THE GUARDIAN/ NUS STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE
Top UEA writers Chris Bigsby and Malcolm Bradbury give Concrete the low-down on their latest books
YEAR 1995
All the latest films, gigs, books, and plays, PLUS Competitions galore,
WIN! WIN! WIN!
The chaos continues
STUDENTS LIVING in the beleagured Mary Chapman Court are again demanding tighter security. Despite repeated promises by UEA chiefs and City Council bosses to improve the situation, little bad been done. The late t incident to occur at the residences in Duke Street involved a car exploding in the underground car park. This was a flash-back to a similar occurence, reported by Concrete in April 1993, when students became increasingly worried about security when cars were damaged. Vandals have now been left to run amok amongst the vehicles. In January 1995, 22 rooms in Mary Cbapman Court were ransacked, despite warnings published in Concrete and voiced by the tudents. Residents have also bad to endure a flasher, a stripper, and barrassment from intruders at the site. After making the headlines three times, dithering UEA bosses paid for the fitting of locks on windows and balcony doors. However, there has been no improvement to the car park and plans are still uncertain. The City Council, who own the site, assured students at the beginning of the year that CCIV and a simple card sy tern would be installed. So far, nothing has been done, but the Deputy Dean of Students, Linda Shepherd said the incidents at Mary Cbapman Court are a "growing concem." "I think the Council has agreed for the work to go ahead," be said, "but it is behind schedule." "There will be security cameras in the car park and 10-15 spaces. Permits will be allocated to students," she added. Norwich City Council were unavailable for comment, but one resident, Ellen Dickinson (EAS1), called for action to be taken immediately. "Residents are concerned about their safety," she said. "Many feel increasingly isolated from the protection of the University." However, security supremo Maurice Morson said that moving staff to Mary Cbapman Court would undermine his commitment to security on campus. "In the car park we have no jurisdictioo", be said, "I'd love to provide a permanent security patrol at Mary Chapman Court and University Village. "But what I give to Mary Chapman Court I take from the campus and I can't afford to do that. "AI the moment we respond by visiting University Village and Mary Chapman
Accommodation bosses sleep STUDENTS LIVING on the largest University residence have been left angry and distressed after finding their rooms riddled w· bed bugs despite the University baving known of the pf8ts for several months. Two blocks (E and 'F) f Waveney Terrace have reportt\1 ~nfestation which has lead to stude,nts being covered in bites, some as many as 27 times. The present problem follows on from a spate -of isolated incidents reportec! in M~ 1995 and during the sum'mel' monthS. Union Welfare Officer, Paul threa ned the Donnelly, Accommodation Office in summer that be would publicise the problem if immediate action was not taken. "I warned them that if they didn't sort it out, I'd make slire everyone knew about it," be said. Students on Doors EZ and F2 of Waveney Terrace repo ed the problem yet again in $be week beginning September 30, and were lnto Nelson subsequently mo Court Guest Suite, but returned to their rooms a few days later to 6nd bugs crawling up the walls. Failure to eradicate the bugs has raised questions concerning way the rooms were treated over the summer vacation. Paul Donnelly cla~_s ~bllt the workmen brought Ui to deal with the problem failed to do so, and did not complete the job ~rly~ "I told the AccommodatiO§ ~ce about it over the summer. Maintenance were contacted and it was thought that they were doing the work, but they obviously
Cimex /ectu/arius: wreaking havoc on Waveney Terrace
weren't doing enough," he said. .~e problem was here 18 months UEA maintenance returned to ' SOrt • ago. It re-occured last year and then . \ out the present problem, but P,aul ._~ ~!JI over the summer. The remaines sceptical. ~ ~igation hasn't worked," be "The University seems to haxe ;_added. "Waveney. would have been brought in some dodgy eo mpan • If- shut down if it had been a hotel." the council department of Health Director 0 ,. Residences and And Safety had done it there would Services, Jenny''~rant, declined to have been a 100% success rate," he comment on any matter relating to said. the bed bugs 6asco, but Lawrence
-·.
Daly, Accommodation Centre Manager, answered Paul's critimms by saying that the City Co~l been informed. ~r Council indicated that they would (ollow tb same treatment as
us," h~ saldo ·-
However, ~ when Concrete approached the Department of Health And Safety, its spokesman