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>> Studying with dyslexia at UEA
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>> Travel talks winter roadtrips
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>> To speak or not to speak? Comment's free speech special 16th January 2018 Issue 346
The official student newspaper of the University of East Anglia | concrete-online.co.uk
Mental health crisis on campus? >> Referrals to local services up by 200% since 2012 >> University says stigma has decreased Emily Hawkins Editor-in-Chief The number of UEA Medical Centre patients being referred to local mental health services has increased dramatically over the last five years. However, the university’s support services say this is likely attributable to a decreased stigma surrounding mental health problems. In 2017, there were 573 referrals from the University Medical Service (UMS) to the Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust (NSFT), a service which provides mental health support. This is a 205 percent increase on the 2012 figure, though
the university itself has seen an increase of thousands more students in recent years. In the last two calendar years, there has been a 26 percent increase in referrals. Figures obtained by this newspaper’s Freedom of Information request also show there was a 74 percent jump between the 2012 and 2013 referral figures. The UEA Medical Centre serves the entire Norwich Research Park in addition to the university, so these figures do also account for a population of some patients who are not students. Dr Jon Sharp, Director of Student Services at UEA, said: “In recent years mental health has
become increasingly destigmatised and this is a very welcome societal development but it also means that across all parts of our society increasing numbers of people are looking for more help with mental health issues. “We’re committed to ensuring we offer UEA students and staff the support they need. UEA’s Mental Health and Wellbeing policy and service offers a stepped model of support that’s tailored to all levels of need, and waiting times for our services are falling.” The student-led listening service Nightline say they have also seen an increase in contact numbers, though these are not always mental
health related. Nightline’s External Co-ordinator, Alyssa Girvan, said they believe an increased awareness of the service is the reason for their increase in contact numbers. She said: “Thanks to a lot of hard publicity work around Nightline and mental health issues in general, we feel that a significant reason people use our service is because they know it is there and is advertised in such a way that you hopefully do not feel weak or stigmatised for using us. “There are of course several other factors such as increased student numbers and stressful workloads that also contribute, but our publicity effectiveness is something we have really noticed
has had a large impact this year.” However, the Students’ Union said the referral rates raise questions about how university services work in conjunction with NHS services. SU Welfare, Community and Diversity Officer India Edwards said: “We need to see evidence of strategic engagement between the University and the Trust that would result in a proper plan. “We have pressed the University to review student access to medical and healthcare services in the area, and we continue to call for direct contact between UEA leaders and statutory and voluntary health services to improve and better coordinate support for students.”
Students slam "racist" Sportspark branding Shannon McDonagh & Emily Hawkins News Reporter and Editor-in-Chief A Sportspark UEA advertising campaign has been called racist by students who pointed out it could appear to be ranking individuals based on race and gender. The Bronze plan, which is the
cheapest at £5 a month, shows a black woman, the second cheapest Silver plan shows a white woman with grey hair, and the most expensive Gold plan shows a tanned white man. Dr Tori Cann, a lecturer in Humanities, brought the branding to the attention of scholars and students in a tweet earlier this month.
The official UEA Sportspark account responded promptly to students expressing distaste towards the image. They said the “campaign has not ranked members” and they have had “minimal comments about any of our membership advertising in the past.” A Sportspark spokesperson told Concrete: “Sportspark is an inclusive community and we
welcome everyone, regardless of gender, race, disability or religion. "We are disappointed that some customers have interpreted this piece of our advertising as discriminatory, this was completely unintentional. "This campaign imagery was released eight years ago to display our membership options. The campaign was part of a major
re-brand of our logo, marketing collateral and strapline. We have taken all comments on board and will bear them in mind for future campaigns.” One student told the Sportspark to “Get your act together” on social media, whilst others said they were
Continued on page 6
16th January 2018
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Editorial
New year, same me Sophie Bunce Deputy Editor
The University of East Anglia’s Official Student newspaper since 1992 Tuesday 16th January 2018 Issue 346 Union House University of East Anglia Norwich NR4 7TJ 01603 593466
Megan Furr
Welcome back to UEA... Emily Hawkins Editor-in-Chief Welcome back to UEA. It's been a busy Christmas for universities, with reshuffles and free speech crackdowns. UEA students have been pretty busy too - on our backpage, Daniel Cook has interviewed two midwifery students preparing to run the Brighton Marathon. On page six, Matt Nixon reports on scuppered private accomodation plans in the city, something many students may disagree with. If like me, you found yourself struggling to keep up with the cacophony of international and national politics this Christmas break, thankfully Concrete is back to catch you up to speed. Donald Trump has, to the surprise of nobody, been on another tirade of volatile and contradictory tweets. Daniel Peters rounds up the fallout from the release of a controversial White House expose and the situation regarding North Korea on page eight. This week also saw the announcement that Trump was cancelling his trip to the UK to open a new US embassy in London. His mind was reportedly made by fears of UK dissent to the visit. Last year it was heartening to see Norwich turn up to protest the travel ban outside City Hall. The executive order, signed in January, suspended immigration from seven majority Muslim countries and banned Syrian refugees from entering the country indefinitely. Norwich’s act of defiance was maybe a small one in itself but proved to be a reassuring and
affirming gesture that people across the world would not accept xenophobia. A year later and the protests continue. A second sequence of Women’s Marches are planned for this week, to mark a year since Trump’s inauguration. On a similar note, this fortnight, Comment is taking a hard look at the debate you either love, or hate to see in the media: free speech on campus. It’s a divisive issue, and one with plenty of misinformation around it. (Fake news, if you will). Words like ‘censorship’ and ‘no-platforming’ abound, with statements from the likes of the Sp!ked blog being cited as the cold, hard truth. Our double page spread takes the issue beyond buzzwords and looks at the outgoing Jo Johnson’s plans to introduce a regulatory body for free speech on UK campuses. Professor Alan Finlayson, head of the Politics, Philosophy and Language school, has written for us this issue on page 16. He sums up the views of many students towards the reforms, including mine, in his argument that the Students’ Union “may be daft not to invite certain speakers, but that should be decided by members of the Union.” On page eight, Ollie Ryan Tucker sheds some light on the situation in Iran and the reaction to government suppression there. It is a reminder that whilst we all love to joke about sombreros, citizens’ freedom of speech and expression are threatened across the globe in a far graver way than cancelling a UKIP meet and greet in Lecture Theatre 2. If that seems a bit too heavy, Giorgia Rose explains the new food fad of the year on page 13 in Features. Apparently pickles are all
the rage now. Who knew? Travel editor Beverly Devakishen writes of the road trip she took around the UK with her family this Christmas. Travelling to eight cities, she writes of how spending a short amount of time in each place made her appreciate it all the more. “Daylight was precious, especially because we were there in the winter, so we learnt to rush around each city during the day and rest during the night,” she writes on page 19. The new year also means it's almost time for Concrete’s annual sex survey issue. There’s still plenty of time to take the survey, so make sure you head to surveymonkey. com/r/concrete-2018 to tell us your secrets. The results will be kept totally anonymous and published Tuesday 13 February in a special issue. Share the survey with your pals when you're done. If you want to get involved in Concrete this year, there is no better time than now. (January is the new September). Team Concrete will be at refreshers fair on Wednesday 17 January to chat to anyone who wants to get involved in 2018. Be it copy editing or writing or illustrating, putting together a student newspaper takes a village. Or if being back in the LCR in the daylight on a Wednesday isn't an experience you want to subject yourself to, come along to post pub pub the day before. On Tuesday 16 January writers and editors will be meeting as usual - new faces are always welcome so if you’d like to get to know more about Concrete and what we do then head down to Red Bar from 7pm. So come say hi!
I don’t make resolutions. No new year, new me. I went into 2018 just as I did 2017, with a questionable fringe and over inflated ego. This is why I don’t get a misguided gym membership or buy cookery books for the banquet I will never cook. If you don't make resolutions, you can't break them. But as I intend to stay the same as I was last year this issue of Concrete shows that the world disagrees. So much has happened in the last 16 days; look to Global and take your pick. With our writers' exploration of Iran, Russia and the US on pages eight and nine, Concrete gives you the, frankly unsettling, low down. The section is dominated by words like 'pressure', 'threaten' and 'manoeuvre', which makes me want to climb back into my Christmas comfort coma. The state of the world is becoming Black Mirror-esque. Despite my Netflix subscription, I can’t find the resolve to watch it - let alone live in it. However scary, these articles remind us of the volatile and ridiculous world we live in. A world where the President of America can’t sing the national anthem. As I consider sticking tape over my phone and laptop camera, I click accept on privileges I didn’t read to reinstall Youtube. I uninstalled it in a summative season panic. But it would have been better left that way. Look to page ten where Charlotte Manning questions our new "role models" that reside on the platform in light of the Logan Paul controversy. Is it regulation Youtube needs? Respect? Or, as his subscription count surpasses 16 million, a touch more reality? Whether you have a laminated list of resolutions or plan to simply keep going, happy new year! Emily and I will spend it exactly where we did in 2017, the Media Office. But perhaps with the Mac cameras taped over...
concrete-online.co.uk Concrete_UEA concreteuea
www.concrete-online.co.uk Editor-in-Chief Emily Hawkins concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk Deputy Editor Sophie Bunce concrete.deputy@uea.ac.uk Online Jacob Chamberlain Natalie Cotterill concrete.online@uea.ac.uk News News Editor: Matt Nixon Senior Reporter: Shannon McDonagh concrete.news@uea.ac.uk Global Eddie Booth concrete.global@uea.ac.uk Features Tony Allen Amy Newbery concrete.features@uea.ac.uk Comment Jack Ashton concrete.comment@uea.ac.uk Finance Finance Editor: Matt Denton Senior Reporter: Will Richardson concrete.finance@uea.ac.uk Science Science Editor: Beth Papworth Senior Reporter: Alex Millard concrete.scienv@uea.ac.uk Travel Beverly Devakishen concrete.travel@uea.ac.uk Sport Daniel Cook Sophie Christian concrete.sport@uea.ac.uk Chief Copy-Editors Hannah Brown Sophie Clayton concrete.copy@uea.ac.uk Marketing and Events Amelia Rentell Social Media Freddie Carty Art and Design Yaiza Canopoli Emily Mildren concrete.artdesign@uea.ac.uk
concrete_UEA Front page: Matt Nixon, Bill Kerr, Flickr
Editorial Enquiries Complaints & Corrections concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk
No part of this newspaper may be reproduced by any means without the permission of the Editor-in-Chief, Emily Hawkins. Published by the Union of UEA Students on behalf of Concrete. Concrete is a UUEAS society, but retains editorial independence as regards to any content. Opinions expressed herein are those of individual writers, not of Concrete or its editorial team.
News
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16th January 2018
Almost 300 doctors' appointments missed last month Extenuating
circumstances to be reported online
Jack Ashton News Reporter
Over 290 people failed to attend their GP/Nurse appointment at UEA’s Medical Centre last month. Over 49 hours of appointments were wasted, leading to a strain on available resources and efficiency at the centre. Figures given to Concrete by the UEA Medical Centre show throughout 2017 there was a total of 3705 appointments which weren’t attended, a figure which equals 617.5 hours of clinical time. In December, 294 appointments were missed. This brings the monthly average for unattended appointments to 6.2 percent throughout 2017, an increase on the previous year. Although there are no conclusive figures published by the NHS, its estimated that the total number of missed appointments annually is anywhere between 12 and 14 million, costing the NHS an approximate figure of £1billion a year, a figure which comes out to being less than 1 percent of the NHS total budget. The Government has been looking into potential ways to combat this strain on the NHS. In November the Health and Social Care Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, said he approved “in principle” of plans to fine people for missed appointments.
Matt Nixon News Editor
Photo: Matt Nixon These plans were also backed by over 50 percent of GP’s in a survey by the GP Magazine ‘Pulse.’ However, they were dismissed over fears it could impact the lowest income people the most. Commenting on the missed appointments, SU Welfare Community and Diversity Officer India Edwards highlighted the inconclusive nature of the figures, and pushed for “further context and interrogation.” Ms Edwards added: “What’s really required is a proper review of
student access to medical services on campus which can look in detail both at this issue, the med certs issue from the summer and the huge increase in referrals from the UEA Medical Centre to the local NHS Mental Health trust in recent years.” The number of missed appointments currently headlines the Medical Centre’s website. The Medical Centre urges students who can’t attend their appointments to let them know in advance.
3705
The total of appointments which weren't attended in 2017.
618
The total of appointments which weren't attended in 2017.
6.2
The monthly average for unattended appointments in 2017.
Cancer survivor fundraising for Ugandan children Chloe Howcroft News Reporter Second year International Relations and Politics student Scott Arthur, who recently survived his battle with cancer, is due to volunteer in Uganda this summer, where he will help to build play facilities for children in disadvantaged communities.
"For a while I've wanted to do some charity work, to give back something to the world" Scott completed his treatment for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a rare form of cancer developing in the white blood cells and affecting the immune system, last January, bringing six months of chemotherapy treatment and a month of radiotherapy to a thankful end and on to a gradual process of recovery. Scott told Concrete how he found the opportunity to volunteer with
Photo: Scott Arthur East African Playgrounds (EAP), an international non-governmental organization (NGO) working in East Africa, primarily Uganda, to create play areas and programmes for children in the most disadvantaged of communities. The NGO works in schools, refugee settlements and hospitals to ensure that their needs for development, health and wellbeing are recognised and fulfilled. Scott explainsed: “For a while I’ve wanted to do some charity work, to give back something to the world. But I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do.”
It was after hearing about EAP through staff advertising it in one of his lectures, Scott found the inspiration he needed to pursue his goal. “I thought that it fitted the bill really well [and it was] a chance to volunteer in an amazing country and hopefully put some good back into the world. “You look at these children, some of the poorest children in the world and they have very little in the way of material possessions, but that doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t have a normal childhood. "Every child wants to play
and enjoy themselves and if I can help provide that gift then I’ll be delighted.” In order to participate, each individual must raise a minimum of £800. At the time of writing this article, Scott has raised a respectable £70. Donations, can be made by visiting Scott’s fundraising page on the EAP website in order to help him reach his target. Scott will be working alongside 14 other individuals, though several trips will be taking place over the course of the summer for others to take part too.
From early this year, students who need to self-certify or submit details about their extenuating circumstances for an extension or delayed assessment will have to do so online by completing a task on e:Vision. On Tuesday 2 January, the Learning, Teaching and Support (LTS) Team announced to students via email that anybody needing to report anything impacting their studies will no longer do so through their hubs, and that further information will be made available shortly. A spokesperson for the university has told Concrete: “Following a year in development LTS is pleased to introduce an automated system for Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate students who need to self-certify or submit details about their extenuating circumstances.”
"UEA still lags massively behind other Universities on simple and easy access to student admin process" The spokesperson made it clear that there will be “no change” to the 2017/18 policy on extenuating circumstances, “but the way that students make [extenuating circumstance] requests will now be via e:Vision instead of by submitting a paper form.” They added that students will be able to track the progress of their extenuating circumstances request on e:Vision. SU Undergraduate Education Officer Mary Leishman called the changes “a welcome move into the 21st Century that [The SU] have been working on for some time.” However, Leishman suggested the university can do more. She said: “UEA still lags massively behind other Universities on simple and easy access to student admin process and general IT investment. “UEA has a new IT Director starting soon and we’re calling on them to pick up the pace, rolling out a comprehensive plan that covers everything from unreliable eduroam to making blackboard less baffling.” The university did not confirm whether or not the new changes to extenuating circumstances directly followed the data mishandling issues from the last year.
