Concrete issue 056 07 02 1996

THE GUARDIAN/ NUS STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE

YEAR 1995

IIREE

1: Cheggers Have you got a message from your loved one?

U

Does he know his pop?

We've got the sU lowdown inside...

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Registrr_ bosses u e full force of the law to block any future occuP-ations UEA CHIEFS have shown their determination to avoid any further occupations of the Registry - by getting a court order preventing any individual from doing so.

Flashback to the Rent Strike rally last October. 400 students marched on the Registry and demanded to see the VC. Now, UEA has taken legal action to ensure that such action can be contained in the future.

UEA have decided to continue with tegat action started at the time of the occupation - despite the fact that the occupants were evicted - and are displaying a court order in one of the Registry's windows.

They clearly view the current mood of student opinion as being likely to result in future attempted occupations and other forms of direct action, and feel the need to take pre-emptive action.

Campus security supremo, Maurice Morson, said that the displaying of the court order is a legal requirement and although it may appear as an act of hostility, it should also act as a deterrent.

"Events of last November should be enough to show why the University continued with the injunction," he said.

Then, around 30 students occupied the Registry after apparent deadlock in the Rent Strike, but they left shortly afterwards the issuing of a writ.

And earlier, during October's Rent Strike rally, a group of angry students demanded to see the Vice-Chancellor, Dame Elizabeth Esteve-Coll.

During this and other such incidents, the main Registry doors were locked and a permanent security presence was established.

This disrupted the normal running of

7,000 copies eve., 1o1tn ght

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oanne Robertson the Registry, causing severe problems for students and staff alike, and has no doubt prompted UEA's latest response.

An injunction served on three Union sabbaticals last November at the time of the occupation stopped them from "inciting, procuring or in any way facilitating any sit-in protest or demonstration."

Union Finance Officer, John Holmes, was one of the three sabbaticals served with the injunction, and sees the University's latest move as simply "covering their backs".

"The University hate occupations and they want all they can in their armoury to defend their patch", he said.

"If they could find a way to stop occupations they would and the order is something they can show the court."

When asked whether he thought UEA had contributed to student unrest through its policies, he was non-committal.

"If you are saying it is the threat of militant action by hostile students in this particular political climate at UEA that has caused this, I wouldn't like to say." r::JFunding crisis for UK universities - see page 2

Tel: ( &OSI 150558

Run for Rwanda

UNION COMMERCIAL SERVICES IN A surprise move. the Union has with dra11 n all ads for its shop-ba,cd commercial serl'ices that normally appear in e1cry edition of Concrele.

The 1erbal explanation given to Snnon Mann, Crmcre/e '.1 Ad1 ertising Manager, was that the Union disapproved of the tone and content of last issue's front page story about Tesco's interest in taking over the Union Supermarket.

Wise counsel UEA ·s student counselling ser' ice is currently interviewing for a human relations training programme, running from February 6 to March 12.

The programme is not designed to crea te co unsellors, but has been dev ised to help participants develop their self-awareness and sensitivity to others.

An introductory evening will be foll owed by empathy training, role-play and guidance in the fundamental aspects of counselling theory.

Ten people from the university and the wider community will be selected from interview and will commit themselves to six evening sessions and a residential weekend, to be held on February I 0 and 11.

•For more information, contact Michael Da Costa at the Student Counselling Service on (59)2651 .

national uncertainty UEA ARE waiting for the Government to make the next move after a meeting of Vice Chancellors stepped back from voting on the pay-before-you-learn levy of Friday.

The entrance levy of £300 would have been effective from 1997. It was proposed to compensate for further government cuts in university funding.

There has been a 28 per cent cut per student over the past six years followed by a 37 per cent drop in capital funding.

The Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals (CVCP) see it as the Government "abandoning its commitment to further education."

"UniYersities are in serious jeopardy," said UEA Pro Vice Chancellors, Richard Jones, before the meeting of the 104 VCs at London University.

"The idea of a levy is one of a number of possible solutions and we want the government to be made aware that we can't scrimp, save and economise anymorc," he added.

"The £300 entrance fee is certainly not an ideal solution," he concluded, "but it's a weapon that we might have to bring into play."

The last resort action will be withdrawn if the government review Last ll'eek 's ra/~1 ' before submitting the petition to Registry bosses their spending plans.

The proposed levy ha~ been offset by further By Chancellor is b..:ing paid£ I 00,000, the equivaplans to cut £100 million from the Higher Katie Lane lentof50grants?"shesaid.

Education budget.

Esthcr led a rally to the Registry last week and Julia Bennett where a petition with around 700 signatures The Dcpartlncnt for Education hit back by saying it saw no n..:cd for such action as Higher was presented.

Education receives £7 billion of public money, many agree that charges arc inevitable.

John Garrctt, MP for Norwich South, and a rise of 23 per cent over the past five years.

But there has been fervent opposition to the Clivc Needle, MEP for Norfolk, pledged their But UEA is having to make a cut of £1.7 proposals. support to UEA students-campaigning against million to its budget this year.

Esther Jillett, Union Welfare Officer, con- the levy, as did NUS President Jim Murphy.

"There are twice as many people in higher dcmned the idea of the entrance fee as "abhorHe sympathised with VCs for being angry rent" and referred to it as a "top-up fee by any and having to look for drastic solutions to what education as in 1989," said Richard Jones.

"And the income per student has declined other name." he called a "crisis situation". rapidly."

She argued that when such a system is in "We are furious that universities have been With VCs having to consider options they place, it would relieve the Government of all forced to make such threats because of the salare unhappy with for the sake of safe-guarding pressures upon ihem to find alternative fund- vage government cuts, but we cannot accept the quality of degrees, this could be the begin- ing. that students should provide the missing ning of the end of free Higher Education as "How can UEA justify this when the Vice funds," he said.

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AN URGENT appeal is being made for students to run in the Flora London Marathon and raise money for the Rwanda Education Fund-raising Appeal, writes Katie Lane.

Shadrack E Munisi, Chairman of the Pan-African Book Foundation, is looking for runners who have already entered the marathon to run with him on April 21 to sponsor educational projects in Southern Rwanda, which has recently been devestated by civil strife.

"The education system is completely overstated and funds are urgently needed for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the education sector," he said.

"Schools in the area have requested books, classrooms and other materials totalling £120,000."

•Anyone interested should write to Shadrack at Freepost LON703, 25 Sun bury Lane, London, SW 11 3YY.

Recy_cling • g1ven a boost CAMPUS recycling facilities have been given a boost with the constructton of a new site near Constable Terrace.

Located in the west car park just past the Health Centre, the new recycling bins take glass, cans, newspaper and magazines.

Office paper can be recycled in schools of study, but that too will be encorporated into the new scheme soon.

Arranged by Josh Busby, last year's Union Environment Officer, it is now hoped that the new site will encourage more recycling at UEA.

FRENCH GOODS BACK ON SHELVES SOON?

80 STUDENTS packed into Room 1.28 to hear a talk given by Bill Morris, General Secretary of the Transport and General Worker's Union.

At a meeting hosted by the UEA Labour Club, he talked about the key role Trades Unions play in industry and the workplace.

FRENCH goods may soon be back on the shelves in Union outlets after France's decision to cease nuclear testing.

After six out of eight proposed detonations in the South Paci fie, President Jacques C'hirac announced a stand down and is now said to be eager to sign a comprehensi1 e nuclear test ban treaty as soon as possible.

At the UGM on November 20, 5 75 students voted to boycott goods produced by French companies that had not condemned its government's actions.

But despite the recent climbdown, the ban will continue until students vote to end it at a UGM. "We will have to wait for France's next move, alt hough it is " .. likely they will sign the treaty," said Union Finance Officer, John Holmes.

"lt seems a bit unfortunate though, as we've ordered Spanish 11 11><: and Italian yoghurts and we may have to bring back the French goods unless the equivalents are regarded as better!"

Nicola Clarkc of the Green Party said she wa,:; glad that France had bowed to international pressure, but she concluded: "The damage has already been done .. " Maria Furugori from UEA 's Society for Em iic~nmental Action feels that the whole issue of French nuclear testing is far from over.

"Australia has called for compensation for the environmental damage", she said.

"Just because the actual tests have finished, it doesn't mean that France will stop developing the weapons. It means it will be done behind closed doors."

Union - stocking Spanish wine and PHOTO Italian yoghurts as alternatives to boycol/ed French good,

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Local drugs project on hand for UEA THE Norwich based 'Ma~hew Project' has pledged its support to students worried about drugs.

"We are here for anyone who wants to talk", said Sophie, representative of the group, which is based in Pottergate.

Awareness has been raised about the effects of drugs after a number of fatal incidents across the country.

UEA adopted a "drugs will not be tolerated" policy after a number of arrests were made and an amount of drugs seized at a the Miss Moneypenny's Section 77 event before Christmas.

And Registry bosses have said they will not hesitate to involve the police again.

Sophie added that the Matthew Project deals with all sort of problems, not just those that are drugs related.

"We are here to listen," she added, "so do not hesitate to contact us if you have any concerns." eTbe 'Matthew Project' can be contacted on their 24-hour helpline on Norwich 764754.

A Glasgow student was a"ested for vandalism after breaking into the Union building when drunk. Shame really, seeing as he was a keyholder...

Student status no longer THE UNION'S sabbatical officers will have to pay counc·n tax for 1995-6 after Registry bosses have decided to remove their exempt status.

Sabbs will have to cough up for council tax, PHOTO: NIK DAVY says City Hall, after UEA decided to remove their exemption status

Now, the four- Adam Bowden, Stuart Campbell, John Holmes and Esther Jillett - are liable for amounts of up to £500 each.

But due to the relative smallness of their salaries, currently £7,215 per annum, the Union may agree to a short-term 'loan' to enable the sabbs to pay the bills, which can be paid back at their own discretion or not at all.

Three weeks ago, UEA 's Assistant Registrar, Or Tony Flack, informed the sabbaticals that they would be expected to pay the tax, casting aside the exemption that has applied since 1993.

He explained that this was done to correct a mistake by the university, and was not a retaliatory measure for the Rent Strike - a view supported by some within the Union.

"We had the Sabbaticals registered as 'visiting students' and could not put them down as inter-

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But Or Flack countered this

J position when questioned late last •

calating as in this case they had already finished their degrees", he said.

"For exemption you have to be following a recognised course of study, which clearly sabbatical officers are not doing. Therefore, as they are not visiting students, they are now liable to pay the tax.

"It was a loophole that regrettably we did not notice."

There is now some confusion who should pick up the tab for the council tax, with the University adamant that the responsibility rests with the Union.

