Concrete issue 161 25 02 2004

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Students shocked as University announces it could be

curtains for Drama and au revoir to LLT by 2008 THOMSMITH News Editor

Official proposals put to students last week call for the closing of the school of Language, Linguistics, and Translation (LLT), and the Drama Sector, a part of EAS. At the moment the closures are only proposed. with the University's usual decision making programmes to be used over the n ext few months; there will be no official decisions reached until at least May. However. there have been concerns voiced that the decision has effectively already been taken.

The departments will close In 2007-8. after all enrolled students have completed their degrees. though students will be recruited for drama and language courses this year 2004. This has, however. led to fears that the last students to graduate will see their courses suffer. According to both LLT and Drama.

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"we intend to fulftl our commitment to existing students", however this has been questioned, with Professor Ralph Yarrow of drama telling Concrete that he is suspicious of claims that there will be no ill effects on students' degrees.

"The University may wish to make a statement that the quality of the degree will not suffer.路 he said "but the statements would be dubiou s".

Students were to be informed of the deci sions by the reading and circulation of statements. However, LLT failed to forward details of the reading and. as a result , the firs t meetIng was only attended by three students leading many to find out second-hand about the proposals. The drama meeting was. however. well attended. At this m eeting. senior members of the Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) faculty were gathered at the front of the lecture theatre , and read a statement that ~

was also circulated by e-mail and by paper copies to all students. A version of this statement is reproduced inside, on page six.

According to the statement, the sector had been losing money for a considerable period of time, and it had been decided that it was no longer possible to subsidise the subject.

However. staff and students were invited to s uggest methods by which the financial problems could be alleviated.

After the statement was read , the staff tried to leave but the students questioned them. attempting to find out more information. including how proposals for dealing with tht> problems could be suggested to relevant pt>ople. Very little additional information was offered. however. and students were mere ly asked to talk to their advisers.

After the staff left. the students were then addressed by Mr Ned Glasier. the Union Communications Officer. who urged them tv

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contact the Union of UEA Students in order to take the matters forward together as a group, and that the Union would be there to support student's welfare and academic needs.

In an Interview with Concrete, on page six.

Prof Yarrow also questioned the UEA's accounting models and procedures, s uggestIng that "other universities do not use this system. and no other University In this country is trying to close down drama... drama departments are expanding not contracting. except here. it seems".

LLT. it seems is still hopeful that a solution to the problems can be found . as according to statements sent to students. and given to Concrete by the Dean of LLT. Or MarieMadeleine Kenning saying "We remain conl1 dent that a way will be found to secure the futu re of our degrees programmes after 2008". .

DON'T WANT lO LIVE ON YOUR OWN IN ASKIP? READ THE 'CONCRETE HOUSING GUIDE ~~

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c.a.te Wednesday. February 25, 2004

News

The AUT votes for strikes, with NUS' support so students may not have lectures this week••• ALYSSA MORRISSEY

At the time of going to

p ress, it appaers that about 500 lecturers will go on strike this week.

A mail ballot sent to members of the Association for University Teachers (AliT) on February 11 resulted in 66% of its members voting in favour of strike action against the pay structures proposed by university employers. Nearly 82% of balloted members additionally voted to take action short of striking.

AUT's opposition coincides with a survey showing that while salaries of vice chancellors continued to rise 49% over the last decade . senior s upport staff will lose up to £47 ,000 over 21 years.

Activities other than indus-

trial strike will include a boycott on assessment and all call-out -cover activity beginning March 1.

Nearly 500 of the AUT's 47,000 members are employed by UEA. mostly as lecturers. researchers and

academic related staff. Dr. Jackie Granleese. a member of the UEA speaking on behalf of the AUT, has stated that should university employers fail to reopen contract negotiations, the UEA's AUT members will strike on

the 24 and 25 of February.

Though this week is reading week for many. some schools will see a substantial number of lecturers and staff absent.

Employers have the ability to deduct salary for days off on strike, and AUT leaders have

requested that all such deductions be donated to the UEA's student hardship fund.

Meanwhile, the National Union of Students (NUS) has pledged its full support for the AUT. and is working with them to form a joint week of national action against contract settlements and variable top-up fees, designed to bring universities to a stand still. At a council meeting last Tuesday. the Union of UEA students voted to support striking staff behind the picket lines as well as to organise publicity stunts this week.

Adding the political argument of top-up fees to the issue of pay structures has caused the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) to accuse the AUT of 'opportunism.· A

DfES spokesperson said: "it is wrong to link the pay dispute to the bill."

However. a letter from AUT leaders accuses the UCEA of 'getting their facts wrong.· "We are deligh ted to be working with the NUS to raise the public profile of the issues that matter to staff and students." Said Or Granleese.

Not unsurprisingly a national poll shows 65% of students are in support of strike action. though many UEA students are sceptical about missing courses and possibly assessment.

"I defmitely think that [teachers) should have the democratic right to strike over salary issues. But at the same time. ijeopardising) the students is not a good way of going about it." Said Andrew Mullen, CMP 2.

Picture: US University Strike

ASSEMBLY MOTIONS POOR TUR OUT PAUL VINCENT Deputy News Editor

On t h e day Concrete is published , UEA will be holding its annual assembly, giving staff the chance to bold the administration t o account.

Concrete reported last issue on motion s put forward by Or Jackie Granleese concerning the CORE restructuring of sch ools and a motio n prop osed by Or Rupert Read relating to topup fees. But what effect will these motions have? And will staff attend the meeti n g despite the event's unfortunate timing, causing it to clash with the lectu rers' strike?

Dr Granleese believes that school boards were not properly consulted prior to deci sions on the CORE restructuring and points ou t that no figures have been provided

by which the success of the restructuring may be judged.

The Schools are unhappy with the proposal and yet the university has so far largely ignored issues voiced at school board meetings. The motions therefore have a lot of weight behind them.

Various school boards have commented on the proposal, the DEV school board said that it is "unable to support such a radical reorganisation of UEA in the absence of an indicative p lan showing the proposed savings" and questions the rationale behind replacing the s u ccessful strategy of forty years.

ENV indicates that "the potential loss of autonomy for the school could undermine the Sch ool's continu ed ability to be innovative" while SOC objects to the proposal as well and considers that the timetable for restructuring is "over-hasty". pointing

to the University of Sussex, that s p ent three years restructuring.

Or Rupert Read thinks his motion concerning top-up fees will pass but he expects "the debate will be passionate". Or Read says that "most lecturers and nearly all AUT mem bers are against variable fees" and that this will be reflected at the assembly.

He calls for students to support the lecturers in their strike action, as lecturers have supported them in the struggle against higher fees.

Inside Concrete This Wee Page 2: ledarers to strike Page 4: Sainsbury Centre re-build Page 6: Election Results Page 7: School losures Page 8: Hive Refurbishment Page 9: Eric Schlosser

Page 10 (he Ciuevara Page 11: American El ctions Page 12: Adrenaline Junkies Page 13: American Road Trip Page 14: Letters and Comment Page 15: The Enquirer

Page 16: Fashion Page 17: Formula One Racing Page 18: Men's Football Page 19: Women's Rugby, Badminton and Karate Page 20: Trampolining, Cr ss COuntry and Crosword

FOR ELECTIO S Longer election fails to significantly increase voting numbers THOM SM ITH News Editor

The turn out in the union elections was significantly lower than the Union of UEA students executive bad hoped would be the case this year.

The Union exten ded the voting period from the normal one day to three days. It was hoped that the extended hours would en cou rage about 2000 students to vote for the new executive.

However, it seems that there was more ap athy than was counted upon. In the end, a mere 1651 students voted in the elections, a very small proportion of the Union.

Nevertheless. the numbers were up on last year, when only about 1300 students voted , and the Union Communications Officer. Mr Ned Glasier suggested that there would have been even fewer voters turning out if the elections had been held over just one day.

CORRECTION The picture of an alarm bell shown on the front page of Concrete last edition (issue 160) was actually the bell for the alarm of Norwich City Council's District Boiler House. and not anything to do with Mary Chapman Court's alarm system.

"I am disappointed that more students did not turn out to vote. However. the numbers were up on last year and I think that if the voting had not been extended they would have been significantly down, perhaps to about 1000. As the Union becomes more professional, I believe more people will vote, but it is a gradual process. I cannot say it has been a failure , although it was not as great

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a success as the Union had hoped."

When asked about why he felt the numbers were so low, he said that it was an example of a more general trend.

"I don't think this is just a problem that the Union faces, I suspect that the European elections will not attract many students to vote either".

Guid e t o winning c andidates on page 7

NAME_

0.0 .8_ ADDRESS_ POSTCODE_

TEL_ EMAIL_

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c..a.te Wednesdm·. Februar,• 25, 2004

Page 4

www.concrete-online.co.uk

ot a s ory? Email us at su.

Sainsbury Centre will close for a year to allow for major renovation work THOM SM ITH

News Editor Nert year the Sainsbury centre will be closed for massive redevelopment work to take place.

The 25 year-old building. built by Sir Norman Foster, \vill be changed to improve access, gallery space, the shop. cafe. visitor facilities and an education centre. An internal link between the main and crescent wing galleries will also be put in place.

The centre will close on August 1 this year and will re-open in the autumn of 2005. In the meantime. the exhibits will be packed and specially stored. though the most important pieces will be available to tht> staff and students of the World Art and Muscology department. It is hoped that this will minimise the dis rup tion to stu dents.

The bu ilding was Sir Norman

Foster's fir st public building and was b uilt to house the Robert and Lisa Sainsbury collection of world art which was donated to the UEA in

1973. In 1991. the building was expanded with the addi tion of the crescent wing. wh ich formed an extra gallery, a visible storage dis -

Applications are invited for the position of Editor, Concrete, for the period September 2004 to June 2005.

The position is open only to current students at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, and may be taken as a year-out during a degree (intercalation) or directly after graduation.

The successful applicant need not have previously been involved in the production of Concrete, but must be able to demonstate the following skills: • Excellent grammar and editing skills • Team leadership qualities • Administrative flair • Familiarity with QuarkXpress and Adobe Photoshop • Knowledge of print production techniques To apply, send a full CV to the Editor, Jim Whalley, to Concrete, PO Box 410, Norwich, NR4 ?TB, followed by a critique of the newspaper and a discription of which direction you would take it in if you were the successful applicant.

Closing date for CV applications: Wednesday, March 10, 2004 Closing date for critiques: Friday March 19, 2004

For more information please e-mail Jim Whalley at su .concrete@ uea.ac.uk or telephone 01603 250558

play for the reserve collection and s pace fo r the newly established "Museology" programme.

The work itself includes the improvement of access to the building with a new car park and new entry doors and porch . As the visitor enters the main building. there will be a wide bridge over an atrium that extends to the basement level. The new basement lobby will have light wells and a spiral staircase leading down to them. New "state of the art" toilets. cloakroom and locker facilities will be accessible from the reception area. The gallery cafe will be refurbished . with totally new furniture and kitchens. At the bottom of the atrium there will be a second reception area and an extended gallery shop. There will be a wide. well lit, corridor that will link the atrium and the crescen t

wing. Along the corridor there will be extra display space. and a wall of glass will screen the new education area. with its workshop and IT facilities.

Johnson. the Nicola Sainsbury Centre's Director said "this would not be possi ble without the continued generosity of the Sainsbury family. for which we are

extremely grateful. We are really looking forward to the enhanced public access and facilities that the project will bring_" She went on to say that the centre. though closed, will attempt to put 'together a very exciting programme of art and educational outreach events which will take place over the coming months."

EW UNIVERSITY IN IPSWICH PlANNED ISABEL DYSON Plans fo r a nniversity in

Snffolk are looking increasingly optimistic. Funding has been granted by the Higher Educatio n Funding Council (HEFC) for consnltants to draw up plans focussing on land in the centre of Ipswich.

It wa s previously thought that a university in Suffolk would act as a secondary UEA campus, but as the £245,000 being given to re s earch the proj ect suggests , the new Unive rsity could well be an independent esta blis hment.

Ips wic h Labour MP Chris Mole has been campa igning the la st ten years for a university in Suffolk and now. after working closely with the HEFC's c hairman. Mich ael

Howard. developments are looking positive. The proposed site is situated between the Ipswich Docks.

Suffolk College and the City Council's headquarters. The deciding factor will rely on the Government continuing to work toward s its target of s e nding 50% of schoolleavers to university.

However. as Ipswich parliamentary Conserva tive canwdate. Pau l West has hlgh-

lighted. the dangers of placing so much pressure on going to university could result in some young people missing ou t on greater opportunities to learn a trade; as re ported in the East Anglian Daily Times. h e states tha t "many h ave forgotte n about those who want to be plumbers. carpenters and m ech anics . It is a bout time that politicians set their mi nds to increasin g the country's skill base in these areas too".

Nonetheless Mr Mole remains positive and is working alon gside other Labour MPs who are campaigning for new hlgher education faciliin Swindon and ties Doncaster. The Chancellor's funding announcement in July will reveal the likelihood of a go-ahead.

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Concrete

News

\\'rdnewl"'. Fehmor\' 25. 2110-1

SCHOOL CLOSURE SPECIAL As LLT and Drama are threatened with closure, Concrete asks students and staff for their opinions

UEA's STATEMENT Press Office's Statement about the future of Drama and Languages ....-mi~:;:::=:::==~

someone availiable to b e inte rviewed to explain the reasons for the closu res from their point of view, however, the press offic e released this statement in answer to Concre te's que s tions.

Al l un ivers ities change ami evo lve. d eve lop ing new sc hools and rea ligning aca demic act ivities to suit c h anging s t udent demand.

