the end they were shouting 'We want Rolf!' for fifteen minutes."

With such amazing success live, and a new album 'Didgereely-Doo All That - The Best of Rolf Harris' now in a record shop near you, one might think that Rotf is about to give up his children's television shows for a career in pop. He denies this emphatically though.

"I'd feel bad if I deserted the kids," he claims, becoming serious for one moment, as he discusses the way in which children are not taught to value their artistic skills. "I feel like one lone voice in the wilderness, standing up for the creativity of kids. Give them the chance to shine, give them encouragement. Parents have got to value their creativity."

Art has played an important part in Roll's life, as has music. But if he could only be remembered for one thing, what would it be?

"I'd like to be remembered for spreading a little love and affection from around the world."

Somehow, I can picture him smiling down the phone at me. "it's not sissy to love."

No, it certainly isn't And it's not sissy to love Rotf Harris either. e Rolfwill be appearing at the UEA's end of year party on June 4. Tickets cost £8.50 in advance.

\<

Concrete, Wednesday, May 25, 1994

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REVIEW •The Waterlront, May 11 Any lurking suspicions that Roachford are merely a music fashion were well and truly laid to rest by their captifying performance at the Waterfront on May 11 . The sea of contented faces in the packed audience told it all - Andrew Roachford and his band, and their innovative sound of pure souVblues laced with funk are here to stay.

Albeit in total contrast to the Roachford music, Nan Vemon as the support band played an energetic indie-rock set that the audience most definitely liked. Their forthcoming single 'Motorcycle' (release date May 16) was a perfect lead-in to Roachford, who kicked the evening up a gear with a smattering of songs from their current album 'Per-

manent Shade of Blue' of which 'Johnny' and 'Ride the Storm' were given an apt response.

The crowd although subdued came alive to the sounds of the first-album classics of 'Cuddly Toy' ·and 'Family Man', and Roachford exited on 'Only to Be With You' to cries of "encore· that dragged them back to play out the evening with 'Shotgun', and their next single 'Lay Your Love On Me'.

If this new single, signalling a return to the band's traditional roots achieves the same overall reception as its debut here at the Waterfront would suggest, its popularity and success will top all of Roachford's efforts to this date.

Binoy Dharsi

LQitering within tents!

Urban Species PREVIEW If someone were to mention the names Mintos, The Renegade and Dr.Siim, you could well expect to find a breath freshener, a cowboy and a dietician but in fact what you would get would be Urban Species, one of the hottest bands on the live circuit These Tottenham lads refuse to label their music but put their funky blend of rap and jazz down to the diverse cultural heritage they grew up in.

They describe it as being 'layered and built up like a collage into a freeform artwork with maximum soul and longevity.' Mmmm ... Urban Species make serious music, preferring to hand it over to each individual to express themselves rather than being confined by classifications.

They tunnel through the barriers of language to create a understanding made up of basic rhythms that be enjoyed by the rap purist and the uninitiated alike.

Featuring live drums, bass and guitar fused with Renegade's electronic wizardry, Urban Species also feature the seductive backing vocals of Chezere who complements Mintos and Doctor Slim as they lead the way.

With two Top 40 hit singles already, "Spiritual Love" and "Brother'', their debut album "Listen", featuring both singles, was released on April 25. The title track will be the new single released on June 6. The Species are currently on a mammoth tour, which includes their Waterfront appearance on May 31 and culminates in a headline slot on the jazz stage at the Glastonbury Festival.

•Win a CD and tickets to the gig! See page 18. Nick Amies

Fancy being burnt to a crisp in Fins bury Park ? Or what about being moshed to death at Phoenix ? Maybe the idea of standing up to your knees in Berkshire mud turns you on.

Well, Concrete has got togetherwith HMVand Ticketmaster to offer you the chance to spend a weekend of beer and bodily odour at three of the nation's most mud-tastic festivals this Summer.

Five pairs of tickets to each of the following festivals must be won in our great May giveaway.

The London Fleadh Festival is held at Finsbury Park on June 11 and promises to be an absolute scorcher in every sense of the word.

The Phoenix Festival has established itself as one of the premier gatherings on the

Summer festi circuit. lt rises from the ashes of last year to attract the hoardes to Stratford-on-Avon between July 14-17.

Unpredictable weather is synonymous with the Reading Festival but one thing remains consistent with the Berkshire gathering and that's the quality of the acts.Fingers crossed for another hot one like last year! To enter the draw, si mply complete an entry form (there's one printed below) and drop it into your local HMV store. All entries must be in before May 31 .

So, dig out those toxic-smelling Para boots, fumigate the tent and hit the road with Concrete, HMV and Ticketmaster.

NA

r--------------------------------, YOUR CHANCE TO WIN FREE FESTIVAL TICKETS! The London Fleadh - .lune 11 The Phoenix Festival - .lulv 14 - 17 The Reading Festival - August 26 - 28 Simply fill In tha coupon below and drop on at the Tlcketmaster Ticket Centra at your local HMV. PleaH enter me In the drew for (delete where applicable)

tr. . tickets to Fleadh/Phoenlx/Readlng

NAME: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ADDRESS:

MUSIC UNION NUMBER: • ••••• • •••••

••••••••.• • •• •••• ••.. • • ••••••• •• • • •• •• •••••••• • •• • ••

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To Join, atmpt, take your NUalatud.nt Cwd to )lOUr local HMY and •M at the cCH.~ntef' for cletaila.

Blurring the musical boundaries Blur+ Sleeper PREVIEW Ever since Blur first stuck th~ir fingers up to convention and po-goed in the face of the establishment, Damon and Co. have been a pain in the music industry's backside.

Why?

Because Blur will never be what is expected of them .

They will always go their own

way, be it the mop-top indie aggro of the 'Leisure' era or the patriotic mod revivalists who spewed English attitude into our eardrums with 'Modern Life is Rubbish', these lads just will not , conform. Now the Colchester four piece take on 80's kitsch for their latest trip into experimental ism. Their third album, 'Parklife', is wonderfully weird and yet so removed from the Staypress trousers and knee length Doe Martens that it could well isolate the not so

dedicated fans.

Now we see the Skinheads it was okay to like dressed in tracksuit tops and designer trainers as they camp their way through a fairground of new tunes.

For those who remember the early days when they looked like four drunken page boys as they stumbled around such venues as the Camden Falcon, Blur '94 seem like they have dropped off another planet.

But whatever your standpoint

on the band, you cannot ignore the fact that they are chaotically superb live.

From such early performances which were as inconsistent as their image, they have matured (?) into a band capable of producing an aural and visual experience which goes far beyond the run of the mill live gig situation.

They return to UEA on Sunday 29th May with a new live set.

Tickets for the gig are now sold out.

Nick Amies

draught pints i·n Central Park I

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BpRI - 9.30pRI

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Concrete, Wednesday, May

25, 1994

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This lortnight at The Wilde Club PREVIEW

Nia/1 Hampton takes a look at the latest from bands including Nazis 1994 and Girls Against Boys NAZIS 1994 12" This track is causing a bit of controversy at the moment, for the powers that be have prevented it being advertised on national and local radio.

Queen drummer Roger Taylor is involved in 'Nazis 1994', which , despite its commendable message, is rather disapponting .

The remixes feature samples of Adolf Hitler speaking at Nazi rallies and the Ayran overtones don 't end there -for example , some of the guitar is reminiscent of Falco's top 80s smash 'Rock Me Amadeus'.

Other than that, it's rather muddled -the drum track sounds rather outdated for 1994 , and because of Roger Taylor, one keeps expecting to hear another squeaky clean guitar solo

by Anita Dobson . Or was that Brian May? So no big marks out of ten for this, a shame because of the intentions behind its release , but then Credit to the Nation do this kind of thing far better.

The Wilde Club will be taking over Norwich Arts Centre not two, but three times this fortnight.

First up, on May 30, is the excellent Blessed Ethel, who will be supported by Yoghurt Belly, Handsome and Lorelei. Tickets cost £3.50 adv/£4 door.

Then, on May 31, it's a welcome return to the Wilde Club for American band Tsunami. Formed, according to their bassist Andrew, just because it seemed like a fun idea, they manage to blend humour, sincerity and politics into their own brand of distinctive fuzz-pop.

NATION OF ABEL Eggs, Rodan and 59 Reasons will be providing the support. Tickets once again cost £3.50 adv/£4 door.

Save Yourselln" Then, on June 6, it's the turn of Oasis, who have recently · This is an interesting track. enjoyed chart success with their single 'Supersonic'. lt A bombastic opening gives way debuted in the UK Top 40 at Number 34, and shot to the to a funky groove with loads of top of the In die Chart. quitar literally sprayed over the Like the Happy Mondays, like the Stone Roses (to whom top.

Oasis have been compared), the band hail from ManA nice mesh of vocal harmonies chester. lt evolved around the two Gallagher brothers, sit comfortably on top , urging us Liam , the vocalist, and Noel, the lead guitarist. to save ourselves, but it doesn 't The line-up also includes Paul McGuigan on bass, really suggest exactly from what.