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16th January 2018
News
Pressure on May over international student stats
MBE for Head of Computer Sciences Louise Lazell News Reporter
Beth Papworth News Reporter Prime Minister Theresa May has been encouraged to exclude international students from government immigration figures by several high profile Conservative MPs. Although the Prime Minister is resolute in leaving the system unchanged, it is likely that this spring she will come under pressure when MPs put forward an amendment to the current immigration bill. High-profiled MPs like Nicky Morgan, who is in charge of the Treasury select committee, Tom Tugendhat, who runs foreign affairs and Bob Neill, Chairman of the Justice Select Committee, are among those suggesting May should adjust current policy.
Individuals against the policy are worried about the Conservative’s target to bring the national immigration figure down to under 100,000. According to Universities UK, between 2014-15, more than 437,000 international students helped to generate over £25.8bn for the economy. Nicky Morgan has suggested that even people who pushed for immigration caps or limits to free movement failed to consider that students ought not to be included in any crackdown. Morgan said students are part of the “global Britain” brand, and added: “People realise that students are in a group of their own,” noting how the education sector is an important British export. Morgan also pointed out that the Office for National Statistics (ONS) could be made to draw up figures
Office for Students faces further backlash Shannon McDonagh Senior News Reporter The Office for Students (OfS) has remained swamped in controversy following criticism of its composition and objectives in the lead up to its launch this April. The watchdog is set to become the official government approved regulatory body for the higher education sector, with the objective of implementing the government’s contentious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). According to the Department of Education (DoE) the decision was made to simplify the landscape of higher education regulation in order put “student interests at its heart.” The DoE said it will also “hold universities to account over issues such as vice-chancellor pay and free speech.” Many appointments to the board have been questioned, such the inclusion of University of West England Vice Chancellor Prof. Stephen West on a board designed to question VC salaries. However, it was the announcement of the final appointments for the board that troubled people the most, with the addition of Toby Young causing huge backlash due troubling statements made by him in the past.
This news followed with both the resignation of Universities Minister Jo Johnson and Young himself. Despite this, many are still concerned that the regulator is more rooted in business interests than that of education. An inquiry has since been launched to investigate if recent appointments were in light with the government’s governance code. SU Undergraduate Education Officer Mary Leishman said: “Away from the headlines what matters most is what OfS does- and there is the potential for a new regulator for Universities to do some good. “[UEASU have] called for it to take action on the issues that matter to students- making it clear what students’ rights are, how to enforce them, and dealing with issues like soaring rent costs, support services or poor academic support.” The board also faced criticism from the NUS for appearing to not want to include student input in their decision making, after it was revealed that NUS President Shakira Martin, along with many other vital voices, had applied for positions and were subsequently declined. This lead to the creation of a student panel, comprised of 13 members (including Martin), designed to “ensure that students are involved and that their work is fully reflected in the OfS.”
with or without students, and commented that the latter could be used for any political means. Health select committee chair Sarah Wolloston said: “I strongly support and have always supported taking students out of the immigration numbers. It is an important principle and sends a clear message that Britain wants to welcome students and they are a part of our culture.” In spite of the view of senior cabinet members of parliament, such as Boris Johnson, who supports the move, Theresa May is still resisting making the change and believes that students should be included in the figures. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister added that the international definition of an immigrant is someone who lives in a country for a period of more than 12 months.
The head of Computer Sciences at UEA, Professor Gerard Parr, has been given an MBE award for his services in developing the telecoms infrastructure in Northern Ireland (NIR). The award also recognises Professor Parr’s previous and ongoing dedication within the ICT industry, and also his work for the telecommunications team of the NIR Government Department of Economy. Invited to work for the NIR Government’s Superfast Rollout Programme for high speed broadband across the country, Parr became Chief Scientific Advisor for Project Kelvin. This project set up high speed transatlantic submarine fibre link between the UK, Ireland, the USA and Canada. The new fibre link is near Ulster University, where Professor Parr was originally based before he moved to UEA. Since then, a new science park has been erected there called the Atlantic Link. In recent work, Professor Parr was the co-author of a major research and innovation proposal
with BT Adastral and their Engineering Design Centre in Belfast. Commenting on his award Parr said: “I am delighted, honoured and humbled that my work has been recognised with an MBE. I hope to take forward and build on my achievements at UEA and in the East of England.”
"I hope to take forward and build on my achievements at UEA and in the East of England" Parr was not the only person to receive the New Year Honours. Anthony Habgood, former chairman of Norwich Research Park, was bestowed a Knighthood for his services to industry. This recognised his role as chairman to the three FTSE 100 companies: Bunzl, Whitbread and (presently) RELX Group.
City Waterstones will spotlight women authors Cat Leyland News Reporter The Norwich branch of Waterstones has pledged only to stock books by women in its Staff Recommended section this year to mark 100 years since the first UK women gained the right to vote.
"This is a way to showcase authors from the past who didn't get the attention they deserved" The 1918 Representation of the People Act enfranchised women Photo: Bradley over 30 for the firstBater time in the UK’s history. Since the Act, women’s rights have increased considerably, however there is still a way to go in terms of complete equality. In the publishing industry, women authors are cited as an influence by only 22 per cent of authors. Women also remain statistically less likely to win major awards for their writing. The Waterstones initiative aims to contribute to a “concerted campaign to redress the inequality [in publishing]," as called for by author Kamila Shamsie. Fiction expert Victor Meadowcroft from the Norwich Waterstones store further explained
Photo: @ NorwichStones/ Twitter
the reasoning behind this initiative, stating: “It seemed a nice idea to create a space for those authors. When you do a table of modern classics, by the time you have got all the male authors there is a limited space to put the women on, and it tends to be the same women. “This is a way to showcase the authors from the past who didn’t get the attention they deserved, as well as those around now, and
getting more momentum into this movement.” After announcing the initiative on Twitter, several Waterstones stores across the country were quick to join in. Books currently recommended include The Power by Naomi Alderman and The Lucky Ones by Julianne Pachico, both graduates of UEA. Also recommended is White Teeth by Zadie Smith.
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16th January 2018
News
No exams failed at top UK universities UEA exception to 'Brexodus' of academia Imogen Barton News Reporter New data showing an increase in European staff departures has incited fears that the UK's reputation for university education is at risk due to Brexit, according to a report by the British Academy. Staff departures have increased by 19 percent up to 2,300, compared to 1,975 before the referendum, with the University of Oxford dealing with 230 departures in the 2016 academic year compared to 171 in 2014-15. King's College London lost 139 EU staff compared to 108 in the same time period. These universities, along with Cambridge, currently employ the highest number of EU staff. UEA is an exception to this trend as only 18 staff left during the 201617 academic year compared to 25 in the year before. Of particular note in the report, which covered approximately 25,000 European academics working in 105 UK universities, are the 6,633 enrolled in STEM subjects, a highdemand area that is dealing with a shortage of qualified staff. Recent estimates from EngineeringUK claim that the UK requires 1.8 million new engineers by 2025, while estimates for nursing shortages provided by The Health Foundation range from 15,00038,000 (the latter making up 15
percent of the workforce). In the 2016-17 academic year UEA employed 267 EU staff, of which 107 work in a science-related department and 42 in medicine. The government has made moves to mitigate the impact. In December, Theresa May secured a deal that would allow applications for settled status from EU citizens who arrive by March 2019 and who have been living in the UK for more than five years, as well as accepting deferrals for those who have not reached the five-year point by the official exit date.
"British universities have thrived from having access to talented European researchers" Layla Moran, the education representative for the Liberal Democrats, noted that "Britain's universities have thrived from having access to talented European researchers...through schemes like Horizon 2020 and Erasmus." She added that "while [the EU staff] were frozen out of the referendum, they are now voting with their feet."
Seàn Bennett News Reporter Concerns have been expressed for education standards at UK universities after an investigation by The Sunday Times newspaper found no students failed an exam at a selection of top universities. According to data given to The Sunday Times or released under freedom of information laws, eleven UK universities, including Durham and Oxford, recently admitted that all of their 33,000 recent undergraduates who sat final exams received an award. A further 32 universities were shown to have given degrees to around 99 percent of students, with failure rates as low as 0.09 percent.
As before, included in the 32 are prestigious institutions such as Cambridge, UCL and Exeter. The statistics for postgraduate study, which can carry higher tuition fees, show an even greater insurance of success, with almost 30 universities awarding masters degrees to 100 percent of students An anonymous academic from Lancaster, as quoted in The Times, said: “We are under great pressure not to fail master’s students, even where they can barely speak or write English and their work is incomprehensible.” Unsurprisingly, the new information has raised questions regarding standards in universities. Lord Adonis, former Minister for Education under both Tony Blair
Brian Jeffery Beggerly, Flickr and Gordon Brown, said: “It is not credible that amongst thousands of students none, or virtually none, will fail to make the grade. “This yet again raises the issue of university standards and universities’ obsession with simply milking revenue out of students without requiring enough in return.” In response, and amid growing concerns for the nation's higher education, Universities UK stated: “The UK has one of the most robust and transparent systems in the world for assuring academic standards. "Universities follow the criteria set out in the UK quality code for higher education, developed by the UK’s independent, higher-education quality agency.”
Sam Gyimah appointed as new universities minister
The Oxford educated former prisons minister described his new role as "exciting and challenging"
Jack Ashton News Reporter Sam Gyimah has been appointed as the new Minister of State for Universities and Science in the Prime Minister’s latest reshuffle. He will now work under Damien Hinds, who replaced Justine Greening as Education Secretary. Mr Gyimah has replaced Jo Johnson, who has been moved to Transport minister. The reshuffle comes as a result of Damien Green’s resignation as First Secretary State over allegations he was watching pornography at work. This comes shortly after the controversial reforms to the higher education system by Jo Johnson, which saw the introduction of the new regulatory board The Office for Students. Gyimah had been a Conservative MP for East Surrey since 2010 and by successfully increasing the number of votes in each subsequent election, he now boasts a majority of over 20,000. During his time in Parliament, he had served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to David Cameron, Parliamentry Under Secretary of State for Childcare and Education,
to protect student and staff mobility post–Brexit, the UK’s participation in EU research programmes such as Horizon 2020 and its successors, and widening participation and social mobility.”
"The minister certainly has a full in-tray to work on"
Photo: Policy Exchange, Flickr and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Prisons, Probation, Rehabilitation and Sentencing. He also campaigned to remain in the European Union. Mr Gyimah himself had an unusual education, he attended a Ghanaian State School after his
parents divorced and his mother moved back to Ghana, after this he attended a UK Comprehensive before studying Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford. Before entering politics Gyimah worked at Goldman Sachs for five years, and he is now married with
two children. UEA Vice Chancellor Prof David Richardson welcomed Mr Gyimah’s appointment, stating: “The Minister certainly has a full in-tray to work on, ranging from whatever review there may be of the student tuition fees arrangements in England, the need
After finishing his first day on the job on Wednesday 10 January, Gyimah thanked those who had congratulated him on his appointment, and announced on Twitter: “This is an exciting and challenging new brief, with our future very much at its heart. “I look forward to listening, reaching out and engaging with all of you who care so passionately about our world class higher education system, scientific research, but also innovation.” Since his appointment Sam Gyimah says he has spent time getting to know his new team and visiting secondary schools in his constituency.
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16th January 2018
News
Plans for student flats in city centre rejected Matt Nixon News Editor Norwich city councillors rejected a proposal for a block of new flats in the city centre which would have been used as housing for over three hundred students. The planned building complex, called St. Catherine’s Yard, was rejected after nearby residents expressed concerns about noise pollution and over development of the area.
Tori Cann
"The proposal will also result in a destabilisation of the community due to 'studentification'"
Photo: Steven Richards, Geograph
The building intended to provide 307 student beds across 285 purpose built flats. However some residents of Surrey Street - where St. Catherine’s Yard was going to be built - were worried the building would ‘overshadow’ their homes. Other residents noted the proposal went against Norwich City Council’s existing plans for development of the site, which is allocated for office spaces with some residential development. Speaking at a council committee meeting last month, one concerned resident said: “The proposed development will increase noise and in particular the roof terraces will result in noise, disturbance and overlooking to Carlton Terrace.” Another resident claimed: “The proposal will also result in a destabilisation of the community
due to ‘studentification’.” According to Norwich City Council, there are currently over 2000 ‘units’ of purpose built student accommodation “either under construction or the subject of current planning.” However the applicant for St. Catherine’s Yard claimed that in 2018 there will be almost 17,000 students in Norwich in need of accommodation. The applicant said: “UEA has around 5,000 bedrooms and the NUA has around 345. When combining the existing provision with schemes that are currently under construction this equates to around 6,750 bed spaces, which is significantly below the student numbers of 17,000 which need accommodation.” City councillors eventually voted by eight to two, with two
Continued from front page
Professor wins Costa Book Award Shannon McDonagh Senior News Reporter English Literature and Creative Writing Professor Rebecca Stott has been awarded the Costa Biography Award for her memoir In the Days of Rain. The book was released last summer through 4th Estate, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishing. It details Professor Stott’s childhood experiences being born into the fundamentalist Christian sect The Exclusive Brethren, an organisation which generations of her family were heavily involved Photo: in, prior Big C to their departure from it in 1972. The release was met with great acclaim from publications such as The Sunday Times, The Spectator and The Guardian. It has also featured in Amazon’s bestseller charts under the Religious and Women’s Biography categories. Costa’s judging panel called the memoir “a stand-out winner,” stating they were “all gripped and astonished by this unique life and the exquisite way she tells it.”
abstentions, to reject the flats on grounds of the building’s height and a lack of respect for the area and its neighbours. A spokesperson for UEA expressed support for more largescale, private accommodation developments for students in Norwich. They said: “These developments provide welcome additional capacity and choice for all of Norwich’s universities’ students and they also serve to breathe new life into key city-centre sites that have been economically redundant for some years.”
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The number of city councillors who voted against the plans
SU Welfare Community and Diversity Officer India Edwards said:
“It’s obvious that both the campus and the city need new bedspaces to cope [with rising student numbers],” but she cautioned against the university partnering with the private sector. She explained: “There are real questions- like the quality of pastoral care, rent levels, services like security and cleaning, how complaints will be handled and how easy it is to get deposits back. "It’s crucial that before the University allocates freshers to a private company, it consults with students about these issues and gives us guarantees about parity of treatment across its accommodation portfolio." Ms. Edwards said the SU will be calling for “proper” student facilities in the City, which they hope “can ease pressure on transport routes and campus facilities.”
confused the branding had ever been approved. SU Activities and Opportunities Officer Cam said: “Whilst the SportsPark have assured us that the obvious problems with this leaflet were unintentional, the research says that marketing matters- and the issue does remind us of some of the inequalities around sport and physical activity at UEA." Ms Koosyial said some students face issues when trying to access UEA’s sports facilities. “Part time often mature students don’t get proper student memberships, postgraduate and placement students struggle to access supposedly ‘student friendly’ times. "Women and BME students are much less likely to get involved," she said. “That’s why we’ve been lobbying for a proper inclusion plan as part of the forthcoming UEA Sport Strategy so that all of us can benefit.” The Sportspark said there were no plans to change or discontinue the advertising campaign at present. However, a spokesperson said they would “continue to listen to feedback”.
