The official student newspaper of the University of East Anglia | Established 1992 | Issue 384 | 8 February 2022
30 YEARS
Editorial
8th February 2022
Go well,
UEA Freyja Elwood Deputy Editor
Hello! I hope you all had a restful and peaceful holiday.
Editorials of the past:
The 2012 /13 Concrete Team (Holly Wade)
welcome to our 30th anniversary issue Dolly Carter Editor-in-Chief
Welcome to issue 384, our anniversary issue which celebrates 30 years of Concrete. Established in 1992, our first issue was published on 22nd January, with the headline reading: “Modular Mess Up?” I thoroughly enjoyed designing our front-page for this issue and strongly recommend you visit our archives on issuu.com for a closer look at our previous publications. In this issue, our writers have celebrated our anniversary by producing a range of pieces revisiting articles from Concrete past, exploring the theme of birthdays, and investigating what the world looked like 30 years ago. For our interview section this issue, I wrote a piece which explored Concrete’s history, including quotes and photos from alumni members spanning across the past 30 years. They had a menagerie of intriguing things to tell me, including how a collection of clippings stuck to A3 pieces of paper came to be Concrete’s first ever issue, the stories behind some of our most controversial headlines, and tales which recounted the glories of Concrete’s award-winning
endeavours. Accompanying this extended piece, several alumni kindly provided a range of pictures, including celebrations of Concrete’s first birthday, our wins at the Student Publication Association Awards, and the construction of our 25th anniversary issue. In the spirit of reflecting on 30 years of Concrete memories, stories, and triumphs, I looked back at the Editorials section to get a feel for how the paper has changed. However, rather than learning how Concrete has changed, I instead found a number of remarkable similarities which form the key underlying ethos we are proud to hold today, promoting the values of community, representation, and quality student journalism. Though established in 1992, the Editor-in-Chief didn’t start writing an assigned column until 2011 and this is where I start my journey. In issue 257, Chris King wrote: “Concrete is your newspaper, and the voice on campus for UEA students… There’s no telling where UEA’s independent newspaper may take you”. In issue 312, published in 2015, Geri Scott gave praise to our writers, saying “[the writers] are the ones who make the publication come alive”. One year later, in issue
324, Dan Falvey commented on Concrete’s infamous front pages in issue 324: “Almost every front page of Concrete has been home to one exclusive or another, providing UEA students with interesting and important news about their university”. In 2017’s issue 338, Megan Baynes said: “the legacy left by former editors has outlived the paper their stories are written on”, while in 2019 Sophie Bunce wrote a lasting statement on student journalism in issue 365: “But the truth is, journalism, and yes even student journalism, matters. It holds the university, the SU, and everyone else to account, sharing the voices of those who would otherwise go unheard”. In one of the Letters to the Editor, published in issue 002 of Concrete in 1992, Vicky Sandilands wrote: “Congratulations on your first issue of ‘Concrete’. You covered a wide variety of topics and ventured to explore some of the touchier issues. Maybe it is a bit early to sing its praises, but I think ‘Concrete’ is off to a good start”. 30 years later, I know I’m safe in saying that yes, we were indeed off to a good start and, 383 issues later, we have built a supportive community network which I’m sure will continue to flourish over many years to come.
In my research into previous issues I have discovered various, and slightly amusing, stories about our University. UEA used to have a Morris Dancing society and the SU council once voted to ban KitKats. In issue 004 of Concrete, published in October 1992, a student writes: “On my many visits to other universities I experienced prices of as low as 80p or 90p a pint, why can this not be transferred to UEA.” I also agree, why can’t pints be 80p but it does make me giggle. What would this student think of the prices now? Concrete has also seen some amazing front page headlines. “No Clegg to stand on” on the rise of tuition fees and “Cod off” when plans for a fish and chip shop on campus fell through. But Concrete has also been the site of some phenomenal reporting. In particular, the reporting during the HIV/AIDs epidemic is some of the most nuanced and raw material I’ve ever read. While “It’s a Sin” captured us from our TV screens, reading about the experiences of those on campus hit home. Thirty years is a long time. In thirty years I'll be fifty - lord. I’ll hopefully have gotten a graduate job by then. I will hopefully have seen lots of the world. I’ll let you know. I might have children - weird. And I know I sound like a melt, but something I know for definite is the memories of UEA, my experience at Concrete and the friends I've made will stay with me for a lifetime, let alone thirty years. Here’s to us, UEA. Onwards to thirty more. As UEA legend Greg James says “Go well.”
My New Year's resolution? Be more flexible Sam Gordon Webb Deputy Editor
I made ramen the other week, and it was delicious. I promise this is relevant, so stick with me. Ramen involves having ingredients, time, and the patience to put the relatively lengthy process into action. But it involves not only time and effort, but also flexibility. And it’s that word, flexibility, that is often undervalued in today’s technologized world, one in which we often demand the latest gadgets, and expect the world to be just as perfect as it seems for everyone else.
Flexible people are successful, because flexibility enables them to come to terms with our strengths and weaknesses, but also allows our relationships to flourish. What matters in life are the people who make time for you, and the stories that are made in their presence. What matters more to me are the dreams I have at night, the comfort of a warm radiator, the conversations with strangers, the moments of kindness that have come to define our collective human experiences in a difficult age. My new year’s resolution is to be flexible, open to change, and accepting of the insignificant
annoyances of daily life. Concrete has only survived its 30 years because of the contributions of its writers and readers. Our voice is yours, our stories are yours, and our future depends on you. We haven’t always been able to publish, but with a flexible approach, our team was still able to publish online in the final issue of 2021. Flexibility is the enemy of rigid thinking, as flexibility asks for forgiveness. And it would be completely wrong to claim that flexibility is easy to come by. Patience counts. Optimism matters too. But when it finally does come - slowly but surely - treasure the moment!
concrete-online.co.uk ConcreteUEA
The University of East Anglia’s Official Student Newspaper since 1992 Tuesday 8th February 2022 Issue 384 Union House University of East Anglia Norwich NR4 7TJ 01603 593466 www.concrete-online.co.uk
Editor-in-Chief Dolly Carter concrete.editor@uea.ac.uk
Deputy Editors Sam Gordon Webb & Freyja Elwood
News Una Jones Senior Writer: Rachel Keane Global Aislinn Wright Senior Writer: Hamish Davis Features Maja Anushka Senior Writer: Lily Boag Home of the Wonderful Interim Editor: Emily Kelly Comment Lauren Bramwell Science Mariam Jallow Senior Writer: George Barsted Travel & Lifestyle Tristan Pollitt Sport Oscar Ress Senior Writer: Metin Yilmaz
Breaking News Emily Kelly UK Correspondent: Addie Cannell International Correspondent: Melody Chan
Online Editors Matthew Stothard, Ray Khawaja & Rianna Jones Copy Editors Sophie Colley, Phoebe Lucas & Julia Reynolds Social Media Manager Badriya Abdullah Lead Photographer Samuel Baxter
ConcreteUEA Front page image: Concrete/Dolly Carter
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, Dolly Carter. 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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Beef nine days past use-by date detailed UEA Sport + membership in UEA shop food hygiene report available for one semester Dolly Carter Editor-in-Chief
Following an inspection on 13 December, the ‘Shop AT UEA’ was given a food hygiene rating of 1 on a scale of 0 to 5. Concrete requested a copy of the food safety officer’s report on which the food hygiene rating was based and found multiple contraventions (matters which do not comply with the law) had been raised. The following items of unfit food were seized and destroyed in the food hygiene inspector’s presence as they were past their use-by dates. Brakes wafer-thin roast beef (nine days past use-by date); Shredded iceberg lettuce (eight days past); Pulled pork BBQ meat (six days past); Brakes ham (six days past); Brakes chicken, bacon, and sweetcorn (five days past); Brakes chicken tikka (three days past) and Brakes tuna mayonnaise (two days past).
The report also detailed multiple items which posed a general risk of cross-contamination with bacteria or allergens, including the use of the same tongs for handling raw and ready-to-eat foods when cooking burgers. The inspector also noted the shop “could not demonstrate effective disinfection of equipment and utensils used for both raw and ready-to-eat foods, either by heat or an adequate dishwasher cycle”. Under the ‘Food Hazard Identification and Control’ heading, it was noted that: “Staff training is inadequate. Staff not aware of safe food handling practises, nor following anything in the old [information] pack, despite having formal training”. The inspector also noted the walkin freezer and basement store floor were dirty and fridge shelves with cracked plastic coating which needed repairing or replacing.
Phil Steele, Director of Commercial Services at UEA, said: “We are very disappointed with this result and we have already taken measures to improve our processes from this audit, which was carried out at a time when the shop was suffering from key staff shortages due to Covid-19. Since the audit, all staff have been retrained on food safety, and we have brought in additional training for all staff and reviewed our processes to ensure we meet all necessary standards. “We are committed to providing a shop fit for the needs of our students and all of these measures have been brought in ahead of the start of the spring semester in the next couple of weeks.
Una Jones News Editor
The half-year UEA sport+ membership is now available to all students.
The membership is necessary for those looking to join a sports club, and it is only required to be purchased once to be valid for any number of sports clubs for as long as the membership is valid.
Previously the half-year, or one semester UEA sport+ membership (previously called SAM) was only available to Erasmus students, or those studying abroad for one semester.
This membership contributes to the cost of sports clubs, including coaching and training courses, travel to competitions (and competition entry fee), first aid, insurance and other costs incurred by the sport and the team.
The half-year membership is £30 and this allows you to trial the sport without committing to the full price of £55 for the whole year.
The UEA sport+ membership can be found and purchased on the Students’ Union website.
We will be inviting Environmental Health Officers (EHO) to return to the shop for a re-audit as soon as possible and we’re very confident that they will see a marked improvement”.
Petition for UEA to reinstate last year’s safety net policy for final year students Dolly Carter Editor-in-Chief
A petition asking UEA to reinstate last year’s safety net policy for thirdyear students is picking up speed after the university decided not to make changes to the existing degree classification system for the 21/22 academic year. As it stands, if students receive a lower grade in their third year, their degree classification will be calculated on a 40/60 basis for second and third years respectively. If students receive a higher grade in their third year, this will form the entirety of their degree classification. Students are reacting in anger as they feel their degrees are not isolated to their final year of studies, saying the previous two years of “normal education” they have missed due to covid-19 are not being taken into account.
The organisers of the petition feel they have been given a false sense of hope, saying: “the University has essentially lied about their intentions to assist us with study and failed to notify us in due course”. The University previously implemented a safety net policy for students in their final years which aimed to compensate for the reduced experience they received as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Students have expressed their outrage in the comments section of the petition website. Josh Davies commented: “Uni life hasn’t really gone back to true normality yet, if a lecturer gets covid-19 we have to do online lectures, not to mention 80% of my stuff this semester was online”. Another student said: “Please, I struggle so much [and this] was a small help for my anxiety, it’s all I had to hold on to”. A university spokesperson said:
“The University keeps all its policies under constant review and we’re continually monitoring the situation. We would like to reassure students that the University would not change a policy mid-year that would be to the detriment of students, any midyear change changes would only be made for the benefit of students”. The Students’ Union Undergraduate Education Officer is “doing all [he] can to lobby the University and push the Executive team to rectify the situation”. He sets out three main aspects he will be addressing: the contradictory policy information available, information on the UEA website changing without direct clarification, and the continued effect the pandemic has had on the studies and wellbeing of current final year students.
