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Issue 261 | Tuesday 22nd November 2011 | concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk concrete-online.co.uk
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NEWS >> P5
Concrete UEA
Bittersweet symphony Whilst the protest drew significant support, the School of Music still looks likely to close with a decision looming Frances Mckeown News Reporter The Save UEA Music campaign stepped up on Wednesday 9 November, as more than 200 students held a rally and march on the University Senate, which was meeting to discuss proposals to close the School of Music. The Senate met after the recent review into the economic and academic performance of the school. It did not make any formal recommendations to University Council in the way it normally does. Bill Vine, a PhD
student who is prominent in the campaign said “That’s ok; we’re not disheartened by that.” At the rally John Bowers, a lecturer from Goldsmiths, University of London, talked about his time studying music at UEA, and described the school as a “cultural asset” and “something we should protect in these beleaguered times.” Alex Etches, who is active in the Stop the Cuts movement, said it represented an “ideological attack on our university.” One banner read: “Total eclipse of the arts”. This feeling was echoed by James Copeland, steward of the campaign who
told Concrete, “We’re protesting for unselfish reasons: education is something that needs to be saved.” There are fears that other schools in Humanities, such as American Studies and Philosophy could also be at risk. Condemned by review The review panel published their report on 28 October, as a follow up to the external review carried out in 2002, which noted that the School was “at the absolute margin of viability.” The panel included Professor John Charmley, as Acting Head
Max Hetherington
of School and senior members of other schools. It reported that continued subsidy and investment in the School was no longer workable from 2012. Music as a subject has risen 10 places to 28th in the Good University Guide 2012. In a recent statement, staff called for a “transparent and independent review of the School’s future.”
Mark Shead interviews Caroline Sauverin about the new hubs
COMMENT >> P9
Supported by petition The Save UEA Music petition now holds more than 8,000 signatures. In the past week over half of these have come from senior academics and professionals around the world. There have been recent statements pledging support by composers and musicians such as Maxi Jazz, Henry Vega and Carlos Lopez-Real. The Save UEA Music campaign will be holding a rally on Wednesday 23 November beginning at midday. The minutes of the Senate’s discussion, as well as the report, will be passed on to University Council for discussion on 28 November, when the final decision will be made. For more information on the campaign and to read statements of support, visit www.saveueamusic.org.
Comment’s Big Debate poses the question: should UEA be a dry campus?
FEATURES >> P14
Samantha Rogers analyses the claim that alcohol is more harmful than heroin
LIFESTYLE >> P20
inside venue this fortnight: • Music’s Alex Throssell interviews Scroobius Pip
>> p4
• Fashion tackle the thorny issue of facial hair
>> p10
• Arts writer Vicky Cann reviews Andy Parsons at the Playhouse
>> p14
Lifestyle Editor Rianne Ison offers advice on how to avoid the “Freshman Fifteen”