Yet there is no mention in the sabbaticals' contracts about any exemption from the charge.

"When we took the job on we did so on the understanding that we would get £7,215, an ents pass and no council tax", said Academic Officer Adam Bowden.

His view was echoed by Welfare Officer, Esther Jillett, who stated, "It was a verbal agreement that we would not have to pay it."

week.

"There is no reason why the sabbaticals should have assumed that they should not pay council tax", he said.

"I was wrong to issue the certificates to them, that was my mistake, but the Union employs them -not the University- and advising them on the payment of council tax is their responsibility."

Yet when it was raised at a recent Students Forum meeting that the sabbs' salaries should be increased to cover the cost of council tax, Esther argued that sabbaticals represent students and they should have to Jive at incomes near to those of students.

Backdated bills for the four sabbs will soon be raised by Norwich City Council, whose spokesperson, Jane Barrett, said: "It is their responsibility to pay them now that they are no longer students."

And the situation could now lead to the sabbs' present housemates - in most cases, students losing their exemption and having to pay a proportion u• utt: u111.

1 Applications for Resident Tutorships for the academic year 1996/97 are now invited from suitably experienced students and members of staff.

Students who will be abroad during 1996/97 may also apply now for appointment in 1997.

Resident Tutors form the vital base of a pyramid providing for the welfare and good order of students in University residences. The system demands that students take a good deal of responsibility for their Jives on a day-to-day basis, but provides an extensive network of welfare and support services to protect the rights and interests of both individuals and the community of which they are a part.

•

1

Further particulars are available from the Dean of Students' Office (Room 0.1 08, ext 2890).

f The closing date for applications is Monday 12 February 1996.

24 HOUR FREEPHONE

0500 556789

Academic race row makes the papers Get M-Powered says NUS chief Tl! [ :\US arc ~pcariH.:aJmg a campaign aim 1ng to co unter the reluctance of young people to \'OtC. US Presid~.:nt . Jim 'vlurphy (pictured abo\ c), sa1d tha t over 2. 5 milli on people umler the age of 26 fa iled to \ otc at the last Gem:ral Elec ti on and IS urging support for its · J\.1-Powcr ' initi ative.

"Politics affe cts everybody' s everyday life. There's bee n a whole se ri es of leg islati on ove r the pas t ten years whic h has dramatically affected you ng people.

"The introdu ction of st uden t loans and cut s in benefits, th rough to the Poll Tax and the int roducti on of ma rke t re nts arc all exa mples". he said.

The NUS stress that it is not supporting a polit ical part y. but that it wants yo ung people to play a part in de mocracy. " Millions of new \·oices could influence the whole agenda," Jim concluded.

• An 'M-Power· stall has been set up on a dail y basis downstairs in Union House between 11 am and 4pm . For furth er inform ati on, \'isit the stall or co nta ct Uni on NUS Office r, Iona Wakely.

UNION management are looking into whether sabbatical officers should be issued with pagers to improve their contactability.

Finding himself so much in demand, Union Finance Officer John Holmes has decided that it is time to take action and make su re that he is

always on hand for anything that might arise.

And he is looking into pager prices for him and his colleagues, so often found to be away from their offices in UH on important business. " We only have one mobile phone between us," he said, " and it can be

difficult to contact us at certain times."

Meanwhile, John is checking to see if his idea is economically sound .

If so, gone could be the day when the infamous Mr Holmes can hide behind his betting slips at the bookies on Colman Road ...

A ROW between a UEA student and her tutor recently made column in London 's inches Evening Standard diary column .

Las t year's Un1on We lfare Officer. Ja1 lhenacho. cla imed that her creatl\ e writing tu tor last semester, Hugo Williams. told her she should \\ rite less about her race, suggesting that she was too preocc up ied wi th her blackness.

This. added Jaz, led to him awarding wh at she regarded as disappointing grades for her work.

Jaz claims th at she reported hi m to the Uni on and to her sc hool fo r bei ng racist and th at he was th en asked to apo logise.

But Uni versity offi cia ls say they know nothing abo ut the incident. " I'm not so happy UEA is de ny ing I made an official complaint, as it could happen aga in," she said.

Hugo Williams would onl y make a brief statement , saying th at it was a pri vat e matter betvveen himself and a student. " I don't wish to talk about it," he said.

And he added. "Jt 's all been settled and it is a very painful thing to talk about."

Institute of Food Research

We need ... .. .several more healthy male volunteers (aged 18-60, nonsmokers) to help us discover more about the benefits of Selinium in the diet.

Selenium is an essential trace element in the diet, which nutritionists believe may be important in the prevention of some cancers and other diseases. The use of Selenium supplements has become fairly widespread, and there is some concern over what is an optimal level of intake.

""ith WHY? Simply because we save them money.

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Why not put us to the test call your local Centre nowl

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During th e research periods we· will provi de all .food an d will recompense you for helping with our work.

If you are interested and can help us to undertake this important research project, we would be pleased to provide .you with further information. Expressing an interest will not commit you to anything!

For further info, please contact Tom Fox or Caroline Atherton, Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UA Tel: 01603 255190/255307

I

Concrete,'Wednesday, February 7, 1996

5

THIS DRILLING'S A KILLER Residents want rent .cut aher noisy building work A GROUP of angry Norfolk Terrace residents are demanding a rent cut and exam re-marks after prolonged building work disrupted their studies.

Twelve students living in 'A' block have complained of a "cacophony of drilling and hammering" during the preparation of new offices for the school of ENV. The work commenced in the third week of the autumn semester although most of it was carried out in later weeks - the time most needed to complete coursework and prepare for exams.

Drilling sometimes started before &am, and could be heard throughout all five floors of the block. Even fire alarms were set off.

The noise grew so irritating that UEA housing bosses agreed that the residents should move into guest rooms in Nelson Court for as long as the building work continued.

"We complained to the But they were told to move out - - - B y - - Accommodation Office and three before contractors had finished at Jo Emsley days later they put a printed notice Norfolk Terrace. up in our kitchen", said Jezz Said Tony Evans, of UEA's Estates and Buildings Division, Morris, told how she was unable Stirling, another resident.

"They've known about it since "There was an occasion when an to study during the day. electrician started drilling earlier "I had to work during the August, so they should have done than 10 am, but I wasn't told evening only to be woken up at 8 the work before we moved in, or about it until December I. in the morning to find my pin- over Christmas. It shows that it "I can't react until someone board vibrating. They even start- couldn't have been that urgent", says something is wrong. We ed to drill during our January he added.

UEA 's Director of Residences, agreed with the Accommodation exams, but were told to stop".

Office when the noisy work Even more upsetting, she Jenny Grant, stated that the would be done and they came up added, was that the University had University was "very sympathetwith the times lOam- 5pm". not consulted the students before ic" about the situation.

She added that it would not One final year resident, Nicola

have been possible to carry out the alterations over the Christmas break "as insufficient time was available".

But back at Norfolk Terrace, the angry residents feel that both Jenny Grant and Tony Evans have been washing their hands over the matter.

They are now appealing to have their exam grades for the autumn semester re-assessed, and also hope to receive compensation .

"We think we're entitled to half our rent because we couldn't sleep and we couldn't study", said one.

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6

Concrete, Wednesday, February 7, 1996

Passport to knowledge for the young launched ANY ONE unsure about their rights conceming land lords, overdrafts, sex, or even marriage, could find the latest edition o f the Young Citizen 's Passport useful, writes Alison

Wisely.

Produced by the Citizenship foundation, this h andy pocket size book offers practical guidance fo r young peop le on a ll areas o f the law w hich could affect them.

The authors point out that many young people are ''ignorant of the law" so the book has been designed to show young people that they do have rights but also to " bring young adults 'o n side'."

From parties to prostitution, from gambling to grass, the book covers everything anyone could ever want to know and what to do if they got caught.

Copies of the Young Citizens Passport is available from all good bookshops priced £2.99.

St Petersburg 's 'Spasa

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Krovi ·orthodox church

To Russia, with gloves FANCY A trip to Russia? Essex University and Norwich-based Interna tiona l Education Centre have a cultural excursion to St Petersburg on offer.

Setting off on March 25, the trip will rrovidc an ideal opportunity to meet top Russian roliticians , businessmen, economists and media representatives to discuss the ' modem Russia '.

Trips to the ballet and to the carital Moscow are also planned. Remember to take some gloves 1 • Contact Larissa Wymcr at the International Educa tion Centre on 63195 1 or Beate Knights (EUR2).

AUSTRALIA DAY TWO DOGS COMPETITION DID YOU write in for the Two Dogs competition in our last issue? The entries will be judged this coming week (w/e February 9) and the winner .will be notified of his or her catch in writing, which can be collected from the Concrete office, upstairs in UH. The Editor's decision is final.

BOOM! shake the room ... the LCR disco will soon be rocking to the sound of a brand new PA systen •.

Union bosses have just rurcha~..:d a £65,000 rig for Union Hou se as part of the upgrade that saw the pri cc of lled.ly LCR discos rise by 25 r cr cent l;~st September.

Although Union tru stees tTillalncd unconvinced about buying a ne11 system following di scussions t11o 11 ceks ago. the e>.isting rig hired in from an outside company was not cormg 11 ith the demands of the LCR disco. Li1..: in The Hive and other events.

Union management were also convi nced that renting an older system. likely to cost between £15,000 and £20.000 a year, was neither beneficial or cost effective.

Since the 1970s, the Umon hired in PA equipment, lights and bac~line from local comrany Red Sound, who used to be based next to the Bill \\'Ilson

Room. Demands for storage space led to the finn mol'ing out of UH last

autumn and options for having an onsite so und system were then examined.

Union managers and sabbatical offiecrs visited a trade fair in London last Autumn to hear the ne11 system in actio n, but prolonged debate then ensued about wht.:ther any new rig should be bought or leased.

Fmance Officer John llolmes felt it was a shame that the decision had not been made sooner.

"The hcsitance has probably cost the Union around £80,000 in rental costs", h.: said. lit.: added that the new system should be installed 11 ithin the next four weeks and new disco lights will also be 1nstulled in The Hive foyer at an estimated cost of £5,000.

• Union bosses have been taking noise leve l readings at LCR discos and ' Section 77' events after comments from UH stewards.

Their new cabin features locking shutters instead of windows, something that has raised health and safety concems now that at least three dance nights are held most weeks in UH.

Graduate Students Association OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY 7 DAYS A WEEK

FORTHCOMING ATTRACTIONS This will be a 'short 'n' sweet' semester of various events including international evenings, drink promotions, musical evenings and quiz nights; publicised in this column and on notice boards around campus . A date for your diary is Friday February 23, FRENCH CONNECTION , an evening of music and delicacies to tempt your taste buds . If there are any events that YOU would like us to promote, do not hesitate to contact our ENTS Officer, Bob Blair, available via GSC/GSA pigeon-hole or internal ma il box .