BAME creative writing scholarship opens Tony Allen News Reporter
Speaking to Concrete on her win, Professor Stott said: “In the Days of Rain is a family story about growing up in a cult. It was important to me not just to describe that experience honestly and carefully but to write a book about the dangers of unchecked male power. I also wanted to try to understand how good people can get caught up in bad systems. “2017 was a year in which many courageous women made a difference by speaking out about harassment and bullying so winning the Costa this year, and for this book, is especially gratifying.”
UEA has launched a new scholarship worth £14,000 to allow a writer identifying as black, Asian or of a minority ethnicity (BAME) to undertake a Masters course in Prose Fiction.The UEA Crowdfunded BAME Writers’ Scholarship will cover the entire £7,550 home course fees for one of UEA’s internationally renowned creative writing MA programmes, with the rest coming in the form of a grant to support living costs. The scholarship is the result of crowd-funding by UEA alumnus Louise Doughty, who has worked as a columnist for the Daily Telegraph and a radio playwright alongside writing eight critically acclaimed novels, the best known being 2013’s Apple Tree Yard which was adapted for BBC TV. More than £40,000 has been donated since fundraising efforts started. Doughty said: “Taking the MA course in Creative Writing at UEA
Photo: ActuaLitté, Flickr turned me into a novelist. I'd love to help other writers have access to that opportunity.” She continued: “A quarter of the writers who are offered places on the MA in Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia are obliged to turn down their places due to lack of funds.” Ms Doughty explained that the scholarship would go to someone from a BAME background who may not otherwise have been able to continue their studies at UEA. Recent graduates from UEA’s prestigious Prose Fiction MA
include Emma Healey, who went on to win a 2014 Costa Book Award with her debut novel Elizabeth is Missing. The announcement of the scholarship has been met with praise on social media. Current UEA Prose Fiction MA student Ayanna Gillian Lloyd tweeted: “So happy to see this! There's no way I would have been able to be at this great programme without a bursary from UEA." The closing date for applications for the inaugural scholarship is midday on the 15th May.
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8
Global
16th January 2018
US: Trump under renewed pressure Daniel Peters Global Writer
very stable genius” and “like, really smart.” Nonetheless, questions remained. Just last week, Trump seemingly forgot the words to America’s national anthem on live television. Growing memory problems had been highlighted as a concern in Wolff’s book, and many Twitter users began to question whether Trump could be showing symptoms of dementia. The President’s father developed Alzheimer’s in his eighties.
From Christmas wishes to groundbreaking books, speculation over the President’s capacity to serve increased significantly in recent weeks. The festive period began with major tax reforms. In the biggest overhaul for thirty years, Senate approved plans to cut corporate tax to 21 percent. Trump described the changes as a “big, beautiful Christmas present” for all Americans. However Democrats were in unanimous opposition and claimed that it would benefit only the super-rich.
“as 2018 loomed, Trump’s issues became far less trivial” Events took a further twist on Christmas Eve. In a festive tweet, the President claimed personal responsibility for saving the phrase ‘Merry Christmas’. This spurred a comical Twitter spat amongst many users, but as 2018 loomed, Trump’s issues became far less trivial. On New Year’s Day, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un gave a speech claiming that the nuclear button was always “on his desk.”
“Just last week Trump seemingly forgot the words to America’s national anthem on live television”
Photo: Kremlin, Wikimedia Three days later, Trump responded: “Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!” Trump’s opponents were quick to criticise. Eliot Cohen, once a senior Republican official, said that the response was “spoken like a petulant ten-year-old.” Things went from bad to worse
in the following fortnight. Since the earliest days of Trump’s Presidency, reporter Michael Wolff was allowed unprecedented access into the White House. Trump had wrongly believed that Wolff would write a favourable account of his leadership. In reality, Wolff exploited the chaos of a relatively inexperienced administration to gather damning and almost unbelievable insights into Presidential affairs. The book, poignantly titled “Fire
and Fury”, revealed a vast collection of revelations and allegations. Wolff suggested that Trump’s entire team, especially Steve Bannon, routinely questioned his mental stability. It was also suggested that Trump’s daughter Ivanka considered herself a possible successor for the presidency. Trump swiftly dismissed the book as ‘fiction’ and defended his mental stability. The President took to Twitter to describe himself as “a
Trump’s supporters will undoubtedly overlook all these festive difficulties. New peace talks between North and South Korea, and a revised care package to Pakistan could all suggest that Trump’s tough, albeit unorthodox international stance is paying off. Nonetheless, the President will be hoping that 2018 will be kinder to him than its first few weeks suggested.
Russia: Putin announces bid for fourth term Eddie Booth Global Editor Russian President Vladimir Putin announced last month that he will seek re-election when the country goes to the polls in March, 2018. Putin served as President from 2000- 2008, before employing his notorious Castling manoeuvre to remain effectively in control of Russia as Prime Minister. The Russian constitution, drafted in the aftermath of the Cold War, placed a limit of two consecutive terms on Presidents. Putin allowed his deputy, Dimitri Medvedev, to become President whilst Putin remained as Prime Minister, although such was his level of control that this had little material impact on Kremlin policy. In 2012, eligible once more, Putin returned to the highest office, and Medvedev slotted back in as Prime Minister. A change to the Russian constitution followed, extending the term length to six years, and removing the limit on consecutive elections. Putin said in an interview prior to his formal announcement that he could remain President ‘for life’. The incumbent, who has dominated Russian politics since the turn of the century, is almost certain
to win. His closest rival, Alexei Navalny, has been banned from entering the contest, and the liberal and communist candidates are unlikely to pose much of a threat. The opposition has been hamstrung by its inability to coordinate, leading to a range of anti- Putin candidates which have split the vote. Ksenia Sobchak, known as Russia’s Paris Hilton, has announced that she will stand in 2018, which is likely to further split the opposition vote. Several key dissenting voices, including billionaire Mikhail Khodorkovsky and chess legend Gary Kasparov, have been exiled from Russia for fear of repercussions if they return. Putin’s dominance has two major strands. Firstly, he has control over the state apparatus, and uses it to great effect. Most major television and news companies in Russia are either state owned, funded, or experience high levels of pressure from the Putin regime. The newspapers and anchors follow the government line, and what little debate does occur happens within a narrow, pre-approved framework. Though journalists do not always face open violence, repression of the free press is overt and difficult to combat. In the 2017 Press Freedom Index, Russia was ranked 148th in
the world. Putin’s control of the press makes it hard to see a route to victory for outside contenders. In addition to this, the Putin government has been accused of widespread voter fraud and election fixing. Elections between 2007 and 2011 saw 11 million fraudulent votes cast for the ruling United Russia party, according to the Central Election Commission. This was highly significant, because those extra voters gave the United Russia party enough deputies in the Duma, the Russian Parliament, to alter the Country’s constitution without any supporting votes from other parties, leading to the removal of the term limit and it’s time extension. There seems little reason to doubt that this illegal activity will continue in March’s election, and if it does, it is difficult to see Putin failing to secure a victory. Secondly, polling suggests that Putin is highly popular within Russia. An aggressive, ‘Russia First’ foreign policy has secured his perception as a strong and capable leader. After the chaos that followed the fall of the Soviet Union, most data indicates that stability and strength are key to retaining support from the public.
The election will fall on the anniversary of the Russian annexation of Crimea, which cemented Putin’s popularity, despite international condemnation. Despite severe economic difficulties, partially brought about by the sanctions imposed on Russia by the West in response to the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2016, there seems little sign that the public is about to lose faith with Putin en masse, and recent polls show his
popularity rating at over 80 percent. Russia will likely face another six years under Putin’s leadership, as he heads into this contest as the heavy favourite. As Russia’s role in the world comes under i n c r e a s e d scrutiny, with the continued presidency of Donald Trump, the West will watch this election closely.
Photo: President of Russia, Kremlin
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16th January 2018
Iran: protests threaten status quo Ollie Ryan Tucker Global Writer On 28 December protests began across Iranian cities, with crowds chanting varied slogans expressing their frustration, both political and economic. Some cities saw explicitly anti-government chants, such as “bring back Reza Shah”, a cry for the return of Iran’s deposed monarchy, whereas others saw anger at Iran’s foreign involvement, with the line “not Gaza, not Lebanon, my life for Iran only.” Western analysts have struggled to form a complete picture of events, with social media videos providing the main source of information. Almost every figure in Iranian politics has been targeted in protests, with many suggesting that both the clerical and political establishment has failed them. The underlying factor behind these protests, however, is the dire economic situation that many Iranians find themselves in. Popular frustration at rising costs of living and economic disparity between the average Iranian and clerical elites has left many feeling let down by their government, which for many years has claimed to be the voice of the oppressed. Many
young Iranians have been unable to find employment despite being well qualified. One Iranian stated: “I have three children in this society who are doctors and engineers. All three are unemployed.” Hassan Rouhani, the Iranian President, described government corruption in December where “everyone has allocated a budget for himself.” But Rouhani himself has been the target of protests, with strong suggestions that the first protests were encouraged by Iranian hardliners as a way of undermining Rouhani, a moderate who has struggled with hardliners and conservatives within the Iranian establishment. Some commentators have suggested the wider context to these protests is the long-term succession to the Supreme Ayatollah Khamenei, who is the overall authority in Iran. Rouhani has attempted to rollback the economic control that Iranian hardliners had exerted for many years, and hardliners like previous President Ahmadinejad are increasingly worried that their control over Iran’s economic and political spheres is fading. One commentator has suggested that the protests were organised by the hardliners in response to Rouhani’s December budget which attempted
to cut funding for hard-line institutions set up by Ahmadinejad. In a veiled attack on hardliners and the clerical establishment, Rouhani stated that “the problem is that we seek to impose our lifestyle on [younger] generations,” and also that the protests are a result of the gap between the authorities and younger generations, who make up the overwhelming majority of the protestors. Dozens have been killed in the protests, which turned increasingly violent as the days went on, and a number of security personnel were among the dead and wounded. In recent days the protests have begun to wind-down after huge arrests. Amid a number of reports of deaths in custody at the infamous Evin Prison, which also houses British citizen, Nazanin ZaghariRatcliffe, family members of those arrested have begun a vigil outside the gates, calling for the release of their loved ones. The reaction from the western nations has been notably cautious, as the full implications of the protests remain unclear. Iran, as a powerful nation within the region, one that has regularly clashed with the US, is of great strategic interest.
Photo: Photo: Staff Sgt. Khamenei, Kenneth W.Wikimedia Norman
Saudi Arabia
South Korea
Chess champion Anna Muzychuk announced her intention to boycott the Women’s world championship in Saudi Arabia, forfeiting her blitz and rapid titles. This comes in response to the limits on female autonomy in the Gulf state, which Muzychuk says is demeaning and insulting.
The Winter Olympic games endured fresh controversy over the festive period. Due to be held in PyeongChang in February, the IOC decided to ban the Russian team from the competition because of ongoing revelations about doping allegations. Russian athletes cannot compete under the Russian flag or have their national anthem played.
South Africa Several years of low rainfall in South Africa has led to Cape Town running low on water reserves. The BBC reports that the city could be the first major city to run out of water, a fear harboured by African politicians for a long time, as they struggle to mitigate the impact of drought on the continent.
f o t s e r e h T d l r o w the In brief
India India is struggling with a constitutional crisis, after four Supreme Court judges challenged the authority of the head of the judiciary and accused him of corruption. They laid charges of favouritism and cronyism against him, causing an unprecedented power struggle at the top of the fast growing and diverse nation.
Germany
Germany is still in gridlock, without the formal creation of a new government after last year’s election failed to produce an outright winner. Merkel, the incumbent chancellor, and Martin Schultz, the leader of opposition party the SDP, are likely to enter talks to create another governing ‘grand coalition’.
United States
Images: EmojiOne, Wikimedia/Pixabay
Rumours about the democratic challenger to take on Trump in 2020 have thrown up the possibility of Oprah Winfrey running, following the Golden Globes, in an all-reality television clash for the ages. EB
Features
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16th January 2018
The new ‘role models’?
Charlotte Manning Features Writer
windows. Zoella blamed the high price point on the retailers, but Boots, who were selling the calendar, stated that the price (RRP) is set by the manufacturer, suggesting that she did have a part to play.
A new year, and with it a new bout of controversy from a famous YouTuber. This time from Logan Paul, who decided to share with his army of devoted subscribers a graphic video in which he finds the corpse of a man who committed suicide in Aokigahara forest (a sacred Japanese site at the base of mount Fuji).
“Logan Paul did something idiotic, and then shared
“This is just the
it with 16+ million
latest in a string
people”
of incidents where famous YouTubers have faced a backlash” Not to anyone’s surprise, it was received terribly. The result: many asking for him to be removed from YouTube permanently, and paving the way for many to reconsider the question of what responsibility
content creators have online. The problem is that YouTubers were normal people once, just like you and me, but then a handful got famous and started to have a much larger influence on their audience and worldwide. Logan Paul did something idiotic, and then shared it with 16+ million other people, meaning it becomes a much deeper problem than just a young person being stupid with their friends. Those with a big following online, whether they like it or
THE 2018 SEX SURVEY
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not, become role models to their audience, especially if like Paul, they have predominately young viewers. This is just the latest in a string of incidents where famous YouTubers have faced a backlash. In December, another famous YouTube star, Zoella, who is often labelled as ‘squeaky clean’ by the press, faced criticism when she released a homeware and beauty style advent calendar, retailing at £50, with many left unimpressed with the quality of the items and the fact it only had 12
It was argued, considering her audience, like Paul’s, is largely made up of viewers under 18, it was unreasonable to retail something for such a high price point, when it generally would’ve been parents forking out the cash. Three issues have become apparent from these two incidents and many others like it. The first is that YouTubers clearly have a great deal of responsibility to make sure that their content is not offensive or inappropriate to their audience and fits with the guidelines
set out by YouTube. The second is that YouTubers need to try as hard as possible not to take advantage of their loyal fanbase. Selling advent calendars for £50 when most students don’t even have £50 left in their bank account by Christmas time, was clearly a bad move. Of course, many YouTubers sell merchandise and tickets for meets and greets, but they should know that it’s hypocritical to charge extortionate prices when it’s their viewers that made them famous on a free platform in the first place. Lastly, it suggests that YouTube needs to better regulate creators content on their platform. Logan Paul’s video never should have been allowed on YouTube when the issue at hand is something so sensitive. It’s inevitable that mistakes are made by those unaware of the responsibility their popularity brings. But YouTube and its admired stars need to make more of an effort to respect their viewers and recognise the influence they hold.
