Concrete issue 126 16 05 2001

Issue 126 ·Wednesday, May 16, 2001

STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR

FREE

Students attack agencY.'s dodgy_gractices But LLT student, Maria has blasted her bosses for the poor conditions of wor1<.

by KATIE HIND News Editor

INVESTIGATION

ANGRY students have slated a local temping agency for its sharp employment practices. Maria Nikita and Corina Giacomello have accused Aptus formerly known as Initial Personnel - of a string of unacceptable working procedures. The allegations include:

• Not paying workers for the full time worked • Not telling them when shifts were cancelled • Sending them to food fact~ rles without hygiene checks • Overloading minibuses used to transport students • Not giving out paysllps • Leaving students waiting for

hours for lifts home • Avoiding the UEA pick-up point If they have too many workers on the buses • Reverse charges phone calls to arrange shifts The company employs dozens of students to wor1< in factories all across Norfolk, and provides them with transport to and from wor1<.

Chicken "I was told to wor1< at the chicken factory , but I can 't because I haven't had a health check," she complained. "For the first few days I wor1<ed there, they were putting 20 instead of 16 people on the bus, so I was sitting on the floor," she said. And second-year student Corina has hit out at Aptus bosses for not picking her up when she had finished a night shift. "They left me in Attleborough at 7am and wouldn't come to pick me up, but luckily someone gave me a lift. When I confront-

ed them they said they had two buses that day and didn't know who was on what bus." "They didn't care," she said. Aptus Manager, lan Fik denies the accusations - and believes his firm operates fairly. "I haven't heard of any of these problems, so I would have to speak to the students in question as the old manager left two weeks ago," said Mr Fik.

Fault And he insists the problems are not his fault - claiming that the students are to blame too. "The payslips are not always received as students just give us their address as the University of East Anglia and buses are full because people just tu m up for shifts without let-

NEW LIBRARY: RISING FROM THE ASHES

• Shifts cancelled at short notice • Minibuses too full • Workers and factories misled over hours • Students left stranded at remote locations ling us know." But a Concrete undercover investigation confirmed that the company is engaged in some poor practices. Our reporter signed up to wor1< with Aptus, and was sent to wor1< in a wine packing factory.

Bullying Once there she faced bullying by factory bosses to wor1< longer shifts than those arranged with Aptus, and was offered transport to and from the site on

Builders put the final touches to Norwich's £60m Millennium Library, between the city's market and the Theatre Royal, and due to open In September. The previous Central Library was destroyed by fire. A separate replacement for the Norfolk Studies Library will be built at County Hall and Include records from UEA's Centre for East Angllan Studies and Film Archive.

Railcards

overpacked mini buses. "We were put into a really awkward situation, because the factory had been told by Aptus that we would wor1< longer hours than we had agreed."

Nowhere "We were in the middle of nowhere, and there was no way for us to get home," she said. "In the minibuses, there were three people sitting on seats meant for two. There were seatbelts, but there was no way you could use them."

Exploited: Maria Nikita and Corina Giacomello

Mobile phone

2 NEWS

Concrete

www.con c rete-onli n e.co .uk

WEDNESDAY, MAY

16. 2001

BAG

SNATCH POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a bag snatch on t he The Avenues. A cyc li ;,t stole the bag fro m a 63-year-o ld woman as she walked dO\\ n the road toward, UEA. before head ing down Lovelace Road. The \ictim was left un hurt but badly shaken by the experience. The a11ack took place at aroun d 3pm on Thursday, Ma y 3. 200 I. and po lice desc ribe the cyc list as male. whi te . 5'9"' of medium with sho rt shave n dark hair. Aged arou nd I~ year;,. the cyclist was weari ng dark clothi ng and rid ing an old pushbike. Any wi tnesses shouId call PC Da ll as at Bethel Street on Norw ich 768769. or phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 I I I.

Rent costs soar

but Uni still sav.. thev.' re a bargai 1 By KATIE HIND News Editor

UNIVERSITY bosses have insisted that UEA students are lucky to have such cheap rents - despite the price of accommodation rising way above inflation.

LCiB OFFICER ELECTED THE LGB society will have their say on the Union Executive after Sarah Prior was elected to the post of LGB Officer. In the first quorate LGB AGM in recent history, the former LGB Publicity Officer collected nearly 95% of the votes. Second Year SOC st udent, Sarah is looking forward to working on links with the society and co mmittee.

Expensive: Nelson Court

graduate stud e nts c lub u

RO BI N PHI LIPS TRIO

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Di rector of Res ide nces and Services. Jenn y Grant beli eves that UEA student s are not ha rd done by claimin g th at rents here are cheaper than other uni versi ties. newer residence;, also have loans rents and food. All money raised "' In addi tion to loo king at the facoutstanding on them from whe n from the ren t increases in req uired tors affec tin g EA's re nt s we they were bui lt and the cost of these to cover co>ts."' she added. examined student re nts in other uni has been largely transferred to th ose versit ics and found that our charges Th e reb utt al co mes after res idences rather spread over all conti nue to be below average for Concrete revea led the Uni ve rsit y's res id ences as it was prev iou;, ly."' decis ion to increase residence bi ll s Englis h, non-London uni versiti es:· by more than eve r before. said Poll y. sai d Ms Grant. And she insists that University From September. residents in Subsidised ch ief>- do all the) can to keep cost> Ne lson Court and Constab le Terrace will be paying out a masBut she maintains by hik ing up low. the prices fo r the en-suite fac il itic.,. sive £63.2 1 per week - which is Income nearly £6 mo re than this academic prices for oth er res idences will be kept low. "'During the Easter and summer year. "'This mcam tha t Ne lso n and Uni on Welfa re Ofticcr. Po ll y vacatio ns. we gc m:ratc additi onal Constab le rents are less subs idised M01·gan believes the shal..e up is due income by ho lding a number of by ot her residence' and thus to th e large amount of interest in the conferences. Thi-, is normal pracensures that "e can l..eep rents for popu lar halls. tice for most uni\'ersities and the other residence;, a' IO\\ as pos"'Thi; rclkcts the high demand students benelit by this additional ;,ible: · she added. for Nelson and Con-,tablc. The income being used to sub-,idi se

union house

live Jazz

25 may

n g

e V

happy hour 7-Bpm

n t s

Students to he p foreign tourists

By CHARLOTTE RONALDS Assistant News Ed itor

LANGUAGE won 't be a barrier to foreign visitors to Norwi ch thanks to clever UEA students.

friday

NOW YOU'RE TALKING

36 students put their lingu istic ski lls into practice when they translated exhibition information into French , Ge rman , Italian and Spanish - ready for when the refurb ished Castle Museum opens later . this year. "it's extremely beneficial to the Native speakers from oth er the museum , giving an overvi ew students' degrees at this stage on European countries came of what is contained in each . top all the other work that they are together from LLT and other Revamp doing ." departments across the "In the future it will be a unit The Castle Museum - which University to check that all display We 'll need the provided . has been closed for a year for a panels are linguistically correct. appropriate mix of native lottery-funded revamp, hopes that They have mainly been working and non-native speake rs overseas visitors wi ll now be able on welcome panels for foreign speakers," he added. to enjoy thei r visits even more. tourists in four of the galleries in And future students also look set to benefit. Dr Roger Baines, a language lecturer at UEA is thrilled with the resu lts. "This is a pilot project, but we hope to do it regularly if we can get translation briefs for th em to do," said Dr Baines.

Professional

me mb e r s

o n 1 y Thrilled: Or Roger Baines

"And it's nice for the students because it's not translating things in cla ss in abstract. it's a professional project which has a very concrete application to it."

Re-opening soon: Castle Museum

....----------Concrete

WEDN ESDAY, MAY

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NEWS 3

www.c oncrete-on li ne.co. uk

16, 2001

FAST TALK

ATHLETE and motivational speaker Roger Black will be giving a guest lecture at UEA in June. Hosted by the University's Business Innovation Centre together with local business group Last Tuesday, the talk will be held at the John lnnes Centre, and is open to students at the special price of

£5.

Union urge 'caution after

ciW sex attack

By KATIE HIND News Editor

STUDENTS have been warned to be vigilant when using taxis after a local teenager was indecently assaulted by a bogus cab driver. Union We lfare Officer, Polly Morgan , has warned stude nts to be careful after a 17-year-o ld girl was subjected to a fri ghte ning hour and a half ordeal by a sex attacke r posing as a cabbie. The gi rl fl agged down the car whic h is thought to have been d isplayi ng stolen cab signs - on Ber Stree t around midnight on Satu rday, May 5, and soon discovered it wa~ false, but wa~

unable to escape. The teen was driven to a remote area off Ipswich Road, where she was attacked. She managed to escape and hid in a fi eld until her attac ke r had driven off, before

calling the police. And now Polly has called out to at risk students to be careful before getting into a tax i. "All bl ack cabs and minicabs in Norwich are licen sed aft er a police chec k on prior convictions. Neve rtheless, a number of precautions can be taken by students when usi ng the m; · said Polly. "The most important th ing is to check the car has a yellow sign on the rear of the taxi saying that it i ~ a licensed taxi. Also, check that the num ber of the car is on the dashboard and that there is a photo ID of the driver."

Bogus "Students should also check there is a two way radio and if in doubt don't use the tax i or ring to confirm it is your taxi," added Polly. And police have appealed to any witnesses to come forward - as they fear the bogus cabbie could pounce again . "Any pe rso n who attacks a woman like thi s has the potential to do it again ,'' said Det lnsp David Greenacre of Norwich CID.

The safe way to travel: Licenced cabs

LIVE FROM THE VILlACiE Extended CCTV coverag! J!lanned for residences

VILLAGE residents can look forward to having a safer place to live after campus managers unveiled plans for extra CCTV coverage.

Proposals to install extra cameras by Larch House are currently under consideration by UEA bosses after a spate of thefts and vandalisms in the area, writes Sarah Shubinsky. The move comes following plans for the new cameras aren't lobbying from the residents and definite yet- an insists the Village the Union over fears that the is still safe in the meantime. residences are not safe from "Proposals were submitted for crime. consideration about three weeks ago, but they are still only Pinpointed proposals. There are a number of So far, three new sites for proposals and it has to be CCTV have been pinpointed - but decided to which of them money the first cameras are likely to be will be allocated," said Mr Elliott. installed by Larch House, which "The Village is currently under would cover building entrances, CCTV surveillance, with the car park and areas monitoring taking place in a surrounding Hawthorn and special control room in constant Beech Houses. contact with the security lodge University Security Co- and outside 8atrols," he added. ordinator, Ron Elliott says the And Director of Residences

and Services, Jenny Grant also emphasises that the new cameras are only plans, and depend on how much cash the University allocate to the cause. "Hopefully, we will have more cameras next academic year, but it depends on how spending will be prioritised by the University," she said.

Security boost: Village cameras

The suspect is white, in his early 40s, with grey ing cropped hair and also had a hooped metal earring.

Suspect The car invol ved is believed to be either a fo ur doored Renault or BMW, with a dark stripe down the ide and a logo on the nearside pane. Anyone with any in forma tio n shou ld contact Det Con Trevor Mu rph y on 01 603 768769 or Crimestoppers on 0800 5551 1 I.

CAB SAFETY CHECKLIST • Check that the car has a yellow licensed taxi sign • Check the car's license number is on the dashboard • Check there is a two way radio. • If in doubt, ring to confirm that that is your taxi. • Use only well-known firms

For more details on the June 4 event, contact the Centre on Norwich 493933 or visit their website at www.norbic.com. The event backs up the Centre's first student competition to find the best student business plan . Sponsored by HSBC, Lovewell Slake, Jarrolds and NW Brown , the winner could see their plan going on to become a fully fledged company with a £2000 grant to get off the ground. "The idea is to encourage entrepreneurship at UEA. The winner will recieve cash and access to professional business advice, which is invaluable in making a new business a success," explained Innovation Manager, Susan Lester. To enter, submit a short brief (up to 2 sides of A4) of your idea by the end of July. For full details, visit the BIC centre website.

4 NEWS

www.concrete-online.co .uk

Concrete

W EDNESDAY, M AY

16, 2001

Buried treasure A GERMAN man got a big surprise when he uncovered a Volkswagen Beetle whi le digging up his garden. The car, which had been buried by its previous owner after rows with reg istrati on official s, started first time when a new battery was f itted.

Rubbish sex

OFFICIALS wh o have set up cameras to catch fly tippers in Kentucky have 'discovered ' that it is a popular spot for courting couples. They were shocked to find that one man had vi sited t he spot with four different women . A spokesperson said that they were keeping a close eye on the matter.

• Union accused of forcing through constitution

Wheely drunk A DRUNK driver stopped at a police station to ask directions, announcing " I' m very drunk" . Officers watched in amazement as he swerved into incoming cars, before eventually coming to a halt on the pavement and falling out of the car. They later discovered that he was already banned from driving.

A FURIOUS Union Officer has accused fellow members of Executive Committee of breaking their own regulations in order to force through the new constitution.

Posh and ex

ha s las h ed o ut a ft e r th e Ill!\\ ruleboo k w a s passed b y S tudents F o rum. despite not e no ug h of its me mhe rs tu rnin g u p for th e

By KATIE HIN D

A ngry Co m mu nit y a nd Internati o na l Offi cer. Tohy Matthe w s

A 50-YEAR-OLD steelworker calle d David Beckham has decided to go ex-directory after a barrage of phone calls. The Grandad looks nothing like the soccer ace, but he is still asked t o appear at events.But he is aware that he must be something of a disappointment. " You can tell that they are expecting their hero, not some baldi ng , middle aged man ," said Mr Beckham.

m ee tin g to count. Instead or scrappi ng th e meetin g - w hi c h coul d be the bst one this year - member' w ho had no t atte nded th e

prcviou..., three

meeting~

made q uorate h ) sacki ng member' for not co m ing to th ree mee tings. The Union General Ma nager to ld me mbers o f Fo rum to \O te them o il. \\ hich meant the pe rcen tage to ma ke

\\ere

th e meeting quoratc \\·a~ Jcs!'l ... ..,aid

sac ked in orde r to e nable Forum to reach quo rac) and go ahead .

Working late

Toh).

.. It ':-. disgu...,ti ng and it has now se t

Removed

A 106-YEAR-OLD woman has been sent a job seekers form telling her to get a job. The pensioner, who lives in a nursing home, opened the envelope thinking it would be a birthday card . She has dec ided to decli ne the appl ication .

But under current L.' nion rule. a kgitimatc meet ing has to take place heforc stude nts can he removed from Forum. .. The meeting 11as lilcgall )

..___________ 1

a p reeedc nt for the fu ture an d something has to be clone ahout it. The Union 11crc just so des parate to get the Constitution through:· r\nd he is call ing for s tude nts to sign a peititi on 111 an attempt to pers uade th e U ni o n to a rra nge anothe r meeting and has

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threate ned to res ig n if th e) 11 on ' t take part.

WE CUT THE PRICE YOU CUT OUT THE VOUCHER

··A spec ial Fo rum meeting must be ca ll ed so we can If) and re\erse the situation and if thi s fa il s the n I "i ll resig n a' an E\cc utive O ffi ce r... he warned . But Un ion Co mmuni c ati o ns Oflieer. Wa) ne Barnes den ies th at the mo \ c to pass the const it utio n breac hes reg ul ations. .. The qu oracy fo r the meeti ng was 27 peo ple . Whe n the li rst ite m

STUDENTS have been left thirsty after the Union Bur cut its weekend opening hours. Studen ts are outraged that th e Union-run drinking hole decided to shut its doors on Sunday afternoons an d not open until 6pm instead of 4pm, writes Rhia nnon Oavies.

BONUS PRINT

The Union blame the two hour loss of drinki ng time on a lack of claim that managers, and changing the times is th e only way to carve up the hours - despite doubli ng up managers on weekday shifts. But students were appalled at the closure, which will leave them dry in th e summer month s.

ft 616831 3 White Lion Street (30 seconds from Virgin Megastore or 2 minutes from the market) -~ )n u n

film onh no t J\;Hl.l hk '' 11h A PS Otl t: l flll l ,t\;u lahlc 111 n'llJUtll: lH' II \'-tlh illl) othe-r o tkr Oll c.: r ~m I ~ \~lltd \\tl h th• " \(llll:hl:t. () ll cr C'\ plrl~\ o n Ju ne JO. ~00 1

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Change B ut U ni on Com muni ca ti o ns O ffi ce r. Wa) ne Barnes. ad milled that bill for the c ha nge had n01 been tolled up be fo re deciding on the move. ··S wdc•Hs Forum decided that UUEAS wo uld c ha nge to U EAS U. but we ha\e not yet made any estimat io ns int o cos!. We im isage that the c hange w ill occur du ring

lJ'NiQN '"'BAR"" Bm ilJ'E's

£1

OFF OUR ONE HOUR DEVELOP AND PRINT SERVICE AND A FREE REPLACEMENT FILM!*

Un ion in,te~d nf the eurrcnt title. the Union of Ul:A Swden ts. The cosmetic mow \1 ill invol\c the co-.tl) replacement ol hundreds of item' bearing the Union name a nd logo. inc lud ing '>igns. c lothes a nd stationery.