UEA con tinu es to thrive a nd to a ttract increasing s tud ent n u m bers . Th is g rowth h as been ac hieved throu g h prud e nt m a n age m e nt a nd a rea lis ti c a tti tud e to m a n aging cos ts.

Courses in LLT a nd Dra m a h ave com e under pres s ure fo r a number of reason s .

Th ere a re diffi culties n a tion a lly in rec rui t ing st u de nts fo r la ng u ages co u rs e: th ere is insufficien t fu nding from th e Governm ent fo r teac h in g req u irem en t in d rama a nd ther e is a la ck of Governmen t fu n d ing fo r resea rch in bo th a reas. As a res u lt. courses in

ho t h arcns hnvc been runn in,g at a sign ificant defici t for a r1umber of years.

LLT students were invited by email to a meeting about the School's future. The email did not arrive. which is extremely unfortunate. and the Unin•rsity has apologised for this problem. Another meeting was arranged as soon as possible.

Students in both disciplines were reassured of the University's commitmen t to the comp letion of their degrees. and have been told that they can d iscuss the sit uation with their advisers .

Staff have been a dvi sed of the gmvity of the situation with a view to engagin g them in de termini ng h ow best to move forward in a s u stainab le way. fo llO\ving consulta tio n . decis io n s o n th e future con fi g u r a t io n of co urses w il l b e m a de by S en a te and Council this su mm er.

The uffi eld Re p o rt o n Langu ages. in May 2000 . s la ted th a t "La ng uages are in c ris is. Most universi ty la n g u ages d e p a r tmen ts a r e rega rd ed a ope r a tin g in d e fi cit a n d a n in cr easin g number a re u nd er threa t of clos ure o r red uction . Some h ave a lready closed ."

LLT STATEMENT A summary of the statement cirulated to students in the school of LLT

TO ALL LLT STUDENTS IN THE UK:

Dear Students.

Some of you might have heard of some developments relating lo the future of LLT. We o u rse lves have had a meeting \vilh the Un iversity management and wanted to contact you immediately to reassure you of a number of issues. With regard to todny's announcement to LLT s taff a n d students. please note th e fo ll owing: - Al l hon ours progra mme currently in place \vi ll ru n u n ti l students beginn ing a 3 o r 4 yea r d eg ree p rogra mme in 2004 h ave gradu a ted in 2007 /2008 - The lo nger term future of th e sc hool is under threat for fin a n c ia l reaso n s Neve r th eless we remain positive a nd confid ent lha l a way will soon be fou n d to secu re t h e futu re of our degree progra m m es a fter 2008.

Please note you s h ou ld h ave received an e- m ail fro m th e o ffi ce of th e Pro-Vi ceC h a n ce llor for Huma nities

and Social Sciences. A meet ing wns ca lled fo r students at 1:15pm today. but we undC'r stand that the message from the pro-vice -chancellor did not get through.

If you have any am;,ieties or questions concerning this matter p lease consult your adviser in the first instance' or your student rep in LLT T O ALL LLT STUDENTS ABROAD : Dea r ---.

The who le un iversity is going through a major organisa tio n a l c h ange. which will have co n sequ ences for LLT. Al the m oment t here are as you m ight expect. a lot of discussion about the various op tio n s. One th ing is certain - no n e of th e proposals wi ll a ffec t curren t ludenls in any way!

Th a nkyou s o mu ch fo r yo ur s u ppo rt - if l h re's a ny fu r th er in forma ti on or if th ere's a nyth ing eithe r we or s tu dent re presnlatives feel t h a t al l of you wh o a re curre ntly a broa d could do to h elp th e s itu a ti o n we w ill let yo u know a t once!

Hope you're enjoyi n g your tim e in --- !

Bes t wis hes e tc ...

DRAMA STATEMENT A summary of the statement cirulated to students in the Drama Sector

The sector has run at a s ignificant annual deficit fo r several years and has required large subsid ies fro m other parts of the Un iv ersity to contin u e ope r atin g .

Despite the best efforts of coll caguPs. no way has been found to increase income s u ffic iently to overcome the de fi cit.

The d rama course at UEA has an excellent reputation a nd attrac ts committed and we ll motivated students. b u t th e cost o f runn in g th e co u r e leaves us with a fu nding s h o rtfal l. This is pa rtly beca u se of th e expense of providing fac ili ti es s u ch a the d ra m a s tudi o . but a ls o because t h e ra ti o of s ta ff to s tud ents in thi s a rea is lowe r th a n e lsewhe r e in th e Univers ity. We h ave con s id ered wheth er recruiting a ddi tion a l s tude n ts woul d redress the s h ortfall in fu n d ing. but th e Fundin g Council h a s ann o u n ced th a t it wi ll n ot be fund ing add ition al stud ent nu m b ers fo r

the foreseeable futurf". This means that eve n if we we re to recruit more students to drama. llw Univers ity would not be Junded for taking them on.

Because funding for llighcr Education remains inadc quale and because lhf' Univf'rsity's own reso u rces arf' so st rrtclwd. continued subsidy ol drama would mean in effect imposing cuts in activity in other areas. llm·ing ronsiclered all of these points in great detail. we hm·e concluded with regret that it is like ly that lhf' University's subs idy to Drama will have to be brought to an end . Th e impli cations of this wil l be considered through the u nivers ity's u sual decision m a k in g process with a fi n a l reco m mendation to Co u nc il towa rds th e en d of th e acad emi c yra r.

We will b e rec ru iting stu d en ts to dram a in S e ptember 2004. p rogram m es cu rrent ly ava il a ble in d ra ma \vill be continued until June 2007.

We wi ll be ta lking with a ll m embers of the sector over the com ing weeks to d ecide h ow best to move forward.

If yo u h ave a ny qu eries . I wou ld ask you to s peak \vilh your a dvise r.

SO, WHAT DO STUDENTS THINK OF THE UNIVERSITY'S PlANS? "I do not think that the language school should be closed, language and language tuition are essential for society, for developme n t and cultural exchange"

"I don 't know much about the language school, but I've heard that the drama s c hool is one of the best participat o ry c ourses of it s t ype in the country. I t hink the University would b e shooting themselves in t he foot really ... "

"Is is ridiculous to close the school for langauages. They are a successful and essential part of the univer~ity. Also , the fact that they could not even arrange to tell us , the student s , p r ope rly is appalling."

Echo Lee . D EV PG

George Woolhou se ENV 2

Dave J on es LLT

Ralph Yarrow of Dra!lla speaks to A LECTURER'S QPINIQNSProfessor Concrete about the threat to h1s sector.

really d on't want t o a t the moment".

With the thrrai of hi s secto r being closed. Professo r Ralf Yarrow gave an interview to Co n c re te exp r essin g hi s op in ion s on dra m a. account -

ing a nd consu lta tion . wh ile wondering what can a n d \vi ll be done to hi s seclor.

Prof Yarrow clea rly believes th at th ere are prob lem s with the Univers ity's acco u nting and mode ll ing p r ocedures that ca ll for drama to be shut clown .

"Acco rd ing to the model. the financial model that the un ive rsity operates ... they have started to look at units and segregate the details of each individual sector. " he said. Late r he continuPd saying "the University charges a space charge on all its accommodation. and the space charge on the ldramal studio is particu larly heavy.

It is not th e wh ole of the eo ·t. b ut it is a co n s iderable cle-

menl of il. a nd clearly other universit ies do not use it - no other un ivers ity in this count ry is tryi ng to close down dra m a" .

OC'spite th e suggestions from many. however. that th e ector is being closed because of unfair accou n ting practices.

Prof Yarrow acknowledge that with the sector due to be closed. th erf' is little point at the moment in s imp ly challenl(ing th e figures: a way to ensure the survival of the subject is needed. lw suggests. not a largely hypothct ical debate. He s uggests that "there are ways that we could extend th e sorts of leach ing that we d o to lots of groups in th e univers ity a nd o uts ide ...

th e ra nge of skills that drama delivers are u ·eful across an en o rm o u s range of activities". \Vhen as ked if h e believed th a t the effec t ive decision to close th e department h ad been m ade. and the consultation period was just for show. the Professor said that "there is a timetable. and in it there is some room for nPgo tia ti on. for discussion. sha ll we say. we !the dmma sf'ctorl think it would be \'aluablc to use that time ns fully as possible. " He explained that there is a working group set up by the pla n n ing and es timates comm ittee of t he school who \vi ll re port to the co mmittee a nd

t h us to the school board "so. the proper democratic procedures have been ta ken - if ra th er la te". Bu t he was h azy abou t exac tly wh at "con s u lta li on" means in the circ um stances. the Vice C h ancellor. he said. "h as said that people are welcome to contact him. but that 's as far as it goes. I suspect that they will use the channels of th e Student's Union to open up ne_g otiation on a ,g roup basis ... al the moment it doesn 't really seem to be consultation".

Prof Yarrow a lso disliked the way students were info r med of the decisions sugges ti ng the u ni vers ity hand led it \vi th a "lac k of ca re".

Th e sector \vill enrol studen ts in SeptPmber. a n d close th ree yea rs later. wh en asked abo ut the imp li ca ti o n s of laking st u de nts in to a closing depa rtment. h e r eplied U1at the school was informing applicants. a n d d id not want to keep them in the dark. but "I think then· wou ld be implications for the kind of programme they will receive. if the sector as a whole is run down.. tlw University may \vish to make s tatrmcnts that the quality of the degree \\ill not suffer. but I think those statements would be cl u bious."

At the time of goi ng to press n o-one in LLT wou ld give an in terview to Concrete.

CoiCiett Wednesday, February 25, 2004

Page 7

News

The at-a-glance guide to the manifesto promises of next year's Union. See that they stick to them ...

SABBATICAL OF CERS ACADEMIC CHRIS OSTROWSKI

2004-5 will see the biggest change to the academic structure in the history of the UEA. The University will merge all the various schools of study into four faculties. It is essential that students do not get a raw deal when this happens. I pledge to keep students represented in every school in the university.

I pledge to lobby Charles Clarke to put our money back into higher education and to say "no" to variable fees , before it's too late.

I pledge to train and support every student rep to make sure that your voice is heard.

I know what an academic officer can do. but I also know what I cannot do. I won't make promises I can't keep.

I will be an approachable academic officer and I will go out of my way to find out from you what academic issues are causing problems.

COMMUNICATIONS CAT LUMB

I am willing to listen to people's ideas and discuss the possibilities to make them become reality.

I aim to make sure that any campaigns. marches , or protests that the Union is involved in are clearly explained and outlined , using existing methods like "Rabbit" but creating new ways as well.

I have seen many problems involving sports clubs and societies, from bus and room hire to kit confusion. I hope to keep these union run groups closely involved with the union to prevent this happening as much.

I s hall also continue to monitor the development of the union website. I intend to ensure it is up to date and running efficiently and also be open to helping societies who need to be "shown around" the site.

I will get the student media (e.g. Concrete.

Nexus, Livewlre etc.] more closely involved with what is happening in the Union, as well as continuing to create "Rabbit".

I will ensure that the Hive redevelopment runs with as little disruption as possible.

FINANCE JAMES DRAKEFORD

Within the Union , I pledge to provide a much more supportive. integrated and pleasant atmosphere for international students with the introduction of a buddy scheme; to encourage more student participation in the running of the Union; to provide help and support for all clubs, societies and peer groups. Also. to simplify the process of booking the LCR. Hive and Union Bar and giving much needed funds where required but to be cautious with Union funds due to the financial outlay regarding the redevelopment of the Hive and LCR. Within the University I pledge to investigate the car parking situation and push for a fairer deal for students; to pressure the University to ensure all students have accommodation when they arrive at University and not to repeat the disgrace that occurred this year; to ensure the University is effectively held accountable by students; to continue with the pressure on the Estates Department regarding the condition of Colney Lane and the ineffective lighting.

WELFARE JO WRIGHT

I will encourage the University to ensure that the welfare of students Is treated as a priority, I want to ensure that the Student Union and University are increasingly accountable for the welfare of their students.

Having been an active member of Union Council and President of an Amnesty International society, I have seen how exciting and fun campaigns can be, whilst also being aware of what Is realistic and achievable.

I want to make sure that issues of concern to students, such as greater security, finance, equality, employment and accommodation are kept at the forefront of Union policy.

I want you to be able to tell me what Is Important to you so that I can campaign for your views. In order to do this. I will make sure that I have stalls in the Hive and will come around to residences.

PART-TIME OFFICERS INTERNATIONAL JOE MOON

I shall strive to arrange a ''buddy'' scheme for new international students.

I intend to help international students settle in by organising meetings in the first week of each term.

I will strive to organise a "pick-up" service at London airports for new and current international students.

Also, I will try to arrange a "Cultural Awareness" week.

I aim to have a regular Hive stall and residence visits so that international students can tell me what they believe needs to be changed.

I am dedicated to Improving conditions for international students at the UEA

PUBLICITY ROWENA BODDINGTON

I will reach out to those with no contact with the Union: will work towards inductions for freshers to imform them what the Union provides: will work to produce information packs for each of the UEA residences.

I will help clubs and societies recruit new members from the body of students. using the website : will push for online voting in Union executive elections to e ncourage greater turnout; will promote the use of Union facilities and services.

I will continue the Union's fight against government plans for top-up fees ; will work with the environmental officer to campaign for a more ethical Union; will work with the rest of the executive body to lobby First for a better bus service.