Photos: (left to right)Luigi Novi, Wikimedia Commons, Youtube, Pixabay, Open
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16th January 2018
The royal weddings in retrospect
Megan Furr Beth Papworth Features Writer The soon to be wed royal couple, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry steal the limelight and the hearts of the Brixton community radio station. The pair left with an overwhelming crowd of screaming admirers shouting “we love you”. The couple, who have now made their second public appearance, were praised by the DJs and young people at radio station Reprezent. After eighteen months of dating, Meghan and Harry confirmed their wedding date will be 19 May 2018. The royal couple will tie the knot just after Kate Middleton’s due date. Kensington palace confirmed the marriage will take place at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. According to Woman’s Day, Meghan sent Kate Middleton, her future sister-in-law a rose gold diamond bracelet. The present is reported to
have come with a note asking Kate to be her bridesmaid. The previous royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton followed royal traditions, steeped in a thousand years of history. Whilst this pair undoubtedly married for love, British royal couples of the past did not always share this feeling. Sandra den Otter, an associate professor of British History at Queen’s University, said: “Primarily, marriages were for strategic reasons, usually to create alliances, sometimes with France, sometimes with Spain and often with Germany.” She added this would sometimes be to prevent another rival power from being in a position of opposition to Britain, but could also be to strengthen the power base within the country itself. Although William and Kate’s wedding had a somewhat political function, weddings are nevertheless no longer political in themselves. Another example in history that
stood out for romance and strategy was William, the Duke of Normandy and Matilda of Flanders in 1053. Historical reports suggest William was devoted to his wife, despite the fact Britain knew him as a brutal man, who conquered the country.
However, in the public’s eyes, it was not a popular marriage as the Pope excommunicated both of them due to rumours that they were distantly related. In stark contrast to this royal couple, the marriage of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon was perceived as of huge public interest. It was held at St. Paul’s Cathedral and there was an approximate estimate of half the population of London, turning up to watch them tie the knot.
George II and Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach both had a loving courtship and marriage in 1705. This is a wonderful example of a marriage being both diplomatic and resulting in life-long romance. When George II passed away in 1760, he requested to be buried alongside his wife, Carolyn. Akin to this seemingly loving marriage, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert also had a romantic attachment, tying the knot in 1840. Their love was a great spectacle in the public eye and was known to the nation. Victoria’s devastation following his death, led to an emotional collapse. However, the political gains are not widely acknowledged. She used her marriage to Albert to cement the legitimacy of the British crown. Despite not being one of the royal family’s fondest memories, Edward VIII’s abdication of the British throne in 1936 allowed him to marry the woman he cherished and loved, an American divorcee,
Wallace Simpson. This marriage could have brought down the entire monarchy. However, after marrying in 1937, Edward and Simpson became the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. It is a testament to their love that Edward sacrificed so much just to be with her.” In contrast to this loving pair, George IV and Princess Caroline of Brunswick had a disastrous marriage. George had a huge gambling debt and lived a riotous lifestyle. He was contracted to marry Caroline, but spent the majority of the wedding and the consummation of the marriage drunk. In 1796, once Caroline had given birth to Princess Charlotte, the pair parted company. It was known that George despised her and attempted to have her barred from the crown. Sadly, she died within weeks of his ascension to the throne. Whilst the British public did support her, George was seen as a lazy, gambling and womanising man.
August 26th Great Norwich Duck Race
31st August- 2nd September Sundown
November Norwich Castle’s Big Boom
1st-2nd December Strangers’ Hall Ghost Hunt
It’s weird. It’s wacky. It’s the Great Norwich Duck Race! The annual event sees thousands of wonderful rubber ducks take to the River Wensum in a battle to be crowned champion. Organised by children’s charity Break, people can sponsor one of the many ducks for £2 for the chance to win prizes. I’ve heard it’s a pretty quacking event.
Think ahead to beautiful blue skies and Sundown festival is perfect for your summer retreat. At the Royal Norfolk showground, Sundown 2017’s big-name acts included Craig David, Jaguar Skills, Wiley, Pendulum, and many more. If you’re a keen festival goer Sundown may be the festival for you with cheaper prices but quality acts.
We all know and love it, it’s the best fireworks display in Norwich. In the centre of Norwich and overlooking the proud city castle, this night is not one to miss. Free of charge and easy to watch, all you need is to wrap up warm and grab a hot chocolate while you watch the dazzling display and forget your assessment woes. You’re never too old for fireworks.
Fright Nights Cambridgeshire is coming to Norwich! Hold on tight for a spooky evening exploring one of Norwich’s most historic buildings, Strangers’ Hall. Used since the 13th century, Strangers’ Hall is a site of rich history, housing people from the mayor of Norwich to desperate asylum seekers fleeing from religious persecution.
“Their love was a great spectacle in the public eye”
Louise Lazell on the Norwich guide to 2018
April 23rd Dragon Hall Debates: Who’s afraid of populism? Something a bit different to start with – Dragon Hall are hosting a series of debates on popular and controversial topics, including conversations on the age of anxiety and gene editing. Tickets are still available for their debate on populism, following the election of Donald Trump. Join the conversation!
16th January 2018
12
Features
What’s life like for mature students? Tony Allen Features Editor
Mature students make up around 15 percent of UEA’s undergraduates, but they are regularly ignored in debates over university reform and diversity. Often with successful careers and experiences behind them, they contribute greatly to the diversity of UEA’s student body.
“nationally, numbers of mature students are showing a worrying downward trend” But nationally, numbers of mature students applying to university are showing a worrying downward trend. Defined as those who started their courses aged 21 or above, some mature students arrive at UEA having spent a few years working, deciding that the time is right for them to go to university. Others are previous graduates who want a change of career path.
Some have experienced a whole career and decided they want to do something completely different. Whatever their reasons for wanting to enter higher education later in life, UCAS reported that 11,190 over-25s applied to English universities this year, down 18 percent from 2016 – one of the largest percentage changes by demographic in a year of falling university applications across the board. Universities are trying to reverse that trend, but what can be done to encourage more mature students into higher education? Many universities offer incentives like tasters, flexible admissions policies or free and reduced childcare. An example is UEA’s 12-week part-time History Bridge Course. It doesn’t require any previous qualifications, and allows students to get a feel for what undergraduate study will be like before they apply. Taught and assessed similarly to an undergraduate unit, admission to the course is considered on a case-by-case basis. “If you have spent time away from education, for whatever reason,” they say, “the course provides an opportunity to learn some new skills in a friendly
environment with the end goal of becoming an undergraduate in the School of History.”
“The Students’ Union holds a number of events for mature students specifically” UEA says that it “welcomes students of all ages and backgrounds, and operates a flexible admissions policy which takes into account your life, work experiences and studies you have participated in the last five years. “You can study something that you really want to study. You can grow in skills, knowledge and confidence and get the job or career that you really want. You can change your life.” However, away from the marketing rhetoric, being a mature student can present a unique set of challenges. For example, many mature students have families, and a lot commute into university from elsewhere in Norfolk and Suffolk. UEA provides nursery facilities
and family-sized accommodation. However, the congested parking and public transport situation impacts mature students more than most, some of whom face significant morning commutes before their 9am lectures. The Students’ Union holds a number of events for mature students specifically. The Mature Students’ Assembly meets regularly to discuss the issues faced by mature students, with their discussions feeding back to Union Council and into SU policy. It’s part-time officer Lewis Martin’s job to represent mature students. He wrote in a blog post: “it’s my responsibility to ensure that coming to University slightly later on in life is as worthwhile and valuable an experience as coming to University straight out of school. “I work with the SU and University to identify common issues mature students may be having and make sure that our voices are heard in the student community.” It’s undoubted that the experience of mature students enriches the undergraduate community at UEA. But the concerning national trend suggests that universities need to do more to ensure that higher education continues to appeal to all ages.
Photo: Matt Nixon
Age is just a number I first met Debbie Lane in the introductory seminar to my Literature and History course in 2016. Debbie told Concrete why she had decided to enrol at UEA as a mature student and how she has found the first half of her degree. “Having spent the majority of my life involved in Motorsport, I decided after a rather messy divorce to do something totally different. Books had always been a passion and so I decided to stretch myself and enrolled on an Open University course in English Literature. “Whilst I enjoyed independent learning, I wanted more opportunities to discuss my work with fellow students. I realised that if I went to a ‘Brick’ university I would have a greater opportunity through seminars to discuss and debate, and so applied to UEA to go full time. “Overall we are treated well as mature students. From a practical point of view, the university is very understanding of the added pressures of family life that most mature students have. “On campus we make use of Scholars Bar and Vista Restaurant as places to socialise and study, which tend to be a bit quieter than all the other catering establishments.”
Hannah Evens discusses studying with dyslexia at UEA The British Dyslexia Association found 10 percent of the population suffer from dyslexia, making it the most common learning disability in the UK. Dyslexia comes in different forms and different severities depending on the person. People with dyslexia are presented with challenges on a daily basis. One person with dyslexia will have different struggles to another, and there are no definitive symptoms. Instead, there is a checklist of symptoms that each individual may have a select few of. This list includes both reading and writing slowly, having spelling difficulties and having issues with organising and planning.
“Students with dyslexia can struggle with independence” Within university life, students with dyslexia can struggle with the independence of having to organise their own time between required
the students have been having in university and also in help with their future lives.
“The DSA can provide a wide range of support”
Photo: Wokandapix, Pixabay
reading, assignments and a healthy social life. Reading can take significantly longer for a student with dyslexia, this can be because words blur or the reader loses their place regularly, or even they have to reread several times to actually understand what they read. This can become time consuming, especially with a heavy reading list. Writing essays also can be a struggle. Issues with writing essays can range from it simply taking longer to write, to misspelling
words so significantly that they are autocorrected to completely different words. It can also take longer to proofread work, and mistakes are often missed. At the start of this academic year I went to UEA Student Support to look into getting tested for dyslexia as it always had been implied through my school life that I could have it, but my school would never actually test me as I was getting high grades. The support I gained from the university was outstanding and
they were able to guide me through the process of getting tested and what support I would be given if I was diagnosed. The university provide free tuition to help students with learning disabilities, ranging from helping with reading strategies to memory and revision techniques. The tuition sessions help to put those with dyslexia and other learning difficulties on a level playing field with those without. The coping strategies help to aid with struggles
The Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is the main disability grant. It is a part of student finance which gives aid to students with learning disabilities. The DSA can provide a wide range of support, from a printer to partially paying for a laptop to providing software such as text to speech or mind map software. This support can be most beneficial to those with learning disabilities, especially software like text speech where work is read out, meaning mistakes otherwise missed will be evident as they can be heard clearly. For more information on being tested for dyslexia or any other learning disability, go to the Student Support Service page on the UEA Portal.
16th January 2018
Will Norwich lose its flavour? Chloe Howcroft Features Writer For generations passed, Colman’s table sauces have been at the heart of family meals. Mustard, mint sauce, seasonings, you name it – Colman’s has been on top of their game, experimenting to the pleasure of our taste buds for over 200 years. But after recent decisions were made to move the factory out of its decades-long Carrow site, Colman’s may no longer be able to call itself ‘of Norwich’, let alone its mustard ‘English’. 200 years of history Settled in Norwich in 1858 by Jeremiah James Colman, greatnephew of Jeremiah Colman, who founded the mustard making business over 200 years ago within the confines of Norfolk, Colman’s Mustard has held a dear part in the history of the city. Colman and his wife treated their employees like family, providing company housing and sick benefit for their employees, and even setting up a school for their employees’ children. Throughout their history, employees have usually been kept within the same families, and the business was currently going into their fifth generation of mustard growers. Ingredients had also been sourced sustainably through local farmers, thus making Colman’s a significant part of the community. Around 50 jobs at risk However, with parent company Unilever’s decision to shut the factory’s work site by the end of 2019, allegedly moving its liquid condiments to Burton upon Trent, where Marmite and Bovril are produced, and dry sauces to Germany, numerous jobs will be lost
Foodie Features
In a pickle Giorgia Rose Features writer
in Norwich. Unilever employs 113 people in Norwich, and although approximately 40 will be transferred to Burton, where around 25 jobs will also be created, this still leaves nearly 50 employees unattended to, even in the unlikely event that the Norwich staff move to Staffordshire. The decision comes after the Carrow Works’ co-owner, Britvic, which makes soft drinks such as Fruit Shoot and Robinsons squash, announced in October that they would be moving out of the shared factory, a decision which prompted Unilever’s decision to follow suit. “No shame and no compassion” Workers unions such as Unite have declared it “devastating” and “terrible” news after attempts to persuade Unilever to reassess its decision. Clive Lewis also took to Twitter, commenting on
the Conservative MP of Burton, Andrew Griffiths’ suggestion to replace the ‘of Norwich’ label on Colman’s branding to ‘Colman’s of Burton’, stating that “the Unilever consultation has barely got underway and the Tory vultures are already circling. They have no shame and no compassion.” Other tweets have speculated about the influence of Brexit, since Unilever will be moving some of its production to Germany. Seeds of hope still remain? Some functions will continue to be situated in Norwich in an endeavour to preserve the link between Norwich and Colman’s, including the mustard milling and mint processing, albeit in a new site. Nevertheless, despite such disappointing news, Colman’s will no doubt still always be a part of Norwich’s history.
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Our friends across the pond have been gassing over pickles forever, and it looks like we Brits are finally catching up. Pickles were recently named one of BBC Good Food’s top foodie trends to look out for in 2018 and it’s making more and more people aware of their potential. Pickles can be sweet, sour, salty, hot or all of the above, and all of a sudden, they’re exploding in popularity. London now has seven eateries specialising solely in this trendy veg – that’s a new one to try for every day of the week. While some people cannot get over their first grimacing experience of its bitter flavour, others can’t resist it. People are falling in love with pickles for their trendy health and digestion benefits, which is a result of the fermentation process. After soaking sliced cucumbers in a brine comprised of a combination of vinegar and a secret blend of spices, they become a nutritious and tangy snack which are full of probiotics. And while I don’t often salivate over foods associated with ‘good for your gut bacteria’, somehow, seeing them pop up all over social media is making me crave
that crunch. Admittedly, they lack in instaworthy beauty, so will struggle to compete with the likes of smashed avocados and courgetti, but it just means chefs are going to have to get creative to accommodate for its new fashionable status. Search ilovepickles.com to see all kinds of photo inspiration, ranging from stacked crinkle-cut sandwiches to complex kim-chee salads.Pickles are fat free and only fifteen calories per serving, so next time you’re peckish for a bag of salt and vinegar crisps, maybe opt for a jar of these babies instead - they pack the same flavourful, bitter punch. Also, they’re hydrating and salty, so they’re the perfect post-work-out refuel snack. In fact, next time you instinctively go to peel the gherkins out of your big mac burger, just throw the whole thing away and eat gherkins instead. (Just kidding with that one). Unfortunately, food fads are fickle (rest in peace ‘Cake Pops’, 2015-2015), so who knows how long pickles will continue to stay on top of the zeitgeist. Maybe if our very own bars at UEA jump on this opportunity, they could starts serving pickles in the style of their jalapeño poppers and I for one would not be opposed to give them a go.