BRING THIS ADVERT WITH YOU, AND GET

Resign

Funous: Toby Matthews there. therefo re the Co nstillll ion was pa"ed legitimate ly:· he 'a id. A nd he in, is ts th at the decision to get rid or Foru m members for no t aucnd in g the las t th ree meet ings does not hreak any U ni on rules. .. Peo p le we re rc mo \•ed from Foru m for no t alle nd in g th ree co nsec u tive mee tin gs a nd not sending apologies but thi s does not a h e r th e fac t that th ere " e re e no ugh peo ple the re to mak e the meeting quo rat e: · added Way ne . The Fo ru m mee ting he ld 10 pass the new Con stilllt ion a lso dec ided to rena me the Unio n - but fa il ed to look into the co st o f the move . Fro m ne>.t year the Union w ill

Closed for business: Union Bar

"it is bad , because it means if first years wa nt to go and chill out somewhere, especially now it's warmer, th ey have nowh ere to go;' complained Leigh Davies (OPT2). And she also slammed th e claim that the shorter opening times is due to a lack of staff. "I'm sure they cou ld get staff as there must be lots of studen ts

who'd like a Sunday job". But Un ion Communications Officer, Wayne Barnes defended claims the cut in opening times was unavoidable. "The hours have been reduced by two hours due to the loss of an assistant bar manager, this is the only way th e rotas will fit ," he said . And he beli eves the new opening times won 't make a huge difference : "The pub was extremely quiet during the times it is now closed for." But he pro mised that the Pub will reve rt to its previous opening times as soon as a new manager is appointed.

Concrete

WEDNESDAY, MAY

16, 2001

www.concrete-online.co.uk

UNI'S MONEY LAUNDERING Ethical investment a steP. closer

By SARAH KIDDLE

UEA has taken another step forwards to becoming the first university In the UK to boast an ethical Investment policy. Last month, members of the top-level Ethical Investment Committee met with experts from HoldenMeehan, a financial firm that specialises in ethical funds. Options were discussed for the re-investment of a whopping £2.5m into companies with a stated ethical policy, as the first step towards taking all of UEA's cash out of dodgy firms.

Campaign Finance Officer Becky Thorn, who represents the Union on the committee, is delighted by the move, which she sees as a key step in the campaign for clean funds. "Most of the remaining money UEA has is in a separate cash account and is not invested, as it is used almost immediately for expenditure," she explained. "We're hoping to focus national

media attention on the day of transfer to give a large impact and to encourage other universities to follow our lead." "Leeds University are at campaigning for ethical investment, but we' ll be the first!" added Becky. But the move still leaves other large funds associated with the university invested without any ethical criteria, including staff pension funds, which are legally separate from funds controlled by the Registry. Leo Ashford (CHE I), is keen to see the University do more. "An equal standard of living is a human right, and if there's

anything we can do to stop it, then I'm all for it," declared Leo Ashford (CHE 1).

Shares The campaign to clean up UEA's investments was kick -started by Concrete, when we revealed a research by the Campaign Against the Arms Trade that showed UEA held shares in arms company GEC in January 1999. Students and staff then joined together to set up the Not In Our Names campaign group, which succesfully lobbied the University's controlling Council to commit to ethical investment wherever possible.

DEV-ASTATION

A FREAK flood has left University bosses with a bill of over £10,000.

amazed," explained Martyn Newton, UEA's Building Maintenance Manager.

Maintenance staff were called to the ARTS 1 building at 4.30am last Thursday after porters discovered a burst fire hose Nuisance had caused gallons of water to flow down stairs and into offices, writes Nick Henegan. "What makes it worse is that Plumbers and electricians And Estates staff are annoyed the building was the last to quickly isolated the source of the by the bizarre circumstances of contain these hoses and they flood and turned off electricity the flood. were due to be removed in the supplies but failed to stop "The fire hose that split and summer." computers and offices in DEV caused the flood was only "The water had a few hours to and LLT from being ruined. checked in January and it was make a nuisance of itself, if it had declared fine. The inspectors told happened during the day we Destroyed us that they have never heard of would have been able to isolate DEV was the worst effected a hose breaking like this. We are it quicker," he added. with ten computers in a postgrad study room - each worth £1000 - destroyed. There was also damage to the DEV General Office and a few faculty offices where electrical equipment and carpets were spoilt. "Quite a lot of electrical equipment has been affected but hopefully we can salvage some of it. 11 has been annoying but hopefully everything should be back to normal soon", she added. Wrecksd: Computers in DEV research room

NEWS I

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& NEWS

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www .conc ret e-online. co.uk

Concrete WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2001

KEEP IN

TOUCH THIS summer's graduates will be able to keep in touch long after they leave UEA, thanks to the University's decision to produce a yearbook. In the first project of its kind, UEA Society bosses decided to create the directory which will list names and contact details of most graduates - in a bid to help students stay in touch after they leave Norwich. The book will include details of all graduates except those who have asked to be excluded from the listings. Students can order it in advance of Congregation for £5, or pick it up on the day for

£7.50. " We 're trying to do it as cheaply as we can," com mented Andrew Hinkley, UEA's Publicatons Manager. For more details email hayley.gerrard @uea , phone 592130, or call into Registry reception .

Date set for Union House revamp_ Students are pleased 11 ith the

By KATIE HIND

SPORTING CHANCE

STUDENTS can look forward to a re-furbished Union plans - 11 hi eh the) belie\'<.' will he more comenient for the111. House when they return after the summer break, thanks .. 1 had to queue for ages at last to a £1 00,000 project. year's kc Breaker uiscn for the toi

IN a bid to encourage more students into watersports, Union sports bosses are offeri ng free trials of three of the most popular pursuits. Kayaking, sailing , and windsurfing wi ll all be available for free trials on June 5, 6, and 7. For more details, contact Val Baker on Union House Allworthy Reception , Les upstairs in Union House , or Vanda Turrell in the Sportspark.

The ncv. facili ties 1\ill be how,ed in an extension 10 the taxi turnaround side of Union I louse. space for cnh and clubs and snci The O\'erhaul. which is aimed at ctic~. impro1 ing facilities for gig nighb. Union Coinmunications Offi ce r. wi ll inc lude an extension of the Wayne Barnes admit s that th e female toilets. imprmcmcnts arc needed. Plans will abn sec the introdu.:11011 of a nev.. permanent Queue doa~room. iitstcad of the ma~eshift .. Girls have to queue for ages to ones v. hi eh arc pro1 idcu h) the go to the toilet at the Inomcnt and it Limon at the moment. Storage space 11ill also he is emharra ... -..ing. no '' OIH.k r the) go into the men's.'' said Wa~ ne. incrcasc<.J. '' hich v. ill lca\'c more

lets. so it 11 ill he gnod to ha1c some

more. we also had wlca1c our coats at home SO the C\l<; nsion of the cloakroom is a goou idea:· said (luljeed Sandhu (li\S I ). i\nd LLT student. "iigcl Rouse agn:e~ . .. it does n~ed to be made bigg~1. it coulu he qune good. If it prmc;. . . ul·cc...,-.,ful ._md gi\t.~.., .... tulknh more space then it will be wo!lh the mone) that has been put uno it:· he ''Ild.

SECOND TIME LUC NUS Officer elected

Cut & /3/ovv Dry

We are here, above the Chinese Medical Centre (the white door)

Bank Plam

London

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THE final addition to next year's Union Executive team was at last decided in a election that attracted less than half a percent of the student population to vote.

Martin Elliott, who nicknamed himself th e 'Rage' beat off four other candidates to take the role of NUS Officer in the poll, writes Sarah Kiddle. "As we saw when Toby lost, it But despite the 1ncreased pubcan be quite a political thing , ltcity surrounding the post because he had Conservative following Toby Matthews' defeat next to his name." to RON last month the turnout to vote was tiny. But students believe that the reason only 276 people voted in Second year SOC student, the ballot is a lack of knowledge Martin Elliott is delighted , but about the Union. admits many of his votes came "I didn't really understand what from his friends . I was voting for. I went into Union "Part of it is how many people House and two guys were telling you can get to vote for you , me to vote for them, but I didn't because most people can't be really understand what they repbothered to vote," he said . resented ," commented Sieve And he accepts that politics is Davis (EAS 1 ). to blame for the post being up for Others feel there are too many grabs for the second time.

New NUS Officer- Ma r rm Elliorr

words and not enough innovation in the candidates ' manifestos. "We need more originality, people willing to give tl a shakeup. "We need to get the Union run by the students for the students," said Mikhail Pearlman (EAS 1) .

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Concrete

WEDNESDAY, MARCH

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NEWS7

www.concrete-online.co.uk

16, 2001

HOW HAVE THEY DONE? Have the Sabbs k!P.t their election .P.romises? By NICK HENEGAN

TWELVE months ago four new Sabbatical Officers were elected. Their promises of better Union services and and accountability wooed voters but what have they actually achieved? With the end of their term of office approaching ,Concrete decided to find out. We dug last year's manifestos out of the archive and compared what the Sabbs promised with what they succeeded in doing. The results were mixed. Although the Sabbs managed to make some difference to students' lives they failed to match many of their pledges with actions. But what the results do show is that life as a Sabb isn't just sitting in an office drinking coffee: it involves reading Concrete as well.

Who?

Wayne Barnes, Communications Officer.

Polly Morgan, Welfare Officer

Emma Price, Accademic Oficer

Becky Thorn, Finance Officer

Manifesto Pledges

• Reaching out to unrepresented students and building bridges with NAM. • Widening access to higher education and delivering a better deal for students. • Eliminating fear and fight for the real needs of real students

• Campaign for Student Charter and against hidden course costs and review complaints procedure. • Implement annonymous marking and free Wednesday afternoons • Increased use of referenda and interactive participation in the Union. Constitutional review.

• Students should recieve a high quality service from commercial outlets. • Create Clubs and Socities resource room and implement blanket sponsorship for sports clubs. • Healthy commercial expansion of the Union.

Achievements

Organised a trip to London to march against tuition fees and campajgned for students to turn Scottish. Increased security and helped individual students

The new Constitution has finally been approved although dispute still surrounds it. Included is a new complaints procedure. James Platt Centre fees abolished.

Created a clubs and societies resource rOOif\ and emai l directory. Improved UFO opening hours after pressure from Concrete's Open All Hours Campaign.

Manifesto Pledges • Better support, more publicity and funding for clubs and socs. • Set up sabbs web page, put minutes on web and hold regular open forums. • Increased funds for student productions and gigs, ~ upport student media.

Achievements The Union has played a part in the relaunch of Livewire and supported drama productions whi le forums have been held on the Grads Ball.

Who?

Wayne's verdict

PoUy's verdict

Emma' verdict

Becky's verdict

"I've looked through my manjfesto and realised that I 1\aven' t achieved any of my pledges. Perhaps people should have voted for the other guy." Concrete's verdid We can only agree with Wayne on this one. Where's the sabbs web page? Meeting minutes on the web? Although clubs took his advice about sponsorship it's a shame they flouted Union policy in the process, the Hockey club' ~ deal with Time being a prime example.

" I have felt that this year has been a great learning experience and it has been a pleasure to work with so many nice people who work behind the students." Concrete's verdict How touching. Polly has doubtlessly helped countless students with their problems and helped integrate NAM students into the Union. The idea of us all turning Scottish is questionable but at least the US seemed to like it, taking it up as a model campajgn.

"When my manifesto was written I had a very slim knowledge of the Union. Now that I am more informed I think that I have been a successfuI Academic Officer." Concrete's verdict Emma has been sucessful where her two predecessors failed. After years of wrangling the new Constitution is in place but not without controversy. Although she saw that the unfair fees at the JPC were abolished, it was Concrete who exposed the injustice in the first place.

" I've been far to conscientious for my own health but I have had a good time. Accountable, accessible, available - I've been all three." Concrete's verdict Despite promjsing high quality services for students, calls for longer opcnjng hours were initially resisted. What's more, the Pub's opening hours have actuall y been reduced. As for the expansion of the Union, the Breakers site remains empty. But campajgned tirelessly for students, clubs and ethical investment.

A POWER cut caused havoc across campus after a cat crawled into a power transformer - and fried to death. A gig in the LCR was disturbed and a number of computer systems were temporarily out of use on Wednesday, May 9 at around 9.1 Opm. The loss of electricity hit homes and businesses all over the city.

ASHOT IN THE ARM TRAINEE doctors arriving at UEA's new medical school have been given a boost by a new Government grant. The medical school's main partner, the new Norfolk and Norwich Hospital has been handed an extra £675,000 for new equipment. Health services bosses have announced the cash as part of £105 million pre-election spending spree to hospitals across the country. Building work on the new School of Medicine will start at the end of May, ready for th!l arrival of the first new students into the school in September 2002. Work is almost complete on the new N&N.

AL BOOKED UP Union librarv_plan given go ahead

Try the best Indian cuisine in the City!

A PROPOSED Union Library on campus should make clubs and society information more readily available to UEA students.

Open: 12 noon- 2:30pm 6pm - midnight

Resources to be stocked include books and videos bought by societies, which are often currently only accessible to committee members, writes Sarah Kiddle. Although the budget for the venture has not yet agreed, Union bosses have decided that the home for the library will be the Advice Centre reception in Union House. They hope to follow the example of the succesful LGB library, set up last year by Finance Officer elect, Jon Cox. The new library will take in the current LGB library, as well as helpful books and leaflets from other clubs and societies. Becky Thorn, Union Finance Officer, is keen to increase awareness about Union activities.

Students publications may also be available.

Accesible And according to Becky, the library will only be a startingpoint. The plan is to gradually transfer as much material as

possible to the Union's website, making it accesible to students on campus and beyond. "This is sometimes known as progression to a community of learning," she said. "But that's quite a scary phrase for some people, she added"

Resources "There is learning and skill in many of the activities students participate in, and offering accessibility to resources which promote this will help the Union and it's members develop," she explained. She believes that the Union possesses many resources which are of use to students and those working within the Union. Suggestions inclu8e stocking information on campaigning issues, especially those of particular interest to students, such as student debt and ethical ~nvr t!1l,ent. National Union of

+ 10% discount with student ID + Parties for every occasion, with up to 50 seated in one room (166 seats total) + Hallal food available

+No smoking area +Newly refurbished restaurant +Fully licensed bar + Vegetarian food + Facilities for the disabled

Special price for eat in and take away

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Fanta 6 x 330ml

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Where to find us Opening tililes M on - Sat 8.00am to I O.OOpm Sundays I O.OOam to 4.00pm

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WATTON

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SBFOODSTORE

Earl ham Green Lane, Fiveways Ipswich & Norwich Co-operative Society Ltd. Offers subject to availabity and valid until 3/06/0 I. Photographs are for illustration only. lt is an offence to sell alcohol to anyone under or appearing to be under the age of 18.

- --.--------------------------------------------------- ----Concrete

WEDNESDAY, MAY

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LEADERS I

www .concrete-online.co.uk

16, 2001

CONCRETE

LEADERS

Issue 126

Shoddy treatment

Editor

Taxing times

James Goffin Deputy Editors

The recent sex attack on a young girl at the hands of a fake cabbie is a perfect example of how we are never quite as safe as we think we are. Norw ich may be a less violent place to live in compared to many other university cities, but that doesn't mean we can afford to be complacent. The incident should act as a warning call to all students to stay vigilant. Better to check that your taxi is the one you booked rather than nsk a repeat of such a horrific crime.

That many students have to work to finance their way through university is hardly a revelation. That many are being treated in such an underhand way really is. As our investigation this issue shows, some businesses are quite willing to exploit our financial hardship for their own means. The students involved were right to complain on behalf of themselves and others. Employment might be a necessary way of securing our academic future, but no one should have to put up with such shoddy treatment for the sake of a few measly pounds.