SPORTS HELEN DAVIS

I will actively fight to improve the facilities at Coiney Lane, particularly the changing facilities and lighting provision; will ensure that Wednesday afternoons are kept free for sport; will work closely with the finance officer to ensu re that current work is not forgot ten next year; will ensu re that "Sports Night" remains a permanent feature earning much needed revenue for individual clubs; will organise Sportsmart l and 2 to encourage more participation; will make sure nonBUSA sports get the financial and transport help they need ; will campaign for non assessed teaching on Wednesday mornings (to allow everyone the opportunity to play away matches]; will Improve communication between the Sportspark and the student body; and I will take an active interest in all sports.

WOMEN'S KATHERINE BOWKER

I will raise awareness of health and social issue facing women (for example. mental health issues and problems].

I will ensure that women are adequately represented in both the Union of UEA Students and the University.

I will make sure that help or advice is easily avaliable (for example by ensurtng there is an adequate amount of sexual health information] I will liaise with city based organisations to provide information (such as, for example WHISS - Women's Health and Information Support Services] I will organise lectures. speeches and other events surrounding women's Issues.

THE BY-ELECTIONS FOR ENVIRONMENT, LIBERATIONS AND SOCIETIES OFFICERS WILL BE HE DON THURSDAY, MARCH 18

Page 8

IN BRIEF LOCAL NEWS FROM THE lAST WEEK SPEED CAMERAS ARE NOT TOYS Cyclists have been warned by police that th ey a re breaking the law and endan gering th e ir h ealth by h u rtling down Grapes Hill trying to s et off the s peed camera there.

The ca mera will be triggered by any b ike being rid den a t more than 30 miles pe r h our. though without any licence pla tes on bicycles. it is most lmlikely that the police wou ld be a ble to tra ce the rider.

Mr Brya n Edwards. o f Norfolk Casualty Reduc tion Partners hip said he was n ot aware of any cyclists bei ng flashed by the camera, bu t emph asised tha t it is s till a motoring offfence to break the s peed li mi t on a bicycle.

LCR READY FOR GRAD BALL Building work in the Hive and the 'Large Common Room' threatens LCRs. But the Union says it will be business (almost) as normal for Graduation PAUL VIN CE NT Deputy News Editor

The usual style and arrangements of the Grad ball may face considerable disruption as major renovation works get underway in the LCR at Easter, and continue throughout the s ummer term.

Both the LCR and Hive will be refurbi s hed a t an estimat-

ed cos t of £ 2 .25 million . with the Hive expanding over the Street a nd a new entrance to Union House located by th e bike rack s, opposite the library . Once work is complete. in early September, the ve nu e's ca pac ity s h o uld increase from 1470 to a bout 2000 (s ubj ec t to a pprova l from fire officers).

Howeve r. th e s ca le of th e

ENTERPRISING THIMS Four Star-Trek s pacesh ips were s tolen from the Sci -Fi s h op in Victo ri a Arcade Great Yarmouth on February 9. Police are looking for witnesses a nd ask they con tact Pc Storey a t great Yarmouth police s ta tion on 01 953 4 2 42-42

