Concrete 364

26 March 2019 Issue 364 The official student newspaper of the University of East Anglia | concrete-online.co.uk

News:

Academics under ‘increased pressure' to support student mental health crisis Sophie Bunce

have reached intolerable levels.’

After the death of LDC first year Theo Brennan-Hulme, more than 3,000 students signed a petition in less than 24 hours demanding the university take action to deal with the The UEA branch of the University and College Union growing ‘mental health crisis’ on UEA’s campus. At the time (UCU) said academics are under ‘increased pressure’ to of writing, the petition had over 8700 signatures. support students’ mental health despite not being ‘qualified therapist[s] or mental health professional[s].’

The branch also expressed ‘great concerns’ towards Continued on the ability of Student Support Services (SSS) to meet the ‘growing need’ of students, stating the ‘pressures on staff Editor-in-Chief

pg3

Comment:

Vice-Chancellor David Richardson: ‘We do need help and support’ UEA is a community of 21,000 people, of all ages, and all backgrounds. Each and every one of us is an individual with our own needs and our own very personal struggles.

pg16

Features:

Turning a blind eye on modern day slavery

The term slavery brings to mind images of the atrocities of the trans-Atlantic slave trade in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, but the crime is still highly prevalent across the world today.

pg10

26th March 2019

2

Editorial

We will be heard Matt Nixon Deputy Editor

Photo: Matt Nixon

The conversation must continue Sophie Bunce Editor-in-Chief

In the last 10 months at Editor-inChief I have overseen reporting on four student deaths. I have received emails marked as urgent and confidential, learnt to report on the loss of my peers with devastating frequency, and watched the reaction of UEA turn from sadness to anger.

This week, a petition calling for urgent change to student support reached over 3000 signatures in 24 hours, and at the time of writing, is at over 8000. An increase of 250,000 pounds of investment was put into student support services. Students gathered in the square to recognise those we have lost - all in the last week.

I have uploaded and printed these articles so often, that honestly, my soul feels tired. It’s the only way I know how to describe it. When I signed up to be a student journalist I hadn’t considered this kind of reporting as part of the job - that I would wait by the lake I celebrated my 19th birthday at for news of a death. Or that only weeks later, there would be another incident involving a student who studied the same course as me.

I cannot imagine the pain of friends and family members who have lost their loved ones. There is nothing I can say or do apart from promise that Concrete will continue to ask questions. We will hold everyone involved in supporting our students to account: the university, student support services and anyone else we can think of. We will report on it all and hope to help bring change.

In our front page story, ‘Pressure

on academics to support student mental health reaches ‘intolerable levels’, say Universities Union’', I look at the reaction of academics to mental health on campus.

Over the last week my tutors began seminars with conversations about wellbeing and sent emails offering a safe space to talk.

Their selflessness is admirable, and unfortunately necessary, but ultimately made me consider - is this really their job? I don’t have a conclusive answer but I urge you to read how UEAUCU members have addressed the issue.

"In the last 10 months at Editor-in-Chief I have overseen reporting on four student deaths... I have learnt to report on the loss of my peers with devastating frequency" In Comment, on page 16, ViceChancellor David Richardson writes ‘We do need help and support.’

When Comment Editor Chris Matthews approached me about asking the VC for an article I was hesitant. Concrete is the student voice, so letting in the voice of a man we often challenge felt like giving in to something I couldn’t put a name to. But that’s not the case. The VC’s article opens a vital conversation

between staff and students at UEA. I invite you to comment on and question his words. I invite you to join the conversation. My inbox is always open for pitches. (concrete. editor@uea.ac.uk) While anger is understandable, necessary even, as time passes we must turn our frustration into a constructive force. Rage runs out.

It won’t fuel you forever. It burns quickly, erratically, and will darken you in the process. What lasts is change, tangible change, that can only be brought about when we individually take responsibility for bringing it.

We must all continue the conversation.

Keep it going whereever you can; in your homes, seminars, or the bar. Check in with your loud friend, your quiet friend and your family at home.

Following the last few weeks I have felt the need to hug my loved ones a little tighter for a little longer - I’d recommend you do the same.

You can contact SSS, by calling 01603 592761 or emailing studentsupport@uea.ac.uk. A full list of support services available can be found here.

Alternatively you can contact Samaritans on 116 123 24-hours a day or email jo@samaritans.org

The last semester, in fact the entirety of the last year, has felt to me as if it has gone on for too long already. As it is, University is stressful enough for both students and staff, but the last ten months have been especially arduous for us all. The current mental health crisis - perhaps better referred to as a mental health support crisis - has affected us all dearly and it needs to be resolved. Attending the ‘We Will Be Heard’ mental health gathering in the square was a sombre occasion and one I won’t ever forget. The square is one of the main places at UEA where students meet, relax, and enjoy our campus, but on Friday the 15th, it was marked by an air of sadness and commiseration. While I felt proud and supported to see so many of our community gather together in rememberance of those we have lost and in support of all those who struggle, I don’t think I could have found enough hands around me on which to count just how many of us are facing difficulties.

Our front page story for this issue reminds me that it is not only students on campus who are struggling. Our lecturers, advisers, seminar leaders and all site staff have problems of their own - and the unfair pressure being placed upon them to ease the crisis will only add to their stresses. It seems as if only an Easter miracle can resolve the critical moment we find ourselves within.

Failing a miracle, what we need is more funding, more counsellors, smaller waiting lists and less stigma surrounding seeking support. But the crisis is not that simple. No individual can solve the mental health issue at UEA, as no individual could for Norfolk, or the UK as a whole. There’s a huge range of opinions and suggestions on what exactly must be done now, and within our front page story and this week’s comment section, we’ve tried to help illuminate how students and staff feel. What’s important to remember though, is that we are all in this together. We must support each other, and we will be heard.

The University of East Anglia’s Official Student newspaper since 1992 Tuesday 26th March 2019 Issue 364 Union House University of East Anglia Norwich NR4 7TJ 01603 593466 www.concrete-online.co.uk

Editor-in-Chief Sophie Bunce concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk Deputy Editor Matt Nixon concrete.deputy@uea.ac.uk Online Beth Bacon concrete.online@uea.ac.uk News Shannon McDonagh Senior Writer: Jake Morris concrete.news@uea.ac.uk Global Global Editor: George Goldberg Senior Writer: Jake Morris concrete.global@uea.ac.uk Features Features Editors: Chloe Howcroft and Mia Shah Senior Writer: Jess Barrett concrete.features@uea.ac.uk Comment C. E. Matthews concrete.comment@uea.ac.uk Science Science Editor: Anna Jose Senior Reporter: Hannah Brown concrete.scienv@uea.ac.uk Travel Amy Newbery concrete.travel@uea.ac.uk Sport Spot Editor: Tony Allen Senior Writer: Meyzi Adoni concrete.sport@uea.ac.uk

concrete-online.co.uk Concrete_UEA concreteuea concrete_UEA

Chief Copy-Editors Holly Purdham Izzy Voice concrete.copy@uea.ac.uk Social Media Beth Bennett

Editorial Enquiries Complaints & Corrections concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk

Front page: Matt Nixon

No part of this newspaper may be reproduced by any means without the permission of the Editor-in-Chief, Sophie Bunce. 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

3

26th March 2019

concrete-online.co.uk/category/news/ | @Concrete_UEA

Academics under 'increased pressure' to support student mental health crisis UEA's UCU branch say it is "not clear to students or advisers what can be reasonably expected of the SSS at UEA".

Despite supporting mental health first aid training for academic staff, the UCU warn there is "a very big difference between being aware and being a qualified therapist".

Sophie Bunce Editor-in-Chief

Continued from front page The university increased investment in SSS by £250,000, expanding the budget for 2018/19 to £700,000, marking a 90.22 percent rise from 2016.

"In some cases there is no

provision offered to staff or it is not clear" President of UEA’s UCU branch, Ben Jones, a senior lecturer in development studies in the school of international development (DEV) and Vice-President, Mark Hobbs, lecturer in humanities in the interdisciplinary institute for the humanities (IIH), said members share concerns about their ability as academics to support students’ mental health.

‘Many academics have undertaken training in mental health awareness and we as a branch are supportive of this training.

However, we recognise that there is a difference between being aware of mental health conditions and being able to provide effective support or counselling and this is often what students want and need.’

The UCU suggest the SSS should not have to adapt to the funding model it is given, but should adapt to student need and then be funded accordingly. 'This is not a finger pointing exercise', they said.

‘What academic staff want to see is a fully funded and effective SSS so that when they refer their students to these services they know that they will receive effective services and be seen quickly and not have to wait weeks or months for appointments.'

They added, ‘academic staff have reported to us that they do not feel current support for staff is good and in some cases there is no provision offered to staff or it is not clear what provision is available.’

A UEA spokesperson said: ‘Support for all university staff is central to UEA developing a wholecommunity approach to wellbeing

and mental health. The additional investment will allow for better training for academics and studentfacing staff to pick up signs of potential mental health problems.

That's not about asking staff to deal with those problems but to be able to identify them better and refer them on to the appropriate service.

‘The Vice-Chancellor's taskforce will also be gathering the views and expertise of a wide range of staff and students from within the University, including unions, as well as from outside the University. UEA is already focused on supporting the health and wellbeing of all staff and all students but there is more to be done and we will need to work together to achieve that.'

The taskforce will look at eight key areas: leadership, transition, prevention, early intervention, support, staff, partnerships and learning from data and research.

A ‘town hall’ event open to both staff and students, will be held in the Julian Study Centre in a series of events which aim to continue to develop a community wide discussion on mental health.

Vice-Chancellor Professor David Richardson said: 'At UEA we have recognised the significant increase in demand in wellbeing and mental health services and have been planning for additional investment.

What we can do, what we must do, what we are focused on doing is responding to give the students and staff in our community the support and assistance they need on a whole-institution basis.'

"This is not a finger pointing exercise" The Vice-Chancellor said the £250,000 increase in student support funding will be used to recruit specially trained wellbeing staff such as a cognitive behavioural therapist and a senior wellbeing advisor with links to local NHS services.

In addition to these services the number of advisors available will

be increased and include a mental health advisor, disability advisor and two student life advisors.

The Vice-Chancellor added: 'Training for academic and support staff will also receive additional funding, with three extra staff trainers being recruited to offer mental health first aid training and suicide prevention awareness.'

Read more from the Vice-Chancellor in his Comment article on page 16 UEAUCU is compiling a survey of members who have experienced supporting students with mental health and will share the report with the university’s Executive Team to improve staff and student wellbeing.

You can contact SSS, by calling 01603 592761 or emailing studentsupport@uea.ac.uk. A full list of support services available can be found here.

Alternatively you can contact Samaritans on 116 123 24-hours a day or email jo@samaritans.org Concrete spoke to Norwich South MP Clive Lewis about the mental health crisis at UEA. When asked whether UEA is doing enough for young people with mental health problems, Mr. Lewis said “No is the answer. We’ve got a failing mental health service.

I’m one of a handful of MPs that have said that mental health services should be put into special measures i.e. taken direct control of by the Department for Health.”

Lewis added that he felt young adults are disproportionately affected by mental health issues because of their still developing brain chemistry and a generational divide in factors linked to wealth, employment, or job security. “That all adds to the stress and the strain,” he said.

“So, do I think enough is being done? No, quite clearly not. It’s been a failure for young people across the city and across the county, I think you only have to open the evening news to see that’s the case. It’s not rocket science for me to be able to tell you that it’s not good enough.”

Read the full interview with Clive Lewis in our next issue.

Photo: Matt Nixon

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26th March 2019

News

Student officers for 2019 announced Two full time officers re-eleccted

By-elections to take place after Easter for several roles occur in the following weeks.

Michael Wigg, SU Returning Officer, gave the following statement: ‘The SU elections were run in difficult circumstances this year with campus reflecting rather than looking at what candidates would be doing in the future.

Sophie Bunce Editor-in-chief

UEASU has announced the winners of this year’s SU officer elections.

Three candidates were reelected, including Sophie Atherton as campaigns and democracy officer, postgraduate education officer Martin Marko, and mature students’ officer Sanna Mantyniemi.

"I would suggest that now more than ever UEA

"The SU

needs the

elections were

togetherness that

run in difficult

Students' Unions

circumstances

offer"

this year" The position of activities & opportunities officer was won by Alicia Perez Lopez. Callum Perry was announced as undergraduate education officer, Amelia Trew as welfare, community and diversity officer and Afia Khan is ethnic Minorities students’ officer.

The environment officer was

announced as Eva Korczynskik, international students’ officer (EU place) as Daniela Stoyanova, and international students’ officer (NonEU place) as Syed Saad.

The elected non-Portfolio

Officers are, Anisha Jackson, Rob Klim, Tyler Bell.

The students’ with disabilities officer (invisible disabilities place) is Emma Moxon and the Womens+ officer is Juliet Brown.

International students given visa extensions in parliamentary Brexit retention efforts Max Pleasance News Reporter

International students are to be given extensions to their visas of up to a year in order to look for work in the UK. This comes as part of a package of government measures to boost the number of overseas students in British universities after Brexit.

This proposed extension is a move away from current policy whereby students are granted a stay of four months after graduation.

Announcing the strategy, the Department for Education said, ‘There is no limit on the number of international students that can study in the UK, and to ensure the UK continues to attract and welcome them, the post-study leave period will be extended to six months for undergraduate and master’s students, and a year for doctoral students’.

Furthermore, the announcement stated, ‘how the visa process could be improved for applicants and supporting student employment’, hinting at another possible change in policy.

In addition to the extended visas, the Department for International Trade are to present an international

education strategy that aims to increase the population of overseas students in UK higher education by 30% over the next decade.

"Institutions can

as a form of soft power extending the UK’s reach and influence at a global level’.

It is estimated that these visa extensions will boost the economy by £35 billion a year.

act as a form of soft power extending the UK's reach and influence" This would raise the number of non-UK students in British universities from 460,000 (140,000 from the EU) to 600,000 by 2030.

Critics have pointed out that this is an ambitious target considering EU students will face higher tuition fees and potentially lose access to student loans after Brexit.

Ministers Damian Hinds and Liam Fox claim that the benefits will go further than financial gain stating, ‘the bonds formed through time spent at our worldDamian Hinds. class institutions can act Photo: Chris McAndrew, Wikimedia

By-elections for ethical issues officer, LGBT+ officer (Open Place), LGBT+ officer (trans & non-binary place), non-portfolio officer, and students with disabilities officer (physical disabilities place) will

I would suggest that now more than ever UEA needs the togetherness that Students’ Unions offer, 'So thank you to everyone who got involved in the elections.