Adam Chapman Nick Henegan News Editor

Katie Hind Assistant News Editor

Charlotte Ronalds Features Editor

Will Halsey

Ghost town

Assistant Features Editor

Jo Locke The decision to cut the opening times of the Union Bar acts is another example of the Union putting profits before students. The bar is a business, but is run by an organisation that is supposed to exist only for the benefit of its members. Profits and student welfare can, and should, work together. Campus serv1ces on the weekend have improved , but students are st ill left with minimum facilities and entertamment . The argument that there aren't enough managers to open two hours earlier is nonsense . it 's about time we started getting the services we deserve, from both the University and our Union.

Sport s Editor

Alex Thorpe Editorial Contributors

Lyndsey Anderson Paul Bradley Sue Cripsey Rhiannon Dav1es Daniel Ell is Amy Harris Sarah Kiddle Michelle Margot Mike Milner Tim Morgan Sarah Shubinsky Steven Street Katherine Trehane Andy Vinsen Matthew Wright Ed Williamson Matthew Wright

Letters to the Editor PO Box 410 · Norwich · NR4 7TB Tel 01603 250558 Fax 01603 50682 2 · E-mail su.concrete@uea.ac. uk

Come on, play fair ... Your editorial "Driving Forward" (Concrete, Issue 125) repeats a common misconception about the impact of the Sportspark on the University car parking provision that I would like to correct. The parking needs of daytime community users ol the Sportspark is met entirely by the car park provided with Lottery funds exclusively for them at the Sportspark. These users do not have day time access to university car parks. A Lottery and planning requirement was that we provide a controlled parking area exclusively for these users so that they would not impact on existing university parking and vice versa. Any daytime pressure on the University car parks is entirely the result of university demand. Outside the working day and week when the university car parks have spare capacity they are made available to community users if the Sportspark car park is full. Keith Nicholls Director of Physical Education & Sport

had no proof that we did leave the house in a good state. - The following year, my girlfriend , Tamsin Steels (also a law student) rented a house and exactly the same thing as above happened. They had to leave their house in Mornington Crescent as the landlord had not paid the mortgage. In fear of being left with no house for her finals, she and her friends moved out into University accomodation. Sieve Wickham however threatened legal action for walking out of their contract and, guess what, refused the damage deposit repayment. I find it incredible that Steve Wickham claims the level of complaints are low, when everyone I know who rented a house from them had compaints. They may be the largest external provider of student accomodation but they are arrogant and unprofessional. I should like to share my experiences with current UEA students and urge them to boycott Kent Management. Keep up the good work at Concrete. A lot of alumni keep up to date with the goings on by logging on to the website. Russell Chambers School of Law 1994-1997

Room for improvement?

Mighty mouse squeaks back

I was a student at UEA between 1994 and 1997, studying law. I read with interest the article "They let us down", regarding Kent Management in the online version of Concrete. I rented a house from Kent Management on Portland Street during my second year (1995/1996) and found them to be very unprofessional for the following reasons : - We too were gazzumped on our preferrred house in Dover Street, Sieve Wickham informing us that the landlord did not want five law students renting the house. • Sieve Wickham was very aggressive when we entered the office on Unthank Road, leaving us in fear of reporting any problems to him. • We did not receive our damage deposits (£155) back when we vacated the house even though it was left in a good state of repair. After leaving we

While reading the latest issue of Concrete I was amazed to see the name and flag of my country of origin • Armenia ("Armenia Dreamin'", Issue 125). With interest I read on, but was slightly hurt by some of the remarks made. Armenia was described as a mickey mouse side and in all fairness to you, I can see how you have come to that conclusion. lt is a poor country as your reporter described, but in no way can the struggle of the country be so easily dismissed. To me and most Armenian people, it is a huge achievement for Armenia to be playing in the World Cup qualifiers. To us it partly simplifies our endless bravery to survive the brutal 1916 genocide in which 1.5 million of our people were massacred, no help was received from other countries, and until now was dismissed. In trying to build up our country from scratch with no

Photographers

help, then suffering a major earthquake in 1988, the country can not afford to rebuild their cities, so it is now in the state your reporter saw it to be in . However, I would like to thank your reporter for getting to know the Armenian people on his visit and for quite correctly finding them to be extremely friendly and hospitable to others! Mainly, I want to say that by no means is our football team a "Mickey Mouse side". but one that has suffered terrible tragedies others couldn't even begin to imagine, but they stuck by their own hopes and dreams to get where they are, representing their country which almost did not survive. I would describe them as a mighty mouse side, and am sure they will keep fighting on. See you in Wales in September! Lara Kevorkian

8102

Red in the face (and hair ... ) In response of the article "The perils of the ginger gene" (Concrete, Issue 125), I feel I had to write in to express my thoughts on the issue. I am actuall y a true readhead, but due to my negative experiences prior to coming to university, I decided to dye my hair. Many of the comments from UEA students have just confirmed my fears of the prejudices held by society today. We must learn not to judge each other on hair colour, race, religion or profession. it's what's inside that counts, and as a physiotherapy student, I am aware that we have to treat all individuals equally. Steven Morely OPT1 I'm a third year BIO student who has just finished my dissertation on the origin of modern humans, and I read with great interest the article by Lyndsey Anderson on gingers. There were a few errors there that really pissed me off, as it shows you have done no reading at all .You made two glaring errors (Aian Partridge stylie!). Firstly modern humans have not been around for a "mere" 50 million years. Anatomically modern humans have been around for about 250,000 years. Secondly neanderthals have not been around for 100 million years; try 200,000 years to 30,000 years

Elin Jones Will Benthall Proofreader

Fiona Shearer Advertising Manager

Clare Hamilton-Eddy Distribution Manager

Steve Quirke

Concrete is published by UUEAS Concrete Society. © 2001 Concrete. ISSN 1351·2773. Opinions ex pressed are not necessarily those of the Publisher or Ed1tor. Use of the name The Event IS by arrangement with the copyright holders. Planet Zog Ltd. No part of this newspaper may be reproduced through any means without the express permission of the Editor. Printed by Eastern Counties Newspapers. Thanks to Union House Stewards and everyone at ECN Thorpe. it's been stressful. knackering. and a lot of fun. and I couldn 't have done it without my fantastic team. Cheers m'dears. I'll miss you all. Merc1. et au revoir. ago. If they were that old there would be no gingers at all, cos all the neanderthals would have been scoffed by dinos. (Perhaps not a bad thing, bu t being slightly ginge myself, I shouldn't say too much.) This just illustrates that people doing crap degrees know shite! They should bloody well do a bit of research in between banging on about social problems and watching daytime TV cos they ain't got shite to do! Oh well, I can't believe the crap that you allow to be printed. The guys in fleeces and rucksacs will be in uproar. Hannah Seath

810 3 Ps. Apart from that love the paper. Could we have more on the lovely Chessa Hawks? Like a full size nudie with his willy out?

Letters should be addressed for the attention of the Editor, Adam Chapman. Letters must include contact details, but we will consider anonymous publication. We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity as neccessary.

- Concrete wi~hes. all lts·:· r~ader~:~~a · fa~(~st'lc summer .:.. see you · In.Septem-b er ---

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www.concrete-online.co.uk

Concrete

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WEDNESDAY, MAY

16, 2001

ove For some people, sex isn't just fun. lt's a compulsion, and one that takes over their lives. Lyndsey Anderson investigated the disorder and talked to some sex junkies ... he recent Concrete sex survey showed that UEA students like to have their fair share of sex, and for some, more than their fair share. I know there's some lucky person out there using up my designated quota, but that's by the by. But without doubt, being constantly in and out of bed is a stereotype commonly attached to students and I'm sure we could all name a few friends who suitably live up to this nymphomaniac image. Despite the fact that for a lot of us our sexual exploits are dinner time conversation (or perhaps post-LCR for those with dodgy stomachs), for some, sex goes too far and becomes a serious yet not widely recognised addiction. Sex addiction is not, in fact, uncommon, but unfortunately it has a similar or perhaps even stronger stigma attached to it than other addictions. For most, discussions about sex take a light-hearted tone, and anything that strays away from what is considered normal becomes a taboo subject and is ignored. The problem, as with all addictions, is that it is taboo, so it is swept under the carpet. What, then, is sex addiction? In short, it is a steady and progressive move from healthy sexual behaviour to a stage where sex has totally taken over your life. 11 often starts with a strong interest

in pornography or masturbation or perhaps just a different attitude in a relationship, but it soon becomes dangerous. Behaviour becomes compulsive and the sufferer becomes powerless to stop it. For example, sufferers may start masturbating

' ' Addicts start to look for sexual situations in the workplace or while shopping. ~=~

more frequently and in locations they would not have used before. They may start to look for sexual situations in everything they do, such as in the workplace or while shopping. This powerlessness soon leads to shame, as the sufferer's behaviour becomes more and more frequent. Shame in turn leads to self-loathing and the only way to remove these feelings is to behave sexually, for that takes the pain away, thus perpetuating the problem. And the time and energy taken up by such an addiction often leads to the loss of relationships, jobs and in many cases ends in arrest, as the need to satisfy the urge means sufferers cannot wait until you are in private. There are also a variety of different

Come and join in {/~fp Car the :,I--~ Chase at -- ___

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needed the feeling and while I was doing it, it types of sex addiction such as (sado)machochism and voyeurism, and sufferers do not necessarily made the shame go away. I know it doesn't sound display all of the characteristics mentioned above. like it makes much sense but it's similar to alcoWith so many different types of addiction and it holism. An alcoholic doesn't drink because he's being so difficult to identify or admit to, treatment is thirsty, he just wants to feel drunk." awkward. As with all addictions, the sufferer has to Ultimately, facing up to the addiction was how have the desire to stop acting out this compulsive Sieve gained control over the problem. behaviour or the treatment will fail. Sufferers "I got to the point where it was ruining my life," undergo individual psychotherapy with a sex therahe admits. "lt was stop or commit suicide. I knew I pist to establish the cause of the addiction. Sex had a son on the way so I felt I must get better, I addictions often result from a feeling of unfillfulended up spilling out the whole story to a friend of ment in some area of the sufferers' life as opposed mine. She didn't act disgusted or think I was a perto from the interest in sex itself. Discovering the vert she just said it must have been really hard for root of this lack of fulfilment is a massive step me, this validated my feelings and let me know towards recovery. Most sex addiction councillors that I wasn't a freak I just needed help." "I completed the 12-step plan, which worked use a programme called the 12-step plan to treat really well for me and while the urges have not the addiction. Many of these programmes have a strong spiritual connection and recovery is linked totally gone away, I can control them." Sieve emphasises his story is not unlike that of to finding religion. However, there are now several programmes that follow the same format but do other sufferers and that the biggest step to take is not involve religion. recognising the problem as sex addiction sooner The 12-step plan first involves acknowledging rather than later. Unfortunately, spotting the addiction at an early the problem and acknowledging that it is hurting you and others. it then attempts to discover the stage is hard; how do we know when an active and source of the problem; for example, loneliness, or varied sex life is turning into a problem? While a desire for attention. The programme then encourthere are certain signs to look out for that may help identify the problem, these are by no means ages you to openly discuss the problem and come the only signs and they do not necessarily mean to a point where you can share your feelings and you are addicted. The problem may stem from feelreveal the problem to those close to you outside ing driven to always have sex in different or public the group. The final step of the plan is learning to places, or sex may simply leave you feeling alienrecognise the signs so that when you feel a preocated. 11 may take more frequency and variety to get cupation with sex developing you can control it you excited than it used to, or perhaps you may be immediately feeling the need to act on it. willingly putting yourself at risk through sex i.e. the Sex addictions can develop at a young age and risk of disease, pregnancy or violence. there does not have to be a particular significant Ultimately, it is a personal matter and only sufevent that drives you to it. Sieve, a recovering sex ferers can dictate whether it is a problem or not. addict, points to a difficult upbringing as the reason behind his sex addiction. â&#x20AC;˘ If you are worried that you be suffering from "I'd never really felt accepted by my family," he sex addiction, or if you are worried that your explains. "My father was very much into sports and interest in sex may be getting out of hand, it is I didn't really share my brother's talents for this. My best to seek help as soon as possible. Sex mother was always preoccupied with work. I never Addicts Anonymous has councillors to talk to went without anything material when I was a kid about anything you may be worries about, you but as I got older this didn't seem to be enough. can contact them on 020 8442 0026. Or for Teenage sex then developed and focussed the more information visit their web-site on problems. www.sauk.org He says: "When I was about 13 an older man ,.,...._ _.._nr.,.......- - - - - - . . , . . started to take an interest in me. 1t soon turned sexual. it never bothered me, even at the start. Sex made me feel useful, I was serving a purpose and for me it became equated with love and acceptance. "My interest in sex soon started to be about more than this man," Steve continues. 'Whenever I was feeling down, like depressed or lonely, I would behave sexually in some way, even if this man was not around. I knew I was not gay but the sex still made me feel so important. This was when the problem began to escalate." As with all addictions, Sieve's problem began to spiral out of control as negative feelings fed more negative thoughts. "I started masturbating a lot more than I used to," he explains. "I got into pornography, videos, magazines, whatever I could get my hands on. Soon I had started taking liberties with friends, which meant losing them and I was exhibiting and voyeuring. I felt desperately ashamed, especially because of what I had done to my friends but I couldn't stop. "I got to the point when I was having sex with anyone, not because I even wanted sex, I just

Concrete WEDNESDAY,

MAY

If Tony wins••• When Labour win the election • expected, the face of 8lltllh politics could be changed for ever, or so says Ed Wllllamson. ••

o the campaign's started and, rea&stically, lt looks like another fOur years of Blalt's rule. No bad thing,

you might think. But looking

deep Into the very heart of the political process, a sinister plot lies benea1tl. Oh yes. For I have it on very good authorHy, dear friends, that Mr Blalr Intends to overhaul the entire parliamentary system and tum it into (wait for it) a game show. Not content with turning !he Lords into An (Invited] Audience

Polls apart If you' re a fan of political football, then the next three weeks will be the equivalent of the World Cup. Only with the General Election, you decide who wins, says Will Halsey... t's hard to believe that four years have passed since that fateful night when John Prescott sung D:Ream's classic Things Can Only Get Better. Whether things actually have got any better will be the debate that grips the media, if not the country, for the next three weeks

as Wiliiam Hague points to

d~NI-cMMillilld_.e

failing services while hoping no one points out why they were in such a bad state in the first place. Tony Blair, meanwhile, willbe -~ hoping his son • keeps off the boozeand ~ Peter Mandelson keeps out the Then he can devote his efforts to insisting Labour have done something worthwhile in their term of Government. Charles Kennedy, meanwhile, will bumble along talking about raising taxes and not being able to win the election, and no one will take a blind bit of notice. But the problem facing all three ~ parties is that a vast majority of people may take no part in the election whatsoever. While it is generally accepted that this will hit Labour harder than most, it does no favours to anyone if the public simply don't care. From Hague's point of view, his best hope of success is a big protest vote against Blair, but it appears that feelings aren't running that high.

wrongta.

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llVsneweat venture, Who wants To SeA Fealul8 d the BdliBh

Constitution? Ho8ted by Peear Mandcllleon • who wil tRioubtedly face constant jokes from contee-

' tants about whether or not phoning a friend 18 a very good Idea • the show wiD pit the wits of those trying to get the bllle through against lhos$ who dispute them. Mandellon wlllhen try to trip !hem up with clever queetlons to ' make 8UI'81hey don't get through to Gordon Blown, who will simply hoard all their winnings anyway. Within two~ . . LlbcXA' ~wll move totak&CMt~...,.._...... ~ u:11 cfM8icl• (lotJlywSWep, with Blalr and Brown • the new 1t1n d the show, and Alastalr C8mpbell replacing Matthew Coltletl wilh hl8 hands up !heir 8nM8. OpiNan pal8 . . . .. ~Rqad by the

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10.6% swing overall to win the seats. Current polls sit at roughly 1997 levels, which suggest Blair may hold his staggering 250 seat majority. However, this may well change over the course of the campaign, and if people don't go out and vote, polls may mean very little.

