Concrete 366

17 September 2019 Issue 366 The official student newspaper of the University of East Anglia | concrete-online.co.uk Established 1992

MPs pledge support for Interview: Laura Concrete Mental Health McGillivray "Cities are a lot Crisis Campaign poorer if they Chris Matthews

campaign. Beverley Bishop, the mother of Jess Fairweather, who died last year on campus, also pledged her support for the campaign alongside a number of UEA students and their relatives. The Concrete Mental Health Crisis Campaign will Mental Health Crisis run throughout the year with articles, interviews, features and events in a bid to open up the conversation on mental Two MPs, the Chief Executive of Norwich City Council, health and hold UEA to account. and the mother of a UEA student who took his own life on university grounds are all supporters of a campaign launched today by this newspaper. Clive Lewis, MP for Norwich South Continued on and member of the shadow cabinet joined Tory rebel and former health minister Steve Brine MP in supporting the Editor-in-Chief

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don't have good universities"

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17th September 2019

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Editorial Hit the ground running Jess Barrett Deputy Editor

This is a crisis, and we need to talk about it Chris Matthews Editor-in-Chief

I’m sitting at my desk in the Media Office and it’s almost midnight. The Concrete team has spent the last few weeks sending out content calls, editing articles, taking photos and laying up this issue. They’ve done a fantastic job, so give the paper a read – it’s a brilliant issue.

I remember my first day at university. I remember walking into one of my flatmates rooms where everyone was sitting awkwardly on the floor trying to remember each other’s names. I feel it took me a month longer than everyone else to get their names right but I managed it in the end.

I always knew I wanted to get involved in student journalism. If you’re reading this, the chances are you do too. Thankfully it’s not too difficult. Anyone can write for us, draw for us, take photos for us, and if you’re a technical wizard you are like gold dust to us!

Flick ahead to page 14 to see how you can join Concrete, or scan the QR code at the bottom of this page to join us now.

We have a Big Meet coming up on 27th September.

That's where you sign up to each section's content calls, so don't miss it!

Until then join our Facebook group, Concrete Members 2019/20.

On the front page you'll have seen that a number of MPs as well as students and parents are supporting our campaign, the Concrete Mental Health Crisis Campaign.

Some people don’t like the word “crisis”. But that’s what this national problem is: a crisis. It doesn’t mean if you’re feeling low you can’t talk

to someone because you’re not at ‘crisis level’. The word applies to the issue of mental health in universities across the UK. Mental health is nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone has varying levels of mental wellbeing. And we’re all in this community together.

Our campaign originates from four tragic deaths.

In the space of just 10 months UEA students Jonathan Walker (23), Jess Fairweather (20), Nick Sadler (25), and Theo Brennan-Hulme (21)

"We will not ease up.

We will not forget the tragedies that have ocurred. And we wll continue to hold those in power to account" were found dead. Three were found on university grounds.

And it’s important to read their names. I admit I didn’t fully comprehend this until I read through some of our supporters’ thoughts and suggestions.

One in particular stuck with me: “Can we please stop referring to these people as ‘4 students’. They are not numbers, they were people with deep friendships and families and have left huge holes in the lives left behind. I am sick of my friend being referred to as the 4th student to die. His name was Theo and I miss him every day. Stop being so clinical and cold about suicide.”

We’ve heard the phrase

“four students” too often, and it’s becoming a term many are used to at UEA. No one should have to get used to that phrase.

What we’re hoping to do with this campaign is to get people talking about mental health.

We want to discuss it out in the open. We want to debate it. We want to hear people’s ideas, and ask the university to listen.

That’s not to say the university isn’t taking action. They have and they are.

Our role as UEA’s official student newspaper is to find the truth, to tell the truth, but most importantly to hold institutions such as the university to account.

Throughout this issue there is a focus on mental health.

From Harry Routley’s Comment article to Travel Editor Sam Hewitson’s piece in the his section, our team is taking the first steps in this year-long campaign.

We will not ease up. We will not forget the tragedies that have occurred. And we will continue to hold those in power to account.

Here we are, this academic year’s first issue of Concrete! It’s been a rocky ride but an enjoyable one none-the-less.

I first came across Concrete on an open day here at UEA four years ago. I remember thinking that getting involved in student journalism would be cool, but I never pursued it in my first year here at UEA. It wasn’t until I bumped into an old friend (who was music editor of Venue at the time) that I thought that writing articles was something I could try. I had no idea if anything i wrote would be of good enough quality to publish.

Now, here I am writing to you all as Deputy Editor of this award winning magazine!

For a long part of my time writing for Concrete, I only wrote for the music section of Venue, Concrete's arts insert.

Music was something I felt I knew enough about to be able to write confidently on it. After a while I realised that the sky was the limit and I could write in any section, on any topic - Concrete was my oyster and I could fill it with pearls.

Now, as I begin my term as Deputy Editor I look back and think how silly it was that I waited so long to get involved in student journalism. Being a member of Concrete has helped me grow academically and socially - my summative grades have improved and I love meeting new people at Concrete's Post Pub Pub everyone is welcome to come along! (Every second Tuesday, after we publish!)

I urge any freshers wanting to try something new to jump in headfirst, don’t look back. It doesn't matter if you have no experience in what you want to do, this shouldn't hold you back.

University may feel like you have hit the ground running, but welcome every change with open arms. I wish I had a little sooner. If you are the slightest bit interested in student journalism, improving your writing skills, or wanting to meet lots of lovely new people, Concrete is perfect for you.

Scan this code with your camera to join Concrete today

concrete-online.co.uk

ConcreteUEA

The University of East Anglia’s Official Student Newspaper since 1992 Tuesday 17th September 2019 Issue 366 Union House University of East Anglia Norwich NR4 7TJ 01603 593466 www.concrete-online.co.uk

Editor-in-Chief Chris Matthews concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk

Deputy Editor Jess Barrett concrete.deputy@uea.ac.uk

Online Editors Alec Banister and Jack Oxford concrete.online@uea.ac.uk

News Bryan Mfhaladi concrete.news@uea.ac.uk

Global Global Editor: William Warnes Senior Writer: Piriyanga Thirunimalan concrete.global@uea.ac.uk

Features Features Editors: Paige Allen and Leelou Lewis Senior Writer: Jake WalkerCharles concrete.features@uea.ac.uk

Comment Matt Branston concrete.comment@uea.ac.uk

Science Science Editor: Laura Taylor concrete.scienv@uea.ac.uk Travel Sam Hewitson concrete.travel@uea.ac.uk

Sport Sport Editor: Jamie Hose concrete.sport@uea.ac.uk

Chief Copy-Editors Nerisse Appleby Reeve Langston concrete.copy@uea.ac.uk

Social Media Amelia Groves

ConcreteUEA

Front page photo: Roo Pitt

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

No part of this newspaper may be reproduced by any means without the permission of the Editor-in-Chief, Chris Matthews. Published by the Union of UEA Students on behalf of Concrete. Concrete is a UUEAS society, but retains editorial independence as regards to any content. Opinions expressed herein are those of individual writers, not of Concrete or its editorial team.

NEWS

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17th September 2019

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

MPs pledge support for Concrete Mental Health Crisis Campaign Chris Matthews Editor-in-Chief

Continued from front page It comes after UEA students Jonathan Walker (23), Jess Fairweather (20), Nick Sadler (25) and Theo Brennan-Hulme (21) were all found dead in the space of just 10 months.

In two cases these were found to be suicides. Inquests are pending for Mr Sadler and Mr Brennan-Hulme.

Three of the students were found on university grounds.

Clive Lewis, MP for Norwich South, told Concrete: “The crisis in this area is very much a function of wider failure in our NHS mental health services - a failure that has been driven by nine years of cuts.

“As a result too many students have fallen through ever widening cracks in the service, often with disastrous consequences.

“The university alone will not be able to plug the gaps in this systematically underfunded service, but it can step-up its game in terms of pro-activity, support and resourcing.

"This campaign and its pledges ensure this will happen.”

Concrete has produced a number of flyers depicting the campaign’s five-point manifesto (see inset).

The manifesto includes a desire to “open up the chat on mental health” as well as to “inform parents or guardians about their child’s mental health issues”.

In a statement Concrete said: “While we understand UEA is taking this mental health crisis seriously, we are putting forward a number of suggestions we believe the university should consider, from informing students’ parents or guardians about their child’s mental

"This mental health crisis is not unique to UEA" health issues to working alongside staff from other universities that have experienced similar mental health crises.

“We want to use our platform as UEA’s official student newspaper to hold the university to account and allow students to join the conversation on mental health.”

Clive Lewis added: "This is a fantastic campaign and one I'm more than happy to support”, and called the campaign a “ground breaking initiative”.

This mental health crisis is not unique to UEA.

Bristol University has received a lot of attention in the media after there were 10 student deaths in just over 18 months.

A number were confirmed to be suicides. As of August this year there have been 13 student deaths at Bristol University in three years.

Ed Southgate was the Co-Editor of Bristol University’s student newspaper Epigram last year.

He told Concrete: “We’ve felt all too hard the tragic effect of poor mental health at Bristol University, but of course the problem is not isolated to just one institution.

Higher Education requires a structural change, whereby the institutions these students are

"The university alone will not

Adam Harvey is the founder of a petition demanding the university must “directly address the mental health crisis at UEA”.

To date almost 9,000 people have signed the petition.

Mr Harvey wrote: “Promises have been made, but it is up to us to ensure that changes are made in the right way, and the students get the support that they need.”

You can contact SSS by calling 01603 592761 or emailing studentsupport@uea.ac.uk.

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

A timeline of 10 months at UEA: 13th May 2018: Jonathan Walker, 23, found dead in his room in Norwich.

be able to plug the gaps in this system" applying to study at no longer view them as income but as people.

“It is all well and good for students to be told that they must look after their physical and mental health in order to do well in their degree, but with that the university must ensure the environment it offers is one that enables students to look after their mental health.

“It is about creating a university community where everyone is aware of the signs of poor mental health, and where everyone knows where to turn to or can point another student in the direction of support.”

Prof David Richardson, UEA’s Vice-Chancellor says he welcomes the Concrete Mental Health Crisis Campaign.

He told Concrete: “One of UEA's great strengths is its strong sense of community and we are all working on a whole-community approach to supporting both our students and our staff.

“Removing stigma and being able to have honest conversations about mental health is absolutely vital.

“We have increased funding for student services by more than 60% and we are already acting on all the areas highlighted by Concrete.

"I and colleagues have personally visited Bristol to learn directly from their experiences, with the support of the Students' Union we are adopting a consent policy for notifying parents and carers, and our mental health taskforce is delivering an additional half a million pounds to build support services to foster exactly the kind of positive architecture that Concrete calls for.”

However, the universities promises have been criticised by students in the past.

11th October 2018: Jess Fairweather, 20, found dead in his accomodation in Kett House on campus.

19th February 2018: Nick Sadler, 25, found dead in UEA lake after an 11 day search.

Photo: Matt Nixon

12th March 2019: Theo BrennanHulme found dead in his room in Britten House on campus.