'Thank you to the candidates who ran excellent campaigns – it was truly a pleasure to act as the Returning Officer on this election.'

Photo: UEASU

Reusable cup use on campus up by 64% Laura Taylor

and less that 1% are recycled, despite people putting them in recycling bins.

Furthermore, mixing un-recyclable coffee cups Campus Kitchen have released data with recyclable waste is a source saying they’re seen an increase in of contamination and may lead to people using reusable coffee cups even less recycling. of 40 times since last year.

UEA’s Head of Sustainability The amount of people carrying Phil Hunt said: ‘This is fantastic their own cups has increased from news and is a brilliant example 2% last academic year to 66% this of how people respond positively year. when given the opportunity to Although there is a common do so. Initiatives like this have an misconception that coffee cups immediate and positive impact are recyclable as they are made of on the environment but they also paper, however most are lined with prime people for the greater need polyethylene plastic to make for behavioural change which lies them waterproof, which ahead’. also prevents Photo: Pixabay Reusable coffee them from being cups can be recycled. purchased In the UK around at various 2.5 million coffee locations on cups are thrown campus, away annually, such as Unio and Ziggy’s.

News Reporter

5

26th March 2019

News

Activist campaigners take City Hall in Generation Rent protest

Photos: Ben Little

Rassul Merali News Reporter

On Tuesday 19 March, around 20 UEA students did a media stunt in front of the Norwich City Hall by serving a giant Section 21 eviction notice to the Norwich City Council.

The purpose of the stunt was to highlight the issue of landlords who use Section 21 to evict their tenants.

The stunt is part of the ‘End Unfair Evictions Norwich’ student campaign, whose main goal is to demand that the Norwich City Council passes a motion supporting the abolition of Section 21.

The campaign is run with the support from ‘Generation Rent’, an organization that campaigns for secure, affordable and decent housing in the private

rented sector.

Section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act allows landlords to serve the socalled ‘no-fault’ evictions and it is the biggest cause of homelessness in the UK according to Generation Rent.

Landlords can evict their tenants, even when the tenants have done nothing wrong and the landlords are under no obligation to provide a reason for these evictions.

Moreover, the eviction notices can be as short as two months.

Furthermore, a number of councilors attended the media stunt and showed support for the campaign initiative, which included councilors: Gail Harris, Hugo Malik, David Raby and Karen Davis.

M o r e o v e r, the stunt was covered by Eastern Daily Press

in an article titled: ‘Students dressed as landlords to serve eviction notices to city council’.

"Students dressed as landlords to serve eviction notices to city council" In addition to the media stunt, student campaigners collected signatures for the petition calling Norwich City Council to pass a motion for the repeal of Section 21.

The petition can be accessed through the group Facebook page and is also available on the website ‘www.change.

org’, both of which are called “End Unfair Evictions Norwich”.

Here is a testimony of Ruizhe Zhang, who is one of UEA student campaigners: ‘For an international student who participated in the local petition, this stunt made me see the British public’s emphasis on social equality.

'People have a strong passion for protesting against social inequality and protecting the rights of vulnerable groups.

'No one showed some nasty attitude towards our leaflets, and even if some people were not interested in our petition, they would give us an encouraging smile’.

UEA announce China summer school scholarships The university is currently offering three fully funded student places for the International Summer Session 2019 at Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

The summer session will run from 4 July to 3 August 2019 with deadline for applications being 31 March 2019 and applicants notified by 15 April 2019.

The summer session will have a ran of courses on could choose from History and Culture to Business and Economics.

The scholarship provides an opportunity for students to study abroad and gain 4-week international experience to develop their cultural awareness and employability skills.

The summer scholarship is open to current first or second year undergraduate students, in either the Faculty of Science or Faculty of Arts & Humanities.

It will cover all programme costs and reasonable travel and subsistence expenses incurred; full tuition fee, four weeks’ oncampus accommodation at Fudan University, return flights from UK to Shanghai, Visa fee & reasonable costs incurred in travelling to visa appointment, meals on campus and social activity package provides by Fudan University.

Eligibility guidelines are available on the UEA website with certain requirements necessary before applicants are chosen.

Interested parties should contact summerstudyabroad@uea.ac.uk Photo: Jens Schott Nudsen, Wikimedia

Bryan Theo Mflahdi

Mock general election candidates debate student issues Jake Morris

Senior News Reporter

The organisers of UEA Mock General Election 2019 hosted a candidate hustings event in the build up to the mock election this week, with the focus of questions revolving around student specific issues.

The Mock Election is being run with the aim to increase student engagement in politics.

Candidates are running on manifestos specific to students and young people, with the winner of the election being given the opportunity to present their mandate to local and national politicians.

The project is a collaboration between the Labour Society, the Liberal Democrat Society and the Conservative Society with support from the School of Politics, Philosophy, Language and Communication.

"Many current UEA students were too young to vote at the last general election" The two-hour long event saw

the candidates debate a range of pe-selected questions on topics including the environment, tuition fees and Brexit.

The candidates were in unanimous agreement about the need for collaborative work to help address the concerns about provisions for mental health support at UEA. Questions from the audience covered a broad spectrum of issues including foreign policy of national parties and female equality.

The candidates in the Mock Election are: Samuel Bruce (Liberal Democrat), Katie Hicks (Labour) and Thomas Sheppard (Conservative), with polling days on 28 and 29 March.

Dr Toby James, senior lecturer

at PPL, and the host of the hustings said, ‘many current UEA students were too young vote at the last general election, and there is no general election formally expected until 2022.

The mock general election is therefore a fantastic student initiative to provide a litmus test of where student opinion is, and to encourage students to be more aware of the democratic process.’

The organisers of the Mock Election said, ‘we were delighted that the evening was well attended and offered an excellent opportunity for student debate.

We would like to thank the candidates and audience for taking part. More information is available on our Facebook page and we

encourage all students to vote on polling day.’

Polling days across 28th-29th March

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26th March 2019

News TEDxUniversityofEastAnglia: "I've gained so much from it" Shannon McDonagh News Editor

An independently organised TED event took place at The Enterprise Centre last weekend, featuring speakers leading fields such as cultural policy, economics, and education.

"The theme, 'Our Energy', was interpreted broadly" The event has been the product of preparation from a team of student volunteers since the commencement of Fabrizio Contartese’s TEDx Society at the start of this academic year. The theme, ‘Our Energy’, was interpreted broadly, ranging from ideas shared on sustainable water use to more abstract, philosophical iterations.

Guests were gifted with goody bags and served vegan baked goods throughout the day, with music provided by the UEA Music Society and a dinner from Namaste Hut: Vegetarian and Vegan Cafe.

The conference was hosted by Genius in 21 Days UK Managing

Director and Mentor Giulia Remondino, who had also provided training to the speakers in the months leading up to the event.

The line up consisted of 10 speakers, including two student winners of the TEDxChallenge - third year Psychology student Alexandros Efstratiou and third year English Literature and Creative Writing student Sophie Bunce.

Speaking to Concrete, Mr. Efstratiou said: ‘I saw the challenge

being promoted on Facebook and thought why not? I’m interested in social interactions and how groups form in society, in motivation and how it informs your pro-social behaviours. I’ve given talks on confidence for a long time and TEDx was a great opportunity to broaden this.’

‘The training process has been ongoing for 2 months now and I’ve gained so much from it. I want to motivate people and I think this has

been a really good start for me!’

World Bank economist and economics professor Sheheryar Banuri spoke on his research on the debates surrounding the efficiency of public sector works and the societal lack of trust placed in them.

He ended his talk in emphasising the importance of holding governments accountable in asking representatives ‘embarrassing’ questions. Mr. Banuri said it had been a ‘great event’ and commended

Photo: Shannon McDonagh

the ‘diversity of today’s speakers’.

Systems Thinking Consultant Chris Preston described himself as a ‘reformed project manager’, who used his talk to draw comparisons between how the simple concepts used in children’s literature inspired him to reframe his approach to his job.

He said: ‘For the last 4 or 5 years I’ve given systems engineering talks at the university so today has been really interesting’.

Future Leaders programme host World Speech Day event Chris Matthews & Meyzi Adoni

Mr Dineen’s speech focused on his own abandonment of some social medias, including Instagram.

He said: ‘I hope that people will think a bit more deeply about how they post and how they consume information on social media’.

He added: ‘From primary school, we are educated about potential dangers in society whether that be drugs, alcohol, knife crime and unsafe sex.

Social media has never been part of this curriculum and as more and more platforms become available to use, it becomes increasingly difficult to use… the off switch.’

World speech day returned to Norwich again this year, with an event live streamed from Epic Studios. Founded in 2015, it aims to celebrate speeches with a series of live speaking events in over 80 countries worldwide.

"The concept of World Speech Day is to inspire the next

"We're a lot more

generation of

interconnected

public speakers"

than people can

The theme for this year was ‘Turning ME into WE: contributing to the collective’. Speeches ranged from how international holidays fuel a rise in the capture of wild elephants to how exercise can improve self-confidence.

At the start of the day five Japanese students at UEA gave speeches, marking the first time

Photo: Chris Matthews Japan has participated in the event.

Organisers Max Sharpe and Jamie Rhodes spoke to student media outlets before the event. Mr Sharpe said: ‘the concept of world speech day is to inspire the next generation of public speakers’.

He added: ‘in your life you’ll

know around a thousand people.

Them thousand people that you know will know another thousand people. So that puts you one person away from a million people, and two people away from a billion people…. we’re a lot more interconnected than people can possibly imagine.’

Callum Dineen, the first year student winner of the event’s competition, told Concrete: ‘public speaking helps with confidence… and I would urge anyone who wants to improve their confidence to try speaking in front of an audience, no matter how small’.

possibly imagine" Mr Dineen said: ‘it would be a great service to the younger generation if they are taught how to use social media safely in schools and by their parents.’ Organisers plan to upload every speech from the event online.

its never too late to join a club or society, and we have over 200 to choose from on the app: download from uea.su/ app online: head to uea.su/join

8

Global

26th March 2019

Deadly New Zealand mosque shootings leads to 50 dead Augustin Francois-Ponceti Global Writer

Fifty people have been killed and dozens wounded in shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, in the deadliest attack in the nation’s history.

On Friday 15 March, a 28-yearold Australian man opened fire at the Al-Noor Mosque in central Christchurch, killing 42 people in the process.

The attack continued in the Linwood Mosque in the Christchurch suburbs where about 100 were attending prayers. There, the terrorist killed 8 people - one of whom died later in the hospital before being chased away by one of the attendees.

Mr Abdul Aziz, 48, grabbed a credit card reader and headed outside upon hearing the gunshots.

Mr Aziz threw the reader at the attacker while screaming to draw his attention away from the mosque.

The terrorist fired several times towards him.

Finding an empty shotgun dropped by the suspect, Mr Aziz followed the attacker back towards the mosque and confronted him again.

‘When he saw me with the shotgun, he dropped the gun and ran away toward his car. I chased

him,’ he told Reuters news agency.

‘He sat in his car and... I threw [the gun] through his window like an arrow. He just swore at me and took off.’

“Speak the names of those who were lost, rather than the name of the man who took them” The suspect was apprehended 36 minutes after the first attack by two police officers.

He has been charged with one count of murder on Saturday and is due back in court on April 5 where police said he is likely to face more charges.

On Monday 18, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda

Photo: Stuartyeates, Wikimedia Commons

Brexit Box

Photo: Podzema, Wikipedia Commons

Global grounding of Boeing’s 737 Max

Bryan Mfhaladi

Jake Goddard

Global Writer

On March 12, MPs convened to vote on another of Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit Withdrawal Agreement after her recordbreaking January loss. The latest Brexit Withdrawal Agreement was not treated any differently than the previous one with it being rejected by lawmakers, voting against it by 391 to 242. The day after this loss, MPs voted by a majority of 211 to seek a delay from departing the EU. Most Conservative MPs voted against delaying Brexit, which meant that the Prime Minister had to rely on Labour and other opposition groups in the vote. The MPs had earlier on the day, rejected an attempt to have another Brexit referendum by 334 votes to 85.

Mrs May sought on March 19 to have another meaningful vote on the Withdrawal Agreement, but this got blocked by the Speaker.

The Speaker, John Bercow, stated that due to the Agreement being rejected twice by large margins, they could not have another vote on it unless there were substantial changes to the Agreement. The Prime Minister will head to the March 21 EU summit in Brussels seeking an extension to Article 50. Such a decision requires

Ardern announced that new gun reform laws would be introduced within ten days of the act of terrorism.

She did not give details on the new laws but has said she supports a ban on semi-automatic weapons following the Christchurch shootings. Before Friday, New Zealand’s worst mass shooting was in 1990 when a man killed 13 men, women and children in a 24-hour rampage in the seaside village of Aramoana. He was killed by police.

Addressing Parliament today, Ardern led condolences for the victims and announced immediate measures to ensure the safety of the country’s Muslim community. She urged people to forget the name of the perpetrator, and instead remember those who died - ‘Speak the names of those who were lost, rather than the name of the man who took them. We in New Zealand, will give him nothing. Not even his name.’

Global Writer

unanimous agreement of all EU states, creating a larger challenge for the Prime Minister.

Getting a delay may mean that the UK has to spend more than £100m on participating in European parliamentary elections.

During the delay, if given by the EU, parliament would have to find a way to break the ongoing deadlock, potentially with a second referendum, an election or a cross-party proposal for a softer Brexit. Government sources suggest that May could negotiate a lengthy extension with the EU but with a ‘get-out’ clause enabling it to be cut short if her Brexit deal is passed by parliament before the European parliamentary elections.

It is possible that May could not ask for an extension, or that her request for an extension be denied which would mean that Brexit continues as planned for on the 29th of March, with or without a deal.

TBD

days before Britain is scheduled to exit the European Union

Image: Vecteezy

The Boeing 737 Max 8 type jet has been grounded following a recent incident close to Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital. The plane in question, owned by Ethiopian Airlines, crashed 6 minutes after take-off. All 157 people aboard were killed.

The incident is the second failure of the Boeing 737 Max jet in just a few months. Back in October another plane operated by Lion Air crashed shortly after take-off from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board.