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17% lead for Labour, and only Europe sees the Tories on top.

n mapping out the Conservatives' election manifesto, William Hague pointed to the idea of personal freedom while knocking 6p off a litre of petrol. Blair, meanwhile, called the election in front of screaming schoolgirls in Southwark, perhaps fulfilling a fantasy of some sort. But a more reliable source when it comes to the big issues is Mori's February poll which saw 65% state health as the biggest issue, followed by education, law and order, then taxation and Europe. Sadly for Labour, unemployment and the economy, two major successes for the party, are not high in people's priorities. On the flip side, transport isn't worrying too many voters, which will come

If, tha'lks to a minor quirk of fate, the Tories win the election, Britain could be In for a shock, or so says Adam Chapman.••

hat I am about to ask you to do takes a huge leap of

fallh. Picture the scene on the ewnlng of June 7, close your eyes and imagine the Conservative party sweeping to power In much the same way as Tony Blalr cld In 1997. William 'Hague standing up at the rostrum, with Ffion, Portillo. Wlddecombe et si at his side as shocked as !he rest of us that Britaln is as right-wing as they seemed to think we were. Yes, I know it sounds oobellevable but wortc with me hete. , trust their corn. mon sense; Hague

he idea of wasting your vote simply by registering it in a safe seat for your party is a bad messag·e when such a low turnout is expected, but students should have the option of either voting at university or in their home constituency, which could make a real difference. For example, any student with a home address in Winchester who wanted to really influence the election would be well advised to pop home on June 7, for a swing of just two votes would return the seat to the Conservatives. Similarly, in Torbay or Kingston and Surbiton, a swing of less than 0.1% would also give the seat to the Conservatives. Other close, close seats for the Conservatives include Somerton, Kettering, Wellingborough, Milton Keynes North East, Rugby, Northampton South, Eastleigh and Romford. A 1% swing in any of these constituencies would result in a Tory gain. Labour, meanwhile, will be targeting a 1% swing in Dorset South, Bedfordshire SouthWest, Hexham, Lichfield, Bury SI

states in !he ConseMdNe manifesto. Common sense? That must be a

peculialty British concept which involves leaving all sanity at the paling

door. The whole country

is fl(M so "sensibbe• that !he Dally MsiJ Is fl(M our bible, and like foot and mouth I~ sheep to the slaughter, the British people, zombie-like In their adoration for all things Hague-shaped, tk:lced !he box marked right-wing Little Englanders. Your next live years start here: y..,. 1 • A bill gets passed in the Commons stating that 81/ asylum seekers are fl(M "bogus• as dictated by Ftau Widdecomtle. Alcatraz type prisons 818 buMI up.,., dawn the Theme~ to maiiB .... that our ·Ang~o-Saxon· Wfll ol1118 rarnaln8

vibrant. The rest of Britain's black and Asian population (bar white collar professionals) are herded up Into lorries and packed off to France. We must assume that a1 people from abroad want to come to our nirvana of a country (Hmmm...)

V.. 2 • Hague secs in molon a new Mllillllto. whet8by Brilain aclually ~a land of warm beer, crlclcal gr-. and Chrilllan values. New BBC Chltln•• MaryWhlllhouee se1s out on a ~

of auggesclve reasoning, lallhlng

up Images of the "lraclllonal" way ollfa (emllng, electric lhodc lh8nlpy palientl, .. pledging allegiance to an idol of Wlllam ' Hip) during EBttEndefs. .-on& of school ~ throw out their 8 Club 7 COs for The B«rt Lynn. We cld not Ieee the empire! " .. - there... IOiniWhef8. V.. a• All British pallpOfts 818 now no lor9f nee aaaary ea the world according to Hague 11 part ot Brll8ln.. lNid Wodd war

Wll be boedtoc:lla geneiiiiiiiCIIan.-

whom he has let In on the provllo bit lhey'll let him do a gueet spot on the dnn8. Hilllnlt phone c:alln oftllce OOft* from President Will Smilh, irMIIng .... to dllcua8 tora9t polla>f at . . White Hcue. Now lhat would ma1re a refnJehlng c:hange flan George Bush.

as a relief to the Government. Most worryingly for William Hague is Mori's research regarding which parties have the best poli· cies on the big issues. 42% of voters believe Labour have the best policy when it comes to health, against just 14% for the Tories. Education sees a 44%-

he Conservatives currently sit 253 seats behind Labour in the Commons, which means Hague needs to make 165 gains in the upcoming election to win an overall majority. In terms of the swing - the percentage of voters that must switch from Labour or the Lib Dems to the

~ Four monlh8 ...... he

OIIYar. The¥ will win by the narrowest of margins, beating the new ConeeMIIMt leader Mlohael Flatley by ten seats, and our new Prime Minister wUI an1ve trlumphanl at Number Ten on hie moped to set up hie new Clllblnet. conalstlng

••• If Wllllam wins

WJ!h... Baroness Jay, the

FEATURES 11.

www .cone rete-onli ne.co.uk

16, 2001

cl.._

.....,awldld......

SIIpblftNon1s . .

In and IIUnS weryone by IIIUing a calm. fllllonal dllclllllon.. Thla doea not 8IDp the EU throwing Ui out of the EU after Hague takes to waldng atOUnd Brussels in a football shirt with a can o1 C8rllng, refusing to speak to anyone unlesa they speak English. He is banned from the dty and al trade llnb wilh Brttaln are cutoff. .,.., 4 • PotUio ill saclc8d after being

So what now?

ell, now all that faces the country is a media storm right up until Thursday, June 7, complete with desperate publicity stunts, personal attacks, sickening public meet 'n' greets with John Prescott, Blair looking more and more Presidential, Hague looking more and more like a cornered rat, and Charles Kennedy looking like a bit-part politician. Then, in three weeks' time, a few people will go out and vote, most people won't, Labour will win, the Tories will make gains and call it a victory of sorts, and the country will settle back into Governance. Then, Blair will hold the reigns for a couple of years before quitting to spend time with Leo and letting Gordon Brown take over and guide Britain into a single European currency. Remember, you heard it here first...

J--- --

• •·• lili

caught epe~ldlltg 'Dulury money on collagen . . . . .. The term "orrf Is removed from all dictionaries in print. Homosexuality no longer exl8ts. V.r 5 • Election timet After InsinUations about Hague's sexuality, Fflon is carted off to !he sperm c:lnlc:. A mix up with the sperm leaves her carrying an Al'rtjo~baby.

The last Brftistt person Is seen delperalaly J*fdllng a flwl'tl across !he Channel towardl Fmnce nw~ chanting the mantra , am not lillle! I am not an Englandert I am not liltlel I am not. ..•

s su Girls. •• 1. Who's your Ideal man? a. Tommy Lee- you've seen the videos... b. George Clooney - good with his hands, but sensitive. c. Prince William - your mum would love him.

0 0

2) What cocktail best describes your attitude

to sex? a. Screaming orgasm b. Sex on the beach c. Urn Bongo

o o o

3) What' s the most crucial part of your holiday wardrobe? a Your gold sequinned bikini top and hot pan1 set. With matching kittenheels. o b. A couple of a bikinis and a tank top for going 0 out. c. Your trusty dunga· rees _ o 4) What chat up line

would you respond to? a. Would you like to see o my cock? b. Excuse. me. Can I get you drunk? o c. Museum. 9am. Be there. o

o o

7) How long do you see your summer relationships lasting? a. When does this song end? o b. The whole two weeks. o c. Does holding hands constitute a relationship? o What about if I squeeze? 8) What's the one thing you'd do on holiday that you wouldn't do at home? a. Double figures. At once. b. Get friendly down in the sand. c. Use sun cream.

o o o

9) What' s the one big no-no In summer romances? a. Abstinence o b. Massively possessive blokes: a summer ffing don't mean a thing, remember? o c. I think you've answered it in the question, to be o honest.

10) If you had to break off a summer relatiofl. ahlp, how would you do it?

Mostly As Your body is a temple. And generously, you allow men to worship it with their penises daily. Yes, you're up for it. And up for it. And up for it. But perhaps you should stop to think about yoJr actions, and contemplate exactly what yot're doing. Are you sleeping with multiple peope for reasons of self-esteem, or do you just geruinely love sex? Are the other girls jealous of your long track record, or horrified? Don't you just want to curl up with a good book every now and tt-en, or perhaps stay in and watch a bit of tally? N!ih, you want to get laid. At least you're helping the British ecoromy by keeping Durex and friends in profit. Gordon Brown would be proud of you.

1 msr strawberry puree 1 msr coconut cream 2 tablespoons of chocolate ice cream

msr Grand Mamier msr Tia Maria msr Creme de banana 1 teaspoon of whipping cream to float ~

Quick Thrill 3 msr medium red wine 1/3 msr dark rum 3 msr coca cola

Leg Spreader

** msr Sambuca msr Tia Maria

Bosom Caresser

Menage a trios

1 msr Madeira msrbrandy msr triple sec 1 teaspoon grenadine, 1 egg yolk

0 0 0

2) What's your prefemtd chat up line? Do you want to see my cocl<? o b. Can I get you drunk? o c. I'm gong to visit some beautiful castle ruins tomorrov. and would be delighted If you would acoompa1y me. 0

day? a. Tte he· to a sunlounger on the beach and have her in broad daylight. 0 b. Get sald in all the wrong places. c. Wear a hankerchief on your head with knotted corners.

o o

4) How many people have you etept with on holiday? a Er, how many women were at that resort? o b. Nearer one than ten. o c. Does my sister count? o

•.• Boys Mostly As While some would regard you as a stud, a more accurate descdption would be slut. To your credit, you take l.ittle trouble hiding your shameless ambition to randomly shag as many of the fairer sex as is humanely possible within 14 days. Several in one night is acceptable if difficult, as are several at once. Nevertheless, you'll put 100% into trying. However, while this may create a few fleeting moments of pleasure (alright, quite a few moments) in the long term this Is not to be encouraged. For even if you ignore the whole disease and Child Support Agency side of things, psychological studies have shown that those who are promiscuous at.a young age more likely to divorce in later life. And have you ,... .~-'~• seen what lawyers cost these days?

5) What's your Ideal holiday dednatlon? a. Shagaluf o b. Corfu o c. Cromer o

Mostly Bs

6) How tar would you go on 8 flrat night? a All the way. Several times. Wrth several people. And ani-

mam.

b. A snog and a fumble. c. A candellt meal and a peck on lle cheek.

o o 0

7) Who would you be rnoet Ukely to be lnterruplecl by while hard at it? a Police. b. Roommate. c. Mother. o

o o

8) What's In your holiday suitcase? a. No suitcase needed. Everything I need is hanging between my legs. b. Shirts, shades and not forgetting the necessary precautions. o c. Local history guide, elastoplasts and sensible

Mostly Cs If you get into bed at all it will most likely be alone. You have the innocence that is so cherished by the older generation yet sadly so frowned upon by friends and peers alike. You probably won't be having a holiday fling, a1d if you do, it won't involve sex on the beach or a long hard screw against the wall. No, a cup of tea and a biscuit is more your style. Cocktails and drunkenness are unnecessary, aren't they? Actually, in all honesty - and cutting through all the bollocks you want to hear - you're not ·eaJiy having that much fun. Don't get me wrong there's no need at all to go and shag some random bloke, but perhaps get out a bit more, have a drink now and again? Perhaps a long hare screw against the wall would be right up your street, in fact.

1) Who's yOur Ideal woman? Jordar b. Sarah Michelle Gellar c. Kale 8eckinsale

3) What'a the kinkiest thing you'd do on holi-

You won't have sex witn the first person who comes along, oh no. Maybe the third, but . certainly not the first. Y:>u have a healthy sense d fun, and treat your holiday f<ings as John Travolta and Olivia Newton John did - summer sun, something's begun becomes summer fling, don't mean a thing in two short weeks, but that's fine. You know what you want and you know how to get it (to quote the Sex Pistols) and you won't make a Big Mistake (Natalie lmbruglia). You'll respect your holday bloke but probably won't continue anything back home, and you're happy with that. Just letthe pictures on your wall remind you of your fling when you're wondering whether to get out of bed at all (Dido). Or not.

Cocktails to woo the perfect guy.•. * Blow Job *

1 msrvodka

o o

The sun's out, the steps of the Square are swarming and love is in the air. But are you cut out fQr a summer fling or will your hot season have a cold front about it? Take Concrete's questionnaire to find out ...

Mostly Bs

5) And what chat up line would you use yourself? a. Get your cock out. o b. Get me drunk o c. I wouldn't. My mum vets all my suitors. o 6) What' s your holiday fantasy? a. An Italian fireman with an extendible hose. b. Sun, Sangria and a naked waiter. c. Passport control: uniform and authority.

a. Sorry, you're not big enough. Next! b. lt was fun while it fasted, but it won't be the same in a bus shelter in Luton. c. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll find someon9 to hold your hand in Diss.

e car

~~-

Summer fling don't mean a thing? Are young people really disappearing off to warmer shores to copulate profusely? Jo Locke found a UEA student who got very friendly down in the sand ... away, but he wasn't coming on to me, so I wasn't sure what was going on." Something was going on, though. The cocktails had been flowing that night, and then they all ended up in the sea, with Kat in her bikini. How that happened was a bit of a blur. "We were all in the water, and then suddenly We moved on to a sunsmoke, she knew he ' ' everyone else left," she was the one. He was lounger, and things were explains. "Josh and I were tall and dark with just left there on our own. muscles that could getting really intense. The next thing I remember easily pick her up We were both really was he walked over to me and throw her onto a turned on. and we kissed, it was so bed, before ripping romantic." off his clothes and 1t didn't take long for the joining her... ...Kat, a UEA second year, takes up the story. passion to flow, and Kat and Josh soon left the "We first saw each other in a busy bar," she sea. She says: 'We moved on to a sun-lounger, and things were getting really intense. We were reveals. "He was with a group of friends and I was with mine, and they came over to talk to us•. Kat both really turned on and he was such a good kisser, then suddenly we heard my friend shouting and friends went to Magaluf in August 2000, and my name. My friends were worried because we'd were hoping to meet some gorgeous men; after only just met these guys and they didn't want to all, the lack of talent at UEA had been getting them down in the Spring semester of the year. leave me alone too long with him. We went back "We were chatting to them for ages and then to the apartment, but it didn't stop the chemistry went on to a club. I knew I fancied him straight between us". heir eyes met as she glanced over to the bar. and for a split second the laughing and drunken antics of the crowd faded into the distance as silence descended upon Kat. As they looked at each other through the heat and

sexual encounter with a stranger. 25% had had sex, while a third had done some 'heavy petting' with someone they had only met on holiday. But are these encounters likely to develop into something more? Probably not. The whole point of the summer fling is that it is simply a temporary affair, and continuing the relationship is asking for trouble. Certainly in Kat's case, staying in touch was tempting, but not that tempting. Her bloke, Josh, was a U.S Marine and had come on holiday with s Kat's story typical of young his friends from people going off on holiday? home, so sheer Of those who had been According to recent statistics, distance was a on holiday for more than problem. Even yes. Young people are more like· ly to travel abroad than any other without that kind two days, over half had age group, and once there, 90% of distance, experienced a sexual though, when will not be visiting a historical encounter you get home, monument. Furthermore, more everything is difthan a third of those aged 15-19 will be buying alcoholic drinks. A ferent, and the similar percentage of those surveyed will only inhibitions that the sun, sea and sand rip away come back in force. spend their savings on 'evening entertainment'. In "We spent the rest of the time together," she other words, clubbing is number one on the agenda. continues. "When he left, I was really sad to see But this behaviour is not limited to destinations him go. We swapped addresses, and kissed goodsuch as Magaluf. Another survey investigated holi· bye." daymakers in Torbay, Devon, and found casual And that, as they say, is that. "He wrote to me two months later,· she adds. sex was astonishingly prevalent among 16-29· "But I didn't write to him because a holiday year-olds. Of those who had been on holiday for more than two days, over half had experienced a romance is just that: for holidays."

They went back to the apartment, and, because on the way to the beach from the club, the guys had come to the girls' apartments to get changed, Josh's things were in Kat's apartment. They were still there in the morning. "That night was so amazing," Kat blushes. "Lets just say he was an incredibly giving man and I've never met a man since who is that selfless. I felt paralysed after he'd finished with me, and we hadn't even had sex."

9) w~·· the flrat thing you'd 88Y If you woke \JP next to a girl on holiday?

You're up fOr some fun. Let's get this straight now, you're no angel. You've been known to have a few too many on occasion. But amongst these fun lollln' tenctenciea Is some basic common ~-~~r--;.-=_. sense that suggests sleeping wittt of different women on holiday is going to prove more trouble than it's worth. You have a fair degree of ~-respect. and more importantly, you have some respect for women too. You'll happily exchange contact details and while you know nothing may happen, it was fun while it (and you) lasted, and that's the main thing.