Bonehead on rhythm guitar and drummer Tony But it suggests that Nation of McCarroll.

Abel could be one for the future , Oasis are currently the darlings of the music press. seeing as they 've managed to NME voted 'Supersonic ' a single of the week, and deenlist the services of legendary scribed them as possessing 'melodic genius'. Melody producer Arthur Baker for this Maker's reviewer confessed that she fell in love with cut. them instantly when she saw them live, and she wasn't Musically, it's a bit like Urban the 0111y one, judging by the vast amount of praise that Species meets Roachford has been heaped upon their live performances. meets Fishbone meets a bit of They can't all be wrong, surely, but you can judge for alternative US guitar band , but yourself when they bring their sneering vocals and mewithout the painful cliches . And lodic guitar riffs to Norwich Arts Centre. Tickets cost it's very 1994. £4.50 adv/£5 door.

Caroline Jenkinson For a single release , the CD

For all your music requirements

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KNOW HMV • KNOW MUSIC

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Tickets to see Urban Species, plus their latest CD Urban Species arrive at Th e Waterfront on May 31 , to play an unmissable gig at the riverside venue. But even if your funds are low at th is time of the term, you've no excuse to miss the gig .

For 'Concrete' has got together with The Waterfront to offer readers two pairs of tickets fo r the gig. We've also got a copy of the band's debut album , "Listen", to give away, featu ri ng the hit singles "Brother" and "Spiritual Love".

To be in with a chance of winn ing , you 'll need to answer the following question : What is the name of the band's 'Doctor'?

Is it: a. Or Slim b. Dr Alban c. Or Who Put your answer on a piece of paper, along with your name and a place where we can contact you (a telephone number would be handy) then send it to Urban Species Competition , 'Concrete' , UEA, Norwich , or bring it up to the 'Concrete' office in Union House.

First drawn will win a pair of tickets and the CD, the second correct entry will win a pair of tickets. Answers must be in by Saturday May 28.

1 1

version comes complete with six remixes, some housed up , hip-hopped up and dubbed up.

The best of these has to be the 'AIIright Dub'. Top stuff.

GIRLS AGAIST BOYS Sexy Samn" For the record - any pun ignored - the more sycophantic sections of the music press have urged people to go out and buy 'Sexy Sam ', praising its "demon-fever energy" and confidence.

The fact that their reviewers fancy the guitarist must be purely incidental. Of course .

And GAB need every bit of praise they can get, 'cos unless you 're a real indie fiend , you won 't think much of this , even with the current New Wave of New Wave debate .

'Sexy Sam' and accompanying track 'I'm From France'- recorded during GAB 's 1993 European tour with The Jesus Lizard - seem to be nineties rehashes of stuff from bands like Killing Joke, bringing back memories of seeing particularly noisy and irritating groups in dark, cold and fag-fumed pubs.

Yes, it's noisy, cluttered , indiscernible and has been done to death before.

Fans of Girls Against Boys will no doubt welcome this release .

VARIOUS Collected/EP Recorded during Glasgow's Sound City 1994 , 'Collected' features tracks from The Verlanes, The Fallen , Papa Tree, The Body Electric and New Ment State.

First up are The Verlanes with 'Do Me Well ', a lively indie track, which despite having trite lyrics, is well played and breezy.

This should please their fans .

Next are The Fallen with 'Stone Junkie', which for a horrible moment at the beginning , sounds like the much loved W Axl Rose is singing.

But no , it's not as bad as all that, and this cut is a good one with a whole load of influences, from seventies funk , to country, folk and other such stuff.

Listen for the 'Nutbush'-esque guitar, and just admit, that the vocalist DOES sound like Axl. But we'll for give him for that.

Providing a complete contrast is Papa Tree with 'Maybe .. .', a song that owes much to acts such as Texas and Shakespear's Sister, at least in vocals and arrangement.

Th is segues nicely into 'She Stays The Same' from The Body Electric, an upfront song with some excellent guitar seemingly inspired by the lsleys.

it's a funky track with all its offbeats in the right places, backed up by some synthy horn lines and stabs.

Yes, there 's a considerable jazz influence being wielded here, especially near the end , with a sax solo in the mould of Kenny G meets David Sanborn . lt's a reminder what Simply Red could have been if they weren't, well , so crap really.

Final track, 'No Tomorrow' by New Ment State , provides a fitting conclusion to 'Collection '. it's a slow, rocky anthemic track not quite in the mould of Bon Jovi, but more a case of Guns 'N' Roses meet Iron Maiden .

Considering that this EP features up-and-coming bands recorded on a budget, it's a confident collection with some definite high spots .

Well worth a listen .

•LCR, May 13 Friday May 13 found the LCR transformed, as Britain's most famous club arrived for the Norwich . date in their European tour.

The Ministry of Sound were here. lt was a little surprising to find that Paul Oakenfold, described by DJ Magazine as "the only truly international DJ", was to start off the proceedings.

This was reflected by the fact that more roadies than clubbers were present at the 8pm start, causing Oakenfold to wait a further half an hour for the dancefloor to fill u But from the moment spun his first tune, the LCR was a mass a dancing bodies, as the ecstatic crowd was whipped into a frenzy by massive deep house anthems like Blast's "Crayzy Man." If the happy clubbers thought the appearance of the Good Strawberries might be a chance to chill out, they were hugely mistaken, as the band played a stonning live set, kicking off with their new single "Afro Dizzy Jack", and removing any doubts that dance music can't be just as effective when performed live.

The night was brought to a close by the Ministry's own Eli, who finished with the Doobie Brothers' "Long Train Running", leaving all 800 clubbers begging for more.

Massive!

Robin Powe/1

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Concrete, Wednesday, May 25, 1994

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Look Who·s Talking Now PREVIEW lt's Christmas time and the usual chaos is rife in the Ubriacco household , as John Travolta (James) and Kirstie Alley (Mollie) drag out their characters again for the next chapter in the tired formula of 'Look Who's Talking' films.

First talking babies and then talking toddlers, the Ubriaccos are now lumbered with two talking dogs. Of course, as with the two previous films in the series, only the audience can benefit from the. banter between the cantankerous canines.

With youngsters David Gallagher as Mikey and Tabitha Lupien as Julie and the vocal talents of Danny De Vito (Rocks) and Dianne Keaton (Daphne) bringing human attributes to the dogs, 'Look Who's Talking Now' looks set to be the family favourite for this summer.

The story continues to follow the ups and downs of family life for the Ubriacco's and their children, Mikey and Julie.

James is now a highly paid pilot for a glamorous president of an .......... ;,...,.,.1 cosmetics firm, Samantha D 'Bonne Wives'). But while her husplayed by British actress, band has found success, Lysette Anthony f.Y'Joody Mollie has her own problems Alien's 'Husbands and

as she juggles her duties as mother with her new job ... as an elf for a department store

Santa.

The situation is complicated further by the arrival of the

two dogs.

Rocks (DeVito) is a street wise mongrel rescued from a stray's life by James and Daphne (Keaton) is Samantha's pampered poodle who is quite literally a bitch with attitude.

The two pooches instantly fall out, with hilarious results.

With Olympia Dukakis as ~ollie 's supportive but ~ catty mother, George Segal as Amold (Mikey's real father) and directed by Tom Repelewski (Loverboy, Mad House), 'Look Who's Talking Now' looks set to pull in the crowds on its cuteness factor alone.

But one question remains unanswerecL. who talks next? The hamster maybe? eThe film opens at the Odeon cinema, Norwich, on Friday May 27.

Nick Amies

John Travolta stars as James Ubriacco .•.

... and Kirstie Alley plays his wife, Mollie

Cinema CiiJ PREVIEW

PREVIEW Richard Gere and Sharon Stone come together as husband and wife in Mark Rydell's new film entitled " Intersection".

Gere plays Vincent Eastman, a successful architect who is brilliant at his work but lacking in similar emotional success.

He reaches a crossroads in his life where he must choose between continuing his life with his lovely and talented wife Sally (Sharon Stone) or alternatively his equally lovely and talented lover Olivia (Lolita Davidovitch).

Olivia has helped Vincent rediscover much of the passion and spontaneity of the eartier times of his marriage with Sally, but the decision to live with her would mean abandoning much of what is dear to him In his life.

Particularty it would have serious implications for his 13 year old daughter Meaghan (Jenny Morrison), with whom he has a highly affectionate and special relationship.

Of course, it's not as simple as that, as at the very moment of Vincent's decision, fate steps with a timely reminder that unlike Vincent's award-winning buildings, life cannot be designed or controlled down to the last detail.

The unexpected can produce d~vastating and deeply ironic consequences, as Vincent discovers.

"The story is an emotional mine field," says director Mark Rydell. "lt examines, with unusual intimacy, the decisions decent but flawed people must make at a critical point in all of their lives."

•"Intersection" starts at the Cannon on June 3.