So far, there is no conclusive evidence of a connection between the two flights, though the black boxes are currently being examined and an investigation carried out.

Boeing has not released a comment on the incident as of yet, though Ethiopian Airlines’ chief executive Tewolde Gebremariam has for the time being admitted that there is a ‘clear similarity between our crash and the Lion Air crash’.

The lack of conclusive evidence has not stopped airlines and aviation authorities from exercising caution, however. The majority of airlines, including Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines, have chosen to

completely ground all 737 Max jets.

Others, such as Southwest Airlines, have continued to operate as usual.

The first regulators to act put bans on the use of the aircraft over the EU, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. Though there was reluctance at first, these were later joined by the US and Canada. In India, Indonesia, South Korea and Oman, the ban is less total and instead seeks just seeks to ground the 737 Max aircraft for further inspection.

The next steps that a r e

taken will depend heavily on the analysis of content from the black box, as well as the wreckage of the planes themselves.

Boeing itself continues to work with

the US Federal Aviation Authority to improve aircraft systems. A Boeing spokesperson has stated that ‘a Boeing technical team will be travelling to the crash site to provide technical assistance’.

The US Department of Transportation, however, has issued an enquiry into Boeing’s practices including the development and testing of the 737 Max aircraft. The findings of this inquiry will take some time to produce, though will have significant impact on the future of Boeing.

The company has already seen a 13% drop in shares following the Ethopian Airlines crash.

Aeroflot and Air Canada have also both delayed orders of the 737 Max aircraft, l i k e l y pending

Photo: Acefitt, Wikimedia Commons

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concrete-online.co.uk/category/global/ | @Concrete_UEA

In brief Exposed Facebook passwords Millions of Facebook passwords were accessible by up to 20,000 employees in a reported security bug. It is said the passwords may have dated from 2012. The social media company said they discovered the problem back in January, and have now resolved the “glitch”. Last year, Facebook said users data had been harvested by data science company Cambridge Analytica George Goldberg Brazilian school shooting killing eight A school shooting in southeastern Brazil left eight dead, including five schoolchildren, on March 13th. Two gunmen, both former students, opened fire during morning break time before shooting themselves once police arrived. They also carried a crossbow and fake explosives but these were left unused during the attack. A motive remains uncleared, despite a third suspect being arrested and debates over relaxation of gun laws in the country. Andrew Ferris Cheap rides for Berlin women Women in Berlin received a 21 per cent discount on the city’s public transport system on March 18th. Referred to as ‘Mind the gender pay gap’, it was implemented to mark Equal Pay Day in Germany. The city’s public transport operator described it as a ‘gesture of solidarity’ in a country that has one of Europe’s highest pay gaps. Andrew Ferris Steps for canteen discounts Zhejiang Gongshang University in China has put in place an initiative where students can receive a canteen discount for the amount of steps they clock.

Reaching 10,000 would get a 15% reduction, but earning 40,000 would get 45% off. Students receive the benefit by recording their activity through the Chinese messaging app Wechat, and then showing the evidence to canteen staff. One user has said they suffered from muscle strain after walking 40,000 steps. George Goldberg Joss Stone performs in N Korea bar British singer Joss Stone performed at a bar in the North Korean capital Pyongyang, in an attempt to visit in every country of the world. Ms Stone had learnt a Korean song especially for her visit. As part of her Total World Tour, the Devon singer has already performed in Syria.

George Goldberg

Nobel nominee at sixteen: Greta Thunberg Beth Bacon Global Writer

Greta Thunberg (16), Swedish environmental activist, has brandished news and social media with her ground breaking speeches about climate change. Now, Thunberg has been nominated for the Nobel peace prize. Thunberg spoke boldly and maturely at TEDx Stockholm in November 2018.

She then went on to speak at the United Nations Climate Change Conference.

“We have started to clean up your mess and will not stop until we are done” Thunberg’s most influential stand against climate change has been through her school strikes, which now take place across the world on Fridays. In protest, children leave their classrooms and take education to the streets with their eye-catching banners. These

strikes have faced a great deal of backlash, due to truancy. However, at an EU conference, Thunberg argued, ‘if you think we should be in school instead, then we suggest you take our place in the streets’.

The demonstrations are so striking because of the youth of the people leading them.

These children are this world’s future, they are the ones that will have to suffer the consequences of our actions, and they are the ones that recognise the destruction we are causing.

Environmental intelligence now lies within this world’s youth, and the disturbance they are making is finally yielding a reaction within news coverage and those in charge of climate change action.

Thunberg is known for practising what she preaches. She is vegan and no longer travels by airplane, which meant it took her 32 hours to get to a Climate Change conference held in Davos.

T h u n b e r g

Photo: Sloventis Friscina, Wikipedia Commons

centres her haunting speeches on removing hope and creating action. Thunberg has spoken openly about her autism. She said, at TEDx Stockholm, ‘I was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, OCD, and selective mutism. That basically means I only speak when I think it’s necessary – now is one of those moments.’

This is just one example of how Thunberg uses her own experiences to generate humour and catch attention. For example, she went on to explain, ‘I think the rest of the people are pretty strange, especially when it comes to the sustainability crisis, where everyone keeps saying climate change is an existential threat and the most important issue of all, and yet they just carry on like before.’ Once people are listening, she turns her attention to serious matters.

Since, Thunberg has said at an EU conference, ‘we have started to clean up your mess and we will not stop until we are done.’ These strong words reveal her utter frustration at politicians and years of inaction against the climate crisis. The future of our planet may be uncertain, but success for Greta Thunberg’s future is unquestionable.

Casualties in Yemen increase since ceasefire William Warnes Global Writer

Civilians in parts of war-torn Yemen are currently facing double the casualties they were before the Hodeidah Ceasefire and Stockholm Agreement, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has found.

Mohamed Abdi, country director for the NRC in Yemen, has said, “the reduction in Violence seen in Hodeidah through recent

months has been counteracted by escalations in other parts of the country. While airstrikes on Hodeidah City have reduced significantly and a semblance of life has resumed, the fighting is intensifying in other parts of the country with a devastating impact on civilians.” Currently, the exact death toll in the nation is unknown, but the latest report in December 2018, published by the Armed Conflict Location & Event

Photos: Norwegian Refugee Council and Brahem Qasim, Wikimedia Commons

Data Project, estimated that it stood at over 60,000 since 2016.

The Civil War in Yemen began in March 2015 and has seen violence that has resulted in the deaths of thousands. The war is fought between two factions, the Saudi coalition-backed Yemeni government and the Houthi movement, with both claiming to be the official government of Yemen.

The war has seen fierce fighting throughout the country and frequent airstrikes, resulting in thousands of civilian deaths, and a famine that has been estimated to have killed over 50,000 people.

The international community has strongly condemned the Saudi-led bombing campaign, and UN human rights experts believe that war crimes have been committed by both sides.

As the death toll rises, significant pressure on the United States and the United Kingdom has increased. A study carried out by the US-based University Network for Human Rights (UNHR) and Mwatwana, a Yemeni monitoring group, found that UK and US made weapons were probably used in 27 apparently unlawful airstrikes launched in Yemen by the Gulf

Alliance between April 2015 and April 2018. The study has found that these strikes resulted in the deaths of nearly 1,000 civilians, including over 120 children. The United States currently sells weapons that are used by the Saudi-led coalition in airstrikes throughout the country.

However, the U.S. Republican-led Senate approved a bill on March 13th to end U.S support for the coalition, halting an arms trade currently in place. Despite this, President Donald Trump, who views Saudi Arabia as a vital ally, has vowed to veto the resolution if it is to pass through the Democrat-led house.

It appears that the war in Yemen will continue to rage on and, as fighting intensifies, civilians will continue to be victims. Country director for the NRC, Mohamed Abdi went on to say, “As the world’s eyes remain on Hodeidah since the ceasefire was agreed, there’s carnage going on elsewhere. The war is intensifying in other parts of the country with a devastating and deadly impact on civilians.

Four years into this war, we continue to urge warring parties to stop attacks against civilians.

They should instead put their efforts behind implementing the Hodeidah ceasefire and Stockholm Agreement. They need to go back to the negotiating table, extend the ceasefire across all of Yemen, and put an end to this untold suffering for Yemeni civilians.”

Features

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Photo:Public Domain, Kyle Cope

Turning a blind eye on modern day slavery Potential slavery victims have more than tripled in Norfolk 5 children have been suspected victims of slavery in 2017

Features writer Jake Morris investigates The term slavery brings to mind images of the atrocities of the transatlantic slave trade in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, but the crime is still highly prevalent across the world today. Estimates from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) suggest that 40.3 million people globally are victims of modern slavery as of 2017, with ten million of these estimated to be children.

“Modern slavery is an area of injustice that is too often overlooked” Modern slavery has a variety of definitions, with the word slavery itself conjuring images of a physically chained individual forced into domestic servitude. Perhaps the most encompassing comes from the Anti-Slavery Charity who define it as those individuals who are coerced, forced or physically constrained to work or engage in activities in a dehumanising manner under the control of their ‘employer.’ This deprivation of liberty and systematic

abuse amounts to one of the largest abhorrent violations of human rights in the world today. The reality is that victims are often controlled in other means across a wide variety of sectors. Vulnerable adults and children are prominent targets to become victims of modern slavery, with a shocking 11 percent of the UK population now deemed at risk of being extorted (Global Slavery Index).

There is also an enormous variety in the types of slavery that exist including debt bondage and all forms of forced marriages.

Globally the two most common types are labour and sexual exploitation. Forced labour covers every industry across the world including agriculture, construction, hospitality and fashion. In the UK, the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner’s Office highlights slavery being particularly prevalent in the fishing, hospitality and construction sectors.

Sexual exploitation encompasses forced prostitution, escort services and pornography. Disturbingly, the victims are of all ages, with the National Crime Agency (NCA) rescuing 102 young girls between 2016 and 2017 who were victims of sexual exploitation.

There appears to be a lack

of awareness of the issue in modern society. Whilst official UK Government estimates suggested that there are 13,000 current victims of slavery in the UK, many experts and charities say this is a gross underestimation. The 2018 Global Slavery Index published the shocking statistic that it estimates 136,000 people in the UK are victims of modern slavery. Perhaps the lack of exposure in the public domain comes down to a lack of academic research in the area. When Concrete approached UEA’s School of International Development, not a single academic specialises in this area, which is somewhat surprising considering it is a human rights issue affecting 40 million people globally. Many might be under the illusion that this crime is confined to large urban areas, but Norfolk too is affected. Over a three-year period, referrals from Norfolk Police to the NCA regarding potential slavery victims has more than tripled, with five children being suspected victims of slavery in 2017. To help raise awareness of this issue, a charity in the heart of Norwich associated with Anglican church, St Thomas Norwich, known as STN Trust, hosted an event at Norwich’s Assembly House to raise funds to help tackle modern slavery in India

and in Norfolk.

When approached for comment

by Concrete, STN Trust said, ‘Modern slavery is an area of injustice that is too often overlooked as the complexities in dealing with the issues surrounding it make it difficult to address. Those who seek other humans to treat as a commodity take advantage of those who are vulnerable.’ They went on to say that the event was a great success and they had received ‘very encouraging feedback.’

“40.3 million people is a lot of people to be denied their basic human right.”

Too often we are guilty of turning a blind eye to reports of slavery. As consumers of highend technological products such as laptops and mobile phones, we might effectively be supporting a process involving slavery. It is estimated that the UK imported £14 billion of goods in 2017 produced using slavery, with the spotlight on tech and clothing. And for those

of us that use hand car washes, we should be taking a long hard think about the impact of some of these businesses. This sector has the highest number of victims reported to the Modern Slavery Helpline.

Andrew Wallis, from the charity Unseen UK, spoke to The Guardian in October 2018. He said ‘the true cost of a hand wash for the average vehicle is £20. If you’re paying less, you have to ask why and how.’

The UK Parliament passed The Modern Slavery Act 2015 to help address the issue by increasing the sentence to a maximum of life imprisonment for traffickers and introducing the Anti-Slavery Commissioner to enforce a consistent response across the UK. Some charities, including the Anti-Slavery Charity, welcomed the legislation but criticised it for not providing more measures to support victims. Currently, the only assistance for victims is the National Referral Agency which provides support and accommodation for victims for only 45 days after their rescue. This is an issue we need to tackle together as a society. Public awareness must be increased, and more support must be made available for victims. 40.3 million people is a lot of people to be denied their basic right to freedom.

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Norwich Youths strike for climate change Laura Taylor Features Writer

On Friday 15 March, young people worldwide left their classes to march for their future at #youthstrike4climate.

This global action was inspired by 16-year-old Swede Greta Thunberg who started missing classes every Friday to campaign outside the Swedish parliament in the name of climate change, an initiative now being coined as ‘Fridays for Future’.

While Thunberg has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for this action, students everywhere are making slightly smaller strides towards change.

Florence Lonergan, a sixth-form student, organised the march in Norwich.

In attendance were sixth-formers, UEA students, and even an entire primary school class accompanied by their teachers from across the region, including King’s Lynn and parts of Suffolk, too.

This is the second strike Lonergan has organised, the first being February’s Fridays for Future a month earlier.

When asking Lonergan why she decided to do this, she told me she ‘saw no one had registered a strike for Norwich, so I thought if no one else was doing one then I would’. There is much criticism globally about students using this as ‘an excuse to get out of school’, or ‘to get attention’, but Lonergan has

clearly shown this was not a selfish act. She saw that no one else had the time or motivation to organise action and had taken initiative.

She highlights how she’s ‘always been aware of

Thunberg, being 16 Photo: Laura Taylor years old.

Despite this climate not being my first foray change to an extent’ into the world of activism, I was but she’s become ‘more and more inspired to join the march by invested in the future of our world’, environmental sciences lecturer along with millions of young Andrew Manning. activists. It has indeed been on the As with many students, the radar of many of these activists for prospect of having to catch up on their entire lives, with the average a full day of lectures and seminars age of protesters on Friday 15, like was sadly enough to deter me

from taking action. However, upon receiving an email from Manning informing the cohort of the protest, and his intentions to teach his lecture twice to allow us to participate, many ENV students thought again. I spoke to Manning about this decision; he wanted to attend the protest but couldn’t due to his duty to teach. He feels that ‘It wouldn’t have been fair on students to insist that they attend my lecture on an alternative date just because of my own views (despite how important they are!)’, so the next best thing he could do was enable us to demand change ourselves and even highlighted that he feels it would be ‘quite appropriate’ if the Vice Chancellor endorsed action in line with #fridaysforfuture, which is an ongoing movement, along with mentioning his desire to see more university staff at protests in the city when they are not teaching.