Mostly Cs

a.Ne~l

b. Hello.

c. Mother.

10) How would you end a holiday romance? a. Stalnlr.g the departure lounge. o b. Exchange addresses and hope for the best. o c. End? This relationship with my right hand will continue to blossom at home. o

Oh dear. Unfortunately, all you'll have to write home about Is the local culture and architecture (perfectly reasonable) or being caught masturbating (altogether more unsavoury). Whichever, you won't be spending too much time with the opposite sex. Now, ifs very important to remember that S&X is far from the be all and end all of holidays. But the problem is you'd actually quite like a bit of action but you're too much of 8 sad bastard. Oh well, better luck next year. And remember, when it comes to holiday flings, incest doesn't count

Cocktails to woo the perfect gal •.• Between the Sheets 1% msr brandy or cognac 1 msr wtite rum msr Colntreau msr lemon juice msr sLgar syrup

Lost Bikini ~

msrGalliano

** msr anaretto msr white rum

*2 msr msr lime juice rncndarin juice Sex on the Beach 213 msr nelon liquer 213 msr B$pberry liquer

213 msr plnapple juice msr lemon juice

Chocolate Monkey 1 msr c~ de banana ~ msr white rum msr chocolate syrup 1/3 of a mashed banana 3 tablespoons of chocolate ice

cream

1 msr of whipped cream for the topping

Naked Waiter

* rnsr Pemod * msr Mandarine Napoleon

1 msr pinapple juice 4 rnsr bitter sparkling lemon

14 FEATURES

www .concrete-online.co.uk

Tal kin

Concrete

WEDNESDAY, MAY

16, 2001

my lan ua e

Are we, like, a generation afraid to make a statement? Steve Col/ins investigates the curious uncertainties of student lingo, and tries to go a week without saying "bollocks" ... ollocks!" 11 wasn't my fault. I didn't mean to say it. At least not at the dinner table. "Don't say bollocks!" said dad, withholding the potatoes. "At least not at the dinner table." We had been talking about talking. Speech differences between his generation and mine. He'd suggested that my generation - students in particular · never 'said anything' anymore. I'd tried.to object, but rather ended up proving his point. "People your age are always swearing;• said dad. "And when you're not, it's all 'like this' and 'kinda that'." You see, it appears there's a particular form of speech that characterises the modern student's patter. Swearing's a big part of it, as is indecipherable slang, needless paraphrase when reporting things in conversation ("and I was like, 'blah blah blah" etc), 'filler' langua~e ("I mean ...", "lt's like..."), vagueness ("kinda" "sorta" etc) -and, most annoyingly for him, 'Australian questioning intonation" (which I, like, totally don't do all the time?). I claimed that not all students talked like that. He said they did. In the end, the only way we could resolve the matter was through a bet that, when I went back to University, I couldn't 'talk properly' for one week. No questioning intonation, 'filler language', vagueness or slang - and absolutely no bollocks. Or swearing at all, for that matter. This was going to be jolly hard. Monday: 11.30am: Bollocks. I've stuffed it already. As soon as I get up this morning I drop a teabag on the kitchen floor, murmuring profanities and narrowly missing the cat, who looks at me with a mixture of disdain and pity at my obvious lack of will. Unperturbed, I decide to persist with my task, determined not·to let my generation down. As the - -day progresses, I begin to notice that not being able to drop 'like' into every declaration and statement does actually leave me feeling pretty self-conscious. lt almost feels as if I'm talking the way my family want me to talk - and this is not a comfortable feeling at all. This evening my Mum /c.omments on what a "polite young man" I've ·- become. I'm going back to Norwich tomorrow. Tuesday: Ah, blessed Naarch! Surely here I will feel less self-conscious about my new found lingo? Alas, no. Not only do I have to explain to people exactly what I'm doing (they give me the same look as the cat), but also I must re-ingratiate myself into their favour using an obviously forced, alien language. Even watching telly with my mates is difficult: the me that says pig-faced Bryan from Westlife is 'unattractive' is very different from the

'' B

me that calls him a 'minger', and my friends almost seem to respond to me differently. Maybe I smell. Maybe I'm weird. Maybe I'm like a slightly overeager anthropologist who thinks the tribe have accepted him when really they're calling him Dick Neck. Wednesday: Returning to campus, I decide to start researching just how UEA students do talk.

, He suggested that my generation - and students in partic_u lar never 'said anything' anymore Surely it's not just me who talks like this? Everyone seems to clam up a bit when asked directly about their speech habits, so I decide to proceed by jotting down what I hear people say, either after overhearing them or after chatting (insofar as I can still 'chat' at all). Sitting in the Hive, I feel like the 'like's are buzzing round my head like... well, like 'like's, like, and I note them all down with anal assiduity. Thursday: My research is continuing apace. Of the 74 students whose speech I have so far noted in various situations (normal conversation, seminars etc), only 38 seemed to use questioning intonation. 27 swore by way of non-aggressive emphasis, with the most popular ruderies being sexually-related ('f- ' being most popular). A mere

Swearing is a way that men in particular have of showing they speak the same lingo as their mates 24 used what might be termed 'slang' words, whilst a notably high total of 45 students used 'like' for paraphrase in declarative statements ("I'm, like, paraphrasing?"). Clearly I'm not alone, then . So what are we to make of all this? lt seems from my tentative investigations that the most common speech patterns of the UEA student are questions and paraphrase. So are we really all afraid to 'make a statement' nowadays? What happened to all those outspoken, protesting students of yore? Professor Paul Chilton, lecturer in Linguistics at UEA, says that whilst on the whole questioning

intonation and 'like' might be connected to uncertainty, it's more a question of group-identity, affirming collectivity through the use of language: "Questioning intonation might be linked to politeness phenomena in some circumstances," he explains. "People seem to use it when they can't be certain that you share the same background knowledge." Similarly, he speculates that the use of 'like' does not so much function as a nervous 'thinkgap', but rather acts as a means of signalling friendliness: "Sometimes people don't want to appear too fluent and definite and certain of themselves, so they kinda put fillers in to be friendly?" Swearing, too, is as much a mark of friendliness as aggression. As Professor Chilton says, "inserting "f-ing" before any f-ing noun and every f- ing adjective can be f-ing annoying, but it is a way men in particular have of showing they speak the same lingo as their mates, as well as indicating some particular emotional emphasis on the following word. Maybe:" Other theories assert that this form of speech gestures towards the formation of an 'anti-language'. appositional to the mainstream dialect of parents and figures of authority. The use of language which parents wouldn't like is actually an assertion of autonomy. Thus using 'like' can be seen as the collective establishment of a distance between oneself and home - hence its prevalance in a University environment. So does a student subculture define itself through an appositional 'anti-language'? I gue.ss sorry, think - that every generation has its own way of speaking, and its own reasons for speaking that

way. The clipped suppression of the unspeakable that characterises your grandparent's generation; the appositional, outspoken 'say anything' ethos of your hippy-era parents. lt seems only logical that we should seek to sound different from this, to put some space between ourselves and our parents. Bill Downes, also a Linguistics lecturer, agrees with this interpretation. "Yes, and that's why you get [questioning intonation) at Universities isn't it?" he says. "Because people are away from home. Your accent stabilises at around your teens, from your peers, not your parents." Mr Downes speculates that the idea of an anti-language may be the reason behind students' dialogue. "Today you wouldn't think of students as an antigroup in society;• he suggests. "Although maybe in the sixties students presented themselves as an anti-group; they were fundamentally appositional to the established order. One doesn't get a sense now that students are appositional to the established order, after the Thatcher years. But I would have thought these speech features could be bits and pieces of an anti-language." Perhaps, then, we're not a generation nervous of making a statement after all. And far be it from me to speak for my generation; I can barely speak for myself after the last week. But when, on the final evening of my ordeal, I end up at Club Retro, dressed like my dad, talking like my dad, and everybody's singing "We're the young generation/And we've got something to say...", I can't help thinking that, like, maybe something's a bit weird?

Monday

'' Play" Student Night 2-4-1 long cocktails + Heineken Free entry Bpm-1am PLUS exciting new offers every week! 23 Bank Plain Norwich NR2 4SF • 01603 619961 ponana@norwich 17.fsnet.co. uk

Concrete

WEDNESDAY, MAY

FEATURES

www.concrete-online.co.uk

2, 2001

ummer

eta ways

Exam revision or holiday planning? Will Halsey trawled the net for current offers ...

Just another Ibiza sunrise: holidays to the dance capital start at around £275 for two weeks

ou're in the Hive, perhaps enjoying a cup of tea with some friends. But really, you should be revising, holed up on the third floor of the library overlooking the lake while trying to take in more information than is strictly necessary. Unfortunately, to make the short journey from Union House to the Library, you have to walk past the Travel Shop. Even worse, tempting offers leer at you through the glass when texts and text books should be scrutinised. Even off campus, newspapers and the interne! are well stocked with deals, steals and sales of the century. So, why not give in? Overdrafts are available, loans are designed to cover the summer, so why not take advantage? On the off chance you do fancy it, Concrete has trawled some of the better offers on holidays available for students this summer; prices are for one student departing in June.

Flights New York £199, excluding tax with STA travel

(www.statravel.co.uk) while USIT Campus are offering several flights around £225 excluding tax. Including all taxes, flights are typically £50 more expensive than the marked price. Flights to other North American cities such as Boston are a similar price. Over the other side of America, KLM are offering flights to Los Angeles for £261 exc. tax through USIT (www.usitcampus.co.uk) while STA a slightly better offer of £249 exc. tax with Virgin Atlantic. San Francisco can be reached for a similar price. Flying across the world this summer will set you back the best part of £600 with the best flights to Sydney hovering around £550 but again without the tax. Flights to Auckland are slightly more expensive, starting at around £600 plus tax for students. The best of Bangkok can be seen for £324 plus tax with US IT, although the flight with RJ is available to all. Beijing with KLM hovers around £400 including tax, for young people and students only,

while a student or youth fl ight to Tokyo is a whopping £430 plus tax. European flights on offer include Ibiza with Go for around £190 return , which is pretty steep. Holiday deals make more sense with popular destinations such as Ibiza. Other offers with Go include Rome for under £140 return. These fares do include tax, though. For around £150, Go also fly to Reykjavlc. Check out www.go-fly.com.

self catering based on two sharing. Again, check out STA for their student summer sizzlers. High Street travel agents now have websites to allow browsing by destination, date or price. Thomas Cook (www.thomascook.com) are offering two weeks in the Algarve, Portugal, for £466. Situated 400m from the beac~ . accommodation is in apartments by a pool. Thomas Cook are also offering a week in Spain (Majorca) for £408 per person at Puerto Pollensa. Bargain Holidays (www.bargainholidays.com) are offering two weeks in Orlando including flights and accommodation for around £450, although prices change minute by minute, so phone 029 2033 0052 for latest offers. Bargain Holidays also advertise a week in Corfu from £190 departing in mid-June, but again these offers come and go so telephone is more effective than the net in the cases. The best advice is contradictory: shop around, but if you find a good deal snap it up as soon as possible. Whatever you do, though, get the hell out of Norwich.

Holidays Ibiza is the place to go to really bury thoughts of Norwich, and of any respectable civilisation too. But if you play the student card, there are some deals available for departures throughout the summer with STA Travel and 2wentys holiday firm. Two weeks in Hostel Adelino is £275 based on two sharing. USIT Campus have meanwhile teamed up with Clubber's Guide to offer studios for four in Ibiza for seven or 14 days from £204. Follow summer sun links with the USIT website. Two weeks in Crete will cost around £350 for

FIVE RAILCARDS If you're planning on spending your summer zipping around the country, you could find yourself with a big dent in your student loan. But don't worry - Concrete has teamed up with Young Persons Railcard to come to your rescue. Offering a third off most fares on the national rail network, the handy little card gives a year's worth of discount on the choo-choos, meaning you can visit the whole of Britain at bargain prices. If you're not lucky enough to win, you still save by going along to your local station or travel agent and coughing up a paltry £18. To win one of the five Railcards we have to give away, and get a third off most train fares, simply tell us what discount you can get when you wave your Rallcard around in the ticket office: a) nothing b) diddly-squat c) a third

FULLY-5TOCKED MINIBAR Roll up for your chance to win the ultimate addition to your student house - a fully-stocked minibar courtesy of Swan. Just visit the site at www.swanweb.com to answer a simple question and you could be the proud owner of a free standing, Electrolux minibar worth over £600. 50 lucky runners up will also win a Swan T-Shirt and a pack of Swan goodies including rolling papers, filter tips and matches. For your chance to get your hands on these great prizes, simply log on to the swanweb site and pay a visit to The Swan (our very own virtual pub) where the locals will help you find the answer to the following question: What colour is Jules' suit? Email your answer and contact details to studentcomps@ swanweb.com

TEN TOP BOOKS Whether you're scraping a pass or are coasting along for a first, every student can do with a helpiAg hand for those last minute exam preparations, and Concrete has just the thing. Oxford University Press' Very Short Introduction books do exactly what they say on the cover: give you all the lowdown on a tricky topic in a pocket-sized tome. And as luck would have it, we've got ten of the blighters to give away free. Covering topics from ancient philosophers to twentieth century Britain (see www.oup.com/vsi for the full list) the handy books make you an expert on the topic over a few pithy pages, making them ideal substitutes for lost notes, or for genning up on next year's courses whilst lounging on the beast Gust cover them with a bonkbuster so you don't get sand kicked in your face) . To win your choice of book, just tell us how long the Very Short Introduction books are: b) medium length c) soft, strong, and very, very, long a) very short To enter the Railcard and book competitions, just scribble your answer on a postcard together with contact details (make sure you include your home number if you're leaving Norwich soon) and pop it in the Concrete Competition Box in the Hive.

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16 FEATURES

www.concrete-online.co.uk

60 Second City

Concrete

WEDNE SDAY, M AY

16, 2001

oad trip USA

Washington .DC

To say the United States of America is a big place is a slight understatement. But Amy Harris covered close to 3000 miles in one short Easter .. . o, the parents say to me, do I want to go to America for Easter, two weeks travelling and then a week in Hawaii? My choices therefore are either to work at Tesco or some such mindnumbing job for 4 weeks, or go live out the American Dream. Right. Needless to say, the choice was easy. On landing in LA, dreams of Hollywood are immediately shattered . And we get lost. Apparently, Americans have easy traffic systems, but sadly this is far from the truth . Basically, LA is a smoky, smoggy shithole, the less said about it the better. Leaving there on the second day, we headed out to Palm Springs - a really weird oasis in the desert, full of people with lots of money - to Joshua Tree National Park, where the temperature hit 94 degrees, and cacti were in abundance and boulders rose 30 feet high . The scenery is beautiful, and as we rolled towards the Grand Canyon the landscape was like nothing I'd seen before ; desert, mountains, and even London Bridge (it's in Arizona) . The Grand Canyon is mind-blowing. Looking across this immense - 10 miles across and a mile down - work of art, you can't believe you 're even there, it looks unreal. The helicopter ride over it in 30mph winds was less mind blowing than stomach turning , but worth it. There was even a wedding taking place there. Only in America. Next, Zion National Park, another canyon , but this time you 're at the bottom looking up at places like Angels Landing and Great Wh ite Throne, not to mention wild turkeys. it's hard to imagine them on your Christmas - sorry Thanksgiving table. Later, Hoover Dam and Las Vegas come into view. The Dam is amazing, huge, imposing but nothing on Las Vegas, bigger than you even thought it could be. The hotels are massive, with the most impressive being New York, New York, where the Manhattan skyline masquerades as a hotel , Statue of Liberty and all. One of the hotels, The Mirage, has a fountain and fire display every 15 minutes at night, another has the battle of Treasure Island every half an hour. You dread to think how much money these establishments must be making to do th is. But a quick word of advice, don't consider gambling unless you want to lose your student loan in about five minutes, quicker, even, than down the pub. Leaving the lights of Las Vegas, Death Valley called. Due to freak weather, it was cold, and green where it had rained . Whi le not ve ry death-

I see we've got an American theme going here ... Yep. Washington DC, home of the White House, the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, Arlington Cemetery... ... And George W Bush Yes. Our good friend President Bush resides here after receiving less votes than AI Gore in the election last year. So thi s is very much the centre of the world right now? Well , I wouldn 't go that far, but Washington has been in the news recently as a result of America's slight disagreement with China. But is there any other reason for me to go there, other than throwing stuff at 'Dubbya'? Yeah. While Washington is far from a fizzing metro polis like New York City or San Francisco, it is nevertheless an impressive city. Examples? Well, the main attractions have always been the White House and the lake etc, but if you want to get away from the clean , sterilised Governmental environment that stifles the city, wander down to Georgetown, a refreshing, European style district with independent shops and restaurants . Sterilised environment? What are you on about? Most of Washington has a strange , superclean feel to it. Transport is disconcertingl y efficient - if a subway train stops anywhere but a station the driver has to explain to passengers why th ere is a delay - and litter is practically non-existent. While this sounds fantastic, it does feel slightly wrong; big cities need a bit of grit, and DC doesn't have it.