OAP DEFEATS TEEN MUGGER A 13 year old mugger was stopped by a 73 yea r old la dy in Mile Cross. Norwich. The pe nsion er was pu s hing a trolley bag with her hand bag on top in a n a lleyway be tween Bolingbroke Road and Rye Avenue. The youth tried to grab it bu t after a struggle ra n off toward s Aylsham Roa d. According to police the boy wa s a bout 5ft !in and of m edium build . He ha d shaved mousey blond hair and was wearing n avy

~~~~:~s :~ awi~~vy ~~~f~

s tripes down the arms.

"SEND ME TO GAOL PLWE I " A h e ro in a dd ict begged Norwich magis trates to gaol him . Acceding to his solicitor, 20-year -o ld Da ni el Horner wan ted to give up his way of life and s tart again with his new girlfriend.

The m agistrates obliged , sentenc ing him to a young offenders ins titute for four m onths . as a result of thieving three Dyson clean e rs worth a total of nearly £ 450.

DISABLED CANARY ROW Can a ri es chi efs h ave a ttempted to reassure fans a bout the disabled fac ilities in th e n ew south stand . It has seats available in the front row for wh eelcha ir users, but it ha s been said that the spots ar e below the pitch's level and U1at people in wheel chairs will not be able to see the bottom of players' legs during a m atch of advertis ing b eca u se hoardings .

The fu ll d is a bled fa cili ties will not be available until next season .

Cetatte Wednesday, Februa2• 25, 2004

News

projec t m eans tha t the LC R will be closed from the s tart of th e Easter break and is on ly ex pec ted to reope n sometime during the exam period . It will then be open but work will continue on th e bar a rea. which wi ll rem a in closed . The venue will have ca pac ity until redu ced September s ince the ba ck of the LCR will be sealed off. rendering one of the flfe exits inaccessible.

Union communica tions offi cer. Ned Glas ie r. explai ned that one solu tion for the time th a t the LCR is closed wo uld be to take th e "LCR on tour". poin ti ng to th e possibility that LCR events cou ld be held at the Waterfront. Ned added th at "we wi ll be work ing very hard to ensure that LCRs and other events in the venue go ahead with min imal disruption" and is optimistic that the "LCR wi ll be refur-

b is hed in time for the Gra d ball to go ahead as normal".

During th e first phase of work. d ue to b egin on Mon day Ap ril 5. access between the LC R a nd th e Unio n bar will be im proved by expanding the staircase between the two fl oors. This wi ll a llow U1e Union bar to be used by th ose attending LCR

events. especially while the LCR a nd Hive ba r s are closed . It is hoped that the Gra d ball can make u se of th e LCR a nd Hi ve. with drinks a va ila ble from the Union bars, as well as a m arq uee.

Pictures: Above- p rop osed H ive, Lejl- curren t H ive

POLICE SEEK INFORMATION FAIRTRADE FUNKATHON Police have released pictures of a man wanted in connection with the robbery of a 20-year old man who was in a courtyard off St Augustine's Street , Norwich.

The victim was walking hom e from Mercy n igh tcl u b at a bout l :30 a m . just past the flyover in Anglia Squa re wh en h e s tarted talking to a man who he d es cribed as black . 5ft lOin to 6ft tall. of medium build and in h is m id 20s. He h a d s hort black hair. a round face a nd was clean

s haven. The pa ir contin ued to wa lk together until they werte opos ite Styx ta ttoos in S t Augus tine's s treet where the victim was pa ushed into a co urtyard and the manth reatened him with a glass bo ttl e and d e m a nd ed h e h and over his wallet. The victim handed over his wa tch. m obile phone an d wallet. The offe nd er th a n d e m a nd ed m oney and walked the victim to a cash -point close to the Magpie Road junction where h e was forced to withd ra w cash . The victim then fled .

ROADWORKS AHEAD THOM SMITH News Editor

The centre of Norwich is to undergo massive road works in the city council's latest attempt to improve public transport.

Prince of Wa les Road is u ndergoing a series of mod ernisation works at th e m omen t. and the council is loo k ing at improving S t Steph en's S treet a nd Red Lion Street. amongst others . giving a d ded priority to buses. This is part of the Green S pine proj ect which Is calling for a direc t bus route between the Sta tion and the St Step hen 's rou ndabou t.

Proposed cha nges inclu d e a contra fl ow b u s lane in Red Lion Street and a right turn from Surrey Street in to St S te phen's th a t wi ll only be a vai la ble for buses, taxis and bicycles. Othe r thoughts be ing con s idered include b a nning le ft turn s from CasUe Meadow into Farmers Ave nue a nd a new ped estri a n cros si ng in Red Lion Street. b etween Timberhill

and St Stephen 's . The contraflow sys tem would not be open to taxicabs and the city's many cab drivers have d iscribed the idea of letting busses b u t not taxis through the system as a "betrayal".

Gordon Deane. the Co uncil's Tran s po rt con troller said "T he c ity cou nc il offi cers have requested that we agree to the work s tarti ng becau se it is all part of our green spine initiative. It's a n enormous p roj ect. .. I s u s pect taxi d r ivers wi ll not like it because it is In favo ur of b u ses and pedes tri ans. Bu t we are going to give it our b acking. " The overall cost fo r the work on St Stephen 's a nd Red Lion s tree ts is expected to a dd up to a bout £1. 101.000. which will come from city coffe rs combined with Ch a pelfield d evelopers - the intention being to get all the works completed by s pring 2005. before the new shopping centre opens th ere.

Fairtr ade fortnight starts in March, to try to make people more aware of the Fairtrade mark and inc ludes the Fairtrade F unkathon running between March 1 and March 15.

Over 50 groups and organisation s s pan ning all areas of urban cu lture have joined to bring different music and a m essage of jus tice to all those who are interested .

Fa irtra d e food . such a s chocola te will be a vailia ble. as will house, reggae, bolly-

wood , disco. drum and b ass. c hees e. a nd many oth e r types of mus ic each day.

Fairtra de is all a bout giving people from acc ross the world a fair deal for th e food th a t they produce. Since 1994 . this ha s allowed many to improve the quality of life for them and their fanUli es.

For more information contac t Ben or Beck a t www.stu .u ea.ac. uk. e- mail funkathon @u ea.ac .uk , or call 0 1603 593461.

PARKINCi COMPLAINTS ISABEL DYSON Yet again the problems of parking around UEA have been highlighted.

This ti m e a local Labo u r Campaign Team have drawn attention to the irrespo nsible parking of the s taff and stud en ts a long the University's s u rrou n ding roads. wh ich has become increas in gly d is tressing for local residen ts who cla im to be cons tantly swa m ped by vehicles .

In a recent letter to Concrete.

Bert Bremner of the Labou r

Campaign Team. explained tha t they ha ve been protesting with the local pop ulace to pers u ade the City and the UEA to find a solution. Over two hundred people h a ve s igned a local Labour Party petition stating "UEA Must Pay". Of those who s igned.

8 1% s upported the idea of a permit- parking scheme and 93% d ecided UEA s h ould pay for s u ch pe rmits.

Despi te the Un ivers ity Ward Labo u r Campaign Team 's ideals of the City Council fo rcing the UEA to pay for a

new parking system. problems could u ndou btedly be solved if the UEA were to provide s ufficien t parking for s tuden ts and s taff in the firs t place.

It h as been s u ggested that claiming the "Polluter Mus t Pay" is s lightly hypocritical and the n otion to resist the "arrogant" UEA is perha ps unnecessary, however, th e problem is undenia bly a seriou s on e th at must b e resolved soon.

Picture: Cars parked in the roads round the UEA

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·Eric Schlosser, political journalist, social commentator and author of 'fast Food Nation' spoke with Ruth Charnock about sexual censorship, dope, Bush and Justin Timberlake. Oh - and his new book 'Reefer Madness and Other Tales from the American Underground.'

• • • ric Schlosser is the man who wiped the smile off the happy meal in his last book. 'Fast Food Nation'. Published . .- • around the same time as Michael Moore's anti-Bush, anlk:orporate America polemic 'Stupid White Men', the ~-- book was a sbident voice in a burgeoning movement lexJJIOSirlQ and condemning the corruption at the heart of America's institutions. Three years later, 'Fast Food Nation' is still on beslseller's list; fed by daily corporate imbroglios (the Enron • et aJ) and morbid fascination with the rapidly shambolic

and Schlosser have definitely been marketed as of the same populist vanguard, Schlosser does not use the fors tactics of sensation and staged confrontations. Whilst Moore stride into an altercation with a corporate boss all guns and lr.arl.-:;a.c;:blazing (well, maybe not guns ... ). one senses that ISd~_,-would take a much more subtle approach, asking astute . . . . . . . . .rJRS and gathering all the facts first, then, with a few deft expose the scandal with the help of some well-positioned linlrvm~ and no filmic stunts. 's sly, and, for his latest book. this is definitely an asset. In Reeter Mach!ss and Other Tales from the American Underground', !Sri~- investigates three huge industries: pom, marijuana and irnrn9'ancY- Tl1rolql a series of forays into microcosmic of corruption, he demousbales how much of the 'overAmerican economy is sustained by an invidious global market The U.K. does not escape indictment either, as IAHtiOtJ[Ih Moore

AHhough Moore and Schlosser have been marketed as part of the same populist vanguard, Schlosser does not use the former's tactics of sensation and staged confrontation.

JSdtblser shows how . . Blair govemmenl has similarities to the 1Anlllri13'1 gcMIR1IMIIfs lne on marijuana, where possession is pLrished 111018 hlnhly than IIIUider.

ISdt*-:ser uses specific case stucles 1o expose a cross section of ir1Uslices, 11W1J of which are cases ignored or torgollen by Amlllfiall'l press. How dd he get access 1o these well-buried ._rraliiva!s? "Most of it was sluff 1hat started as investigative pieces Allantic Monlhly magazine and 1hat I bied to get published 'Fast Food Nation'. After it came out I managed to find a kdisher. nwas depnJssi IQ how little of it had to be changed problems just gone Bfllta'/, if anything they've got

hiMin,

as access was concerned, the illegal immigrants, once they I going to turn them over to the authorities, were very ta1t. They saw it as an opportunity to be heard in the lrn:oin!::tlrA::Im The marijuana ~ were more closed about the thing_ For them, being discovered wouldn't lead to them deported; it would lead to imprisonment for many years. initialy SI !Spicious of me, but at same time they feel what they're doing."

I"R...n.v.lu lhotql, most of it is just digging in the library and being to read a lot of boring government reports and academic

wasn,

studies. I would love to tell you about dramatic exploits, but a lot of it's just about showing up. Many

journalists aren't willing to leave the office. it's amazing what you find when you do."

Schlosser argues that a marketcentric economic philosophy has led to 'any constraints placed upon businessmen being denounced as limitations of freedom', to the extent where laws protecting workers are viewed as obstacles to a heahhy market.

However, whilst this amoral attitude to labour rights ignores the plight of illegal immigrants, it is also accompanied by a nearPuritanical governmental crusade; to 'judge, condemn, and punish individuals for their alleged moral failings'.

Schlosser compares the present political and economic climate with that of the 1920s, where Prohibition led to a rampant underground economy that, (somewhat ironically as alcohol was considered to harm productivity), made up about 5% of the US GNP at the time. The treatment of marijuana in the 21st century is economically comparable, says Schlosser. Though more so than alcohol in the twenties, marijuana consumption (even for purposes of medical treatment) has been branded by the government as the scourge of the nation's youth; tumir~g them into loafing criminals, becoming more immoral with JNery joint. More immoral than murderers, judging by the examples of sentencing that Schlosser uses.

Schlosser also scrutinizes sexual censorship in the States, by

"lt wasn't at all rebellious or iconoclastic - it might as well have been Ronald McDonald ripping off Janet Jackson's top." investigating the origins of the porn industry and its present state.

When we spoke, the Janet Jackson Superbowt incident was still fresh in mind. Did he think the reaction to it was another indication of a prevailing Puritanical mind-set? Er, no. "I am all in favour of sexually explicit material, but that was really tacky. You have to think about who's watching the Superbowt and when it's being broadcast - children are watching it. lt wasn't about the breast: it was the context. I will be incredibly critical of my country and it's hypocritical, Puritanical impulses, but that was just in bad taste.

"I can't stand Justin Timberlake.

He's gotten some credibility since he left his boy-band but, to me, musically he's the equivalent of what McDonald's is to food. lt wasn't at all rebellious or iconoclastic - it might as well have been Ronald McDonald ripping off Janet Jackson's top."

"Much more concerning to me are people like the Attorney General John Ashcroft, who covered up a statue at the Department of · Justice of a woman holding the scales of liberty, because her breasts were exposed. That sort of thing is insanity."

"There are enormous restrictions on sexually explicit material, but none on violence. So there are A and X film ratings for normal sexu-

al activity, but you can see someone getting their head chopped off and it doesn't get that sort of rating. America is too hard on sex and far too liberal on violence.· But, says Schlosser, things are starting to change: "Among people half my age, the success of books like mine shows mainstream opposition to Bush and Ashcroft and JNerythiriQ they represent, so we'l see where things are five years from now. Maybe there'U actually be some rational convnon sense in power. John Kerry's a good guy and right now he's ahead in the pols. Bush was not elected by the American people - he lost by half a million YOtes. He promised to be very moderate and has really just been a right-wing fanatic."

But Schlosser doesn't profess to be a moral arbiter: 'The kind of wor1l: I'm doiriQ is to open people's eyes. But awareness is happening arrywfl:f. I don't want to pretend to moral superiority - I don't have all the answers, I'm just trying to provoke thought." owever, Schlosser's next book will demonstrate that, in many respects, America is looking back rather than forward: • The new afterward in the American edition of 'Reefer Madness' details cases in Florida where migrant workers are literally held as slaves to pay off their debt. One gang master got less than three years for holding people as slaves, if he had been found in possession of marijuana he would've got five. Growing pot will get you a sentence than as slaves - it's crazy.·

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Features

Imost 40 years after his death, Che Guevara remains a dominant figure in popular culture. Now, with a new ovie of his life soon to be released, Toby Lewis looks at the facts behind the Cuban's myth and asks if there might e some kind of contradiction in all these people making money from a communist revolutionary's image. rnesto "Che" Guevara's appeal will seemingly never wane whilst his now-iconic image adorns many of the bedroom walls of Concrete's readership. 11 is surely a necessary right of passage of the average millennia! student to go through a period of impassioned Marxism or a celebration of the k1tsch symbolism of revolution . This latter manifestation of post-modern Che free play was emphasised when the principal photographer of the Cuban revolution , Alberta Korda , won an out-of-court settlement m 2000 against a British advertising agency for the1r use of his legendary picture in a Sm1rnoff advert for chill i vodka. The devoted Marx1st and teetotal Korda had never received any income from the sale of his world famous photo wh1lst he beli eved it was be1ng used to foment the 1deais of revolution although he became -indignant that they have used his image to sell alcoholic beverages" and promptly endorsed the legal campaign fighting for his ownership of the image. Presumably he would also object to Che, a cocktail bar in the West End of London frequented by the wealthiest of yuppies. If Korda were to spread accusations of misappropriating communist icons around the world further he should take time to criticize Kale Da's incongruous references to Lenin. Perhaps rum, tequila or cigar marketing are more appropriate to Che's pan-Latin American symbolism, for vodka is fairly convincingly the defining drink of Eastern Europe.

the Bolivian army trained and equipped by the US executed Guevara on October 9th 1967.

E

the revolutionary has had more success as the martyr of an ideal rather then as a practical reforming fi gure Fidel Castro's Cuban communist regime has not shirked from exploiting the myth of Che as useful propaganda. Guevara's leading role in capturing an armoured train of reinforcements and subsequent takeover of the town of Santa Clara on 28th December 1958 helped precipitate the fall of Fulgencio Batista who fled Cuba on the 1 st January 1959 whilst the rebels entered Havana on the same day. Santa Clara is now the home of Guevara's tomb after the relocation of his remains to Cuba in 1997. Santa Clara has become a sight of homage to the man, with a flickering eternal flame and gigantic communist statue above his resting place, where he has been buried with 47 fellow revolutionaries from Bolivia. The tourism industry of Cuba also thrives on the sale of Cheinspired kitsch, with many a postcard, poster, t-shirt or watch to be picked up on the streets of Havana whilst the epic Cuban ballad, "Santa Clara" can be heard played in plenty of bars and street corners.

Captured in Bolivia whilst attempting to apply his ideas expressed in the book, "Guerrilla Warfare", the revolutionary has had more success as the martyr of an ideal rather then as a practical reforming figure.

His brief spell in charge of the Cuban administration's national bank was authoritarian, imposing a rigid Soviet-style economy treating it as a single unit. A stance that would probably be disapproved of by most of the rebellious children of free-market capitalism that plaster him on their walls and