Supporters of the Concrete Mental Health Crisis Campaign:

Clive Lewis MP Steve Brine MP Laura McGillivray Prof David Richardson Aamir Hussein Alec Banister Alex Dwyer Alex Haug Alice Crawley-Carr Amelia Groves Amelia Rentell Anastasia Christodoulou Andrew Roe Andriena Richards Anita Roe Anna Graysmith Bernadette McCaffrey Bethany Hobbs Beverley Bishop Bronwen Brown Bryan Mfhaladi Caelin Cassidy Catherine Regan Charlotte Fincham Chloe Johnson Chris Matthews Chris Trenerry Cordula Ströher-Goldenbow Darcie Madoo David Childs Delove Lubila Derek Walker Dylan Davies Eamonn Matthews Eleanor Holmes

Eleanor Morrison Elena Goldenbow Elif Soyler Ellie Robson Emily Geeson Emily Kelly Emily Nicholson Eve Cross-McCullagh Fin Aitken Florence Bass Freya Tan Geoffrey Banister Hana Adler Harry Covell Isabel Boulton Isabelle Hockey Isobel Lowings Jack Oxford Jacob Bullock Jacob Jewitt Jake Walker-Childs James Gillingham James Lovatt James Penny Jamie Dear Jamie Hose Jenny Bull Jess O’Dwyer Jessica Barrett Jodie Rowson Joe Hayes Josephine Dowswell Juliette Kay Kate Atkin Kate Robinson Katherine Childs Kiyana Patel Laura Taylor Lee Casey Leelou Lewis

Photo: Concrete Leia Butler Lewis Oxley Louisa Parish Maisie Ruhl Margaret Matthews Mark Unwin Martha Griffiths Mary-Jane Lewis Matilda Adams Matt Branston Matthew Spicer Maya Coomarasamy Megan Robson Megan Williams Melena Walker Misbah Ahmed Molly Coyles Myles Unwin Nerisse Appleby Oliver Shrouder Paige Allen Piriyanga Thirunimalan Rebecca Robson Reeve Langston Richard Stenning Robyn Manning Roo Pitt Rose Mills Rose Ramsden Rosie Pollard Ruby Rae Ryan Wales Sam Butler Sam Hewitson Samuel Woolford Sarah Duffy Sharon Unwin Victoria Roe William Warnes Yasmina Belabid

17th September 2019

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News

Warwick rape chat scandal sheds light on other allegations

News in brief: Inquest into UEA student's death postponed Bryan Mfhaladi News Editor

Mental Health Crisis

Photo: Unsplash

Bryan Mfhaladi News Editor

Since the scandal of the leaked Warwick university Whatsapp chat, similar secrets have unravelled in several other UK universities.

According to several studies, over the past two years alone the number of students at top universities who have been investigated for offensive comments made on social media chats has almost tripled.

Students, mostly females, seem to be increasingly being subjected to racism, sexual harrasement, homophobia and sexual violence.

The National Union of Students has said sexual harassment has

been normalised on campus and universities were not doing enough to curb the behaviour.

Rape and sexual assault reports have been on the rise with Cambridge University seeing some of the highest number of complaints in the country.

The number of allegations in universities has risen from 65 in 2014 to 626 in 2018, according to Freedom of Information requests.

In recent years students in universities across the UK such as Goldsmiths, University of London, Roehampton and Bristol have protested against their institution’s response to sexual harassment claims.

Many students feel universities have failed to protect them. The main reasons why

people have been quick to voice their concerns that universities were not doing enough to protect students, seems to be owing to the fact that most reported cases are thrown out, or universities have simply been issued students with light warnings and allowed them to return to campus. Amongst those who feel let down by the system is former University of Cambridge student Danielle Bradford. She claims that she was discouraged from launching a formal complaint despite being allegedly bombarded with sexually suggestive texts from a course supervisor.

Over the last five years, UEA has had the highest reports of inappropriate sexual conduct from 2014 to 2018 with 281 reports.

Neighbouring university, University of Cambridge was second with 165 reports, even though their figures are only for the last three years, followed by the University of Birmingham with 87.

Many universities were quick to defend the figures stating that they were not a true reflection of the rape cases on their campuses as some occured out of campus.

UEA was quick to respond to the questions over why their figures were high, stating it had been working with its uea(su) over the last five years to encourage students to report any suspected misconduct or sexual harassment.

They said the increasing figures only showed their campaign was working.

Solar panels That's to the rescue

After a pre-inquest hearing held on September 2nd, a decision was reached to postpone the full inquest into the death of a UEA student.

Theo Brennan-Hulme was a 21 year old literature and creative student from Stoke found dead on campus in March this year.

Alison Donnell, the head of literature, drama and creative writing said: "Theo was a warm and personable young man and highly regarded by his lecturers, tutors and classmates".

The first inquest, which took place in March, gave his cause of death as hanging.

The pre-inquest was held at the Norfolk Coroner’s Court.

It discussed the statements to be read and witnesses to be called at the full inquest, which is expected to be held sometime around March 2020.

Another pre-inquest has been scheduled for 17th December 2019, the date originally set for the full inquest.

You can contact SSS by calling 01603 592761 or emailing studentsupport@uea.ac.uk.

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

a RAP!

Photo: Concrete/ Chris Matthews

Samuel Woolford Senior News Reporter

UEA has installed a new 'Solar Bench' on campus.

This comes from the Sustainable Ways Vision, a campaign incorporated by the Estates and Facilities Division at UEA. The new solar bench has features such as 4 USB power ports, WiFi and LED illumination.

Sustainable

Ways Vision aims to put out data surrounding global sustainability out into the public domain and promote awareness of sustainable policies being enacted by the University.

Other university institutions have also committed to sustainability with Unio and Ziggy's cafe implementing 20p surcharge for the use of plastic cups for coffee.

The solar bench is located in the seating area outside Student Support Services.

Photo: Unsplash

Leia Butler News Reporter

UEA student Nicholas Uzoka has broken traditional examination moulds by rapping his 10,000 word creative writing dissertation.

The 22 year-old English literature and creative writing student

produced a hip-hop style 21 track album, which earned him a first class degree.

Mr. Uzoka said the best part of the experience was, “being able to have an academic lens placed on my music, and using that to add extra dimensions and layers to it that I’d never have thought of previously.”

In an interview with the BBC he

said: “I’m a rapper, that’s my best form of artistic expression and the uni was kind enough to allow me to accomodate my particular style of poetry into their course.”

Mr. Uzoka performs under the name Zoka the Author.

He released his latest single ‘Donna Bella’ featuring Tobi O in early September.

17th September 2019

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News in brief: Top degrees aren't only for students: News Does Freshers

record temperatures point to climate change

Week rely too heavily on drinking?

Chris Matthews Editor-in-Chief

A poll has exposed that over half of Concrete readers’ believe Freshers Week relies too heavily on drinking.

In the poll conducted by Concrete, 58% of respondents said they thought Freshers Week is too centred on alcohol.

Yet 42% disagreed, indicating

Photo: Photos: Concrete/ BenRoo Little Pitt

Laura Taylor News Reporter

This summer has been noticeably hot across the UK. It is something no doubt most of us will have experienced.

July 2019 was one of the warmest months ever recorded.

The August Bank Holiday temperatures hit 33.2°C, which

"Models clearly show the urgency of the situation"

makes it the hottest August Bank Holiday in history.

Scientists have warned we must limit warming to 1.5°C to avoid ‘catastrophic change’ in the future.

Based on current models of the temperature in Norwich, it is estimated that the best case scenario by 2100 is that January temperatures will have increased by 2.1°C, and July by 2.0°C, well above the IPCC’s target.

The target is a global mean reading.

Yet if the readings for our city alone are projected, we will be facing catastrophic change and damage to the world as we currently know it.

These models clearly show the urgency of the situation.

Many will believe this is evidence enough to encourage citizens and governments to take additional action to combat global warming and climate change.

Norwich set for car free day Ellie Robson News Reporter

Norwich is set to join 2,000 cities in 46 countries around the world in holding a Car Free Day on Sunday 22nd September.

This follows a decision earlier this summer to exclude diesel and petrol vehicles from the well-loved Lord Mayor’s Procession to reduce the environmental impact of the

event. Green city councillor Ben Price proposed the motion, which was accepted by Norwich City Council.

Whilst the council doesn’t have the authority to ban the use of cars on this day, Norwich residents will be discouraged from using personal vehicles.

This is part of a worldwide movement to reduce car usage for one day a year, and promote a more sustainable transport method.

Norwich is already far ahead of the national average when it comes to using alternative transport within the city. 2018 records show that 23.8% of residents walk to work, and 9.5% cycle, beating national figures of 10.9% and 3.1% respectively.

The council are further supporting this movement by allowing residents to apply for free road closures in their area in order to arrange community street events. Norwich City Council have

been particularly attentive towards the city’s cycling community, with an announced £14.1m of funding to be spent on improving the city’s ‘Pedalways’ system.

Many UEA students will appreciate this eco-friendly move from local authorities, However, the choice of date does clash with the influx of students and their families who will be expected to arrive in the city the weekend of Sunday 22ndSeptember.

"Opinions remain polarised on whether Freshers Week relies too heavily on drinking" they believe Freshers Week is not too focused on drinking.

This comes after the University of Portsmouth has announced it will close its student union bar owing to the demand for alcohol decreasing over the last four years.

Graham Galbraith, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, said they are replacing The Waterhole bar in Portsmouth with a space boasting “street food, coffee, microwaves and comfy furniture”.

MrGalbraith added: “People were simply not using it enough and

58% 42% Freshers Week too centred on alcohol Freshers Week not too centred on alcohol

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

the bar has become financially unsustainable.”

Helena Schofield, the president of Portsmouth’s student union, said: “Myself and the Sabbatical Officer team are sad to see the bar go but we understand that it’s not financially viable to keep the bar open.

“We’re excited to hear student ideas on what the new space should bring to the experience of students here in Portsmouth.

“I would encourage all [Portsmouth University] students to share their ideas on what they would like to see in the space".

17th September 2019

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News

Fear building over Jurnet's closure Leia Butler News Reporter

Jurnet’s Bar is a popular social hub for singers, comedians, musicals, performers, and UEA’s Creative Writing Society. However, a review of the site’s leases by the council has raised fears of Jurnet’s closure.

The bar is in Wensum Lodge on King Street and is known for its underground scenery.

The 12th-century undercroft, a traditional cellar, is what many visitors find most unique.

The unusual decor makes the bar a much-loved destination in Norwich.

The city council used to fun the bar and run as a non-profit organisation.

However, the council have ended their agreement. A Norwich City Council spokesperson said: “We are developing a range of exciting proposals for Wensum Lodge that will progress and secure

its adult learning, community and artistic elements.”

The council is attempting to work with the bar around developing a fair rent.

The local community is now fighting to shed light on Jurnet’s bar to ensure it stays open as long as possible.

Michael Goodings, the bar's secretary, said: "There is a question mark over the bar's survival and we need your help.

“It is without a doubt one of Norwich's hidden gems."

UEA's Creative Writing Society host regular open mics at Jurnet's and have used the facility for many years.

They are pushing their members to obtain membership cards as their means of showing support for the bar.

Regular lovers are sharing pictures online, and the bar is encouraging them to post more reviews to show the council how popular and well loved the bar is.

Photo: Geograph

Boris, Brexit and Britain:

where do we stand?

Samuel Woolford Senior News Reporter

It's been a busy few weeks in British politics. The Brexit drama has reared its head yet again, this time in ways difficult to comprehend. There have been a number of unprecedented events within British politics. With this in mind, let us return to the beginning of at least the recent drama to build up an idea of what has happened, is happening, and the perhaps resultant happenings of the latest chapter in the Brexit saga.

Flashback to July 23rd 2019.

The Tory leadership race saw Boris Johnson elected as the leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom with a vote share of 66% over his rival Jeremy Hunt. Johnson campaigned on a promise to get the UK out of the European Union by the October 31st Brexit deadline deal or no deal. In early August a government

document named operation Yellowhammer was made a matter of public record. The Yellowhammer document outlined the 'base case' scenario for the possible outcomes of a no deal Brexit which included delays on medical and food imports to the UK of between one to two days. Operation Yellowhammer showed to the public one thing, that the British government were ramping up contingency plans for a no deal Brexit.

And then another strain to the political tensions surrounding Brexit. News broke in early September of government plans to prorogue Parliament. In a shocking turn of events Phillip Lee, MP for Bracknell, defected from the Conservative party to the Liberal Democrats on the third of September, stripping the incumbent government of its majority in the House of Commons. In response to the upheaval in the house opposition MPs tabled a motion to

take commons business out of the hands of the government and into that of the opposition, which was subsequently passed. Opposition leaders then passed a bill forcing the UK government to negotiate a Brexit deal else the October 31st deadline be extended until January 22nd.