Photo: Twilightmoon
The benefits of baking at university Rosie Burgoyne Features Writer Does the thought of baking a cake make you want to run away in fear? Is baking something you’ve never really considered attempting? If so, you may want to reconsider, as it turns out that baking can have surprising beneficial effects on personal well-being (not to mention the fact that you get to eat whatever you’ve made at the end of it!) It’s therapeutic: It may seem stressful at first but baking can actually be extremely relaxing, especially in terms of the physical processes involved like kneading dough, beating eggs, whipping cream, all of which can be an effective way to de-stress and take your mind off any impending deadlines! It’s sociable: Nothing brings people together quite like food whether it’s baking with a friend or sharing your bakes with other people, baking can be an extremely
rewarding experience. Plus, your friends will 100 percent love you for it if you turn up with cake! It’s creative: Even if you are not very artistic, baking and cake decorating can be a great creative outlet - sites like Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube offer plenty of inspiration and easy tutorials to help you unleash your creative side. Like the sound of all these benefits? Here are some simple baking tips to get you started: Don’t be overwhelmed by the wide choice of baking equipment available: All you really need to start off with is a large mixing bowl, wooden spoon, whisk, cutlery, measuring scales, cheap cake tins and baking trays and a rolling pin. (If you are at a push, a clean wine bottle will work almost as well for rolling out biscuits as a rolling pin if it’s all you have, but you didn’t hear that here…) Make the best out of what you’ve got: for the first years out there,
the microwave ovens in halls may not be ideal but they can actually be used for baking! Use the oven setting to preheat the microwave like you would with a conventional oven but just remember to keep a close eye on your bakes whilst they are cooking. Master the basics first: Baking doesn’t have to be daunting - ease yourself in with all in one method recipes such as victoria sponge cake or easy crowd-pleasing recipes such as brownies and chocolate chip cookies. After all, baking is all about trial and error and you can rope in your flatmates and friends as taste testers if you’re trying out something new! Bonus tip: Join Baking Society! UEA Baking Society offers a friendly and judgement-free place where you can share your baking masterpieces or disasters- we’ve all had them from rock solid biscuits, avocado cake fails to decorating disasters, you name it, we’ve been there. Baking Soc meetings take place on campus once a fortnight
on Thursday evenings, with regular baking themed socials in and around Norwich where we chat about bake off, go out for cake, drinks or whatever takes our fancy! Our first social of the semester on the 18th of January has been planned especially with any less experienced, budding bakers at UEA in mind - all you need to do is bring along something that you have baked using a packet mix!
Photos: Rosie Burgoyne
FINANCE
16th January 2018
Boom or bust?
The Finance Roundup Food
Louise Lazell Finance Writer
Next sales have soared this Christmas period by nearly 10 percent. Beating city forecasts, the unexpected rise in sales has led to higher profit forecasts for the year ahead. Analysts worried that slowing wage growth and heightened inflation would make Christmas shoppers tighten their budgets and spend less. Next total sales saw a 1.5 percent increase in the 54 days up until Christmas Eve. This outlook resulted in share price increases in rival companies such as Marks and Spencers and Debenhams. Next beat their own expectations for a fall of 0.3 percent of sales and analysts’ predictions of a 0.5 percent drop. The sales boom also jilted industry figures that had shown a sustained decline in shop footfall over the last month. However, Next’s online sales were the saviour for the festive season. Huge online success follows an extra £12m invested into their mobile website and software in the last year. The post-Christmas joy for Next follows an awful October, where warmer temperatures stunted shoppers spending on winter
After last year’s high inflation in food prices, many will be relieved to hear that the rate at which the price of food increases will be slowing down over the next 6 months, according to the Sainsbury’s boss. The previous high inflation had been caused by the fall in the value of the pound post Brexit.
5p plastic bag expansion Previously, if you wanted a plastic bag, you would only have to pay the 5p charge if the retailer had over 250 employees. This, however, is set to change as the government reveals it’s 25-year environment plan. Now almost all retailers will be required to charge for bags.
Byron Burger restaurant closures
Howard Lake, Flickr / Pixels clothing. This provoked the decision to participate in Black Friday for the first time. Chief executive, Lord Simon Wolfson expects the rise of online store spending to continue “for the foreseeable future.” The retailer says that it will marginally lift its central profit
guidance by £8m to £725m after the unexpected success of full-price sales, giving a new range of £718m to £732m. Next faces many challenges this New Year, as it did last year, such as “subdued demand driven by a decline in real income, the increase in experiential spending at the
expense of clothing and inflation in our cost prices.” The retailer expects profit to be lower next year at £705m as operational costs grow quicker than sales. However, Next said they would hand £300m of surplus money back to investors via a share buyback in 2019.
few weeks after the collapse of the Lehman Brothers bank. Although its designer said they started writing the code in 2007, it is clear to see why an idea that surpasses the middle man of a central bank at its core seemed so attractive.
“If you were a drug dealer you are better off doing it in Bitcoin" “Bitcoin will do to banks what email did to the postal industry,” proclaimed Rick Falkvinge, the founder of the Swedish Pirate Party, whose political principles focus on individuals’ privacy and personal liberty in the digital sphere. Other advocates for the currency have dubbed it “the honest currency,” emphasising the Bitcoin’s anonymity and directness. This anonymity has earned the currency a reputation of being associated to crimes like drug dealing and money laundering. An online black market site, Silk Road,
used it when arranging the selling of illegal drugs. “If you were a drug dealer, a murderer, stuff like that, you are better off doing it in Bitcoin than US dollars,” said Jamie Dimon, the CEO of the JP Morgan bank. The Bitcoin is by no means stable. In September, when JP Morgan’s Jamie Dimon described it as fraudulent and dangerous, the value of a bitcoin decreased by 10 percent. Cynics and critics of the cryptocurrency, including Dimon, say investments will eventually backfire, with mass losses. Comparisons have been made to ‘Tulip mania’, where prices for the fashionable flower reached incredulous heights before suddenly dropping, in the seventeenthcentury Dutch Republic. According to the journalist Charles Mackay, writing two centuries later, at one point a single bulb could be exchanged for a basket of goods worth 2,500 florins that would include twelve sheep, eight swine, a complete bed, and a silver drinking cup. “Everyone imagined that the passion for tulips would last forever, and that the wealthy from every part of the world would send to Holland, and pay whatever prices were asked for them,” wrote Mackay.
But in the winter of 1637, trades ran out of customers willing to pay the extortionate prices and the prices dropped. This crash is similiar to the dotcom bubble, which occurred at the end of the twentieth-century. From 1997, the number of businesses and individuals using and adapating the Internet grew by monumental amounts. However, in the first few years of the twenty-first-century this bubble collapsed. Many companies failed. Cynics of cryptocurrencies argue that Bitcon is headed for a similiar disaster. Japan, China, and Australia have started to consider regulating Bitcoin, something others may follow. Sonali Basak, writing for Bloomberg, states that whilst banks are interested in the Bitcoin hype, they have been “reluctant to jump into the largely unregulated and opaque market, in part because of concerns they could run afoul of rules, such as strict requirements for preventing money laundering.” H. Rodgin Cohen, the dean of Wall Street lawyers, believes the most sustainable plan for the currency would be to introduce a regulatory group led by the Treasury Department. Time will tell.
Following financial troubles, Byron Burgers, the gourmet burger chain, has hired KPMG to oversee their financial restructuring. Part of this restructure involves the closure of up to 20 restaurants. Fear not though, the Norwich restaurant is safe and sound.
New Look shops to close With the soaring cost of rent and stagnating sales figures, New Look is considering shutting down around 10 percent of its stores, about 60 in total. Negotiations with landlords to reduce rent in the stores that New Look are keeping are also taking place. New Look’s bond value has plummeted in the last year, dropping by 56 percent. This is another sign of the struggle that many high-street retailers have been facing recently.
Pound
hits
new
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since Brexit We all remember the dramatic fall in the value of the pound the day after the Brexit vote. Since then, however the pound has been making a slow but steady recovery, and has reached a new record high since the referendum. Nearly reaching $1.37, the surge came following announcements from Spanish and Dutch finance ministers supporting a close relationship with the UK post-Brexit.
Matt Denton
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In 2013, IT worker James Howells accidentally threw away his laptop. What would be a frustrating situation for anyone was heightened by the hard-drive’s containment of more than $100 million worth of the cryptocurrency Bitcoin. When he threw away the laptop, now buried somewhere in a vast landfill site in Newport, the Bitcoin was worth several hundred thousands. However, in recent months, the value of the currency has shot up to more than £8,000 per bitcoin. Talking about Bitcoin is en vogue again. As of February 2015, over 100,000 merchants and vendors took Bitcoin as accepted payment. Figures from the University of Cambridge suggest an estimate between three and six million individuals using Bitcoin. The identity of the designer of Bitcoin is unknown and shrouded in mystery and conspiracy theories. Using the alias of Satoshi Nakamoto, the individual or group behind the currency published a research paper outlining their digital currency system. The publication was released in October 2008, a
inflation
expected to slow
Inside the Bitcoin bubble Emily Hawkins Finance Writer
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Photo: Bitboy
16th January 2018
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Rosie Burgoyne on how to save Let’s face it, the last thing any student wants to do is have to fork out hundreds of pounds a year on rail travel just to be able to travel home from uni a few times a year. But not all is lost, as taking the time to follow these simple tips may just help to bring the cost of your rail tickets down.
Book direct
Commuter woes to continue
If possible, try to book directly from the local train company for your area’s website. For example, buying your tickets via the Greater Anglia website instead of independent sites like Trainline, may end up resulting in cheaper tickets.
Geograph, Stephen Craven
George Goldberg reports on a controversial train fare rise Train fares across the UK went up by an average of 3.4 percent in the New Year, the largest rise in rail fares for five years. The amount is slightly below July’s Retail Prices Index (RPI) of 3.6 percent which is used to set almost half of fares, including season tickets. It means an annual IpswichLondon Liverpool Street fare has increased to £6,458, up more than 2 percent, from £6,323 the previous year. The rise comes amid a series of rail strikes across the country and with fewer than half (47 percent) of passengers being satisfied with the value for money of their ticket, according to a recent survey by passenger watchdog Transport
Focus, as rail fares outpace household incomes. “This latest increase in rail fares is staggering,” said Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald. “Private rail companies continue to cash in while passengers and commuters have to cough up. The Tories should follow Labour’s example and commit to ending the scandal of train companies being run for profit rather than people.” But on average, only 3p in every pound of a train fare is kept by rail companies, according to Network Rail. The remaining 97p is largely spent on investing back into the rail network (26p), industry staff costs (25p) and the maintenance of track
and trains (22p). Government policy since 2007 has sought to shift the financial cost of the railways onto passengers and away from the taxpayer, with fares making up 71 percent (£9.6bn) of the rail industry’s income in 2015, which is up from 57 percent (£6.6bn) in 2010. Greater Anglia has current investment plans to replace their current fleet by 2020 and provide more than 32,000 extra seats on trains to London Liverpool Street during the morning rush-hour by the following year. A spokeswoman for the rail operator said: “Our average fare increase is 3.4 percent, however, we’re freezing our advance fares,
which start from just £5 and can be up to 60-70 percent lower than walkup fares.” “We need to apply this increase, as many of our costs will also increase in line with inflation.” “We have just launched a national pilot for a 26-30 railcard, offering discounted rail travel to a further population group in East Anglia.” Dubbed the ‘millennial railcard’, and available only to those who live in the East Anglia region, it provides one-third off rail fares across the country. However, it has been criticised by some for its restriction to off-peak travel, not covering season tickets and most commuter journeys.
Stock markets hit record highs
Railcards Depending on how often you travel, purchasing a railcard, such as the 16-25 railcard, could save you up to a third off train ticket prices each time you travel, which easily pays for itself after a few longer journeys or with regular use.
Be flexible If you are able to be flexible about time of day that you travel then choosing two single tickets at specified times may end up being cheaper than purchasing an off peak return. Alternatively, if you don’t mind the extra hassle, in the case of longer journeys, buying separate split tickets as opposed to one train ticket with no changes could end up saving you money.
Will Richardson Senior Reporter for Finance
Since the new year, record highs have been seen in indices across the globe. In the US the S&P 500, NASDAQ, and Dow Jones Industrial Average all reached record highs. In Europe the British FTSE 100, German Dax and French Cac 40 reached or approached record highs and in Asia Japan’s Nikkei Index reached a 26-year high. Strong economic growth across the US, EU, China, and Japan has played a significant role in boosting profit expectations for the world’s largest businesses and with forecasts suggesting that global growth is to continue sustainably into 2018 and beyond. After a busy year of mergers and acquisitions (M&A), there appears to be little sign of a slowdown. Positive trends will likely continue following Donald Trump’s US corporation tax cut from 35 percent to 21 percent, which has
Book last minute
Alex Proimos Wikimedia been well received by markets. In Deloitte’s “The state of the Deal” report on M&A in 2018 they forecast an acceleration — both in the number of deals and the size of those transactions, particularly driven by acquisitions in the tech industry. However, there is not a consensus of optimism. Some global investors are weary. For example, Jeremy Grantham, founder of GMO (an asset management company), has a strong record of predicting economic crises, including the housing bubble which caused the great recession
and the dot com bubble at the turn of the millennium. He says that the psychology of bubbles is that people pile in based on increasing profits without recognising the weak fundamental profitability of the markets. "Just recently, say the last six months, we have been showing a modest acceleration, the base camp, perhaps, for a final possible assault on the peak." If that were to happen, he predicts a market “melt-down” is around 90 percent likely. With full employment being approached in the US, UK and the
EU, central bankers are continuing to tighten monetary policy which will bring an end to historic levels of cheap credit and support for the global economy which have inflated asset prices. This is in an attempt to cool the regional economies and reduce the risk of asset bubbles. The optimism across global markets is coloured by caution, with the craze of blockchain boosting company share prices like Kodak up in excess of 100 percent overnight, there are many that are weary of overzealous investors increasing the risk of market crashes.
Willing to take a risk? Booking your tickets last minute can, in some cases, end up being much cheaper as train companies often reduce ticket prices late on in order to fill up the last reserved seats. However, there is a risk that tickets may go up in price or even sell out, so proceed with caution...
Know your rights
Now that you’ve got your tickets, know when to ask for your money back if your train is delayed for a long time. There is nothing more frustrating than wasting money on an expensive train ticket only for the train to be delayed.
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Comment
16th January 2018
To speak or not to speak? C Jo Johnson reforms or No Johnson reforms?
Concrete takes on the new Higher Education reforms in a staff vs student debate Patrick Wiseman Comment Writer This holiday, Jo implemented reforms university system that have been labelled as the biggest in 25 y e a r s . Amongst these was t h e
Johnson to the
creation of the new Office for Students – which will regulate university outcomes, chiefly, free speech. There will be measures to stop universities ‘no-platforming’ speakers with the aim to create a free speaking environment. Frankly, it’s about time. Freedom of speech is a fundamental principle of a free society, yet it has been severely under attack in years gone by, particularily in universities; the very places for open, intellectual debate. In contrast, universities seem to be full of pathetic crybabies that need to be wrapped up in cotton wool, cocooned in an artificial bubble where they’re always right, everyone else is wrong and they’ll likely throw a tantrum if they don’t get their own way. This has gotten so bad that Spiked’s annual free speech r a t i n g s in 2017 revealed
Photo: Raj Curry, Flickr
Prof. Alan Finlayson (PPL) Comment Writer The right to free speech originated as an attempt to limit the power of governments. It was about ensuring that the state couldn’t harass, imprison or shoot people for expressing their political philosophy. More recently this has developed into the argument that groups should have access to the means of expression. That’s why we have both public and private media, with the former giving everyone a shot at expressing their philosophy. But in the last few years these arguments have been taken in a different direction. People have begun to use the principle of free speech to make claims not only about what the government can and can’t do but about what anyone can and can’t do. When historians at Oxford University publicly expressed their disagreement with a colleague in Theology who argued that British colonialism was good for the colonised, they were denounced by The Daily Mail for oppressing free speech. This is free speech in an upsidedown world where, instead of
affording people protection from government, it obliges them to listen to others without criticising.