Photo: Samuel Baxter, Concrete
Free cab service available for Covid-19 vaccination Rachel Keane Senior News Writer
More people will now be able to access a Covid-19 vaccine as free return cab journeys are offered to those otherwise unable to travel. The new initiative will be funded by the Norfolk and Waveney Health and Care system, with the aim to encourage those who are yet to have their first, second, or booster
jab to get vaccinated. Immunocompromised patients are also now eligible for a fourth vaccine dose three months after their third dose. From 24 January, large-scale vaccination centres will be offering walk-in clinics across Norwich for the eligible population, including 12-15-year-olds, to get vaccinated. It is hoped the Jab Cab service will allow more young people to
come forward to make the most of the large-scale vaccination centres currently operable.
stops to make it as easy as possible for everyone to get their COVID-19 vaccine.”
Howard Martin, Director of Population Health Management and Health Inequalities at NHS Norfolk and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said:
He continued, “I encourage everyone who may have put off getting their vaccine because it wasn’t easy or convenient to get to a vaccination site to use this free service to get their COVID-19 booster over the coming weeks”.
“The new Jab Cab service is another fantastic example of how the Norfolk and Waveney health care system is pulling out all the
To participate in the Jab Cab service, call a participating taxi company to
book your journey. A list of those participating, including Norwich’s largest taxi service ABC Taxis, can be found here. Walk-in clinics are advertised on the Norfolk and Waveney walk-in site, which can be found at https:// apps.norfolk.gov.uk/WalkIn/ or you can book an appointment via the National Booking Service or by calling 119. The Jab Cab service will last until 28 February 2022.
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“We need you more than ever”. Plea from Norwich health leaders after difficult start to 2022 Business Una Jones News Editor
Winter months are usually when respiratory infections peak. As a result, Norfolk and Waveney’s health and care system remains in a ‘critical incident’ following sustained and unprecedented pressure on services. Local health services are doing all they can to help people requiring treatment for Covid-19 and other illnesses while dealing with increasing rates of Covid-19 related staff absence.
Those in charge of running hospitals and other health services have detailed how local people can contribute to the smooth running of hospitals.
incredibly hard this week and we know we still have some way to go…We ask you to protect yourself by doing what you can to help us.
They have suggested helping loved ones who are well enough to leave the hospital to recover at home, or in another suitable care setting which will mean hospital beds are freed up for new patients.
"Getting your COVID-19 vaccination is the best way to keep well and reduce the risk of staying out of hospital. We ask that you continue to wear face coverings as per the national guidance.”
Cath Byford, Chief Nurse at NHS Norfolk and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said: “Our health and care colleagues across Norfolk and Waveney have worked
Further suggestions are to only visit the Emergency Departments or calling 999 in the case of a genuine life-threatening emergency. However, it is important for people
A new pathway to becoming a doctor for mature students in East Anglia Una Jones News Editor
The University of Cambridge’s Institute of Continuing Education (ICE) is launching a new course aimed at recruiting adults from across East Anglia to study medicine. ICE has worked with the medical schools at the University of Cambridge, the University of East Anglia and Anglia Ruskin University to develop a new premedical studies course to support mature students in East Anglia without the typical qualifications to retrain as a medic.
as mature students are underrepresented in medical school, despite usually possessing valuable experience from caring responsibilities, or experience with their own health, which prove useful in the medical profession. Dr Sue Madden, Admissions Director at Norwich Medical School at UEA commented, “This is an important new route to support adults to apply to medical school, which is recognised by the University of East Anglia.
This course intends to create a pathway for mature students to become a doctor.
"While it is a full-time course which will take a flexible approach and could be relevant to people already working in the health and care sectors, other communityfacing roles or science-based disciplines”.
This
The course will be overseen by
is
particularly
notable
the University of Cambridge and is delivered in association with East Anglia’s three medical schools (Cambridge, University of East Anglia and Anglia Ruskin University). Upon completion of the one-year course, the students may have the opportunity to continue their studies at one of these three schools. Successful completion of the certificate does not guarantee entry into the medicine courses at University of Cambridge, Anglia Ruskin, or University of East Anglia, however the qualification is a recognised prerequisite for entry into all three schools. A further intention of this course is to train adults from across East Anglia and increase the number of people local to the area going on to serve within the same community.
to still seek help from the NHS if they feel unwell. In life-threatening emergencies dial 999. The best way to get the right medical help is through NHS 111 which can direct patients to the most appropriate place. Pharmacists can give expert and speedy help with minor ailments. They can also provide over the counter remedies for minor health conditions.
News Editor
In December, UEA’s staff and students were invited to join the Big Holiday Switch Off. This initiative intended to save energy on campus ahead of the winter break. The advice given to take part in the Switch Off was to switch off all unnecessary lighting, equipment, heating, and ensure all windows, doors and taps were closed over the Christmas break. This winter, the Switch Off between 23 December and 4 January saw an
energy reduction of 56% in relation to usual consumption, with financial savings of £80,354.
Senior News Writer
UEA’s Business School has been awarded the Small Business Charter (SBC).
Dr James Gazzard, Director of Continuing Education at ICE said, “The East of England has a shortage of doctors, particularly in areas of urban and coastal disadvantage. We also know there are many talented adults across this region, drawn from diverse communities who could become excellent doctors. This new qualification has been developed to help overcome the barriers mature students face when seeking to change careers into the medical field”.
Norwich Business School (NBS) was accredited for its expertise and engagement with small businesses, as well as its encouragement of student entrepreneurship.
The CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies, resulting in a University of Cambridge qualification, will begin from Autumn 2022, and those interested in pursuing the qualification can apply now. The entry requirements for applicants are that they must hold six GCSEs at grade B or higher (including mathematics, English language, and science) and will be able to demonstrate a patient-focused outlook during the interview process.
Jeremy Carter, Energy and Utilities Assistant Manager in Estates,
This compares immensely with the 2020/21 winter break Big Holiday Switch Off which reduced by 31.7%, saving £35,000. The total savings from this year’s effort resulted in 1,178,000 kWh saved, which is the equivalent of recycling 284 tonnes of waste, rather than sending it to landfill, or saving over 1,000 acres of forestry. For those more into technology, this power could charge over 100 million smartphones, which is three quarters more than the savings in 2020/1.
Rachel Keane
Locals are still advised to attend routine and scheduled appointments as usual unless contacted with further information by the GP or hospital.
Statistics revealed from Big Holiday Switch Off Una Jones
School joins Small Business Charter
Illustration: Pixabay
said: “I’d like to thank all the staff and students who took part in the Big Holiday Switch Off, and by individually doing their bit have collectively contributed to making a huge energy and costsaving for the University. “While it’s true that energy prices are higher than they were this time last year, to reduce our energy consumption by more than half, and save more than double the amount financially on last year, is really heartening and shows that our campus community is coming together better than ever to save energy and reduce the University’s carbon footprint.”
The SBC is a highly prestigious award recognising the work business institutions do to support the local economy.
Upon receiving the award, Professor Olga Tregaskis, head of Norwich Business School at UEA, said: “We are delighted to be awarded the Small Business Charter, which acknowledges the dedication and strength of commitment Norwich Business School and UEA have in serving the regional business community.” She continued: “We…look forward to providing even greater support through the opportunities we will develop working with the Small Business Charter and its network.” The Executive Director of the Small Business Charter and Chief Executive of the Chartered Association of Business Schools, Anne Kiem OBE, said: “We look forward to working with the business school as they expand their offer to small businesses by becoming a delivery partner”. After receiving the accreditation, the school will be able to further build on what it already offers the local economy. Currently, monthly masterclasses are provided by the School on UEA’s campus in which academics, entrepreneurs, and businesspeople can work with one another to further develop a network already supporting 34 Small and Mid-Size Enterprises (SMEs). As well as the monthly masterclasses for the wider community, NBS also operates four different start-up programmes for UEA’s own student and graduate entrepreneurs. They offer small grants and events to help build networks, in addition to coaching and mentoring. The programmes also aim to work with the student from start to finish, providing support from the beginning of the business idea all the way through to an investment of up to £50,000.
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Boris Johnson branded “unfit for office” as he is investigated by police Una Jones
Home Office admits to seizing mobile phones from migrants crossing the channel Rachel Keane Senior News Writer
News Editor
This is the first time a government has been the subject of a police investigation since the cash for honours scandal in 2006.
The long-awaited Sue Gray report has now revealed 12 out of a potential 16 gatherings for the Met to investigate.
Keir Starmer has branded Boris Johnson “unfit for office" as a result of the alleged parties that happened at Downing Street throughout the pandemic.
Ms Gray has also revealed there were investigations into a gathering in the Prime Minister’s flat which may have happened on the night Dominic Cummings resigned after admitting to breaking Covid-19 rules.
In regards to these parties, Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick has confirmed a "number of events" held on Downing Street during the pandemic were being investigated. Afterbeingthreatenedwithlegalaction over its decision not to investigate the list of alleged rule-breaking parties, the Good Law Project has condemned the hesitancy of the Met police, and suggested it would be "unlawful" not to look into the accusations. The Met police awaited the findings of the Sue Gray report to identify evidence of potentially criminal behaviour.
A further investigation is happening in relation to a "bring your own booze” garden party, and two No.10 parties on the eve of Prince Philip's funeral, the morning after which the Queen was made to sit alone at her husband’s funeral in accordance with Covid-19 regulations. Ms Gray has condemned the "excessive consumption of alcohol" connected with these events, in particular, following reports suggesting No.10 staff wheeled in a suitcase full of wine bottles. Sue Gray has accused Downing street staff of not following the rules they were inflicting on the nation.
She said: "some of the gatherings in question represent a serious failure to observe not just the high standards expected of those working at the heart of Government but also of the standards expected of the entire British population at the time." This has demanded a look into how breaches of Covid-19 rules were dealt with, having normally resulted in a fine. For example, there was a £30,000 fine issued to three UEA students in late 2020 due to a party held against government advice. Since the rules were first introduced in March 2020, they have changed more than 70 times. As a result, the Met Police are now tasked with investigating which laws were actually in place at the time and will be seeking evidence from Ms Gray to support their investigation.
UEA’s 2021 timetabling project review reveals start-of-year mayhem for students and staff Editor-in-Chief
To ensure an impartial view of the review, Maxica Consulting were commissioned to work alongside the Review Team which consisted of Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Christine Bovis-Cnossen and Library Director Nicholas Lewis. UEA had been working toward a new timetabling system since 2018. The timetable implementation project started in March 2020 and the initial aim was to have a published teaching timetable in July 2021. However, it took 12 months for the contract to be signed, which left just 4 months from late March 2021 to July 2021 for the execution of the new system.
The vulnerability of those who had The case continues as their phones taken was also noted, involved await the results.
They reflected on the impact on Postgraduate Research students and Associate Tutors, saying “Associate Tutors were asked to teach one week before the start of term. For some, this was their first experience of preparing and delivering teaching”.
A 17-page review examining UEA’s 2021 timetabling project which saw them switch to ‘Timetabler’ has been published.
The methodology of the review included a review of the documentation, interviews with key stakeholders, a third-party project audit, and an analysis of over 250 responses to a feedback form.
The three asylum seekers claimed the policy of seizing phones, taking pin numbers, and downloading data was unlawful as the government does not have In the judicial review, the asylum the legal power to do so to asylum seekers explained the Home seekers on first arrival. Secretary had an unpublished, Lawyers for Priti Patel, the Home blanket policy under which Secretary, have said some aspects phones would be unlawfully taken of the policy operating between and their owners forced to provide April and November in 2020 were staff with pin numbers to unlock unlawful, but the policy to seize the phones. phones to access numbers, emails, Tom de la Mare QC, representing and photos was lawful. one of the asylum seekers, told the Initially, the Home Office had Court the arrivals were “bullied” denied the existence of this policy into handing over their phone but as evidence mounted, they information so their data could have since confirmed it. Sir James be downloaded to an intelligence Eadie QC, representing Priti Patel, database called ‘Project Sunshine’. recognised the Home Office had Many of those whose phones were breached its duty of candour by confiscated on arrival were still failing to initially admit the policy waiting for their return several existed. months later. However, the majority of his This caused immense distress for argument was aimed at the the asylum seeker represented by crossings of the channel itself, de La Mare, referred to as HM, due suggesting there was high public to losing contact with his wife and interest in obtaining evidence from child. “He didn’t know if they were phones for the identification of alive or dead”, de la Mare told the those who organise the crossings. Court. Opening the case, de La Alan Payne QC, also representing Mare accused the Home Office of Patel, argued the current format of “serious illegality” in operating the the policy in which fewer phones policy in “complete secrecy”. are confiscated, is lawful.
changing of timings and locations very difficult to deal with at the start of the semester”.
