Issue 263 | Tuesday 17th January 2012 | Fortnightly | Free
UEA’s Independent Student Newspaper concrete-online.co.uk
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Concrete UEA
COMMENT Page 7
Not for the First time, we aren’t happy
Sherlock nudity: why all the fuss?
>> First’s decision to prevent the 21/22 service stopping at the University has angered both students and residents >> A petition has been launched to combat the changes going through, and has garnered hundreds of signatures
TRAVEL
Richard Joslin News Reporter Plans to change the route of the 21/22 First bus services, scrapping the West Earlham, Bowthorpe, Hospital, UEA connection, were met by a community outcry last week as students and faculty members of the University concerned about the changes spoke out against them. Over 220 people have signed a petition against the planned changes, with many comments on the petition expressing anger at bus company First for doing this after many had bought their £200 annual season tickets. There have also been complaints about the apparent lack of a suitable replacement. Lois Catterall, a second year UEA student with a part time city-
Susanna Wood
centre job living in Bowthorpe, called the changes “completely unacceptable.” She told Concrete: “If the service to the campus is stopped getting to work is going to take a lot longer, and giving up an hour and a half of my day to commute a 6 mile journey is completely ludicrous. I paid £250 for a bus pass that I believed would give me access to a fully functioning service, and now, half way through the academic year, First want to deny me the service to campus.” The Union of UEA Students has expressed its concern in a statement, echoing concerns about the students who bought a bus pass specifically for the 21/22 route to campus only to have it removed halfway through the year. Continued on page 4
Three Hindu chaplains appointed Chris King Editor Following a campaign by UEA Hindu Society, three Hindu chaplains have been appointed by the Chaplaincy to offer advice and spiritual guidance to Hindu students at the University. The appointment of the three chaplains, two of whom, GopalLila Das of Imperial College,
London and Dr. Suresh C. Vasishtha, are based in London, and the other, Shaunaka Rishi, in Oxford, marks a significant victory for the Hindu community at UEA, which has increased significantly in size over the past few years. An article featured in Concrete last year documented a motion passed at Union Council, which criticised the University for appearing not to welcome
students of a Hindu faith. The appointment of the chaplains, whilst appearing to be a concerted move by the University to provide equal facilities and services for Hindu students at the University, was spearheaded by staff at the Chaplaincy. According to UEA chaplain, Marion Houssart: “The Chaplaincy, frustrated that this matter did not move forward, approached several chaplains in the London area.”
Das described the support he would be able to provide to Hindu students at UEA: “On behalf of the other newly-appointed Hindu chaplains, we are honoured to be asked to serve the community of UEA. Our role is to support students in the practice of their faith to ensure they can focus on their studies and contribute fully to University life.” Continued on page 2
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Party hard in vibrant Budapest Chris King
LIFESTYLE Page 17
Will 2012 be your year? SPORT Page 22/23
BUCS clubs: the season so far Laura Smith