he tale of Guevara's body's route to Cuba provokes a certain amount of morbid curiosity. Originally his body had been buried secretly in Bolivia in order not to create a sight of pilgrimage for com munists of the world , united in admiration of Commandante Guevara . Yet in order to identify him , his hands had been removed by the Boliv1an officials and displayed to the world along with pictures of h1s dead body. In a process of shady negotiations, Castro man aged to get the hands smuggled over to Cuba despite the US links to the Boliv1an government and became the first repossession of the revolutionary hero. In 1997, it was unearthed that the whereabouts of Che's body was known by members of the Bolivian army and thirty years after his death Castro reburied his comrade in arms proudly eulogising him as the true revolutionary.

T

most of the Cubans who lived under such rule by ideology. His theories in Guerilla Warfare emphasised the possibility of beginning a revolution before all the conditions to be successful exist, and that in Latin America the countryside was the ideal area to begin such insurrection , even if a more politically active proletariat existed in the cities; an idea which is generally felt to have led to his death, as Che failed to encourage enough support for his jungle revolution in Bolivia whilst alienating the active Bolivian communist party in the capital, La Paz. He developed the formula of the ideal setting for guerrilla fighting from his experiences in Cuba. His two years of revolution in the Sierra Maestra with Castro ensures that Guerrilla Warfare has a decently collected body of battle experience behind it. Yet since the failure across Latin America to implement a second peasant revolution following his advice, he has been criticized for not fully appreciating that the Cuban situation was unique. His ability for rhetoric combined with his photogenic appearance continue to maintain Che's reputation, however, whatever his theoretical stance on revolution was, his willingness to confront the emerging hegemony of the United States around the world ensures his words will always have a desirous audience. In his Message to the Tricontinental emerged the most vicious manifestation of Che's rabble-rousing , where he claimed: "How we could look into a bright future should two, three or many Vietnams flourish throughout the world with their share of deaths and their immense tragedies, their everyday heroism and their repeated blows against imperialism, impelled to disperse its forces under the sudden attack and the increasing hatred of all peoples of the world." These words were written by Che as his last letter from Bolivia printed April 16, 1967 and alarmed the United States enough that Che's capture became expedient.

Instead they rapidly created a martyr when

Use of the Che persona plumbed it greatest depths when the filmmakers of Evita hinted at a relationship between Che and Eva Peron The Che industry will soon be invigorated after the release of Watter Salle's Motorcycle Diaries, a biopic of the youthful Guevara's nine month trip round South America.

Guevara's heartthrob status may be increased, for the actor depicting him, Gael Garcia Bernal has already exuded sexuality in his starring roles in Y Tu Mama Tambien , El Crimen del Padre Amaro and Amores Perros. The advance word from the Sundance Film Festival suggests that the film could be easily titled Che, On the Road, capturing the youthful experience that shaped the man, rather than his later political activity. Use of the Che persona plumbed it greatest depths when the filmmakers of Evita hinted at a relationship between Che and Eva Peron, although the dead icons never actually met off screen. Possibly redeeming And rew Lloyd Webber's suspect invention, Antonio Banderas is said to endow the revolutionary with enough sexual charisma to transcend the suspect historiography.

Moving around the world in life, death, print and posters it may be possible to agree with that other twentieth century icon John Paul Sartre that "Che was the most complete human being of our age". However this is surely only because he has become an intangible projection, utilised by the kitsch merchandisers and propagandists of the world to display a man whose actual actions were perhaps less than what he was constructed to be. What can be said is that Che was clearly an impassioned fighter, who toppled one capitalist dictator to supplant him with an intriguing but also brutal communist ruler and helped stage many revolts around the world - but his main achievement seems to have been to become the poster boy of revolution .

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The American Election Race is well on its way and the media is definitely playing its part, with scandals emerging each day. Emma Rumball ~ looks at the man who is threatening Bush's presidency and seems set to become the Democrat candidate: John Kerry.

Will this be the end of Bush?

0

nly a few weeks into the first stages of the battle for the American presidency, and the race is already hotting up. Massachusetts liberal senator John Kerry, the Democratic (Left Wing) candidate and media favourite, well rehearsed in politics and bedecked with medals from the VIetnam War, is already streets ahead in the primaries. Yet his rocket to the campaign limelight has been a rurious one.

Barely known a few weeks ago, Kerry burst onto the scene at the Iowa Caucuses, usually the first state to elect nominations for the president, winning 38% of votes, and dubbing himseH 'Comeback Kerry.' Kerry later serured New Hampshire and the Super Sellen states on February 3, surging ahead from the very beginning of the race by winning five out of seven contests, which saw a record turnout by democratic voters. He lost Oklahoma and South Carolina to Howard Dean and John Edwards respectively but then secured wins in Michigan and Washington

Bush has been strongly attacked by Vietnam veteran Kerry for enlisting in the Texas Air National Guard, rather than going to fight. on February 7.

Most importantly, Kerry managed to stamp his mark on the South on February 10, winning Virginia and Tennessee, which had previously supported Clinton, but voted Bush over AI Gore.

Wins in the South provide a massive victory for Kerry, proving he can attract votes even against Southern opponents. He recently serured 14 of the 16 contested states winning Nevada (63%) and Washington DC (47%) and WISCOnsin, where he received 40% of the votes, closely followed by John Edwards with 36%. Mr Bush is already said to be running behind Kerry.

The Primaries are the first stage in a four leg race for the American Presidency, which runs from January to the final election in November.

The Primaries involve voters who support a party,

choosing from a list of candidates, these then compete against same-party rivals for nomination. Voters also select delegates for each party's national convention. Candidates with the majority of delegates win.

Second comes the National Convention, at which each state arrives and formerly declares who they want to go forward for president. The candidates then each choose a vice-president running mate. The Campaign Proper follows, in which the candidates' politics are refined and there is a deluge of TV publicity and televised debates. Swing states (those with unsure allegiance) are critical for winning votes, and swing the vote. Finally, Election Day is always the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November. Everyone votes and the preliminary result is known after 12 hours.

Throughout, the Democratic Party has been a united front against a lone Bush, most markedly at the televised debate in Milwaukee, where they delivered a stinging attack on Bush over his military service. Bush has been strongly attacked by Vietnam veteran Kerry for enlisting in the Texas Air National Guard, rather than going to fight, and this has led to the publication of Bush's military records. America's deepest concern is with the war in Iraq, and this centres in every campaign; many fear there are serious credibility issues over how Iraq was presented in the months leading up to the conflict. John Edwards claimed that 'certainly the integrity and character of the president of the United States is it at issue' and Bush has been left reeling, whilst attempts to smear Kerry have proved skimming blows.

Claims by the website which broke the Monica Lewinsky scandal that Kerry had an affair with a 24 year old intern who left the country at his request, threatened to discredit Kerry, but he simply told an American radio presenter 'there is no story.'

The forgery of a photograph of an anti-Vietnam war rally in the 1970s appeared to show Kerry sat next to Jane Fonda, who visited Vietnam during the war and was branded a traitor. lt was declared a fake by its photographer Ken Ught.

The original shows Kerry sat alone and the incident has undoubtedly increased public awareness of the media's role in filtering the truth.

Further claims that Kerry has taken money from

lobbyists have been brushed aside having no firm evidence.

Yet Kerry himself is no yeoman farmer; he has Yankee association, comes from a comfortable background and is himself part of the U.S. melting pot. He has married two heiresses, most

Kerry really needs a 'signature issue to define himself' with his current focus being exclusively on his Vietnam triumph. recently Teresa Heinz Kerry, whom is reputed to

be worth half a billion dollars. He is from a line of converted Catholics with Jewish origins, who changed their name to the Irish sounding 'Kerry'.

He also has Winthrop roots, John Winthrop being the spiritual leader of the Mayflower, the very first boat which sailed from East Anglia to the 'new world' that was America. Not only does Kerry look, at a glance, rather like Abraham Uncoln, but his charisma has also dubbed him a second JFK. This aside, most importantly in his policy issues, Kerry is unpredictable: liberal on domestic issues, being pro-abortion and gay rights, and environmentally friendly, yet decidedly conservative in his foreign policy.

He wants to increase US participation with the rest of world, fearing it has become isolated, saying "An international policy where we stand alone is wrong. I will challenge George Bush for taking our country in the wrong direction.• He can be classed as neither left nor right, and has in the past voted for many Republican Acts. t is reputed that following the Vietnam War, Kerry walked into congress and asked the senators who they would elect to be the last man to die in Vietnam. Interestingly, Kerry voted to go to war with Iraq but had become increasingly disgruntled and critical with the way in which postwar policy has been handled. lt seems that this more ambiguous political stance is perhaps more what the American public are rurrently looking for, but which is also beginning to make them

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slightly nervous.

Most interestingly, despite a few swipes at each other via interne! sites, the battle between Kerry and Bush has been conducting itself in a relatively polite and orderly fashion . Kerry has received support from former rival Wes Clark who dropped out after the Southern primaries lacking funding and having secured only 1 of the 16 contested states so far. Howard Dean also pulled out of the running on Wednesday, after losing Wisconsin.

Deans' individual, grass roots style and encouragement for the public to express their feelings openly, were perhaps a little too unconventional for their idea of the next president, and the BBC's Tom Carver suggests he lost because he 'failed to move beyond his original message'.

This leaves John Edwards to battle John Kerry, and despite Kerry's prospective unquestionable victory, John Edwards's success in Wisconsin has thrown doubt on this certainty.

But Washington BBC's correspondent Tom Carver suggests Kerry's main problem is that he can be portrayed as a 'Massachusetts liberal', 'someone who is white, wealthy, out of touch with middle America, weak on defence and supporter of liberal social issues.' He warned that Kerry really needs a 'signature issue to define himself' with his current focus being exclusively on his Vietnam triumph.

Most worryingly, figures on the BBC news site, which is closely following the election, claimed that 78% of Missouri voters chose Kerry for his elect-ability and potential to beat Bush in November. lt further remarked that one voter said she would vote for her cat if she thought it would beat Bush.

Whatever happens, these first few weeks have already created a huge platform from which the Democrats have been able to rally massive advertising and support.

Kerry now faces primaries in Haiti, California and Utah next Tuesday and Los Angeles on Thursday.

But unquestionably the most important date for Kerry will be Super-Tuesday on March 2 when large states including New York and California vote for a candidate, by which time it could all be over. But whoever wins, one thing that certainly can be said about this campaign is that it will be one hell of a race.

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Features

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Are you addicted to that rush of adrenaline that sears through your body as your brain tells you this is actua lly a really stupid idea 7 Dominic Chessum knows the feeling and warns against always following your heart ou 've been hoping someone will give you a Red Letter Day for a while now so maybe it's time to start dropping bigger hints for your next birthday so you can hurtle round that racetrack or plunge through the sky at tremendous speed.

Not to worry, chances are the experience will be worth the watt, and you 'll be trytng more and more extreme sports to get that thrill just one more time.

Adrenaline sports and activities are now btg business tn both the UK and abroad. From surfing , mountain boarding and power kiting to the more unorthodox such as hill rolling and bull running, the opportunities to get the adrenaline whipping round your bloodstream are almost endless.

Having experimented with a range of adrenaline activtties over the last few years, I've had my fair share of highs. There are, however, some things that I JUSt wouldn't do in the same way again .

Here are a few of my experiences to show you how not to go about being an adrenaline junkie.

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Bull ... Runaway! Runaway!

Having had no sleep I got off of the train in Pamplona, Spain. 1t was five in the morning and I was shattered. A couple of espressos in the station cafe later I felt much better and had met up with an American who was going to run with the bulls. I thought he was mad and had no intention

"Blood was running down my legs and my ribs were bruised. As I limped up the course, the bulls having long since passed , I saw a crowd gathered round a man who hadn't been so lucky: of going anywhere near a bull. I just intended to watch from the sidelines.

A hour later I found myself half-way up the bull running course, a red scarf round my neck and an uneasy feeling in my stomach. A gun fired and everybody stated running . They were moving fast and I was alarmed at their speed. Then a

cannon fired, a signal that the bulls had been released, and everybody started sprinting . Withtn a minute I was disorientated and blindly chasing up the bull course.

Suddenly a bull ran straight past me. I was petri fied. Another charged past. closer this time.

Before I had time to think two more had passed me. I wanted out, but could not see a way of getting over the barriers.

Just then someone grasped my left arm . I was running so fast that I kept going for a second before jerking back and swinging round into a metal grille. I looked up and a bull ran straight past me. I stared at the Spantard who had stopped me getting gored and probably saved my life. He looked back, shrugged . and with a cry of what sounded like, "bloody tourists." ran off down the course.

Blood was running down my legs and my ribs were bruised. As I limped up the course, the bulls having long since passed. I saw a crowd gathered round a man who hadn't been so lucky.

Dazed, bruised and confused, the adrenaline was certainly pumping. Not something I would try again and certainly not someth ing I would recommend as a first foray into adrenaline activities.

How not to fall out of the sky. he day came for my first solo skydive and I checked my parachute meticulously over and over again. lt was as if I had suddenly developed obsessive-compulsive disorder. The time soon came for me to put it on and as I walked to the aircraft I was beginning to have second thoughts.

The sight of the plane did nothing to allay my fears. 11 was not the 14-place brand spanking new aircraft I'd seen the day before but a rickety old live-place with gaffer tape everywhere. As we took off the windows shook and I was sure we were going to fall out of the sky.

Five minutes into the flight the Japanese man next to me began to meditate. Not able to find inner peace quite at the moment I began to panic. I looked over at my instructor only to see he was flicking through a copy of Readers' Digest. My face was white. I was thousands of feet up in the air with a couple of madmen.

Realising I was about to freak out, the cameraman pointed to some birds flying below us.

"I've never understood how they manage to fly in such a perfect formation ," he said . I almost fainted. How could he think about such trivial things when I was about to throw myself out of an aero-

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plane? I wanted out, but was too embarrassed to tell my instructor I couldn't go through with it.

Before I had time to reconsider the door opened and my instructor ushered me out onto the wing.

After that I can't remember much. Apparently sensory overload is not uncommon.

"At first I managed to stay on my feet but I was soon flat on my face with sand going in my mouth and razor shells ripping into my legs. The kite dragged me about 20 feet before I finally let go."

I know I had a huge smile on my face after I landed and certainly had adrenaline coursing through my veins, and it definately took a wh ile to calm down and get my heart back to normal. I must confess however, that the only reason I jumped was because I did not have the guts to tell my instructor I did not want to. -Not the best way to go about adrenaline sports, which put your life at