NEW ALE Scott's Brewery has made available for your consumption 'East Point Ale', a medium light beer with a nutty, hoppy flavour; or so have we been informed by reliable sources! come and taste it and give us your opinion . The GSC Bar is open every week-day lunch time as well as every evening . Hot drinks, (also obtainable in the evenings) ; SASSAF rolls , snacks etc. for consumption and a variety of daily newspapers for perusal are provided for your con venie nce .

MEMBERSHIP There is a limited number of associate memberships available for this semester's new intake of 'mature' students. Inquiries can be made at the bar during normal opening hours.

COMMITTEE Still open for nominations is the position of Publici ty Officer; apply in writing to the Secretary GSA, UH via internal mail or pigeon-hole . An ideal opportunity for those who wish to practice certain marketing skills .

THESIS HARD-BINDING FUNDING We would welcome comments or queries concerning this 'possible' fa cility being made available . Please contact the vice-president, Toni Georgiou , via the internal mail or pigeon-hole, address as above , or on E-MAIL, B222.

This section is written and paid for by the Graduate Students Association

• • • • • •

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Concrete. Wednesday. February 7. 1996

MAIL MADNESS

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ho needs the glitz and glamour of the World-Wide Web? Not to mention the interminable hanging about that it requires. To prove that there is llfe without graphics, Hype sent Tri$tan Roddis out to see what fun could be had with a <; humble email account...

So, you've got your email.

Here you are connected to the most elaborate communication system ever devised, and an that seems to happen Js you get lots of messages from friends telling you that they're going to The Hive later and are you coming?

Where's the meat? Where's the action?

In an effort to find out, 1 selflessly subscribed to several mailing lists and disousslon groups, and can now tell you how to get your post-box filled with scintiltatlng stuff from around the world.

For example, those of you who are bored with synecdochic mithrldatism, may wish to improve your vocabularies instead: send a message to wsmlth@wordsmith.org with a •subject:" line reading "subscribe William Shakespeare• (substituting the na~ William Shakespeare with your own) and you'll get sent a new word, plus it's definition, every day.

The scientists among you may be interested In receiving regular bulletins from 'The Annals of Improbable Research', a group who bestow the lg-Nobel prize for achievements that "cannot or should not be reproduced".

This was recently awarded to Norwich's own Food Research Institute, for their ground breaking report entitled "A Study of the Effects of Water Content on the

BU~lt-Ul ~~~n []B5[]lE55:ErlLE

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PJ[][][U5 Compaction Behaviour of Breakfast Cereal Flakes~.

To find out more, drop a note to list· proc@alr.harvard.edu with the words "subscribe MINI-AIR Marie Curie" in the message body (and substituting Madame Curie's name with your own) .

And then, of course, there's the world of discussion groups. This involves subscribing to a mailing list. and then being able to communicate with all the other members of this list by sending just a single message to a computer program known as a "listserver". Similarly, any comments made by the other members of the group will be forwarded on to you.

For instance, to join a group of people discussing the X-files telly programme, aimply send an email to llstproc:@llsts.plpex.com with the message •subscribe X-FILES Agent Scully" (substituting the name ... I can see you're getting the hang of this already).

Similarly, BjorK fans should email list· serv@morgan.ucs.mun.ca with the message "subscribe BLUE-EYED-POP t3jork Gudmundsdottir" (substituting BjorK blah, blah. blah).

People who want to find Interesting places on the WWW should join the

Bestweb mailing list (list· serv@trearnpc.ege.edu.tr with the message "subscribe BESTWEB Peter Parker'') Computer enthusiasts should definitely get involved in discussion about Unux, the free operating system for PCs that represents the greatest hope to end the evil Micro$oft hegemony. For UK-specific news, drop a line to mailbase@mall· base.ac.uk with the message "join LINUX·UK·DISCUSS Bill Gates~.

Note: If you subscribe to lists with a lot of members (such as the Bestweb list, with over 1500 subscribers) that you're going to receive a lot of messages, and a lot of useless crap as well. However, you can quickly sift through it all by judicious use of the delete key.

Also note that it is very easy to send messages intended for the computer to the list and vice versa, thus incurring the wrath of all the subscribers. In order to avoid such a scenario, novices could do worse than starting off by writing to list· serv@vm.c:nuce.cnr.lt with the message "subscribe TEST-L Your Name".

You'll get sent back some handy information, and be able to practice all the commands, without irritating lots of oth· ers.

This week, Hype's website will be providing you with a ranking of the most popular lists, links to searchable indexes, and more information about email and what to do with it.

Find us by go1ng: UEA Information -;Students-;Campus TV, Radio and Publlcatlons-;Hype.

Hype can be contacted by email at su.hype@uea.ac.uk or via internal mail c/o Concrete.

fHEGREEN 5fUDENfGUIDE A new g~lde to being environmentally and ethically sollnd PART 1- YOU ARE WHA1 YOU BUY

M

arket economies such as ours function by letting people's preferences count.

Firms produce goods which consumers choose to buy, thus giving their seal of approval , unwittingly, to companies to continue with 'business as usual'. The company is then encouraged to produce at the same costs .

No one said , however, that modern business practices are clean or green, and that industry can produce goods without using up natural resources, without producing pollutants and without undermining the welfare of people today and in the future . lt is an unfortunate fact though, that many consumers do not realise that by endorsing companies whose business if h d practices they disagree with, they are effectively green- ., 1 . ht' th t' _,._,es_t_e_-_no _t_o_n_ e ...::o_r_e...;g::...o_o~gu...::y_s_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ I1g mg ose prac 1ces.

Consumer pressure can exert tremendous weight and can effect change for the better. Consumer boycotts in the past have proven this, and even people who greatly disagree with the concept and politics of a capitalist market economy system cannot deny the power of consumers in the market. Consumer endorsment means money, and money is, after all, what business is concerned with .

Here~

what to do:

OSupporl the good guys. Choose brands manufactured by ethically and environmentally friendly manufacturers. Ask around, either the Ethical Consumer, or, easier still, your Union Environment Officer, for information on brands. Think about spending a little more, if you can afford it, for recycled goods {cheaper in Union outlets), biodegradable detergents and products in recyclable containers.

OFight the bad guys. Don't support companies that damage the environment or use vivisection for example. Choose your priorities. Don't starve yourself or deny yourself badly needed medication in order to do this. Be reasonable.

7

8 Concrete, Wednesday, February 7. 1996

Carry on camping!

THOSE with a sense of adventure and ready for the summer of a a lifetime could find Camp America just what they're looking for, writes Katie Lane.

Camp America will be recruitmg between February 10 and 14 and arc eager to find people interested in working with children who arc availab le for at least nine weeks between June and August.

2,500 positions are on offer at over 200 American summer camps.

Whatever your skills, there arc many different ca mps to suit your interests.

Camp staff with sporting and artisti c skills are needed , plus G irl Guides, nurses , practising Jews and Christ ians and those wi th experience of work ing with the physically and mentally handicapped.

There is a lso an opportun ity to work in an American home as a Family Companion, looking a fter children during their summ er break .

The camp provides free London to New York return night s, board and lod g ing at camp, pocket money between £150 and £300, visa sponsorship a nd the opportun ity to travel independently after camp.

•Further infom1ation about the programmes offered by Camp America is available from Camp Ameri ca. Dcp t EFL02, 37A Queens Gate, London, SW7 51 1R.

LIFE FOR university graduates is not looking as bleak in 1996 as in recent years , at least according to recently conducted research.

STUDENT designers from across the country will be battling it out next month at the Ca ncer Resea rch Campaign's fourth annual Recyc led Fas hion Show, wrires Katie

Lane.

Fort y fas hion design students have been chosen from regional heats to compete for the cove ted prize of wo rk placements wit h fashion gurus Red or Dead and Vivienne West wood.

Their eccentric and ou tra-

geous creati ons have bee n made entirely from unsaleable items fro m Cancer Research charity shops.

The lead ing charity has landed a £I 0,000 sponsorship deal wi th Fosters Ice, who have supported other schemes aimed at helping young people embark on new and challenging careers.

• The Recycled Fashion Show will take place on February 29 at Kensington Town Hall, London .

Despite graduate unemployment being down 2.6 per cent in 1995, the Associa ti on of Grad uate Recruiters is predicting a 13 per cent increase in demand for graduates this year.

Whilst good news fo r present undergraduates, thi s upturn could also encourage the high level o f people continuing to apply for places on Higher Educat ion courses.

Yet fan McGilvray, Director of the UEA Ca reers Centre, said that the AGR 's figures must be pu t into perspective. " It is true that the graduate output has increased by over 50 per ce nt and vacancies are increasing, but it's not as much as 50 per cent.

"Therefore there is still a

:;,;;._.,_~,

---·

shortfall in career places for graduates."

And he added, "Attitude is a lso an important factor when seeking employment.

"The expectations of graduates raised by th e ir parents, friends or lecturers are th at they will graduate an d immediately find worthwhile employment, which regrettab ly is not always the case. " Students often have to take a job that they could have taken after leaving sc hool , which is very demeaning."

Many businesses reported to the AGR that they did not recruit all the graduates required last year as there was a difficu lty "finding candida tes with the right mix of personal and academic ski ll s."

UEA 's Careers Centre has

developed a number of schemes designed to ensure that all students develop the necessary skill s required in the workplace, and one has been launched in the School of HIS .

The Personal and Academic Deve lopment module ( PAD) is a 20 credit unit available to all second and final year students and its success has led its organisers to look into introducing the scheme throughout the uni versity .

In addition , the Careers Centre now has a liaison officer to establish links with loc a l employers. Graham Elliott, an ex-personnel manager for BP, has been brought in to o ffer advice and arrange work experience for students.

"There is no doubt that student s need to have far more to offer em pl oye rs in terms of skills and experience and we arc ht:rc to help, " sa id !an McGilvray.

"'

_. ~-:~:

New Euro-tronic network planned SITTI NG at a computer terminal could become a whole new European cultural expe ri ence if a forthcomi ng project takes off, writes Jo11arha11

Doeri11g.

Get your career on-line for £12 media-training.co.uk The monthly media training newsletter and Web site that publishes your career details on the Web and to all areas of the UK Media.

Unadvertised tra ining vaca ncies, career briefings and directory information all add up to excellent career support. Subscription rotes £1 2 for 6 months £22 for 12 months.

Special Offer· 1S months subscription for £22. Offer lasts till the end of February.