Marlc Austin

Cinema City will be playing host to the Norwich Festival of Women Film-makers from Friday May 27 to Monday May30.

There will be workshops and seminars on such topics as animation, funding and making documentaries, as well as screenings of various films, including 'The Ballad of little Jo' (15), 'Bhaji on the Beach' (15), and 'La Grise' (15), all of which have been directed by women.

'La Crise', a French screwball comedy about a man who loses his wife and job on the same day, runs until June 1, whilst 'Bhajl on the Beach', another comedy which follows the adventures of a group of Asian women on a day-trip to Blackpool, will also be shown' from June 2-4.

Running alongside these two will be 'Free Willy' (U), the moving story of a lonely young boy and a neglected killer whale who form an unlikely friendship. lt will be showing on May 31, June 1 and June 3-4.

From whales to Ireland (sort of), with Jim Sheridan's highly acclaimed 'In The Name of the Father' (15), a powerful retelling of the ·story of the Guildford Four, which runs from June 6 until June 11.

The late Friday showing on June 3 is 'Tommy' (18), Ken Russell's lurid screen version of the Who's rock opera.

Preview by Carol/ne Jenkinson

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20

Co ncrete, Wednesday, May 25, 1994

The

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Grumpy Old Men

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REVIEW it's a sad fact that there have been too few films released recently that have given the hardened film-goer a chance to snuggle up to their loved one and be filled with warmth and good cheer.

Fortunately, the romantic comedy 'Grumpy Old Men' goes some way to filling that gap.

Jack Lemmon and Waiter Matthau play the 'grumpy old men', John Gustafson and Max Goldman. They've been fighting for over fifty years, insulting each other to their faces, and playing childish pranks which mostly involve snow and dead fish .

This has been their main pleasure in life, until the beautiful widow Ariel Truax (Ann-Margret) moves into the house across the road . Ariel wins both their hearts, causing the battle to reach new heights (or depths) of crazy ferociousness as they both try to win first place in her affections .

Comedy does seem to play second fiddle to romance during most of the fil m, but there are still some laugh-out-loud sequences, featuring the aforementioned dead fish.

Lemmon and Mattau demonstrate why they've been paired together four times before; their timing and delivery is virtually faultless, and their obvious enjoyment in playing these two feuding neighbours rubs off on the audience , so that you warm to them both instantly.

You kn ow how the film 's going to end right at the beginning , but that doesn 't really matter.

This is pure escapist stuff after all , and anything other than a perfectly happy and romantic ending would leave you feeling robbed . it's by no means the greatest film ever made, but it's perfect for terminally slushy couples and people who just want to spend two hours being made to feel good . Like Lemmon and Mattau at the end of th e film , you 'll probably lose the ability to be grumpy; for a wh ile, at least.

Caroline Jenkinson

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Deadly Advice PREVIEW The latest in a long line of futuristic action movies, 'No Escape', is about to be released into British cinemas.

The film is set in the year 2022, a time in which justice is usually dispensed in the most violent way possible.

One ruthless prison warder (Michael Lerner) has created the ultimate solution for his most troublesome and violent inmates: Absolom, a secret jungle island where prisoners are abandoned and

left to die.

This is where Marine Captain John Robbins (Ray Liotta) ends up. He becomes involved in the struggle between t he two groups on Absolom, the ruthless Outsiders and the more peaceful Insiders, with whom Robbins reluctantly shelters whilst planning his seemingly impossible escape.

The supporting cast is led

by Lance Henriksen, who is no stranger to this genre of film, having starred in

'The Terminator' and 'Hard Target'.

He sees this film as being " a story of renewal and redemption, a testament to the idea that even in the worst of environments, there will be men who seek a sense of belonging and association with each other. They are compelled to rebuild a society better and more just than the one which has abandoned them, but they never give up their dreams of freedom and justice in the world they left behind."

•The film is showing at The Odeon, Norwich, from Friday June 3.

Nothing new here

Rookie Of The Year REVIEW David Stern's most recent effort 'Rookie of The Year' is

a film that hardly defies categorisation (my notes read 'Field of Dreams' meets 'The Wonder Years') nor does it really break any new ground plot-wise either.

A twelve year old boy's dreams of becom ing a probaseball star are realised when a seemingly incapacitating accident on the field ultimately transforms his right

arm into a pitching Babe Ruth nightmare, much to the amazement of those around him.

Young Henry Rowengarter soon comes to terms with his newly-founded gift, and Hey Presto! he's playing majorleague with the Cubs before you can bat an eyelid .

Enough plot, I'm sure you can predict the rest. .. it's not difficult. Younger audiences will love it, though in my

opinion it's hard to enjoy a film properly when the lead part belongs to a pre-pubescent, wide-eyed upstart with a face you're always itching to slap.

The rest of the cast carry their parts well enough, with Busey's avuncular all-star pitcher, Candy's ranting commentator, Morton 's supportive mother who's always there.

Hell, there's even a mad Cubs coach thrown in for good measure who has a satisfying recurrent knack for locking himself out from most of the fi lm.

Get the picture?

Tim Walker

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Caroline Jenkinson takes a look at the other films on in Norwich We begin our cinematic guide at the Cannon, where Leslie Neilsen and Priscilla Presley are back in 'Naked Gun 33 1/ 3- The Final Insult' (12).

Whether it is the final insult though is anyone's guess; surely they can't recycle the same old jokes again?

Don't call me Shirleyl The humour level doesn't get much higher with 'Ace Ventura- Pet Detective' (12). Why do the words 'total dork' spring to mind when I think of this film, and who do they refer to?

Ace? The director? The scriptwriter? Or all three?

From total dork to near genius with 'Schindler's List' (15). Please, please, PLEASE go and see this one, 'cos it's the greatest, most moving, most powerful film ever.

You'll be howling you~ · eyes out from start to finish, but then again, so will the rest of the audience.

Johnny Depp stars in 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape' (12) as (surprise surprise) Gilbert Grape, who leads a very weird life in a small American town. Enter Juliette Lewis, who offers him some chance of salvation.

'Mrs Doubtfire' (PG), 'Shadowlands' (U) and 'Age of Innocence' (U) will also be getting another showing during this fortnight.

Over to the Ode on, to . drool over the delicious Hugh Grant in t he touchingly fu nny 'Four Weddings and A Funeral' (15). This is possibly the most overhyped British film ever, but hey, for once it isn't a period drama!

Finally, there's the highly implausible, but still quite gripping 'Blink' (18). Madeleine Stowe plays a blind woman who has an operation to restore her sight. The only problem is that she ca n only see t hings 24 hours after they have happened, so when she witnesses a murder, she doesn't realise it straight away. Yes, it's that sort of film. Still, if you can put suspend all knowledge of the laws of science and nature for a little while, I'm sure you'll just love it.

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Concrete, Wednesday, May 25, 1994

21

Jack Dee PREVIEW A man walked into the Theatre Royal with a widget in one hand and a pint of John Smiths in the other...there's no punchline but the chances are that he was Jack Dee. For that's where you can see the man described by the Daily Telegraph as 'The best new comic since Alexi Sayle' for two dates later this month.

Hailed as one of the funniest show you are ever likely to see Jack Dee brings his own inimitable brand of deadpan humour to Norwich ..sharp suit and alii Following the success of his firsttelevision series in 1992 the stand-up comic who has affectionately become known as the miserable genius has become a household name.

A former restaurant manager who nearly became a priest,and has recently become a father gave up his 'day job' in 1988 when whilst watching performers at the Comedy Store he decided that he too could make people laugh .. and he was right.

Since then he has gone from strength to strength and is one of the few British comics to have established a following on the New York comedy circuit.

His comedy is contagious and you can catch him in Norwich Sunday May 29 and Monday

6.

•Tickets for the show are available and priced at £3-£10. JS

Road/ The Queen 11 PREVIEW Norwich's Th~atre Royal plays host to a double bill of entertainment this week.

'Road' with ex-Eastenders actor P.J Medford is playing on May 24 and 25 and combines the drama,pain and comedy of modem living.

'The Queen and I' which stars comedy favourite Pam Ferris completes the double bill running from Thursday May 26 until Sat-

28.

Preview details of both shows may be found in the last issue of Concrete (page 21.)

•Tickets for the shows are available priced £2.£13.50.

After calling Shabba Ranks a homophobe, and having a water fight live on air with Danni Minogue, Mark Lamarr is moving on from 'The Word'. He talks to Peter Hart about that show, and his current UK tour "I won't answer for the 'hopefuls', and I won't answer for what Terry's done, or Danni's done, or Huffty's done."

Oh dear. Mark Lamarr has started talking about his involvement with Channel Four's youth show, 'The Word'. and he's not a particularly happy chap.

Why should he be? He's become famous for helping to front a programme where it's supposedly funny for someone to bathe in baked beans. or eat a plate full of live maggots, and where the other three presenters have an obsession with sex and a complete inability to string a sentence together.

That's not his scene. Mark is a stand-up man, and not a TV presenter.