“Asking the government to come in and take over is like inviting a hungry tiger into your house” Now Jo Johnson has said that he will give a government regulatory body the power to sanction Universities if their Student Unions refuse to invite certain people to speak at public meetings. This is extraordinary. Student Unions are no more obliged to invite me, Jo Johnson or Nigel Farage to speak at their meetings than the Norwich City Supporters club. Although I’m sure the latter could benefit from me lecturing them on political theory. Similarly, the UEA SU may be daft
that 63.5 percent of universities now actively censor speech. If mob-rule becomes the default and is enabled to reign supreme on university campuses of all places, then it’s not an education you’re receiving, it’s an indoctrination.
“One can only hope that these fines get dished out fast, the more costly they are, the better.” Amongst the plans to enforce free speech are fines for those universities who fail to uphold the basic right of their students to open discussion, and no-platform speakers when cry-babies throw a temper tantrum en masse. Whether or not these reforms actually help free speech, however, rests on whether or not these sanctions are implemented properly and fairly and not just dished
out as token gestures. Should this happen, we may actually see a restoration in freedom of speech across universities; fines are bad for business, and since bad press may very well put prospective students off applying to the sanctioned university in question, it is thus in the universities’ interests to actually protect freedom of speech, and treat their students like the adults they are, not like the three-year olds some of them act like. In recent years ,student unions and campaigners have banned, or attempted to ban, a number of highprofile people from speaking at universities because of their controversial opinions. In one of the most infamous cases, feminist w r i t e r Germaine G r e e r risked be ing unable t o
give a lecture after Rachael Melhuish, women’s officer at Cardiff University, called for her to be noplatformed for her “transphobic” views. Nor are they the only ones who ban unpopular opinions; UEA SU voted to No-Platform a UKIP speaker a few years ago; King’s College London revoked a speaking invitation to the then-Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, after he made inappropriate remarks about President Barack Obama’s ancestry. With the sheer scale of the attack on free speech in universities, one can only hope that these fines get dished out fast, and the more costly they are, the better. Newsflash: unpopular opinions are still free speech, and you don’t have a right not to be offended. G e t over it!
Photo: Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Flickr
not to invite certain speakers, but that should be decided by members of the Union. Asking the government to come in and take over is like inviting a hungry tiger into your house to get rid of a troublesome mouse. It certainly will get rid of the mouse. But it will be the appetiser. It’s you that will be the main course. This confusion about free speech is being ruthlessly exploited for political gain, chiefly by the ‘alt-right’. They believe that some kinds of people are naturally suited to rule over others but know that this is a tough sell. So they try and turn people’s belief in equality against them. Rather than defend what they have to say, alt-righters provoke people into complaining about them and then demand their right to free speech. The sympathy this generates has allowed the altright to mobilise against liberal and democratic politics and the principle of free speech has been debased. It has mutated from the right of people to openly debate their collective interests to the right of individuals to
shout obscenities at women that don’t agree with them (and to have the government force them to listen).
“This confusion about free speech is being ruthlessly exploited” Now the mainstream of politics has followed suit. It is exploiting the principle of free speech for selfinterested and tactical reasons. Jo Johnson is using the measures to raise his profile, but to also push through changes some in his Party have wanted for a long time but been unable to complete. Johnson is using the free speech issue as a way of justifying (while distracting from) the main course. The “Office for Students”, in
undermining the unique status of Universities, will make it easier for commercial and forprofit providers to be given degreeawarding powers. You might or might not think that’s a great idea. But it’s certainly the sort of profound change in the organisation of our collective affairs that we ought to be using our free speech to debate and discuss.
Photo: Gage Skidmore, Flickr
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16th January 2018
Comment talks free speech
An Officer to end hate crime? Student views Johanne Elster Hanson Comment Writer Over the last few years, Universities such as Swansea, Central Lancashire and Sheffield have launched initiatives to combat hate crimes, and the University of Manchester and the University of Essex have joined forces with local police for the same reason. After witnessing a spike in the number of hate crime reports following the EU referendum, UEA issued a press release where it, together with Norfolk Police, pledged zero tolerance for what Vice-Chancellor David Richardson called “any form of hatred.” Leeds University is currently searching for five ‘Hate Crime Support Student Ambassadors’. The position, advertised on their website, is said to offer great opportunities for students who wish to “make a difference to the lives of our students” and help them create new university policies and a “sustainable legacy.” The responsibilities of these ambassadors will include networking with relevant organisations, helping to put in place an online reporting system and create an awareness of hate crime and the already existing ways of reporting it. True Vision, a national police scheme supporting victims of hate crime, defines this as a crime “targeted at a person because of hostility or prejudice,” and may include “verbal abuse, physical assault, domestic abuse,
harassment and damage to property.” As the current systems of reporting this have shown to be dysfunctional, recently culminating with the ‘#MeToo’ campaign, the recruitment of the ‘Hate Crime Support Student Ambassadors’ at Leeds University may help to rectify this. However, violent crime is a job for the police, and Leeds University is placing a lot of responsibility on its Hate Crime Support Student Ambassadors when it comes to reporting this. While a violent crime is inexcusable, the recent trend at university campuses of no-platforming speakers and academics that are said to promote hate speech has led to murky definitions of what constitutes verbal abuse. When reporting, Leeds University Union’s Ambassador will have to tread that fine line between endorsing the free exchange of ideas and opinions while also protecting its students from bullying, harassment or cruel behaviour. This level of nuance is shown in Leeds University’s own ‘Freedom of Expression’ protocol, which for example allows criticism of the state of Israel, as long as this critique is expressed in such a form that cannot “be taken to be anti-semitic.” This is the distinction that the Hate Crime Support Student Ambassadors must be able to make. They will have to differentiate between the utterances that target individuals, and those that target a belief, policy or institution.
“Free speech should be upheld for those who uphold free speech, for those who don’t, it should be restricted.” “Limitations should not be capped on the freedom for individuals to express ourselves.” “UEA SU is implicitly censorious.” “We are lucky enough to live in a country where we can say what we want.” Photos: Bill Kerr, Flickr, Piotr VaGla Waglowski, Wikimedia
A duty to Prevent terror? Harry Routley Comment Writer Universities have always had a unique duty among public institutions to safeguard freedom of speech with open debate in order to help university communities flourish and evolve. However, as terrorist atrocities continue to be committed, the public’s attention will inevitably turn to the arenas where radical and moderate ideas can be found in abundanceBritish universities. In order to address the risk of university level radicalisation, the government’s anti-terror initiative ‘Prevent’ has established a visible presence in an increasing number of British universities. For example, at York University, the Islamic Society was asked to turn over a list of committee members to a Prevent officer. At King’s College London, students wishing to log in to their emails are now greeted by a warning that their communication can be monitored and recorded at the university’s discretion. As much as this is not an ideal situation for either institution, is there really an alternative? If they refused to comply with Prevent officers and a student was caught planning a terrorist attack, then the media backlash would be incalculable. While any intrusion into free thought is never welcomed, the previous examples don’t seem to be overly egregious. Perhaps the real issue with Prevent in universities is one of
image, rather than reality. Many students will be familiar with the quickly dropped plans to install CCTV outside mosques or the stories of primary school students being reported for playing Angry Birds. The earlier stages of the program were marred by overzealous politicians attempting to do whatever it takes to get results while completely ignoring the impact on minority communities.
“The early stages of the program were marred by overzelous politicians” However, now that these ‘teething problems’ have been worked through, Prevent stands out among world terror initiatives with thousands of at risk individuals having been reported before they could be approached by radial elements. What may end up making Prevent more bearable for university students is the new approach of countering radicalism across the social spectrum, rather than just Islamic Extremism. With extreme nationalist referrals now consisting almost a third of the total that Prevent receives, the initiative may finally be able to shed its ugly image and become accepted, if not held in especially high regard, by university students.
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16th January 2018
Science
2
Final stop in Norwich for Dippy
Aridification fears increase Orla Knox-Macaulay Science Writer In the past century we have increasingly familiarised ourselves with the concept of global warming, but have not entertained the reality of it. However, the world is now in danger of becoming one quarter arid.
“Aridification threatens agriculture, water quality and biodiversity”
With a global mean temperature rise of two degrees above pre-industrial temperature levels, experts suggest that many regions are confronted with impending aridity. Thus, they are becoming more vulnerable and exposed to natural disasters, like droughts and wildfires. Aridity is a measure of the dryness of the land surface, which
Photo: Alexander Husling, Wikimedia Beth Papworth Science Editor The famous Diplodocus has started its long journey back to Britain for a three year UK tour, after spending his last day at the Natural History Museum in Canada. The much loved dinosaur will be making its last stop in Norwich Cathedral. Dean of Norwich Cathedral, Jane Hedges, said: “The presence of Dippy in Norwich will naturally bring people from all backgrounds and beliefs and will stimulate questions and debate about creations and the origins of life as well as some of the major issues facing humanity today.”
Standing in Hintze Hall since 1979, the dinosaur plaster cast replica is 70ft and consist of 292 bones. The conservation team have spent over three weeks working with engineers to take the skeleton cast apart. Scaffolding and special lifting equipment were used to carefully remove each bone, which were then inspected, labelled and cleaned. The company chosen to execute this challenging engineering transformation is based in Canada, where he was shipped to in 13 custom-designed crates. Museum Head of Conservation, Lorraine Cornish, said: “We knew Dippy would be in safe hands. The company chosen to carry out the work had previously worked on the
Berlin Diplodocus skeleton, as well as our own blue whale skeleton.” She further commented, “Some of the bigger vertebrae needed extra resin to strengthen them, and metal rods were added to some ribs to protect them from damage.” Arriving in the UK at the beginning of January, it will take eight days to install the skeleton to the new venue. Nick Bond, head of tourism for Visit Norwich, said Dippy’s visit will create a big boost for the area. The dinosaur will be available for public viewing from 10 February until 8 May 2018. Dippy’s famous spot in the Canadian museum will be replaced by the real skeleton of an 83ft female blue whale, weighing 4.5 tonnes.
Apple affected by Meltdown and Spectre flaw Caitlin Vance Science Writer Spectre and Meltdown are flaws which compromise a mechanism in microprocessors manufactured by companies such as Intel. Microprocessors are fundamental technology in modern computers, smartphones and tablets as they allow quick processing capabilities. Therefore, a flaw, such as Spectre or Meltdown, can slow a device by up to 50 percent and creates a vulnerability in security which hackers could exploit. The flaw itself was unprecedented, with more attention shed on the problem since Apple warned their products were affected
alongside fellow tech companies devices and operating systems.” like Microsoft. They have reassured that The US tech giant has an customers are not currently being outstanding reputation exploited and encouraged regarding their security all users to only download since their operating software from trusted system is less penetrable sources. and hackable than other An update with systems, like Windows. security fixes has already In a statement been released for users released by Apple, the to install and protect company confirmed that themselves. iPhones, iPads and Mac The National computers have all been Cyber Security Centre affected, while the Apple also “advises that all Watch is not affected by organisations and home Spectre. Apple stated users continue to protect that the security issues their systems from threats “apply to all modern by installing patches, processors and affect as soon as they become nearly all computing available.” Photo: Pixabay
can be calculated by combining predictions of precipitation and evaporation to formulate the aridity index (AI). As most of the rural poor live in areas bound up in agricultural and natural resource based incomes, the threat of aridification is one that threatens their very livelihoods, and lives. Chang-Eui Park, the first author from the Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen China, said: “Aridification is a serious threat because it can critically impact areas such as agriculture, water quality, and biodiversity.” Aridity is not only hitting those in rural poverty, but locations like California and regions in Australia are susceptible to wildfires, which deplete natural resources, ecosystem-services and biodiversity. Manoj Joshi, a co-author of the study from the University of East Anglia (UEA), said: “Our research predicts that aridification would emerge over about 20 to 30 percent of the world’s land surface by the time the global mean temperature change reaches 2C.“ Limiting global warming to under 1.5C would avoid extreme changes for two-thirds of these case areas.
Warm waters cause coral bleaching Despite covering than 0.1 A Californian man less intends to percent of the ocean floor, coral prove theorymajor that the Earth reefshis provide ecosystem A new study, which was published benefits. is flat by launching in Science, examined 100 coral reefs himself 1,800 “The frequency around the globe.feet high on SatIt found that the frequency urday in a home-built rocket. Hannah Brown Science Writer
of coral bleaching events has dramatically increased in recent decades”
of coral bleaching events has dramatically increased in recent Mike decades.Hughes, a 61-year-old Thedriver, study claims found that that his mass limo 500 coral bleaching events took place approximately every 25-30 years in the early 1980s. This contrasts with the curent occurence of once every six years. Coral now mph flight reefs throughare the Mojave transitioning into an era where desert is the beginning of his Reefs support a third of marine the interval between bleaching events is toospace short for full reef biodiversity, the spawning flat-Earth programme, sponsored act by asResearch Flat recovery. ground for many economically Earth. Cuba and Guam have important fish species and offer experienced four severe bleaching vital coastal protection through events since 2005 alone. Coral H buffering shorelines against waves bleaching is caused by anomalous and storms. ughes isofdetermined miles author, above the Earth warming reef waters. to launch himself Leading Professor Warming results in the coral Hughes of Australia’s Centre and capture photographic evidence revealing that the Earth of is expelling the crucial microscopic Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, flat. He stated at a fundraising interview with a flat-Earth symbiotic algae, which provides said: “Our stark results will help much of the coral’s nutrients. spur on the stronger action needed If warming conditions are not to reduce greenhouse gases in reversed within a relatively short Australia, the United time frame, bleaching can lead to States and elsewhere.” coral fatality.