Subscription cheques (mode payable to Loslett & Pointer) together with CVs and career details should be senl to : Loslett & Pointer, 12 Heighom Street, Norwich, Norfolk NR2 4TE. Order and Information Hotline: 01603 617632

To browse: hHp://www.media-training.co.uk Media Trai ning UKis published byLoslen & Pointe r, 12 Heighom Street, Norwich, NR2 4TE.

CardiiTs College of Higher Education is leading an EU-fun ded scheme to encourage greater links between European univt:rsit ies, titled ' Learning and lnfonnation Support Networks in Europe' (LfNES).

A collaboration between British, French.

Scandinavian and Greek universities and comput-

er companies, LfNES has received O\"Cr £800.000 fu ndi ng from the EU. The aim is to provide inforn1ation for prospective exchange students regarding their host inst itutions.

Distance learning would also be a possibility, as wo uld degrees obta ined after time spe nt in as many as three countries.

The project will be ready for launch in 1997 and by 2003 it is hoped that universities all ac ross Europe will benefit from the service.

PAWS FOR GREEN THOUGHT PAWS for thought about the environment at 1996's Animal World exhibition now in its third year, writes Scott Tompsett.

The event is being held at London's Barbican Centre between May 10 and May 12, with the aim of highlighting concerns for the planet and animal rights issues.

Animal World promises to showcase the UK's leading ani mal and conservatio n gro ups as well as green compan ies.

Those who v isit will be treated to interactive stands promoting everything from ethical banking to animalfriendly beauty products.

The exhibition is endorsed

by Linda McCartney and Joanna Lumley and will also have cooking demonstrati ons.

There will also be a catwalk show, plus a chance to surf the internet for environmental projects in the pipeline.

•Tickets for Animal World cost £2 for Friday May 10.

Saturday May 11 and Sunday May 12 will cost £3.

---------------1------------------~======~===-======~~~------~--'

10 Concrete, Wednesday, February 7, 1996

Concrete. Wednesday, February 7, 1996

11

To my little Honeybeor With the short and silky hair Come and join me in the bath Raarty raarty raarty ra.

Nuff Passion, your big P. To Jane, the best fiancee in the world, I love you now and ·always wilL Your Nik. Alan "Fox Mulder" Storer: I'll be your X-File any day!

Yours "Scully"l

0JY~"'6

Leida M. Your eyes are so deep _

classllieds

I think I'm drowning.

Rescue me! love?

Andy, because you are still everything My emotions are raw to your every touch, Each caress is far too much, For my heart to take unless I can say, I love you Natalie, on this special day.

J. Clemenson, SOCl.

tome, Don'! forget. "Te Amisho Guapito De Cara."

romances made of.

Dear Rob, what a guy to punch a gal, But hey, violence turns me on. big boy.

S. Taylor. SYS3.

No, what pened is that

To Sieve Pope, Hi honey, just want to tell you that I

To Esme.

I've liked you since I met you, But I've never had the chanye.

Since I'm far too shy and bashful, To do more than dream of romance.

ne~J and , complex .dimension in the form 'of buy- . whole

love you.

Hugs and kisses, Sara, XXX.

.lng fl'owe-r~. , Now, yqu O:ight think

Hunky, funky love master.

You really turn me.on, I fancy you so much, you ooze sex.

So ooze an over me! z. Alien, EAS2.

Dear Nlc, With your bubbly bottom Can I tuggle your boggles

buying flo~ers i.s

And borrow your beaver lots of love, Fidgety Fingers.

To Mr. Bruise Easy, Your manly body drives us wild with

To the Scotsman who makes my hea_rt skip.

When will you succumb to my Fatal Attraction.

And come roamin' in the gloamlng'?

desire.

We want to cover every inch of your gorgeous body with pepper and then

· sne.eze all over you.

With molestation, from your lusting, Gorgeous and Broken-hearted admirer.

Kim, my lil!le snuggle bumpkins, I'd like to teach you how to love a real

Mandy, Mandy, oh so dandy, Sucks huge cock and oh so randy, Likes it dirty, Ups so flirty, Be my Valentine orTII get shirty.

M. Hunt, SYS3.

man!

You are an A+ in my book, Let me be, your fantasy man.

SIR XXX. To the chosen one,

There was a young lass from 'Pool Who was also incredibly cool Her layout was top If never would stop And boy, how she makes us all drool!

Keep at it, Shelley

When you plough my b~y.

You make me wag my fail, And I know I'll feel this way, When I'm old and frail.

From Aphrodite.

Joey-Snowy, Potato Blowey, How you thrill me!

You make my acorns blossom Such delicate fondllngs of my posterior!

Aaah, you are indeed a corker!

Jarina Choudhury.

Possum, When I am asleep I dream of you.

When we are apart I long for you.

When we are together I lust for you.

To cut a long story short, I love you.

For lovely Warren, Although you don't care, I'd love to comb my stumpy fingers through your buttock hair and with your foghorn foliage I'd love to play and while away the long day.

Chicken, you're the real Babe, so "Bah-ram-ewe" Kisses, A.

To my little Tigger, You can bounc~ on me anytime!

Thanks for unclenching my hands from the pillow, I love you, from DJ gangsta bitch.

Dear Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor, Beautiful, beautiful girlfriend.

With love on Valentine's Day.and always.

Love from Milky xxx Teapot, One year on, I still love you ffd Cleopatra, In the evening when the sun goes under, Light covers the "sky and I think of you.

Over the green landscape my mind wanders.

Vivid images of your eyes, so blue.

Every minute that passes by each day, Your love for me, I wish to be stronger.

Only if the time comes. finding a way, Us being alone for ever longer.

Romeo

.\t first we didn't know if 1t was right, We'd rarely be getting on at the end of the night.

You love god, you're warm and calm, With silent but merclless charm.

You listen, you smile, you clear the path through, Md lucky you know how to cook too!!

J.C., EUR4.

Vly eyes give burning looks but they are not seen, Vly voice whispers your name but you do not hear, I walk the world alone yet you are in my dreams, I long to feel your touch instead of passing breeze, 1 am caught In a world of wondrous despair, When I think of you and realise you're not there.

Know my desired wish, transform my fantasies into reality.

Like sister and brother, We'll wave to each other, We don't want all the world to know, That we love each other. so, We'll talk about the weather, Till we're alone together, And all the world will pass us by, Cos there is only you and I. Sarah 'J'.

"I'm a First-Alder: · Did you hurt yourself when you fell from heoven?

•Action Man Outfit."

Fleece Lee. I'll be _your King Kong any day, .Andy Mulligan, SYS2.

To Fluffy Bunnykins Hugs and lots of Irish kisses Love little Jo-Jo To Matt D. Let's get ready to rhumble On that bed In your office (whey-hey!)

From you-know-whol

To Natalie Hough, EURl .

What can I do to prove to you.

That my love for you will be forever true?

Your love for me will always hold firm, Because I hope this is for the long term.

You'll never find one who loves you so, You'll never find one who wants to know, How to fulfil your every need, To feast on your beauty is my only greed.

Mr Fashion Show (James?)

I think you caught me noticing you In the Hive on

One year on. I still adore those blue, blue eyes, your every pore.

You're the sexiest man I ever knew.

Dear Wine Club Sieve, Like a wine improves with every year, My feelings grow stronger the more you are near, My love for too long has been kept quiet, So let's get If together and start a big riot.

Forever hopeful....

Meredilh Place, EAS3.

31/l/96 at 5.30.

Happy Valentines baby,

JAW.

lt wasn't the first time.

Happy Valentine's Day.

You love beast, you!

Dear Wayne and Tony Pastel.

You spin our disks you two scrummy little so and so's. wear those light and kinky v-necks again and again!

Happy Valentines Day from your four lovers.

To little Helin Flatnose.

Make the tea, · Love from Seigfried, half-way up a cow's arse.

To my dearest Daniel Hurst I love you and always will.

From your ginger haired sex toy, Katherlne Chllds

Pete.

Love from Sue

Ben, If wouldn't quite be a blind date, But I've never wanted anyone as much as you.

What a surprise, surprise!

Have sex with me and I will take you to herpes heaven.

M. Alien, EAS2.

Lauren, I love you so much. I wouldn't swap you for all the Cheese toasties, maple syrup J?Oncakes, and vanl:la fudge bars in the world, and that's a hell of a lot babe!

Alice. you are near Paris.

Allce, can l.have a chalice of beer?

Alice, shall we go to Dallas?

Alice, I miss you and wish you no malice.

E. Page Jamle H. you look so sad, To have you In bed would make me so glad, You'd be the best shag I'd ever had.

Pity you're an lndie lud and not a lad.

To Marl<y Mark Tobin, You are from Peterborough, Your subbing is so thorough And when you stand up, You look like the F A Cup. Tink • Love finds a way!

Rough Hewn

My Dearest Snugglebunny You put me the mush In my mushrooms, and you're the fun guy in my fungi.

Say you'll put the comfort in my comforter, and let me mould my body to yours!

Your devoted mycologist.

Darling, I am so afraid.

Your huge t;>oobies are a moving horizon for my life.

Please don't turn all of a sudden when you are standing next to me.

Elias, SOC. PG. Nix. Hold me, F-RLl me, Kiss me, Coffee?

To little Jo-Jo My absolutely gorgeous piece of adorable female flesh I'll love you forever and ever Love fluffy bunnywunny.

I

12 Conc rete. Wednesday, Februa ry 7, 1996 Cor, ow gorgeous UR. lovely as a butterflyl?l?

I love U. not tha t I've told you 1000 times 9r anything.

To Nik-Nok toes, Give me your love spuds!

Pixie (Miss Baps).

A year this weekend ...

To my chunky chemist Dominlc, Ale you flash mote?

Love your Wldnes wonder woman.

Gob, I won't be miserable around you; Love. not Allce. J.G.P. EUR4.

You know who you ore, Screw the lovey-dovey stuff.

Let's get loldll G.M.P. (DEV3).

To all the girls I loved before Love Special.

To my dorllng fluffy, (That's Angus Mllllgan-swogl) You'll never know how happy you (and Percy) make me, With you I always giggle, you're guaranteed to bfing a smile,

To Roo.

so come on snake let's wlgglell Love you to bits babe,

___

,_

Jomle Curtls, HIS2.

Your kisses are long, Your fingers are longer, Do you fancy a poke, To make our love stronger?

m r!~ftl',ttif..

Troll,

a.

Nicole, when I'm going through the shil, Ali i con think of is you.

Wllly. (Utile.)

A.A.B. And so by your love, The very sun Itself Is revived.

You ore a great mote!

Friendly love- A1-07?

Som Richords,

Niall: We just love 11 when you're strict with those deadlines!