Massive: Hoover dam

like, the valley was pretty amazing sitting 282 ft below sea level. Following that, and despite promises of 70 degree weather the whole time, we travelled to Mammoth Lakes and Lake

Reaching the redwoods, takes a harrowing drive on ridiculously twisty roads, teetering on the edge of cliffs with no barriers: scary Tahoe, ski resorts where yes, it was snowing and yes, it was 24 degrees. Work that one out. Returning to the bright lights but with a Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco is a breath of fresh air compared to LA. And sitting just outside the city are the Giant Redwood trees, rising 80- 150 ft high with huge trunks . Reaching the redwoods , though, takes a harrowing drive on ridiculously twisty roads , teetering on the edge

How long do I want to stay in Washington for, then? Not desperately long. You can't really do it in a day, but if you want to spend a week in a major North American city, go for NYC or Boston. However, walking down th e pestrianised mile or so between the Jefferson Memorial and the Capitol Building is extremely pleasant, if a little tourist-crazy. You haven't done a very good job selling Washington to me. No, I haven't really. Essentially, the city is great to visit on the way to somewhere else, or while doing the entire East Coast. But a lot more might be pushing it. If I did want to go there, what would it set me back? Virgin Atlantic are currently offering ÂŁ215 plus tax to Washington this summer, through STA Travel Big Breaks (www.statravel.co.uk or 08701 600 599) And where should I stay? Hotels close to the centre are expensive, so take advantage of the horribly efficient subway and stay out in the suburbs near a station . Will Halsey

Natural beauty versus man made glitz: a forest waterfall and, inset, a Vegas founta in

of cliffs with no barriers : scary. Less scary, though, is Alcatraz. it just isn't that amazing ; a bit old, and no scary criminals to speak of. And they tell you that no one escaped, despite that film with Sean Cannery and Nicolas Cage. Goi ng past Charles Manson's old house in the city is eerie, though . And finally, the Golden Gate Bridge is impressive, but if you can imagine the old Severn bridge but red then you 're pretty much there. To get back to dreaded LA, we went through Carmel, where Clint Eastwood used to be mayor. No sign of the old cowboy, strangely, but an interesting insight into American life nonetheless. Drivi ng down the Pacific Coastal Highway, one of the most beautiful roads in the world, was unfortunately for us not as spectacular as it should have been thanks to a landslide, but not to worry. When Hollywood is calling, these things are insignificant. Sadly, though , Hollywood is a shithole. Don't believe the hype, it merely has hundreds of tramps, sex-shops and seedy bars with names like 'The Frolic Room'. However, down the road from the main town , Universal Studios is a real experience. And star spotting can be successful : we saw Jennifer Aniston , and while I did manage to restrain myself from getting in with Brad myself, obviously if I had there'd have been no contest. Or not, as the case may be. ot surprisingly, two weeks and 2850 miles of travelling completely exhausts you, and the island of Maui seems just the right place to relax. it actually does look like those pictures you see with the palm trees and turquoise water and beautiful beaches, but what they don't tell you is that the wind can get up to 30 mph . Not to mention the fact it is the second wettest place on earth, so it rains everyday. Some tropical paradise. However, this didn't take away any of the beauty of the place. Whale watching is wonderful; humpback whales inhabit the seas around the island from December until April. Seeing the whales jumping out of the water - albeit pretty far away - is amazing. I also learned to surf, and despite starting on an 11ft board, by the end I was on a tiny 9 looter, stylish indeed. it seems fitting I ended up bored stupid after such a staggering trip, but after taking in so much in just two weeks, serious relaxing is the order of the day. The West Coast is something everyone should see at least once in a lifetime. I mean, you don't need much of your student loan over the summer, right?

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18 FEATURES

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Where would you find a collander?

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Concrete WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2001

Horoscopes __

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Which of these is an ingredient in a Manhattan cocktail?

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Recent reports in the media suggest that the Queen has secretly approved plans to pare down the Royal Family, banning certain members from public duties and stripping them of their royal privileges. Do you think this will be successful in reducing the amount of criticism aimed at the monarchy and stemming the argument that Britain should be a republic?

....

"If the monarchy wishes to improve its public image then a gag should be fitted to Prince Philip with all due rapidity. Whil st good for comic value he does the modern monarchy no favours in th e field of PR" Suggy (EAS 4) "I believe the monarchy serves no real purpose and should be scrapped - aristocratic nonsense." Ryan Downing (SOC 1) "They're all German and inbred. They should be stuffed and made into a tourist attraction that would not need all the finan-

'tl

Betrayal is the name of the game this fortnight as a loved one shows a previously unseen side to their character. All IJ!l kinds of emotions will accompany this breach of trust , but revenge will be at the top of your list. Forget all the agony aunt crap, this is probably the most satisfying form of therapy for you. it beats urinating in their shoes.

Gemini ~.,.I. You 've grown over the last month or so . About an inch

'IIIW

(hurhurhur .. . not funny). Seriously, though , you've dealt with everything that life's thrown at you admirably. You could be forgiven for feeling a bit chuffed with yourself (and you will because that's your way) but don't rest on your laurels too soon, because that's only the tip of the iceberg . You'll be back in that pyschiatrist 's chair in no time!

Cancer Your self-esteem is due for a bit of a battering , with lots of ~ lovely rejection on al l fronts. it's not that you ' re physical ly re pul si ve (much), it's just you don't have the confidence to make someone actually fancy you . Shyness does not equal mysterious. lt means awkward, creepy and a wee bit sad .

.. Leo

You have the opportunity to build bridges this fortnight , with the emergence of a character attribute you aren 't going to like. Tonight , Matthew, you 're going to be .. . humble. Yes, while modesty isn't something you 're exactly renowned for you 'll be stunning people with your noble outlook on life. And with it you can undo some of the mess you've created over the past mont h as friends warm to the new improved you.

Student speak 'We should only have five members of the Royal Family and the rest should be stripped of everything." Jo Robert (EAS 1)

How long is it going to take you to realise that you aren't the only person in the world? Well, not too long actually ~ as developments in the coming weeks will show all too well. The fact that those around you seem to be having slightly more grown-up problems acts as a wake-up cal l to all your petty trivialities. lt might not sound like the best of fun (it isn't) but at least you 'll have the opportunity to show that' you aren't rea lly that shal low . Welcome to the real wor ld! it sucks.

Taurus

IlB) Ally Sheedy

~~C;:;)::;J=en=n::;ife=r::;G;:r=ey==~~~D) Molly Ringwald

Virgo Turn the other cheek? You don 't even know what that means. You should not be crossed, as one unfortunate person will discover to their detriment this fortnight as you set your sights on completely obliterating them off the face of the earth. A bad thing? Not , really ... they will deserve it. A note of caution, though: don't get caught.

cial support they're getting at the moment." Z Smith (SOC 3)

Libra

"They're outdated and useless." Chris Radford (EAS 1) aiming to establi sh a modern country, not live in the past." Clare Hamilton-Eddy (EAS 3)

"Realistically, the monarchy serves the very important purpose of making us far better than the Americans, and other countries who give power to the person who can throw the best party." Anon

"As lon g as it means more beer for students." Dan Hester (EAS 4)

"The Royal Family is a complete anachronism. I see no reason why an entire family should be allowed all the privilege in the world simply because they have a certain genetic code. And forget the tourism argument for keeping them. it's not like their castles are going anywhere! We should be

"I live near Sandringham and, personally, I'm sick of being dragged every Christmas by my mum to watch the Queen Mother haul her frail dying body a hundred yards to the church. If people could spare me this then I'd be ever so grateful." Gemma O'Donnell (EAS 2)

• Time is running out . And yo u, in typica l Li bra sty le, are a ~ / "..-. 1\./'1'\ mi le down t he road struggling to catch up. You will be ......!..... tempted to take the nonchalant view, the "I'm going to live in my own retro heaven and not join the rest of humanity in the real world" attitude. However, it pains me to inform you (yeah right) , that you only have so many opportunities to do what you really want . The world is moving on, and so must you. Scorpio

You might be wise to forego the delights of promiscuity .C'd. this fortnight . lt isn't that it isn 't enjoyable. Spreading ~ ~ yourself around like peanut butter is a worthy extra-cur•. ··' ricular activity, and good exercise too. However, there is some misguided fool who holds a candle for you (excuse the pseudo Mi lls and Boon freakery) , and for every person you pleasure the more you 'll destroy the spirit of that "special someone ". You cad .

Sagittarius

Classifieds FOR SALE

PCs for sale. Compl ete systems, various models/ specifications/ pricing) - ideal for essays, web connection to UEA network. P.Unwin@uea.ac.uk for more into. WARDROBE - very big antique with walnut finish and mirror. You will have to pick it up as it's quite a large one. Good condition. We can negotiate the price. Contact Elin on (01603) 664911. TV for sale £20!! lt is a black and white TV, which will only be available on May,31st. If you are interested in, e-mail Marie: M.Bianchard@uea.ac.uk ALBA Stereo CD Radio Cassette Recorder CX542, CD Player with Display Skip , Repeat and Memory Play , 2 Band Radio MW/FM Ste reo Single Cassette Recorder. J.Choi@ uea.ac.uk HITASHI Colour TV with cable,

good conditions, Awai Stereo for sale, £25 each, or £40 to get both . Offer ends mid June. Contact: gelijia@ hotmail.com PENTIUM 11 PC , System is very nearly complete. Sale goes to best offer by mid-june. Specs: http://members.tripod.com/newton_01/mainpage/Se iiPC.html . Please contact: newton_01 @hotmail.com CHEAP SALE! Printer (Epson Stylus Colour 640 (£65)), Microwave (Samsung M 1713 (£25)), VCR player (Sanyo VHR25/E videoplus 4head twin speed (£45)), Table lamp (2@£4 each), Sandwich maker (£5) , Foldable picnic table (£8). All in good condition and most of the items are only about one year old. If interested then please contact c.tay @uea.ac.uk .

Advertise anything - even yourself - for free. Simply write up to 25 words for your ad and pop it in the Concrete box in The Hive, or email it to su.concrete@uea.ac.uk Terms and conditions apply. Not available to private traders or businesses

WANTED ITALY IN JULY- Working holiday on organic farm in the Casentino National Park in Tuscany. If you want more detai ls then please see www.lacroce.com and/or contact Luca Turetta on lucaturetta@ tiscalinet.it' Dinner Ticket Wanted I just need 1 dinner ticket for the summer ball. Please help me! James on J.Hoad@uea.ac.uk wanted for HOUSEMATE Golden Triangle house near the Mad Moose. £215 a month but very worth it. Fully furnished and newly decorated, double bed, microwave, full kitchen facilities, washing machine and a lovely housemate (me!) . Only looking for a housemate because mine is graduating, not because I'm a social incompetent. Will hopefully have Sky Digital by June. Adam.Chapman@ uea.ac.uk

HOUSEMATE wanted (non smoker) to move into 3 bedroomed house in Golden Triangle, off Earlham Road . £165 pcm (excluding bills) . Avaliable from September 2001 . Phone 01603 662611 .

PERSONAL MY FRIEND is really quite undersexed at the moment, so please would you get in touch so that I don't have to hear her talking about wanting a boyfriend all the time. She is lovely and funny and gets pissed lots and most of you aren't good enough for her. But those of. you feel you might be please contact Concrete Box 110. VERY SCARED male graduate seeks funny fema le for gi n and tonics, expensive meals and lots of fu n. Contact Concrete Box 111 .

."--...

Mental instability is something you are going to come face to face with this fortnight. I'm not talking about st raight-Jacket, drooling mto your cornflakes, th1s IS a more subtle form of breakdown. Family problems and a general feeling th at you don't belong are all part and parcel of bei ng a Sagittarius. All is not bad, however. Your fragile state will bring help from a complete ly unexpected source. ~

Capricorn

Where are you going wrong? Everything you do this fort~ ~. night gets thrown back in your face . Maybe it 's because you 've surrounded yourself by cretins. You aren 't the most tolerant person at the best of times, but your capacity for dealing with rejection is on a par with Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction. Get over it! Other people already have .

Aquarius •

Self-percept ion is the key to th is fortn ight 's develop. ments. How you see yourself is complete ly at odds with how others see you . You aren't the fount of knowledge l that you seem to think you are. Indeed, there are some who would say that you in actual fact a tad .. . dumb. Don't fret, though. There's something particularly endearing about your semimoron nature . In dog terms think golden retriever. Dumb but loyal.

1-t

Pisces

Where do you go from here? There are many options avail- ~~ able to you in the com ing weeks, with the emphasis on the emot ional. You've been dying to connect with someone on a higher level for months, and now is your opportunity . Out with the Trisha level conversation and in with stimulation .

fii

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Concrete

WEDNESDAY

.. Graduate Courses

N ·is for Nusery Teacher

t is a well known and oft-made complaint that degrees in arts subjects do not prepare you specifically for a job when you leave the sheltered confines of university life. In fact, with taxing seven-hour weeks, arts students are completely unprepared for proper working life. On the other hand , those doing degrees in the sciences or maths are used to actually getting up in the morning, but the skill of communicating using the written word proves astonishingly difficult. So what's the best way forward? Well, it is around this time of year when people stuck for a career come round to the idea of teaching. But the problem is that teaching looks a bit stressful; these days, high school kids are either carrying weapons or babies. But what about the young 'uns? Indeed, a real challenge is taking children from pre-school and starting their long journey in education in a positive fashion. And if the think you may have a passion in that field, you don't even have to leave Norwich to set yourse\1 on the way to that career.

Campus Comment

Balls to that £40 for a glorified LCR? Matthew Wright thinks graduands are getting a bad deal on their final night of partying at UEA. pare a thought for all the students graduating this year. While the rest of us can look forward to another year of debauchery, the Grads will be learning the delights of fixed rate (with no extended redemption tiein)

mortgages. To celebrate the fact that they have completed their course (getting the degree is not the point) the famous Grad Ball awaits. For £40 it's got to be good, hasn't it? After all , this is UEA where all events are good value, last into the small hours, the music isn't on CD and cheap drinks deals last more than one hour...

So what can take here at UEA? Well, you take a PGCE, of course. Part of the School of Education and Professional Development, your PGCE would be tailored to younger children in order to specialise in nursery teaching and pre-school development. Is the course any good? Of course. Rated one of the best in the country by OFSTED, the course has close links with local schools, and time is divided between actual experience and other school-based activities, as well as lectures, seminars, practical workshops and group work.

~ea~~e attraction. Not the real Wham

£40 getS YOU intO act (pity about Don't 11 LCR S. SUre IY Give Up howthat doesn't equal ev~~- what's a Wham tribute going on? b d? £40 could get an • you into 11

'tJ £L_ I FOR JNE I T~OVG ~T fHE~C w.I!Nf EIJilllol" ACTION ol?_

E. (Clt'( ,.. ENT llo OOR SUIP fe'"vAl- Y

CONCRETE Get Involved! Would you like to be part of the country's most successful student newspaper? Past team members now write for and edit national newspapers and magazines, as well as working in all other areas of the media

So where am I specialising again? With PGCE courses at UEA, you first choose whether to cover the 3-11 or 11-1 8 age range. Then within the 3-11 age range, you specialise in either ages three to eight or seven to eleven. Finally, you choose to specialise in a particular subject, and in order to train as a nursery or pre-school teacher, the best option is Advanced Early Years, which concentrates on ages three to five. How long is the course? UEA's PGCE is a one-year, full time course.

www.concrete-onllne.eo.uk/ gulde

592856.

the Grads, ' ' as this seems to

For details of how you can get involved, pop up to the Concrete office, upstairs in Union House, email us on su.concrete@uea.ac.uk or visit our special website at

Where can I find o ut more? The UEA website has a complete description of the PGCE courses available. Go to www.uea.ac.uk/edu Alternatively, contact Anne Cockburn, Primary PGCE Course Go-Director, who specialises in early development. The School office can be contacted on 01603

event that should stick in the memory for the rest of our lives. Hopefully, Wham is a favourite choice of

one in how to write your name however.) Students there are paying the same amount of money and getting Atomic Kitten and Chicane in a marquee - not in their Union hall - together will all the same fun fairs and attractions that are bolted on to our own do. Regardless of whether you like them, at least people have heard of Atomic Kitten , and Chicane are a good dance

though - - - - - - - - - - - - - - LCRs- and (that would be much too expensurely 11 LCRs do not equate to sive) but a tribute band that a Wham tribute band . The played at Retro just a few months excuse? Probably the same old ago (does anyone else smell a one, which is that all the money deal?) . Love them or loathe them goes on the elections, the mighty Union democracy. Perhaps we - it is still only a tribute band. Compare this night to the ought to ditch the Union and get University of Essex. Yes, there is someone who isn't interested in a one - it surprised me too - and profit to arrange a decent Grad no, they do not offer courses in Ball. Perhaps Colin Moore might second hand car dealing (there is oblige ...