The bill was passed by the commons on the 5th of September with 327 ayes and 299 noes. The passing of the bill which saw 21 conservative MPs expelled from their party (including 2 former Chancellors) was a huge defeat for Johnson's government.

After the vote, Johnson announced he was to table a motion for the next morning calling an early general election. Another defeat saw no early general election, with Labour abstaining from the vote calling for assurances of a deal when the UK eventually leaves the European Union. Outside of the Westminster bubble a legal

challenge against the proroguing of Parliament brought forward by Gina Miller was thrown out by the high court in London on the 6th September.

On the ninth of September another vote on an early general election failed by 293 ayes to 46 noes with 307 abstaining. During his speech to prorogue Parliament John Bercow committed to resign as Speaker of the House of Commons come the 31st of October.

The beginning of the prorogation process saw unprecedented protests by a number of MPs within The House of Commons.

This included Clive Lewis, MP for Norwich South waving a piece of paper with the word “SILENCED” written on it.

Prorogation is currently in effect, however, in lieu of a legal challenge from MPs a Scottish court ruled that the process of prorogation was illegal. This means both Miller's case and that of the MPs will face

a decision from the supreme court in the near future to determine the validity of proroguing Parliament.

So where do we go now? If prorogation is ruled as illegal it could lead to a vote of no confidence in the government or in the most extreme circumstances, criminal charges being brought to members of Johnson's government.

An early general election is perhaps a likely outcome of this process and with the conservative government being a minority government, key legislation relating to the Brexit issue will be much harder to pass into law. Opposition parties have also expressed a need for a general election with Labour stating that it “will support general election as soon as the bill to stop No Deal becomes law”, and the Lib Dems committing to backing an early general election. Either way this summer has been a whirlwind of political upheaval that is yet to settle for the foreseeable future.

7

Heathfield Norwich

A Welcoming Diverse Community of 44 Students Your university experience is shaped by the people you meet and the friendships you make.

Here at Heathfield we welcome both home and international students, studying at NUA, UEA and other institutions. We offer affordable accommodation designed to foster lasting and enriching friendships among our student residents.

The 6 flats have 6, 7 or 8 bedrooms (one is a women-only flat), and each flat has: ! 2 showers ! 2 toilets ! a large well-equipped kitchen and lounge There are 39 standard rooms, 4 large rooms and one studio (with its own bathroom). Each bedroom has a bed, desk, chair, noticeboard, bookshelf, chest of drawers, large wardrobe and washbasin.

Shared and communal facilities include: ! secure bike sheds and private parking ! a library room with access to the sunny enclosed garden ! the Heathfield Centre, a common room which offers space for meetings, seminars, conferences, exhibitions, parties or other events, and equipped with two pianos, a table tennis table and a home cinema ! a studio where you can do messy work without harming your deposit ! a token-operated on-site laundry

Heathfield stands in 1.4 acres of private grounds.

For more details, FAQs, a gallery, and to apply for a room, see our website.

www.heathfieldnorwich.co.uk ! 01603 622171 " live@heathfieldnorwich.co.uk ! HeathfieldNorwich

8

GLOBAL

17th September 2019

Amazon Rainforest: wildfires rage on Brexit Box Piriyanga Thirunimalan Senior Global Writer

The Amazonian forest fires that erupted in early January this year are still raging deeper into the rainforest, and the significant escalation in August has meant that fires have hit a record-breaking rate.

According to the Guardian, more than 9,000 new fires have ignited since August, which is an 80% rise from the same period last year.

Although the fires may seem a long distance away, making it easy to assume that we are safe from its reach, the effects are definitely world-wide.

Commonly referred to as the lungs of the Earth, the Amazon is home to a large proportion of the Earth’s oxygen, as well as being the world’s biggest carbon sink.

Studies show, however, that if the rainforest continues to degrade at its current rate, long-term effects could be as harsh as a transition from rainforest to savannah. This would not only mean that the vast quantities of carbon stored in the rainforest would be released back

into the atmosphere, but that this ecosystem, which holds great biological richness, would pose a threat to the 10% of the world’s known species that currently reside in the rainforest.

As well as dramatically affecting the Amazon’s wildlife, the effects also stretch over to the local communities. 400 indigenous tribes live in the protected reserves of the rainforest, many of which have also been caught in the rapid fires.

Already putting many lives at risk, further fires could leave many tribes and families displaced.

The shocking rise in forest fires positively correlate with a sharp rise in deforestation and illegal mining in the world’s largest rainforest.

80% of current deforested land is used for cattle-ranching. The beef and soy products that are produced from this are not for local consumption, but for exportation, to be sold at our large supermarkets and purchased by us.

Brazil’s president, Jair Bolsanaro, initially accused local Non-governmental Organisations of intentionally setting the fires However after large international scrutiny, Bolsanaro has proclaimed

a 60-day ban on deforestation in

“More than 9,000 new fires have ignited since August” the region. Seven South American countries, including Peru and Colombia, have also come together to form a Rainforest Preservation Pact, whilst the G7 have agreed to fund $22m in helping to preserve the Amazon.

So what can we do to help? Although the fires may seem too vast to directly fix, we can all do our bit to save our environment.

Reforestation to reverse the effects of deforestation: if we all put on our gardening gloves and plant a tree, we can help to

sequester the carbon released from the burning trees in Brazil.

A large majority of the beef and soy products we purchase are exported from Brazil, which directly supports further deforestation.

Look out specifically for Rainforest Alliance products which attempt to promote responsible business and agriculture. Charities, as always, are a good place to go if you want to make a profound and direct change.

Many organisations such as WWF and Amazon Watch are actively fighting to preserve the Amazon and protect its ecosystem from further damage.

Photo: Wikipedia Commons

Hurricane Dorian lashes the Bahamas Laura Taylor Global Writer

On the 24th August, a tropical depression formed south-east of Barbados.

Over a matter of days, as it was studied by NASA satellites, it developed into Hurricane Dorian.

Passing over Barbados as a tropical storm, Dorian quickly reached hurricane status on the 28th August near the U.S. Virgin Islands.

By The 2nd September, Dorian was

“Gusts of over 200 mph... accompanied by storm surges of up to 23 feet above normal tide levels” breaking records and became the joint-second most destructive storm to hit the Atlantic, with gusts of over 200mph destroying everything in its path, accompanied by storm surges of up to 23 feet above normal tide levels.

The speed of the hurricane rapidly declined after the 2nd September, meaning the storm lingered over Grand Bahama for over 18 hours, causing significant

flooding. Over the following three days, Dorian moved up the east coast of the USA, ending in North Carolina on 6th September where it was degraded.

At the time of writing, post-

Photo: Navy Live

tropical storm Dorian had reached Canada.

As the first major hurricane of the 2019 season, and the fifth tropical cyclone, Dorian caused significant destruction to the Bahamas, southeastern USA and Atlantic Canada.

As of the 9th September, the death toll in the Bahamas has reached 50, and cruise liners are shipping over 1000 people to the US in the hope of being taken in as environmental refugees, a request that is currently being dismissed by President Trump.

The US Customs and Border Protection department has delivered food and water to the islands by helicopter.

The settlement of Marsh Harbour in Grand Bahama was devastated, destroying the homes of hundreds of Haitian refugees settled there after the 2010 earthquake.

Teams in the Bahamas are now said to be “focusing on the living”.

According to Bahamas Health

Minister, Duane Sands, “While it is critically important to find everybody who perished, it is more important right now to find those that have survived and make sure nobody else perishes”.

It is still unknown how many people are missing since the hurricane devastated the island, with names of family and friends being collected around the nation.

It is too early to predict the long term impacts of hurricane Dorian.

Yet what is certain is the recovery process for The Bahamas will be long and laborious, starting with accounting for its citizens, before beginning to assess damages and work on repairs.

It may take months for this process to get underway.

International responses to the hurricane have been mixed, with the US providing aid of food and water via helicopters but refusing

entry of environmental refugees to the country.

There has been conflict internally over the US response to the hurricane, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration contradicting President Trump’s scientifically incorrect assertions about the prospect of the storm hitting Alabama.

The UN World Food Programme has pledged to provide $2.8 million in food and emergency supplies to the nation.

They have also pledged to support 44,000 people.

Aid organisations across the world have begun raising funds to help, with recovery efforts and volunteers assembling to help government officials look after refugees, and begin efforts to assess the damage to the islands.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Photo: Wikipedia Commons

Piriyanga Thirunimalan Senior Global Writer

Parliament is currently prorogued until the 14th of October.

The country is waiting in a state of confusion and debate.

21 Conservative MPs were sacked

by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Now many members even within the Conservative party remain divided owing to their opinions about Brexit.

The passing of the Benn-Bill, parliament's prorogation, and talks of a general election have left British politics in a period of uncertainty.

The government, by law, was set to leave the European Union by the 31st October. However Boris Johnson's take onhis 'do or die' deadline was rejected by Parliament.

Following a vote in the House of Commons a bill that blocked a nodeal Brexit was passed.

This was awarded royal assent by the Queen of England and is now set in law. Referred to as the BennBill, it states that if there is no agreed deal by the 19th October 2019, Boris Johnson must ask for an extension until 31st January 2020 for the Brexit deadline.

Although the bill passed with a majority through the House of Commons, with many Conservative MPs also voting to block a no-deal Brexit, Boris Johnson has insisted that he will still leave the European Union by the 31st October deadline, deal or no-deal.

A no-deal Brexit without extending the deadline would be an illegal move. Lord MacDonald claimed johnson could find himself in jail for breaking the law.Adding to this, the Prime Minister attempted to hold an early general election for a second time in order to establish a Conservative majority. However, he yet again failed to accumulate the two-thirds majority required to call an early election.

A further motion entitled 'Operation Yellowhammer' was also passed on Monday 9th October, in which MPs demanded that Johnson reveals the government documents regarding the prorogation of parliament, and the reasoning behind a five week suspension.

The suspension further ignited protests, with MPs holding up signs saying 'silenced.'

Meanwhile, Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, has stated that he will also be stepping down from his position in parliament before the 31st Octoberthe Brexit deadline.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

17th September 2019

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Mental health websites sell users’ information to advertisers Jake Goddard Global Writer

Mental Health Crisis

“On over 87 percent of UK based depression websites, cookies were present” A recent study shows that many mental health websites routinely share and sell information on service users to technology companies and advertisers.

The study found that on over 87 percent of UK based depression

websites, cookies were present for the purposes of marketing and advertisement. Of these same websites, an average of twelve third party cookies were found to collect user data before users were even able to consent.

The report, from Privacy International, highlights a major concern with compliance to the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that became law as of May 2018. Under this law, users are supposed to be given clear information on how their data may be used, as well as options to consent before any sensitive or personal user data is collected.

However, companies of all shapes and sizes have often fallen short of this deadline.

Terry Ray, CTO of Imperva, expressed concerns that many companies were simply unprepared for changes: “Any company that put GDPR off until the last minute now realises compliance cannot be achieved overnight. It does not surprise me that many organisations feel unsure about the idea of a GDPR

Photo: Cool Silh audit. The truth is many would fail.”

The NHS website features in the Privacy International report, where it admits to falling short of data protection law deadlines. In response to Privacy International’s requests for comment, an NHS spokesperson stated that as of July 2019, the team were “in the process of ensuring that we translate [GDPR] guidance into practice on the site.

This work will be completed by the

end of September 2019”.

They further added: “from this point, users will be automatically opted out from all analytic and third party cookies. Users will be specifically asked if they would consent to optin.”

However, these protections are still a year late. The question remains: can companies be trusted?

There are ways to bypass some of the problems posed by using websites that gather user data on those people wanting to seek support for mental health.

The most obvious is to use anonymised data when inputting any contact details that may be asked of you on things like mental health questionnaires. If they ask for your email, set up and use a separate email account rather than your personal one. Any cookies can also be manually deleted from your computer.