Dolly Carter
Many students and staff started the semester without a viable timetable and some continued to experience problems throughout the first semester.
Three asylum seekers have brought a case to the high court, claiming the Home Office operated a policy in which they seized mobile phones from all small-boat arrivals.
Photo: Samuel Baxter, Concrete
The report details multiple drivers for the implementation of a new timetabling system. These include: improved interface and functionality, a reduction in manual work, improved data quality, and better space allocation. The main primary factors for the timetabling issues are as follows: underestimating project complexity, difficulties with data capture and integrations, and governance and controls. They also evaluated the impact of the timetabling project on the university community. Many student welfare concerns were raised, particularly in regard to those with pre-existing conditions relating to anxiety and “those international and overseas students who may have been significantly affected by the vagaries of the timetable”. In UCU’s submission to the review
it was reported that some students and staff missed out on nursery places and care altogether as they were unable to state what days were required by standard deadlines. In an email written on 28th September 2021, the HUM Athena Swan Faculty committee noted: “There were grave concerns as regards whether the implementation of the new timetabling system had undone some of the work that current and previous members have done over several years to implement gender equality across HUM, particularly around childcare and wellbeing”. The review also commented on parts of the university community which were disproportionately affecting by the timetabling issues, including “those with childcare responsibilities… or those who had to commute into the university and who found the constant chopping and
with one of the asylum seekers who brought the case to court recognised as a potential victim of trafficking.
Some students who rely on parttime work commitments for supplementary income were also at a disadvantage, as “last minute changes to their timetable may have led them to make choices between keeping their job or missing core or compulsory events”. In an interview with UEA SU officers on 4th November, concerns were also raised about students and staff with neurodiversity, who underwent “high levels of stress and anxiety”, and disabled students with mobility issues who were affected by last minute room changes. The review states: “unfortunately owing to underlying complexities around how types of disability are coded at UEA, in semester 1 it was not possible to accommodate all accessibility requirements in the automated rules in Timetabler”. In terms of the impact on university staff workload, “the overwhelming feeling from Schools was having lost control
those
of their timetables”. Anonymous feedback from academics has also confirmed this: “the implications this has had on staff cannot be stressed enough… The work involved at every level was immense”. Some Faculty and School role holders felt their feedback and concerns “went into a void, rather than them being taken seriously and them being worked with in a collaborative way”. One feedback form respondent from the teaching staff wrote: “In week 7 of term, I still don’t have a fully functioning timetable, I have given up dealing with the hub on this and I have resorted to communicate the teaching events to students directly a week ahead of the actual events happening. I am booking my own rooms.” In conclusion, the review states that several interviewees said the project was being managed during a period when the university was in “business continuity mode dealing with Covid-19”. The project team also said they had tried to facilitate more consultation with academic colleagues, but the academics were “extremely busy with switching to online-only teaching because of the pandemic”. They noted a crisis mode which was sustained across August and September which could have been managed by the possibility of a Plan B.
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GLOBAL
8th February 2022
WWF report published: the world’s second most biodiverse region just became more diverse
Indonesia names new Capital city Aislinn Wright Global Editor
Hamish Davis Global Senior Writer
Published last week, a delayed World Wildlife Fund (WWF) report has revealed the discovery of 224 new species in the Greater Mekong region. The collaborative work of universities, conservation organisations, and research institutes the world over, an additional 155 plants, 16 fish, 17 amphibians, 35 reptiles, and one mammal are now known to live in the area. The Greater Mekong region covers vast swathes of Southeast Asia. At its heart, the impressive Mekong River runs its 3000-milelong course. Yet across parts of China, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar a region stretches far beyond the banks of the river. From the floodplains of the MekongTonle Sap basin to the dense forests of the Annamite mountains (pictured above), the region encompasses many environments
Photo: Pixabay
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
and ecosystems. New discoveries are not uncommon. This latest report brings the number to 3000 in just 24 years. Amongst the recent findings are the ‘Popa’ langur, named after Myanmar’s Mount Popa volcano, the only species of succulent bamboo, and a newt from Thailand that has devil horns and a racing stripe. They are the latest known contributors to a biodiversity second only to the Amazon, with 23,500 species...and counting. In the Mekong River, swim the Giant freshwater stingray and Mekong giant catfish, the world’s third
and fourth-largest freshwater fish. On land, the 33-inch-high Asian unicorn (the saola) and the Asian elephant share a forested region also considered the largest combined habitat for tigers. Yet, from the depths of the Mekong River to those of the rainforest, a diversity-rich region increasingly strains under pressure from human activity. Illegal mining and logging continue to encroach on rainforests in Myanmar, whilst 22 dams disrupt conditions for species living throughout the Mekong. As WWF’s lead for the region explained: “many species [are] going extinct even before they are described.”
Indonesia has announced plans to name the new capital city Nusantara. This translates to archipelago, which replaces the sinking and polluted current capital Jakarta. Plans to relocate the country’s capital city were first announced in 2019 by President Joko Widodo in a bid to relieve the burden on overpopulated Jakarta and to redistribute the country’s wealth. Jakarta, which boasts a population of 10 million, suffers from regular flooding and is one of the world’s fastest sinking cities due to the over-extraction of groundwater. According to Suharso Monoarfa, the National Development Planning Minister, the name was chosen by President Widodo as it reflects Indonesia’s geography and is iconic internationally. However, some have
pointed to possible confusion over the name as Nusantara also refers to an archipelago nation as a whole. Some have also questioned why an old Javanese term has been chosen when the new capital is to be built in Kalimantan, the Indonesian portion of the island of Borneo which is shared with Brunei and East Malaysia.
“Jakarta will remain the country’s commercial and financial centre” Under the new plans, Jakarta will remain the country’s commercial and financial centre, but all future government administration will relocate to the new capital. Construction of the new capital could begin this year after the passing of a new bill on 18th January. Environmentalists have voiced concerns over the move, warning of the risks associated with rapidly accelerating population growth in Kalimantan which risks contributing to the destruction of rainforests inhabited by endangered Orangutans and Sun Bears.
Soldiers, sanctions, and a bid for stability: developments continue beyond the Ukrainian border Hamish Davis Global Senior Writer
“We don’t have a Titanic here,” is what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy exclaimed when calling for a more measured response to Biden’s bleak midwinter warning of a “distinctly possible” February invasion. Zelenskiy noted a threat
that had spanned many Februarys, panic now was disproportionate, and economically damaging. Yet, if the heat of an estimated 120,000 Russian troops at Ukraine’s borders hasn’t thawed a frozen frontline already, international friction perhaps will. Both the UK and US governments have announced sanctions. Foreign secretary Liz Truss has spoken of
“massive consequences for Russia’s interests and economy” whilst Democratic chair Bob Mendez has explained how US sanctions will target major banks. With 8,500 US troops already on standby, US president Joe Biden has also confirmed the deployment of soldiers to the region “in the near term.” In the long term, the UK government will provide £88m to
Ukraine in support of government stability and energy independence. What was dubbed a “military exercise” by Putin last year, when troops began massing, is now considered by many a hostage situation. After all, with Russian troops, tanks, artillery, and missiles poised along Ukraine’s borders by mid-December, Putin issued demands. All troops and weapons must be withdrawn from eastern European countries that joined NATO after 1997, missile systems must be removed from neighbouring regions, and finally, NATO must prevent Ukraine’s accession into the alliance. In effect, the Russian state seeks a return to pre-NATO expansion or what Putin would deem an ‘incursion’. The US turned down these initial demands.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
As NATO nations pledge troops, send arms, and ratify sanctions, Western leaders and media alike recall a recent history of illegality on the international stage. From the state’s illicit involvement in cyberattacks and civil war in Ukraine’s Donbas region, to the invasion of Georgia in 2008 and the annexation
“Putin speaks from another worldview, with its own history and recollections” of Crimea in 2014, Russia will push further. Putin speaks from another worldview, with its own history and recollections. In a recently published essay on Ukraine, the president wrote of ‘the same historical and spiritual space’ being undermined by external forces. At another level, the gradual movement of troops, missiles, and NATO membership into ex-soviet countries, against historical assurances, illustrate an alternative narrative of western provocation heightening with Ukraine’s drift towards membership. On-call with French president Emmanuel Macron last month, Putin was clear. Russia’s concerns were not being acknowledged. As a bitter cold stings face on both sides of the border, the future is not so clear.
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Change to aid rules needed to prevent famine in Afghanistan Melody Chan
The group of officials wrote a letter that addresses the UK government and stresses the importance of international commitment in averting an “irreversible humanitarian disaster.” The freezing of state asserts, education and health risk tip “the country into famine: not seen before in Afghanistan’s 40 years of conflict.” They also warned this “economic collapse will cause death and suffering, and increase terrorism and migration.”
“ecomomic collapse will cause death and suffering”
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
In order to tackle the disaster and be compatible with the policies of the Taliban’s regime, they drafted five practical outcomes including the reinstatement of the Afghan reconstruction trust fund and the preservation of salary payments and service delivery. They proposed the government and its international partners ought to distinguish between “two types of aid: money that can be withheld to try to leverage political concessions from the Taliban (such as large scale infrastructure projects – roads, dams and so on); and money to enable government institutions to deliver basic human services and to keep the economy from collapsing.” The Norwegian foreign minister, Anniken Huitfeldt stated the Oslo talks with the Taliban leaders “do not represent a legitimisation or recognition of the Taliban,” rather
Aboriginal flag: Australian government secures copyright after row Una Jones Global Writer
The Australian government has purchased the copyright to the Aboriginal flag in order to allow anyone to use it. This will ‘free’ the symbol of identity for many aboriginal people who previously had to fight to use it.
Photo: Pixabay
The flag was created in 1971 by Indigenous artist, Harold Thomas, as a protest image, but it is now used as the Aboriginal emblem and official national flag. One of the
Aislinn Wright Global Editor
Burkina Faso’s military has announced the removal of president Roch Marc Kaboré, the suspension of the constitution, and the dissolvement of the government and parliament
Global Writer
Former senior British security and diplomatic chiefs report Afghanistan is heading towards famine. They urge for international conferences to raise funds for the country. After Taliban leaders seized Afghanistan last August, international aid halted and millions plunged into hunger.
Coup in Burkina Faso
organisers of the petitions, Laura Thompson, told the BBC: “It’s a symbol of our people’s survival. Many of us don’t identify with the Australian flag because for us it represents colonisation and invasion.” However, as a result of the copyright limits on the display of the flag, many Aboriginal people have felt that these restrictions have held the flag ‘hostage’. As a result of the new purchase by the Australian government, the flag will no longer incur legal threats to those who repeat the image. The government has taken over the copyright from Thomas to the tune of A$20m (£11m; $14m) which will cover the cost of terminating lease agreements also.
they “help the civil population in Afghanistan, [because] it is essential that both the international community and Afghans from various parts of society engage in dialogue with the Taliban.” However, Nargis Nehan, a former Afghan minister, questioned, “what guarantee is there this time that they (the Taliban) will keep their promises?” Yet, Huitfeldt believed these talks serve to bring positive outcomes to the disaster, stating “one million children may die of hunger if aid does not reach them in time, and an unfathomable 97% of the population may fall below the poverty line this year.” The US special representative Thomas West also declared they will “continue clear-eyed diplomacy with the Taliban [and abide] interest in a stable, rights-respecting and inclusive Afghanistan.”