Love, your fawning little sec-

You're so toll and sweet, In your Ellesse tra lnered feet.

Mop top hair, eyes so fair, I just can't help stop and store.

Lee Sergeant,

When you stand at the meeting, But don't give me a greeting, Sa here's a little plea.

Con I be your favourite LP?

When ore we laking up 'rowing' again?

Love-n-hugs, sex-pot.

Pippoll

Kltten-yot.r make me purr!

H·a.ha l! To our horny little Cypriot..

Loud music and loud shouting besides..

We wouldn't be without you.

From your little love birds in block 16.

Love always...

Your angel, XXX.

To fit Adorn, from three admirers, You're so fit, con we have a bit?

Get off your kit and wiggle it.

There once was a boy called Colin, Who hod a girlfriend at home.

He snogged his neighbour, Then did her a favour (at last), And never left her alone.

To Fotboy, Have no fear, I'm back here.

Love always, The American Dream.

B. Hunting, WAM2.

To Mad Mlck, Let me be your punch bog, Always, Danli. ginger wings.

From the day I first saw you, From that moment! adored you, We went out on a dote, Guess what? You were late!

And whatever the weather.

I'll love you forever... luv Chalky.

To the house posse, Where have you been this year?

I miss your lurvel From your secret admirers from last year!

Can't wait for tomorrow, all my love, Coped Crusader.

Give II Io me good next lime!

0 Domlnlque, the sunlll skies Hove nothing on your deep brown eyes.

Don, the navy man, Lers soli the ocean of desire, Together we could practise docking and other manoeuvres, From your wavynavy uniform lover.

To Hamlsh, graduate to me. love Greg.

Quentin, you broke my heart once, Please don't do it again.

I think you're so cool, call me on your mobile, You sexy stud muffin.

Hope you don't want those pants bac k!

Loveya, J.

To Pixie.

The day this appears, 11 will be exactly a year,

To my dietcoke addict, "For you alone, you ore everything .·

tion eds.

PJ, To the blue-eyed Beotwax babe, I may hove all the wrong bits.

But I'll be at your J17 helpdesk forever! love from your Tea Girl for Eternity.

Little Wllly, Sock it to me again big boy, Lurve, Nlcole.

WAM3.

L.C. EAS2.

Martin Collodlnel (Tiger!)

Your 'gorgeous goddess'.

ij1t"-;~;Jitti~tiii!;:::~~;;::::.._ Love, River

Your choice of hots, your cheery ways Have helped me make it through the days.

Be mine someday, though I'm no

poet .

I've love, and nowhere to bestow it.

Collnl Thank god that you have come back to me.

You con hoover my floors naked anytime.

SWeep, Colin, sweep.

Dear Esther, Leave the S.W.P. Join me in the S.L.P. If you stop being a trot, I'll love you like a shot.

ll .fl

Dear loverboy, You have a great bum <;!nd blg fluffy gums, You play football, so give me a call, I'm yours Mr two minutes, 49.

A. Mllfordsott, EAS1 .

To our dearest Phlllppo, Joasle and Sarah,

To Morky Mark, You used to be a

Helen, you really tum me on, You're such a saucy strumpet But your IQ's too high for me.

Sa should I Lovett or lump 11?

~;-;..;.:...;.;.;;;.::.,:.,!!!=~~~~~2!~!~~~~~;2r~:~J for This love we have Inside you,

lark, Now you wont to be In

France, But instead you'll haVe to go to the LCR and dance.

Kale, I Love You..

W.L.F.Y.B.

Happy Valentines to my Fiance Bryn, I will love you always, hugs-n-snogs, F.

Batthew, Baby is beige, chubby Is black, When you're In Norwich, fancy a

S.G. You are everything and more...

shag?

Lub, Bikkl..

If I had both you Kev and Jlm, Heaven is where I would be, Don't forget me until I am back, And then we'll go ride on that sea!

J.G ....Do you wont you trousers back?

Poslle Pat of Yarmouth.

To R.D. Blair, If I can call you dad, You can call me dirty.

Lurve, Cellna. r •

~ ~ ... ,• I

Will always be cherished by us two.

Trap our hearts with a web of song, A chorus or two couldn't go wrong.

Please don't let us weep in vain, Or else our souls will live with pain.

Your glorious smiles ore like the sun.

A perfect reason to come os one.

L.C. and I.H, LAW2.

Ad , you're a true lad,

You shagged Polly, And claimed it was the best shag You'd ever had.

Now you're married wllh kids, I am truly glad, I'll always hold a flame for you, Even If your willy has gone bad.

L.L. SOC2.

Jonathan, I used to sit inside The Bowl, Anti watch you drinking tea.

I gazed across the crowded cafe And hoped you 'd notice me.

Now three years on I see you still, My desire is undiminished, Sa I'd like to get Inside your pants Before this year Is finished!

A. Baker, BIO PG.

Raarty (Not a dirty saucepan).

Much scroops, Jimrod and me.

Krls, you light up my Thursday nights.

Be my American psycho.

To Paul M Jomesam I really laahve you From 1

Dear Phill, Con we stir up the atom In your c hemistry set and maybe cause an explosion?!

Dear Eddle.

Hope that was a taste of things to come and I'm not on rations!

You do my head in • but I like Ill N.E.

Love from your ever keen beginner scientist.

.. •'

\

' I • ~ ~· ':,

, ... :.. J.

1

! j

\

f

- - - - - - --

- - - -- -- -- -

<• I

'

'

.

Concrete, Wednesday, February 7, 1996

13

Features

•In the aftermath of the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina, /an Simpson takes a look at the 'life' of the region's students fragile peace has settled over BosniaHerzegovina, ending a war that began on 6 April 1992, the same day that Europe's youngest republic, declared independence.

The return of concentration camps to European soil, the mass rape of over 40,000 women and girts - some little more than infants, and a level of cultural destruction not seen in Europe for fifty years, are all features of a war that has left more than 200,000 dead and well in excess of two million dispossessed.

If the cease-fire and agreement reached in Daytona evolve into a more solid and lasting peace, it will still be many years before life in Bosnia regains anything like a semblance of normality - not least of all for Bosnia's student community .

Before the war BosniaHercegovina had four universities: Banja Luka, Mostar, Sarajevo and Tuzla .

Banja Luka now lies inside the so-called 'Republika Srpska', that half of the country presided over by Serb Nationalist Radovan Karadzic, its university 'cleansed' of all non-Serb students and staff, as well as those Serbs opposed to the racial-national politics of the Karadzic clique.

The University of Mostar, like the town of Mostar itself, was cut in two following another ethnic-nationalist uprising, this time by Groat nationalists headed

by Mate Boban. This group attempted to set up another pariah state, the 'Union of Herzeg-Bosna', based in Western Hercegovina and a mirror image of the fascistic ethnically-cleansed Republica Srpska Northern and Bosnia.

In order to avoid the worst of the fighting the Bosnian Government relocated those parts of the University still under its jurisdiction to Jablanica, 40km away, while

A

the rest went to Neum on the Adritic coast. After three and a half years of siege and bombardment, the University of Sarajevo, which had pre-war enrolment of 30,000 students, has suffered 80% structural damage and has lost most of it's resources, including some 1,800,000 books.

Miraculously, the University still functions, and admitted 3,000 new students at the beginning of this academic year bringing the current number of students up to 11 ,000.

Sarajevo, and being more readily accessible by road , has received aid convoys more or less regularly since Autumn 1993.

Consequently the University of Tuzla is the best preserved of the four, but even here there are major difficulties.

Tuzla University has about 6000 students many of whom are refugees, survivors of ethnic-cleansing carried out in areas under Chetnik control.

Accommodation is cramped with as many as four students

.The University of Sarajevo has suffered 80o/o structural damage and has lost most of its resources.

Miraculously, it still functions Like Sarajevo, Tuzla is a multi-cultural city in Bosnian Government territory where Bosnians, Groats, Jews, Magyars, Serbs and others

lived and worked together for generations.

Though within range of the Chetniks' (Serb nationalists) guns, Tuzla hasn't suffered quite as much damage as

sharing a single room, and in one residence block 75 rooms are shared between 500 students.

Teaching programmes face constant disruption due to staff shortages, and lack in even the most basic resources . Until recently, there was a need for staff and students to take their turn on the front line, defending Tuzla from t t a k Bosnian students now live outside Bosnia's borders, most in Croatia. Although out of the war zone, they nevertheless still face a number of problems such as funding for tuition fees, loss of university documentation (which means that many are obliged to retake

coursework and exams) , and lack of even the most basic resources such as books, pens and paper.

Exiled students often find themselves living in refugee camps dependent on international aid agencies for food and hygiene, and attempting to support their studies with money earned from working illegally in underpaid jobs.

Consequently many are unable to complete their courses.

As bad as the physical hardships and material deficiencies are, it is the emotional and psychological stress that causes the worst problems for refugee students.

The Union of Bosnian and Herzegovinan Students in Croatia reports that 41% of refugee students have lost a close relative.

Of the remainder, half are from families traumatised by wounding, rape or internment in concentration camps, and little more than 10% of students have any contact with their families, the majority of whom are from Chetnik-controlled areas.

For the duration of the war the only contact they have had with their home towns has been through media reports of fighting and atrocities.

The trade union-based Radnicka Pomoc za Bosnu (Workers' Aid for Bosnia),

organises European convoys to Tuzla (and Bihac, since that area became accessible) ,every couple of months.

In association with th is organisation , students at other universities have collected food and academic equipment for the University of Tuzla.

Locally, Norfolk Friends of Bosnia organise collections of food at supermarkets for transportation to Bosnia on Workers' Aid convoys.

The last collection at Sainsbury's in Bopwthorpe raised £200 and 500 kilos of foodstuffs.

In addition to material aid, it

is important to provide a forum for Bosnians to speak for themselves and put forward their own side of the story, countering the confusion and inaccuracy peddled by the media.

•Anyone who is interested in forming a Bosnian Society with the alms of collecting material aid for Tuzla University, inviting Bosnian speakers to UEA, and establishing links with the University of Tuzla • hopefully leading to exchange visits for students and staff some time in the future should contact lan Simpson in SOC/PG.

Student discount 10% offrecommended retail price of all course books Moo - Sat 9am - 6pm

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Tele- Order and booksearch: (20m from Tesco) Tel & Fax: 01603 630636

•

14

Concrete, Wednesday, February 7, 1996

[ eo n er~ ete. J

Concrete welcomes your letters on any subject. Whether it is something we've written about that you wish to take issue with, or you just simply want to make a point, we want to hear from you. Write to us (before 1pm on Wednesday, February 14 to have your letter included in the next iss·ue) at the address below or via our postboxes in the foyer of Union House, marking your correspondence for the attention of the Editor, Niall Hampton. Anonymity will be respected but you must include both your name and address in the first instance.

com1nent

Fund- amental issues The current w ave of uncertainty over the future funding of Higher Education has at last been treated with some worthy attention in the media.