By using proxy network browsers one is easily able to access these websites without the worry of being tracked, as your IP address is scrambled. As such, even if

third party tracking cookies are present, much of the data collected by advertising and marketing companies will be inaccurate. If enough people did this, it could ruin advertisers’ ability to utilise user data effectively as a whole.

Services such as Nightline, Samaritans and Papyrus have always had stricter policies of confidentiality than other areas, so tend to be better than most companies with data disclosure policies. If you need support with mental health, these are also viable, GDPR-friendly alternatives.

Photo: Pixabay

No end in sight for Hong Kong protests Jake Goddard Global Writer

Protests continue in Hong Kong as focus shifts to demands for a more democratic and autonomous system.

The initial causes of the protests erupted in June over a controversial Extradition Law that would have seen suspected criminals transferred to mainland China for trial.

This caused various human rights concerns from both protestors and the various members of the international community, who point towards Beijing overstepping the ‘one country, two systems’ agreement.

Under this system, citizens of Hong Kong are able to enjoy relative autonomy from mainland China.

Benefits of this notably include freedom of assembly and free speech.

Under the Extradition Law, citizens of Hong Kong enjoying these freedoms could be extradited to mainland China at the request of Beijing, and though being innocent of any wrongdoing in Hong Kong, would be held as criminals against China’s own laws.

The law was eventually scrapped but is reflective of a much deeper issue.

There are allegations that suggest that China is already involved in illegal extraditions of citizens so that they can be prosecuted in China.

The Causeway Bay Booksellers case in 2015 saw five prominent booksellers disappear. Some had allegedly crossed the border to China and were detained there.

However, others were last seen in Hong Kong, later appearing as detainees on the Chinese mainland without having taken the legal documents with them that would have been necessary for them to cross the border legally – and of their own free will.

With China’s growing influence,

many citizens of Hong Kong are becoming worried about the grip that Beijing has on Hong Kong leaders.

The response of the Hong Kong government has so far been to deploy police and tear gas, citing security concerns over violence and damage to property.

There have also been claims made of police brutality against peaceful protestors. However, the police have adamantly defended their position, stating ‘If they don’t use violence, we don’t use force’.

Chinese officials have made coordinated efforts to condemn the protests through every media

channel at their disposal.

They have additionally accused the West as having plotted the protests, as well as publishing accusations of individual journalists and foreign citizens as being foreign agents.

So far, the general response to these comments by the international community has been critical.

Photo: Wikipedia Commons

FEATURES

17th Septeber 2019

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Confessions of a Foundation Year student...

Jess Barrett Deputy Editor

I’m not ashamed to say that I’m a student who took a foundation year.

Well, not anymore.

Every student I come across who has taken a foundation year agrees that there is at least some level of stigma surrounding the course. The stigma takes form in both stereotypes about the difficulty of the course we take, but also about the type of person who takes the course.

Foundation years are often misunderstood. In short, they are a preparation year for undergraduate courses. They often require lower acceptance grades, the foundation year I enrolled in only required three C’s in my A Levels.

Foundation year coursework and exams are very similar to degree level, but we receive a higher level of support from the faculty

and our advisors. We also have to fulfil requirements to get onto our chosen undergraduate course, for me I had to pass the year with a 2:1.

We earn the right to be at university, but we are often met with confused looks and dubiousness.

The negative response we receive from the majority of our peers can

“there’s an added pressure to push yourself”

lead us to feel self-conscious and, for me, it has made me feel like I’ve had to prove myself.

Jamie Woodward, another student who took a foundation year, agreed that a stigma exists. He remarked, ‘I felt that as soon as someone found

out that I took a foundation year, they changed the way they acted around me, that they thought I was less of a person, dumb or stupid’.

Paige Allen commented ‘Especially once you start your undergraduate course, I agree that there’s an added pressure to push yourself once you’ve taken a foundation year because we’ve worked for a whole year trying to prove we are capable of completing our degrees.’

In addition to feeling as if I needed to constantly prove my worth within my academic course, I was worried that I would feel out of place in my first year of my undergraduate course. There were many reasons for this – I would be a year older than my peers, I would have been at uni a year already and I would no longer be living on campus.

In all honesty, a lot of my worrying was unnecessary. My age didn’t matter at all - a lot of students take gap years or switch courses, so I felt

less out of place. Secondly, I had a great group of friends surrounding me, I didn’t feel like I had to live on campus to feel included.

Additionally, being at university for a year already was very helpful – I knew the library system, the layout of campus and the ins and outs of referencing.

My foundation year made the transition from sixth form to university a lot easier, and I’m glad it has meant I have an extra year at UEA. It really is the home of the wonderful.

There is a similar stigma surrounding students who get into university through clearing. Both circumstances mean that the typical entry requirements weren’t met, but also lead to students feeling like they have to make up for lower A level grades in other ways, either excelling at their degree or taking on lots of extra curriculars.

To anyone who has gotten in to UEA through clearing, or is

beginning a foundation year - it is important to remember that the university wouldn’t allow

“you are so much more than your foundation year”

clearing students or foundation year students on to undergraduate course if they didn’t have faith that we would succeed and thrive.

We’ve put in enough work in order to be considered able to complete full degrees, and we often get the same level of degree as our peers.

Don’t let how you go into UEA define you, you are so much more than your foundation year.

Photo: Unsplash

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Best of Norwich Ally Fowler Features Writer

Norwich’s reputation as a fine city precedes it with its blossoming businesses, hidden gems, and glimmering possibilities.

The Wildman, located as you descend into the Lanes, is a pub notable for its armchairs, cosy interior and carpeted foyer.

With an array of beer and lager on tap, the pub is a pleasant environment to nurse a drink with friends or loved ones. The Wildman has also hosted UEA’s Live Music Society for evenings of music appreciation.

A prime date spot, due to its secluded quietude and beauty, and if the weather permits, Norwich’s Plantation Garden is a flourishing utopia hidden behind Norwich Cathedral.

The £2 entry fee funds the continuous conservation of the garden, and it is a lovely place to wander the old crumbling paths and admire the flowers with someone dear.

Or, on a rainy day, Alchemista Coffee is a café tucked away in St Gregory’s Back Alley that serves rich, heartening drinks.

Their interior nurtures a glorious comfy-steampunk aesthetic, and their window seats allow you to people-watch over a drink and a slice of cake. They provide dairyfree milk alternatives and even serve cocktails.

For a vegan alternative, not only does deli-style coffee shop Tofurei sell an inviting array of vegan cakes and donuts, they also provide vegan-substitutes for savoury goods like sausage rolls and pasties,

with the added bonus that they use Norfolk-grown soya beans in many of their products.

The Bowling House is a bowling alley perfectly suited for an entertaining game. Located a short walk from the Cathedral, it is a warmly-lit establishment with friendly and attentive staff.

Monday nights are student nights, where you can play three games for a discounted £10; they also have a small bar, for any necessary drinks.

For nights in the city; Loft is one of the more intimate clubbing venues, but it bursts with liveliness.

Established as Norwich’s first gay nightclub, but now immensely popular among UEA students, it is an LGBTQ+ friendly venue, and with the added bonus of decorative aeroplane seats and faux windows with CGI views, Loft provides an additional degree of excitement for any night.

UEA’s very own LCR has hosted a large number of musicians previously, such as English rockers The Hunna in April. A bombastic, rumbling bass affair, the LCR proves to function just as well as a concert venue as it does a club, sizeable enough but still allowing intimacy to any musician who performs.

Photo: Georgraph

Prioritisng you during Freshers Jake Walker-Charles Senior Features Writer

Freshers’ week is certainly a momentous time in every student’s life. It marks the transition from the comfort of home, to a world of new opportunities and independence.

One thing however, that is bound to accompany this change, is stress. Whilst trying to fit-in to your new setting, it can be easy to fall into the trap of trying to please others before you think about yourself.

After all, you have to live in this new environment for the next three

years, so you want to start off on the right foot. My main piece of advice is - be your own best mate.

Here are some tips for how to put yourself first, ensuring a balanced and healthy lifestyle throughout Freshers.

Students often look forward to all the club nights and parties with which Freshers’ week is synonymous, and there might be the tendency to over-drink at this time.

One way to off-set this is exercise. Take some time away from Halls and go for a swim or a gym session at the Sports Park (each under £4 with campus I.D.).

Alternatively, go for a walk around the lake and see if you can find UEA’s resident donkeys and cows in the surrounding fields.

Morning runs are a good solo or social activity and a great way to calm down, release endorphins and discover all the scenic routes in and around UEA – perhaps have a wander through the surrounding parks (Earlham and Eaton Park).

The hive is also home to table tennis courts, a piano, and upstairs you will find the rarely occupied nap nook (a room full of large beanbags), which are all great ways to take some time to prioritise your mental and physical health this Freshers.

Photo: Georgraph

Cost of Freshers wristbands Jake Walker-Charles Senior Features Writer

During Freshers week, many universities sell wristbands for the club nights and events taking place. At UEA, this year there is a ‘Welcome Wristband’ for new students set at the price of £62.50, but just how much are you really saving by purchasing one?

The Week 1 ‘Welcome Wristband’ grants you entry to a club night or event every night of Freshers week, and if you were to buy tickets to each event separately,

it would cost £80, meaning the wristband gives you a reasonable saving of £17.50. The ‘Returners Wristband’ for returning students costs £56, as the events are slightly different but still includes the biggest night, the ‘Welcome Ball’ which is priced at £32 for a ticket, and therefore generates a similar saving.

Sussex University prices their wristband similarly at £65, however, they include a first release offer of tickets priced at £55. One of their main events being a Pier Party and Seafront takeover, making use of the ever-popular Brighton beach and its Palace Pier. Bristol University on the other hand, sells their wristbands at

£32, however, this only guarantees access to three club nights.

From my experience, I think that wristbands are a good way of ensuring you’ll be able to go out to any event your flat mates or course mates are going to. They offer the security of being able to go with the flow and join your friends on any night out, without the hassle of planning. If you have a ‘Welcome Wristband’, you will still have to factor in the cost of buying drinks and taxis which will increase your total spend to well over £62.50.

Wristbands at UEA, nevertheless, remain ever popular; this year selling out weeks before term begins.

Money, Money, Money... in a student’s world Jess Barrett Deputy Editor

Mental Health Crisis Coming to uni means you will have to juggle lots of different responsibilities – and perhaps the most important (and dullest) of those will be your finances.

Financial trouble and money mismanagement can lead to a decline in your wellbeing and mental health. Therefore, it is important that you budget effectively and keep on top of your finances.

There a several key things you will have to consider when it comes to budgeting. Perhaps the most important part is to work out exactly how much income you will have during your time at uni – this includes your student loan, any grants or bursaries you are eligible for, income from a part-

time job and any money you might get from your parents or guardian.

Once you determine your income, it is essential you calculate every outgoing expenditure you can think of, this helps to prepare you for any expenses you will have to cover whilst at uni. The main culprits are rent, bills and food.

However, it is also important to budget for nights out and having fun – it is easy to be oblivious as these expenses rack up. The stress of having to work whilst also being committed to your degree is often the root of a lot of anxiety for students.

The balance between working and studying is one many struggle with – so much so, universities such as The University of Cambridge deny students the chance to work whilst studying. Here at UEA, if you work for the student union, they advise you to not commit to any more than 15 hours to a job, helping you to maintain the correct work to study balance, helping to reduce any

money related anxiety you might experience.

As a course representative, and now school convenor – it has come to my attention that lots of students consider how expensive modules will be before picking them. Especially for humanities subjects, students often must buy multiple books or contribute to the cost of printing dossiers for our modules. We can be spending up to £100 on materials for each module, despite already paying £9,250 per year to be here. This is a large expense that many students don’t budget for – and can lead to students finding themselves short on money.

Once you have accounted for the money you have to spend whilst at uni, it is important that you save.

Download apps such as Unidays or buy an NUS card to receive discounts in high-street shops and restaurants. Another useful card to purchase is a 16-25 railcard, which

helps you to save a third on your rail fare.