The artist has stated he originally leased the rights in order to receive royalties for his artwork. The Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt said, “Over the last 50 years we made Harold Thomas’ artwork our own - we marched under the Aboriginal flag, stood behind it, and flew it high as a point of pride… Now
“it belongs to everyone, and no one can take it away” that the Commonwealth holds the copyright, it belongs to everyone, and no one can take it away.” While this event is widely embraced, there are questions raised in regard to the timing of the takeover which came 24 hours before Australia Day which looks back to the arrival of Britain’s First Fleet in 1788. This is potentially controversial as many Australians call it invasion day, and for them is a commemoration of colonialism, and as such believe it detracts attention from their yearly protests against Australia Day.
In a statement signed by coup leader Lt Col Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, the military announced the national takeover by the previously unknown group Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration (MPSR). In the Statement, it was said the “MPSR, which includes all sections of the army, has decided to end president Kaboré’s post today.” The military has said it was forced to take action due to the deteriorating security of the country which has been greatly impacted by Jihadist violence. In November of last year, a series of attacks by jihadist groups caused the deaths of 48 military police officers and four civilians which renewed protests across the country against Kaboré. Violence has affected the country since 2015, despite the presence of former colonial ruler France. In recent months, France had committed to gradually withdrawing from the country. On 31st January, a week after the coup, fellow Western African nation Mali has ejected their French ambassador.
The televised statement confirmed the coup following the sounds of heavy gunfire at military barracks and the house of Kaboré on 23rd January. The ruling party of the president, the MPP party, has said the president has survived the assassination attempt.
“the president has survived the assassination attempt” Military coups have become increasingly common in West Africa, with similar takeovers occurring in Guinea, Mali, and Chad last year. In a statement, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) asked the “military to return to the barracks, to maintain a republican position in favour of dialogue with the authorities to solve these problems.” ECOWAS suspended the country from the economic group but has yet to impose any sanctions. The African Union has also suspended Burkina Faso, with diplomats from the United Nations and West Africa demanding the restoration of civilian rule.
Outgoing Honduran President gains immunity Aislinn Wright Global Editor
Outgoing Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández, who faced possible extradition to America over accusations of aiding drug traffickers, has gained immunity hours after leaving office on 27th January. Hours after Honduras swore in its first female president Xiomara Castro, Hernández was sworn in as a member of the Central American parliament, known as Parlacen. The Guatemala-based organisation grants immunity from prosecution within Central America, though this can be removed or suspended if the member’s home country requests. In line with the organisation’s mandate to incorporate former leaders of Central America, Hernández’s term is expected to last four years. Hernández has served a total of eight years as president, following his controversial 2016 decision to run for re-election despite the constitution forbidding it. Throughout his term, he became a close ally to America in anti-narcotic operations, his efforts were praised by several US agencies
including the Drug Enforcement Administration. However, Hernández has faced allegations of aiding drug traffickers, which the former president has continued to deny. US Representative Norma Torres said in a statement “President Hernández has been a central figure in undermining the rule of law in his own country and in protecting and assisting drug traffickers.” Last year, during a case against nowconvicted Honduran drug trafficker Geovanny Fuentes Ramirez, prosecutors accused Hernández of using Honduran law enforcement to protect drug traffickers. In a case also heard last year, Hernández’s brother was sentenced to life in prison plus 30 years on drug trafficking charges by a US judge. Prosecutors named Hernández as an unindicted co-conspirator in the case in what the prosecutors described as “state-sponsored drug trafficking.” Hernández has denied all allegations of drug trafficking and cartel association. Should the United States charge Hernández and pursue extradition, the Honduran government could pass the case to Parlacen to decide.
GLOBAL INVESTIGATES Then and now - what did the 8
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January 2022 welcomes a new year full of hope for the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, ambitious goals to 30th Birthday. First published in 1992, this issue marks our 384th publication. In those 30 years, the wo collapsed and new countries formed, global tensions have ebbed and flowed, we have experienced a techn the world of 1992 and the early years of this decade are startlingly similar. As Mark Twain so famously sai
1992 marked a fantastic year for Democrat Bill Clinton, who in the 1992 Presidential election claimed victory to become the United States of America’s 42nd President. Clinton was inaugurated on January 20 1993 and held office until January 20 2001, having served two terms as president. Clinton’s presidency was a dramatic one, swinging from great success, particularly with the economy, to his 1998 impeachment for his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Clinton’s most ambitious legislative initiative was a plan to provide Americans with universal healthcare, still a contentious issue in America 30 years later. Clinton’s initiative collapsed when it failed to gather any major support in Congress. Clinton also was a protector of abortion rights, vetoing many Republican policies aiming to restrict access to abortion care. 30 years on, America continues to grapple with the very same issues. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of universal healthcare. American health insurance is typically provided in part by employers. However, the loss of jobs and drop in household income has greatly exacerbated the problems associated with insurance-based healthcare. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, in a recent poll, as many as 68 per cent of adults said the out-ofPhoto: Wikimedia Commons pocket costs they might have to
2022 also marks an American election. On Tuesday, November 8, America is set to take to the polls in the Midterm elections. All 435 House of Representatives seats and 34 of 100 Senate seats will be contested. This will also be the first election affected by redistricting following the 2020 census.
pay to access healthcare would be very or somewhat important to their decision to seek care if they experienced symptoms of COVID-19. Failure to test or receive treatment prolongs the pandemic as little is done to prevent spread. The Guttmacher Institute, a pro-choice think tank, has decried 2021 as the “worst year” for abortion rights in nearly 50 years as dozens of laws passed aiming to restrict access to abortion at the state level. in 2018 Mississippi introduced a ban on most abortions after 15 weeks which has since been overruled as unconstitutional. The case is now with the Supreme Court. A decision to reinstate the Mississippi ban would effectively overrule the 1973 Roe v Wade case which introduced legal abortion care and would pose a significant threat to abortion care across America. Mississippi is also looking to overrule the Planned Parenthood v Cassey decision in 1992 which prevents states from banning abortion before the point of viability at around 24 weeks. As we enter 2022, America is still fighting many of the same healthcare battles it was fighting in 1992.
2022 also marks the 30th anniversary of the 1992 Los Angeles uprising. Throughout April and May, a series of protests occurred following the jury acquittal of four Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers charged with using excessive force in the arrest of AfricanAmerican Rodney King. Thousands protested across six days following the verdict. The situation was only calmed after the California National Guard, United States military, and several law enforcement agencies deployed more than 5,000 troops. 63 people were killed, 2,383 injured and more than 12,000 arrested by the end of the uprising. 2022 carries the ongoing momentum built by the Black Lives Matter movement, which reached its peak on June 6 2020 when half a million people across nearly 550 locations in America protested the murder of George Floyd during a police arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Recent polls, including one by Civis Analytics which has worked on Democratic election campaigns, suggested between 15 million and 26 million people protested across America. This would make the protests the largest movement in the country’s history. As we enter the new year, the fight for racial justice across the world is still ongoing, built upon centuries of violence, injustice, and the hopeful foundations laid by previous civil rights movements.
1992 is one of the most significant years in Europe. Ministers from 12 countries in the European Community (EC) signed the Treaty on European Union and the Maastricht Final Act following years of debate. This officially established the European Union (EU). The formation of the EU laid out a timetable and framework for economic and monetary union, taking on the responsibilities of a common foreign and security policy and judicial affairs including immigration, drugs, and terrorism
Although Britain left the EU officially on January 31 2021, it is in 2022 that we expect to begin to more clearly see the results of this decision. Whilst the impact of COVID-19 has somewhat obscured the impact of Brexit so far, the 2019 Brexit Deal: Potential Economic Impact study published by the British government projected Brexit would lower the UK’s growth by up to 6.7 per cent over 15 years.
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world look like 30 years ago? Aislinn Wright
o cap global warming, and marks Concrete’s orld has changed drastically, countries have nological revolution, and yet, in many ways, id, “history doesn’t repeat itself, it rhymes.” In 1992 white South Africans overwhelmingly voted for political reforms to end apartheid and establish a new power-sharing multi-racial government. The vote passed with 68.8 per cent of the vote with a record turn-out, which in some districts was as high as 96 per cent. Only one of the 15 voting referendum districts voted no - Pietersburg in the Northern Transvaal, a rural conservative stronghold.Nelson Mandela, the President of the African National Congress who was famously jailed for 27 years for his campaign against segregation, said he was “very happy indeed” with the result.
again in 2022 including the Bird’s Nest stadium. Organisers have said that all venues for the Games will run entirely on renewable energy. Seven new events are being added to the Games with the goal of increasing female participation and to appeal to younger audiences. The new events include women’s monobob (single person bobsleigh), freestyle skiing big air with both men’s and women’s categories, and new mixed team events in short-track speed skating team relay, ski jumping, freestyle skiing aerials and snowboard cross.
The 1992 Olympic Games are noted as the last time both the Summer and Winter Olympics would be held in the same year. The 16th Winter Olympics were held in Albertville, France. 64 nations and 1,801 athletes competed in the six sports and 57 events. This was the last Winter Olympics to include demonstration sports, including curling, aerials and ski ballet, and speed skiing. 1992 was also the last Olympics to feature an outdoor speed skating rink.
All Images: Pixabay
The summer Olympics were held in Barcelona, Spain. These games were the first olympiad since 1972 that no country had boycotted. A record 196 countries took part in the opening ceremony. Latvia and Estonia both made their first independent appearance since 1936 following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Lithuania entered its first
Unlike the 1992 games, the 2022 games could potentially be overshadowed by questions over China’s human rights records. In December, the United States announced it would be boycotting the games and would not be sending an official team over concerns of human rights abuses. America did say, however, its athletes could still attend and would be fully supported by the government. Australia, Great Britain, and Canada have also announced boycotts, following the United States announcement. China has been accused of imprisoning more than a million Uyghurs in detention centres in Xinjiang and eroding human rights in Hong Kong.
national team since 1928. The collapse of the USSR created a further 12 new national teams. They chose to compete as one team under the title of the Unified Team but at all medal ceremonies, the individual national flags would be raised for each athlete. Following the collapse of the Berlin Wall, Germany competed as one country for the first time since 1964. South Africa returned to the games for the first time in 32 years following the end of apartheid. The 2022 Winter Olympics are being held in Beijing, China. Beijing will become the first city to host both a summer and winter Olympics, having hosted the Summer Games in 2008. Many of the venues built for 2008 are being used
Conclusion Despite the 30 years that have passed between 1992 and 2022, many of the stories that dominated headlines 30 years ago are still similarly appearing in the news today. While some of these stories speak of reunification, peace, and collaboration, too many still grapple with racial injustice, attacks on women’s rights, and global conflict. Whilst 2022 is still fresh and full of hope, the global news cycle can never be fully predicted. In 2052, Concrete will be celebrating its 60th birthday and hopefully, its publications will speak of greater peace and prosperity than its 30th.
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FEATURES
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Concrete: Writing History Matthew Stothard Features Writer
When we write for Concrete, we want to be up to date and reflect on the issues of the moment. However, for this article I want to take a look backward, into history. I am currently halfway through my history degree, and I have learnt a lot about how my subject functions and creates its content. History is not the past, it is our attempt to reconstruct what we think the past may have been like from the (generally written) source material we have available. Few people leave written records, and as such most people’s views on their lives and the world around them do not survive, and their specific perspectives don’t form part of the retelling of their eras. History isn’t always written by the winners, but it is written by those who write things down, which is where Concrete comes in! The Concrete archives are a gold mine of primary source material for the last 30 years. If I were writing a history essay on this period and wanted a students’ perspective, I would have a wealth of voices on numerous events. You only have to look through the front pages to very quickly get a sense of what students care about – worries about student fees, rent, lecturer strikes, mental health and sexual harassment seem to be the five dominant themes, pointing to the seriousness of the issues students engage with.