As well as extensive broadsheet coverage - most of it making the front pages - no less than three newspaper editorials last week devoted space and energetic rhetoric to the situation.

Depending on what paper one reads. a clear-cut choice is ava ilab le to Education Secretary Gill ian Shephard : the Governm en t could mo\ e towards a graduate tax, which operates in Australia, or the student loans system cou ld be ex tended, possibly using money from p~nsion funds.

The range of views expressed in such co lumns shows the grav itas of the issue, and alt hough diffe rent solutions we re casua ll y postulated, at least one thing seems to be clear: that higher educati on is undcr-resourced and is in urgent need of funher investment.

This was shown last week when the CYC P discussed the possibility of introducing an entry levy- yet another nail in the coffi n of free university education.

Their decision not to proceed with this was no doubt a great relief to the se\eral hundred students who submi tted a petition to the Registry on Thursday calling for this very outcome.

But some basic facts remain: higher education has ex panded at an alam1111g rate during the last 15 year and it would be dis inge nuous to expect endless taxpayers' resources to be allocated when th ere are clearly more pressing m:eds, such as state schooling.

From a funding perspective, the curre nt dilemma is essentiall y a question of greater st udent nu mbers and less funds, or fewer students and more funds.

Like it or not, the fact that one in three school leavers are now entering univers ity has has left the state unable to substdi se it all - a position acknowledged by the Labo ur Pan y as they prepare for a General Election.

That today's bus drivers shouldn' t ha ve to pay fo r tomorrow' lawyers is a hackneyed phrase, but aspects of it ri ng tme.

The options currently available to the UK's ViceChancellors as they embark on discussions with the Government seem somewhat limited: regrettably. it could be time for students and their parents to start digging deeper in thei r pockets.

Council Tax conundrum UEA's Assistant Registrar. Or Tony Flack, had a nice surprise for the Union's sabbaticals three weeks ago.

He's just discovered that after issuing Counci l Tax exemption cendicates to sabbs fo r three years, he had got it wrong. " It was a loophole that regrettably we did not notice", he said.

It is a "loophole" which coul d cost the four sabbaticals up to £500 each.

Will UEA cough up for their cock-up? Fat chance ...

Listening Not Lecturing

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LET'S CHECK OUTTHE OFFER would just li ke to clarify a few points raised by your anicle on the Union's dea lings with Tesco (' A Trolley Good Idea?' Concrele, Issue 55).

First, to iterate that the reason for not allowing Tcsco on campus at the beginning of the yea r was not purely to protect staff morale.

That was only the issue in the context that we did make a conscious decision, like many other commercial organisati ons, to prioritise our own operati ons at the busiest time of the year.

We did allow th e Tesco 'Stude nt Card' promotion as it was clearl y in the interest of many students, but didn ' t fee l it was right to have four or fi ve Tesco employees hogging the Hi ve on Undergraduation Day. Second, to hy pothesise as you di d about the possi ble consequences of Tesco's involvement - Baked Beans at I Op and Bread at 27p - make massive assumptions that Tesco have in no way confim1ed.

The most important point to emphasise, though, is the more fu ndamental point about why the Students' Union mns its own commercial services and why fra nchising has its problems.

Ou r commercia l serv ices (the Union Supermarket, Union Paper Shop, Union Post

I

U EA'S Independent Student Ne-ws paper

Opening Hours : 8pm - 8am every day

t\

PO Box 410, Norwich NR4 7TB Tel: {01603) 250558 Fax: {01 603) 506822 E-Mail:

simon@stuserver.stu.uea.ac.uk

Office, Un ion Travel Shop, Union Second Hand Bookshop, Union Sports Shop and Union Bars) exist first and foremost to provide a service to users on campus - th e majori ty which arc students.

Across the range they also have to be profitable to provide fu nds for the non-commercial side of the Student Union's operati ons.

But just as sign ificant is the role that students play in shaping those commercial operations.

Four students - the full time Sabbatical Officers - sit as directors of the commercial services (out of a Board of seven) and are there speci fica lly because they are putting the student interest at the hean of the ir dec ision making.

This could not happen to the same degree if operat ions were franch ised - be that Tesco, W H Smith or whoever.

To summarise, the sabbaticals took a decision in September to hear what Tesco had to say. It was right to do so because most studen ts would expect that Tesco's would have something to offer.

They came, they saw and have since been silent.

This whole saga has, undoubted ly. had some effect on staff morale - we have. therefore,

decided to put an ul timatum to Tesco - come clean with your intentions. We hope they do.

John Ho/m es

Union Finance Officer Editor's Note: Concrete would also like to "clarify the following points" in light of the above letter.

Firstly, the only reason Concrete was given by the Union for not having Tesco at Undergraduation was "the effect it would have on staff morale."

John 's letter is the first official communication from the Union expanding this point.

Secondly, we have what we believe to be reliable i nform ati on from an authoritative source: ' Value ' lin es would be available in a UEA campus Tesco store.

Finally, our editorial freely acknowledged that "[Union] profits... are ploughed back into s tu d ent resources."

All we were doing was bringing this important issue before UEA students, while readily acknowledging that any Tesco offer raises complex issues that will need very careful consideration.

• Editor: Niall Hampton • Deputy Editor: Michele du Ra nd! •Assistant Editor: Nik Davy •News Editor: Joanne Robertson •Features Editor: Mark Austin •Sports Editor: Jane Homer •Assistant Sports Editor: S cott Thompsett eSpecial Projects Editor: Caroline Adlem •Contributing Editors: Peter Hart, Caroline Jenkins on • Staff Reporters: Joanna Emsley, Katie La ne, Adrian Steel •Chief Sports Writer: And y Tyle r •Editorial Contributors: Jonathan Doeri ng , Julia Bennett, Alison Wisely, lan Simpson , Trista n Roddis , Lucas Psillakis, Matt lngram, Dan Ellis, Adam Aiken • Photographers: Nik Davy, S tephen Howard • Advertising Manager: S imon Mann • Production Consultant: Stephen Howard • Copy Editors: Jane Kirby and Kay Spragg • Typists: Katie King , Annette Leyssner eSpecial Thanks to: UH Stewards, Bonusprint, Ma rc and Onnik at Fluency, everyone at ECN •DTP Assistants: Niall Hampton , Michele du Rand!, Nik Davy • Concrete is published by the Union of UEA Studen ts .

Opinions expressed are those of the Contributor and not necessarily those of the Publisher or Editor.

Use of the na me 'The Event' a ppears by arrangeme nt with the copyright holders, Planet Zog Ltd . •No part of this news pa pe r may be reproduced, transmitted by a ny means electron ic, technotronic , hydraulic, on a Union a d and Council Tax bill or otherwise without the prior written consent of th e publishe r. • Printed by Eastern Counties News papers Ltd., Norwich, Norfolk NR1 1 RE .© UUEAS , 1996 .

- - - - - - - - -- ---- ---

Concrete, Wednesday, February 7, 1996

Ten Tory Antics

bviously your anonymous coi-espondent is incapable of getting even the simplest fact straight, so it is not surprising that something more complex is beyond him/her.

It was the Truman, not the 'Thomas' Library which withdrew the invitation to lecture. your correspondent may think Searchlight and the Sunday Times worthy sources for historical research, but not many people would follow suit.

1 am content to let my books speak for themselves - I would put money on your correspondent not having read any of them.

1 am sorry your correspondent lacks the guts to put a name to their opinions, but if mine were based on such flimsy support, I too would seek refuge in anonymity!

Dr John Charmley

O

would like to rewrite a letter that was written by four students titled "Is Occupation the Answer?"concerning itself with the "petty political antics" of UEA. We are Young Conservatives who feel threatened by the fact that we are in a minority, and we have therefore decided to compile this letter defending our views (after all -someone has to do it!)

I) We believe that the only purpose of a

!

university education is so that one can achieve a good degree and then get a nice job (which above all else pays well!)

2) We will not be employed by the Right Sort Of People if this University increases its reputation as a place of radical left-wing thinking. (Why did we come here (SILENCE) well, the place looked a bit more respectable in the prospectus.

(SILENCE) Look, we missed Exeter by one grade OK!) 3) The Government has it right, as always. Student poverty does not exist - it never has, it never will.

4) We were really annoyed that a group of students should be allowed to go down to London for the day, wasting yet more Union money. (We've forgotten exactly why they went - some irrelevant demonstration or other, wasn't it? We've decided to declare their visit as nothing more than a "free shopping trip", in the hope that next

(Staj])

just anotheJ' manic Monday echnologies come and go, but dragons remain the same, it seems. I recently took my daughter to the 'local' hospital, which happens to be about eight miles from where I live.

We were going to see the hospital dentist, or orthodontist, which said quickly always sounds like awful dentist. When we arrived, builders were doing strange things to the entrance, which made it even more difficult to find the bit we needed. When we did, that's when we encountered the dragons. Is it a qualification for the job, or do they get like it over time? One way or another, they always seem the same, hospital or GP's receptionists. They have more than a sprinkling of the headmistress about them. Anyway, after they'd processed our card etc., they said ')ust wait in the the corridor until you're called"- simple one might think. I

T

looked up and saw a sign, not divine intervention, but a female, we realized that he had the wrong Lindsey, the sign saying 'hearing difficulties' or something similar. one he needed was, strangely ten years older than mine.

So I just hung around for a while to think. Out marched So, it was back to the lung cancer, before I was accostone of the dragons and said "no that is right, this is den- ed by a woman who wanted to tell me her life story, tal." which was actually quite bizarre, as lives go. We were "Well it is a bit confusing," I meekly ventured. dealt with eventually and made time to visit the hospiThat's the point where I was treated to a full scale tal canteen on the way out, always a positively 1950's humiliation and fiery lecture! The Pink Floyd line style experience. It appealed to my mischievous sense "radiating cold shafts of broken glass" - sprang to of humour to leave the lung cancer article there at that mind. Anyway, I adjusted my psyche and sat in the cor- page. On the way home, we had a maniac bus driver, ridor of the hearing impairment department, since . who stopped nowhere, and charged me full fare for things were obviously not what they seemed. I settled Lindsey, but it was just as well, we went straight down to read a magazine article about lung cancer. through to the bus station, where we could hand in a Then we were called, but by my daughter's first wallet we found containing no less than 15 credit cards.