As he puts it: "I don't know how it's done, I never went to presenter school - and there is one - or anything like that."

So the difference is that Mark will express his own opinion: whether that means speaking out against the homophobia of Shabba Ranks or getting Danni Minogue so frustrated that she tips a jug of water over him. lt's not that he's trying to be

awkward, it's just what he's all about. And so we're back to that show, which will be coming back for a new series, but without the sharp-dressing, quickwitted Mark.

Why exactly? "What bugs me is that week in, week out, you'll work your arse off, then something will happen which will just lower the show so much ... If I've worked my arse off on an interview, or something funny, and it will come out and be really good , you know that the next week someone's going to say 'you had worm sandwiches on last week', and not 'that was a really good interview you did."

Bufis that always the case?

Mark responds: "No, my honest opinion is that it comes under a lot of unfair criticism. lt can be a fantastic show, and there are times when I've been on and thought 'Wow, this is good tonight'. and other times it can be the worst show on TV." He blames that on the production side, and even voiced his opinion on air, complaining that "knob, knob, knob" seemed to be all the presenters were required to say.

But despite his dissatisfaction,

The RockY Horror Show ,PREVIEW Yes, THAT show is back again ...!

The one that has men lurking furtively in the lingerie department of Marks and Spencers, when the sales of scarlet red lipstick sore and you just can 't find your favourite basque ... because your boyfriend found it first!

Of course it's The Rocky Horror Show in all its former glory.. and probably more besides!

Join Sweethearts Brad and Janet,played by EastEnder's star Sophie Lawrence,as they embark on the weirdest chapter of their so far innocent lives.

Thrill to charms of the strangely attractive Dr Frank N. Furter,played by Jonathon Morris, star of TV's Bread.

Shiver (or throw rice) at the exploits of RiffRaff and Magenta and rock to the heady beat of The Time Warp.

Adjust your suspenders, tighten up your corset and get ready for the ride of your lives to Richard O'Brian's Rocky Horror Show!

•The show runs from June 7 to 11 . Tickets are available priced

£3-£16.50.

Specialising in Savoury and Sweet Belgian Waffles

Mark is currently talking to Channel Four about the possibility of doing a chat show, which he says he'd like to do 'like The Word'.

"I mean, I like bits of The Word so much ... like the music side. I think there can be great bits on it, so I want to do something like that, but without all the crass elements."

Anyone who knows even the slightest bit about the comedian could safely predict that music will be involved. Mark himself says that he doesn't have much interest in talking to celebrities who are promoting their latest film . But everyone knows that he loves music. After all, before he presented on The Word, he only used to video it to see the bands.

And then there's his guest appearances on Mark Radcliffe's Radio One show. On top of that he even stood in for Radcliffe and Danny Baker for two weeks. His fronting of Baker's show was nothing short of fantastic. Those who have been turning off in the last few months should have tuned back in their millions.

But radio is not Mark's home, either. Although he perhaps thought the dole office was his true place for some five years after leaving his Swindon school, he eventually managed to make a living out of stand up comedy. lt's standup that he's returned to in his current tour (although he denies that he ever really left it behind). This 22 date stint goes from Liverpool to Leicester and Newcastle to Norwich, where he arrives on Friday (May 27).

Surprisingly, the Theatre Royal isn't Mark's destination. Instead he is playing the Norwich Arts Centre, a venue of about one quarter of the size.

"The venues are pretty much the same size [as on previous

tours]. I think comedians are taking the p*"s and they're doing 1500 to 2000 seater venues, and it just doesn't work for me.

The ideal club is just about 300.

Although it's just not viable for most of us to play those anymore, it's good to try and keep the sizes down to gain more atmosphere."

So what can the audience expect? "lt's stand up, I can 't say anything more. I mean, it's called 'Tour ofT he Unexpected'. so I don't like people to know the jokes beforehand .. .. lt's very · difficult to describe yourself and what you do, isn't it?!"

"And it changes from night to night. I do on average around an hour. I suppose half of each night I've done before and half

of it will be stuff I've thought up while I'm on there.

"What I tend to do is have a framework that I go on w ith of what I think I might do, and I j ust go off on whatever I've thought up that day.• His shows are something special.

This isn't a comedian who forces you to listen quietly while ~ he runs through his set - he wants audience input.

"I like it if we all know each other by the end of the show, and we all share something.

Not in some sort of f*"*ing hippy way, but it's not just me, it's me and however many people are there." eA few tickets for Mark's show are still available, priced £7 (£4 concessions).

One ofNorwich's most unique and popular n •:• Vegetarian & organic meat dishes •:• Organic Wines & beers at sensible prices •:• Open 7 days a week Till late •:• Families Welcomed

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22

Concrete, Wednesday, May 25, 1994

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Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis are the stars of the romantic thriller, "Witness" on BBC1 at 9:10pm on Saturday, May 28.

On a trip to the big city, Samuel Lapp, an eight year-old Amish boy, witnesses a murder and Detective John Book (Ford) who is assigned to protect the boy and his widowed mother, Rachel (McGillis), later discovers that the killers are police officers trying to subvert a corruption enquiry. Forced to run for their lives, the trio flee to the Lapps' home in a rural Amish farming community untouched by modern technology and governed by devout pacifist beliefs. But, as a romantic attachment develops between John and Rachel, the pair find that the violence of the world outside is never far behind .. .

"The Towering Inferno", one of the most memorable of the 70's disaster movies is being shown on Anglia on Sunday, May 29 at 2:30pm. To mark the opening of San Francisco's 138-storey Glass Tower, celebrities flock to the inaugauration party, unaware that a night of unbelievable Hollywood terror awaits them . Stunning pyrotech, nics, endured by an all-star cast led by Sieve McQueen as the Fire Chief, and including Paul Newman and William Holden.

â&#x20AC;˘Viewers can catch up with the adventures of PJ and Duncan (pictured), Debbie, Barney and Spuggie at Newcastle's most popular youth centre when "Byker Grove" returns to BBC1 on Wednesday, June 1 at 5:10pm. In this episode, PJ returns to the Grove for the first time after his accident, but will Debbie be there?

The Piano VIDEO REVIEW

NOW OPEN IN THE HEART OF THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE

(55

57 Dereharn Road)

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 11AM to 11.30PM AMPLE CAR PARKING

Tel 764058 Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer

"The Piano" is a tale of extreme passion set in nineteenth century New Zealand.

The film stars Holly Hunter as Ada, the heroine of the film, who arrives from Scotland for an arranged marriage to landowner Stewart, played by Sam Neill, of Jurassic Park fame.

Stewart is a very sexually inhibited man who regards his future bride as little more than a new possession.

Ada has not spoken since her German lover was killed by lightning, so her only means of communicating her emotions to the world is by using sign language, which is then interpreted by her daughter, Flora.

Her "voice" is also provided by the piano of the title which she has brought to New Zealand with her.

Unfortunately for Ada, her new husband refuses to transport the instrument to his home and so it is left abandoned on the beach.

Naturally, Ada is upset by this, and so she strikes a deal with her new neighbour, a wild and illiterate man named Baines (Harvey Keitel, in a non-violent role for once), who has been smitten with Ada since he first set eyes on her.

If he will rescue the piano from its current resting place, she will give him piano lessons.

These lessons, however, are merely a cover for Baines' real desires, and soon Ada is earning back her piano, key by key, in return for sexual favours.

Ada resents doing this at first, but slowly this resentment disappears, and she and Baines embark on an erotic sexual relationship.

When Stewart witnesses the passion between his wife and Baines, this once emotionally-starved man suddenly becomes filled with sexual desire too, and his eventual possessiveness leads to tragic consequences, as Ada is forced to suffer his brutal retribution for her affair.

Yet at the end of the film, there is an unexpected and uplifting twist, to save Ada from too much doom and gloom.

"The Piano" -which was made by Jane Cam pion, director of "An Angel At My Table" -was a joint winner of the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. lt is released on video on video this month.

Michele du Randt

Concrete, Wednesday, May 25, 1994

23

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event

Vital Signs REVIEW UEA Creative Writing Society have just published their book 'Vital Signs'.

The work of various members of the group, the book is a lively and entertaining collection of short stories and poems ranging from the everyday to the fantastic.

Highlights include a story entitled 'A Good Deed With Teddies' by Jane Russell, about a shop worker who starts off doing a good deed for a fellow worker and ends up regretting it. And 'Collapsing Moccasins',

by David Berridge, at first seems rather trivial on the surface, but it eventually becomes quite interesting and funny. 'Stone' by Elizabeth Page, is a sensuous even erotic poem that deserves several readings. As a collection they make a coherent though not homogeneous read .

The book's atmosphere is enhanced by beautifully drawn but sometimes rather baffling illustrations by Michaela Schoop and Scott Thurston.

Unfortunately, of the seventeen contributors only four were women, however the book is certainly worth a look, and who knows, one of the contributors may be the Ted Hughes or Bradbury of the future . book is available at Waterstones and other bookshops in the City and is priced at 拢2.