Moreover, the stereotype has long been held that activism is for the more ‘alternative’ among us, many of my peers have expressed worries that they ‘wouldn’t fit in’ at a protest.

And while this may be true for past actions, I think it’s clear in history that when something is this important, activism transcends social boundaries. It takes going mainstream for real change to occur.

We need only look to the action of the Suffragettes to see that it wasn’t just the ‘alternative youth’ demanding change. Despite this, it’s clear to myself, and Manning, that protesting ‘has to be an individual decision’.

Marching around the city centre with a banner isn’t for everyone and I understand that.

Manning highlighted that ‘people

can have very different ways of being an activist’, activism can be making a change in your family, in your household or on social media.

It could even be working hard now to gain an influential position later in life when you can act to make policy change on a larger scale, or as Lonergan rightly said ‘reusable coffee cups and straws can make all the difference’.

You may not have the time to protest, but there’s little excuse for not making small lifestyle changes, and that doesn’t make you any less of an activist.

I’ve seen many a student disregarding climate action as something they ‘don’t have the time for’, or ‘too science-y for me’, but whether we like it or not, as Dr Read says this is ‘going to be a permanent emergency marking the entire lifetime of young people today’.

This isn’t just a matter of a scientific news story, and it’s not something I believe we have the right to choose - it’s our future now whether we like it or not.

When I asked long-time activist Read what his words of wisdom are for young people beginning this journey, his advice was ‘be in it for the long haul’, which although slightly disheartening is entirely appropriate. While this is going to affect our generation more than any before and we are likely to be dealing with it our entire lifetimes, we might not see the improvements we aim for before we die.

Philosophical activists like Read are campaigning for change to allow future generations, whom we may never meet or talk to, to be able to enjoy a life like ours. The next strike is in London on 12 April (owing to it being the Easter holidays). Come along with banners and chants to use your voice for your future.

World Speech Day: Turning ‘me’ into ‘we’ Vicky Bristow Features Writer

Public speaking is, for many people, something that they feel can never be achieved. As an anxious, agoraphobic woman, I was certainly one of those people. Yet, when my name was announced, I had been sitting in the dark, palms sweating, heart pumping. It was my turn to give a speech. I held my nerves, walked into the spotlight, smiled and started telling my story.

On 14 March, I was privileged to be one of 13 speakers contributing to World Speech Day by presenting a talk on the theme Turning me into we. It took place at Epic Studios, a fully equipped broadcasting venue in the centre of Norwich.

We started our journey with

a public speaking course as part of Do something different week led by Beth Derks-van Damme, a remarkable woman who has a gift for enabling others to find their speaking power. She does this by helping individuals find the message that is on their heart and expressing it in a strong and articulate way. In her own words Beth helps people ‘get their inner voice out’. As I spoke I could see Beth’s smile and sparkling eyes, I could see her pleasure in my achievement and that gave me all the confidence I needed.

My speech was about including older adults into the community, focusing on the work of Friend in Deed, a charity which brings children into old people’s homes to share wonderful activities like music, magic shows and poetry writing. In this way, kindness is shown, friendships are created and

the curse of loneliness is reduced.

My jokes hit home, the pictures of the children and older adults had the desired impact and my speech was met with a huge round of applause.

Indeed, I will remember the applause and the laughter, and I will treasure my certificate but the most important thing was not the ‘me’ but the ‘we’. It was a team event which had been organised and promoted

by Max Sharpe and Jamie Rhodes, wonderful, kind and patient human beings.

There is much that can be said about all the speakers: how Jessica Firman’s strength in her speech took me by surprise; how Mufaro Chishie’s soft eloquent style made me reevaluate my stereotypes about Africa and how Rishad Ali challenged how I think about refugees. The highlight

of the evening for me was, Qiyu Qiao, known as Olivia. When she spoke, I found myself shaking with excitement and pride. Olivia had a story and a passion on her heart to talk about how tourism can be both harmful or helpful.

As a group we met several times for practice, to give each other support and feedback. To watch how Olivia gained structure and confidence in her story, and being part of that journey was indeed a blessing! On the night, her delivery was so bold, her narrative so relatable and her story shone through. I felt her victory and accomplishment.

The winner of the night was Callum Dineen. His speech about social media was delivered in a natural and charismatic style. In a very moving moment, Callum asked the audience to observe a

minute’s silence for Theo Brennan Hulme, a first year UEA student who was found dead in his room the previous week. Callum was not only a wonderful speaker, but he transformed the evening from ‘me’ to ‘we’ with his kind, encouraging and supportive approach towards other speakers.

Events like this have helped to transform my identity from an anxious, agoraphobic to a bold, brave, articulate woman who enjoys the power of being heard. The real joy was in the sheer courage, intelligence and brilliance of standing in front of an audience and daring to share our stories. The real magic of the evening for me was the ‘we’.

The kindness, encouragement and support that enabled each and every one of us to shine and deliver an amazing speech.

Features

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Haggle: a home Translated literature enjoys away from home sales boom despite Brexit Meyzi Adoni Features Writer

During my time in Norwich, as a Turkish student, one of my biggest hopes was to find a place where I can have good Turkish food and feel like home. I tried a couple of places but none of them felt like home or amazed me.

However, a couple of months ago, one of my friends asked a simple but, at the same time, very crucial question: ‘Have you heard of a place called Haggle?’

If he had not told me, I would never have known that it was a Turkish restaurant because for some reason, I always expect Turkish restaurants to have a Turkish name (yes I know, very smart).

Soon after, I found myself in St. Benedicts Street, entering Haggle alongside my friend. We only went there to get some Turkish coffee and tea but the moment I stepped in, I felt different.

From the lighting to the decorations, it all reminded me of Turkey and I felt like I was sitting in a place in Istanbul.

After that short coffee visit, I went to Haggle a couple of times to have dinner, each time with different friends because when you have the opportunity to introduce Turkish food to people, you should introduce it to as many people as you can.

One of my friends told me that the decorations reminded her of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul because they have a traditional Middle Eastern style. Also, the coffee cups and the traditional tea glasses are the ones we always use in Turkey, so in a way going there is also a way to explore Turkish culture.

Then comes the best part: the food. Having tried some of the dishes, desserts and drinks in Haggle, I can recommend some of mine and my friends’ favourite dishes to have.

We normally spend half an hour choosing what to eat, so some guidance might helpful.

Here you can have an individual meal, or order several different plates and share them with your friends.

What I recommend and what most Turkish people do is, start with the mezzes (small plates, you can have it as starters) – any type, you can also combine hot and cold mezzes.

My favorites are Atom (garlic yoghurt with chillies), Ezme (very spicy and fresh salad) and Cacik.

Also, if you are an aubergine fan, you could also give Pathcan Soslu a try.

Then move onto the main dishes which include side dishes, pan, oven and charcoal barbecue options. I highly recommend Beyti, it is lamb with yogurt sauce, tomatoes and pistachios wrapped in lavash bread.

I am normally a huge Beyti lover and Haggle didn’t disappoint me when I ordered one.

F r o m the oven section, you should try Pide (oval flatbread) which can be had with vegetables, meat or sausage, whichever you prefer. You won’t regret ordering one pan dish, even if you’re having pide or kebab.

For desserts, try Kunefe. The way the mix of sweet cheese pastry and pistachios come together is absolutely delicious.

To accompany your meal, you should try the dry Turkish beer and of course, to finish off the day, have a Turkish tea or Turkish coffee.

Also, there are many meals without meat, so don’t be deceived in thinking that Turkish food is entirely meat-based.

So have a night out with your friends, full of delightful Turkish food, and immerse yourself in the wonderful atmosphere of Haggle.

But don’t forget to make a reservation, as they might be fully booked.

And if you go there with me (or see me there), I might surprise you with a fortune-telling session after you have your Turkish coffee.

Photo: Chloe Howcroft

Johanne Elster Hanson Features Writer

Over the past year, when Britain has been continually debating when and how to leave the European Union, there has been a surge in the sale of translated fiction in the UK. According to figures commissioned by the Man Booker International from Nielsen Book, UK sales of translated fiction grew by 5.5 percent only last year, generating sales worth £20.7m.

The amount of translated literature available to UK readers has doubled in the last few years, helped by the international success of writers such as Elena Ferrante, Haruki Murakami and Karl Ove Knausgård.

However, the sales of translated fiction are much higher in countries like Germany, Italy and France, which could point to how, despite a few translated bestsellers, Britain’s literary taste remains largely Anglocentric.

It is ironic that translated fiction enjoys a sales boom just when the UK are debating how best to leave the European Union, especially as books translated from European languages sell particularly well.

As a student of translation, I would be interested to see if this surge in sales will change the way we view the translator and her craft. In his book Is That a Fish in Your Ear?, translator David Bellos estimates that there may be ‘as many as 7,000 languages spoken in the world today.’

Since the most ardent linguists are seldom able to master more than ten languages, translation, which comes from the Latin ‘translat’ and means to ‘carry across,’ is absolutely crucial in aiding us in a multilingual world.

Still, the translator remains a shadowy, elusive figure.

Notoriously underpaid, she is lucky to have her name on the cover of the book she has translated, and even luckier to have her effort acknowledged, or even commented on, in a review.

Don’t judge a book by the name on its cover, though: when reading translated fiction, you will always read the translator’s words, and not the original author’s. The translator must be the book’s most meticulous

and ardent reader, and she must also be able to write with creative flair, to prevent her from creating a flat, lifeless version of the original source text.

She must not simply be intimately acquainted with the original work, but should be mindful of the literary culture of the language she is translating into, so that the meaning may be carried across without a hitch.

Perhaps readers still

“Readers still romanticise the idea of the author as a solitary genius”

romanticise the idea of the author as a solitary genius that writes in airtight isolation. Just as we refuse to acknowledge the roles that skilled editors played in the making of great writers (hello Raymond Carver and T. S. Eliot), it is even less tempting to view translation as a creative act in itself – we would end up with too many names on the cover.

However, as there is no one-to-one equivalent between languages, the literary translator will always end up creating the work they are translating ‘anew’, as Bellos has previously argued.

The finished product will always be the translator’s own version of the source text, which is a great responsibility considering how a translation can sometimes become defining – readers can pick up new translations of a beloved classic and feel like they are reading a different book altogether.

Hopefully, this surge in interest will encourage British publishers to take on more foreign writers, making sure that a variety of international voices will reach UK readers.

In many ways, small independent publishing houses (with less to lose than their more established counterparts) have been upfront when it comes to presenting British readers with translated fiction: The longlist for this year’s Man Booker International Prize, an

annual award handed out to a work of fiction translated into English and published in the UK, contained only two titles that had been published by major established publishing houses – the remaining 11 works reached UK bookshops through independent presses.

Perhaps this means that nonEnglish books that aren’t necessarily ‘safe bets’ will have a chance of being translated and reaching an international market. It is crucial that publishers are willing to also take on titles that have not necessarily been award-winning bestsellers in their respective countries, as artistic quality and high sales are not always synonymous.

It may be that if James Joyce wrote Ulysses in Brahui, or if Shakespeare’s Hamlet was originally performed in Sámi, they may never have reached a larger audience, regardless of their indisputable qualities.

The fact that a small number of people speak the language in which they were written might have led to the Ulysses set in Pakistan and Sámi-Hamlet not being translated into any world language. Perhaps its cultural references would be perceived as too niche for a wider market: would they even consider translating hundreds of fragmented pages about people trotting around Balochistan, or a play about a young Laplander who swears revenge after seeing the Gákti-clad ghost of his father?

The thought of how each language may hide its own Joyce or Shakespeare, undiscovered gems that, if translated into your language could end up life-changing, but which instead may never gain a readership of more than a few thousand readers, is both frustrating and strangely alluring. The chair of the Man Booker International judges, Bettany Hughes, told the Guardian that the translated works on the longlist ‘enrich our idea of what fiction can do.’

I understand only one of the languages represented on the longlist, and therefore look forward to being enriched by the other twelve, in-between stocking up on pharmaceutical goods and applying for my temporary residency in postBrexit Britain.

All photos:Unsplash

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Jess Barrett Features Writer

A lot of products on shelves these days are advertised for certain demographics and audiences.

However there seems to be an unfair difference in the products tailored to men and women.

Toiletries appear to be the main culprits, with deodorant and razors.

In many packets of razors, you get less for you money buying razors specifically branded for women. They have smaller heads and handles indicating that they’re designed for smaller hands.

MP’s debated a bill last week that will aim to scrap the “gender price gap” on “pink tax”. The bill

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w i l l look at products such as razors and deodorants that have been known to be specifically marketed for female audiences and thus more expensive because they are taxed as a luxury.

The pink tax is part of a larger debate about how many essential items are considered to be luxuries.

Sanitary items such as tampons and pads are charged an additional sales tax because they are considered to be a ‘luxury’ item.

This has caused a large debate about how periods are a natural occurrence and should not be considered to be a indulgence.

Recently, the SU has made efforts in showing students that they have priced sanitary items as low as reasonably possible

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to show their support against sanitary items being considered a luxury item.

The New York Department

“Personal care products, such as toiletries were 13 percent more expensive for women than for men” of Consumer Affairs released a study comparing prices of over 800

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The price of buying pink products.

The goal of the study was the guess the differences in price of products tailored to men and women.

The results found that products advertised or designed for female shoppers were on average 7 percent more expensive than comparable products designed/advertised for male shoppers. ‘Personal care products’, such as toiletries were 13 percent more expensive for women than for men.

But why is there a difference in price for products advertised for women? The pink tax revolves around the idea that companies charge women more for toiletries, clothes and personal care products because they will pay more for

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the packaging and t h e aesthetics of the product. This idea also highlights that there is an assumption that women are more materialistic.

BIC pens have been criticised for releasing pens specifically for women that are smaller and pink.. However, these are the only differences between their standard biro pen and their ‘for her’ range.

The pink tax indicates that being a woman costs.

This shows that when the pink tax is combined with the gender wage gap – women are worse off.

The pink tax is another way that women are being discriminated against in society. Hopefully the proposed bill will be passed and invoke lasting change.

What is the ‘pink tax?’