Photo: Veernavya, vecteezy
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16th January 2018
NASA confirm ozone hole has shrunk NHS will launch artificial Sylvie Tan Science Writer In the 1970s scientists noted significant stratospheric ozone loss above Antarctica, but dismissed the concern with the conclusion that it was just an uncertainty. It was only in the mid-1980s that scientists took the ever-growing ozone hole as a serious problem for climate change. The ozone layer is extremely important for the Earth’s climate processes as it not only keeps the Earth’s surface warm and habitable, but also protects humans from direct contact with the Sun’s ultraviolet radiation. This prevents humans from growing skin cancer, cataracts and suppressing immune systems. Despite the need of sunlight for photosynthesis, plant life is also damaged by intense ultraviolet radiation. Thus, the ozone layer plays a major role in absorbing ultraviolet radiation to decrease the amount of ultraviolet radiation reaching the Earth’s surface. Man-made
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) used in refrigerators, aerosols, airconditioning and packing materials
are the root cause behind ozone destruction. The CFCs rise into the stratosphere where the Sun’s ultraviolet radiation photolyses the CFCs, releasing chlorine atoms that react with the ozone molecules and destroy them. NASA scientist, Anne Douglass
said, “CFCs have lifetimes from 50 to 100 years, and so they linger in the atmosphere for a very long time.” Without a doubt, the accumulation of CFCs creates a large reservoir of chlorine in the atmosphere, which increases the growth of the ozone hole. Just recently, NASA has confirmed that the ozone hole is healing and in fact shrinking. Susan Strahan, scientist from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centre in Greenbelt, Maryland said: “We see very clearly that chlorine from CFCs is going down in the ozone hole, and that less ozone depletion is occurring because of it.” This may possibly be the long-awaited outcome of the Montreal Protocol in 1987 where all participating countries agreed to phase out CFCs in their respective countries. The ozone hole is expected to gradually decrease over the next few decades, giving humanity hope in saving our planet. Anne Douglass said: “As far as the ozone hole being gone, we’re looking at 2060 or 2080. And even then there might still be a small hole.” Flickr, NASA Goddard Photo
Massive stars observed in neigbouring galaxy
intelligence for heart disease
Photo: Pixabay, estableman Alex Millard Senior Science Reporter A new artificial intelligence technology has been developed at the John Radcliff Hospital in Oxford that will be able to scan patients for heart and lung diseases. The technology will be available for free throughout NHS hospitals across the country, starting in summer 2018. The hope is that this technology will be able to pick up on signs of heart disease or lung cancer much earlier than doctors are currently able to. It means that the pathology services used to diagnose these conditions are currently costing the NHS £2.2 billion a year. Geneticist, Sir John Bell states the cost may be reduced by 50 percent and “could be the thing that saves the NHS.” Cardiologists currently diagnose heart diseases by monitoring the heartbeat in scans such as ECGs but it is well known these are not always accurate. Professor Paul Leeson, a
Oceans suffocate as dead zones quadruple Amy Atkinson Science Writer
Photo: R. O’Connell, NASA, Wikimedia Hannah Brown Science Writer Massive stars have been observed in a neighbouring galaxy, where they were once thought to be rare. The galaxy 30 Doradus, or Tarantula nebula, contains nearly 1000 massive stars which were viewed through ESO’s Very Large Telescope. Massive stars are of particular scientific interest due to the ‘feedback’, or influence, they have on their surroundings. Additionally, when the stars die they can cause spectacular supernovae as well as black holes and neutron stars. Stars are enormous balls of gas, mostly made of hydrogen and helium. Stars also produce most elements heavier than helium, which means that stars have formed
both the iron in our blood and the oxygen we breathe.
“Stars are created when the ball of dust grows so big that its gravity collapses” Created from balls of dust called ‘nebulae’, a star’s life begins when the ball of dust grows so big that its gravity collapses in on itself and triggers a fusion of hydrogen within the core. If the cloud of dust is large enough, it will create a massive star like the ones discovered in 30 Doradus. In star-forming regions,
the estimated amount of “massive stars”, which by definition are stars that are at least ten times the mass of the sun, was one percent, but in 30 Doradus an estimated third of all the stars are massive. This raises questions about the amount of massive stars to be discovered in other galaxies. Professor Fabien Schneider, an astronomer at the University of Oxford, said: “These massive stars are beasts. They are extremely bright, a 100 solar mass star produces something like a million times the radiation or luminosity of our Sun. Our results have farreaching consequences for the understanding of our cosmos,” he added. This discovery will hopefully help us to understand how our own universe was created, and it will certainly help our understanding of the universe as a whole.
cardiologist that worked on the system stated, ‘‘[as cardiologists] we accept that we don’t always get it right.” Things like having an irregular heartbeat can show up on these scans as though you are having a heart attack. The new AI system will be able to pick up on details that doctors cannot see themselves. The Chairman of the NHS, Professor Sir Malcom Grant has said that ‘‘artificial intelligence will bring patients a greater quality of care by diagnosing medical conditions and personalising treatment.” Grant also acknowledges that the subject of AI is ‘’fraught with ethical issues.” Issues include whether NHS staff working in cardiology or pathology may be replaced by artificial intelligence and the large problems that could be caused if anything went wrong with the machines. However, Grant has also said that it would be ‘daft’ for us not to take advantage of such an accurate technology that can outperform its human counterparts.
Scientists are issuing serious warnings about the exponential growth of ocean ‘dead zones’, known as areas of water with low to no oxygen, which are caused by human pollutants. According to the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), they “deplete the oxygen required to support most marine life in bottom and nearbottom water.”
“Almost all aquatic life cannot survive in such dead zones” Such zones with absolutely no oxygen have quadrupled since 1950, and dead-zones with low oxygen, content near to the coast have multiplied almost tenfold. However, almost all aquatic life cannot survive in such dead zones. If this rate of de-oxygenation continues, scientists predict that the resulting mass-extinctions could
be catastrophic for the millions of people that rely on such ecosystems for nutrition, and those who otherwise rely on the sea for their livelihood. The oceans provide a primary food source for over 500 million people, and jobs for 350 million more. Undoubtedly, global warming is a major factor in the catastrophic growth of these oxygen-starved areas. Warmer waters hold less oxygen, so the climate change caused by the burning of fossil fuels creates bodies of water much less suitable to life. Although dead zones can occur naturally, they primarily appear near areas where heavy industrial and agricultural activity spill nutrients and pollutants into the water. The campaign group Mighty Earth recently exposed such an example in the Gulf of Mexico, where an extremely large dead zone (8,500 square miles) has been linked to a local large-scale meat producer. Lucia von Reusner, the Campaign Manager said: “These dead zones will continue to expand unless the major meat companies start cleaning up their supply chains to keep pollution out of our waters.” Luckily, ocean dead-zones are reversible. If their causes are eliminated, waters may return to their natural oxygen level.
Travel
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16th January 2018
Photo: Beverly Deviakshen
Beverly Devakishen recounts a winter roadtrip My family and I travelled around the UK for two weeks and covered a total of eight cities- London, Nottingham, York, Whitby, Edinburgh, Lake District, Bath, Canterbury and Norwich. It was an incredible trip, especially since we’re from Singapore and had never been to any of these places before. The main goal for us was to see as much of the UK as possible while all four of us were there, so there were certain cities we had less time in than others. I learnt that if you’re planning to take a road trip around any country, you should probably maximise your time in each city. We explored the city for most part of the day before we checked into our Airbnb accomodation in the evening, so we wouldn’t waste any
time trying to settle into our rooms that we could be spending outside instead.
Sean Bennett Travel Writer
opulence of an empire’s nobility is evident in every square centimetre of every surface, as ornate wooden floors give way to intricately painted walls, as they in turn give way to golden ceilings with glistening chandeliers. Deeper into the city, the central first district offers up the empire’s greatest jewels. Great
"Daylight was precious, so we learnt to rush around each city during the day and rest during the night" Daylight was precious, especially because we were there
in the winter, so we learnt to rush around each city during the day and rest during the night. In Edinburgh, we even woke up at 8am just to explore the forest around our accomodation! It was worth it too, as we got to immerse ourself in nature and see some trees that Mary Queen of Scots once planted. We did have to prioritise what we wanted to do, and we accepted that we would not be able to do everything. It helped that we had thought about which attractions would interest us the most as a family. For example, I wanted to visit Hadrian’s Wall because I am a huge fan of Roman history, but we had to skip that because according to my brother and father, it was “just a wall”.
Instead, we got to spend more time at Bath, which all of us ended up enjoying anyway. Setting off really early in the morning is something we got used to. We left the Lake District at 7 in the morning to drive to Bath, and it turned out to be a pretty pleasant drive because of the beautiful views we got to witness from the car. Coming from a country that’s filled with modern buildings, my family was constantly delighted to find themselves surrounded by fields and meadows. Travelling from one place to another wasn’t such a pain when we got to stare out of the window at the scenery. Eventually we’d fall asleep, and my father was the only one who had to stay awake the entire time. One good tip
for whoever’s driving the car is to make sure you always have snacks near you to keep you awake and energetic. Food will be there for you when your sleepy family isn’t. Because we were doing a road trip to so many places, we only stayed in one city for a maximum of two nights. This suited us just fine, but we had to learn to pack in a way that allowed us to get up and leave quickly. We never unpacked our suitcases until we got to Norwich, where everyone reorganised their luggage in my house. The sense of impermanence was heightened and that added to the thrill of the whole trip. It was just one adventure after another; we were constantly on the move, always ready to dive into the culture of the next city.
architecture, from museums to schools, hotels to government houses, the buildings of old have been seamlessly incorporated into use in the present day. Yet perhaps Vienna’s greatest offering can be found at its very heart, detached from memories of empire by a holier heritage. The cathedral of St. Stephan sits in the very centre of Vienna, rising high above the surrounding rooftops and visible for miles around. When lost in Vienna, head for Stephansdom. Completed in 1160, the vast edifice of gothic architecture looms far larger than one’s field of vision, its vast, multicoloured and fantastically intricate mosaic roof drawing the eye from every angle. And on the final evening of the year, the square of St. Stephan bursts into life. New Years Eve in Vienna is quite the experience, to say the least. With grand Christmas light chandeliers, at least two metres tall, still swaying
gently above the main streets, the former market huts repurpose themselves to sell gluhwein (mulled wine) and a host of other tipples to keep the revellers warm as the New Year draws in. Stages are set up across the central districts, carving a path through the city – Silvesterpfad, the New Year's Eve Trail of Vienna. During the day, the stages host the occasional performance, deliver regular lessons in the Viennese Waltz for the uninitiated and in general begin to whip up excitement for the evening’s festivities. Come dusk, the city erupts. Every stage has a full set list, each with its own theme. One boasts old favourites from before the millennium, another as much Austrian pop as you could ever hope to hear. One such stage sits in the shadow of the Stephansdom, hugging close to the cathedral; deafening music ricocheting off its ancient walls. The square around the church fills as the
night progresses, until at midnight it seems all of the Vienna has found its way there. Though the throngs may be exhilarating for some, one of the most wondrous events of New Year's Eve in Vienna can only be seen where there is space to dance. At the stroke of midnight, every speaker on every stage and hut in the city begins to play, in perfect unison, the music of Vienna itself – Johann Strauss II’s ‘The Blue Danube’. As beautiful ¾ time fills every corner of the city centre, and the sky lights up with fireworks, the people begin to dance. On every street, without care for where or who, thousands of people waltz their way into the New Year with grace and style, gliding over the cobbled streets of Vienna as the city transforms itself, for just a few moments, into the grandest of all ballrooms. It is truly the most wondrous of sights, and the most lasting of experiences.
Vienna waits for you As you wander through the streets of Vienna, surrounded on all sides by Austro-Hungarian colonial architecture, you can feel the grandeur of the city’s history envelop you as it makes itself known at every turn. From the lavish hallways in your average apartment building, to the grand mansions and palaces scattered across the entire city, Vienna will not let you forget what it once was. The former summer residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy, The Belvedere palaces and their considerable gardens sit in Vienna’s stunning third district. The two palaces sit facing each other across the peaceful expanse of their beautiful gardens, beset with statues and reflection pools across their length and breadth. Inside, the inevitable
clearings are flanked on every side by astounding
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16th January 2018
Dublin down on the perfect weekend getaway Photo: Pixabay
amazing panoramic views of the city, while having a pint. Even the Queen has visited. Although it is a bit pricy on a student budget, it is a really good experience. The Irish Whisky museum similarly offers a great drink-centred experience. It goes without saying, there are a myriad of amazing pubs, many
of which also offer live traditional music, dotted around Dublin. Temple Bar in particular has a high density of pubs and there are loads of entertaining pub crawls on offer, if that’s your kind of thing. Temple Bar is also home to other great finds such as the Irish Film Institute and Food Market.
Luckily, Dublin has loads of hostels and there are a large number of reasonably priced ones. Even though some aspects of Dublin can be expensive, a well-planned trip can make a weekend affordable on a budget; you can cater the trip to whatever you enjoy and it is compact enough to explore easily.
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In the new year, weekend getaways are perfect for term time. A short hop by plane, Ireland has invested much in its cultural identity, represented within the microcosm of its capital city, Dublin. Dublin offers a wide array of attractions to suit almost everyone. And of course, drinking. One aspect of Dublin worth exploring is the rich nationalist history. With the centenary of the Easter Rising occurring two years ago, Dublin is proud of its struggle for independence, which saw the rise of prominent national figures such as Michael Collins. The best way of accessing the most information is through various relatively inexpensive walking tours, giving an overview of the main features of Irish History. Walking tours are great for experiencing the events of the Easter Rising, following the movements of the insurgents from the General Post Office around the city. Experiencing the incredible Irish History is also on show at Kilmainham Gaol, where famous nationalist leaders were kept, and the nicely refurbished
Glasnevin Cemetery (it’s much more interesting than it sounds!) is only a short journey outside the city by bus, using a handy leapfrog card. Dublin also has an amazing literary history, being named a UNESCO city of literature in 2010. Writers such as George Bernard Shaw and Oscar Wilde were all from the city and James Joyce also set many of his novels in the city. Trinity College is free to wander around, also offering tours, and is home to a national treasure, the ‘Book of Kells’. If you’re not interested in the historic side of Dublin, Croke Park, the home of the Gaelic Athletic Association, is great for experiencing the traditional Irish sports such as Gaelic football and Hurling. Tours around the stadium and the museum are well worth the time, and the Ericsson skyline offers an amazing panoramic view of Dublin. Dublin Zoo is also worth a visit and can be accessed by the bus and has a wide variety of animals. Of course, one large part of the Irish culture is drinking. The Guinness storehouse, for example, is described as a ‘multisensory tasting experience’ and the gravity bar located at the brewery offers
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Megan Furr Travel Writer
Photo: Beverly Deviakshen
16th January 2018
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Sport
Football’s new tech: so VAR, so good?
People are divided over Video Assistant Refereeing, as it begins to be fazed into football
Jack Ashton Sport Reporter In the first, Chelsea were 1-0 down as Eden Hazard surged into the box, only to be ‘fouled’ by Hector Bellerin. The resulting penalty, which Hazard converted, led to Chelsea coming back into the game, and consequentially gaining a point. Footage of the alleged foul showed it to be weak at best, but nevertheless it was given. No Video Refereeing Assistant was available. In the second, the score was 0-0 in the first leg of a closely fought cup tie. Chelsea’s Cesc Fabregas charged into the box, similar to Hazard, and Arsenal’s Danny Welbeck brought him down. Antonio Conte’s animated shrieks on the sideline for the foul to be video reviewed were granted, and the referee deemed it to not be a foul- which it wasn’t. Thanks to the VAR, the result stayed as it should have. That’s all that it means- “the result stayed as it should have.”
Gone are the post-match interviews of Harry Redknapp lamenting how “you win sum ya lose sum y’know, thats just the game,” and gone are the playground scuffles in which Dan, six, Arsenal fan, thinks Granit Xhaka’s two footed drop kick in the box was a “harsh decision,” the VRA is providing clarity to the game. Every football fan will be able to pinpoint a moment in their team’s history which they were wrongly done by. As a Chelsea supporter, I’m thinking of that semi-final against Barcelona in which about six handballs happened, and Michael Ballack nearly murdered a referee with his banshee scream, and as an England fan, I’m thinking of that World Cup game against Germany in which Matthew Upton scored with his face, and Frank Lampard scored, but didn’t. Goal line technology could sort that out now, and VRA will sort out similar incidents in the future. There have been concerns that it would slow the game
down unnecessarily, breaking up momentum and giving teams a time to regroup. However, the International Football Association Board (who implemented the measure) have clearly stated that it is to be used “to correct clear errors and for missed serious incidents,” meaning penalties, red cards, and goals. These incidents don’t happen too frequently, especially not contentious ones. The average stop time as a result of the VRA is two and a half minutes. Two and a half minutes won’t kill a game, but it will stop teams being unfairly killed off.
