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>> A night with Nightline
10th October 2017 Issue 341
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>> Travel takes you to fairytale Bavaria
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>> Global looks at strife in Spain
The official student newspaper of the University of East Anglia | concrete-online.co.uk
Anti-social behaviour reports up 74% increase in noise complaints to Security
Emily Hawkins Editor-in-Chief UEA has seen an increase in the number of reports of anti-social behaviour, with a greater amount of security and welfare related issues reported to both senior residents and UEA Security. A document shown to this newspaper revealed the number of cases dealt with by the university’s Disciplinary Officer process has increased. Cases are only referred to the Disciplinary Officer when there
is sufficient evidence an individual has breached accommodation or general student regulations.
"Whilst some want a ‘party’ lifestyle, many others need a quieter experience" Senior Resident reports from the last four academic years show an increase in students claiming they are the victim of a noise disturbance.
400 incidents of this nature were recorded in 2016, an 80 percent increase on the previous year. UEA Security reports show 2016 had an increase of 74 percent for the number of noise complaints made, compared to 2015. There was also a 65 percent increase on the number of ‘misbehaviour’ incidents and a 38 percent rise on anti social behaviour incidents recorded. The number of anti-social, misbehaviour, or noise disturbance related incidents dealt with by the Disciplinary Officer has seen a dramatic increase in the last three
UEA blames pre-drinking culture
academic years. In 2014, 61 incidents of this nature were dealt with by the university, with 131 and 168 in 2015 and 2016 respectively. The university blamed the increase of anti-social behaviour reports on a national student ‘predrinking’ culture. Dr Jon Sharp, Director of Student Services, said: “Much of the upward trend in anti-social incidents (most of which include alcohol as a factor) reflect the increasing nationwide trend of “predrinking” cheap alcohol purchased
from supermarkets at home prior to going out to either the LCR or into the city. We also saw an increase in the number of ‘post-drinks’ – students returning from a night out and continuing the party. “We also saw an increase in the number of parties and ‘pre-drinks’ in residences where it appeared that new students (who make up the bulk of resident students) had been pressured into hosting by older peers in sports clubs and societies. The University agreed with the Continued on page 4
UEA's Ishiguro wins Nobel literature prize
Matt Nixon News editor
Author Kazuo Ishiguro, alumni of UEA’s school of Literature, Drama, and Creative Writing (LDC), has been awarded the 2017 Nobel prize in literature for his “novels of great emotional force.” The author is the first LDC graduate to be awarded the prize. Ishiguro, who was born in Nagasaki, Japan, in 1954, moved
to the UK when he was five and joined UEA’s MA course in Creative Writing in 1979, graduating the following year. Since leaving UEA, he has published seven novels including the critically acclaimed works ‘The Remains of Day’ and ‘Never Let Me Go’.
Ishiguro has also written a range of screenplays and short stories. The Nobel prize awarding institutions explained their motivation for giving Ishiguro the prize is that he is a writer “who, in novels of great emotional force, has uncovered the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection with the world.” Commenting on the prize, Ishiguro said: “This
is amazing and totally unexpected news. It comes at a time when the world is uncertain about its values, its leadership and its safety. “I just hope that my receiving this huge honour will, even in a small way, encourage the forces for goodwill and peace at this time.” Speaking to the BBC the newly announced Nobel laureate added: “I thought that in this age of false news, I thought it was perhaps a mistake. [sic] I only started to believe
this was true when the BBC rang me.” Professor Christopher Bigsby, the director of UEA’s Autumn Literary Festival – which Kazuo Ishiguro is due to speak at tomorrow (Wednesday 11 October) – said Mr. Ishiguro’s work is “characterised by a tightly controlled prose and concerned people, on the fringes of major events, who committed Continued on page 3