risk.

Not quite Mary Poppins I've flown singled string kites for years. However, last summer I decided to shift things up a gear. I bought a three-and-one-half metre monster and taught myself to fly it. Admittedly the man behind the counter advised me it might be a good idea to have lessons but I figured a kite is a kite and headed for the beach.

I assembled the strings and strapped the Velcro wrist attachments firmly in place. I tugged on the front strings and the kite soared into the air. In fact the speed with which it went up was alarming and before I had time to think it had lifted me two feet off the ground.

Fearing I was about to take off into the wild blue yonder I let go. I fell to the ground, the wrist brakes kicked in and the kite fluttered down.

Dazed but determined I set up again and the kite took off.

This time it began to drag me along the beach.

At first I managed to stay on my feet but I was soon flat on my face with sand going in my mouth and razor shells ripping into my legs. The kite dragged me about 20 feet before I finally let go.

My jeans were ripped, my arms cut and I had swallowed half of Holcombe beach but at least the kite was all right . Wrong! Just as it gracefully touched down a dog ca me out of nowhere and savaged it.

What a first day's power kiting! I had damaged both the kite and myself and needed a lot more practice. No adrenaline this time, just pain. The trouble with kiting is that you have to go through a painful learntng stage before the buzz really starts.

As I've learnt you really should only do Adrenaline sports if you are positive you want to gtve 't a go 'vlake sure you research all your Jptions . and take !tme to absorb what you are about to throw you r body tnto, and you 'll enJOY the thrtll a lot more and wan t to do tt agatn and agatn. Atl •he adrenaline sports are qutte expenstve but are deftntlely worth tl. Vouchers for Red Letter Days are a grea tdea for presents. and 'f you don't qutte fancy falling out of a plane. or gettt ng chased by bulls. they also do more relaxtng cptions. such as pampering days or a night out tn London. For more informatton . take a look at the 0 ed Le ter Day webstte NWW.redletterdays.co.uk

c..r.e. WeliMsday, Februaq 25, 2004

Page 13

Fea.tures

An adventure we have all aspired to, but many have never achieved, the road trip is one of the most culturally intriguing imports American culture has lent us. Why is driving for the sake of driving such an alluring prospect? Mark Vrionides takes to the road in the Deep South only to provide us with another good reason to live the Dream. he East Coast of America, heading south. Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is a good place to start. My love for this Southern university town knows no bounds, but at key points in my year at the University of North Carolina, there was no holding back a simple realisation. There's nothing there. So auto-mobilise! At once become both proud freeman and unknowing prisoner of the road. And so it was, Chapel Hill, a good place to start when Thanksgiving looms along with the disappearance of nigh-on every single Carolinian flocking home to family turkey. Excepting Suzi Says, who opens up the door to her Hyundai and I step inside and go! There is a lot of road between that fine motor vehicle and Charleston, South Carolina. But ifs nothing to all the junk, swelling outwards on either side of the road, repeating over and over without a scratch. The highways go on for days but not a patch on the Wendy's, the Sonics, the Subways, the Taco Bells, the Parkins, and the Bojangles. The BK's.

Stop! Repeat them three times and they will build a new one right next to you. We try and be strong, Suzi and I, stopping only when we need to stop and not when we are told we need to by neon and tack(o).

Bellies still fuller than necessary, we come to Charleston and it all gets a litHe more Southern.

Spanish moss looms down from above streets and disrepair doesn't disguise the old, rich whiteness dripping off the walls of the houses and landing in pools on the porch. We make it to the hostel late but are welcomed in, free of afterhours charge, though the sketchy guy in the street promising to look after our car wouldn't mind a buck or two. Thanksgiving morning is the worst time in American history to see a town.

Everything closed; we'll leave it till later, and find a battery. The Battery is a small park, surrounded by cannons. Not all that much, but we melt as the sun skims off the seaside and shoots through the moss and ifs suddenly the most beautiful place to be.

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Thanksgiving morning is the worst time in American history to see a town. Everything is closed.

The Charleston Market courteously opens and beckons us over, and we amble through Mammystyle recipe books and plentiful Southern channs. lime's changing and the evening takes us further, to Folly Beach. We come to a steady brake out-

side The Best Uttle Hick Shack in Folly, offering free Thanksgiving dinner and a bluegrass jam. An old guy plucks on his one wash-tub string, a dancing ladies stomp through red plaid, and the barman looks at me awful funny. Ifs plain as day.

I'm the first they've ever seen of the British Invasion. But we're feeling so at home right now, I don't mind if I do go for another piece of that incredible pumpkin pie. But it has to end, the wash-string stops shivering and they point us on our way to Savannah, Georgia. Night driving eventually takes its toll and we slow to a haH at the finest of all American institutions -The Waffle House. Forget all I said about the evil of roadside gastronomy; we go here not to eat (although the sign claims 5000 ways of cooking up hash browns), but to stare into the core of Americana.

"Trish, How Can I Help• finishes sweeping up the latest batch of blood and waffles, and points us to our seats. Ifs a quiet night and our spirits drop at

the fading prospect of seeing a slice of action alongside our coffees and cherry pies. Trish sees the sadness in our eyes, though, and makes up for the calm with virgin marys and sunrises free of charge, before letting us into the secrets of Waffle crockery balancing. We leave our new friend after she takes our picture and sticks it up on the wall, and we return to the car for sleep. The windscreen shades don't do all that much against the sunlight bouncing off my head. So Suzi takes the wheel once more, and spirits soar as we drive into Savannah. This city is delicious. Every house boasts plantation excess, enough porches for everyone. The madness of town planning sends us slowly round and round tiny squares but it all falls into place as we fall too, in love with every single street we catch a glimpse of before being sent round another corner. One holiday's gone, here's another: Christmas trees start shooting up at every turn. But soon the out of place baubles sparkling under the blazing sun start freaking us out Suzi parks the car to slow things down a pace. Savannah's heart is a rectangle. Up one

Savannah is delicious. Every house boasts plantation excess, enough porches for everyone. The madness of town planning sends us slowly round and round tiny squares. side to dawdle through an illustrious graveyard, more moss spreading down over the graves.

Down the other side and a treat is in store. lt looked just like your average pizza place, inside and out We stand waiting in the line, listening to the banter around the ovens, and Suzi spots it first but I'm not far behind. This pizza parlour boasts a staff of five. FJve aii-American, all-buff parlour boys, slapping each others' asses and squealing while they do, all the while cooking up a damn fine extra-large margarita for a mere $4.99. Marvellous; service with a smile on both sides and Savannah seems beautiful inside and out We get a bellyful and need a IMHJown, fast The first park in our path just so happens to be the finest A fountain guards the entrance and the water sprays through sunbeams creating miniature rainbows. But stomachs impatient, our awe is cut short and we collapse on grass. Evening comes quick and we're moving again, back to the car for a change. Decked out in all kinds of crumples we head down to River Street. We'd heard this was home to the action and we'd heard true.

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kind Georgians don't seem all that both-

ered that I haven't packed my fake ID. One oo many Alabama Slammers and the spaces between bar exit and river entrance seem awful small. Somehow we finish up with coffee at an International House of Pancakes near the South Carolina-Georgia border. Ifs

seven hours

back to Chapel Hill but naps in gas station parking lots stretch the journey to a slow but steady eleven. Mar1t went south on Interstate 95, five hours from Chapel Hill to Charleston, another two to Savannah. He tuned the radio into the University of North Carolina's student radio station, WXYC on 89.3FM, and left it on for the entire trip, taking in the hillbilly sounds of South Carolina and the biblical readings of Georgia with equal reflsh. In Charleston he stayed at the NotSo Hostel at 156 Spring Street, visited The Battery at

the corner of Murray and Battery, and The Market at Bay and Market Folly Beach is a hidden treasure not to be revealed here. In Savannah he spent some lovely moments at the Colonial Park Cemetery at the corner of Perry and Abercorn, Savannah Pizza Co. at Gaston and Uncoln, and Forsyth Park at Whitaker and Gaston. Although he regretfully cannot state which bars on River Street neglected to ask for ID, Chuck's Bar was

particularly pleasant. Charleston, Savannah, Waffle House and River Street culture can all be appreciated at: www.charleston.com www.savannahgeorgia.com www.wafflehouse.com and www.savriverstreet.com

10% STUDENT DISCOUNT

DRIVING LESSONS patient, friendly tuition Linda Crassweller 01603 870989 Pass Plus Available

Features

Restructuring Nightmare As yo u go about you r week off spare a thought for the administration staff that have to go through the ir daily routine , working through admissions to schools that may not exist next year and are overshadowed by the knowledge that they, too, may not be here. The position is somewhat analogous to the students of LLT and Drama who are completing their degress in full knowledge that in a few years time they cou ld be regarded as valueless.

No one seems to have any objecti on to restru cturing , they accept that it needs to be done, but the processes that are taking place seem entirely exclusive of the opinions of those that are affected by them .

Keeping in mind that the consultancy firm , PWC, have been known to recruit graduates from this Un iversity, doesn't it seem odd that they are reluctant to engage fu lly with the people who were responsible for educating those graduates?

With lecturers, staff and students at all levels objecting to the lack of democracy in the consultants approach , isn't it time the Universtiy, or rather the Reg istry, put the cards fully on th e table, rather than hiding behind a load of management-babble?

Votapathy No, not a new form of chinese medicine, but an increasingly widespread phenomenon across the UK. The Union elections were no exception, with just over 10% of the University population voting.

Maybe the fact that, for most candidates, the Hive seems to be regarded as the only place on campus, and the majority of students brush the who le thing off as a popularity contest; but what isn 't? You don 't think Tony Blair actually runs this country, do you? He's just got a nice smile. How do you think Arni e got in.

Maybe it's ti me, we, as the next generation, started being more challenging towards the people who aim to run our affairs . Actually taking a serious look at policy and trying to read between the lines of what th e politicians tell us, may make our experience of voting more positive ; rathe r than just an endorsement of teeth-wh iten ing toothpaste.

Wedn esdar. Febmary 25. 2004

CoiKrete

Your view

realised ours was out of date because we had a gas leak during the snowy period .

Our case is now being taken up by The Health and Safety Executive and Corgi, and we would also like to than k Jo Spiro for her help and support.

Send your letters for the attention of the Editor to Concrete, PO Box 410, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TB or email them to su.concrete@uea.ac.uk

The Tenants of 70 Cambridge Street

Conservative Clarke Housing warning An article in 'The Independent' newspaper (11th February) reports a pol l showing that a significantly higher propo rtion of the general population thi nks that Norwich South MP Charl es Clarke is on th e Conservative front-bench than thinks that some of the Conservatives' key figures (e.g. Oliver Letwin, the ir Shadow Chancellor) are on the Conservative front-bench .

Could this be because th e Labour Party has ch anged so much that it is no longer identifiable as the party that once believed in public services fund ed th rough incom e tax and free at the point of delivery? Is Education Secretary Charles Clarke's political allegiance particularly unidentifiabl e because of his plans for va ri abl e top-up fees that will inevitably increase th e gap in statu s and financ ial resources between universities and increase th e burden of student debt?

Yours sincerely, Councillor Adrian Ramsay (SOC PG) and Dr. Rupert Read (SOC lecturer), UEA Green Party.

We would like to warn any house hu nting freshers about the pitfalls of renting acco mmodation . We rent a house in the Golden Tri angle from Prole! Property Services and have had numerous probl ems with ou r landlord in the past. However, thi ngs recently came to a head when we discovered that our Gas Safety Certificate was six months out of date. Our landlord ca rri ed out the gas safety check himself as he is an electrician.

However, we were so ince nsed at not having th e essential document in ou r house for so long (as th is is illegal and invalidates our insurance), and also at our treatm ent by the estate agent wh en we raised this issue with them, that we went to see the Student Advice Centre in Union House.

The excellent Jo Spiro, who is the Student Support Services Manager, in Union House, took on our case and uncovered the unbelievable fact that the landlord is not even a registered Corgi electrician , therefore not qualified to undertake the checks.

Therefore, the Gas Safety Certificate that he eventually produced is invalid. As a house, we would like to urge people to check their Gas Safety Certificates to ensure that they are covered . We only

Roll. ..with it?

Being poor, I like to enjoy at least one meal a day, and this I usually find in one of the many rolls sold in our Union Hive. Mostly they are of high quality. However, I have noticed far too many chunks of apricot in their Coronation Chicken, and possibly heart-damaging levels of mayonnaise in Chicken Bacon 'N Mayo. The price is right ; if onl y these problems could be cleared up.

Nam e and address supplied

CONCRETE Editor Jim Whalley Deputy Editors Ruth Charnock and Rebecca Lawrence News Editor Thorn Smith Deputy News Editor Paul Vincent Photographers Gareth Davies Contri buting Editor Toby Lewi s Features Editor Toby Brunt

Student Voting

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Sarah Tooze traversed cam pus to ask you why more students didn't vote in last weeks elections

Sports Editors Tom Czaban Proof reading Beth Settle, Lizzie Brien, Sarah Tooze Advertising Manager Ben Millar

I Didn't have enough time.

Stuart SOC3 I don't feel represented properly. Students don't feel thing s will change when people get voted in. That's the mood .

Robert LLT2 I don't know much about it. Also, apathetic 3rd and 4th years are leaving and it doesn't affect them Ellie Jones SOC3 There·s a short time to campaign you·ve hardly met anyone and then you're asked to vote on them.

Bex HIS3 There's not enough tnformation We're not told why 1t 1s mportant to vote and what each officer does Rob EAS1 Personally, I didn't vote because I was out on a placement Hannah PG They're as bad as you lot [concrete] sat up there 1n your 1vory towers. JUSt look1ng for someth1n g that looks good on the CV Why should I bother voting JUSt to further someone else's career? I'm not a charity.

Paul SOC3

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INSIDE: The heart-breaking true story of GeoH Capes' battle with a giant maneating dog.

VIVA THE UNION

,

Having both brains and looks, UEA decides to make lots of money Following the recent announcement that some UEA schools may be forced to close for financial reasons, the Enquirer can excluaively reveal a second wave of plans designed to IIUlldmise the University's earning potential.

Speaking through a mou thful of quail eggs and caviar from the b ack seat of Ws specially d esigned floating Ferrart. the Dean for Empathlsing with Student Poverty outlined some of the ch allenges facing UEA in the future, stating, "For some time now, it has been clear to us in the upper echelons of management that other people are making more money than u s. This cannot be allowed to continue. Therefore. we have employed top financial analysts Ivory Tower In c. to tell us wh ere we're going wrong.· The company's initial findings make interesting reading. One of the most damning

criticisms centres on UEA's repeated tendency to teach students. rather than manufacture consumer electronics. As the report states. "Though we understand that learning is important. neither English Literature nor Child Developmen t (to give just two examples) performed as well during the previous quarter as the 1-Pod. While we aren't suggesting that the client should immediately stop its current courses and replace them with a vast production line ... Oh. wait a minute. yes we are.· Some subjects may be allowed to continu e , albeit in a substantially altered form.

Medical studen ts will be able to study new units on organ transplantation, and some third-year humanities students could be granted the time to complete thetr degrees, on condition that they provide the organs to practice on.

BIZARRE

The Dean refused to be drawn on thls matter. commenting only, "Apparently there's a Jot of cash to be made in Eastern Europe with this kind of thing. · UEA's esteemed Creative Writing MA will remain. but with different emphasis. Expect Chlck Lit and The 10 Word Pitch' to form the backbone of the course in September.