Photo: Unsplash
“For historians though, the most valuable articles will be those about Covid-19”
Zooming in on specific articles, it is possible to get a sense of what they could tell future historians. In 1997, Concrete ran an article called ‘A Real Solution?’ examining government proposals for the introduction of tuition fees. What is surprising is how balanced it is, considering the concerns of students being saddled with fees alongside those of universities struggling for funds. Any worries around misuse of fees are directed towards the government, not the university. This gives us a real insight into the debate that was going on amongst students at the time and could be interestingly compared with views today. The quotes in the article are also useful, particularly the late Labour MP Dr Ian Gibson’s question “will it stay at £1000?... it will probably go up,” showing that this was predicted by some at the time and providing evidence for dissenting voices within Blair’s Labour Party. Concrete’s archives are not just useful for student issues though, they also provide an insight into political views more widely. A 2012 article, ‘Boris, In All Seriousness,’ makes for interesting reading in hindsight. It asks whether Boris Johnson would become Prime Minister, which shows that people were considering that possibility for many years before he took the position.
The article is rather prophetic, discussing “his endless list of gaffes” which, whilst damaging for any other politician, he “manages to effortlessly shrug off,” an idea which future historians will be able to trace the development of across his career. For historians though, the most valuable articles will probably be those about Covid-19. Especially in this modern age where opinions can be lost in the vastness of social media, Concrete will provide solid written evidence of how young people experienced the pandemic, crucially in our own voices. The articles do acknowledge where people got things wrong, but they overwhelmingly paint a positive picture, with stories such as getting vaccinated despite anxieties and nursing students on the front line giving us a voice against the countless sources which will surely be negative. So, Concrete gives a voice to UEA students today, but it also gives us an opportunity to craft how we are remembered. We are all writing history.
The body, stress, and my journey with eczema Louise Collins Features Writer
Stress can affect different ways.
everyone
in
For some, it’s a case of insomnia, tense muscles, headaches, or an upset stomach. For others, their stress is much more visible. I’m the latter. All my life, I’ve had flare ups of eczema. When I was younger, it affected the insides of my knees and elbows,and it only happened during hay fever season. It’d get hot and the pollen levels would rise, and my skin would break out. It was the same routine, and it was manageable enough, and then it disappeared for a few years. Then, I had a turning point during my GCSEs. As the stress of exams came on, my eczema came back. This time, forget the elbows and
knees; it was all over my hands. Suddenly, when I needed to be constantly writing, my hands were in agony, and I was coating them in creams,from E45 to Hemp.
At the time, I hadn’t realised it was brought on by stress. It was summer and therefore the pollen level was high, and in my head, I felt totally calm.
I’d try just about anything. But it wasn’t the pain that got to me; I felt embarrassed.
It wasn’t until two years later, as I was preparing for my A-Levels, that I made the connection.
I would hide my hands or turn them so only the palms were visible. I’m not sure why I felt so ashamed of them – there’s nothing wrong with eczema, but the patches and cracks stood out so much.
2019 came about, and I had a big year ahead of me.
“It wasn’t the pain that got to me; I felt embarrassed”
I’d be sitting my exams, going away on a month long expedition, and starting university. I was confident about my A-Levels; it’s a shame my body and mind didn’t cooperate. As you’ve probably guessed, my eczema came out in full intensity. Not only did I have patches of dry, itchy skin, but blisters had started to form. Barely visible at first, and then full-sized ones covered my fingers and the palms of my hands. I had to visit the walk-in centre, as I had no idea how to treat it, and I was struggling to hold a pen.
I had to sleep in cotton gloves to prevent myself from scratching, and to allow the ointments to soak in. For over a month, my hands refused to heal, but then exams finished, and my stress went away. Slowly, they started to heal, but three years later, I’m still having breakouts. Until recently, I’ve been embarrassed and ashamed to discuss this natural reaction. I’ve always prefaced the A-Level discussion with, “this is really gross, but...” and I still occasionally find myself trying to angle my hands just right to hide the worst parts. But why is this the case? People don’t discuss their stress headaches with “oh, this is embarrassing but...” Another bodily reaction when I’m stressed is nail biting. It’s a pain, and it often makes my nail beds hurt like hell, but I speak of that habit with
frustration, not embarrassment. So why with eczema? Because years of growing up seeing ‘flawless’ skin of all kinds made me think eczema, acne, scars, or even body hair was less than perfect. I had visible patches of texture and discolouration, so my hands were immediately shameful. It wasn’t until the past year or so, where models started showing off their skin conditions, or I started talking to people whose eczema got worse with stress, that I suddenly felt less ashamed. It may be uncomfortable, itchy, and really painful. But it isn’t ugly or shameful. It’s my body reminding me I need to take care of myself, that I need to take a break. Stress hits us all in different ways, and no one should be embarrassed about that.
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Three resolutions that won’t set you up to fail Maja Anushka Features Editor
Some people swear by them, some people refuse to engage. New Year’s Resolutions are, unsurprisingly, a popular topicat the start of the year, and having stuck to mine for the first time in 2021, I have a new-found appreciation for them. Before, I was solidly in the ‘New Year’s Resolutions aren’t an effective way to implement change’ camp. In the past,setting myself an unrealistic goal for the entire year always meant giving it a proper go for a week or two, and then slowly losing motivation, leaving me feeling like a failure where I wanted to feel successful. On the 1st of January 2021 I decided to go against my better judgement and set myself a New Year’s Resolution for the first time since I was about twelve years
old. I challenged myself to read at least one book a month for the whole year. By the 1st of January 2022, I’d finished thirty-five books in total. I know for a fact this wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t make the active effort to improve my day-today wellbeing, making me a true convert on the topic of New Year’s Resolutions. I’ve written up three similar Resolutions which are easy to stick to, will improve your mental health, and actually stand a chance at making a difference.
1.
Read more books
Now, you had to know this one was coming. It might make you roll your eyes, but whether it be on your phone,
via an e-reader, by listening to an audiobook (yes, it counts!), or on proper paper with proper ink, reading a book is a great way to improve your focus, take your mind off of anxieties and stresses, and inspire your own creativity. If you haven’t read in a long time, it can be really hard to get your attention span to get on with reading. Don’t get frustrated, and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Personal recommendations for flexing your reading muscles are ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ by Ira Levin, ‘The Circle’ by Dave Eggers, and ‘The Knife of Never Letting Go’ by Patrick Ness.
productive to aim to a relationship with you.
develop
If you’ve never actively spent time alone, by which I mean real, purposeful time dedicated to hanging out with yourself, it can seem very daunting. My best advice for learning to enjoy your own company is going to the cinema solo. Being able to totally lose yourself in a film with no one around to distract from your reaction to whatever you’re watching is a wonderful way to learn to appreciate your own company.
3.
Choose the vegetarian option every now and then
Take yourself on dates
For some of you, eating veggie and vegan foods is already the norm.
Forget making a resolution to find a romantic partner– it’s much healthier and more
This resolution is not so much for you as it is for those firmly in the carnivore camp.
2.
By no means am I saying to go cold turkey (joke truly not intended) on the hamburgers and steaks – but trying the veggie or vegan option 10% of the time will not only expand your palette and introduce you to new foods you might love, but it’ll help the planet. The Vegconomist did a study which found that if everyone in the country ate vegan meals one day a week, the UK would have the equivalent effect of removing 16 million cars off the road. That sounds like a worthy reason to make the swap to a Vegan Sausage Roll from Greggs! Whatever you decide to do in regards to New Years Resolutions this year, make sure you’re prioritising your wellbeing and peace above all else. Flash diets, unrealistic fitness regimes, and expensive makeovers are not something you’ll remember fondly at the end of 2022.
Alcohol anxiety: the sober student experience Lily Boag Features Senior Writer
At school and college, I was a quiet, shy, and socially anxious student. Drowning in a pool of extroverts who would shout their thoughts across the room, being ‘sensible’ was my coping-mechanism. I learned to stay quiet in class and keep my head down in the hallways, so as not to draw attention to myself. I made sure to stick to the huddles of my friendship groups, the only place where I truly felt like I could comfortably be myself. As an introvert, I’ve come to accept that being a calm, quiet, and collected person is who I am. Being sensible is just in my nature. But with that comes the fear of constantly being perceived as ‘boring’; the fear that I’ve never really fitted in with people my own age; that I’ve never fully been accepted. One thing that I think has cemented this is the fact that I don’t drink. “Wait, you don’t drink?” No. “How can you not drink?” I don’t feel the need to. “Don’t you feel like you’re missing out?” Sometimes. “Don’t you find life boring?” Don’t we all?
Photo: Unsplash
attacks which occur when I find myself in loud and claustrophobic social settings, losing my mind in the chaos of drunken bodies and conversations.
coming-of-age moment, the social pressure to drink as a teenager to feel socially accepted can be a heavy weight upon a young person’s shoulders.
“I knew drinking to get drunk was something that would generally not appeal to me”
And that carries on through to life as a university student. Sober students can easily feel like they’re missing out on a massive part of student culture with many societies and clubs only planning bar socials and pub crawls, leaving many individuals feeling left out on the opportunity to comfortably socialise with other students.
Turned off of the idea of engaging in drinking culture early in my life, I grew increasingly uncomfortable in busy bars, rowdy pubs, and crowded clubs, drawing into myself as an outsider to the cheering crowds. In these moments I knew drinking to get drunk was |something that, in my life, would generally not appeal to me. I knew for a fact that stumbling home alone in the dark at 3am, throwing up in a toilet bowl at 4am, and finally hitting the pillow at 5am would completely exhaust me, making a misery of the next day. I knew I would be compromising my mental health by trying to conform to a social culture into which I didn’t actually fit.
Over time I’ve come to realise that I don’t have the greatest social battery.
And it’s a social culture that I’ve never really wanted to fit into. Or, as I’ve come to learn, a social culture that will probably never fit me.
For a long time, I’ve struggled with heightened anxiety and panic
With ‘getting drunk’ on a Saturday night on VK’s being stapled as a
If you ditched the hangover this dry January, you may have come to this revelation too. From my own experiences all I can say is that I’ve learnt that in the face of peer pressure, it’s okay to just say no. It’s okay to not have to explain yourself.
“It’s okay to just say no. It’s okay to not have to explain yourself” There are many reasons why people choose not to drink. There are many other ways you can choose to socialise with other students, make friends, and spend your Saturday evenings. So why is it that being a sober student is so outside of the norm?
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INTERVIEW
30 years o
Editor-in-Chief Dolly Car
It has been 30 years since the first issue of Concrete graced our pr a small group of students, we now have positions on the team for network who have put in countless hours of hard work to publish from a range of different roles across the paper for their insights
Issue 001 of Concrete, published 22nd January 1992
One of the members of the very first Concrete team, Steve Howard started Livewire, UEA’s student radio station in 1989, and then went onto relaunch Concrete as we know it in 1992 (a very early version of a student paper made its first appearance at UEA in 1973). Writing to previous Editor-in-Chief Megan Baynes for the 25th anniversary issue, Peter Hart, who also worked on the very first issue of Concrete said: “Back in those early days it was quite a mission putting something so brand new together, paying for it and then printing it out and sticking it onto A3 sheets”.
sales. By their second year of publishing in 1993, Concrete funded all our own print and production costs, funded a full-time sabbatical editor, and even had desktop publishing before Norwich Evening News. As for his funniest story, Steve reminisces on a mistake made by the overnight operator who scanned the reverse side of a Guardian graph by mistake, causing 5000 copies of the lead story in the paper to be published alongside an illustration of a huge pair of trousers in the middle of the article! Now an illustrator and cartoonist for The Guardian among other publications, Stephen Collins, who was Editor of ‘The Event’ from 1999-2001, which eventually turned into Venue in 2010, says Concrete “basically took over my life and set me on my current career” – a sentiment echoed by myself and many of the alumni who have dedicated many long, hard hours to the production of Concrete. Stephen recounts Editor-in-Chief at the time James Goffin driving him to the printing press to see their first edition come out.