This is a tax placed on women’s toiletries, such as sanitary items, as they are considered ‘luxury items’

Hey UEA

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#UEA

@duffmonkey

26th March 2019

@ueapf

@clurmcgee

Media Collective News ‘Would you do Jailbreak?’

73% 27%

Concrete has been nominated eight times in this year’s national Student Publication Awards. In April, We’ll be visiting York for a conference and awards ceremony. We’re extremely proud of our whole team, and are looking forward to finding out how we (and our friends on other campuses) have done. Keep an eye on our social media to see how we do!

Livewire are still counting the pounds, but this year’s Jailbreak was a success, already raising well over 3,000.

“I reckon I could get the furthest - but I might fall asleep on the way...”

Want to feature in our roundup?

Find us at @Concrete_UEA or use the hashtag #HeyUEA

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26th March 2019

15

The archive:

For this issue’s archive, we’ve selected our front page from January 16 2018, where Concrete first reported on the mental health crisis currently taking place at UEA. Our Editor-inChief at the time, Emily Hawkins, reported that over five years, referalls from SSS to local mental health services increased by 205%.

Speaking then Dr. Jon Sharp, director of Student Services, attributed the rise to an increase in students and reduced stigma around mental health support.

In today’s issue, our front page focuses on what has changed with mental health on campus in the last year, which has seen four student deaths. In Comment, VC David Richardson has written an article drawing attention to what must be done - let us know your thoughts on Twitter, and get featured in the next #HeyUEA.

say thank you to those who transform your education uea.su/tea

Comment

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26th March 2019

Vice-Chancellor David Richardson: A student perspective: ‘We do need help and support’ ‘UEA’s welfare system needs to change’ UEA is a community of 21,000 people, of all ages, and all backgrounds. Each and every one of us is an individual with our own needs and our own very personal struggles.

“The loss of four young people at UEA in a short space of time is a tragedy” For all of us, our mental health is fundamental to our ability to grow and thrive as individuals.

I am a father of two. Both my children have left home and gone to university.

I know the pressures they have faced. As a father, I know at first-hand what it’s like to worry about your loved ones. None of us is immune from those pressures, fears or anxieties.

UEA is home to more than 17,000 students and 4,000 staff and I fully recognise the University’s responsibilities to ensure we do everything we can to support our students and staff through the various demands of studying, working, or just the

pressures of life in general.

UEA is not an island and we are part of a wider society that increasingly struggles with mental health issues.

We need to tackle these issues on a whole-community basis. We do all need to look out for each other.

There is support out there provided

by UEA, the SU, and external agencies. If you need help, don’t hesitate to ask. Help is there.

Over the next five months, UEA is investing an additional funding into our mental health and wellbeing services to improve access to faceto-face services, training for staff, and online wellbeing services; this will see the annual budget increase to £1.4m (63 percent increase in budget) and that is a recognition of the very real rise in demand that we are facing.

But I recognise that it is not simply a question of money.

What we have experienced recently with the deaths of four young students in ten months is unprecedented for UEA. It is outside our experience.

We do need help and support from agencies outside the University and I have asked for that support.

I have formed a ViceChancellor’s taskforce on mental health and wellbeing to bring together all the expertise we have both within the University and

outside UEA. The loss of four young people at UEA in a short space of time is a tragedy.

“There is a lot of ground we need to cover as a community” We need to understand more about how we can develop an effective suicide prevention plan, how we can improve the services we provide as a university, how we can improve access to NHS services, how we can all create a culture where all of us feel more able to ask for help, and where help is readily available.

We do need to confront suicide.

And there are a large number of assumptions and taboos about suicide that we also need to tackle, both at UEA and in wider society.

There is a lot of ground we need to cover as a community.

We do all need to look out for each other.

You have my commitment that UEA is treating this as our absolute priority.

Joe Williams Comment Writer

The death of Theo Brennan Hulme on 12 March shocked the UEA community.

This is the fourth student death in just ten months, after Jonathan Walker died on 13 May, Jess Fairweather died on 11 October, and police found the body of Nick Sadler at the UEA Lake after a week-long search in February.

Along with shock and sadness at this news, many people are rightly asking questions about the systemic problems within the welfare infrastructure at UEA. In its current form it is not fit for purpose. Despite the various services UEA offers and the hard work of its staff, one student reported waiting as long as four months to be seen by Student Support Services (SSS).

This is clear evidence of an institutional crisis and the need for drastic change.

The Vice Chancellor David Richardson is correct to announce a ‘taskforce’ to review this issue, but we also need a thorough investigation into the entire student support infrastructure.

Those who work in SSS, academic departments, and UEASU can only do their best within the welfare system they operate in.

Once problems are more clearly identified, they can be more thoroughly addressed.

Equally, while the announcement of an extra £250,000 investment to SSS is of course welcome, it simply isn’t enough – it’s not even £17 per student. UEA needs to make the mental health of its students and staff the top priority and the first consideration

when it comes to their budget.

But alongside proper funding, there also needs to be a complete shift in approach. As a society we are thankfully more open about our mental health, but too often it is still seen as a distinct issue rather than as something that intersects with all aspects of professional and personal life.

Just as everything is political, everything is related to mental health. Changes to reading lists, putting lecture slides online, switching rooms, assessment feedback – these are all factors that can affect mental health. It isn’t simply a case of increasing funding to SSS – which is necessary and right – but instead UEA must consider how mental health both impacts and is impacted by everything else on and off campus.

This is part of a wider societal problem, and one that affects East Anglia. According to MIND, one in four people will experience mental health problems in a year, and in November 2018 the Norfolk and Suffolk mental health trust was rated inadequate for the third time, making it the worst performing mental health trust in England.

We don’t exist in a vacuum: UEA needs to address this and lobby for local and national changes beyond the campus. Mental health is such a complex issue, and everyone is different. It is clear that UEA’s welfare system needs to change, but there is help available. Please seek help if you need it.

You can contact SSS, by calling 01603 592761 or emailing studentsupport@uea.ac.uk. A full list of support services available can be found here.

Alternatively you can contact Samaritans on 116 123 24-hours a day or email jo@samaritans.org.

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concrete-online.co.uk/category/comment/ | @Concrete_UEA

‘Brexit is genuinely pointless’ Matt Branston Comment Writer

Several of the most important votes in recent British political history took place this month. The first of these was another vote on Theresa May’s negotiated deal, also known as Meaningful Vote 2.

This was once again rejected, though this time it was the fourth largest defeat in Parliamentary history as opposed to the largest.

This shows both a fundamental lack of trust in the government, and that Parliament is unwilling to cooperate to find a real solution.

To be honest, my fundamental issue with Brexit, and why I’ve written probably several thousand words about it in this paper, is that Brexit is genuinely pointless.

The only reason we’re here is because UKIP came out of nowhere and wanted to get rid of immigrants despite all economic facts contradicting t h e i r arguments, D a v i d Cameron wanted to provide more seats for the Conservatives, and Ed Miliband decided to eat a bacon sandwich like he didn’t

have a mouth or hands on him, so obviously he was unelectable.

Theresa May has this month continued to run down the clock.

She’s keeping the ball in the corner at the end of the match, except we’re 3-1 down and she knows it.

If we’re lucky and we get a long extension, it will be on the basis of a general election or referendum.

That would allow time to actually make something happen.

But we’re so nearly at the breaking point, and even if we go past it, the same throng of people will have the same ludicrous issues.

So the question is, what’s the point?

What’s been the point this whole time? I don’t think there is one.

Brexit is a disaster. Theresa May is clueless. And Ed Miliband probably still can’t eat a sandwich.

Photo: Flickr

‘Find the good amidst the gloom’ Liam Heitman-Rice Comment Writer

‘The battle to feed humanity is already lost.’ That’s the cheerful assessment of a book called The Population Bomb, which was published in the 60s.

It concludes we in the western world will have starved to death by the early 80s.

Now a UN report published this month underlines 2018’s ‘increased number of intense hurricanes [and] the heat waves and wildfires in the northern hemisphere’ were the cause of severe climate change.

Add that to our usual shopping list of catastrophes – depleting oil reserves, rising sea levels, overpopulation, Trump, Brexit – and it seems the overarching narrative of human evolution is one of limited space and finite resources.

Every generation someone is telling us we’re all screwed.

This constantly updating roster of Doomsday deadlines makes it very difficult for me to remain optimistic about the future.

I graduate in four months. I want to be able to land on my feet with a job as soon as I toss my mortarboard in the air.

So it’s pretty disheartening for people to say that by the time I get myself hired and find somewhere to live, we’ll be fighting over the last pack of cornflakes and horseshoes will have replaced British sterling as

the new hard currency of the Brexit apocalypse.

In an attempt to insulate myself from such societal trauma, I subscribe to the idea we should be positive about our futures.

There are plenty of delights which reinforce this fact: carrot cake, hot water bottles, woolly socks, books, bicycles, weekend sleep-ins, love, hugs, dogs and K y l i e Minogue.

It helps to find the good amidst the gloom.

Identify those small pieces of goodness making you happy, and make them immediately accessible.

Set the home screen of your phone as a photo that will always make you smile.

Listen to music, all the time.

Eat cake.

Find the good and keep happiness close to hand.

Photo:Pixabay

Technology is damaging children’s language skills Beth Bacon Comment Writer

The Guardian recently released an article revealing that Clark’s, the British shoe shop chain, has a new initiative for employees to engage in conversation with children in their stores.

This resonated with me because my mother is a primary school teacher and for years has highlighted the noticeable drop of children’s communication skills.

I interviewed Liz Bacon, Early Years teacher at St Peter’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Rossendale, and Harry Dyer, lecturer in the School of Education and Lifelong Learning at UEA, for further insight.

I thought the importance of speaking to children from a young age meant conversing with them at dinner times. However, Mrs Bacon explained that it goes far beyond that. ‘It starts when babies are in their pram, which should be organised, so the child is facing the adult to allow for interaction.’ Mr Dyer said, ‘Talking to young people is hugely important. It is the basis for primary socialisation and the roots of how we learn what we call literacy.’

Although children should

observe the world around them, it is vital that parents exercise their discussion skills.

Mrs Bacon added, ‘All the way, through as they grow, the development of their ‘talk’, their vocabulary, their understanding of language is key to their success in future life. And the way to achieve that is through talk and face-to-face interaction.’

It seems our educators really do have eagle eyes. Mrs Bacon said, ‘When a child starts school, it is clearly evident which families relish conversation, and which escape to screens.’ So, watch out parents, teachers are observant; they will know if you have been chatting to your kids.

One of the biggest knockon effect in the drop in language skills in the need for more speech therapy in schools. Mrs Bacon said, ‘Over the last 10 years, which has coincided with the growing plethora of screens... smart phones... tablets... in-car screens and 24-hour TV, teachers have discerned a growing need for speech intervention in school.’

Some children do genuinely have speech issues unrelated to their upbringing. However, Mrs Bacon explained, ‘there is a continually growing number

whose difficulties could be linked to “speech silent” homes’.

However, Mr Dyer said, ‘it’s brilliant that we’re getting better at diagnosing speech issues in young people and that we’re intervening at an earlier age.

But I don’t see it as a crisis. I don’t see it as a current problem any more than it has been in the past. Children are learning a hell of a lot through technology and the internet. I think our definitions of literacy need to shift to meet them.’

I have always pictured bringing up my children with a bean bagfilled ‘reading corner’ where they would enjoy hot chocolate and Roald Dahl, without technology. However, Mr Dyer doesn’t necessarily follow the same sentiment. He said, ‘I don’t think we should take young children away from screens. Plato was worried that books were ruining young people. This fear of new technologies is nothing new.

There is a foundation for it, but we continue to evolve.’

I have realised that, of course, socialisation from a young age is important. But we shouldn’t be afraid of technology.

Tablets and online learning games can be incredibly useful tools and we should embrace them.

I was given access to the modern

technology when I was growing up, but my mother also made sure to face my pram towards her.

I am an extroverted conversationalist now, so I would say this approach worked quite well.

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Science

26th March 2019

18

Rain, rain, go away...

From heavy rain to Seasonal Affective Disorder, how weather affects our mood

Hannah Brown

Science Writer

Despite the fact Norwich has the least rainfall of any UK city, when the heavens do open our moods can drop, a sentiment felt by people across the globe.

Multiple studies have been conducted on how rainfall affects our mental health, as well as affecting levels of crime.

“The next time you feel a little under the weather, glance out the window” One study by Marie Connolly in 2013 found that on days ‘with more rain and higher temperatures [subjects reported] statistically and substantively decreasing life satisfaction’. Connolly also reported that the exact same subjects reported higher life satisfaction on days with lower temperatures and no rain.

Not only that, but SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder, is a type of depression that the majority of suf-

ferers experience during the cold and rainier months (with a minority experiencing SAD in the summer months).

The lower temperatures and heavy rainfalls can, therefore, seriously affect your mood as well as the lack of sunlight, lower melatonin levels making us feel sleepier than normal.

In 2008, a paper was published suggesting that the weak monsoon seasons were influential in the downfall of three dynasties in ancient China: the Tang, Yuan, and Ming dynasties. By analysing stalagmites in caves, they were able to link seasons with little rainfall to times of social upheaval.

Therefore, if heavy rainfall can make us feel worse than usual, and comparatively little rainfall can influence the overthrowing of dynasties, what else can the weather do to us?

A 2015 analysis of 6.6 million police reports which cover a decade of crime in Manchester showed that crime rates rise

with the mercury on a thermometer.

Science Writer

Patients with chronic and terminal illnesses often also struggle with depression and fear, both of which can be caused by the illness itself.

Those that remain in hospital must then navigate these feelings along with boredom and isolation, which can lead to deterioration in both their physical and mental wellbeing.

It is clear that medical care alone is not sufficient for people in these scenarios, and hospitals are beginning to acknowledge the need for high-level long term and palliative care.

Researchers at UEA and the University of Cambridge have developed a method to give people with progressive conditions the higher quality of care that they deserve.

The research began by identifying aspects of life that patients with advanced Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) required better help with. A tool named

SNAP (Support Needs Approach for Patients) was then created to help the patients to express their needs. SNAP provides a framework for patients to consider what areas they would like more help in.

They can then discuss these with a healthcare professional.

It is hoped that in the future SNAP will be opened up to patients with other progressive conditions.

The tool has been included on a new set of criteria called The Daffodil Standards which aims to improve the quality of hospital care.

L e a d r e -

Image: Pixabay, mcmurryjulie

criminals may be at work or school during the day, and then commit crime in the late afternoon or evening when temperatures are lower anyway.