Once we turn 19, we are no longer able to receive free medical care.

However, you can apply to the NHS Low Income Scheme. If you are accepted you can get prescriptions, tests at the opticians or dental appointments and treatments for free.

It is so important to see going to university as a place to be independent and have fun, however with independence c o m e s responsibility, so be smart and savvy with your finances to help limit any anxiety or stress you may experience.

Photo: Flickr

INTERVIEW

17th September 2019

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Drugs, gangs and why Norwich Chris Matthews speaks to Laura McGillivray, As I step into Laura McGillivray’s office, a hint of confusion creeps into my mind.

Here I am, standing in an undeniably modern office within a 1930s Art Deco building.

I’ve just climbed a set of imposing, even majestic stairs but now am faced with pale yellow walls, filing cabinets and plug sockets.

McGillivray is the Chief Executive of Norwich City Council.

She’s held the position for almost 14 years, and is also on the board of UEA council.

For her, students are integral to helping Norwich thrive. “Students spend money in the city,” she tells me. “It keeps the city going. It keeps the city edgy.”

One challenge for the city is balancing the need for student accommodation with “an acute housing shortage”.

McGillivray explains that the situation has been aggravated by a waiting list for housing that is around 3,800 strong.

McGillivray tells me that the university looking to the city centre, as opposed to residential areas, “relieves some of the competition for housing”. But, she worries about whether accommodation converted from offices for students will meet quality standards.

“It would appear students are prepared to pay for those prices,” she adds. “Certainly when I was a student we weren’t. But there you go.”

Students taking drugs is a given at many universities.

A survey of around 2,800 students by the National Union of Students last year

found 56% of respondents had used drugs.

Laura McGillivray chairs Norfolk’s Community Safety Partnership and the county lines subgroup.

County lines is the name used for drug gangs’ expansion from large cities into smaller towns and cities.

McGillivray says county lines is “a big issue for the county as a whole, particularly for Norwich, but also spreading out to Great Yarmouth and to some extent, King’s Lynn”.

She adds, “Big centres of urban population is where drug dealing has become big business.

Markets like London, Birmingham, Manchester get overheated.

“What happens is the dealers

“We have seen people who’ve been injured, shot or stabbed as a result of county lines” start to move out and try and find other markets and it’s called county lines because they use mobile phone “lines” to run their business in these other locations staying safe in their home territory.

“County lines dealers prey on vulnerable young people, exploiting them with gifts before asking them to drop off a package.

“After they drop off one, the dealers will ask them to drop of

another and they are caught.

“Then they will attack them and steal the package. And then you’re in the dealer’s debt. And so then they start to ensnare them more and more,” McGillivray tells me.

“They’re given mobile phones [with the] numbers of all the people who are the drug users and then that phone line is used as a contact. Then what you might get is cuckooing… somebody who takes up residence in a vulnerable older person’s home, takes over their home, uses that as a base for drug dealing.”

County lines may be a smaller problem in N o r w i c h than in other towns and cities closer to London, but for McGillivray the issue is “big enough for us here”.

McGillivray is overseeing the strategy to combat county lines, beyond the policing response including r a i s i n g awareness in all public services as well as for example, those services such as taxi companies who may be unwittingly transporting the exploited young people and the drugs around the county, or staff at Norwich railway station, which may be a getting-off point in the city.

Even so, county lines has brought violence with it.

McGillivray says there aren’t yet local gangs competing on the scale seen in London.

“What we have seen are people who’ve been injured, shot or stabbed as a result of county lines

activity.”Currently she is not aware whether county lines has spread to UEA. “That doesn’t mean it’s not there,” says McGillivray.

“If there is drug taking there is drug supply. And some of that might

some students who claim to be dogooders for the environment and social justice also take drugs.

“Well you could say that,” she replies.

McGillivray is asking students to think about the origins of drugs.

be coming from other students or it might be coming from outside.”

McGillivray wants students to be aware of what they are taking and how it may affect them and others.

She tells me, “however they’re getting their drug supply somebody will have been exploited and somebody will be making a profit out of that.”

I ask her whether it’s ironic

“Somewhere along the line people will be making money out of it and people will be exploited.

The county lines are exploiting vulnerable young people here very close to home.

“They might be in care, they might be up from London, they might be from local families.

“If it’s not local people who are being exploited then it is likely to be people back in the countries that are

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17th September 2019

concrete-online.co.uk/category/features/ | @ConcreteUEA

is “a great place” to be living Chief Executive of Norwich City Council supplying the drugs.

“So if you are taking drugs – and I haven’t got a particular position on the morality of it, it’s an individual choice, although I wouldn’t encourage it – I would say that part of the issue is [you are] never quite

sure what you’re taking. So there is a danger associated with that.”

However, her role as Chief Executive isn’t all about county lines.

Battling climate change is another issue the city faces.

McGillivray believes UEA’s climate research is “massively important for the city and for the world”.

Research conducted at UEA’s Tyndall Centre for Climate Change

Research has played a large role in advancing the way many people view climate change.

For many years Norwich has also played its part, from declaring a climate emergency to installing solar panels on the roof of City Hall.

“We’ve invested about £100m in our council housing stock so that the energy rating level is about C. “And what that does is it helps in terms of the environment but it also helps in terms of fuel poverty.

“We’ve been looking at biodiversity in our parks – we’ve got bee friendly planting. There’s a whole series of different things.

“Recently we’ve had a lot more contact with the Tyndall Centre

around what more could we be doing in terms of the city council’s activities.”

The city council launched its own white label energy company, Roar Power, last week.

“This is something that students can sign up to,” McGillivray tells me.

“I would urge them to do [it].”

The aim is to provide users with cheap gas and electricity from 100% renewable resources.

Yet fighting climate change isn’t only about taking direct action, it’s also about changing attitudes.

“We’ve been p r o m o t i n g walking and cycling as opposed to car use,” McGillivray explains.

One problem in Norwich that has driven many to cars over public transport is bus prices.

This year First Bus has introduced stickers warning students from pretending to be younger to take advantage of young person fares.

There are no student discounts on buses in Norwich.

McGillivray believes bus prices are real issue for students but also for poorer residents in and around Norwich.

“If you are a family who are struggling to make ends meet and you come into the city centre it costs you a lot of money.

“And when you come into the centre, you probably can’t afford to do very much. The price of buses is a big issue for everybody to be honest. Should students have more of a discount than poor families? I don’t know.

“But certainly the bus fares here in the city I think are really quite

high.”

First Buses control their own fares, and it is the County Council, as opposed to the City that has a relationship with the company.

Still, “I’d certainly love to see a reduction in prices,” McGillivray tells me.

But she is adamant the council doesn’t want a rift to open up between Norwich locals and students.

“The city is enhanced enormously by having students,” McGillivray tells me.

“They really add to the feeling of the place.”

She adds, “Cities are a lot poorer if they don’t have good universities, and the university’s been getting better and better over the last 10, 20 years.”

McGillivray wants students to

“Cities are a lot poorer if they don’t have good universities” invest time in the city as well as in UEA, to “really get the most out of this place.

“It’s a great place to be,” she tells me. You could start up your own business if you were here,” she adds.

“Engage in voluntary and community activities.

Go out and have a good time.”

From the transcript Laura McGillivray: We haven’t got local gangs yet competing.

But what we have seen are people who’ve been injured, shot or stabbed as a result of county lines activity.

Chris Matthews: When people are shot are they trying to kill them or is it more of a warning?

Laura McGillivray: It’s more like a warning.

Chris Matthews: And does [UEA] have a particular drugs problem?

Laura McGillivray: ...It’s not a massive drug problem hotspot... But we are aware there is drug taking on campus.

All photos: Concrete/ Roo Pitt

17th September 2019

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HOME OF THE WONDERFUL

Who are we?

Concrete is the University of East Anglia’s official student newspaper. We publish in print and online fortnightly, on Tuesdays. You’ll be able to find copies of Concrete across campus, and you can visit our website, concrete-online.co.uk This year we are running the Concrete Mental Health Crisis Campaign. Every article written as part of the campaign will have this graphic at the top of it, so watch out for them!

Mental Health Crisis

How do I get involved?

Move in Weekend: Keep an eye out for people in Concrete T-Shirts holding papers.

Come and say hi for a copy of the new issue and a chat.

Tuesday 24th September: We’ll be at Soc Fayre in the Sportspark 11am-6pm!

Friday 27th September: Come find us at our Big Meet at 5pm. Meet the Editors and sign up to the sections you want to write for.

Join our Facebook Members group (Concrete Members 2019/20) to stay up to date.

Scan with your camera to join Concrete

Follow our social media accounts on @ConcreteUEA

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COMMENT

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17th September 2019

University needs to learn from tragedies Harry Routley Comment Writer

Mental Health Crisis For years, topics surrounding mental health, depression, and suicide have been taboo in both entertainment and dining-table conversation.

This stands in contrast to how seemingly willing public institutions are to pledge their support to ending the chronic lack of resources directed towards mental health.

Every government promises more funding and every university promises that they are the one with the tools to help prospective students.

Part of the reason for this divide is that it is far easier to have the resources available (although this is not always achieved), than to show people that reaching out is neither weak, or something to be ashamed of.

Focusing purely on our university community, four recent student

deaths in 10 months prompted action in favour of increased mental health funding and a re-structuring of the support system.

This is still ongoing because of a lack of clarity from the university and the Student Union with regards to how the new budget of £1.4m will be spent.

This concren continues to draw attenion to whether or not the university actually takes responsibility for the mental health of its students.

“There is no guide that works for everyone” Perhaps two of the most basic requirements that the university needs to fulfil are admitting both that they have a true responsibility

to the health of students, and also that they have been falling short in this regard.

In secondary education, the idea of a ‘duty of care’ is far simpler, in 2018, one of Scotland’s top private schools was sued for failing to prevent a campaign of cyber and physical bullying against a former student.

The school owed the student protection, failed, and faced the consequences.

Comparatively, it seems far easier for a university to deny their responsibility to students.

After all, we are adults now, developing self-reliance is a key part of growing up.

Except, there is no guide that works for everyone on how to become a functioning, healthy person.

I spent my whole life in a town in Kent, surrounded by largely the same people, and grew used to having this tight support network, including teachers at school who all knew me by name and reputation.

Now, I am one of thousands in a

wider community, living hours away from my family and must rely purely on myself for meeting deadlines and making friends.

It would be unrealistic to expect anyone, especially those with existing mental health conditions, to adjust to this simply because they have now turned 18.

We should never have reached this point as a community.

My greatest disappointment with the university is that it is seemingly the negative publicity generated by the deaths that led to the increased funding and support for mental health.

They should have started listening long before this.

They should have listened to reports of waiting lists that go on for months, to students whose conditions aren’t covered by existing councillors and to incoming first-years, worried about the years ahead.

I truly hope that even if the university cannot admit fault, it can learn from tragedy and truly fulfil the duty of care that we are owed.

Photo: Unsplash

Photo: Concrete/Roo Pitt

Parliament has a culture of misogyny Lewis Oxley Comment Writer

To say tensions are high in parliament is a silly understatement: the country hasn’t seen anything like it in living memory.

As so often is the case with political buffoonery, it showed itself in the form of PMQs, as Jeremy Corbyn squared off with Boris Johnson.

This particular act of buffoonery came in a bizarre exchange where the Prime Minister called Mr Corbyn “a great big girl’s blouse” when quizzing him on whether he would agree to an early election prior to 31st October, the date of Britain’s departure from the European Union.

“An arrogance and smugness from an already decaying political class” The use of the phrase undoubtedly caused a stir, but I think it displays something more generic: the casual acceptance, from politicians and journalists alike, of this crass behaviour in society.

The use of these phrases displays an arrogance and smugness from an already decaying political class.

To be fair to Mr Johnson, his

comments are probably the best of a bad bunch.