Well it was Monday morning, amazingly eventful name only. After a very strange conversation with the Tony Crush (HIS3) guy about the teeth of a positively post university aged really.

COFFEE-MATES f and when I graduate from UEA with a half路 decent degree, will I be considered intelligent enough to decide which coffee to . drink. which bank to use, and which countries' products to consume?

Alternatively, will I have some national equivalent to the Socialist Workers-dominated student union to dictate to me throughout life?

I

Adtlm Ai~n (SOC I)

15

year the Union will subsidize ours.)

5) All people who care about the environment - (no change that) -all people who care about anything apart from themselves -are egotistical tyrants. (Moreover, they're threatening our politics.)

6) We HATE, and repeat in unison, HATE, all .SWSS members. We believe it is for the well being of both the University and Country that they be transported as soon as possible.

7) Occupation of the Registry will bring about an Apocalypse.

8) Students have no right to be actively involved in politics. (We leave that to our parents!)

9) Education arui learning can only take place in a library therefore we have decided to spend our student days occupying it.

10) Education is a "privelege, not a

tight."

Please send all hate mail to

Chloe Hardy (EAS I)

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advice. The two meetings today aim to inform and to help women in this area. _ I2pm, Bill Wi/son RooltJ, WOMEN, SEXUAL HEALTH AND CONTRACEPTION A talk from Dr. McCarthy, UEA HEALTH CENTRE- What can the Health Centre provide in an emergency? What role can it play on safer sex advice? .

What advice and services can women get from the Health Centre? lpm, Bill Wjlson /loom, THE PILL: QU£§TIONS ANSWERED Speaker: Amanda (_allaghan, frof"Jhe Birth Control Trust Your questions answered about tht;.pill, and the recent pill scare -Is t{'e pill safe? What 'else is available?

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NUS WOMENS CONFERENCE MARCH 11th -13th NUS NATIONAL CONFERENCE MARCH 25th-28th Every year we send 1 delegate to NUS Womens Conference and 7 delegates to NUS National Conference. The National Conference is the highest decision making body of the NUS, and it is where the NUS executive are elected for next year.

These conferences are vitally important as they affect what the NUS does for students in the coming year. This year the four main motions to be discussed are: Education policy Education funding The Welfare State Student Emptoyment.

All of these issues have serious consequences for us: Education policy will deal with the massive cuts in Higher Education funding and what we can do about the effects of these on student financial support.

THIS AFFECTS YOU! Make sure you are part of the process by either standing or voting in these elections. Come to the UGM and hear the candidates discuss the issues.

-If you want to mng to go to NUS conference you will need to fill in a nomination form from the Union Information Office which should be signed by yourself and three others.

- To ~ you will need your registration card.

- Hustings is where each candidate says why they want to go to the conference NUS WOMENS AND NATIONAL CONFERENCE ELECTIONS TIMETABLE: Nominations open: 12pm, Thurs Feb 8th Nominations close: 12pm, Thurs Feb 15th Hustings: at the UGM, 7pm, LCR, Mon Feb 19th Voting: 10am-5pm, Bill Wilson Room, Thurs Feb 22nd

UNION GENERAL MEETING The next Union General Meeting is on Monday February 19th, at 7pm in the LCR. Motions to be discussed so far include the ASYLUM AND IMMIGRATION BILL and STUDENT FINANCIAL SUPPORT. There is still time for you to put in any motion you want to see discussed.

If you want to put in a motion you need to do it by 5pm on Wednesday February 14th, motions go in the basket in the UNION INFORMATION OFFICE upstairs in Union House.

Three huge UGMs were fantastic last term- let's keep it up.

This is a crucial time for us to make decisions together- the funding cuts to universities and the declaration of a £300 entry levy to universities, plus the main political parties coming out in favour of ending grants mean that we must act now to decide together what we want our future to be.

ATTEND THE UGM! MONDAY FEBRUARY 19th, 7pm LCR

..S...T-..O~P~TH=--E=-A-=-s=YL=-=U-;;;;;M:=--:AN-==D~I==M==-M=IG-=-=u-=-=T=I=-=O""="'N=--=a=-=1=-L=-=LI~ The government is proposing to introduce a new Asylum and Immigration bill, which will have dire consequences for refugees and asylum seekers ·trying to enter or stay in Britain.

The bill cuts benefits to asylum seekers, and stops them from receiving housing benefit- so forcing many out onto the streets. lt ends the right of people from certain countries to come to Britain, as the countries they are fleeing are deemed 'safe' by the Government. The list includes Nigeria, where pro democracy campaigners were recently executed!! The bill also makes employers liable for the immigration status of those they employ which can only increase racial discrimination in the jobs market.

The bill is based on a series of myths about immigration . Britain has one of the LOWEST rates of immigration in Europe. In general, more people LEAVE the country than enter it each year.

Rather than being a 'drain' on the economy, the vast majority of immigrants bring with them skills that are of use to the economy.

Most refugees are fleeing from horrendous circumstances and often brutal repression and war.

The result of this legislation will be immense suffering for refugees, asylum seekers already here, and black people who will face more discrimination, and more confidence for racists who will have their views sanctioned by this legislation.

The Union Exec supports the Coalition Against the Asylum and Immigration Bill and is putting a motion to the UGM on February 19th to send coaches to the demonstration against it in London on February 24th. The Demonstration and Campaign are backed by the TUC, many MPs and other organisations.

Make sure you are at the UGM to hear the debate and vote.

If YOU decide we should be, we can be part of the campaign to stop the Asylum and Immigration Bill.

£300 to get a degree?

Thanks to all those of you who demonstrated about this last Thursday and signed the letters and petitions.

A university entry charge or top up fee, however dire the university funding situation is, is an appalling and disgraceful idea that will place a price on degrees and pave the way for higher fees each year, effectively de~ying those without the money a university education, and penalising those who are academically successful for that success.

We absolutely oppose all top up and entry fees and need to act to stop them moving from proposal to reality. lt is up to us to ensure that what we have had is not denied to those wanting to come here in the future.

Come and debate on any action we should take at the Union General Meeting- or write your own motion!

J

18 Concrete, Wednesday, February 7, 1996

PORT

eAndy Tyler looks at the reasons why athletes have recently been going so much faster, higher and further s most people know, calling

a is a way of earning a smack in the mouth.

hard enough. No. no, gasps of horror aren't necessary . 1 am as against the use of drugs m sport as anyone. it's just that 1f you have an open mind you can sec more than a ltttle hypocnsy.

Why ts it that an athlete can quite legally go out and buy a pair ofh1-tech running shoes that have been designed by computer and proven to make you run faster or

'possession of Lemsip' or 'intent to supply Ventolin' , but even so~ I'm totally paranoid about having

more than one cup of tea or coffee on the morning of a race in case I'm 'posittve' for caffeine, tt's that easy to slip up.

So, do a few cups of coffee It's usually the taunt of a bad make you go any faster than a pair loser beaten fairly and squarely of new tramers or a super-aero but, occasionally, the loser has bike? Well, to be completely hongrounds to complam . How can est, to the athr"""""';:----:-~T--:-....-.:o--...,r..,.,-=:::::::ll!II0:::::"':'~":""'"'"7~...,.':"!!'~~~......,., lete of average ability, I don't thmk either make the shghtcst btt of difference. That ' s the truth vou sec - gadgets and drugs do not make slow people go fast. They merely make extn.:mcly fast people go a tiny bit faster.

Time for a bit of anecdotal

~ii--~i_~===:~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~J;~~:Jevidcncc.

Boardman-- was it the bike that did it?

Take Chris

-------------------------------------------------------------------- Boardman, a bit of a hero of mine. Everyone 'chcatmg' be defined? When 1s JUmp higher yet cannot go out someone cheating and when arc and fill himself with chemicals remembers the Lotus Supt:r Uikc they merely using the rules to from a syringe that do exactly the in the Barcelona Olympics, yet same? Why 1s one so squeaky- show most people a picture of the the1r advantage? lt's all about breaking rules 1 dean and the other so despicable? great man htmself and they won't know him from Adam. Board man suppose. But what daft rules we "Health reasons", they say ... have m sport - those concerning Most pcrfom1ancc .:nhancing has gone on record as saying that performance enhancmg drugs arc substances aren't actually con- riding the Lotus bike was a bad particularly cock-eyed if you trolled drugs. many arc ingredimon: m hindsight· everyone at the th111k abnut n. You can actually ents in everyday potions that you time was conVInced that the only can buy from the chenust. I can't reason that he won the gold medal ~onstruct a half dect:nt argument for the1r kgalisation 1f you try ever imagine bemg arr.:sted for was because of 1!.

But those m the know will acknowledge that the Lotus bike made the same difference as a couple of mouse farts, yet Boardman totally thrashed everybody. He'd have won that medal if he'd used his mum's shopping bike.

I actually experienced the 'Lotus Syndrome' last year when I was lucky enough to have a blast around campus on that very bike.

Wtthin the space of live minutes, I'd had exactly the same conversation with two completely different groups of people; "Blimey, that's mce! Won a gold medal, didn't it? How fast does it go?"

"Well," I repltcJ. "it goes as fast as you can pcdal 1t."

"But how fast does tt go though?"

"Er, it depends on hO\v fit you are ... " "Bet 1t goes like a rocket . .''

I pedalled away, deciding not to waste my time mentioning the fact that Boardman, not the bikc, won the medal, and that he is lit beyond beltef.

The other s1de of thts IS that someone I know decided to try a 'substance' during training once

looked more than a httlc dtsappuinted on his return.

"Personal Best?" I asked.

He shook hts head gloomily.

"Nah, not even close. All 1 got was a thumping .----~ headache, I'm not wasting my money on that crap again. That settles it, I'm

- - --

buy the years of training needed to become even an average athlete.

In the lowly world of amateur cycling, course records have been fi!lltng at an unprecedented rate over the last

gonna use a faster bike next week .... " So, next week he borrowed a ·faster' bike. couple of years " P er s on a 1 Many believe that B t?"

I - - - - - - -- -----this is due to the es · Beat .. .beat... beat... numrrous aerodycnqutred.

"Nah, not even close. All I got namic aids that are so freely availwas a sore arsc. Right, that settles it, I'm gonna start domg some proper training .. .''

able now and so moves are afoot to ban them.

I actually think that instead it

So. the bad news for all those people that seek to buy their way into personal hests is that sports science is the real reason why runners are going faster and triple jumpers are hop, sk1p and JUmping further. Jonathan Edwards on steroids? Come on, behave yourselves, the bloke doesn't even drink!

reflects the fact that the previously mystical world of sports science is now accessible to the layman and the fact that powerful traming aids such as heart monitors have become very affordable.