“There have been concerns that it would slow the game down” VRA is regulated, effective, and long overdue, and with it, English football takes another step towards modernisation.
Photo:Wikimedia,Steindydy
Norwich hold Premier League Champions Comeback for Norwich boxer Beth Papworth Sport Reporter After numerous expert diagnosis from multiple specialists, and detailed examination of Nathan Dale’s CT scan, the former IBF World Youth Welterweight boxing champion has announced the all clear from his recent hand injury.
Photo: Simon Brown Jack Ashton Sport Reporter Norwich City managed to earn themselves a third round replay in the FA Cup when they held Chelsea to a 0-0 draw, in what can only be described as a lacklustre game. Chelsea made nine changes from their midweek draw with Arsenal, including the return of David Luiz and starts for Caballero, Kenedy and Batshuayi. Fortunately for the Canaries, this new Chelsea side looked like they had other places to be and were on poor form against a spirited Norwich. But spirit was not enough for Norwich to capitalise on poor opponents, leaving them looking particularly blunt toothed. The Canaries have averaged a measly one goal per game in the Championship this season, Chelsea are just short of double that, and you could really tell when Norwich failed to worry Cabellero to any notable degree. Murphy, Pritchard and Maddison all tried to get past the Chelsea back line, however the closest they came to doing so was
with Murphy’s volley being struck wide. Maddison in particular seemed lively, with his quick feet on the ball often opening up some much needed space and energy into the game- drawing a foul and a yellow card from David Luiz. He is sure to be a target for other clubs this transfer window.
“The Canaries have averaged a measly one goal per game in the Championship this season” At the other end, the visitors also failed to test Gunn, who stood firm all game despite having little to do. The closest the Blues came was David Luiz’s trademark freekick being struck just over the bar in the second half, and David Zappacosta’s volley falling just wide late in the game. Chelsea’s late substitutions provided promise, with Conte bringing on star striker Alvaro
Morata as well as youngsters Musonda and Sterling, who combined well to trouble the Norwich defence, but to no avail. Norwich will consider the result a good one, with Daniel Farke saying that it “was pretty close to a celebrating day,” and after facing criticism for his tough training program and a bleak set of November results, he will be pleased that his side have improved, picking up a couple wins in December and earning this valuable replay. Farke commented after the game saying, “I’m a bit disappointed it was not a win for us. We had an outstanding game and in the first half we dominated,” adding that “A replay is a good thing for the club. Maybe it doesn’t help us win the league but I’m a big believer in the Cup.” This point of view will have a mixed reception from Antonio Conte, who is facing a tough fixture list of eight games in January. Norwich’s next game is at Bristol City, who are currently 4th in the Championship but have failed to pick up a point from their last two. They will then travel to London to face Chelsea again on the 17th.
“Dale’s injury persisted, leaving the 26 year old reserved to the side-lines” Despite beating Nathan Hardy in his last bout at the Epic Studios in Norwich last year, Dale’s injury persisted, leaving the 26 year old reserved to the side-lines. T h e boxer stressed the support he received from his friends and family, who helped him through this tough period. Dale commented: “The last few months have been difficult, and have tested my mental strength.” The boxer now looks as though he has made it through the injury and is now focused on looking
ahead. Keen to put the past few months behind him, Dale has high hopes for what 2018 can bring.
“The last few months have been difficult” Dale tweeted: “New year, new goals. I certainly haven’t been sitting around watching daytime TV.” Promoter Ervyn Turner said, “Nathan now needs a couple of fights to get any ring rust out of his system.” During his time out, the Norwich born athlete kept to his strict fitness, diet and exercise regime, this he hopes will help him achieve his goal of winning back the lightweight belt. The boxer said “I have maintained my high level of fitness for which I am known, kept to my strict healthy lifestyle and maintained control of my nutritional intake.” With Dale seemingly past the hand injury for now, he is targetting the sort of form he was showing pre injury. Dale added: “I am in a very good position to get straight back into the gym and to work.” “I intend to get back in the ring as soon as I can and work my way back to where I was – challenging for and winning those lightweight belts.” Photo: Pixabay
16th January 2018
23
Andy Murray down-under-and-out
With the Australia Open under way, both Andy Murray and Serena Williams won’t be featuring this month after competing in an exhibition match in Abu Dhabi in December. Williams, who won last year’s Australian Open, commented “I can compete, but I don’t want to just compete, I want to do far better than that and to do so, I will need a little more time.” This is the first time since 2011 that Williams has missed the tournament. Craig Tiley has recently been in contact with the 23 time Grand Slam winner and reported that, “she has transcended the sport in the way she approaches all aspects of her life. It was never going to be good enough for her to just compete.”
Beth Papworth Sport Reporter Sir Andy Murray’s hip injury has caused him to drop out of the Australian Open, leading to the tennis player slipping to 16th in the world rankings. The Scotsman has reached the final of the tournament five times throughout his career, but a persistent injury has meant he has been unable to play competitively since last year’s Wimbledon.
“He has been unable to play
“This is the first
competitively since last year’s Wimbledon” Murray said, “Sadly I won’t be playing in Melbourne this year, as I am not yet ready to compete.” Murray will return to London and assess all of his options. In an emotionally fuelled social media post this week, he explained how disheartening it is to be short of fitness, despite six months of gruelling rehabilitation. He emphasised his initial desire to avoid surgery, but that now it was something he may have to consider. Australian Open tournament
time since 2011 that Photo: Wikipedia , Paul Whitehouse
director, Craig Tiley said, “We are fully aware that Andy has been going through a difficult period with his hip and that he’s done everything possible to prepare for the Australian summer.” Tiley added, “Personally, I also know that Andy loves tennis and would do anything to play. This is a very hard decision for Andy and we totally respect it.” World Number One not too long ago, Murray has dropped down the rankings since his Wimbledon Quarter Final loss to America’s
Sam Querrey. This was not the first competition Murray has attempted to return to, the same injury forced the Scotsman to pull out of the US Open two days before the Grand Slam started in August. The British Number One, who had his services to tennis and charity recognised in 2017’s New Year’s Honours list where he was knighted, had hoped that an exhibition fixture against Roberto Bautista would help in his return to fitness. Despite losing the one-set match played just before last year’s close, it appeared
that Murray was on the road to recovery and would be making his return in the Brisbane International tournament. However just 48 hours before he was scheduled to face American Ryan Harrison, the Scot announced his withdrawal. Another household name who was forced to drop out of this month’s Australia Open in Melbourne was Serena Williams. Having only given birth to her first child Alexis Olympia in September, it appeared that the 36 year old may have been set to make her Grand Slam return
Williams has missed the tournament” Whilst both Murray and Williams will be absent from this year’s Australia Open, there is no doubting that both will be determined to come back even stronger and look to return to winning ways after having fully recovered from their respective interludes.
New parkrun at Colney Lane Sophie Christian Sport Editor
Optiknv, Wikimedia A third parkrun for students and families has arrived at Colney Lane, giving participants the perfect opportunity to shake off those winter blues every Saturday at 9am. Despite the chilly weather, over 300 attendants came to the first Colney Lane parkrun in December. The two current 5k parkruns at Eaton Park and Catton Park have attracted an impressive number of people in the last few months. This new parkrun at Colney Lane aims to provide a varied course for the community, aiming to get people of all ages and abilities active. Ian Edwards, the co-event organiser alongside Grant Wheeler who both work at UEA, said: “We’ve already had some great feedback about the run and how much people enjoyed it.” He continued: “We’re pleased the cold weather didn’t put people off and we’re looking forward to welcoming more people to the event in coming weeks as the word spreads.” Phil Steel, Director of UEA Sport, stated why the Colney Lane parkrun has been created: “For us
Canary Corner: what’s up at Carrow Road?
Photo: Paul Holloway, Wikimedia
the parkrun is another community scheme. It’s very much what the SportsPark is about, looking after the community. Having won the BUCS Participation Programme of the Year award last year, this becomes another student activity that’s free to use and it’s on campus.” He explained the thinking behind creating the Colney Lane parkrun and the challenges that were presented to the team in the past. “About three years ago the President of the athletics club tried [to create a] course around the
Broad. We couldn’t get it sorted so it was aborted. Ian and Grant came back to me and asked if we could have another go at it, so we pulled a team together and here we are.” He continued to explain how the course differs to other parkrun sites in Norwich. “The racecourse at Eaton is on hard standing, [whereas] this one has more hills and the change in terrain keeps it fresh.” With over 14,000 students at UEA, this is an opportunity for the students to become more involved in community events in Norwich.
While Norwich City may not be having their best of seasons, currently sitting ten points below the play-off places in 13th in the Championship, one player who has still shown glimpses of quality is midfielder Alex Pritchard. The 24 year old midfielder’s form in recent weeks, including a lively showing against Chelsea last week, drew admiration and led to a reported £11 million bid from Premier League new boys Huddersfield Town, which the Canaries have now accepted. Perhaps somewhat outshone by the extraordinary amounts clubs have already been paying in the January transfer window, most noticeably Phillipe Countinho’s $146 million move from Liverpool to Barcelona, Pritchard’s move still represent a big coup for Huddersfield and loss for Norwich. Since arriving from Tottenham in the summer of 2016, Pritchard had gone from strength to strength at Norwich, scoring eight goals and
creating a further eleven. It is this sort of form which Huddersfield boss David Wagner will hope can help his club retain their Premier League status. Before signing Pritchard, Wagner had admitted his liking for Pritchard, telling the The Yorkshire Post “I like him”. Though the German manager seemed unsure as to the certainty of the transfer, stating, “I have my doubts if he will play for us because I know how expensive British players are in this window.” Nevertheless, the Terries’ over £10 million bid was enough to convince Norwich to sell their former England u21 playmaker, having previously seen a $5m offer turned down by Daniel Farke’s side. Although Pritchard’s contract at Norwich was not due expire until 2020, it seems the player’s wishes were enough to force through the move, such it seems is the times in modern day football.
Daniel Cook
24
16th January 2018
Sport
UEA midwives leg it for Leeway Daniel Cook Sport Editor
A pair of midwifery students are set to once again show that UEA and its students really are wonderful, when they take part in the Brighton marathon in April. Hannah Pretten and Emily Wilson have decided to take on the 26 mile challenge in aid of Leeway, a Norfolk based domestic abuse charity.
“As little as £20 can make a lifesaving difference” Hannah and Emily worked with Leeway while on placement at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH), last year. It was here that they were able to see firsthand the great work the charity does and the help they provide, inspiring them both to want to raise money for Leeway. Emily said “we decided to run for Leeway as during our training as student midwives we have come across many women who have been exposed to domestic abuse and therefore recognise the invaluable work Leeway do in supporting
Photo: Charlotte Jones Photo: Leeway women and their families.” Established in 1974, Leeway provides advice and support for anyone who feels as though they might be a victim of domestic violence, be it physical, sexual or psychological. Leeway also aims to remove the stigma still present surrounding violence in home or family environments; the charity’s website stresses that anyone can be a victim of domestic abuse and that
more and more people are starting to speak out. In 2017 alone, Leeway assisted over 9,000 people, a 30 percent increase in demand for their services from the previous year. As well as this, Leeway also helps to train those in the health services, like Hannah and Emily, to notice any signs of domestic abuse amongst their patients. When they spoke to Concrete, Hannah and Emily both stressed
that while they have been keen to fit in time for the marathon, it’s been hard to take fit in around their already busy work schedule. Emily said, “We both go to the gym and try and fit in a few runs a week, though it’s been hard balancing twelve hour shifts with running.” In terms of why they choose to run the marathon in Brighton, Emily said that she and Hannah had looked at numerous marathon
locations around the UK, but that “unlike many, Brighton you don’t have to enter a ballot for, so we both knew we would be guaranteed a place.” Hannah also commented that her “main reason for Brighton, was that I thought it may have less hills, however looking at it more closely, I may have been mistaken.” Leeway hopes that fundraisers such as and the great work by Hannah and Emily, will not only raise money for the charity but also raise awareness for the issue. The chief executive, Mandy Proctor applauded Hannah and Emily’s commitment, stating “I would like to thank them for choosing Leeway and also encourage people to support their fundraising efforts.” With the run still over three months away, the midwifery students have impressively raised over £100 already. While the pair don’t have a specific target, Emily has stated they want to raise “as much as possible” and that “as little as £20 can make a lifesaving difference.” For anyone who wants to donate to the girl’s effort and to the great cause which is Leeway, will be able to find their JustGiving page online, or can text HANE88 with your donation (£) to 700700.
Conte vs Mourinho: Who wins? You decide Patrick Wiseman Sport Reporter José Mourinho came out firing in his post-match press conference after United’s recent 2-0 win in the FA Cup against Derby, stating that he will “never be suspended for match-fixing.” The verbal mud-slinging started after Mourinho aimed a thinlyveiled jab at Conte, accusing the Chelsea manager of “acting like a clown” on the touchline. With the proverbial first stone cast, the Chelsea boss pulled no punches in his reply to Mourinho, stating “I think he has to see himself in the past - maybe he was speaking about himself in the past. “Maybe, sometimes, I think that someone forgets what’s said in the past, which is his behaviour… Sometimes I think there is, I don’t know the [English] name, but demenza senile... when you forget what you do in the past.” Such strong words were bound to illicit a response from José Mourinho, and his reply was a journalist’s dream – the amount of papers this would sell! The Manchester United manager had denied his ‘clown’ comments were aimed at Conte, but nevertheless was not one to back down, as he
responded to Antonio Conte’s verbal counter-attack with a barb of his own, stating “the only thing I want to say to end the story is that yes, I made mistakes in the past on the touchline. Yes, I will make less, but I think I will still make a few. What never happened to me - and will never happen - is to be suspended for match-fixing. That never happened to me and will never happen.”
“The verbal mudslinging started after Mourinho aimed a thinly-veiled jab at Conte” Conte received a 10-month ban from coaching back in 2012 when he was manager of Serie A club Juventus in relation to a matchfixing scandal that dated back a couple years to when he was manager of Siena in Italy’s second tier. Specifically, a Siena player of his who was heavily involved in matchfixing claimed Conte knew about two instances in which Siena were instructed to intentionally lose or draw matches. Due to the player’s
testimony, Conte was banned from coaching for a time for failing to report the fix that he allegedly knew about. In the face of much criticism, Antonio Conte maintained his innocence throughout and after numerous appeals, the investigation agreed, eventually clearing the Italian manager of any wrongdoing. While Conte has tried to rid himself of such a massive scandal as match-fixing, Mourinho’s comments have once again put the accusations made against Conte back into the public eye and on the back pages of newspapers across the country. Mourinho and Conte’s mutual dislike of one another has festered for a long time, but has escalated further since the Chelsea boss’ first season in the Premier League, to the point where the two are now openly trading blows with each other. While some have criticized both managers for the seeming lack of maturity and the public nature of their dispute, there is no doubting that the spat has made Chelsea’s visit to Old Trafford in February look even more interesting. Such is the extent of the managers’ personal feud, that it may well end up overshadowing what happens on the field and what looks set to be a very entertaining football match.
Photo: Tash IIiffe
Photo: Sylvie Tan Photos: Flickr, Nazionale Calcio / Flickr, Aleksandr Osipov