I would rather be called a “great big girls’ blouse” than say, a “letterbox” or a “pickaninny” with a “watermelon smile”.

Comparativley. it is far less offensive, but nonetheless demonstrates his lack of decorum and statesmanship.

This statement may be just an off-the-cuff comment to whip up fiery banter, showing the farce for what Parliament is these days, but it plays shadow to more serious gender-related issues in politics.

It has echoed again throughout politics on both sides with some rather outrageous comments and actions from other MPs. In the Tory party, this has reared its ugly head more than enough.

Tory grandee Sir Christopher Chope, MP for Christchurch, has certainly made no friends with his views on “upskirting” by shouting “object” and preventing its debate in Parliament.

The Dover MP Charlie Elphicke, currently suspended from the Tory Whip, recently appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, charged with the sexual assault of two women, a claim he strenuously denies.

This raises more serious questions on the behaviour of MPs. Whether he is guilty or not, the casual outlook of some of our MPs needs reviewing.

Serious allegations of any sexist misconduct, going through to sexual abuse must be deplored by all political persuasions.

Former Labour MP, now Independent for Sheffield Hallam, Jared O’Mara ,faced fierce criticism of previous tweets deemed misogynistic.

He further made homophobic and racist tweets in the past, leading to his suspension and resignation from the party.

Cases like these prove that Parliament certainly has a culture of misogyny amongst its largely privileged male members. It certainly is not a great image for a parliament seen by many as the first beacon of democracy.

Even though Mr Johnson’s comments to the Labour leader weren’t in my view strictly sexist, I see them as another brick in the house of pantomime, the outrage following it is understandable.

It continues to stoke the fire of an issue that politics seems to throw into the limelight only to take it out again.

T h i s exposes a more perverse culture that politics and society need to call out for what it is: shameful.

Photo: Flickr

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One of the great parliamentarians takes his final bow Matt Branston Comment Editor

On September 8th, Speaker of the House John Bercow announced he will be resigning either on October 31st or if an early election was called, whichever came first.

With the longest term by a Speaker since Edward FitzRoy stood down in 1943, he has been in his role through four Prime Ministers, the aftershocks of the worst economic disaster since the Great Depression, and the most tumultuous time in British politics that any of us can remember.

While Mr Bercow has received criticisms of perceived bias towards certain issues or his bullying allegations (which he staunchly denies), in his public life, preSpeaker parliamentary career, and his life outside of the House of Commons, his actions are those of a man to whom the highest respect should be given.

He acts as the patron for multiple charities and has done fantastic work to help those with autism, he was resigned from the shadow cabinet of Iain Duncan Smith and voted against the whip in order to support the right of unmarried people and same-sex couples to adopt children, he pushed through

immense criticism to have Rose Hudson-Wilkins as the first black female Chaplain to the Speaker, and he has continued to help educate people (and especially young people) on politics and Parliament.

And to be clear, I don’t think he’s been perfect, I don’t like his voting in favour of the Iraq War, I don’t appreciate his role in the Expenses scandal, and the lack of response to that, and the bullying allegations are too strong to completely dismiss.

However, those are minor issues in the life of a politician who has continued to ensure that Parliament continues to operate properly, in a time when governments continue to place their interests over the conventions that have stood for hundreds of years.

Bercow has kept Parliament as a representation of the people, and not merely a tool for complete executive control of the nation.

It is interesting that though his name was made as a Tory MP, as it has been the Conservatives with whom Mr Bercow has come into the most conflict with, such as when he supported Parliament over the Government with matters such as the Cooper-Letwin Bill or the Meaningful Votes.

And so, I honestly believe that the Conservative party refusing to stand and applaud his statement to

oppose, and contradict that Government.

Mr Bercow has kept that promise about as well as he could have been asked.

With his actions throughout his career, he represents something which is tragically getting closer to extinction: a politician who cares about his office and the respect it brings.

Mr Bercow is also someone who treated Parliament as the sovereign power it is, and who made sure that all MPs, and hence all people of our nation, could get their voices heard.

To echo Jeremy Corbyn’s statement, our Parliament is stronger for having him as speaker, our democracy is stronger for having him as speaker.

Many, many people will be thankful for that, I know I personally very much am.

the house, and the post-resignation announcement criticism from sources which are more in line with the views of the party who have been in power for most of his time as Speaker are perfectly indicative of what makes Mr Bercow such an exemplary Speaker.

He is a parliamentarian who has placed Parliment’s sovereignty over party politics. As numerous MPs said in the aftermath of his resignation announcement MPs must be given the power to speak out and criticise as they need to. To paraphrase his pre-election sentiments, Parliament isn’t just there to rubber-stamp the present Government, but should criticise,

Photo: Flickr

‘A lot of women take the size of their clothes to heart’

Photo: Unsplash

Sam Hewitson Comment Writer

The clothing brand H&M have recently come under scrutiny over their sizing sysem, as items prove to be smaller than the size on their label. The extensive criticism received has finally led to reform, but I don’t think the problem is resolved just yet.

A Twitter post highlights the problem at hand: a woman struggled to fit into a Size 16 H&M

dress despite being a Size 12 in other clothing stores. A customer assistant informed her, “ahh yeah you have to go up a couple of sizes with these”. People’s sizes fluctuate depending on fit, material and such.

That is common knowledge and even something that I personally deal with sometimes, but this fluctuation should be nowhere near to the extent where a woman has to ask for a dress that is four sizes above her usual size. This has the potential to have serious effects on shoppers’ mentalities, because as the same woman depicts, a lot of women take the size of their clothes

to heart, especially when they must size up. Even though the sizing at H&M is far from accurate, this experience will stick with shoppers.

The effect on H&M has not been good. Their reputation has been seriously damaged by this and understandably many shoppers have become sceptical of the brand.

The reforms that have been put in place to combat this have made some progress. It is stated on the H&M FAQ page that “for now, customers will not see size 24 listed, as this is now a size 22”, showing that the reform meant a downgrade for every size by one. However, this

cannot be the end of the reforms.

Using the previous example of a woman having to go up four dress sizes, surely bringing sizes down by one will not lead to a solution?

Of course, the change will be satisfactory for some people and items, but it cannot realistically be the fix. Not only that, but to accommodate this change, a Size 0 was added with the previous measurements of a Size 2. For women who are self-conscious about their size, the addition of a size at the bottom of the spectrum maintains their position on that spectrum, as it were, meaning that

although their personal size number is smaller, they are still the same distance from the ‘slim’ side of womenswear as they were prior.

The existence of a Size 0 perpetuates so many unhealthy values, and the fact that an additional size was not added on the plus sized end is the icing on the cake. The shift in sizes, albeit beneficial, is also detrimental in this manner.

The problem, despite being ‘fixed’, is still most definitely, causing issues. The downgrade of one size is not enough in a lot of cases, so I imagine this controversy will resurface again in the future.

SCIENCE

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The pyschology of change Unbe-LEAF-able Sam Hewitson Science Writer

Mental Health Crisis The first stage is what Lewin calls the ‘unfreezing’ phase. This stage involves recognising the need for change, to then be able to prepare for it. In the university context, this would be the packing and organisation stage before the move, but in reality, preparation is hard to fully commit to when the environment that you are changing to is

Photo: Unsplash

still unknown. Therefore, this stage happens after the change, and our brains play catch-up. This is damaging, as not only are we getting used to academic life but the new environment takes time to get used to.

This allows room for homesickness to kick in, as the change is fresh and the remnants of the ‘old life’, as it were, still remain and are the norm.

The next stage is the ‘changing’ stage. This is the actual implementation of the preparation or desire to change, but when change happens too quickly, it can be very difficult.

Working out both how to change, and why change is needed should not happen while the change is happening, purely because of the

length of time that this takes.

The more prepared one is for change, the easier it is,

Eco friendly new year Bea Prutton Science Writer

Many of us want to make environmentally conscious choices, and a new academic year feels like an opportunity to make changes for a greener lifestyle. However, some of the suggested methods for ecofriendly living don’t always to appeal to those of us on a budget.

Here are my five tips for caring for the environment without breaking the bank: • Set your thermostats to 1C less According to the department of energy, this could reduce heating bills by up to 10%, and save the planet around 300kg of CO2.

• Reassess your diet According to the United Nations, ‘cattle-rearing generates more global warming greenhouse gases than transportation. The livestock sector accounts for 9% of CO2 deriving from human-related activities and generates 65% of humanrelated nitrous oxide, which has 296 times the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of CO2.’ Going vegetarian or pescatarian feels like a daunting task to many of us, so even omitting meat from a few meals per week can make a huge difference.

• Switch out your aerosols for rollon deodorant and other alternatives.

• Take the leap and try a menstrual cup. Every year, over 45 billion menstrual products are disposed of globally. 27, 938 used

but as explained before, some circumstances do not allow for this.

The final stage is the ‘refreezing’ stage, which involves cementing the changes that have been introduced.

The problem is, when the first two stages overlap and change is not thoroughly prepared for, the ‘refreezing’ stage never really happens, or at least it happens in tiny intervals before being ‘unfrozen’ again. This is incredibly damaging because it means the entire process above needs to be repeated again from scratch, a strenuous act with many mental health detriments. The phase that we, as students, are at in our lives also makes this stage hard, because the next few years involve multiple massive changes that never really get ‘frozen’ for long enough.

Healthy adaptation to change hinges on extensive preparation, as a lack of it will speed up the psychological process described above. Change also takes time, and patience is needed to ensure that it is healthy. If the adaptation to change is not healthy, the process will have to start again from the beginning, rendering the time taken to change thus far useless.

Some things cannot be sped up in life; adapting to change is one of them. as I have discovered.

Jess Barrett Deputy Editor

Houseplants have hit student accommodation by storm and seem to be on almost every window sill or bookshelf. Whatever shape, colour or size, there is an option out there suitable for everyone.

They are aesthetically pleasing, inexpensive, and require little maintenance. Houseplants are also another way for you to personalise your uni room and look great alongside your photo frames and fairy lights.

In addition to looking pretty in their colourful and funky pots, you can buy succulents and plants that smell amazing. The benefits continue because houseplants help to purify the air, by releasing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide.

Research conducted by NASA states that houseplants can eliminate up to 87% of air toxins in the course of one day. Separate studies have proven that houseplants can help you to concentrate and feel calm and productive, making them the perfect addition to your study space.

You don’t have to have a green thumb to look after a houseplant –

most succulents only need watering every week or so, and cacti require watering even less. Succulents are the perfect beginners plant as they

“You don’t have to have a green thumb to look after a houseplant” are also suited to most environments, but be careful you don’t overwater them, as excess stagnant water can cause the plant to die.

Many would think that houseplants could be have a down side – most plants release carbon dioxide when photosynthesis stops during the night.

However, orchids and succulents are unlike other plants and continuously release oxygen throughout the day, further proving that succulents are an amazing feature in any bedroom.

Photos: Pixabay

tampons and applicators are collected every day from our world’s beaches. And on the budgeting side of things, each one of us girls will spend roughly £1200 on tampons in our lifetimes. A menstrual cup is 3 times more effective at holding menstrual blood than tampons and you only need to buy one, which will last for years and are a one-time cost of around £20.

• We all have recycling bins in our uni houses and I’m sure many of us are avid users of

“45 billion menstrual products are disposed of globally”

Three scientific snapshots Lucy Burrows

them. However, fast fashion as an industry can be very harmful for our environment. Since 2013, H&M have been offering a garment recycling service to reduce the number of garments sent to landfill. They accept ‘any clothes by any brand in any condition,’ and in exchange you will receive a £5 voucher per bag of clothes towards your next H&M purchase.

Science Writer

Research sheds new light on Antarctic

Predicting Pollen

Dr Dorothee Bakker of UEA’s School of Environmental Sciences is amongst a team who has shown that processes far out at sea are the most important factors determining C02 is absorption. The research challenges theories surrounding the relationship between C02 levels in the atmosphere and the polar Antarctic Ocean.

