THE SEX SURVEY RESULTS ISSUE
ISSUE 239
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UEA'S SEXIEST LECTURERS
Read this year's most weird and wonderful student responses.
Concr te's official winners, including lecturer feedback!
FEATURES PAGE 12·131»
FEATURES PAGE 141»
TUESDAY 9th FEBRUARY 201 0
CRU SPECIAL FEATURE A full run-down of the latest Climatic Research Unit revelations. r~>Jl~'l:
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e www.concrete-online.co.uk e UEA'S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER e
FREE
VICE-CHANCELLOR DEFENDS CRU Information Commissioner's Office state UEA broke the law with requests for climate data. Vice-Chancellor Edward Acton questions the verdicfs legitimacy: "nothing has yet been established". David Churchill Vice-Chancellor Professor Edward Acton has launched a staunch defence of UEA's beleaguered Climatic Research Unit (CRU) in the face of fresh allegations from the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). A statement released by ICO accused CRU of flouting laws under the Freedom of Information Act, insisting that personnel had acted illegally on the grounds that legitimate requests for information were systematically "not dealt with as they should .have been under legislation". The ICO, the governmental body which oversees compliance with the Act, added: "it's clear to us a breach has occurred". However, speaking to Concrete, Professor Acton
questioned the verdict saying the ICO has "pointed to nothing that formally establishes any breach." The offence is normally punishable by an "unlimited fine", but ICO claim that they are unable to prosecute due to a loophole in the law which prohibits prosecutions six months after a violation is committed. As the alleged breach occurred in 2008 CRU personnel have been places beyond jurisdiction. The revelations are the latest in a series of mounting allegations besieging the CRU after hoards of e-mails involving UEA Professor Phil Jones were retrieved from the unit's servers in November 2009. In a determined putdown of the ICO's handling of the affair, he added: "ICO have failed to confirm to us what
the newspapers have been Professor Acton stated that . reporting, failed to confirm "Mr. Monbiot's strictures are any misdemeanour, and failed · gravely misplaced". He also to back up their allegations." expressed the need for it to He suggested that ICO were be publicly understood that "now embarrassed by the UEA is "absolutely committed statement" and he questioned to codes of academic whether their method of public practice" and that "if anybody offends ·any codes there is exposure was "judicious". ICO's announcement has an appropriate procedure renewed widespread calls for for taking action; but the Phil Jones to resign from his university is not a monarchy post. The Guardian's George th<;P: has the power to just Monbiot suggested earlier remove anyone." this week that Mr. Jones's Asked whether ICO's position "is now even less announcement required tenable. The longer he leaves any immediate action, the it [his resignation], the worse Vice-Chancellor responded: it will get". Mr. Monbiot also "No action needs to be branded UEA's response to the taken, nothing has yet been crisis a "catastrophe". established. ICO has failed to But UEA Vice-Chancellor, reiterate and confirm anything Professor Edward Acton, and has pointed to nothing mouAted a spirited defence that formally establishes any of Professor Phil Jones and breach ." the UEA's response to the crisis. Speaking to Concrete, ONTI UED PAG 41»
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THREE STUD·ENTS IN UNPROVOKED EATON PARK ATTACK Jesslca Keating Three male students were violently attacked in Eaton Park on Tuesday 26th January. In an unprovoked altercation, the students suffered repeated punches, leaving them with black eyes, cuts and painful swollen faces. At around 8pm the students were walking home from campus with three
female friends. A group of six teenagers were at the bandstand when one stepped in front of a female and became verbally abusive. The men attempted to lead their group away from any possible argument but the gang leader became physically aggressive, and launched into his attack. During the attack two of the women called 999 and
police arrived quickly. The officers were forced to call for back-up when the offender tried to flee but he was swiftly located and arrested. The male was easily identifiable, as he was topless and had a conspicuous Manchester United FC tattoo over his heart. While the nature of the assault remains undetermined
by the police, it was noted that no possessions or valuables were stolen and the offender appeared intoxicated at the time of the attack. Eaton Park is located behind The Farmhouse pub on Colman Road, and is a popular cut through for students heading to Unthank
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