‘PC Rain’ is often thanked by those in the policing industry. A study in New York City showed that, whilst the average number of homicides a day in New York is two, when there is a heavy summer downfall that number can actually drop all the way to zero.

“It might have more of an effect than you first think”

However, the rates seem to peak at 18 degrees Cel-

Improving person-centred care Jake Walker-Charles

sius, before dropping again, whilst criminals in northern England tend to venture out until temperatures reach 24 degrees celsius.

No one really knows why crime r a t e s drop after

searcher from UEA’s School of Health Sciences, Dr Morag Farquhar, confirmed that patients with advanced long-term illnesses (such as COPD) ‘experience disabling physical symptoms, which are often combined with psychological and social distress’. She also states: ‘patients often have difficulty reporting their support needs to health care professionals’. This is the very issue that SNAP aims to deal with.

The research team published thirty-one papers on COPD support needs as well as interviewing twenty patients with advanced COPD to create a list of common support needs.

These included support with managing breathlessness and dealing with depression, as well as practical support with cooking and respite care for carers.

these t e m peratures – some have suggested that would-be offenders are taking a summer holiday – but it may actually be to do with the time of day crimes take place. Often,

Opportunistically, the link between rainfall and criminal rates makes a lot of sense – people ‘tend to not want to go out and commit crime in bad weather unless [they’re] desperate,’ said psychologist Dr Keri Nixon.

So the next time you feel a little under the weather, glance out the window and notice what the skies are doing. It might have more of an effect on you than you first think.

Photo: Pixabay, Annca

#trashtag Laura Taylor Science Writer

It’s not often that a viral hashtag on social media goes, well, beyond social media.

But an online challenge encouraging users to clean up places has seen tens of thousands of people doing just that.

A new viral craze has seen young people globally participating in litter picking activities. #trashtag is a challenge originally started by the American outdoor apparel company, UCO Gear.

So far, the hashtag has seen engagement in countries as far apart, both geographically and politically, as the UK and Russia.

The company says, ‘we’ve all experienced that ‘accidental littering’ moment, and the embarrassment and horror that comes with it.

Unfortunately, not everyone feels the same attachment to keeping our natural spaces pristine’.

UCO are suitably thrilled with the spread of their project since is establishment in 2015.

Although there is no official data stating the mass of litter #trashtag has taken out of the environment, experts estimate that from social media posts this value will be significant, and contribute to other initiatives such as Surfers Against Sewage and Divers Against Debris in their efforts to remove plastic and other waste from the environment.

Scientists have urged participants put in a little extra work and weigh and analyse the trash they collect, submitting it one of the previously mentioned companies.

This step will help scientists to keep track of the types of litter collected and analyse patterns and trends to help identify ways to stop this problem getting worse.

Have you tried it? Let us know @Concrete_UEA

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26th March 2019

concrete-online.co.uk/category/science/ | @Concrete_UEA

Death by fake drugs

Photo: Teens, PXHERE, SoyFeliz2018

Annabel Topliss

Science Writer

National rise in male nursing applicants Anna José

Science Editor

Nursing is a notoriously difficult career.

From long hours with few breaks, to an unpredictable workload, nurses are expected to support patients and their families through some of their hardest moments, which can be difficult at the best of times.

And perhaps even more so for male nurses, who still only make up under 11 percent of all nurses in the UK. Despite being one of the most gender-segregated job roles, in 2019 male nursing applications in the UK hit all time high.

The group with the highest application rate was school leavers, aged 18.

In the last decade, applications in this age group have risen by 50 percent, reflecting changing attitudes surrounding the traditionally female role.

The closing of the gender gap comes despite the removal of the NHS bursary, which previously helped students to cover costs associated with their degree.

Between 2016 and 2018 there was a 31 percent decrease in applications due to the withdrawal of this funding, leaving many applicants unable to pursue a career in Nursing.

2019 applications have seen an overall 4.1 percent increase on 2018 however, suggesting that campaigns such as ‘We are the NHS’ are encouraging more people, including men, to consider Nursing.

To gain a better understanding of the challenges facing nursing students today, Concrete asked

current second year students to share their thoughts on the national rise in male applicants.

Andriena Richards said ‘I think it’s fantastic that there has been an increase in male nursing applicants.

Men should be encouraged to become nurses so that patients see a variety of people in the profession.’

Although, she also pointed out that there is sometimes still a stigma around male nurses, with some being called gay or asked why they chose not to be doctors instead.

Sam Woolcock, who has worked with patients with dementia said that he has noticed the value that some male patients place on having a male nurse and ‘man-to-man’ input in their care.

Roberto Bogyere mirrored this point. He applied for nursing because he loves caring for people, and finds it especially rewarding when patients he works with regain a sense of independence that can so often be disrupted through illness.

He said: ‘At the end of it all, I can say that I helped that person regain their skills and their life back.

That is something I find very satisfying.’

Surprisingly, despite the national increase, UEA has seen a slight fall in male applicants this year, from 21.24 percent in 2017/18 to 19.51 percent in 2018/19.

Although, with male students making up approximately one fifth of all of its Nursing students, UEA still leads the way in closing the female: male split nationally.

Despite the literal blood, sweat and tears that student nurses experience during their Nursing degrees, the general consensus is that it is worth it to pursue a career that you love, whatever your gender...

Before a drug is deemed suitable for human use it has to undergo rigorous testing, which can take up to 12 years. However, counterfeit and poor-quality medicines have surged the global pharmaceutical market and are thought to be responsible for the deaths of over 250,000 children each year.

Many falsified medicines include anti-malaria drugs, cancer drugs and antimicrobials, exposure to which can cause drug resistance in certain cases.

The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene stated that falsified and substandard medicines now make up ten percent of all medicines in developing countries.

The producers of counterfeit drugs target low and middle income countries, usually with high medicine demand and absence of effective systems for pharmaceutical regulation and governance.

Many of these developing countries lack the technology and policies needed to fight against this

counterfeit infiltration. Weakness in drug quality assurance protocol will ultimately jeopardise a country’s ability to protect patients from substandard products and cause distrust in the health system.

This surge, with an estimated economic cost of up to US $200 bn, is thought to have been fuelled by the increase in global internet access and rise in online pharmacies.

The Centre for Safe Internet Pharmacies (CSIP) stated in 2016 that there were up to 35,000 illicit online pharmacies, 96 percent of which failed to adhere to legal requirements. Online pharmacies and IT companies have been identified in fuelling the current US opioid epidemic, responsible for up to 130 deaths every day.

Many organisations are striving to address this global crisis with the key players including: WHO, UN Office of Drugs and Crime, and INTERPOL. All working to aid in the

surveillance, control and criminal justice tied to the fake drug trade.

INTERPOL’s Operation Pangea has seized tens of thousands of fake drug products but the threat from the internet still requires a system for prohibition. Research suggests there is a need for organisations, like INTERPOL, to cooperate and share their data with each other in order to combat this issue.

There is a growing threat that terrorist organisations play within the pharmaceutical industry and a ‘war through pharmaceuticals’ which ‘current international framework is ill-equipped to proactively handle’, according to the Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law. Urgent international effort, as well as development in low-cost quality assurance and digital technology that allows manufacturerto-patient security, is required to actively combat this growing issue, where life-saving medicine turns lifethreatening.

Photo: Pills, Pixabay, Ranys

‘Universities need to promote more women into the sciences’ Lucy Burrows Science Writer

Sadly, women still remain very much unrepresented in many workplaces.

It is well known that the corporate world, politics and banking are male dominated, but what is perhaps particularly shocking is the lack of women in Science.

Many important scientific discoveries were achieved by women in the 20th century. Marie-Curie was a Polish-born French physicist and chemist best known for her contributions to radioactivity.

German-born American physicist Maria Mayer received Nobel Prize for suggesting the nuclear shell model of the atomic nucleus.

Barbara Mcclintock was a American scientist and cytogeneticist who received Nobel Prize in 1983 for the discovery of genetic transposition.

Finally, closer to home, Jane Goodall a British primatologist and ethologist, widely considered to be the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees.

These ground-breaking scientists need to be remembered for pushing the boundaries around women in the workplace.

Recently, Rosalind Franklin was recognized for contributions towards British science, with the naming of the new mars rover in her honor.

However, much more needs to be done to make STEM subjects accessible for all. The Athena Swan charter, set up in 2005 aims to advance the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM).

Since its set-up, there has been a 28 percent increase in the number of women undertaking undergraduate degrees in STEMM subjects.

Furthermore, a new initiative by the government awards nine wom-

en the opportunity to undertake research into providing solutions to modern challenges such as plastic pollution.

However, women are still underrepresented within universities as few take on leadership roles.

Here at UEA, just ten percent of staff are female within the school of chemistry, highlighted in the UEA Athena Swan Bronze award.

A recent equality report at UEA has shown an increase in the number of female professors: 7.1 percent in 2009 to 19.1 percent since 2019.

This is good news, but clearly more work needs to be done to tackle the barriers faced by women wanting to progress in academic Science.

Several Universities are working to solve equality by creating diverse governing bodies so as to make women inclusive members of university society.

Let’s hope gender equality within Science continues to improve.

Travel

20

26th March 2019

Big T Amelia Rentell

Easter around the globe Amy Newbery Travel Editor

Easter is a time celebrated throughout the world by religious and non-religious people. This year, Easter Sunday falls on the 21 April. Easter, also known as Resurrection Sunday is a holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus.

Nowadays, it has become much more commercialised with the Easter bunny which has folkloric origins as the symbol of Easter. Although Easter is based on one tradition, countries around the world have their own way of celebrating it.

England In England, Easter is an holiday full of fun and celebration. There will often be Easter egg hunts for young children, hot cross buns, simnel

cake, and more. Most people are on holiday during the week and often go to church to sing hymns. In England, Easter is also a time to be with your family and friends so a Sunday roast is to be expected.

One quirky tradition happens on Easter Monday where people partake in egg rolling. Like its namesake, people take eggs to the top of a hill and roll them down. Whoever’s egg gets to the bottom first is declared the winner.

Germany In Germany, Easter Sunday is also known as Family Day. A unique tradition of theirs is called ‘Easter Fire’ where they burn their Christmas tree to symbolise the end of winer and the start of spring. Lots of sweet delicacies are common in Germany such as bread rolls (Brötchen), carrot cake, many flavours of jam,

wurst, etc. An egg tree is also a part of Easter in Germany where eggs are painted and hung from branches inside and outside the house. Like in England, children also enjoy going on egg hunts.

Greece Easter is also known as ‘Pascha’ which was the Greek and Latin name for Easter.

Needless to say, Easter is very important in Greece where churches are decorated and processions are held. Instead of painting eggs with vibrant and bright colours, they are painted red as it symbolises the blood of Christ.

Unlike the rest of the world, Easter in Greece is not commercialised by pastel colours, the Easter bunny, chocolate or sweets. In addition to dyed eggs, you can also eat a soup called mageiritsa, which is made out of lamb offal, lettuce,

fresh herbs and finished with an egg and lemon liaison. Definitely a country to visit if you want to experience Easter traditionally rather than commercially.

India Although the percentage of Christians in India is small, their celebrations for Easter are colourful and energetic. It might be interesting to know that the origin of the Easter holiday in India was when the British occupied the country. Due to that, there are some similarities between how India and how Britain celebrate Easter. Simnel cake is also eaten in India and served on Easter Sunday.

In Goa, the ‘Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church’ is a popular destination during this period and the streets are decorated vibrantly. You can also experience processions and carnivals in Goa.

Image:Unsplash

A guide to the best and worst of airline food Erica Thajeb Travel Writer

I don’t know about you, but I look forward to meal times during flights.

Not only does it pass the time, but I am always excited to receive the little trays and finding out what is in each of the compartments.

If you’re like me, airline food can really determine the whole flight experience, so today I am breaking down what I think are three of the best and worst airline meals.

One of the worst airlines in the world, according to Skytrax, is the North Korea-based Air Koryo.

Its overall quality has given its label as a ‘1-star airline’, which certainly applies to their food too.

In fact, their food is notoriously terrible that LA Times coins the term ‘legendary Koryo burger’.

Yes, the only thing they’re known to serve passengers are burgers, and these are not juicy, decent-

tasting burgers, but a slab of dry meat and a tiny piece of lettuce in between two buns.

Next up on the list is Ukraine International Airline, whose inflight meals are not included in the ticket fees, which means that you must pay to get the standard tray of food.

The meal itself isn’t that much appealing either, despite Ukraine’s well-loved culinary heritage, and a lot of passengers have complaints about them being unappetizing and inedible.

An example includes a strange chicken burger drowned in orangey sauce, low-quality dessert and a small side of salad.

Talk about a bad flight indeed…

Air China is also quite reputable for its not-so-tasty meals. While they still provide a variety of international options in addition to traditional Chinese food, many passengers have complained about the poor quality.

Deemed mediocre at its best, at least Air China does offer salad, fresh fruits and bread in addition to the main course.

Moving on to the best airline food, the economy class meals of Thai Airways have won multiple awards for a reason.

Although delicious international options are also offered, most of their meals are inspired by Thai cuisine, including pad thai noodles, various Asian rice dishes and curries for their main course.

In addition to the main selection, there is always some kind of salad, bread with butter and either fresh fruits or dessert.

What is even greater, they make sure to support local farmers by using seasonal ingredients and fresh produce. Vegetarian and allergen-free options are also available upon request when booking.

Another award-winning airline meal is provided by Turkish Airlines. On shorter flights, the meals usually include Mediterranean sandwiches, starters and desserts, while on long-haul flights there are an array of dishes from across the globe cooked from fresh, seasonal ingredients. The range

goes from international and continental breakfasts, Greek coffees to more local dishes like kebabs, kuru fasulye beans and sweet baklavas – the sort of street food you would find in Turkish cities like Istanbul and Ankara!

Finally, we have Qatar Airways. This luxurious airline provides in-flight meals that are tailored according to the destinations, so that passengers can taste authentic local cuisine even before landing.

What’s unique about Qatar is that they serve their meals in 99 percent recyclable trays, cups and boxes.

There is always an option from three main courses and a lighter choice, as well as a fresh salad or hummus dip for starter.

Their specialties include meat or vegetables with rice, Malaysian curry and Indian pakora.

Passengers can also request for meals for vegetarians and gluten-free alternatives.

So, how have your in-flight meal experiences been? Which airlines do you think have the best and worst food?