Julie Drewitt

Former Dean of EAS, Chris Bigsby, has just written his first novel, 'Hester". Marks out of 10 by Mark Austin Written as a prequel to Nathaniel Hawthome's classic "The Scarlet Letter", "Hester" is the title of Chris Bigsby's audacious and memorable first novel.

The author of more than twenty non-fiction books plus short stories and plays for radio and television, the former EAS Dean's first fictional &.lting has produced a book of tangible richness and poetic rhythm .

I

represents the shifting , uncertain life that Hester has to come to terms with.

On the crossing, she meets Arthur Dimmesdale and the start of her wrestle with sin occurs and becomes a central concern of Bigsby's.

Bigsby allows himself a strong authorial presence throughout the book, which is no surprise given that he is positioning him-

The hybrid narrative voice combines Shakespearian sumptuousness with Dickensian attention to detail

Bigsby set out to write the novel as one "which could have been written in Hawthome's lifetime."

As this meant creating a book written from a nineteenth century perspective but set in the seventeenth century, the task was not easy, but it is one he achieves with a remarkable success.

The story is of Hester Prynne, a Norfolk girl who marries a man, aptly named Chillingworth, because of what he represents to her as man of knowledge.

In fact, as the narrator muses, 路we reshape the object of our affection into the very thing we imagine ourselves to desire."

She escapes the confines of her marriage and sails to the promise of a new start in America.

The Atlantic crossing is the central feature of the novel and

self within the nineteenth century authorial frame .

What results is a hybrid narrative voice that combines Shakespearean sumptuousness with Dickensian attention to detail.

The nineteenth century authorial style never wavers, though it sometimes produces a ellipticism that is difficult to decipher.

Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote ' The Scarlet Letter" as a reaction to the aspiration to perfection that characterised the New World of America when it was first colonised.

He recognised that perfection cannot exist without imperfection and that what is seen as sin in the eyes of the many is not necessarily genuine sin.

Hester embodies this concern as she wrestles with her feelings for

Dimmesdale.

Bigsby stays true to these principles of Hawthome's, elaborating them In view of twentieth century hindsight and sensibility.

The book constantly operates in the midst of polarities, yet in between them, in the middle ground, seem to be the answers to the questions that the book seeks to resolve, or as the narrator shrewdly observes, "there is truth, then, in silence."

Shrewdness becomes apparent as one of Bigsby's foremost assets as a fictional author. His ability to draw back appearance and gently bring forward the unnoticed and overlooked is exquisite. lt is matched by the amazing descriptive power that he brings to bear on his work. Tree limbs floating down a surging river are described as ' dancing around one another like so many broken-legged drunkards at a village fair" and copper saucepans on a wall as hanging ' side by side like a series of blank family portraits."

Ultimately, it is a book about selfdiscovery, story telling and the power and weaknesses of words .Hester discovers that there is ' a territory where no words suffice." lt is a world of her own emotions and she comes to find a belief in them, even in the face of universal external condemnation.

In spite of this, Bigsby never loses sight of the fact that

EAS' Chris Bigsby. ' Hester" is essentially a book about itself. lt is a book about the power of story-telling and it's effect not just on Hester's life but also on our own.'Story is our grasp on the past. lt tells us that we have lived before and so may live again." As the book draws to an end, Bigsby reminds us of a

fact true of every story and indeed life, for"though the circle closes and a last page seems to tu m, yet there are other mysteries still to tell."

With a first novel of this stature, we may hope he continues to reveal them to us.

WIN PAM HOUSTON BOOKS

Pam Houston, author of 'Cowboys Are My Weakness', appeared at the Spring Festival of Writers on May 24. Which means you missed itl But fret not, culture vultures, because Concrete, in association with Virago Press and Waterstones, have five signed copies of her book to give away! And all you have to do is answer some (fairly easy) questions: 1. Who are the publishers of 'Cowboys Are My Weakness'?

2. Where does Pam Houston teach creative writing?

3. What is the name of only one of her dogs?

Tip: You'll find the answers in the book, which is now on sale at Waterstones on campus I Answers on a postcard please, to Concrete, UEA, Norwich, or bring it up to the office in Union House. Usual Concrete rules apply. Yee-Hal

路-------------------路ADVERTISEMENT-------------------Your Union.Boycott Nestle

How? Students voted at a UGM for this policy in the belief that a Union boycott of all Nestle products is a peaceful and effective way of bringing pressure to bear on Nestle.

Why? 1.5 million babies die every year because they are not breast-fed (UNICEF) .. A baby dies every 30 seconds from unsafe bottle feeding. Baby milk companies provide their milk to mothers and health workers because they realise that if they don't get babies on the bottle, they don't do business. Nestle sell nearly half the worlds baby food. They set the trend followed by other companies. Nestle also violates the UNICEF/ WHO International Code of Marketing, which bans all forms of promotion of baby milk, more often than any of its competitors. Nestle prioritizes its profits before the health of babies. lt gives free supplies of milk to hospitals often causing dependency on artificial baby milk that many families cannot afford.

Over diluting the powder to make it last longer leads to malnutrition; diluting with unsafe water can lead to death.

The campaign against Nestle aims to protect all mothers and babies. A mother should have the right to an informed choice. If she decides to use baby milk, her decision should be based on the advice of a healthworker, NOT on the strength of a company's marketing campaign.

THE BOYCOTI WILL CONTINUE ON CAMPUS UNLESS AND UNTIL STUDENTS OVERTURN CURRENT POLICY AT A UGM. BEING A MEMBER OF THIS UNION ENTITLES YOU TO A VOTE ON THIS ISSUE WHEN IT IS NEXT DEBATED.

BEING A MEMBER OF A STUDENT UNION IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SAY IN HOW YOUR COMMUNITY IS RUN.

24

Concrete, Wednesday, May

•

25, 1994

14 day listings in association with the Theatre Royal - Reservations (0603) 630000 Cannon See Wednesday.

UK's only authentic Eastern Eu ropean Yiddish Dance Band . £6/£4 cone, 8pm .

Ode on

Odeon

See Wednesday.

Cinema City See Wednesday. Also 2.30pm.

Compiled by Caroline Jenkinson

UEA Spring Festival of Writers : Ray Shell, actor and author of the stunning 'Iced'. £3/£2 cone, ?pm.

,

The Queen and I - The Royal Family are banished to a council estate in Sue Townsend's affectionate royal spoof. Pam Ferris stars. £12 .50-£2, 2.30pm, 7.30pm .

,

Oval Andy Baxter Band .

Hy's Club night. Admission £2, 9pm2am . Happy Hour- midnight to 1am.

Maddermarket Theatre See Wednesday.

Peppermint Park

Norwich Arts Centre

Admission £1 for ladies and £2 for gents.

The Klezmer Festival Band - the

FRIDAY MAY 27 Cannon Grumpy Old Men and Rookie Of The Year both open tonight (see page 20), plus some or all of the films from Wednesday still showing . Ring for details.

Ode on

See Friday.

Cinema City See Friday.

Theatre Royal

Theatre Royal

WEONESDAY MAY 25

Cannon See Fri.day.

comedy. Also Sean Locke , who supported Newman and Baddiel. £7/£4 cone, 8pm. See page 21.

Encore! - a selection of scenes and songs from the wide variety of shows presented by the Theatre Arts Courses over the past few years. £6-£2, 2.30pm .

Jack Dee - the master of deadpan humour. See page 21. £3£10, 7.30pm .

Oval Doorcase, Wild Flames and Phantom Cowboys - rockabilly.

UEA Gig: Blur- currently riding high with their album 'Parklife'. Support from Sleeper and DJ's Paul and Andy from 'Blow Up' in

Manhattans Swing Ya Ting - Upfront Dance. £1 admission , 8pm-11 pm.

MONDAY MAY 30 Cannon

Norwich Arts Centre

See Friday.

Wilde Club: Blessed Ethel and Yogurt Belly. This'll be a good night out.

UEA

Odeon

Drama: Amok -a new show from the Hoi Polloi Theatre Co. £5/£3 cone, 7.30pm .

See Friday.

Oval Cinema City

Look Who's Talking Now & The Adventures of Huck Finn open (see pages 19 and 20) plus some or all of the films from Wednesday still showing . Ring for details.

Cow Club presents Milky Lunch - with DJs Rocky and Diesel. £6/£5 cone.

See Friday. Also La Crise (15)when a successful lawyer loses both his wife and his job on the same day, he goes looking for sympathy. 5.45pm, 8.15pm.

Cinema City

Oval

Theatre Royal

Norwich Festival of Women Film-makers- a mixture of short films, animation , film-making workshops and full-length features , including 'The Ballad of Little Jo'.

Flame, Tattoo and Firebirds rock.

Tom my Steele presents 'What A Show! '; an all-singing, all-dancing spectacular. £3-£17, 7.30pm.

Waterfront

Camden . £SOLD OUT!

Bank Holiday Special, featuring BioHazard (industrial grunge), Dog Eat Dog , Downset, Sod's Law and Monster (rock). £6 adv.