Peter Hart, Steve Howard, and Simon Mann celebrating Concrete’s first birthday
Our first front page article, “Modular mess up?” (above), was written by John Barton, who couldn’t quite believe it was 25 years old in 2017: “I almost fell of my chair when I saw it was 25 years old!” – I didn’t have the heart (nor the email address for that matter) to tell John it’s now 30 years old. Steve Howard was credited as the publisher of Concrete and mainly worked on production: “an archaic process that for the first few issues used to culminate in me getting on my push bike from UEA to the city centre at 2am with the finished master copy in a rucksack on my back!” Though they didn’t have any funding or permission from the Students’ Union or the university, the first issue was published on 22nd January 1992. Steve says the second issue almost didn’t happen after a nightclub pulled an advert and they couldn’t pay the printers from advertising
2000, the newspaper also went on to win The Independent’s Student Newspaper of the Year Award.
The Concrete team hard at work in the old Media Office circa 2000
Editor-in-Chief 2000-2001 James Goffin with his first issue
With heavy emphasis (and perhaps an expletive or two), Stephen recounts having immense troubles with ‘The Beast’, their main PC at the time, which crashed at the most inopportune of times, losing an entire feature he had written directly onto the lay-up: “I think ‘the Beast’ was so called because it had – whisper it – a full gigabyte of RAM. Wow”.
for the price of a single. A highlight of his time as Editor-in-Chief was an interview Concrete conducted with the Vice Chancellor in which he made a faux pas about tuition fees. This story was picked up by the national press and, after the university denied the quote, James says it was particularly satisfying to play the tape down the phone to The Independent. He also describes covering other strong news stories, such as exposing short-staffing in university security, problems with spiking in nightclubs, and a hack of campus computers which resulted in the front page punning headline: “Porn in the UEA”.
Copies of Concrete on the printing press circa 2000 ‘The Event’ Editor 1999-2001 Stephen Collins with his first issue
During his time at Concrete, Stephen won the Feature Writer of the Year at The Times Student Awards, which came with an around the world trip updating Rough Guides travel books, all flights paid, £1,000 cash, and two weeks’ work experience at The Times. Understandably, he describes it as an “insanely great competition”. During Stephen’s time with Concrete in
Concrete winning The Independent’s Student Newspaper of the Year in 2000
Previously mentioned by Stephen, James Goffin was Editor-in-Chief of Concrete, holding the full-time paid sabbatical post from 2000 to 2001. As a perk of the paid role, James was also offered the option of a cheap room on campus – a double room in Norfolk Terrace (the Ziggurats)
Alongside securing funding through advertising, James says another particularly challenging aspect to printing Concrete was driving the finished issue to the Archant print centre on the edge of Norwich, half asleep after a long production weekend: “Thank God broadband speeds have picked up enough to send it remotely”. Technically, James is one of the few past editors still involved with Concrete, as he still owns the concrete-online.co.uk website domain!
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concrete-online.co.uk/category/features/ | @ConcreteUEA
of Concrete
answer to the speculation, Matt did write an editorial discussing who would win in a fight between a gorilla and a bear.
rter in conversation with our alumni network
resence and what a 30 years it has been. Though Concrete started out with r just under 40 people each year, which means we have an extensive alumni h a total of 384 issues. I spoke to Concrete alumni from across these 30 years on what makes Concrete one of the best student papers in the country. Jumping forward a few years, Chris Teale was Managing Editor in the 2012/13 academic year. Writing to Concrete for our 25th anniversary issue, Chris said his first year with Concrete, which fell in 2010, was also the first year of the Media Ball. This is a joint social between Concrete, Livewire, and our student TV station UEATV which, with the exception of Covid interruptions, still exists! Though Chris particularly enjoyed his second year with Concrete as co-Sport Editor, launching the first year of earnest coverage of the famed Derby Day competition between UEA and the University of Essex, he said his final year as Managing Editor was his favourite. He became close with his Section Editors who he helped with InDesign questions and writing guidance. Chris started the Concrete Show on Livewire, which originated as a half-hour program, but is now hosted across a two-hour timespan as A Week in Concrete, and was nominated for best factual show at that year’s Livewire Awards. Film Editor and F1 Columnist during her time at Concrete from 2012 to 2014, Holly Wade highlights that she was particularly proud of her F1 column: “it was something I really wanted to do and Concrete provided me with the platform to do it”. Her main challenge, as with many Section Editors to this day (including myself), was getting to grips with InDesign. During the media ball in 2014, the cash machine at the LCR was stolen, a strange coincidence Holly notes as being very inconvenient: “there was no one to report on it as we were all partying!”
Constructing the 56-page anniversary issue
During Concrete’s 25th year in 2016/17, Megan Baynes was Editor-in-Chief and she still holds a regular Concrete Christmas reunion with members from her team every year. Alongside meeting some of her
closest friends through the paper, Megan says one of her highlights of her time at Concrete was reporting on the Queen visiting campus: “I got so shaky waiting for her to get out the car so I could take a photo, I nearly missed the shot”. Megan produced award-winning pieces during her time at Concrete and says one of these, which was written as a joint by-line with her co-Deputy Editor Caitlin Doherty, was simply a “mad idea” consisting of following campus security around on an LCR night! As for funny stories, Megan has plenty, including watching co-Deputy Editor Jessica Frank-Keyes running around Leeds campus barefoot singing at the top of her lungs after winning four Student Publication Association Awards, and a particularly tricky time they spent trying to send off their fourth issue, full of unprintable stories, a difficult front page, and even Caitlin electrocuting herself!
Concrete at the 2017 Student Publication Association Awards
Acting as Editor-in-Chief in 2019/20, Chris Matthews published multiple stories which made national headlines, including an article entitled “UEA paid out more than £140,000 to student data leak victims” and another called “Student left in limbo by UEA for five months after alleged sexual assault”. He notes the latter prompted a great outpouring of anger on campus, saying “sadly the uni to this day has never publicly apologised for its failures”. Chris also ran Concrete’s mental health campaign which was instrumental in promoting conversation and change on campus. Reminiscing on his days at the head of the Concrete team, Chris says he cherishes how the newspaper managed to merge high quality student journalism with the social aspect of things: “the post-pub pubs, spontaneous nights out, brilliant media
balls and Halloween crawls that really cemented a team of budding journalists as more of a family”. He also sent across a photo of King Kong-crete, Concrete’s cuddly mascot who lives on the Editor-inChief’s desk. Though rumours circulate regarding King Kong-crete’s origin story, Chris says “some may allege [it] was liberated from a child. I couldn’t possibly comment”.
Concrete at the 2018 BBC Student Journalism Awards
Slightly overlapping with our previous alumni member, William Warnes was Global Editor in the 2019/20 academic year and took over as Deputy Editor for 2020/21. During his tenure as a Senior Editor, Will introduced the Global Investigates section which has now become a prominent feature of the newspaper and, this issue, features our present Global Editor Aislinn Wright’s article reflecting upon how the world has changed in the last 30 years. Will kicked off with the first article for this section, entitled: “Global Investigates: Over 140 dead in 20 years. Can Mexico save its journalists?”. Will’s articles on human rights abuses were recognised when he was shortlisted as a top ten student journalist by Amnesty International and his interview with an Iranian journalist fleeing his home country was shortlisted for Best Interview at the 2021 Student Publication Association Awards. As for the challenges he dealt with, Will recounts the pressures of dealing with the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, as the Senior Editorial team had to make the shift from print to online for the majority of the year due to lockdown restrictions. However, he says the comedic editorial contributions of his co-Deputy Editor Matthew Branston went some way to relieving this pressure – and yes, in
Concrete’s cuddly mascot King Kong-crete
And that brings us up to now! Though I am only halfway through my tenure as Editorin-Chief of Concrete, I am proud to say we have accomplished a tremendous amount in this short space of time. Our new team sprung into action to produce two online publications before the academic year had even begun, then going onto create our first in-print edition of the year in time for Freshers’ week. The Breaking News team are in full swing covering stories from campus to across the globe, providing regular updates via our social media channels and website. One particularly proud moment for me personally was the collaboration between UEA and Concrete to produce our first ever climate journalism programme ‘Report for the Future’, as part of our commitment to delivering consistent, accurate, and timely climate coverage. I’ve also led the Concrete Crash Course, released four episodes of the Concrete Conversations podcast, and published five in-print issues!
Chris Matthews and Jess Barrett in the current Media Office
Thank you to our alumni members who very kindly provided photos, contributed quotes, and recounted their favourite memories for this piece. Their willingness to support us in our celebrations of Concrete’s birthday is testament to the supportive community which has been built over the past 30 years and, I’m sure, will continue to flourish over many years to come.
HOME OF THE WONDERFUL
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Reflections & Rabbits Melody Chan Home of the Wonderful Writer
The sun was setting as I approached the inclined hill opposite Colman House. The yellow paired with the orange, reflecting blinding lights at the Ziggurat windows. The green pastures stretched in different shades, altering between lime and teal under the changing light. However, a glimpse of movement at the corner of my eye caused me to shift my gaze downwards. There, in between the rusty soil and fallen twigs, a tiny bunny shivered and shook. I kneeled and observed it from a distance. Its small, grey body camouflaged itself from the earth, but its furry figure allowed me to recognise
its every action. It seemed to be nibbling onto something and its eyes stared into the vastness. How can such a delicate thing hold onto so much life? We often focus on what’s in front of us, yet we may find something extraordinary if only we look in another direction.
Home of the Bun-derful Concrete writers of days gone by have described t h e campus bunny colony as ‘the unofficial mascot of UEA’, and it is difficult to argue with this idea. For so many students, w a l k i n g a c r o s s campus and seeing our furry friends r o a m i n g
alongside them is a really positive element of the university experience. When I was a first year (this makes me feel very old!) coming back to my accommodation from the LCR or library was always made better when a rabbit crossed my path. There’s something almost lucky about it, as if you are guaranteed to have a better day when you’ve seen them- there is probably some positive reinforcement in there somewhere, but it doesn’t change the fact that sharing our campus with so many bunnies is a comfort to so many. Seeing so much nature and life in such close proximity to my front door also helped me to settle quicker. I come from a small town,
8th February 2022
Emily Kelly Interim HOTW Editor
quite a way away from Norwich, but I’ve always been surrounded by farmland and open green spaces where it wasn’t uncommon to see rabbits and other animals pottering around throughout the year. For me, Norwich was a much bigger and busier environment than I was used to, so having these little corners of campus which felt like home was a huge benefit. Their positive impact on the ecosystem at UEA and more widely in East Anglia is not to be sniffed at either, so I hope that the presence of the rabbit colony on campus will continue to be a high point for students in generations to come- just don’t believe the stories about what happens if you take one into the bar: it isn’t true and you will get in trouble!
My Favourite UEA Traditions Every university has its own specific traditions, myths and legends- the things that make them unique. In this special 30th Birthday edition, we’re sharing some of our favourites to keep them alive and, undoubtedly, to give the future generations of Concrete writers something to laugh at us about!
Sports Night
Freyja Elwood Deputy Editor
Whilst Sports Night isn’t necessarily an exclusive “tradition” to UEA, it is “traditional” for the sports community here at UEA.
uniform of blue crewnecks, blazers, and club ties. Hanging off your mates shoulders belting out “Angels” by Robbie Williams at the end of the night.