What do I need to do then? In order to be a nursery teacher, you do need to take a PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education). lt is important to recognise the difference between a nursery teacher and nursery nurse (although courses to become a nursery nurse are also available locally, see Norwich City College at www.ccn.ac.uk)

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Concrete

WEDNE SDAY, MA Y

16, 2001

' lt's been a momentous season for the average football fan. Wembley has been closed down, England has a foreign coach, Man United completed a hat-trick of championships and Spain dominated Europe, again. A/ex Thorpe looks back ... want you to sit down and ask you rself a serious question. Does it really seem like 12 month s since Chelsea won what may turn out to be the last ever Wembley FA Cup final? I suspect the answer may well be no. This time last year has special significance for me, as Ke11ering Town played in the last Wembley FA Trophy final. Sure they lost, but at least they got there - which is more than can be said for Norwich City. Since those fateful weekends, so much has happened - the obvious place to begin being Benelux in June, and Euro 2000. A draw with Brazil and victory over the Ukraine the previous season had, once again, deluded the tabloid press into thinking England were the best nation in Europe. Almost as soon as the competi tion started that score was set right, with the English throwing away a two-goal lead to lose to Portugal. The famous 1路 0 win over Germany was nothing but a respite , before being further embarrassed by the ageing Romanians. World Champions France coasted their way to the final while Italy, on the other hand, had been drab throughout. So it was no real surprise that Gallic flair won through - eventually. David Trezeguet scoring the golden goal deep into extra time. Questions were being asked about Kevin Keegan's ability to handle international management even then, but come October 7 the questions were ended. In what was to be Wembley's send oH, the Germans came to town and wiped the

sweat, the Reds were taken the distance by Birmingham City. In fact , Liverpool became the first club to win a major domestic cup competition on penalties. Their march to the FA Cup Final was just as easy, as they didn't go behind in any tie from third round to semi-finals, where they played partypoopers for Wycombe - the year's romantic giant killers having despatched free-falling Leicester. In the final against Arsenal , the Gunners had the

'' Fulham have walked Division One, with no small thanks to 31-goa/ star Lows Saha

rapidly came down to one man though - Swede Sven Goran Eriksson. Unfortunately for England, he was under contract to Italian club Lazio until the end of June. By that stage England would only have two qualifying games left in September, and wou ld more than likely already be out. Leicester manager Peter Taylor took over as caretaker, and chose a young side for the friendly

against Italy. But before England could see if Taylor could revive the qualifying campaign , Eriksson was sacked as Lazio manager for letting the side drop out of the top four.

'' n was in rs. If you've gone rough all the posEnglish dates for the job, who do you offer ll's poisoned chalice? The idea struck the FA: "Let's give the job to a foreigner. He won't seen all the stick Emile Heskey has found his shooting boots, grabbing 22 this term.

The idea struck the FA: "Let's give the job to a foreigner. He won 't have seen the stick the papers give our man."

The Swede took charge immediately and set about watching as many Premiership games as he could get to. With out the firm prejudices of who was the best players, his first squad was a breath of fresh air. By judging only on what he'd seen in the months leading up to his first game, Eriksson chose Sunderland midfielder Gavin McCann and Charlton's 31-year-old left back Chris Powell for the friendly with Spain. Both selections came as a complete shock, but their performances, along with the more established squad members, gave a sign that Eriksson knew what he was doing. England beat Spain 3-0, and then professionally - but not comfortably

- despatched Finland and Albania to all bu t secure second place in the World Cup group. Three wins from their last three games - away to Germany, and two ties against Greece- could see England take the group, but only if Germany drop points . it seems somewhat unlikely now though that England won 't qualify at all. omestically, it was still the same old storywith the only difference being that Manchester United came out with all guns blazing from day one. The surprise at the start of the season was Leicester, who matched United for a couple of months and stayed top for three weeks. By the end of October though, the top three was United, Arsenal , Liverpool. That wouldn't change much for the rest of the season, with the gaps only getting bigger. England's other Champions League representative , Leeds United, were floundering down in tenth - but more on them later. Come the end of March , United had stretched their lead to 16 points, and Arsenal had six points on their nearest rivals - Ipswich. The Blues have been a revelation since their return to the top flight, not least securing a chance for the UEFA Cup. If the league was United's domain , the cups belonged to Liverpool. First up came the League Cup and , having reached the final without breaking

If the league was United's domain, the cups belonged to Liverpool.

better of the early play and took the lead in the 73rd minute through Freddy Ljungberg. They tried to defend their lead, but forgot about the pace oi England superstar Michael Owen, who grabbed two goals in the 83rd and 89th minutes to give Liverpool their second cup. At the time of press we have to wait and see if they can complete an historic treble. The UEFA Cup - with a reputation of being the also-rans trophy - proved to be a tough nut to crack for the Reds. To play Roma, Porta and Barcelona in the weaker competition is slightly bad luck, but Liverpool have taken it in their stride to reach the final against Spanish side Alaves. Span ish sides have given the English a tough ride in Europe this year. All of England's representatives have had to face eventual finalists Valencia in this year's Champions League. Man United drew twice with Hector Cuper's troopers, Arsenal cras hed at the quarter-final stage, and Leeds were pipped in the semi-final second leg . In fact, Leeds faced eight games against all four Spanish sides. In the first group round they drew twice with Barcelona and knocked them out, and in the second groups they lost twice to Real Madrid, but a win in Rome against Lazio saw them trough to the quarter-finals. Here, they were untroubled in beating the Spanish champion side Deportivo la Coruna easily over two legs. And to round oH I want you to spare a thought for my side, Kettering Town , who have been relegated for the first time since 1971 . Unless another club goes out of business between now and Au gust, th e Poppies will be plying their trade in the Southern League. Apologies to fans of any other Or Martens League team , but next year the title is ours - count on it.

Premiership: Manchester United Division One: Fulham Division Two: Millwall Division Three: Brighton & Hove Albion Football Conference: Rushden & Diamonds FA Cup: Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal League Cup: Liverpool 1-1 Birmingham (Liverpool on penalties) LDV Vans Trophy: Port Vale 2-1 Brentford FA Trophy: Canvey Island 1-0 Forest Green European Cup Final: Bayem Munich v Valencia, San Siro, Milan, May 23 UEFA Cup Final: Alaves v Liverpool, Westfalen, Dortmund, May 16

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Concrete

WEDNESDAY, MAY

•• .and

it's 'day to this

Just because football is on its week off, there's no reason to despair. This summer sees a promising England side take on the Aussies in the Ashes. A/ex Thorpe relaxes in the sun ... f I'm glad to see the back of the last football season , this year's cricket season has practically got me salivating. When Chelsea were winning at Wembley, I was witnessing the start of England's revival from being the worst cricketing nation in the world. Fresh from touring the West lndies, Zimbabwe were stuffed by England at Lord's. Since then England have gone on to win series against the West lndies and in Pakistan and Sri Lanka to take them up to third in the world. This summer, however, the Australians come to town to try to retain their Ashes title. England have not won an Ashes series since the winter of 198687. but if they are going to win it back at all then this summer is the perfect opportunity. Australia are corn-

Potent threat: Matt Hayden opens the bat for Australia.

SPORT

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16, 2001

ing off their first losing series since September 1999, and this, combined with the death of Don Bradman, could well be shell-shocked enough to give England an early lead. Given the early start to the English summer - both in weather and date of first test - could give the home nation the edge. Only 12 months ago, this year's Ashes series was a main joke for comedians nationwide, but now England must think they have a serious chance of winning. on't get yourselves under any illusions about the magnitude of the task though. Australia are still the best cricketing side in the world. They bat throughout their entire squad, from the Waugh brothers and Matthew Hayden down tq Jason Gillespie and Glenn McGrath.

THE UPCOMING TESTS PAKISTAN 1st Test: May 17-21 (Lord's). 2nd Test: May 31 -June 4 (Old Trafford). Natwest Series: June 7-23

AUSTRALIA Natwest Series: June 7-23. 1st Test: July 5·9 (Edgbaston). 2nd Test: July 19-23 (Lord's). 3rd Test: Augu st 2-6 (Trent Bndge) . 4th Test: August 16-20 (Head1ngtey). 5th Test: August 23-27 (The Oval).

SPORT SIDELINES Are you tough enough? THE OUTDOORS circuit-training group are putting on a tuffguy I tuffgal session for all corners on Wednesday, June

13. Starting at 6pm from the Colney Lane Pavilion, the challenge includes two large circuits of campus, and numerous exercise points, followed by a smaller circuit with a couple of river crossings for good measure. The circuits group also runs circuit-training sessions every Tuesday and Thursday leaving from the Sportspark entrance at 1pm throughout the year. All staff and students are welcome to join the fun and it is completely free. For more information email peter.thorne@uea.ac.uk

Fan Power raises pots of cash THE FAN WHO managed to get onto Manchester United's prematch photo in Munich has made a packet from his sneakiness. Last week Kart Power started selling signed copies of the photograph for £2. lt just goes to show how a little ingenuity can go a long way like from Munich to Old Trafford.

Rugby changes again England celebrate their victory in Sri Lanka

They can bowl a bit too. Gillespie is one of, if not the, best fast bowler in the world at the moment, and in Shane Warne they posess a spin bowler who could turn a ball on a polished surface. So while England may be on a roll , it could all come to a screeching halt - particularly if the Aussies hit their stride early. Whatever happens, I'll enjoy it- beer in hand. Australia squad: SA Waugh (capl), AC Gilchrist, MG Bevan, NW Bracken, JN Gillespie, ML Hayden, JL Langer, B Lee, SM Katich, OR Martyn, GO McGrath, CA Miller, AT Ponting, WA Seccombe, MJ Slater, SK Wame, ME Waugh.

DOES ANYONE really know how promotion and relegation in Rugby Union works? lt seems like it changes from year to year, and more often than not it does. Well, now the Premiership want to change their play-off format after only one year. They fancy trying rugby league's 'top-five' format, where the champions only have to play one game.

Merger sir? How about a new name PR COMPANIES are always trying to make a quick buck from football . So when The Fourth Room decided to offer its services as 'Merger Name Inventor' it should have come as no surprise. Although Wimbledon and QPR have said they're not going to merge, the company came up with the name London Town FC for them. Any suggestions for Tranmere and Everton, or Wimbledon and Milton Keynes?

Right on cue Daniel Ellis went to the Canary Cue Club to examine more closely what Norwich has to offer fans of green baize ...

ith Ronnie O'Sullivan having the World Snooker Championships, I am sure the great Steve Davis would agree that this year's championship has been fascinating . Hundreds of students these last couple of weeks have been gripped by this mystery bug, and visitors have found them complaining of dizziness, square eyes, and massive Dennis Taylor overload. One student was found crying in his bathroom after watching the same sentimental BBC montage for the sixth time in two days. Hidden away in a quiet side street off Duke Street, the Canary Cue Club depends on the local brotherhood of snooker enthusiasts known as 'members'. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the club can always be relied upon to provide amusement after the pubs have shut and even in to the early hours for those of us who enjoy messing with their sleeping patterns. With over twenty full-sized snooker tables customers will rarely have to suffer from queuing. If you are suffering from stress caused by deadlines and exams, then the Canary Cue Club is the perfect environment to bury your head in the sand in time-honoured student tradition. The gloomy interior provides a sleepy, dark fog that is impossible for 'them outside' to penetrate. The spacious upstairs room resembles a casino with no natural light, only the flashing of fruit machines and the distant lights above the snooker tables. Wrap yourself in the delights of the green baize, and those dreams of earning a quarter of a million quid with your natural talent and potting ability. You might even spot Barry Pinchers, who is a player ranked in the top one hundred. And who can resistthe lure of ham and cheese toasties?

The owner of the club for about eight years, Ron Maxted, is a farmer in his other life. When I asked him who would win the World Championship, he cautiously replied, "Hopefully Ronnie. The game is getting too bland, and needs a bit of character to stir things up a bit." His message to students is that they are "welcome any time of the day or night." His relaxed attitude is reflected in the atmosphere. Where other clubs insist on silence so players can concentrate better, the Canary Club is full of younger players who enjoy a bit of banter through the frame. According to Maxted there is rarely any trouble at the Club because "snooker and violence don't go together." After about 11 pm, the club gets a little quieter. Players drift away into the black, absorbed in the cigarette smoke. Only a few fruit-machine junkies are left. An old man in a red cap has been sitting in front of the same machine for over four hours. He hits the buttons. it's all routine - carrying his pound coins in a little red bag. If snooker isn't your thing, you could always go 'weirdo-watching'. And if the professional game gets short of a few eccentrics to spice up the professional game, they could always recruit a few from this famed corner of Norwich. Though there can be no more dozy weekend afternoons listening to the dunking of snooker balls only half-awake, though there can be no more double kisses and fluked reds, though we must continue our struggle without the benefit of Sieve Davis' hindsight - we can still take that 'shot to nothing' at the Canary Cue Club. • Concrete and Canary Cue Club have teamed up to offer free student membership to our readers: just present this article and your campus card at the club to join up.

OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY 7 DAYS A WEEK

• • • • • •

20 Snooker tables 4 pool tables Satellite TV Video Games £250 jackpot machines Hot and cold food available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week • Licensed bar at low prices 1Oam-11 pm, 12·1 0.30pm Sun

I FREE STUDENT MEMBERSHIP I St Mary's Plain, Norwich Tel: 627478 Only 5 minutes fr9m Norwich market

SPORT

w w w .conc ret e-online.co.uk

Concrete

End of year BUSA Tables

1r.cmvmr.ma win over Luton by

Football

Hoc:key Midlands Men's Div 2A

Midlands Women 's Div 2A P Birmingham 9 Northamp'n 8 Ox Brookes 8 Leicester 9 UEA 7 Warwick 9

W 9 4 3 4 3 2

D 0 0 0 0 0 0

L 0 4 5 5 4 7

F 60 16 13 18 8 14

A Pts 6 30 26 15 23 12 33 12 15 3 26 3

Badminton

P W 0 L F DMU (Bed) 10 8 1 1 42 Leicester 10 8 0 2 47 Northamp'n 9 4 o 5 24 UEA 9 4 1 4 25 Derby 7 1 5 33 DMU (Leic) 7 0 1 6 6 Cu p Final: Loughborough 3 Exeter 1.

Fencing

A Pts 13 22 22 21 23 19 28 15 45 6 46 6

Netball

Midlands Men 's Div 2A PWDLFAPts Leicester 10 8 0 2 66 24 24 UEA 8 6 0 2 40 32 24 DMU (Leic) 7 4 0 3 34 29 21 Nott Trent 9 4 0 5 41 40 9 Ox Brookes 7 3 0 4 32 10 3 Coventry 7 0 0 7 12 60 -9 Cup Fi nal: Loughborough 7, Bath 2.

A Pts 24 25 17 24 32 15 21 10 39 4 44 1

Midlands Women' s Div 2A PWDLF DMU (Bed) 10 7 1 2 40 Staff (Stoke) 10 7 o 3 37 Warwick 10 6 1 3 37 UEA 10 5 0 5 26 10 2 0 8 25 Leicester Keele 10 2 0 8 12 Cup Fi nal: Loughborough 3 Exeter 2.

Midlands Women 's Div 2B PWDLFAPts Warwick 10 10 0 0 471 -244 30 Nott Trent 10 7 1 2 398-267 22 Coventry 9 4 1 4 296-290 13 UEA 10 3 1 6 277-31010 Northamp'n 10 2 1 7 241-292 4 Derby 9 1 0 8 119-399 3 Cup Final: De Mon tford University (Bedfordshire) 40, Brighton 30.