A number of new combined degrees have also been proposed, including Biology with Conference Catering and Maths with a minor in Routine Structural Maintenance. It Is thought the Accountancy degree will h ave a much stronger creative element.

However, the report was not entirely negative, noting, "We were very impressed that UEA has managed to make students pay for turning up, an innovation we hope to pass on to other clients. Woolworths, for instance. might be very interested."

AFFAIR

What effect will down-loading food have on the internet?

The multi-national peer-to-peer download programme, Kazaa, has unveUed revolutionary plans for expansion, after ITCS officials bludgeoned its prestige by deciding to impose a permanent ban on all such file sharing networks last week.

Chlef Executive of the company, Stuart Little, has declared in a statement at the International Conference For the Protection of Copyright in Tokyo. that as from the lst of March 2004, it will be possible to share your unwanted food and drink with other users over the Internet.

The system would work, he explained. by simply inserting your left-over dinner directly into the various drives on your computer. For example, foodstuffs would go into your zip drive and beverage products into your CDRW drive. "The system is universal , and that is its beauty," says Little. Once in your computer, he concludes, the programme would automatically detect the type of food and place it into "My Shared Folder" . From there, you can exchange lt over the standard Kazaa programm e.

However, students who still use the programme at UEA believe that the extra feature will slow download time immensely. Shane Coughbird (SOC2) said "downloading is already a sticky business, and Friday night's vindaloo and Stella will just cause a mess."

Concerned opinions have also been voiced from various other British Universities where P2P downloading networks are still being tolerated. Alfred Jossie, IT Manager at Cardiff University. says, "A large ffie, such as a cheeseburger at 610 calolies and 34g of fat, will seriously congest the Internet. Thus we worry many American users will cause more harm than good."

Despite the fears, Red Hot Chllli Peppers singer Anthony Keidis is actively endorsing the expansion. "I believe in the potential of the Internet. We could feed the world! " declares Keidis. despite networks like Kazaa costing Wm over $12 million in record sales a year. "He's an idiot,· says the band's bassist.

Flea, in response. "Ignore him".

The system was discovered by Ainsley Harriot's child, Jimmy, "when he accidently

put a scotch pancake into the CD-Rom drive on our computer" . Developers say that Jimmy had discovered that the computer has the ability to process food as well as binary information. In light of the concerns raised, magazine New Scientist believe "thls will go down as one of the greatest discovelies of the 21st century."

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Following news of the possible capitalist corruption of the student dream, Che Guevera's name was inadvertently inserted as the seventh Welfare candidate.

Although no campaigning was done and he h ad no manifesto, Gu evera won by an amazing 1.560 votes. leaving only RON to take second place with one vote. Top pop psychologist Sarah Winalot says thls is not surprising. "students' brains work almost en tirely at a subconsciou s level. and , as we all know, Che Guevera's image has completely infiltrated the student subconsciou s. thus Ws victory was assured.· As a response to thls, the student body is now demanding the return of thetr new Welfare officer from Cuba, wh ere most of the voters thought he was still living peacefully with a dog and Evita Peron. The Union Execs have been despatched to Cuba to retrieve the body.

On arrival, however. they were arrested as Capitalist spies, thetr ragged student clothes far too impoverished to pass unnoticed in a Communist country. Luckily. the Execs had access to secret Union accounts and bribed the authorities to let them go, and were given Che's hands as a token of good will.

The Execs are now investing in cloning techniques to create a fully fledged Che of our own from the two hands, and expect to have Wm ready by the May day celebrations, in whlch UEA will be taking a leading part due to the increasing influence of the anti-capitalist coun terculture. In the meantime, the hands will be used in conjunction with a medium and a nine volt battery to try to prepare some speeches for a rally against the University's new capitalist schemes for the future of UEA. In other news. large quantities of hallucinogenic has been cidentally • 1rP1 o~"'"Pr1 into the Enquirer office. say the have lost grip on reality.

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Fashion

Wednesdm·. Felmwl} :?5, 200-J

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ome favourite things

By Hannah Walker.... next week she shows you how to make pictures with your favourite pasta shapes.

1 Turquoise and grey wraparound top, Miss Selfridge £15. Denim skirt, Dorothy Perkins £15. Coral shoes, Office £49.99. 2 Green strapless dress, Topshop £25. Green shoes, Office £49.99. Print bag, Topshop £18. 3. black poloneck, Topshop £18. Stripey skirt, Topshop £30. Balck cut out shoes, Faith £45. 4 Cream Mac, Topshop £65. Spotty shoes, Faith £45. Polka dot bag, Topshop £15. 5. Black and white poloneck, Dorothy Perkins £12 . Flared black skirt, Topshop £30. Red ballet pumps, Office £39.99.

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n the book of 'Elegance' Kathleen Tessaro states, 'we don't dress for who we are, so much as who we would like to be'. Looks like this season we are all desperate to transgress our age and ski ~> back to Am er1'-an hign school diners in our best plimsoles an<' cardigans. So much so, that if you skip on down to any high s' ,..", shop you will drown in the tide of full skirted narrow waisted fifl t c~ fashions. Unlike many contemporary fashions which focus on novelty and colour, the fifties focused on stylistic neatness and defining shape. You only have to glance at a female sanitary disposal bag to see that rather peculiar picture of a woman with a millimetre waist and a skirt so wide it could swallow small children. Although this image may appear anciently Victorian, decades away from the current flirty fifties fashions, that ain't so true.

The wasp waisted silhouette was an extension of Dior's 1940's famed New Look. A post war reaction to the austerity of fabric shortages during the war. lt attempted to reintroduce Victorian ideals of femininity to a liberated female population employed in service industries. The idea was simple, a cleve r vehicle for gender propaganda. Romanticise femininity and fashions that encouraged women to dress like women coercing them back into the domestic realm , neatly redistributing the patriarchal role and balancing the countries economy by eliminating the female work force .

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The designs were nostalgic and opulent to the extent of using up to 50 yards of material; with rationing still in place, the look attracted such controversial press attention that it was ripped from the backs of wearers in the street. lt epitomised precisely the woman that western governments, husbands and fathers wanted . Dior was a frustrated architect, and he created clothes that moulded the female form , emphasisng the hips, restricted the waist and gave the bust more prominence, very much the silhouette sported by fifties Hollywood icons such as Marilyn. Despite the look's stereotypical connotations, the sheer opulence in the face of such deprivation did nothing but create deep longing for the designs and heighten their desirability.

The look survived and proved popular, integrating into America where industry expanded in order to meet peacetime needs and consumer demands. The restructuring of American society during the 1950's relied heavily upon gender roles, girls played with Barbie, boys with Roy Rogers and Dave Crockett paraphernalia.

The fashion perfectly flattering the peacetime mood, successes were Bill Blass and blue jeans, poodle skirts made from felt and decorated with sequins and poodle appliques and pony tails for girls. For the first time teenagers were defined as a separate gen-::ration. the look became the uniform for American v·· :tth. ac. illus'rc~tad "• i ilm& ::.uch as G;aase. The look changed marginally, adopting a more bubble gum girlie tone, including buttons and bows, it was a look and a time period that made girls look like girls and boys look like boys. We don't really know if gentlemen prefer blondes, but Marilyn had the right idea - Bell shaped skirt skirts, Capri pants and pencil dresses suit nearly everyone. Bardot checks are combined with bright colours and finished off with ankle socks, blouses are dainty with cardigans over the shoulders. Materials, pliable cotton, and patterns focus on the florals and polka dots so common of the era. For a flush of colour pick a vivid coral, canary yellow, or apple green. Prints are edible, and you only have to stray as far as Topshop to find apple plimsolls and cherry swing skirts a plenty.

Everyone openly hates a fancy dress party but everyone loves a retro trend. Retro gives you the chance to act out a fantasy that goes beyond fashion . So whether you opt for flared skirts and fitted cardigans or Capri pants and a neck scarf, wear them with true fancy dress style pride, you're buying into history you know.

rt

25,2004

HOROSCOPES

Capricorn

H you enjoy going to the Union Pub for a drink and a testosterone fuelled ogle at the pretty girls in short skirts, you may like to reconsider your lifestyle. Don't be fooled, they have an agenda too, and they will ~ you to shreds.

T e w1nn n Hannah Falkingham looks ahead to what could be the most exciting F1 season in years.

.

Your dreams of becoming a pop princess will ~r

come true. Get real, and focus on your studies. You might find that future SIIOCeSse5 will bring more than just a 2-1. Somewhere in the Southern Pacific, somebody has written your name in the sand.

Pisces Don't be disillusioned by today's tribulations. There is plenty to keep on breathing for. Think of the rain, it falls down on you when you are too hot Think of the bees, they make their sweet honey for you when lite is a little sour. And the fish don't live in the sea for their own amusement

You are frustrated by people not living up to their promises, specificaUy dodgy on-line Dellx7js from Hong Kong. But newr fear; there are many more oriental surprises awaiting you (Japanese women, Mons, Nintendo, JET etc) and the whole Universe is conspiring to help you. You lucky, lucky, person you.

Go and see the School of Rock. lt will nourish the fire that is beginning to bum inside you again, as the warm weather of summer returns along with vest-tops and hot pants.

The next time you watch The Fresh Prince of BelAir, something that Uncle Phtl says wtll inspire you to start pCcliCtici IQ a reiiOiutionary form of yoga. named Shiva. after the Hindu God of Destruction.

Go and smash something using the Lotus

Position.

...... EYef}'tt*lg is ~Your life has finally LWllangled

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itself and you can really start to explore you longest and oldest desires. At the moment, the future looks bright and the skies are clear.

Con!J'atulation!

Leo Fearsome as your ZDCiac syrOOol is, there is a pussy cat inside you. And somebody out there is waiting for a pussy cat to enter their lives. But be SI!Spicious of dogs. They don't trust you and you don't trust them.

The Haitian capital has come under the reign of severe anarchy as the planet Jupiter looks upon the Earth with its~ face. Try to resist temptations to cal your seminar teacher an idealistic nobody, and no, your housemate isn't drinking your milk - you just forgot to buy some more.

With a name that sotn1s like lJJya, your relationship with the Blair admi lisbation improves after you hand Oiler the l...odcerbie agents, pay compensation to the families, and <996 to be exbemely cooper.dive ower weapons of mass destruction.

Congratulations, you demonic litlle shrew.

Heed these words: "only fools rush in". The planets torecast a hearty breakfast is needed to get through the day. But no curry, it wil leaYe you in tears.

Sagittarius There is a fabulous opportunity awaiting you, if only you could learn to put your shoes on and walk out the door. And a short spell of obsessive cleanliness won't hurt, although continuous scouring will leave you feeling uncomfortable.

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Pa e 17

he winter testing ban has lifted.

The drivers are back on the tracks. Only three weeks to go.

Spain seemed to have been a firm favourite for the teams breaking out their evolved Formula One cars in preparation for the 2004 season.

Wrth testing at Jerez and Barcelona, and teams giving their new, and potential drivers a chance to show their worth, it looks as though the starvation period is over.

After months living on nothing but silly season rumours, the real feasting can begin again. All ten teams are now well into their build-up to 2004, and, whilst pre-season testing is notorious for its useless information on the teams' progress throughout the winter, it is interesting newr-the-less. lt is a time for new drivers to get behind the wheel of a Formula One car for the first time and potentially impress enough to win a coveted seat The top teams have kept the same driver line-tJp for 2004, with Schumacher and Barrichello once again leading the charge for the scarlet Ferrari team. They will, for the fourth or fifth season in succession, start as favourites to win the drivers' tiUe, although Schumi did face a fight in 2003.

BMW Williarns also keep the same line-up, although there might be all change in 2005, if the rumours are to believed. Their drivers were more consistent than Mclaren's or Fenari's last year, and if this continues for 2004, they will be a real force to reckon with this year.

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Sauber need their new aerodynamic package to give them a car with better aerodynamics than a wardrobe Mcl.aren have got the second Flying FIM and DC for the third year running, and they wiU be hoping that the new car lives up to the hype that built up to its non-release last season.

RenauH also decided to stay with Alonso and Trulli for the up coming season, and they promise to give the top three an 8llefl bigger run for their money than they did in '03. Alonso is wry fast Trulli impresses occasionally in Qualifying, but Jets the team down during the races. H they improve as much as they say, the top three could become the top four.

British American Racing sacked Villeneuve in the 10011e that e~~eryone knew was happening, in favour of young Sato. This ~ motes Jenson Button to team leader. If he can get a podium for the team in '04, he will be happy. H may also help to remove memories of those awful B8Ci adverts.

Salber need their new aerodynamic package to give them a car with better aerodynamics than a wardrobe. FISichella is definitely talented, and he is definitely fast, but Massa is risky and he has a little too much Latin America impetuosity.

Jaguar haw got the Aussie wonder Webber in the team in a long-term contract, and he will be partnered by newboy Christian Klein, leaving promising Briton Justin Wllson without a drive. Hopefully the pouncing cat can live up to the hype around the team and score major points in

'04.

Toyota retained experienced driver Panis,

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Expect a season of close races.. Below: Shumacher and Senna and Da Matta for a second season. The pairing was strong last season, and lack of experience within the team itseH seemed to let the drivers down in some races. Leaving their driver choices rather late this year, Jordan have finally plumped for Germany's Nick Heidfeld and Italian Giorgio Pantano, leaving Britain's Ralph Firman, who raced for Jordan last year, without a drive for the new season. Reports suggest he is now looking into the Us-based lndy Racing League.

Minardi always leave their driver announcements until late. There were hundreds of names linked with the team, but they finaHy went for youth over experience with Italian rookie Gianmaria Bruni and 22-year-old Zsolt Baumgartner, the first Hungarian eYer to race in F1.

long with driver changes for 2004, there are rule and calendar changes too. The rules for 2003 seemed to haw been successful, with the strategies of various teams being interesting to say the least The FIA has decided to modify its rules once more, meaning that, among other things, there will be two qualifying sessions on a Saturday, as opposed to one on Friday, and the second on Saturday.

This could prove interesting for the new drivers, as any large crashes in the first session would be wry difficuH to deal with in time for the driver to be out again in the second. Hopefully this change wtll not aHer the interesting grids produced when the weather was wet. Perhaps it will emphasise this interest even further - it is hard to predict until the teams fully understand what to do for the best results on the

A

Sunday afternoon.

Rule changes also coincide with the introduction of new races to the F1 calendar, as well as an overall new look to the season.

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The most basic is the reintroduction of Spa in Belgium, and the exclusion of MagnyCours in Ranee. Spa is a favourite with drivers and fans, and its absence was missed in 2003.

Then there are the new traclts, in Bahrain on 4th April, and in China on 26th September. These will be interesting races, as the teams and drivers are unable to test on the traclts until the race weekend, and wiU haw no prior knowledge of set-up to use for the race. There has also been a vital change to the season finale. Instead of it being a middle-of-the-night title decider, it will be a more respectable (though less fun) teatime race in Brazil.

2004 will also be the tenth anniversary of the death of Ayrton Senna, so lmola are planning a memorial, and expect there to be a general air of sadness around those who remember him and those who raced with him.

H all goes to plan, 2004 should be even more exciting than 2003 was, and hopefully there will be less financial and political wrangling, so the attention will be on the drivers and their skill - where it really should be. .

-

, Wednesdav. February 1/ , 2004

Concrete

X Men's first XI football team avoid BUSA relegation and book their place in the Junior Cup Final at (arrow Road ROSS GRAING ER