Did you know the term ‘Hay Fever’ comes from the assumption that symptoms associated with an allergy to pollen were brought on by hay? In the future, pollen allergy is likely to increase due to climate change and currently affects 1 in 5 people worldwide.

Coastal Mud as key to climate cooling New research here at UEA suggests that bacteria found in muddy coastal areas may help to cool down the Earth’s temperature. Professor Jonathan Todd and his team found that microorganisms break down DMSP (Dimethylsulfoniopropionate) to release the climate cooling gas DMS (Dimethylsulfide), which also gives the coast its recognisable seaside smell.

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I’m not a scientist, Turning a corner in science but... communication Leia Butler Science Writer

I’m not a scientist but, I’d love to see more easily accessible and reliable scientific information on social media/everyday life.

The current media stream puts out a lot of science based content, but like many others, I am often unsure of how reliable the information is, or if there has been a clickbait title and story formulated to attract views.

I think that the science community could engage more with everyday people through social media outlets such as Instagram or on podcasts. Both of these are extremely popular, especially with young people.

Love Island star Dr Alex, has found major success by talking about medical issues and other science related facts on his Instagram stories and these have been a really great way for his followers people to get some quick and reliable facts in a safe and fun way.

I’d love to see more people within STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)

fields doing a similar thing on social media and for the social media sites to promote and highlight this.

I also think that the science community could benefit from having more of their own major publications. Almost like an ‘AntiSun’ where they dispel myths that other news networks often dramatise. I think this would be such an interesting read and could educate a lot of people. Science is so beautiful and innovative and I think it would be great to highlight the intelligence behind the field.

As an arts student, I’d love to see science featured in more fiction and the world of literature and drama. Plays themed around climate change or poetry about the way the world really works. I’d love to see the science world tap into their creative side and produce something that’s brilliantly written whilst also teaching some important lessons.

A lot of science information I read online can feel quite stiff so I’d love to see it being more fun and I feel like information will stick a lot better in a humorous or more exciting manner.

Laura Taylor Science Editor

Despite massive efforts from the science community, there are large populations around the world that believe the earth is flat, that vaccines cause autism, and perhaps most importantly, that global warming isn’t real.

It’s evident that something is very wrong with the way we communicate scientific fact. In the 2014 British Science Association public attitudes paper, 55% of people said they felt uninformed, despite 72% believing it is important to know

Photo: Unsplash

about scientific issues.

Of those asked, 71% believed the media sensationalises science, which is no surprise in the current climate, but this needs to change.

If genuine concerns are viewed as trends that will blow over, we risk running out of time to deal with climate change, a threat to humanity’s very existence. If we don’t take scientific fact seriously, we may well face the worst possible threat to human kind: our extinction.

However, all hope is not lost, the study showed that the UK public is more enthusiastic about science than it ever has been. We need to keep up the momentum. People

aged 16-24 are more likely to believe that scientific research will help us solve key issues, and for many this is evident among ourselves, family and friends. With public figures taking the lead and discussing science on social media and incorporating it into their work, people traditionally less interested get to learn about key developments. It should be an ethical and moral obligation for mainstream media to communicate science in accurate and accessible ways.

TRAVEL

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Healthcare in Vietnam: a firsthand experience Anna Jose Travel Writer

Mental Health Crisis This summer I spent 3 weeks working as a student nurse in one of Vietnam’s poorest public hospitals.

The scale of this venture did not sink in until I had waved goodbye to my family at Heathrow airport,

continuing t h r o u g h airport security, alone. This was the first time I had travelled

beyond Europe by myself, and the first time I’d had to navigate connecting flights through foreign airports.

Having struggled with my own mental health in the past, there were times at which I felt overwhelmed by my choice to make this journey. I questioned if I would be able to cope on the other side of the world, immersed in a different culture with a huge language barrier.

However, booking through a specialist healthcare company, who arranged

everything, definitely made the transition easier.

I tried to keep an open mind about what the conditions would be like in the hospital.

I wasn’t surprised to see patients sharing rooms, but seeing a child with cancer squashed into a room with patients old enough to be his grandparents saddened me, and the mould-ridden walls made me question its suitability as a healing environment.

One thing that did stand out to me, however, was the willing attitudes of hospital staff.

Despite the lack of resources, nobody complained, but simply got on with their duties. All of the Vietnamese people I met outwardly practised generosity and gratitude - a reflection of Vietnam’s strong Buddhist values.

However, whilst these values might suggest a positive attitude towards mental health, this was not the case for those who required specific psychological care.

I encountered shocking cases where a doctor told me that epilepsy was a ‘psychiatric’ illness, and another where a woman was slapped if she made any noise during childbirth.

The damage that these beliefs and practices could have on a patient’s mental health could span a lifetime.

Outside of the challenging placements, the evenings and weekends provided an opportunity to explore with new friends, and focus on my

own mental wellbeing. The city of Hue is home to many attractions such as the Imperial City, restaurants and markets.

Visiting Bach Mã National Park and the city of Hoi An were definitely highlights of my trip. The views of the Vi e t n a m e s e mountains were unrivalled, and with a hostel costing roughly £3 a night, travel was cheap and easy.

One thing that surprised me was Vietnam’s love for karaoke. It’s definitely worth joining in if you ever get the chance!

Travelling to Vietnam taught me more than I could have imagined about mental (and physical) healthcare.

Whilst it could be easy to criticise certain procedures that I witnessed, it has been eye opening to learn more about how cultural beliefs can influence a

country’s healthcare practices.

I am returning to the UK with a newfound sense of gratitude: one I aim to project into my work in the NHS, and far beyond.

Photos: Anna Jose

The transformative nature of travel Laura Taylor Travel Writer

Mental Health Crisis While I’ve always loved travelling, it was only through difficult circumstances that I realised quite how transformative it can be.

After finishing school, I found myself on an unplanned gap year due to a mental breakdown, in the most medical sense of the term.

Photo: Laura Taylor

I’d hidden the symptoms of mental illness for years, burying them until they had nowhere left to go, so I decided to set myself a recovery goal; to be well enough to spend a few months solo backpacking. It became the driving force behind my healing, and after six months of hard work, both financially and emotionally, I was ready to go.

I began my trip with no expectations, writing on my blog at the time “I only have one goal for this trip and that is to have an experience. It may not be one that I always like, or one that I can cope with all the time, but if it teaches me something that’s all I need”.

I’m pretty sure I met this infallible goal. I used my travels to relearn who I was, my identity had been broken into an array of signs and symptoms of disorder in therapy sessions, leaving me with little sense of self.

“I returned from my trip little short of a new person” Early in my trip I realised that if I wanted to have as many adventures as possible, I’d need to find people to adventure with.

This meant joining backpacker Facebook groups and putting a somewhat uncomfortable level of trust into strangers on the internet.

However this paid off and after spending a day with a group of solo travellers in the Blue Mountains of Sydney, I came home feeling like I’d known them for years. That evening I wrote: “this pushed me further than I think I've ever been pushed before”, and it still rings true.

After having crippling social anxiety in my teens, voluntarily meeting and spending a day with strangers, away from a WiFi connection, was a pretty massive contrast. Freshers was a breeze compared to this.

The next stop: a marine conservation project on the remote tropical island of Fiji.

Making friends was easy here after being thrown into it in

Australia, and I found my learning curve moved towards self care. Almost an antithesis to the western world, Fiji has an incredibly relaxed culture and the clock is always on ‘Fiji time’. Wellbeing is the primary goal of life and money on the island. This attitude, and the people I met, greatly influenced my mindset and taught me a different way to value life.

I returned from my trip little short of a new person. While I wasn’t learning about myself, I was considering what the new and improved me wanted to do with my future. I realised that while I had planned to take up a deferred place to study chemistry at a university topping the league tables, it wasn’t for me and I decided instead to pursue environmental sciences.

I made lifelong friends from the 7 countries I visited, and met my partner who I've now been with for 18 months. I discovered what it was like to exist in a world so much bigger than I had previously experienced, and I haven’t looked back since.

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The power of memories Sam Hewitson Travel Editor

Mental Health Crisis It is common knowledge that travel is amongst the best, activities to enhance yourself personally. Whether that be through cultural enrichment, or eye-opening experiences and personal growth.

I have travelled to places and done things in my travels that speak for all of these eventualities, but the most profound benefit I

Photo: Sam Hewitson

looking to do never fails to fix my mental state.

My past travels are my fondest memories. On a bad

Photo: Pixabay experience day-to-day because of these, is the progression of my mental health.

Travel has been the only consistent dream throughout my life. It is all I want to do and talk about, and people close to me can vouch for this. So, during the messiness of deadlines and problems that university has thrown at me, thinking about the travelling I have done or am

“These memories act as the backbone of my happiness” day, I think back to glaciers in Iceland through the Atlas in Morocco. Even a

walking on or hiking Mountains memory as

superficial as my favourite place to eat in Amsterdam puts a smile on my face. These memories are the backbone of my happiness, acting as reminders of periods in my life when I was happier.

I find it is easy to slip into the mindset that I haven’t been happy in ages when I get unhappy, and a reminder that this feeling is not true is incredibly beneficial.

Travel, at least for me, also acts as 'the light at the end of the tunnel'. Booking a trip for the future gives me something to look forward to, and is a physical demonstration of the bad times not lasting. There is literally an endpoint. I am going into my third and final year at UEA, and it is going to be huge.

Deadlines counting towards my degree, and a dissertation plague my calendar for the next few months, and it fills me with dread.

However, providing my plans actually pan out and money isn’t too much of a killjoy, I should be taking a year out after university to travel. Big trips to South East Asia, South America and more are on the cards, and my bucket list would scream in joy if it could.

The most stressful and difficult year of my life is followed by my dream year, which is best incentive I could ask for to persevere and get through it.

When my mental health

Photo: Sam Hewitson inevitably takes a nosedive, I will consider where I could be in the not too distant future. I could be seeing Machu Picchu for all I know. Travel is powerful for me.

My bad times are not permanent

and are flanked by the best times.

University and the stress of it is a tiny three years out of what will be a long life full of memories and better times, which is a reminder that we all need.

Paris: my time in the city of love Jess Barrett Deputy Editor

The city of love, home to the Eiffel tower and Arc de Triomphe, and, my summer destination this year.

Paris was the city that my boyfriend and I chose for our first holiday together, and also somewhere to celebrate my 21st birthday.

It was a perfect fit – providing a rich history, dynamic streets and breath-taking scenery. It ticked all of our boxes.

We got a really good deal on our city centre hotel as we booked our hotel and our Eurostar tickets in a package deal.

As part of our Eurostar tickets, we got free entry to a number of museums, and because we were younger than 25 we were also allowed free entry into every museum apart from The Louvre.

One tip I would give anyone

wanting to visit the Louvre is to book in advance – the amount of people who turned up thinking you could buy tickets on the door was astounding and the queue was so long it disappeared out of sight.

I loved that all of the different museums had beautiful architecture in addition to having stunning exhibits, paintings and statues.

We walked everywhere, from the Basilica Sacré-Cœur to the Arc de Triomphe (also free entry for EU residents under 25), from the Louvre to the Musée de Orsay, and then to the Eiffel Tower.

We walked 25-30,000 steps a day, and we were exhausted.

I loved every second of our wandering - walking in the sun and feeling the breeze on my face as we walked alongside the river Seine.

I felt like I was dreaming the whole time I was there, and I believe that is exactly how you should feel when you go on a city break.

The food we had in Paris was also incredible – the pastries, the steaks, the crème brûlée, the champagne and Aperol.

We were living the life of luxury, and the best part about it was that I didn’t spend as much money as I was expecting to.

I had heard that Paris was expensive, but I didn’t think that it was any more expensive than eating out in England. Winner winner, steak for dinner.

We ate from a range of cafes and restaurants and found that

“I felt like I was dreaming the whole time I was there” the independent places provided the best cuisine and atmosphere.

The most unexpected element of our trip was that we fell in love

with the Eurostar.