Ritzy

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Cannon

Maddermarket Theatre

Screen 1: Naked Gun 331/3 (12) - Stars Leslie Nielsen.

2pm , 4.15pm, 6.30pm, 8.45pm .

Screen 2: Ace Ventura (12)Hilarious comedy about a pet detective. 1.30pm, 3.45pm , 8.45pm.

Also Shadowlands (U)- 6pm .

Screen 3: Schindler's List (15)Speilberg's award-winning epic about the Holocaust. 7.45pm .

Also Mrs Doubtfire (PG)1.45pm, 4.30pm .

Screen 4: What's Eating Gilbert Grape? (12) - Stars Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio and Juliette Lewis. 2.30 , 8.30pm .

Also Age Of Innocence (U)5.45pm .

The Tempest- the Norwich Players present Shakespeare's final work for the stage. £2 .50£6.50, 7.30pm.

Screen 1: Four Weddings And A Funeral (15) - British film looking at marriage , death and relationships. Superb. With Hugh Grant. 2pm , Spm , 7.45pm .

Screen 2: Deadly Advice (18) 1.30pm , 5.40pm , 8.05pm

Cinema City

Theatre Royal Road - a funny but disturbing play about a group of young people on a night out. £2-£12.50, 2.30pm , 7.30pm .

Maddermarket Theatre See Wednesday.

Norwich Arts Centre

Hy's

TUESDAY MAY 31

Ritzy Blow Your Own Trumpet- a showcase for young women composers. £1 , 1.30pm .

Mark Lamarr - star of 'The Word ' with his own icy brand of

Fast Trax. Admission £2 before 10.30pm, £3 after, 9pm-2am . c

Peppermint Park

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_______

Club night. £3 admission all night.

SATURDAY MAY 28

Manhattans Giving it The Large One -with Pete Helier. £4 (£3 with NUS card), 9pm-2am .

Cannon

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Rodan, plus 59 Reasons. £3.50 adv, £4 door.

Cannon

Waterfront

See Friday.

See Friday.

Odeon

UEA

See Friday.

See Friday.

Shorts And Shades Party. £3 .50 admission , £1 off if you wear shorts and shades!. 9pm1.30am .

Cinema City

Oval

Peppermint Park

See Friday.

Happy Wednesday. Pints £1 , all other drinks £1 .50 .

Dreamthief and Ritual - rock covers .

Live In The Hive: The return of the big screen race night!

Spring Festival of Writers : John Banville , author of 'The Book of Evidence' and 'Ghosts'. £3/£2 cone, ?pm.

Theatre Royal

Odeon

Go . £1 .50 admission before 11 pm , £2.50 after, 9pm-2am .

Screen 3: Blink (18) - A mira cle "' ' operation restores a wom ~' 9 an's sight- but she then witnesses a •, murder.. 1.20pm , 6pm , ._,.,.

8.20pm ~

The Hour of the Pig (15) - 5.45pm , 8.15pm.

Club Promotion Night. Free before 10.30pm with NUS card, £3 after. 9pm-2am.

Oval

Ritzy

Odeon

Manhattans

See Thursday. 7 .30pm only.

Peppermint Park SOp pints all night. Free admission with a ticket.

Club night. Admission £4 all night.

Theatre Royal

Pitchshifter and Spine Wrench industrial grunge.

Club night. Admission £1, 9pm2am . Happy Hour- midnight to 1am.

Hy's

Nth Degree. Entry free before 11pm with an NUS card, £2 after. 9pm-2am.

1•9.r ~

See Thursday.

Hy's

Maddermarket Theatre

Club night. Admission £3 before 1Opm , £4 before 11 pm and £5 after.

Theatre Royal

Manhattans

Norwich Arts Centre

See Wednesday. Also 2.30pm .

Norwich Arts Centre Johnny Mars - the USA's charismatic bluesman . £6/£4 cone, 8pm .

our da'is d Sr\t\sh h\tl\ F an 0e b'i Ja_ Sem\narss ·••ork .,. nrem\ere · od Ma99'e d "" p\oO a tore · cam \d w\\\ be tea - ~ Greenwa ~

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Waterfront Urban Species - an evening of funky, 'right-on ' music. £6.

See Monday.

Hy's

~,~ ~-

f"a\ ot •"•omen .,., . ttorW\ch feS '_ C\nema C\tV f\\ltl Ma~ersof worUhO~s,

o,

Cinema City Free Willy (U)- despite what the name might imply, this is actually a film about a killer whale' 230pm .

La Crise - 5.45pm, 8.15pm.

UEA

Gig.· Galliano, the funkiest and the grea tes t are bac k after a long time gone·, see the interview in this issue - page 10. Tickets are £8.50 in advance from the usual outlets .

Drama .· See Friday.

Club Party Night. Free before 10.30pm with NUS card , £3 after. 9pm-2am .

Ritzy Furious Fun . £3 admission before 10.30pm, £5 after. 9pm2am .

Peppermint Park Club night. £3 admission before 11 pm , £4 after.

Wilde Club . Tsunami, Eggs and

Club night. Admission £1 , 10pm-2am.

Cannon Cinema, Prince of Wales Road. Tel 623312 Odeon Cinema, Anglia Square. Tel 0426 932450 Cinema City, St Andrews Street. Tel 622047 Theatre Royal, Theatre Street. Tel 630000 Norwich Arts Centre, St Benedicts Street. Tel 660352 Maddermarket Theatre, Maddermarket. Tel 620917 Manhattan Nightclub, Dove Street. Tel 629060 The Oval Rock House, Dereham Road. Tel 748244 Peppermint Park, Rose Lane. Tel 764192 Ritzy Nightclub, Tombland. Tel 621541 Boswells/Hy's, Tombland. Tel 626099

The Waterfront, King Street. Tel 632717

Concrete, Wednesday, May

SATURDAY JUNE 4

Cannon

Hy's

Cannon

See Friday.

Club night. For prices and times, see last Wednesday.

See Friday, May 27.

See Friday.

Manhattans

See Friday, May 27.

Cinema City

King Prawn Club - Hardcore. £3, 9pm-2am.

Cinema City

Go. 9pm-2am.

Free Willy - 2.30pm.

Bhaji on the Beach - 5.45pm , 8.15pm.

Peppennint Park

Theatre Royal

Happy Wednesday.

See Monday. Also 2.30pm.

See Tuesday.

Ritzy Theatre Royal

14

Ode on

Odeon

See Monday. Also 2.30pm.

__

............................

......

:::0 Ill

~·

Oval

TUESDAY JUNE 7

Norwich Arts Centre lzit, plus support and DJ - 70s sass, 80s groove, and 90s technolove rolled into one! £6/ £4 cone, Bpm .

Cannon See Friday.

,

Hy's Club night. For prices and times, see last Saturday.

Manhattans

Odeon See Friday.

UEA

See last Saturday.

Cinema City

Gig: Rolf Harris - artist, singer and all round genius, complete with didgeridoo! See page 16.

Ritzy

Bhaji on the Beach (1St- comedy drama about a group of Asian women on a day trip to see the Blackpool illuminations.

2.30pm, 5.45pm, 8.15pm.

Theatre Royal

Furious Fun. 9pm to 2am.

Waterfront

Peppennint Park

Club night into goes here, please!

Club night. For prices and times, see last Saturday.

SUNDAY JUNE 5

See Monday.

Hy's

Peppennint Park

Club night. For prices and times, see last Thursday.

£1 admission for ladies, £2 for gents.

Cannon

Theatre Royal

See Friday, May 27.

Plays and Players - a gala performance in aid of the Norwich Playhouse Appeal. Featuring Stephen Fry, Prunella Scales and Timothy West. £5£25, 7.30pm.

Odeon See Friday, May 27.

FRIDAY JUNE 3

Cinema City The French Lieutenant's Woman (15)- Victorian romance, starring Meryl Streep.

7.30pm.

MONDAY JUNE 6 Cannon

Cannon

UEA

See Friday, June 3.

Live in the Hive: The Infamous

Odeon

Ents Quiz, with a big cash prize to be won!

See Friday, June 3.

Waterfront Cinema City See Monday. Also 2.30pm.

Theatre Royal Oval Roxanne - Police tribute.

The Rocky Horror Show - don't forget your suspenders! £3£14.50, Bpm.

RICHARD O'BRIEN'S

Odeon Cinema City In The Name Of The FatherDaniel Day-Lewis stars in this powerful drama. 5.30pm, 8.15pm.

Theatre Royal Jack Dee- See page 21 . £3£10, Bpm.

Norwich Arts Centre Wi/de Club: Oasis, who scored a hit with their debut single 'Supersonic'.

Waterfront

Intersection opens (see page 20) plus see Friday, May 27.

Club night into goes here please!

Ritzy Fast Trax. 9pm to 2am.

Ode on

Oval

Peppennint Park

No Escape opens (see page 20) plus see Friday, May 27.

Brothers Grimm - blues.

SOp pints and free entry with a ticket.