Now you can stand in a pub after a race and hear phrases like "anaerobic glycolys1s" being used in the same breath as "see the football last night?"

I hope they do ban all the 'aerostuff in a way - it'll shut the whingers up once and for all.

Then perhaps they'll realise that

Now you can stand in a pub after a race and hear phrases like "anaerobic glycolysis" being used in the same breath as "see the football last night?" when hts cunosity got the better of him. The person in question set ofT like a demon, full of hope that a new level of performance would now be available to him. He

science no\\- enables blokes to htt each other much harder. Drugs and equtpment are no substttute for long hours spent on a frosty track over the winter, you cannot

The power of sports sctence unleashed ts amazing. In fact I often wonder whether the mcreasmg incidence of fatal lllJUries in boxing is simply because sports

it's training six days a week that makes you go fast. not the gadgets. It'll also be very interesting to see if the fast riders arc slowed down even fractionally by the down-grade in equtpment.

Personally, I don't think they wtll.

The Canaries failed once again to beat Birmingham City after facing them for the third time in five games WHEN even the opposition manager admits after a game that Norwich were by far the better side, you would expect the Canaries to have come away with all t hree points.

..

Yet, in what has become an all-too- familiar scenario both home and away, Norwich were left rueing their many m1ssed chances following Sunday's 1-1 draw at home to Barry Fry' s Birmingham City.

The Canaries are still looking for their first home win under

the· guidance of Gary Megson, but when they went 1-0 up in the 73rd minute, it looked as if Norwich were about to make amends for their dismal recent record.

Ashley Ward took the ball into the penalty area before passing to Robert Fleck, who quickly returned the favour for Ward to put a right-footed shot past the keeper, notching up hi tenth league goal of the season.

Unfortunately, orwich failed to capitalise on their advantage, and to avenge their defeat of two weeks which saw them exit

the Coca-Cola cup in a replay at St. Andrew's Park: just three minutes later, the visitors equahsed through substitute Ricky Otto's close range shot.

Megson said afterwards that he thought his side played well, but also admitted that "we've got to turn potential into wins, and qmckly". However, he IS still confident that City can get promoted, but having only six pomts from a possible 30, a return to the top flight is looking increasingly unlikely.

Meanwhile, off-the-field turmoil has continued unabated -

anti-Chase chants have been heard ringing around Carrow Road during games, and demonstrations follow every match.

There is a genuine feeling, even amongst the Chairman's supporters, that the point of no return has been reached; either he steps down or attendances wtll continue to full and the team ill continue to be caught in the cross-fire.

The tension has been further heightened by Jimmy Jones (the Vice-Chairman until late last

addressed a packed meeting of City fans and put forward his proposals for the future of the club.

In a sometimes hoshle atmosphere, inevitable as many are still wary of him after his ten years as Robert Chase's right-hand man, he promised some action within the next few days, cve11 though he was not certain that any such EGM would be successful.

He also said that Gary 1egson is too inexperienced to be manager, but would make a good as~is­ tant to Mike Walker, should be

wal.king out on the club two years ago, many would wel-

come back the silver-hatred fox with open arms, remembering

year) threatening an EGM to oust • e\'er return. Whilst some may

the success he brought the first

Chase. LaSt

time round.

he

still not have

him for

Concrete, Wednesday, February 7, 1996 19

RUN FOR YOUR MONEY! HELP is at hand for hardup students struggling to finance their sporting activities. ln order to provide financial assistance to talented UEA sportsmen 'and women, the University has just established a Sports Bursary Fund, initially of £2000, which has come from the

By Jane Horner

revenue generated by public use of the Sports Centre.

Individual bursaries of

<~p

to

moo~

ing to Keith Nicholls, UEA's

standing individuals, so I think

the year in which the

Director of Physical Recreation,

it's about time that a fund was set

awarded.

they will enable these students to

up by the University to help our

Applications will go before the

"maintain an appropriate training

sporting stars."

Any student who wishes to

Sports Bursary Panel, consisting of Keith Nicholls, Dr Matheson, the Dean of Students, and the

and competitive programme during their period of study in Norwich."

£500 will be awarded to students to help with training costs, travel

Colin Wood, the Union Sports Officer, commented "Sports

expenses, entry fees or the purchase of equipment and, accord-

clubs can't really be expected to financially support their out-

apply for a bursary will normally be expected to have participated in their chosen sport at represen-

is

Union Sports Officer, and can be submitted at any time during the

tative level, and to compete for UEA in the appropriate BUSA or

academic year. Further information and application forms can be

inter-university championships in

obtained from Keith Nicholls.

LoHery bid •continued from back

page Nonetheless, meetiugs held with businessmen early la&t week yielded an enthusiastic response, and Brian llomer, a spokesman for Norwich City Council, said that "the Council is fully supportive of the bid, and has been right from the

start."

Once the proposals have been resubmitted, UEA will have to

Defeat Dents Championship Challenge with no inspiration forthcoming,

Yet Nicholls is quietly confident, and believes they will be given the nod over similar

the score remained 1-0 to Essex.

requests from areas which have

This result means that UEA's aspirations of becoming this year's division champions have

not been targeted by the Sports Council.

AFTER UEA's convincing 3·0 victory over Essex University In the BUSA championships, the men's first By eleven were quietly confident going into this league re-I Dan Ellis match. .

some skilful in-roads into the

dropped into the net just under the crossbar. Memories of the

opposition's defence, though to no avail.

nightmare goal let in by Peter Shilton against Germany in the

Against the run of play, Essex scored from a short corner in a

semi-finals of the World Cup came flooding back ...

fairly bizarre fashion.

The shot ballooned up off an

This goal seemed to shake the home side rather badly, which

nitely had the upper hand.

Adrian TufT went close to scor-

The hocky firsts in action

PHOTOS: NIK DAVV

been some~hat dented, and the side must now regroup and get back to winning form.

few of UEA's present students will actually benefit - the earliest poSliible completion date for

The second half was not much of an improvement, with both

I suppose it has to be when I swam for East. Norfolk in the County Championships, when I was still at High School.

In a new series of Interviews, Scott Tompsett talks to some of UEA's sporting superstars about their past, present and future. First up is Mike George, who bares all about his swimming.

When did you take up swimming?

When I was three or four years old, I started to have lessons, but I didn't actually join a club until I wa·s about eight.

Which is your preferred stroke?

100 metres backstroke.

What motivates swim?

you

to

I like to keep fit, but it also gives me the chance to travel all over the county for competitions.

What has been your funniest or most embarrassing experience related to the sport? lt must be at a gala, where I broke my fist in a fight, but still managed to swim a personal best later in the day.

Other than swim· m , what other

in Norwich, if we meet all the criteria it will be very difficult

However, even if the Lottery Sports Commission does look favoucably on the request, very

alleged behavioural anomalies, despite his polite but firm protestations of innocence.

sides displaying poor levels of

He stated "Having said they want to see this kind of facility

indeed for them to turn us down."

was all too apparent in the scrappy tackling and wasted possession which culminated in captain Mark Shurmer's sending off for

What, so far, has been the high point of your swimming career?

cessfuL

hockey and sportsmanship, and

Men's Hockey: UEA 0·1 Essex

Both sides began by playing

August before discovering whether they have been suc-

advancing defender' s stick, and

ing on several occasions with fast moving shots, whilst Hilmi made

attractive hockey but UEA defi-

keep their fingers crossed until

Shurmer- off, but still smiling

the 18·month construction programme will be mid-1998.

sports do you enjoy?

I like rugby, but I also quite enjoy watching athletics.

What hopes do you have for the future? Do you have any particular ambi· tions?

Yes . I want to try and improve my personal best times at some point, maybe at a competition in Cardiff in March.

VISIT TH~ COPY SHOP OPPOSITE THE SPORTS CENTRE

Oen 9.30am • 4pm Monday to Friday Ring Rebecca or lan on 3527 (593527 off campus) for all your copying requirement • in colour or black & white

A Whole New Ball Game ••• UEA'S dreams of being a centre for sporting excellence have taken a step towards becoming reality, writes Jane Homer.

As reported in Concrete back in January last year, UEA has submitted a bid to the National Lottery for funding to build a state-of-the-art sport complex.. But now, thanks to the Sports Council recently naming Norwich as

_Pi_ra_te_s_s_a_il_o_n_t_h_ro_ugh the Hurricane

one of 70 areas of "sporting and social deprivation", the amount which UEA itself needs to ratse has fallen from the origmal 35% of the £7 million total, to just I 0%, or £700,000.

If the Lottery gives the go-ahead, the construction of a brand new sports centre on the land adjacent to the alreadybuilt international-standard hockey pitches and athletics track would give UEA better sporting facilities than any other British university, This centre would house a 25 metre swimming pool, one of the largest indoor sports halls in the country, a huge fitness room, a climbing wall and a martial arts room, along with sports science support for top perfom1ers and a centre for coaching.

The bid has to be resubmitted on April 30, and by then UEA must have proved that the proposals have the support of the public. To this end, local authorities, schools and sports clubs have been contacted, and already five sporting bodies have promised to base their local leagues at the new complex..

However, by the end-of-April deadline the University must also have the £700,000, either in the bank or in pledges from local businesses and this could prove more difficult. UEA 's Director of Physical Education, Keith Nicholls, who has masterminded the bid, admitted that "to raise that amount of money in two-and-a-half months will be touch and go".

•continued on page 19

PHOTO NIK DAVY

American Football: UEA Pirates 27 - 0 Herts Hurricanes After a less than inspiring start to the season, an intimidating defensive display coupled with a crushing offensive game ensured that UEA continued their winning streak and kept alive their hopes of making the playoffs.

By llaving lost the1r opening two matches. the Pirates then recorded victories against Oxford (34-12), Reading (34-ll) and Aston (34-6), a trend maintained against Hertfordshire's Hurricanes.

having to play both ways. Therefore the Pirates' defence was able to contam the

Morgan and one each to Miles lnnes and Arik Bredeindeik.

run, and the Herts Quartcrback was

Last Sunday's game against Surrey

picked off no less than four times This allowed the offence to enjoy great

was cancelled due to the weather, but the committee are hastily trying to rearrange the fixture, as a wm would vtrtually

Matt lngram

field position, and the scoring was opened by Ncil M organ's one yard

ensure a playoff berth. If not, the Pirates

In truth the Herts team was not a strong one, with their only offensive threat, GB linebacker Matt Coppinger

touchdown reception.

QB Andy Ennis had another gn:at day,

will have to beat Cambridge in the last game of the season, something they have

throwing for four touchdowns, two for

not managed for a number of years.

One. small room available

10 m ins from City Centre Only £34 per week

the students' landlord