Queuing up and making our way through security was a breeze – I was even allowed to take my full coffee through with me.

The train itself was spacious with comfortable seats and plug sockets.

It was the most seamless travel I have ever experienced, and it only took us two hours to get to Paris from St. Pancras.

I would recommend Paris to anyone looking for a short trip away, with an abundance of culture – both contemporary and historical.

I can’t wait until I can go back and explore the streets of the city more.

Photo: Jess Barrett

Pin graphics: maxpixel.net

SPORT

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Argh, fencing’s the life for me Caitlin Arthur Sport Writer

So you’re thinking of joining a sports club? Well UEA fencing is the place to go, the only place on campus where you can pretend that you are a pirate and legally stab your friends.

This year we have lots of exciting opportunities for both experienced

“You can pretend you’re a pirate and legally stab your friends” and beginner fencers.

Our men’s team is in Midlands League 1 and is looking for new members.

Our women’s team is progressing well in their league, pushing for promotion and looking for new members too.

For beginner fencers we have three Do Something Different

sessions which are free and open to everyone, offering a chance to try out all three weapons available (Epee, Sabre and Foil) and decide which one suits you best.

These sessions are on Saturday the 28th September (3.00-5.40pm), Monday the 30th (7:40- 10:20pm), and Wednesday the 2nd October (5:40pm-7:40pm).

We will also be at Sports Fayre on Wednesday the 25th of September, so come along and say hi!

We regularly have friendly competitions within the club, so you get a good chance to develop your skills, and our members regularly compete in competitions both locally and nationally, so there are plenty of opportunities to test your skills.

We also have regular socials both non-drinking and drinking, including: club nights, bowling, and club dinners.

Some of our previous socials include treasure hunts, a Great Gatsby themed evening, and of course the legendary Derby Day LCRs. So, in short, for me UEA fencing is the place to be, where you can live out all your swashbuckling dreams.

Photo: Umayma Al-Arayed

Dancing along to class It’s alright to

miss a game Jamie Hose Sport Editor

Mental Health Crisis

Photo: UEA Ballroom and Latin Dance Club

Claire Bilsborough Sport Writer

When I first joined the Ballroom and Latin Dance Club (UEABLDC) two years ago, I did not expect it to be quite as impactful on my life as it has been.

Since then, I have taken part in competitions, performed on stage, and am now going into my second year of being on the committee.

Through the competitions and classes you build and maintain a sense of confidence, resilience and perseverance.

But more importantly, you gain

lasting friendships.

A degree is hard work, and a creative output is often needed.

One Dance Squad member said they found that dance provided them, “with such a great stress relief from University life through attending weekly classes with additionally opportunities to perform on stage, improving my confidence.”

Of course, there are socials and events too.

The Ballroom and Latin Club hold a range of socials, including our annual roller-disco social, as well as pub-bingo, BBQs by the lake, and also our biggest event of

the year, UEA Strictly.

Socials are the best way to meet members from other levels and styles of dance, as well as people from other clubs.

Dancing at university is a great way to keep fit for a low cost, but it’s also a really good way to make new friends who you otherwise wouldn’t have met.

There are five dance clubs at UEA, including the Ballroom and Latin Dance Club, Dance Squad, Tap, Ballet, and Cheer Dance.

Anyone can join, and you can find ambassadors for each club at the Sports Fayre on the 25th September.

Exercise has often been praised as a way of helping to cope with mental illness.

And while exercise can reduce stress by releasing endorphins, when taken to a professional level, pursuing sports can become the subject of much anxiety.

The charity Mind has stated that there can be a number of factors which induce the onset of mental illness in professional sportsmen and women.

The pressure to live up to high expectations, a fear of being dropped if they fail to perform to those expectations, and the struggle to deal with their self-identity once they have retired from the sport and can no longer be defined as an athlete, can all be causes of anxiety.

In past years there have been several high-profile suicides amongst professional sportsmen, including footballer Gary Speed (2011), and rugby player Terry Newton (2010).

However, sports organisations are now taking a serious approach towards the issue.

Charities such as State of Mind (SoM), have been set up with a specific lens on mental health in sport.

Moreover, organisations such as the Professional Footballers Association (PFA), have set up a helpline, as well as collaborating with the charity Time to Change to publish ‘The Footballer’s Guidebook,’ which attempts to offer help to those dealing with negative mental health as a result of sport.

Playing a sport to any competitive level can have an impact on mental health. I have known people who have struggled with the pressure at county and regional level.

The pressure created by a highly competitive environment is not unique to Olympians and Premier League footballers.

What is important, is that teams and clubs create a supportive environment and foster connections with support services.

Mental health experts in charities such as Mind, as well as organisations like the NHS, still maintain that exercise has a positive effect on mental health.

Sometimes, the stress to perform can build up. and taking a back seat, and missing a few competitions can do a world of good.

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

Joining the quidditch team Teemu Pukki is a magical experience takes Premier Lucy Peake Sport Writer

I joined the Norwich Nifflers in 2017, my first year at the UEA. It gave me a sense of the best things about Quidditch: inclusivity and diversity, the adrenaline of tournaments, how fun the sport can be, and how fun the players are to be around.

Quidditch is a full-contact mixed-gender sport, combining elements of rugby, netball and dodgeball (plus, we run around on brooms).

After playing Quidditch for two

years now, I realise that, ironically, Quidditch is not about Harry Potter anymore.

Yes, most of us are still huge Harry Potter fans. But Quidditch is about its community.

The Norwich Nifflers have a reputation amongst other teams for being the team that is always smiling, having fun and giving matches their all.

As a team who prioritises inclusiveness, we are reluctant to rank players by their ability.

The tournaments are one of the best parts of playing Quidditch,

because you get to be surrounded by a community who are just as passionate as you are.

Tournament highlights for the Nifflers include securing a place at the British Quidditch Cup in March 2017.

We also pulled off an impressive performance in the 2018 Southern Cup, which took place in November, despite having only eleven players attend the tournament, proving ourselves to be a team which will not go down without a fight.

Our socials together are also a great part of the Nifflers: from

games evenings to our notable annual Yule Ball, we have become a close-knit team who enjoy hanging out with each other on and off of the pitch.

Last September, the Nifflers became a community team, meaning we welcome new players not just from UEA but from anyone in Norfolk.

We have hopes that this will gradually increase our team size.

We are all excited about the new Quidditch season and are looking forward to attending the Southern Cup again this year.

Photo: Norwich Nifflers Quidditch Team

League Player of the Month Matt Branston Sport Writer

After an immense campaign leading Norwich up to the Premier League, goal scoring has almost never been better for the Canaries.

Teemu Pukki has maintained his incredible goalscoring form and captured the Premier League Player of the Month for August.

With 5 goals in 4 matches, highlighted by a hattrick against a fairly stout Newcastle defence, the Finnish international has already made his mark in the top flight.

There were further goals against Liverpool and Chelsea (both European champions), it was very much deserved.

While Norwich’s form hasn’t exactly been fantastic since their return to the top flight, Pukki has been the forward who exemplifies their fast paced, attacking play thus far.

This was aptly demonstrated in his side’s 3-2 win over Premier League Champions Manchester City last weekend.

It is a very atypical strategy for a newly promoted side. It shows a team who could be gunning for much higher positions in years to come.

Pukki has continued his goalscoring for Finland during the international break.

Pukki is a striker to watch over the season. it seems certain that he’ll continue to score consistently for Norwich as they battle to stay up.

Caster Semenya’s case is a real Catch-22 Photo: Flickr

Sam Hewitson Sport Writer

Caster Semenya, after being disallowed to compete in professional athletics for her naturally high testosterone levels, has made the transition to women’s football.

She is currently training with a South African club with the hopes of playing for the team at the start of the next season.

But should she be allowed

to compete, given that she still technically has the same competitive advantage?

In short, yes.

The rules regarding testosterone levels in athletics require athletes who exceed the ‘maximum’ natural level to reduce their blood testosterone to a specific level for at least six months before a competition.

They must continue to maintain this, which Semenya refused to do.

In my opinion, her involvement in her team sport somewhat nullifies

“It is incredibly harrowing to realise that there is an inclusivity and acceptance issue.” the advantage that she has.

There are more factors in the success of a team than one individual, meaning that the success of JVW FC, Semenya’s new club, cannot simply be attributed to her presence.

In an individual sport however, like track athletics, any advantage is plain and simple, and cannot be contested because only the individual in question can be held accountable.

No matter which way the case ends up hypothetically, there will

always be some individuals or groups of people that suffer from the debates surrounding this issue.

The case of Caster Semenya is a blessing and a curse for the world of athletics.

As an avid track athletics fan myself, it is good to know that doping and standards of fairness and sportsmanship are maintained.

However, this does not justify the testosterone limit existing in the first place.

SPORT

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Netball is a home away from home

Photo: John Webb

Yasmin Scott-Gray Sport Writer

UEA Netball Club (UEANC) is one of the biggest clubs on campus, and as ever the year ahead is going to be an exciting one.

During Freshers’ Week there is a lot going on for those joining us for the first time, and also for our returning members.

We are one of the most inclusive clubs on campus, with a reliable social calendar that includes activities of all kinds across the whole year.

Some of our best socials last year included a trip to Gravity Trampolining Park in the city, and the family social, which is where you are assigned a family and everyone dresses up as members of a family, from grandmas to babies, followed by a night out at the LCR. There is rarely a week without a social of some nature and is arguably the best way to begin your time while at UEA. It is a club for everyone, regardless of your sporting ability, and is a guaranteed way to have some of the best experiences of

your life. UEANC’s competitive side is made up of 6 teams, with teams

“UEANC is a club that has something for everyone”

1-5 playing matches regularly in a league. Once the teams for the new

season have been selected, all teams will be hard at work during training, and in matches, to meet their goals for the season.

Our main aims are securing promotion in both the 1st and 2nd teams BUCS leagues.

This is something which is particularly important for the 1st team, after they got relegated last season. For our local leagues, we hope to have the 3rd team at the top of the outdoor league they are in, and the 4th team also placing highly within that league.

For the first time, we are able

to enter our 5th team into a local league as well, and so we anticipate them doing well in that too.

You can find the committee at UEA’s Sports Fayre on the 25th of September. In addition to this, you are also able to take part in two taster sessions on the 27th and 30th September, and there’s a fun tournament on the morning of the 28th of September. UEANC is a club that has something for everyone and provides a home away from home during your university time, as well as many sporting opportunities and fun social events.

Leave your worries at the surface Laura Taylor Sport Writer

Scuba diving has a reputation for being a somewhat ‘extreme’ sport.

While it does attract its fair share of adrenaline junkies, there is a whole community out there passionate about the underwater ecosystems, the wrecks, and the sport.

Even though it is not competitive like most sports, scuba gives a chance to step back and focus on discipline.

While technically challenging, the skills developed in diving can be incredibly useful.

To qualify as a diver, you take an internationally recognised course from an organisation like PADI

(Professional Association of Diving Instructors).

This is a great CV booster and ensures you’re trained to a high standard.

‘But that’s terrifying’ you say? Yes, the idea of being deep underwater supported by a tank of oxygen does seem pretty daunting, but most find it much less scary after initial training.

Diving companies are incredibly thorough, and the risks of incidents occurring are very low.

Some divers would go as far to say that diving can be a meditative practice.

Scuba and yoga have more in common than you might think – both combine the use of breathing exercises to regulate your state of mind.

On land, it can be tricky to abandon your worries, but while diving they’re left at the surface.

There has been significant research into diving as a form of therapy for PTSD and other mental health conditions.

I can personally vouch for this, as someone who has multiple mental illnesses and feel the most peaceful underwater.

If you’re interested in getting involved, UEA has a Sub-Aqua Club which you can join as either a beginner or experienced diver, or just to snorkel, if that’s where you feel comfortable.

The club has regular socials and training sessions, and can help you apply for financial aid if this is a barrier preventing you from enjoying the sport.

Photo: Laura Taylor