Midlands Men's Div 2A PWDLFAPts Loughboro 7 7 0 o 813-515 24 UEA 7 5 0 2 399-398 12 Wolverh'ton 7 2 0 5 251-301 9 Stall (Stoke) 6 2 0 4 240-404 6 Leicester 7 1 0 6 467-552 0 Cup Final: Cambridge 123 UCL 119.

Lac:rosse Midlands Women 's Div 2A Warwick UEA

P WDL F APts 6 5 0 63 30 16 5 3 1 46 33 10 3 55 9 4 6

Black Sox annihilate sor[Y. Loughborough side By WILL HALSEY

UEA BLACK SOX bats were out in force as Loughborough Brewers were sent packing with a crushing 17 run defeat. Hitting hero for the Black Sox was Brian Hsieh , who smashed as th e Brewers' pitch ing staff crumb led. Chris Tremonte also ca me out the hitters took hold of the game. swinging to cap UEA's fine perReliable pitcher Matt Raush then took over on the mound in formance at the plate. But the Black Sox defence the fifth , and hardly gave the also played a crucial role in the Brewers a ru nner on base. match up. Solid fielding from Dashed Tremonte at shortstop and Scott And any hopes of a comeback Arenstein at second base kept from Loughborough were UEA in the game early on , as Loughborough cashed in on a dashed as a stunning double play between Rau sh and first nervous start by the Black Sox. James English , making his baseman Oily Snell sent two Brewers packing and snuffed official debut for UEA, allowed out any hopes of a revival. five run s in the first inning to give Loughborough did add to their the Brewers the perfect start. score in th e si xth and seventh But that was as good as it got. Innings, but by then UEA were English steadied the shi p and home and dry. The Black Sox threw three scoreless innings as

three doubles and two singles scored consistently through the game and never looked in trouble. Club President Ju lia Talke pointed to the inexperience of the UEA team against the established Brewers. "Loughborough is known for its high standard in sports," she beamed . "Their side has also been runn ing for three years while the Black Sox are a new team . "But it was very hard for the Brewers to sco re because our pitching didn't let them get a chance to run at base. We deserved to wi n"

runs writes Anthon Love/1. Despite losing the toss, the batting line up responded well to post a challeng ing total. Although captain Mark Roberts was dismissed early on, a fine innings by Richard Moores (44) and 51 from Haydon Simmons prevented the dismissals of Hooson and Taylor from causing too many worries. Quickfire runs from Richard Bland and Anthony Lovell keeping the score moving along . Mick Richardson 's lusty hitting gave a late boost, and it was only the five wickets of Luton's Zia which kept UEA making over 250. UEA's bowlers came out fighting , with James lng mak ing an early breakthrough with two wickets. Luton found runs hard to come by, with lng and Bland were chief tormentors - Bland conced ing a miserly 10 fro m his nine

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16, 2001

their first BUSA victo-

Midlands Men 's Div 2B P W D L F A Pts UEA 9 6 0 3 17 14 21 Leicester 10 5 1 4 25 22 16 NottTrent 9 3 2 4 18 15 14 Cambridge 10 4 0 6 21 27 12 Ox Brookes 10 3 1 6 13 23 10 Derby 8 5 0 3 20 13 9 Cup Fi nal: Bath 2, Luton 1. UEA promoted to Midlands Div 1

WEDNESDAY, MAY

~------------------------------------~.-------------------------------------------------------------- --------- -- Concrete

WEDNESDAY, MAY

SPORT 23

www .concrete-online.co.uk

16, 2001

I I I

CANARIES' SEASON FADES OUT I e ~_'01路. Judges decision costs boat dub more medals Norwich City finally gave a

By ANDY VINSEN

true impression of how they normally play at Wimbledon, bowing out with a o-o draw.

路THE BUSA Championships were this year overshadowed by tears, as races had to be cancelled and shortened in order to fit the events into the time available.

Andy

Marshall's

UEA women's coxed four crew, consisting of Karen Turner,

Csoamnaerwiehsatfaarpepwroepll,rl路aittesteheamt ehde

captain Schickentanz, Paakkola,medal Hannah Baker and cox JessDaphne Upton were one of the Riikka club's strongest hopes. However due to exceptional start line, ready to crack one off, weather conditions, they were only for the umpires to call the race deprived of their place in the final off. I am however delighted with by the decision of the judges to the club's results again at BUSA. lt shorten the event. shows we're doing something "We were really choked to have right," he said. gone out in the way that we did. If we'd lost outright it would have been easier to take," commented The club's other three crews Schickentanz on the ruling. competing at the weekend all produced solid displays, but were all drawn in exceptionally fast heats. The crew had already shown Due to injury, the women 's eight, promise in their only other race this having put in a tremendous amount of work in training all year, were year, having stamped their authority on the coxed fours category at unable to row as the eight which Peterborough Head. trained consistently together for the Schickentanz added, "Jt's so majority of the season. fru trating, with almost all of the "The girls have got Jots of potential and I was really disappointed other races having been cancelled this sea on." for them," commented coach and Another club member to be frusformer UEA rower Andy Beard. The men's second eight, coached trated by the weekend's cancellationJ was club president by Sam Evans - himself unable to Dom Pivonka who, along with row due to a back injury - produced three oarsmen from Norwich one of the ten fastest times from the heats, and were unlucky not to be Rowing Club, was representing the Eastern Region in the prestigious rewarded with a place in the next lnterregional coxed fours competiround. The men ' s second tion, which was intended to be held coxed four also perin the break in the University racformed well, losing out to ing. two of the eventual final"I was gutted to have got to the

kept a clean sheet. Given the captain's armband for the day, Marshal! honoured the fans that travelled with one world class save and two other excellent stops. Several clubs have expressed an interest in the former England Under-21 international, available on a free transfer, but Marshal! doesn't know where he'll be next season. Marshall's saves aside, the game was short of chances. Both sides had efforts ruled out for offside- Jason Euell scoring in the 31st minute and Chris Llewellyn netting in the 70th. City's best chance came one minute from the end of normal time when Paul McVeigh released Steen Nedergaard, and the Dane saw Norwich's only legal shot on target saved well by Paul Heald. Darrel Russell latched onto the rebound and blazed well wide with the whole goal at his mercy. And so Norwich City's sixth Division One campaign has once again ended with mid-table obscurity- though it shows how far they've fallen to be relatively happy with 15th place. Roll on jl..ugust and another improbable shot at the playoffs.

DIVISION ONE P W D l

Solid

Promise

N COACH ES . RI NCi cHAN Ci ES

UEA BOAT CLUB has this year witnessed an influential recruitment to its coaching staff. Alan Wells, a former international sculler and coach, has been giving his expertise as long as anyone currently associated with the club can remember. However with the dramatic influx of novice rowers this year, it became apparent that he would not have the time to effectively coach and manage all the crews to his usual high standards. Charlie Kepinska, a former role as head coach." to the rigorous but effective Great Britain under 23 internaThe introduction of Kepinska training programmes introduced tional, studying at Norwich Arts has clearly been a profound by the coaches. College, appr?ached the club to one, with her. ~nowledge a~d offer her serv1ces. expenence gUJdJng the men s "The programme was "Since Charlie's addition to squad in the direction of their designed to increase in intensity the club the coaching time per BUSA Gold medal last weekcrew on the water has been end. over the two weeks leading up to the weekend, so that the boys increased significantly," said Wells steered the girls to an would be able to cope with two Captain Andy Vinsen. emphatic victory earlier in the days of hard racing ," said season at Peterborough Head, where the women's coxed four Kepinska of her squad's regime came home over 30 seconds "Aian has been able to focus this year. ahead of their nearest rivals, on the women - bringing them And of the weekend's results, clocking a faster time than crews up to a high standard - while she added, "I thought they were Charlie and Sam [Evans) have as much as three divisions highvery professional, and their hard taken charge of the men's er than them. work paid off. I'm really pleased squad, with Alan continuing his These results are due largely for them."

Intensity

Focus

GDPT

13.Gillingham46 13 16 17 路5 55 14.Crewe 46 15 10 21 -1555 15.Norwlch

46 14 12 20 -12 54

16.Barnsley 46 15 9 22 -1354 17.Sheff W 46 15 B 23 -1953 ~CFC

TOP SCORERS

lwan Roberts Chris Llewellyn

19 8

UEA TAKE CUP BUSA BOOST FOR ATHLETES

UEA'S RESERVE footballers ended the club's cup final hoodoo, in winning the Shoe Trade Cup Final. The various teams from UEA had appeared in three finals in

the previous 12 months and lost all of them before the Bank Holiday Monday triumph, writes A/ex Thorpe. Despite going behind to an 18th minute free-kick from Potter, the blues were coasting for the whole 90 minutes. Costessy insisted on playing an offside trap that was weak at best, against a UEA side that was always going to be better off for pacy players. Within a minute of the Costessy goal, UEA were denied a penalty after a handball on the line from a Si Abrahams header went unnoticed by the referee. On eight separate occasions in the first half alone, UEA blew the offside trap wide open. Ben Larkin, Chris Holliday and

Leighton Hill all found themselves with too much time to think about scoring, and all missed the target. Right at the end of the half, Holliday burst into the box but was pulled down by Potter when clear. Larkin converted the penalty to pull UEA level. Despite scoring so close to the interval, UEA took their time to get their rhythm back. The introduction of Mark Champ and Richard Garcia seemed to make a difference, and soon the floodgates were open. Hill broke the trap for the tenth time on 68 minutes, and lashed

THREE FINAL DEFEATS

Shoe Trade Cup 2000: Eartham 2,

UEA Res 1. Norfolk Junior Cup 2001: Thorpe 2, UEA 2 (Thorpe 4-2 on pens). FJ Potter Cup 2001: Coach & Horses 3, UEA A 2.

home from 20 yards to make it 21. Then Potter was sent off for headbutting Abrahams after an innocuous challenge by the UEA midfielder. Hill bagged his second with fifteen minutes to go having once again been set oneon-one with Gary Fisher. The rout was completed in the final minute when Abrahams put the icing on work by Champ and James Walker. UEA Reserves: Platridges, Clark, Bassett, Hedges, Johnson, Abrahams, Holiday (Garcia 62), Morley, Larkin (Champ 56), Hill, Beach (Walker 78).

By MICHELLE MARGOT and SUE CRIPSEY

UEA Athletics Club eclipsed last years' performance at the BUSA Track and Field Championships in Glasgow, competing against world class athletes. The women finished lOth out of around 45 universities after three days of events and took home unprecedented gold and bronze medals. The crowning glory went to Sarah Katherine Trehane in her debut in Darrow battled though their 5000m Knights who led the 800m final from the 2000m steeplechase, finishing heats to achieve very respectable the gun, achieving the gold medal in seventh on top of her ninth in the times, and then bravely took on seca time of 2.07 minutes. Her decisive IO,OOOm. ond events in the I O,OOOm and triple victory is good preparation for her jump respectively. Other athletes to appearance in the GB students' compete in several races were Will squad. Much-improved sprinter Andy Vincent and Glen Richardson in the Heptathlete Ros Gonse competed Simpson overcame strong opposi800m and 1500m, plus Michael in three events and won spectaculartion to finish third in both his 400m Werner and Chri Miller in the ly in the javelin, beating her personal and 200m heats, qualifying for the 5000m and JO,OOOm. All the men best by two metres with a throw of semi -finals. He smashed his 400m showed dedication by giving it their 40.44m. Sue Cripsey also achieved a personal best with a time of 52.28 all in the 4x I OOm and 4x400m personal best of 4.33 minutes in the seconds. Another printer, Kathryn relays. I 500m final, despite a tough qualifyPurcell showed fine style, finishing Club president Katherine Trehane ing heat the previous day. fifth in her 200m heat. commented: "Everybody gave oneAnother point scorer was Michelle Margot and Mindy hundred percent."

Smashed

- ~ ---

-----

~--

-- - -~- - ~-

- -~~-

--~-

UEA triumghant at BUSA national regatta By PAUL BRADLEY

After months of waiting and frustration , gold and two bronze medals was the reward for UEA Boat Club in the national BUSA competition . I n their first regatta this year, and o nly their second competitive race this season, the men's First V III narrowly beat a competi tive fiel d into first place over the 2.000 metre course. Oxford Brookes. Durham and Loughborough, all top rowing institutions. were overshadowed by a UEA ere\\- who were titter and stro nger and whose team spiri t proved unbreakahle. ·At the end of the day we were on top of our game:· Captain Andy Vinsen commented. '"Our training camp stood us in excellent stead and our superior fitness levels made the difference when it really counted."'

Controversy

"';I>

Controversy surrounded the first day's racing, however. Due to extreme conditions on the water, racing was twice postponed. resulting in the course distance being shoncncd to I .000 metres. Ini tia ll y this seemed to be to UEAs disadvantage as their first round performance showed that two kilometres seemed to sui t there sprintin g ski ll s with the last 500 metres heing their strongest. Their first round performance tumcd out to be a tm,ter for the excitement to come. Wi th th e favourites Oxford Brookes in their heat and only the winner goi ng through to the final the odds seemed stacked agai nst UEA. The start, the most crucial point of the race, was good and with half a kilometre to go they were in touch with the leaders and onl y one length behind Brookes. Then they took it up a few gears.

As the) approached the crowds on the final straight they began to catch the leader and wit h on ly I 00 metres to go they were neck and neck. It looked as if they were going straight to the final but Brookes responded with a kick of their own and crossed the line a whisker ahead of UEA. it was to he a row-off for the U EA crew. "'I knew things had been going well in training but w hen the

guys - we ' re beating Brookcs."' cox Sandy Doran exclaimed. ""AJ"ter coming so close to automatic qualification."' crew member Ben W hattam added, ""to race another -1 kilometres was mentally tough"". The re-run tested their will to win and they passed with Oying colours, winning it outright.

Exciting The shortened race distance proved no problem to the eight and in one of the most exciting finals of the weekend. they once more linished ahead of the fie ld, beating Newcastle who had previously knocked out the UEA men ·s seconds. This did not even guarantee a medal though as this was decided by time not placing. With the results of the other time tri al be i ng delayed, the mood was tem.e. ""Hanging around for three hours waiting for the judges

Gold -Men's 1st VIII. Bronze - Heavyweight Coxed IV; Zed Wilkinson (single men's sculls)

said Vinsen, ··but this made the moment \\hen we were told we had gold all the more sweet"". Only hours after winning the gold medal the eight men had to race again, this time in the men·, fours. Tom Bauman commented: "" it was qui te cool going into the heats of the fours race confident of having already ready won a medal. We really believed that we could win another one. I suppm.e you could say we were on a adrenaline high". This time UEA were less fortu nate as the lightweight four got knocked out in their heat. The

final. winning their heat by 50 metres and slowing down for the final stretch.

Breezed it was UEA"s final 500 metres of the final that won them a medal- this time bronze. In fourth place and looking quite tired now it seemed as though a medal was one step too far this time. But from somewhere they found an extra ounce of energy and

a dese r ved medal what was now

The previously cancelled singles race was then put back on to give Zed Wilkinson a chance of winning a medal in the last final of the day. He took it with open arms and daimed himself a bronte. Zed explained: " i t was a real shock to be told that my race was hack on and that I'd be racing again in a few hours. l had to put my hoat back together again and hydrate myself again." He added, '"After this I was rea lly focused and just concen trated on psyching myself up for what I knew was going to he a hard

n.ICe·'_ With UEA winning the first Gold Medal of the day it seemed a great way to finish with Wilkinson gelling the last medal of the weekend.

Celebration Tim e: Cox Sandra Ooran after the men 's fours bronze medal

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DOWN 1 2 3 5 6 7 9 13 14 15 16 18 20

Tramp (6) Unthank convenience store/On every day (7) White, heron like bird (5) Radical ( 7) Shore (5) Agree (6) Seastde seat (9) Naked people ( 7) Without boundary (2,5) Wife beater (6) Initial (6) Tests(5) Cormorant-like bird ( 5)

r-------------------------, There's a £10 book voucher from campus bookshop Waterstones up for grabs for completion of the crossword , 1deal for all those course book purchases. Fi ll in your name and a contact number ore-mail address below and put it with the completed grid in the competition box 111 the Hive by Friday, June 1.

Name ......... .. ............ .................... ... . School ...... ... .................. .. ............... .

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Solution #18

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Win ner: Dave Tayleur (MAT 2)