My American ‘adventure’ is very nearly coming to an end. Nearly being about six weeks.

This month marks the monumental occasion that the pool at my accommodation opens back up.

The winter months have been and gone, moving aside for tornado season. Have I seen one yet? No. Do I want to? Unsure.

Oklahoma receives an average of 52 tornados a year – enough for once a week!

Luckily for me, I can see the shelter from my bedroom but when on campus, it’s a free for all.

Before I left, my cousin requested I get a selfie with one as it would be PowerPoint gold for all eternity when teaching his geography class. We’ll see.

Like most people, when thinking of tornados, my mind goes back to the classic tale of The Wizard of Oz. As a child, the 1939 black and white turned technicolour film scared the hell out of me.

Grown men in costumes usually will do that to you but it was also the great storm, second only to the rhino storm scene of James and the Giant Peach – which today I still would not watch again – that linger in my memory.

Aside from tornados and such, nothing else is really going on. The preparation for end of year has begun with final essay proposals being bluffed.

I am so excited to come home and finish my year abroad but it would be a shame to wish it away, counting the days.

I think studying abroad is often hyped up as the best thing ever, and to some people it is but it’s also quite hard some days.

For me, it’s not always to much as missing my friends and family but just tap water and Tesco meal deals and good public transport.

Furthermore, to be understood for my sarcastic British humour… those Americans really must catch up.

Hope you’re all doing well and that the sun comes out soon.

It won’t be long before the square is a bustle with stressed students drinking, whilst I shall be with my dear mosquito pals on my dry campus.

I’ll let you know if I catch a glimpse of a big T.

Photo: Vecteezy

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26th March 2019

concrete-online.co.uk/category/travel/ | @Concrete_UEA

How to travel on a budget - jailbreak style As UEA students return from their 36 hour campus escape, we've got the best cheap travel tips for Easter What to be aware of Rachel Glaves Travel Writer

For the last three years I have taken off for a couple of weeks, with a rucksack on my back, and a very precise (and often small) amount of money in my pocket.

In fact, in a couple of weeks I am doing the same again!

There are a couple of things I have learnt over my few years of budget travelling which may come in handy for this year’s Jailbreakers.

What to be aware of?

How expensive is the destination?

Some cities are miles cheaper than others, so plan where to go well. Sofia and Krakow are up there with the cheap city holidays

5 Sam Hewitson Travel Writer

Asia is a traveller’s paradise. It is diverse, beautiful, and culturally fascinating, which is no secret.

T h e perception of Asia, however, is dominated by certain countries.

Thailand is the first country to spring to mind when talking about backpacking, China has one of the most famous histories in the world and the culture of Japan and Korea are world renowned. So, what about everywhere else? Here are five underrated travel destinations in Asia that are just as bucket list worthy.

Indonesisa

What not to do

What to bring whilst many Italian cities are the complete opposite.

Where to stay?

Hostels are always a good option for travelling on a budget!

They have cheap rooms, cheap washing facilities (if this is a priority for you), some have free food and almost all come with a kitchen!

Where to eat?

As most hostels come equipped with a kitchen so there is no need to constantly eat out.

Whilst this may sound lovely, it is quite expensive. Why not chose to cook or buy food from the local supermarket at a much lower price?

What to bring?

How much money?

Budget for your trip in advance. Think about what you want to do and how much this will cost.

That way you only take what is necessary, which is great on a student budget. Take a little spare cash though, just in case.

Once a friend and I missed a train and had to buy a 7-hour bus to Brussels!

What to pack?

Don’t overpack. You don’t need ridiculous amounts of technology, or massive bottles of shampoo. Take the basics – travel toiletries, a camera maybe and I would always recommend a small fold away towel.

Hostels will always have the necessary things for sleeping and cooking, so you only need to pack what they can’t provide.

Don’t make your bag too heavy!

Student card.

Make sure you take an international student card with you – it will save you ridiculous amounts of money! In Athens, I saved €30 because all the sites were free to EU students!

What not to do?

Hitch hike.

I would not recommend this.

No matter how cheap it is, it isn’t very safe at all. I can’t say I never considered it – especially when I was stranded at the wrong side of a town – but I didn’t do it as I did not feel safe. Budget travel should never put you in danger.

Overspend.

I know, this is quite an obvious one, but overspending is so easy

to do! When your travelling you see something that catches your eye and suddenly you’ve spent a lot of money. Just think about what you’re buying it – being a good budget traveller is all about being cautious with your money (and getting a great deal when you can).

Peak times.

Jailbreak is happening in our Easter – not the rest of the countries’ Easter – so it a perfect time to travel. Avoiding travel at peak times is a sure-fire way of travelling on the cheap.

Budget travel can be fun. You are restricted to what you do and spend your money on, but if you pack well, plan well and stay aware of what you are splashing that cash on, you will have a whale of a time!

countries to visit in Asia When most people think of Indonesia, Bali is mentioned.

Bali is stunning, of course, but Indonesia is an archipelago of over 17,000 islands, so why choose the most famous and subsequently most congested?

Explore Indonesia beyond Bali, and you will experience the same beauty and largely the same activities, with a better sense of the idyllic paradise that Bali once was. The small Gili Islands offer some of the best snorkelling opportunities in the world, Sumbawa provides amazing surf, and Borneo is covered in rainforest that houses amazing wildlife, especially the orangutans, which make the region famous.

Planet, so it is due to spike in popularity. Dwarfed by India, quite literally, Sri Lanka has flown under the radar until recently, but now people are beginning to catch on to the amazing beaches, wildlife, temples and culture that can be found there. I am sure you will have seen photos of the train that people lean out the windows and doors as it moves along the side of the hills and through the rainforest. That’s in Sri Lanka, and so many people want one of the renowned shots themselves, so get to Sri Lanka before it changes too much under the pressure of tourism.

vibes to the big cities of China and Japan, and the landscapes of Taiwan rival those of SouthEast Asia. A well rounded, all encompassing experience of Asia can all be found in Taiwan, with such a heavy contrast as one travels around it and explores all there is to be seen.

Laos Laos, in South East Asia, is a landlocked country bordered

by Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, yet is, on the whole, less known than its neighbours.

With the exception of stunning beaches due it being

Image: OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay Sri Lanka I am currently trying to get to Sri Lanka, and so is everyone else. Sri Lanka has found itself at the top of many ‘Best in Travel for 2019’ lists, including Lonely

Taiwan Taiwan is only a tiny island, but it offers the same and if not more than the big countries that dominate Asian tourism. Taipei, the capital city, provides similar

landlocked, Laos offers similar scenery, culture and experiences, but without the same level of tourist buzz.

People often complain that when visiting a country like

Thailand or Vietnam that they cannot get the Instagram worthy shots easily because of the popularity, but Laos is yet to be hit by this tourism to the same extent, meaning that it is more unspoiled, less busy and thus a better option should one want to escape the tourist circle. Again, like Sri Lanka, get there before everyone else catches on.

Myanmar (Burma) Many people disregard Myanmar because of debates surrounding its safety, but most parts of Myanmar are safe to travel to, and similar advice is given about travel here than is given about Thailand and Bali.

Having recently come out of isolation and political instability, Myanmar has only

recently been visited by travellers, and its falsely questionable safety continues to deter visitors.

Therefore, it is still untouched and worth the visit before this changes. I desperately want to go to Bagan, having seen the photos of the temples with balloons in the sky, and having had a poster of it for the whole of first year.

This is definitely a destination to add to your travel bucket lists.

Sport

26th March 2019

22

Cheer Dance raise £1000 for charity Laura Martin Sport Writer

‘So You Think You Can Cheer Dance?’ was hosted on Tuesday 19th March in the LCR, and was inspired by work which the UEA Angels Cheerleading Dance committee had seen from other sports teams, such as Dancesport with UEA Strictly. We wanted to create an event that would become a legacy for our team, helping with our club’s funding whilst also raising money for charity.

What was a vague idea, quickly became a reality, as we realised that we had under a month to carefully plan, promote and undertake training for the event.

Our president, Abbey Hancock, was incredibly organised, getting in touch with all the relevant people straight off the bat to ensure that we could go ahead with the night and guarantee its smooth operation.

Emails were sent out to all nondance sports teams asking for their participation, and the response we received was overwhelmingly positive. We were thrilled that nine teams were up for the challenge of not only organising themselves at super-speed, but of then undertaking three weeks of intense cheerleading training in the lead up to the event.

Our contestants were taught minute-long pom routines, including various technical elements such as kicklines, leaps and jumps, before premiering them on the LCR stage in front of our expert panel of judges, as well as an audience of almost 300 people! They competed fiercely for the title of So You Think

You Can Cheer Dance Champions 2019, as well as for the People’s Choice award and the position of runner up.

We were stunned by the teams’ hard work and dedication, as well as general enthusiasm for the event. Ticket sales surpassed our expectations, and we are so proud to announce that we raised well over £1000 for Bloody Good Period

– a charity which provides sanitary products to those who cannot afford them, and menstrual education to those who cannot access it.

We really appreciate all the time and effort the teams, the audience and of course our wonderful judges put into the event, and cannot thank everyone enough for helping us achieve such an incredible result.

A massive well done to everyone

who took part, and a particular well done to our winners: Men’s Rugby - People’s Choice, Gymnastics Runners up and Women’s Rugby our champions.

This was an excellent morale boost after a disappointing experience at BCA. Read the full article online at www.concrete-online.co.uk

Pirates promoted to Premiership UEA Pirates A m e r i c a n Football team have been p r o m o t e d to the BUCS Premiership for next season after wins over Bath and Exeter in the Southern playoffs. UEA will face Coventry in the BUCS Trophy national final in Loughborough on Sunday, hoping to become the country’s best university American Football team outside of the Premiership.

After their first playoff victory over Queen Mary, two successive home wins took UEA to the national final. First, they saw off Bath 14-0, before last week defeating Exeter 14-8 in the Southern final, a game that saw the teams battle snow, wind and dazzling sunshine at Colney Lane.

President Connor Kennedy reflected on the Exeter clash: ‘The game was intense and remained scoreless until the 2nd half, keeping us all on edge. The weather was a huge shock and made our passing game more difficult than usual, but it didn’t stop Ben Borthwick picking one out of the air in the end zone and putting us on the scoreboard.

‘Corneilius Walters iced the game with his dagger of a play, punching in a 30-yard run for our final touchdown of the game.

Lewis Williams had a strong game and managed to kick both of our PATs successfully despite the wind.

We’re excited for our Premiership promotion next year and for the BUCS national final [this] week against the Coventry Jets, which is going to be a hell of a game.’

Tony Allen

UEA Lacrosse women end season with Derby win Tony Allen Sport Editor

UEA women’s Lacrosse first team finished their BUCS Midlands 2A campaign with a resounding 19-0 victory away at Derby.

Six of UEA’s goals were scored b y

Photo: Tony Allen

Derby native Fiona Smith, with five coming from Phoebe Hartz.

Cat Stallard netted three and was named man of the match, with Carsen Lennon, Bee Belkacem, Georgie Sutton, Kiki Abay and Beth Heritage completing the scoring.

UEA were missing several key players for the trip to the midlands including Adela Milà-de-Puri, Tilly Pembroke, Emily Winter and Lottie Payne, who was competing for UEA Snow at the BUCS national snowsports finals.

And there was some pressure on UEA to finish their league season with a big win having beaten Derby twice already in league and cup, although with a full strength Derby team it would never be as straightforward as the 36-0 win over a depleted visiting side earlier in the season at Colney Lane.

All that was needed in terms of the league was a win to overtake

Warwick 2s and finish fourth in the table.

The first quarter began as an end-to-end affair, with both sides settling their attacks in front of goal, both defences turning over possession and any UEA hopes of a walkover before the match forgotten.

However, Hartz calmed UEA nerves by opening the deadlock, and two goals just before half-time from Cat Stallard saw UEA go into the first break 3-0 to the good.

The Eagles started really having fun in the second half’s dazzling sun, reaching 9-0 by half-time, and kept extending their lead, with defenders Abay and Belkacem both netting their first goals for UEA as the deep defence and midfield shuffled positions to allow more players to get involved in attacking moves.

Fresher Olivia Stock was one of UEA’s key attacking threats all afternoon. Her classy ball control, good movement and clever shooting vision created numerous goals and chances, and she merited at least a few goals herself, but it was sadly not to be.

Heritage scored UEA’s

nineteenth, showing the eye for goal that made her so prolific for the 2s this season, after Sutton, who alternated between midfield and goal, had saved a last-quarter penalty to protect her side’s clean sheet.

Although time ran out on a twentieth with UEA on the attack, the Eagles were delighted to better the 18-0 Conference Cup win they picked up at Derby in November.

The fixture marked nine players’ final BUCS matches for UEA, (Sutton, Jemima Rohde, Abay, Alex Sturdy, Ellie Lynch, Lennon, Hartz, Stallard and Smith) with just the BUCS National 8s tournament in Bristol and Derby Day left as competitive fixtures this season.

UEA’s women travel to Stowe School this week for a friendly in preparation for those games.

Captain Sutton reflected: ‘It was really good. We did better than when we went down there for the cup game, which was our benchmark.

‘It took us about ten minutes to get going, but when we started scoring it was fine.’

‘It was a very defensive teamsheet. I set it up so the defence would sub in and somebody would bump up [to midfield]. It was nice to have everyone rotating around the whole pitch. People got the chance to play new positions they wouldn’t usually play.

‘The goalkeeping situation worked out quite nicely. Jemima got to play outfield, and I got a goal in our last BUCS games.’

UEA: Sutton, Rohde, Abay, Sturdy, Lynch, McMartin, Belkacem, Lennon, Hartz, Stallard, Smith, Stock, Ford, Heritage.

In other UEA Lacrosse news, the men shared the goals around in a 21-0 home friendly win against Middlesex as their Derby Day preparations amp up. Harry Harris, Seb Grant and Rob Hebden all netted their first goals of the season.

The Eagles will be holding an Easter training camp as they look to go into Derby Day in the best shape possible to bring home a double win against Essex, and offset the extra week back after Easter their rivals will get to train owing to the universities’ different holiday times.

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26th March 2019

concrete-online.co.uk/category/sport/ | @Concrete_UEA

UEA Blue Sox claim fourth place at Softball nationals tournament Sam Street Sport Writer

UEA Blue Sox are one of the smaller sport clubs on campus, but that didn’t stop their Softball team getting a massive result this past weekend in Slough.