Cinema City

Club night. Admission £4 all night.

Hy's

Manhattans See last Friday.

Theatre Royal

Ritzy

See Monday.

Fast Trax.

9pm to 2am.

Tue 7th • Sat ~ltli , lues I Wed a.OOpm

Peppermint Park

Tickets from only £3.00

Norwich Arts Centre Nitin Sawnhey - Blistering indojazz from one of Britain's most exciting jazz talents. £6/£4 cone, Bpm .

Club night.

Admission £3 all night.

Oval Shotgun Symphony - AOR.

Hy's

See Friday, May 27.

Cannon

First Out - club night for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and their friends . (Upstairs in the Studio).

Club night. For prices and times, see last Tuesday.

See Friday, May 27.

Free Willy- 2.30pm .

Bhaji on the Beach - 5.45pm, 8.15pm.

Tommy (18) - The Who's classic rock opera. 11pm.

NORWICH

Compiled by Caroline Jenkinson

0

:::;; I

Meteors and Shakeout - punk.

THURSDAY JUNE 2

•

from £3 or £4

in association with the Theatre WEDNESDAY JUNE 1

25, 1994 25

Thur • Sat &.OOpm Be 8.4Spm ...

r

•

26

Concrete, Wednesday, May

25, 1994

.Letters (cont from Page 10}

H

ow many of your readers have heard of the Criminal 'Justice' Bill? And of those who have, how many are aware of its implications?

How many people know that there was a large and peaceful demonstration against it in Trafalgar Square on I st May? Having approached the Union with a proposed plan of attack namely providing a preprinted statement of opposition for anyone concerned to merely sign and place in a box -and seen no action as yet, I am concerned to raise people's awareness of the seriousness of this BilL This is a matter of urgency as the government intend to have these proposed new laws in place by the time the summer festival season kicks off.

While the Criminal Justice Bill covers such serious matters as the loss of the right to silence, it may also be read as a fascist piece of legislation specifically aimed at suppressing cultural diversity by targeting certain perceived 'undesirable' elements of society.

Criminal offences would now include ; a gathering of more than I 00 people, even if the landowner has given permission, if the event has not been licensed by the local council, if the site is at least partly open to the air, and if amplified music 'characterised by a succession of repetitive beats' is being played in such a way as to distress local residents.

Furthermore, if you are with more than nine friends on a piece ofland, and the police suspect you of plotting a party, or waiting for one to happen, they can order you to leave and remain outside a five mile exclusion zone.

If you don't leave, your vehicles and/or property may be impounded, you may be fined up to £3000 or imprisoned for up to 3 One of the most enduring images ofthe student 'type' is the bespectacled 'intellectual'. But, today this can be different. · We are encouraged to think that the use of contact lenses is now more widespread but due to the reason s for their use it is impossible to know how much so.

How many people on campus wear them for example?

We may never know.

The idea of them after all is that nobody knows you ' re shortsighted .

Personally I always ruin that by compulsively announcing the fact that I wear them to most people I know. lt is not only about vanity, there is a comfort factor as well, although they are not without

months. An 'order of forfeiture' may be granted by a magistrate which means you lose all rights of ownership of property, and may have to pay for its retention, 'safe keeping', and disposal or destruction.

Although my main concern is the implication of this Bill for the nation's party-goers, it also affects the rights of those who chose, for whatever reason (and who is in a

position to pass moral judgement on the actions of others?) to live in vehicles or squats and/or seek to exist outside the bounds (as far as possible) of the capitalist machine.

The rights to protest against blood sports are also seriously undermined by this BilL The European Convention on Human Rights (1950, Article 11 ; freedom of assembly and associa-

tion with others) is also infringed by the proposals.

The wording of the Bill has been rendered so vaguely as to allow interpretation for any given situation (eg. windows and doors render buildings partially open to the air), and the speed and secrecy with which it is being pushed through Parliament also testify to its injustice - can you see the Queen being banged up for caus-

ing public nuisance with the Trooping of the Colour?

This year could also see the end of such traditions as the Glastonbury, Reading, Phoenix Festivals, and free festies such as Cambridge's Strawberry Fayre.

UEA's own Law Ball may never happen again.

This Bill affects everyone, not just travellers and squatters.

There is still time to act. Write

Eyeing up the contact problem their own peculiar problems.

Admittedly, when you walk into a steamy kitchen on a cold day you will no longer be instantly viewing the world from the inside of a light bulb.

But, walk past a building site on a windy day and we're talking agony.

One small piece of grit between the lens and your eye

and you wish you ' d never heard of opticians.

You are always miles from the nearest public toilet and when you get there, there's no plug for the sink.

Drop a lens down there and you'll NEVER get it back.

The equation goes something like this : fifty quids worth of Gas Permeable weighed

against another few hours of pain .

They also have an annoying habit of drying out in seminars and things.

When this happens it reduces both their comfort and visibility.

A good tip is to use "In Use Comfort Drops" when in public places, expensive, but worth

every penny.

If there were a contact lens wearers society, no doubt most of its members would be Drama Students.

The only other alternative of course is to have laser surgery at £2000 per eye in Harley Street.

Any student who could afford that certainly wouldn't adver-

to your local MP, or the perpetrator of these injustices himself Michael Howard.

Every letter/postcard sent is counted and registered as a protest (theoretically).

P.

Jo Elkington FAMILY DB •More info from: Advance PO Box 3290, London NW2 3UJ, tel : 08\ 959 7525 or other activist groups such as Liberty.

tise the fact.

If they did, they wouldn't have any friends.

All in all my verdict is that I don't mind wearing specs THAT much and still do when my lenses play me up.

I wouldn't be mucked about with by some surgeon if he paid me and contact lenses, particularly gas permeables, are really rather good.

Tony Crush, EUR I

B~DNEWCDS!

Beautifol South - Miaow Stone Temple Pilots - Core Both £7.50

Clmtact NI GEL HARDING, EAS 2 EMAIL- U9201289

Concrete, Wednesday, May 25, 1994 r---------------------~--------~----------------------------------------------------------------------

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IJJIJII 't Fitbt

It' take tbefJuered /Jq THE 1993-4 Grand Prix competition has been won by 'Don't Fight lt', with a slender margin of just two points, writes Stephen Hawkes.

Winning captain, CHE postgrad Mike Osbome said, "it was a bit tense!"

Last year he captained the same group of students to success, under the name 'Peel My Banana'- two consecutive victories coming on the back of a second place two years ago.

He added, "We were quietly confident at the beginning and experience showed through in the end."

After the tenth and penultimate round, 'Don't Fight lt' and 'Neon Teddies' shared the top spot on 364 points.

There then lay a couple of stressful weeks before the final athletics event which the former won.

"Most of us, our team and the Teddies are from CHE and BIO", Osborne explained, this led to a few side bets the beglnnlngl" 'Don't Fight it's' experience in Grand Prix may have counted for their success, but so to did the performance of their women, eo-captain Sharon Davey pointing out that the majority played for teams at UEA. But many of the near 600 people who competed this year were not involved in team sports on campus.

And organiser, Rachel Tomes, claimed that, "The Grand Prix's success lies with the fact that it provides many non-team students with the opportunity of competing in a safe and organised environment."

Butthis years's events were free from trouble, with the new semester system meaning that no indoors ports could be played during the January exam period.

November snow also accounted for the postponment of the 5-a-side football that it was hoped would take place on the new astro-turf surface.

Despite these problems, A TOP competition to boost the Rachel Tomes says how she profile of women in sport rewill continue to run the Grand turns this year due to its overPrix even if only two teams whelming popularity. entered.

The Sunday Times, in con:!The Grand Prix shield will junction with Moet & Chandon, be awarded to 'Don't Fight lt' the Central Council of Physical at the Service to Sport awards Recreation and British Airways on the 16th June.

And Mike Osborne added Sport and Entertairunent, is lookhis tip for any future teams. ing for its 1994 'Sportswomen "You need a balance, you of the Year'. don't really need a star -just The panel of judges, includpeople that are relatively good , ing Mary Peters, will announce at sport", he said. in November who will receive Final Standings: the £1,000 worth of travel and 1. Don't Fight lt 404 2. Neon the Balthazar-16 bottlesofMoet Teddies 402 3. Yeah Man 388 & Chandon champagne.

4. Felix's Cats 357 The competition, now in its Best all-first team - Huge Organs seventh year, welcomes entries

I A CREW from the Boat Club have been voted UEA's team of the year for 1993-4.

After more than one hour of deliberation, UEA's Director of Physical Recreation, Keith Nicholls, his assistant Rachel Tomes, Union Sports Officer Liz Chard and Secretary Jo Reeson decided that the Mens 'Senior3' Fourboatcrewwon the top gong.

And first team cricket captain, Cameron Green, receives the Sports Personality of the year award.

The relative surprise of the rowing club can be gauged by captain, Barrie Jones.

"Is this a wind-up?", he asked.

But if one looks at the achievements of this year's winners, the reasons for their success becomes much clearer.