There are so many elements of a Sports Night that make it brilliant. Karaoke in the square, trying to out sing the other teams. The BUCS bus back from the away matches. The walk from pre-drinks to the LCR as a team. Some very questionable themed outfits. Joint socials between different sports. Vengaboys. VKs. The
There’s a real sense of community at Sports Night, meaning the atmosphere is always undoubtedly lovely (even if the music played is sometimes questionable). To me Sports Night epitomises everything good about UEA and I hope to see it provide as many laughs for future generations as it has for me.
Jailbreak
Emily Kelly
Interim HOTW Editor
Many universities have their own versions of Jailbreak, a challenge involving students spending no money and trying to get as far away from campus as possible. UEA’s version of this is organised by Livewire, the campus radio station, and is coupled with a live broadcast for the duration of the challenge- this is how I came to be involved. Whilst trekking off around the world (or even within the UK, where the last few challenges have been based) is a little far out of my comfort zone, I really
Pimp My Barrow
enjoyed getting to spend the night locked in Union House and producing radio with my friends for a good cause. The most recent challenge began on the 13th March 2020, so will forever be synonymous in my mind with the beginning of the pandemic and UEA closing. However, if my ‘normal’ university experience had to end, I will forever be glad it happened whilst I was playing Countdown on the radio, and tracking our adventurers as they made their way around the UK and raised money for charity.
Photo: Concrete/Kathy Childs
Georgina Matuska
Home of the Wonderful Writer
Pimp My Barrow seems to have become a bit of a UEA relic, with the last one taking place in 2018. Many freshers I’ve spoken to this year haven’t even heard of UEAs most well-loved tradition. Pimp My Barrow was a UEA event that required students to buy a wheelbarrow, ‘pimp it out’ and dress in accordance with a particular theme or characters. These groups would then go on a crawl of local pubs, ending with a wheelbarrow race through Eaton Park. The event started in The Square and was open to anyone, not just those involved in the racing. Luckily and sadly, I got to experience this myself, as my first year
happened to have the last PMB. Picture this: it’s 10am, you’ve just had your morning cup of tea, and your housemates walk into the kitchen on their third beer, returning from a jam-packed Square. After seeing them I quickly got ready to head back with them, not prepared for what I was about
to experience. I don’t think I’ve ever seen The Square so full of people, every inch of concrete and grass being taken up by happy, and certainly not sober, students yelling the lyrics to Cotton Eyed Joe as a DJ spun out ‘the classics’ on the walkway above. If you thought people would be half-baked in their costume making too you’d be dead
wrong. Honestly impressive and labour intensive costumes ranging from Wes Anderson characters to Brockhampton to The Smurfs were not lacking. PMB was a UEA tradition that cannot be forgotten, and I can only hope it makes a glorious return in the future.
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15
People Power: Protest at UEA
Generation
UEA
Juliette Rebold Stead Home of the Wonderful Writer
Since the first instalment of Concrete was published 30 years ago, I am the second member of my family to attend UEA. The first was my dad, who studied here as the first few editions appeared on campus. A big difference between the two of us is the subjects we have studied, his being Biology and mine being languages. The iconic UEA teaching wall, however, has stayed the same.
Photo: Concrete/Jim Gell
Georgina Matuska
Home of the Wonderful Writer
The first ever issue of Concrete reported on a proposal made at Union Council to occupy the registry building in an attempt to force UEA to act against student poverty. The university experience often includes forms of protests, both concerning university policy and wider issues, not necessarily pertaining to the university itself. UEA is no exception, and has had its fair share over the years. 1971 brought a 10-day sit-in organised by students. The protest took place within the Arts building and concerned a student, Bill Hutchinson, who was expelled for drug possession. Much of the controversy came as a result of him
being punished for the same crime twice, with both students and staff involved in the call for justice for Hutchinson. Similarly, in 2016 another occupation protest took place in the Registry building on campus, in order to denounce UEA’s investment into fossil fuels and force them to divest. Students lay on the ground and played dead in the reception of the Registry building in an attempt to draw attention to their demands. By 2018 the activists’ demands seemed to have eventually been met, with the university no longer investing into fossil fuels and selling their stocks in these companies, which was well received by students. In my second year of university, 2018/19, what was heralded as a ‘mental health crisis’ arose at UEA after several students took their own
lives within 10 months. Students forged the “We Will Be Heard’’ campaign with the goal of obtaining more funding for mental health services for university students and improved mental health training. The university did announce an increased investment in student support services, by £250,000, after the fourth of these deaths. For some, however, this came far too late and a group named “notsof*ckingwonderful was established to protest outside the Vice Chancellor’s office, seeing the student’s lives lost as partially at the hands of the university. Concrete started their own Mental Health Crisis campaign that focused on the mental health of students and the deaths that occurred that year, to remind people that mental health is a serious issue and the people that we tragically lost “are not numbers, they were people.”
The iconic Ziggurats were the most popular accommodation, yet there were not many housing options on campus, something that is very different to today. The furthest student halls today are the Village or those in the city centre, whereas when the first copies of Concrete were printed, a popular option was all the way across town in a place called Fifers Lane, next to Norwich airport! Student nightlife in Norwich has not changed significantly; although it was not a wetherspoons when my dad was here, The Bell was still one of the most popular pubs in the city with students. This is closely followed by the LCR, a key part of campus today with the majority of students, as well as 30 years ago. Bands that my dad saw whilst he was studying here are still performing today, including a band called Squeeze who he saw at Wembley arena last month. I wonder which of the artists who have performed at the LCR recently will still be touring in 30 years time.
Focus on the Future So much of this issue is about looking back to what UEA was like in the past, so we’ve decided to dedicate a little corner of Home of the Wonderful to look to the future! Our writers have come up with two different predictions about how UEA will look in 10, 20 or even 30 years time, and some of the changes we could make to ensure it remains the Home of the Wonderful.
Edward Grierson
Home of the Wonderful Writer
UEA is currently making great strides in becoming more environmentally friendly, with buildings such as the Enterprise Centre, increasing investment in renewables and its growing push to divest from fossil fuel companies. But if it wanted to increase its biodiversity, going forward, it could look to rewild the UEA Broad.
‘Rewilding’, in its broadest sense, is about restoring biodiversity by letting natural processes re-establish themselves, in areas of nature currently managed by humans. There are a myriad of ways UEA could implement this. Wildlife bridges could connect campus and other parts of Norwich, for species such as hedgehogs, grass snakes and toads. Regrowing milkweed could bring back swallowtail butterflies, and reed beds replanted as habitat for bitterns. Other species could be reintroduced. Trout have been reintroduced to many London rivers; there’s no reason UEA couldn’t do the same. The Broad could also reintroduce burbot, a species of freshwater cod currently extinct in the UK. White-tailed eagles could breed in the willows, as they do in the Netherlands. And with beavers making a comeback across the UK, including Norfolk’s Ken Hill Farm, perhaps it’s time we gave them a site on our own body of water.
Rianna Jones
Home of the Wonderful Writer
It is difficult to imagine what UEA will look like in decades to come. Maybe, like our sci-fi mad ancestors of the 1950’s, we should predict things like a campus on the moon or lectures on hovercrafts. Their naivety seems misplaced in our techno-centrist era but it teaches us an insightful lesson: Cold-War era politics were tenuously balanced and these far-off predictions provided a source of escapism; a way to hope for an exciting new future. In our recent history, the Coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated how easily our world can be turned upside down. Maybe we too need some wishful imaginings. I’d hope university-wide events are taking place again. Covid’s isolating
abilities put a bit of a dampener on our university spirit and turned us into housebound hobbits. It would be a shame for future students to still be impacted by that legacy. Maybe Pimp my Rocket will be the event of the social calendar in future years? The Enterprise Centre enshrines UEA’s climate conscious values, so is it ambitious to expect the campus to be largely renewably powered, perhaps producing energy through student-generated food waste? Maybe. It’s certainly capable of creating big changes- hopefully it does so. I’d also hope the teaching wall will be able to withstand more than a slightly ferocious sneeze…but then again, we mustn’t think too far out must we?
COMMENT
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Will we ever have a fair student finance system? Lauren Bramwell
Comment Editor
When delving into the archives of Concrete for its 30th birthday, I came across a piece written by a student who investigated the problems of student finance. The article, titled “No Longer Easy Access”, takes a look at a student fund available 30 years ago. The grant is described as being part of the Government’s ‘Access Fund’ which helps students who are struggling financially by providing them with a sum of money, in which UEA was granted £156,000 that year, and students were not asked to repay the fund. What I found fascinating about this piece, in particular, was how the student was acknowledging the number of details students had to provide in order to receive this grant in the first place, but those details were also what determined the amount students then received. Students were made to give details of all their outgoings including their overdrafts, their rent, and bills, and even how much their university
books cost. This piece assesses how it is “extremely easy to lie about how much money the student has” and so it got me thinking about the state of our student finance system 30 years later.
“Student Finance England in 2022 is still just as complicated as it was 30 years ago.” Student Finance England in 2022 is still just as c o m p l i c a t e d as it was 30 years ago. No system is ever going to be completely fair. The idea of finance, especially finance in relation to your parent’s income, is an extremely wide territory to attempt at creating equality within. However, shouldn’t the government be trying to solve such a problem which causes chaos in young people’s lives across the country? Having your financial situation and capability be reduced solely down
to your parent’s taxable income is far too narrow of a spectrum to indicate your financial safety. This has resulted in injustices, for example, students having to work practically full-time to fund their degree and living expenses as student finance has deemed them financially capable when they are not. However, I think one of the most prominent factors in England’s student finance system is the flawed graduate repayment plan. Graduates repay 9% of everything they earn above £27.295 per year, and they pay this until the loan is either repaid or until 30 years, after which point, they stop repaying. This strict boundary is not equal, nor does it equate to a fair or efficient playing field for graduates. In the same way, the Concrete article 30 years ago shows how well-off students were able to lie and receive a grant, students can use student finance England to a similar advantage.
This is because it allows for the parents and grandparents of students to pay off student loans, while the majority of graduates have to deal with this burden for many years following graduation. While I and probably the entire student population are grateful to be fortunate enough to be able to
receive loans and are grateful we do not have such a hopeless system as the USA’s student funding, it can still be disheartening to hear someone like Jo Johnson state “we have a student finance system that works”. The truth is quite far from that. I don’t underestimate how difficult forming a fair scheme would be, and as such do not envy the government should they attempt to try, but I do believe there should be more discussion around the state of the insufficient student finance in this country. The student loan system in England has always been deeply flawed and looking back at it 30 years ago only disheartens my thoughts on how no progression has been made.
Consumerism and consumption in 2022 Photo: Pixabay
Thomas Gymer Comment Writer
With climate change becoming ever more present and severe, products which tout their environmental friendliness can be very popular. However, the question remains, are these products actually better for the environment? Well, maybe. I am sure there has been genuine progress in some areas to protect our planet, as people are realising the very real danger we are in if we do not take more care of our environment. On the other hand, some are not, concealing their continued use of environmentally unfriendly ingredients with name
changes, brand changes, and obfuscating promises. Even if these products are removed from stores after controversy, this is often only for a short time. The public have a short memory, and once the moment of outcry is passed, products can return to the shelves completely unaltered, and with very little consequence for a company’s overall profits. Also, when ingredients are changed from something people recognise as harmful to the environment, they can simply be replaced with others just as harmful. The outcry at the inclusion of palm oil in products recently is a good example, as most of the alternatives to palm oil are equally damaging to the environment, even
to the orangutans the anti-palm oil advocates wished to protect. The real problem is these changes ignore the biggest issues with environmentalism under capitalism. Firstly, consumption and production have become more disconnected than ever before. When you look at the waste companies are able to ignore and still remain profitable, with thousands of pounds of food or clothing or other products thrown out all the time, it becomes clear customers buying less of something won’t necessarily lead to companies producing less of it. The ability of mega-corporations to produce so much for so little cost means they no longer need to care if most of it is never sold.