Softball is still a growing sport in England, but the UEA Blue Sox have been actively playing both Baseball and Softball since 1994 (making them the country’s oldest University Baseball Club)!

Sadly there are still no BUCS fixtures for Softball and without an official league, the Softball team rely solely on two national competitions,

one in the Autumn and one in the Spring, to test themselves against the country’s best Softball players.

Last semester’s Autumn nationals were sadly cut short after a heavy spell of rain on the second day of the tournament, but the team had performed well in the games before the poor weather, securing three wins against fierce opponents.

With the premature end and no official rankings at the Autumn national tournament, the UEA Softball team were left with a hunger to prove themselves at the Spring national tournament.

The Softball squad, comprised of five girls and seven guys of various years, departed from the Sportspark at 5:30am on the Saturday morning

to make their first fixtures down in Slough, but their lack of sleep did not affect their performance in the slightest!

UEA’s Captain, third-year LDC student Matilda Brenham Williams, helped carry the Softball squad to victory in all three games played on the first day: beating Nottingham 2s 5-4, Reading 2s 14-8 and Southampton 10-1. She said of the results: ‘Everyone wanted and deserved those wins. It was beyond any doubt the best moment of the weekend.’

The second day of the competition saw the unbeaten UEA Blue Sox team face fiercer opposition, in the eventual winners Loughborough 1s as well as runners-up Reading 1s,

but fortunately thanks to the team’s dominant victories on the first day of the competition, the Blue Sox achieved fourth place overall out of sixteen competing teams – the team’s highest placement in recent memory.

Captain Matilda praised in particular club treasurer and Softball pitcher Jack Fitzgerald, third-year ECO student, who braved the elements over the weekend, as he ‘pitched all six games amazingly, regardless of rain, hail, snow and sun!’ His incredible pitching wasn’t his only talent as he was the Blue Sox’s highest scorer of the tournament, hitting a notable two home runs over both days.

Sadly, the tournament was

the last nationals with Matilda as captain, as she is set to graduate this year after two years in the role of Softball captain.

She commented: ‘For many of us last weekend was the end of our Blue Sox softball career, which is why finishing in our highest position in years was incredibly rewarding. Seeing the whole team perform to the best of their ability made me incredibly proud not only as a captain, but as a teammate.’

The UEA Blue Sox will be back in Slough for the Spring National University Baseball Competition next week, but it is never too late to join the club if you fancy doing different and having a go at America’s national sport!

UEA Sport round-up: Charity update, UEA Snow national success and Football keep up momentum Tony Allen Sport Editor

It’s been another action-packed fortnight for UEA’s sports teams as the season reaches a climax for many and thoughts begin to turn towards Derby Day. A number of clubs have been using the end of the season as a chance to host various charity and fundraising events in the LCR, many of which have given UEA’s sportspeople the chance to compete in disciplines they might not be so familiar with, cheered on by their friends and team mates.

UEA Dancesport hosted their annual ‘UEA Strictly’ event, with the final dance off won by Baseball and Softball’s Sam Forrest with his Dancesport partner Katherine Ingram. UEA MMA constructed a cage in the LCR and hosted their ‘Rumble in the Concrete Jungle’, UEA Football hosted their quiz ‘Are You Smarter than a Footballer’, and UEA Netball hosted ‘I’m a President, Get Me Out of Here’, based on the famed TV show, which was won by women’s Football President Camilla Morgan. You can read more about UEA Angels’ ‘So You Think You Can Cheer Dance?’ event on page 22.

UEA Rowing have held a 24 hour continuous row. They have already raised over £1,000 for Norwich Foodbank, with donations still being accepted online.

UEA Tap have also been busy fundraising. They raised a total of more than £200 for the Norfolk LGBT+ Project with a variety of activities during February’s LGBT History Month and have kept up activities since, including a flash mob in the Hive, meaning the total now stands at over £300.

UEA Sport and the SU held a fun colour run, where participants were able to enjoy campus with the addition of powder paint.

The fancy dress Potter Legacy Cup Rugby match was a success at Colney Lane, as previewed

on Concrete online. Organised by UEA Sport and the university’s Rugby clubs, it raised money for The Brain Tumour Charity and local charity Moth in a China Shop, in memory of David Potter, UEA men’s Rugby president 1982-83, who passed away from a brain tumour in 2015.

“It’s been another action-packed fortnight for UEA’s sports teams” It has been a busy two weeks for UEA Dancesport. As well as hosting UEA Strictly, the club held a bake sale and Easter hamper raffle in the Hive which raised over £75 for Comic Relief. Back on the dancefloor, a number of members travelled south for the Kent competition. It was a huge success for UEA, with 26 finalists and 55 callbacks in total.

Several UEA Snow members travelled to Leeds to compete in the BUCS national finals after their successful qualifiers in Milton Keynes last month, with some superb performances. After winning his qualifier in Milton Keynes, Fintan Corcoran came third in the country in Ski Freestyle. The Ski Race duals team of Ethan Russell, Indra Drabbe, Charlotte Payne, Charlie Howe and Jack Roberts placed sixteenth in the country and made history as the first ever UEA team to qualify for the finals.

Elsewhere, UEA Swimming travelled to Sheffield last week to compete in the BUCS team event.

UEA Squash capped a successful season by taking a club trip to Canary Wharf to watch how the pros do it – keep an eye on our website for a full round-up of their BUCS and local league successes

this year.

There has been more success for UEA Tap, Ballet and Dance Squad at their Manchester competition, the second of the season. Ballet again placed first in the Advanced category and Mion Yu won her second competition-wide ‘best female’ crown of the year. Their final competition was on Sunday in Northampton.

After a 4-2 away win under the floodlights at Fakenham Town Reserves, UEA men’s football sit second in the Anglian Combination Division 1, three points behind leaders Mundford with a game in hand. Goals came from man of the match Tomasz Siemienczuk, Henry Clark, Ben George and Mohammed Hassan. The week before, a strike from man of the match Clark had helped UEA draw one apiece with the table toppers to keep up momentum in their push for the title.

A 4-0 win at home to second placed Warwick in their final BUCS match of the season saw UEA’s men stretch out their winning margin in Midlands 2A and complete an unbeaten BUCS league season.

Ryan Swift netted a hat-trick and Hassan scored the other to see UEA finish eight points clear in the table.

The reserves have reached the FDC final of the local CS Morley Cup, after beating favourites Dussindale Rovers 1-0 away in the semi-final thanks to a Jordan Cornes goal. Goalkeeper Callum Honess was named man of the match for his display.

In women’s Football, the seconds picked up a huge 12-0 home win against De Montfort’s second string.

Man of the match Claire Weekes and Holly Connell scored four apiece, with braces from Ally Paton and Hannah Binning completing the scoring. They followed this up with a 1-0 win away to champions Nottingham thirds to finish their

BUCS Midlands 4A campaign in second spot, with the top three all on 21 points having lost only one game each. Connell netted the winner in Nottingham, with Hana Adler and captain Emily Cockrill in goal named UEA’s star players.

Tomorrow, UEA women’s Volleyball team travel to Nottingham to represent UEA at BUCS’ Big Wednesday event, playing their national Trophy final against Glasgow. The event is the culmination of many of BUCS’ elite sporting competitions and is promised to be the biggest ever, celebrating 100 years of university sport. The Volleyball club also recently hosted a successful mixed tournament at the Sportspark which saw 10 teams enter.

UEA Angels Cheer Stunt team placed ninth at BCA in Derby, their third and final comp of the season.

President Emily Roe said: ‘I’m so proud of the girls again for a brilliant performance! It wasn’t quite the result we expected but there was a lot of tough competition at BCA compared to the other competitions and we performed well despite the pressure. We’re now looking forward to Derby Day and are confident for a win!’

T h e r e have been f u r t h e r developments on UEA’s English Universities

internationals, with the university now having two sportsmen competing in their summer’s

home international tournaments after being selected for the full England teams following regional trials.

Ben George and Travis Payne, captains of men’s Football and Lacrosse respectively, will join up with their national teams later in the year.

UEA men’s Lacrosse top scorer Payne said he was ‘ecstatic’ to be chosen.

He continued: ‘There were some great players [at the national trials] who were really savvy with their hands and had been playing longer than me, but I just made sure I was the hardest worker on the field and here we are.The hard work has paid off!’

With Derby Day just over a month away, attention is naturally turning to the event which will take place across campus on 1st May. Concrete will be running a number of online previews for it. Look out for interviews with various UEA sporting figures, a full Derby Day preview, plus special features on UEA Football and the swansong for Lacrosse’s Golden Generation.

24

26th March 2019

Sport

Concrete meets Giorgos Kakkouras Tony Allen Sport Editor

UEA is fast gaining a good reputation in university sport, but with Norwich’s temperate climate, few would associate it with international snow sports.

One student, however, is trying to change that.

First year law student Giorgos Kakkouras, 20, is a rising star in the world of Downhill Skiing, and one of UEA’s 36 current Sport Scholars. The Cypriot sat down with Concrete to discuss why he chose UEA, how he balances sport and education, his achievements so far and his hopes for the future.

We started by discussing his disciplines: ‘I do Slalom and Giant Slalom. In Slalom there’s a shorter distance between the gates, it’s the more technical discipline which means you have to be fast and quick. In Giant Slalom you get more speed. Gates are not so close and it’s also one of the most technical disciplines.

‘There are two other disciplines, which I don’t do, Super G and Downhill, which are the fastest.

I stay toward the more technical disciplines.’

He’s happy to pick a favourite: ‘Giant Slalom. I’m better at it, and my best achievements have been through it, so I tend to like it more!’

With Cyprus hardly being synonymous with snow sports, how did Kakkouras get into downhill skiing? ‘It’s a question that I’m asked a lot as I’m from a country where snowfall is very minimal. I started around four or five years of age with my family, just going abroad and having fun on holiday.

‘I got into it slowly and went to some races in Cyprus at the age of about twelve. I was going well [so thought] I’d try it [more seriously].

I got into the national team and started going abroad every month.

It’s still going, we’ll see until when!’

On recent performances, the future is looking bright. Kakkouras spent part of February competing overseas in the World Ski Championships in Are, Sweden.

Kakkouras placed 57th in the world in Giant Slalom and 74th in Slalom, a similar result to what he achieved two years ago at the last world championships, where he placed 56th and 70th.

He explains: ‘I was in Sweden at the Alpine Skiing World Championship Qualifiers, I managed to get to the finals in Giant Slalom, which was a great achievement for me and everyone around me that supports me.’

So, why did he choose UEA? Partly, there’s the commonwealth to thank for that.

‘I wanted to do Law, that was my priority and I couldn’t go to the US to try to get a scholarship because it is a different legal system to

Cyprus and England – we have a common legal system because of the commonwealth. I wanted to find a university in the UK that cares about sport, and I found UEA. It was a great opportunity for me so I tried to get in here. For balancing sports and Law, I think UEA is the best.

‘It’s a great university, everyone is so friendly here. My flatmates are good, where I live is good, I like what I study, I don’t have any problems.’

Kakkouras also speaks highly of the UEA Sport scholarship programme, which has recently been looking for new applicants for next year as it expands. There are two types of scholarships, ‘Elite’ and ‘Developing Excellence’, which both offer a package of support and funding including access to sports facilities, strength and conditioning, physiotherapy and lifestyle support to allow scholars to reach their full potential.

“The UEA Sport scholarship helps me mentally and physically... It gives me access to whatever I need”

He said: ‘The scholarship helps me mentally and physically.

Physically, it gives me access to the gym, swimming pool and whatever I need to train. Because I stay on campus everything is close and I get everything I need. Mentally, they give me the chance to go to workshops, last night we had a confidence workshop. There are many that I attend to help me get a good mindset for the races and training.’

Talking to a sports scholar, the question of balancing study and training was always going to come up: ‘It is quite difficult but I think if you balance it well, and the spare time you have, if you don’t spend time doing things that won’t help you, it’s fine.’

So, what’s Kakkouras’ training routine like, considering the lack of snow in these parts? ‘Because in my sport I cannot train on an everyday basis, I try to be more physically prepared for when I go abroad and train,’ he says.

‘There is a dry slope here in Norwich and every Wednesday we go as UEA Snow to train there. The other days I train at the gym or swimming pool and try to be

physically prepared for the days I’m going to be training on snow.

‘I try to go abroad whenever I have a break from university. I went in December for 20 days, I went for 25 days in February, in April I hope go to France for some British university races. Next season will start in summer with some training camps abroad. I will try to take the opportunity during that time in summer when we don’t have to study to go abroad and train.’

Kakkouras is a member of the UEA Snow club. He says: ‘They were very friendly and helped me from the start with whatever I needed. Whenever I have any questions, they sort them out immediately. I’m very happy with the guys.’

Kakkouras has represented Cyprus at events around the world. For an international athlete, Concrete asked if pulling on his c o u n t r y ’s kit was the pinnacle, a n d Kakkouras agreed: ‘I think it is the best feeling for me. It is what I dream of, it’s one of my main goals to represent Cyprus at the highest level. It’s an honour for me. I want to bring Cyprus as close as possible to the usual competing nations like Austria, Switzerland, Italy and France, participating in the main events.’

When asked about his career highlight to date, Kakkouras is as sure as when choosing his favourite discipline, replying without

hesitation: ‘It’s the world championships two years ago in St. Moritz, Switzerland and this year also. To be in these major events back-to-back is a lifetime goal.’

What about the future? ‘My ultimate goal is the Olympics, and these World Ski Championships are a step on the way. My next goal is the Olympics and I will do my best to go there. It’s my dream and I will fight for it.

‘The Olympics are in 2022, which is a year after I graduate.

There are world championships every two years, so they will be in my third year. I will try to get as few

“I’ll try to achieve the criteria that will get me a ticket to the Olympics” points as possible to try and qualify for the qualification stage of the world championships in two years.

‘My mind now is on the Olympics. I’ll try to achieve the criteria that will get me a ticket to the Olympics.’

And if he does, he could well become UEA’s most celebrated sporting alumnus and join the university’s small but distinguished handful of sporting graduates that includes GB Rower from Beijing 2008 Natasha Howard and UEA Law graduate Jess Draskau Petersson who ran for Denmark in the Marathon at London 2012.

A l r e a d y blazing a trail, the future is looking good for Giorgos Kakkouras, both in sport and academia.

Photo: Emma Zugic