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There were mixed fortunes for men's football this past fortnight.

The first team r ecord ed an emphatic victory in their final BUSA match of the sea son at home to Warwick. and , thanks also to Oxford's loss against Warwick . secu red their place in the top divi ion next season.

They also progressed to th e final of the Jun ior Cup after winning away at Aylesh am in a semi- final r eplay.

The BUSA sea. on seem d des tined to end in fail u r e after the team lo t away to Demontford Bed ford on U1e 28th of J anuary.

3 0 down at hal ft ime and r educed to ten men . Nick Dyer. Captain John f ish and Trevor Smith each got a goal as UEA fought back bravely to level the match in the secon d half.

Bedford' s injurious late wtn n er owed a much to th e r efer ee as to th e Bedford scor er.

Un fortu nately . U1at du biou s deci ion was just the climax to an afternoon of dr ead fu l decision-making by t he man in black , and the loss pu t the firsts on the brink of r elegation.

Al l t hey could was h ope 0 ford lost to Wanvick and mak e sure t hey won at h ome to Wo lverhamp ton on th e llth of February.

And win th ey did . In la t place and already relegated.

Wolve rh ampton cap itu lated almost immediately. UEA blitzed their beleaguered opponen ts with three goals

in the opening half an hour. and when th e final whistle went they had recorded their most emphatic victory of the sea on . 6-0.

A hat trick from Fish and a goal apiece for Terry Sw;mn. ick Dyer and Tom Burton ensured UEA stayed up, and Oxford. who lost 1-0 to Wanvick on the same day . went down.

With U1e disappointing BUSA season behind U1em. UEA cou ld focu on the Junior Cup .

The semi -rmal on the 14th of February al home lo Aylesham was a classic cup match and la k ed everything 1 ul a goal. Th e away side brough t a large and passion ale gr ou p of supporter s wiU1 them . and wi U1 U1e UEA fan doing th eir pcui on the oppoite fl ank tl1 e atmosphere was inten e.

It was a cold and driZzly aft ern oon . and the condi -

tions hampered UEA"s attempt lo m ove the ball around. but even so. th e al lwhites bossed the match from sta.Ji to extra-time fin ish and will be disappointed it ended 0-0.

With all his key players back from injury. fish was able to field a full strength side for first time in many matches .

The back line of Trevor Smith. Tom Bouquet. Lee Pendry and Dan Ward k ept the visitors in check. and k eeper Henk van Dalen played a peripheral ro le.

The play was largely in the midfield and the tough tackles from both sides kept U1e refer ee busy th r·ough ou l. The fro n t li n e of Duncan Mc Har dy an d Lewi s Br oomfield held the ball up well . trou bling Ay le ham 's defense. but it wasn't unW the second half that the game became more open and th e chan es sla.Jied adding

up .

There we r e two manic goal mouth crambles that some how didn't produce a goal for UEA. and Broomfield misshit a strike in the box late on .

The mat h went to extra time. and with the conditions and pace of the match having worn out both t eams . it became a stalemate. It fin ished 0 -0 and m eant a rep lay.

Anyone watching the replay would have been forgiven for thinki ng UEA were playing a different team. "lt cou ld have been ten." said a buoyant Fish after his team wo n 5 0 .

A b race fro m McHardy and goals from BU!ion. Dan Pelto and B roo mfield produced t he m odes t score line. wi th T rry Swann a commanding presence t hrough ou t.

The final will be played at Carrow Road on the 8th of March .

What's best and worst in Sport today. ..

Tom Czaban looks at the burn ing issues

Gambling on Cricket Cricket's image has taken another battering this week with the revelation that a County Cricketer is under investigation for betting on a match .

Officials with in the sport have been on high ale rt for the last four years since South Africa's captain, Hansie Cronje's involvement in match fixing.

Whilst betting on a match is not as serious as match fixi ng it is equally damaging to the reputation of cricket. If the allegations are found to be accurate then surely the English County Cricket Association must impose the maximum punishment-a five year ban and an unlimited fine .

Unfortunately, this is by no means the first example of a player betting on a game. Th e most famous example of gambling was in 1981 when Austral ian Test Players, Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh placed £15 on an England win .

England were 500-1 to win the match after being forced to follow on but lan Botham and Bob Willis cl inched a famous victory-Lilee and Marsh pocketed a tidy £7,500.

Since then attempts to revamp the image of what was once considered the noblest of sports have on the whole been unsuccessful, and this week's news is another setback.

Those within the cricket fraternity have argued that the only reason more allegations of this type are coming to light is that it's something being investigated more and more. They also maintain that these are nothing more than one-off events.

Whether they are one-off events or regular occurrences, if cricket's reputation is to return to its former grace then player's betting on matches is something that must be eradicated, starting now.

Fergie no longer the rock If one th ing can be learned the saga in the Manchester United boardroom the past few we eks it is football managers should to doing just that-managa football cl ub.

rifts within the clu b Id have been avoidAiex Ferguson stuck to he is paid to do.

Having failed to do so, a bitter legal dispute with Irish racing tycoon John Magnier looks Tryi ng times for imminent. Magnier has also Ferg uson upped his stake in Manchester United ; this will give him more influence in the decision making within the club and could mean that Ferguson is about to pay the ultimate price for biting the hand that fed him.

This dispute comes at a time when Ferguson's transfe r deal· ings are already under investigation. Louis Saha is the latest player to arrive at the club under dubious circumstances.

The question that must be asked th1s time is why two agents needed £750,000 a piece to secure the deal, when Saha had made no secret of the fact that he was desperate to play in a Manchester United shirt.

With all this on his mind it IS hard to believe that Alex Ferguson has time to manage a successful football club-maybe he has forgotten . That would explain his sides mediocre showing against Middlesborough last week, and their below par performance against Leeds on Saturday.

However, even more worrying for Manchester United fans is the fact that Arsene Wenger and his Arsenal side are cu rrently unbeaten (in the Premiership) and playing with unity and confidence-maybe that's because they have been concentrating on the football.

Quote of the week.

"The refereeing over here is atrocious. it's like Manuel out of Fawlty Towers. At first I got frustrated, but now I just laugh because it's so funny."

Villeneuve coach Brad Davis on Rugby League life in France.

C..... Wednesday. February 25, 2004

sport

FLYING FINISH FOR UEA lADIES

Wome 's rugby side cap a fantastic season by finishing second in the BUSA League

Rugby fever has hit UEA, and it's n ot just the men who have enj oyed a s uccess,W season.

UEA's Women's Rugby Football Club has grown enormously this year and the results are starting to reflect this. With over 30 members regularly training since September the ladies finished a close second in the Midlands 28 BUSA league.

The autumn semester started with only nine returning players, but an influx of first years and internationals soon boosted numbers. And with new coaches Jon Curry and ladies from local side

Less than a month later, with most girls never having played a game before (some never even having seen one) the WRFC played their first BUSA game against Nottingham 2nds and recorded a convincing 43-5 win.

The high scoring continued the following week with a 400 win over Northampton.

November saw a run of away games. The team lost a close contest to Leicester, but recovered with wins against Derby (0-15) and Nottingham 2nds (0-57).

Frustration followed after Christmas with two

In the final week of the BUSA matches, UEA needed to win two games in four days to top the league. A tidy win away at De montford Leicester set up the league decider against Leicester.

Despite a few injuries, UEA fielded a strong side and fought a bruising competitive game, but lost to the better team on the day, leaving Leicester as league champions.

However, the UEA ladies fin ished with the 2nd best defence in the league and best offence with joint captains Wendy Masters and Catherine Lowe leading the try scoring from scrum-half and

Page 19

GOOD SEASON FOR DEADMAN'S TEAM

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Badminton side finish season on a high under the leadership of capatin Chris Deadmaa ALEXANDER WYETT

The badminton season is coming to a close as the suouner approaches. For some, the c old whether may have had s ome adverse effects, bu t not for the UEA badminton team.

Th ey blossomed during the winter s eason.

With a busy fixture list for both BUSA and local league matches club captain and President, Chris 'El Presidente' Deadman had a stern test of initiative and planning to get a relatively young and inexperienced team to the top of the leagues.

The first match of the season was against Leicester, the strongest team in the league.

UEA produced a sterling effort, but the match ended in an early victory to Leicester in what was felt an unjust 8-0 loss.

Lincoln was the next fixture, and after a shaky start, the te~ began to find their feet.

They came away with a well earned draw. This was a

turning point and it was clear that solid, reliable, doubles partnerships had been formed .

Deadman now played with first year Ian Bayes, both players with junior county experience. While club treasurer Alex Huhn formed the second doubles partnership with Mike Faithhorn.

However, even with good doubles pairings a match is never guaranteed, as the matches are made up of 4 doubles and 4 singles games.

Singles matches were always going to be crucial tf the team had any chance of winning a match let alone the league.

Alex Spears and Jeff Knott got the chance to prove their worth at singles and gave valiant efforts in the second spot throughout the rest of the season.

A late arrival to the team and filling in the number one spot was Alex Wyett and with several years more experience at county level than his younger team mates, he managed to earn valuable games throughout the season.

With a strong team in place,

victories started to come, 5-3 against Derby, an 8 -0 thrashing of Lincoln and a 6 -2 drubbing of Leicester.

This put the UEA team in a respectable 2nd position behind Leicester.

The last match was an away meet with Derby, and Wyett got off to the usual start with a comprehensive win in the singles. Unfortunately Derby had some sneaky tactics. playing their best players in the doubles. This gave our two doubles pairings a tough draw, In the final game, Tom Worthington in his first singles and sadly last BUSA match kept both teams on edge when he took almost 45 minutes to win the game 9/15, 15/4, 15/8 giving the team a draw and signalling an end to the BUSA season.

Congratulations must also be given to the ladies team of Zoe Pittaway, Annagrette Standke, Sarah Tadman , Helena Lim, Becky Foster and Maria Glinvad for all playing well throughout the season in the Norwich & District leagues.

KICKING BACK IN MANCHESTER Mea's karate teaiD travel to Ma chester a d tile WOIHI's side win 11edals against Eclinbargh.

rocb, rolllng mist, village of Otterton and lack of a road map did prevent the UEA karate finding success when travelled to last weekend the BUSA's. the team events UEA entered as the underd ogs having been pitched against black belt teams.

In the men's team event UEA were ~gainst h oDle team Manchester. were high but disappobltmlent with

the defeat of Adam The Moth' Cochrane and UEA president Andy Preston.

Euan Davidson bought victory but Jamle Elvin could not find the required touch to pull level.

The girl's team coDJpeting again st Edinb urgh saw a similar story.

Faye Thorndycroft was defeated in the first round, Nicki Dell in second achieved an impressive win and in a tense final Helen Mandely put up a brave d efence but the girls lost the match.

UEA fared better In the Individual Mark

Salisbury and Euan Davidson progressed as far as the quarter finals but were robbed of bronze.

Andrew Mountford, Jamie Elvin, Andew Preston, Andrew Suggitt and Simon Hughes all put up impressive defence in their matches.

Mter a long day we had unexpected victory with Faye Thorndycroft and Ntki Dell.

Faye Dlade it through to the final stages of the middleweight division and achieved a bronze medal.

Nick!, competing in girls heavyweight, secured bronze in our final event of the day.

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TRAMPOLINING SUCCESS

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It has been an exciting week for the trampolining society competing in the BUSA regionals in York on Sunday 15th February.

Despite an a nxious week leading up to the competition . during which there were repeated team inj uries. eleven of th e original thirteen competitors ma de it to the event Sarah Sta mmers competed regardless of illness and Emma Impey bravely completed her s et routine before being forced to withdraw due to a back injury. whi ch sadly meant s he was unable to be listed in the rankings.

Kim Basill and Amy Hewitt pe rform ed well on the ir debut. ranking 60th and 65th respectively at the novice leveL In the intermediate leve l, Nicole Hart came a stunning ninth-qualifYing her for a place in the finals at Reading University on March 7th.

Meanwhile Sarah Stammers and Jenny Barraclough secured a brilliant 40th and 43rd place respectively.

Throughout the day however, all eyes were on the advanced level competitors Shelley Aspinall and Josie Hayes, whose performances oozed star quality landing them a cool I I th and 19th place respectively.

Overall . it was a fantastic result for the team, considering tehy did not even compete last year.

Best of luck to those who go through to the finals , and as for the rest of you , watch

UEA cross-country team maintain their excellent league position with two spirited performances ANDREW STAPHNILL

On the 8th of February the BUSA cross-country competition was held in Dundee and as expected our UEA team was there and ready for the competitio n.

BUSA athletic competitions are notoriously competitive with some of the finest athletes competing. and this year's champions hips proved to be an especially tough year with over six hundred athletes in attendance.

The event was also to be used as trials for the world championships so UEA really had their work cut out Andy Staphnill and Keith Jenkins ran in the fast and furious s hort course race.

Staphnill ran hard through out the race and earned himself a fine 51st place.

Jenkins crossed the line in 58th fending off some chal lenging advances by top ath letes. Dave McKinlay fought off som e of the best athletes that our Universities have to offer by fmishing 108th.

In full llight Ali McGeoch-

Willia m s c ut through th e course and took a we ll deserved !50th place.

Valiant efforts were ma de by Steven Harris and James Carter who cros sed the line in !66th and 1 78th respectively.

Ed Beningfield managed to run through the pain of an lr.jury to claim a worthy !85th place. Unfortunately however, the tough course took its toll on James Colley who was forced to pull out after suffering an injury.

The UEA women's team also ran superbly, finishing nineteenth overalL In an exciting and closely fought contest J ess Trowbridge finished just fifteen secon ds ahead of Lynn Emmett.

Trowbrtdge s natc h ed 55thplace and Emmett took 66th place in a race that featured over 200 athletes.

Annabel Roberts put in yet another stunning and gutsy performance- finishing 135th overall. Nika Obydztnski ran a fine race and took 200th place.

These results saw the side builrl on an excellent

fo rmance a few weeks earlier in th e East Anglia CrossCountry lea gue race on Great Yarmouth seafront.

The team had prepared themselves for the tough competition and gruelling distance but had not banked on h aving to do all that in a bli..Z7..ard!

bay finishing a close 70th and 77th .

Ploughing through the snow and competition Trowbridge and Roberts performances shone through the bleak weather as they took 1st and 4th positions.

With only three races left in the league Trowbridge h as become

The race was already set to be tough as the sand would sap the en ergy from the athletes but to compete in a whiteout of heavy s nowfall could not h ave been predicted.

Armed only with a vest and shorts to fend off the bitter cold Ali McGeoch-Williams seamed amazingly unfazed and finished with a superb 7th place. Glen Richardson and Steven Harris ran on each others heels throughout the race with Richardsonjust taking 24th place ahead of Harris in 25th.

Working hard throughout the race James Colley and Andrew Staphnill earned the important 44th and 61 st positions.

Dan Weinberger just managed to keep Keith Jenkins at

Concrete Prize Crossword #51 ACROSS

DOWN

I) Fall (4)

2) Perfect (5) 3) Used for wri tin g (3)

3) Small (6) 6) Ita lian City (4) H) 9)

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Where you sleep (3 ) J ea lousy (4)

10) Pretend (3 ) 12) 1\mma ted lllm · .& St ttc h · (4)

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tempe rature (I I)

4) Attempt (3) 5) Landmark building of New York (6) 7)Mcasurcment of dist a nce (5) 11 ) B o tt om o f foot (4)

12) Colom (5) 13) 1\mcncan State (-l l 16) S m a ll Hocknh H I 171 i"id\' 141 I q) ( ;irb nanw (4) 20) Fru it 1 ~ 1 2 11 l'nsoncr of War (3) 22 1 L t ~ht (4)

un catchable and will certain ly take the overa ll league prize and bes t junior female.

Liz Daly managed to secme an impressive 11th and a sea son's best performance from Nika Obydztnski proved tha t the weather is no match for the determination of the UEA athletes.

Set by Sarah

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:There's a selection of singles up for grabs for tcom plet ton of th e c rossw ord. Fi ll 111 yo ur name :and a contac t number ore-mail address bel ow :and bring it up to the offtce w tthin t he next two :w eeks. Have fun.

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