In the eight races in which the Four- Barrie Jones, Doug Hart, Bruce Rhodes and American Henry Dixon- have competed, they have ~on seven.These include notable victories in the Head of the Cam and the Head of the Nene meetings, as well as coming out on top in the recent meeting at Bedford, where they beat Sudbury, the only team to have beaten UEA all year.

Amongst the crew's victims are Cambridge University's very own lightweight crew,

helped train the 6 '7" Doug Hart this season, "We train about three times a week, and~ try to race as much as possible. and if the Four continue their "I'm just surprised as we success they could well be rac- haven't had much recogniing at the Senior 2 level, if not tion." in the Senior I class by the end The fine health at the club is of the year- a level containing proved furthermore by the fact many crews who race at the that the Mens 'Novice' Four Henley Regatta as well as the also won at Bedford, and could Oxford and Cambridge outbe promoted later this year to fits.

'Senior 3'.

This promotion could well Close behind the Boat Club be a possibility, for as Jones were several other clubs. The says, "With our size and strength, we shouldn't really Rock-Climbing, Skiing and Golf teams were all considlose all year."

And this has come from a ered as well as the Netball club that was effectively re- team, who must receive a spedundant only four years ago. cial mention as six of their But now the story is differ- team graduate this year- Sarah ent - the club having being Rees, Rachel Woolsten, revitalised under the running Louisse Agran, Natasha White, of President Rachel Cox, the Ruth Parker and President, > 'cox'from the Four, and Sec- Nancy Steele.

For Cameron Green, the retary Bruce Rhodes.

"They deserve all the credit, Sports Personality award tops for without them we probably off a perfect start to the cricket would have folded", said season that sees UEA 's Firsts in the second round of the Barrie Jones.

UAUs, with him captain of the Each year the club has beBUSF team for this year. come more successful, yet it "I was very surprised to hear still has to scrimp and save to about the award but of course raise the funds that allow for I am delighted", said Cameron, the team to row, with an oar. busy fighting off his admirers. costing as much as £200.

"It's always nice to get recCredit must also go to coach Ian Clark, himself a former ognition for our efforts and Cambridge crew member in hope that UEA continue to advance in the UAU tourna-• 1986.

Added Barrie, who has ment."

---By-----.

Stephen Hawkes

UEA firsts storm through UEA foil local opposition to knockout rounds Bucks JU all out, UEA 125-4

from anyone, and nomination forms must be with the Sunday Times by the 17th of September.

So if you feel that you know someone around campus who deserves recognition for their sporting achievements, go ahead and nominate them, or even yourself.

The award features six categories, four of which apply to UEA students- namely International, Team, Administrator, and Overall.

•Nomination forms are available from either the UEA Sports Centre or the Sunday Times, PO Box 480, London, El 9DN.

UEA's Firsts entered this game needing to win to stand a chance of qualifying for the knockout stages of the UAU competition, and they did just that, although their qualification was only guaranteed by run rateafterHertssurprisingly beat Essex.

Having inserted Buckingham, the UEA bowlers slowly but surely started to rip through a tactically limited batting line up.

After an outstanding opening spell from Chris Trill, Mark Edlin took a classy 5-58, leaving Cameron Green to clean up the tail, ending Qn figures of 4-54.

UEA then proceeded to knock off the required 125

for the cost of only four wickets.

Steve Harris played safe and lasted the innings as Simon Parrish saw UEA home with a lively 21 not out.

"All in all it was a fantastic performance from the boys", said newly-engaged skipper Green, who now looks like leading his team to the Quarter Finals as he predicted at the beginning of the year.

Both the firsts and the seconds will be at Colney for their respective UAU matches, on May 29th.

The firsts will entertain either LSE or Roehampton, whilst the seconds, under skipper Chris Sally, will take on the Bedford Sports College.

UEA'S Fencing Team have been crowned champions of the Norwich League after dominating the tournament, writes Steven Stone.

Still with two matches to go, the strength in depth of the squad seemed to prove too much for the rest of Norwich to handle.

Good performances by Cahn, Richard and Hagyard as well as excel-;:.. lent wins by inexperienced beginners Heike Schunk and Phillipa Del Monte meant that UEA were unbeaten in all of their matches.

Captain Chris Morton had a faultless season with sidekicks Marcos Simpson and the now famous Swede 'Class • time and again producing qual· ity wins.

"It's incredible what we have achieved this season", said Simpson, "This haS really put the icing on the cake after we did so well to reach the quarter-finals of the UAU's.

"Olivier Cahn's enigmatic French style and the captain's ability to get the best out of a large squad has really paid dividends."

The team are looking to continue this succes next year with this year'~ begginers, who have done so well, pushing for first team places.

28 Concrete, Wednesday, May 25, 1994

FIVE STAR TAXIS NORWICH

concretes . . . . ort • LOCAL league officials could be about to deal a cruel blow to two of UEA's high-flying football teams.

•

~

....,.

For merely two weeks after having lifted both the Division One and Division Four titles, the firsts and seconds face being thrown out from the Gallpen Press Norwich Business Houses League in June.

And they could also face the prospect of having no league to play in next academic year.

Said first team captain, Nick Hoskyns, "If you're not involved in a league every weekend, then the whole club could lose its continuity which could impair chances of success in UAUs." "We need to expand and get more teams in the league - not to be going the other way." The news comes from the League's Committee meeting held in March, when it was decided that the 53 member clubs would vote at an AGM in June on a motion that "The League not accept UEA's registration next season."

The wording of the League's document cited UEA failing to fulfil a fixture against Bridge House, in view of the fact that the team had promised that such a problem would not arise again.

UEA told the League at the beginning of the year that they would only be away on Easter vacation

REGISTRY bosses have acted to combat the ongoing concern across the university over academic timetabling on Wednesday afternoons.

Academic Registrar, Dr A H Rich, has introduced four new measures to help solve this ongoing problem which threatens to mar competitive sport at UEA. Said Union Sports Officer, Liz Chard, "Technically, it's a success, but the next job is getting it through to the lecturers."

Dr Rich's initiative includes asking CCS Unit Organisers to reschedule teaching where possible - particularly to under-used slots such as Friday afternoons.

And Teaching Co-ordinators

1

55555 ~=-

No EXTRA CHARGE AfTER MIDNIGHT

• ---By Stephen Hawkes from the 23rd of March.

Yet the University brought the vacation period forward a week, with the result that the squad were unable to get a team together for the match on the 18th.

Nick Hoskyns The League then docked the Firsts one point and fined the club £I 0. The game was eventually rescheduled for the end of the season, UEA winning 3-0 - the victory that gave them the title- ironically at the cost of Bridge House and fellow contenders Waterloo.

And this season's misunderstanding comes just two years after both UEA's Second and Third teams were thrown out of the league for similar reasons.

---By Sports Reporter will be requested to use Wednesday afternoons only for "duplicate" lessons, those available at another time during the week.

Finally, Co-ordinators are to be told that attendance is non-compulsory in this time slot, and that students should not be penalised for their absence due to sporting or community based activity. The Academic Registrar seemingly solved the problem for students involved in sport and community activities in February last year with a memorandum stating UEA's policy on the issue.

"Compulsory units of teaching should not be assigned to those

"It was sheer luck that the first team were allowed to stay in", said football club secretary, Andy Clark, "The club was in chaos then as they were giving the League just three days notice before postponing a game."

At the end oflast season, Clark, along with club president Tom Finlayson, successfally campaigned for the re-inclusion of a UEA Second Eleven - the team that Jeremy Lowery led to success in Division Four this year.

But now it looks like all the good work could mean nothing.

"I am genuinely worried about the future of the club" added Andy, "It will need a lot of behind the scenes work before the League meeting." Added Jeremy Lowery, "It would be very unfortunate as we're one of the biggest clubs at the University, and have had quite a lot of success."

"Students may not decide to come to UEA if there's no promise of Saturday football."

All will be decided at the AGM, when it is hoped that many teams who hold UEA's fate in their hands will realise the obvious loss of competition if the team were to be given their marching orders.

Said Andy Clark, "If they were completely sure about chucking us out, they could have done so at the meeting in March."

timetable slots which involve the use of Wednesday afternoons, if it all possible", it said.

But many students have continually encountered problems this year as schools adjust to the pressures of semesterisation - hence the tabling ofDr Rich's new measures.

"These should hopefully clarify the situation for those students hearing two voices from the University", added Liz Chard.

•What do you think of this latest Initiative to combat the threat posed by academic tlmetabllng to university sports, and in particular, to UAUs? We would like to hear your views on the subject .

Write to: The Editor, Concrete, UEA, Norwich, NR4 7TJ .

•

Dispute comes after League triumphs for UEA 's Football Club

PHOTO: Keith Whitmore

THE· STUDENTS' .LANDLORD Five bedroom house for rent for academic year 1994 - 95.Easy city centre location near station.

Call for details now!

Summer vacation rooms £20 a week(including gas bill) in all areas of the city, ring for details.

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