This alone makes pushing for more environmental products by means of boycott an uphill battle. Yet even accepting this, it is true companies still prefer to sell more goods, so they will give in if the pressure is great enough.
“Consumption is the biggest problem for our environment today”. This leads us to the real problem. No matter how much work is put into making a product “green”, a
vague enough term as it is, the best way to reduce the environmental impacts of any product is simple. Don’t make them. Don’t buy them. Consumption is the biggest problem for our environment today. We could produce far less and still be perfectly happy. We have reached a point in time when working and creating less would actually benefit the human race. Reduce, reuse, recycle, was the slogan. It goes in order of importance. We must reduce what we make and what we consume, then we must reuse what we can, and then we must recycle what we cannot. Because reduction and reusing are not profitable, recycling is the only one that took off. It must change.
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concrete-online.co.uk/category/comment/ | @ConcreteUEA
Photo: Pixabay
Do we all technically have the same 24 hours? Lauren Bramwell Comment Editor
It isn’t rare for influencers to come under fire for comments they have made. Molly-Mae is no exception. At the start of the year, a clip of Molly-Mae’s interview on the podcast Diary of a CEO went viral which heard her saying we “all have the same 24 hours in a day” as a way of inspiring the audience. I want to begin by emphasising how this article is not an attack on Molly-Mae. I understand the viral clip was taken slightly out of context and I agree with the arguments many of her fans are making about Molly-Mae having only pure and good intentions when making these comments. However, an individual having good intentions does not equate to that individual not being in
the wrong, nor does it mean they cannot offend people. I believe both her comment and the criticisms circulating social media stem back to our society’s misunderstanding of privilege. In summary, Molly-Mae stated, “you’re given one life and it’s down to you what you do with it” and she
“This is tone-deaf and ignorant.” even acknowledges while she has never “grown up in poverty” she believes “if you want something enough, you can achieve it”. This is tone-deaf and ignorant. She concludes this argument with the statement “I’ve worked my
absolute a*** off to get where I am now”. This sums up how ignorant our society is to privilege. I do not doubt Molly-Mae has capitalised on any opportunity that has come her way leading to her success, just as I do not doubt how anyone with the same opportunities would do the same, but this is the point. Even though Molly-Mae, and by extension our society, wants to say we live in a meritocracy, we don’t. It is vital to understand the definition of privilege is not a high-class, privately educated individual who has everything handed to them. Privilege is a much deeper matter. This denial of what privilege actually is explains how Molly-Mae genuinely believes her success wasn’t handed to her. It is crucial to acknowledge how she has so many inherited privileges which have allowed for her success including being a white, middle-class, able-bodied, and educated individual. Of course,
she has worked hard on using the opportunities she has either been given directly or indirectly. However, these opportunities alone are based on privilege. Very few people have the opportunity to go on a show like Love Island which undeniably enhanced Molly-Mae’s career, but this is a show known for its lack of inclusivity with the majority of the contestants benefitting from what people deem ‘pretty privilege’. Again, this is not an attack on MollyMae, she is just an example of how bad our society’s ignorance to privilege is. While the comment itself was extremely tone-deaf and upsetting, I think the response from MollyMae is even more deflating. Her response highlights the ignorance our society holds over privilege. Not only does she openly admit to saying similar
A corrupt aversion to corruption Jack Warren
Comment Writer
In this country, mainstream media in its totality has an aversion to using the word corruption. Not just in the sense of broadcasting corporations but in media as the central force of culture. Perhaps,ifwetakewesterndemocracy as the gold standard for the systems of government, the absence of this word may be because there is no corruption. However, the very absence of the word itself reveals the mechanisms of corruption.
Or at the very least what the media dictates to be corruption. Whether this is real corruption or a narrative, an echo of western political scandal, that is periodically reanimated as small transgressions to justify the overall net positives of democracy. The results are the same. I think the recent example of the breach of lockdown laws in the UK, by government staff, is a direct illustration of this. The UK government broke the laws it encouraged its country to follow and likely used taxpayer’s money in some capacity to do so. Corruption is the dishonest or illegal conduct of those in
power, often money is tied into this equation which makes it all possible.
“Corruption is the dishonest or illegal conduct of those in power” What has happened in the UK holds up to this definition. It is corruption, not ‘scandal’ or ‘sleaze’. It is a direct and undiluted model of corruption in UK politics. So why is there an aversion to, or, at the very least, limited use of this word?
There is a problem with this definition which I believe is the reason why these actions are not thought of as corruption by much of the British public. If we were to transfer this event into the context of a country and culture we perceive to be opposite of the western world, anywhere we conceive of as a negative political force over the international stage, perhaps places the west ideologically perceives as corrupt such as Russia, or a South American country such as Brazil, this would be corruption. The UK is beyond corruption by virtue of perception of an identity,
comments previously, but she also acknowledges how she was “slammed” for stating them. So, this raises the question to me, does she actually understand why people are offended by such comments? This implies she never took the time to understand the criticism she received the first time and has not attempted to readjust how she explains or presents her point. This is ignorance. I do not condone the hate directed at Molly-Mae, but when you have a platform as large as hers, accountability needs to be taken. By saying you apologise if people “misunderstood the meaning of what I said” you are not taking accountability, you are blaming others. Our society’s ignorant idea of privilege being purely economic and class based needs to change.
the very embodiment of its values, making it paradoxically more corrupt than what we deem to be corruption. The corruption within the heart of the UK political body exists because the ability to label it as what it is truly is now out of reach. Instead, the government and its relationship to society are bound up with a collage of history surrounding nostalgia for the war, austerity, the twee ,and retro. All of this was present during the pandemic: political rhetoric akin to ‘keep calm and carry on’ and the ‘blitz spirit’, VE day celebrations amongst the fear of pandemic. It is this that pacifies contemporary political corruption. Somehow a reanimated version of its history grants it immunity from evil and things such as corruption.
8th February 2022
SCIENCE
18
Interview with conservation group WildEast’s co-founder,
Hugh Somerleyton DL With this reasoning, he elaborates WildEast sees itself as more a media organisation rather than a scientific one.
Mariam Jallow
Science Editor
“We pledge, we educate, we grow”– a simple but profound summary of the pillars of conservation organisation, WildEast, as provided in my interview with co-founder Hugh Somerleyton DL. Similarly to ongoing projects in regions of Brazil, Romania and even Yellowstone, USA, the eastern region of England has its own group dedicated to protecting and restoring the natural ecosystem. In his words, Hugh describes it as “the first, regional scale, multi-sector nature recovery alliance”, a title I found most impressive but he labels as “sounding a bit governmental”. Founded with fellow farmers Oliver Birbeck and Argus Hardy, Somerleyton describes their roles as helping the organisation to reach the three aforementioned objectives constituting its thesis. Contrary to environmental initiatives directly targeting major climate change contributors, he goes on to state WildEast’s goals lie in creating “toplevel societal change”. They set out to do this via pledging of land to re-wilding efforts, whether it be in your back garden or several acres of farmland, and public outreach. “For most people, they want to know the world is healing, but don’t necessarily want to get a degree in it. Without wanting to dumb down nature recovery we decided it needed to be easily accessible, fun, and relatable to the way we live our lives.”
“Allowing nature to take the lead in conservation, rather than the humans. ” Re-wilding, a term popping up more and more with increased public environmental awareness, involves ecological restoration with the potential to create self-sustainable environments, mitigate climate change and prevent biodiversity loss. Mr Somerleyton describes it as “allowing nature to take the lead in conservation, rather than the humans,” which you may find much easier to recall, and aligns with the pledging goals of WildEast. By pledging bits of land to let nature reclaim, anyone in ownership of a potential green space can become a part of the group’s Map of Dreams, a digital map highlighting recovered areas. The software inadvertently allows participants to become their own wildlife trust, as eloquently explained by Hugh.
With an ambitious goal of 20 percent of the region’s inhabitants joining this movement by 2025, WildEast dedicates a significant portion of its time to outreach and education, particularly among younger generations. Hugh talks of the development of a game, hoping to increase engagement and interest without the usual approach of a slideshow sharing “this is in decline” and “you need to recycle that ‘’. He additionally highlights the importance of working with the youth to encourage schools, such as UEA, to pledge land, stating “10,000 students is more powerful in terms of voice than one farmer, even if together they can only pledge one acre of land”. The near future goals of the organisation also include creating a Fairtrade-esque badge for farmers and those in the agriculture industry throughout the East of England in collaboration with Co-op and producers. This will allow customers to see whether their goods were produced in an eco-sensitive manner, and empower both customer and producer to speak to one another. If you’re looking to get involved with WildEast and assist in completing their mission, Somerleyton suggests not just pledging land and money, but also professional skills, (whether at university student-level or professional) or supporting them on social media @wildeastuk. Photo: Wild East
Violent volcanic eruption in Kingdom of Tonga George Barsted Senior Science Writer An eruption from the underwater volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai in the South Pacific has triggered a large tsunami, prompting intrigue from expert scientists who say it is “unlike anything we’ve seen before”.
“The impact of the blast was felt as far as the shores of Peru...”
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
The eruption took place in the late afternoon of 15 January, with debris shooting up 34 miles in the air accompanied by a dense canopy of volcanic ash. The impact of the blast was felt as far as the shores of Peru where
unusually high tides were reported, however, the most affected area was the Kingdom of Tonga. Ash from the explosion and an ensuing tsunami caused massive amounts of damage, disruption and three deaths. The coming weeks are expected to be tough with water supplies damaged and evacuation attempts starting for the worst-hit islands in the Tongan archipelago. Volcanologists are fascinated with this particular eruption, it produced the same amount of force as roughly ten million tonnes of TNT, making it one of the largest explosions this century. The volcano in particular is known as a caldera, a bowl-shaped volcano formed from a previous eruption. This formation is largely underwater, with the two once joined islands of Hunga Tonga and Hunga Ha’apai above the surface. The manner of eruption is predicted to be a once-in-a-millennium occurrence, the result of a violent and speedy release of magma from the volcano’s basin, which can take centuries to fill. Magma, the molten igneous inside most
volcanoes and below the surface of the earth, likely reacted with seawater to cause such a powerful explosion. Shane Cronin, a volcanologist from the University of Auckland, believes the combination of seawater, molten magma and ensuing gases prompted an eruption of epic proportions due to the large amounts of pressure. The following tsunami wreaked havoc on the surrounding area, destroying homes and livelihoods as the seawater swept through villages in the Kingdom. The effects of the tsunami may be felt all over the world via changing global sea levels in a phenomenon known as meteotsunami. This is usually caused by large, connected storm systems but it is thought to be the first caused by a volcanic eruption. Volcanologists are working tirelessly to understand the cause and effects, using new equipment such as satellite imagery to track the eruption. If one thing is for certain, it will be understanding the eruption and fixing the resulting damage is likely to take a long time.
8th February 2022
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concrete-online.co.uk/category/science/ | @ConcreteUEA
Climate Change Corner: A Response to “UEA Lecturer Fears State of the Ozone Layer” George Barsted Senior Science Writer
30 years ago in the third issue of Concrete, the article “UEA lecturer fears state of the ozone layer” was written focussing on the work of UEA academic Graham Bentham. In revisiting the article today we ask, what has changed in the world of environmental policy and UEA’s approach to climate change? The ozone layer in the Earth’s stratosphere protects us from harmful UV-radiation, absorbing 97-99 percent of it. Although it is 10-20 miles above, the ozone layer is essential for life on earth. Its ability to filter out dangerous rays not only saves humans from sunburn, but also far deadlier effects. Cataracts, immune system problems and even skin cancer can develop from overexposure to UV-light. This makes the ozone layer incredibly important for our health and protecting it a priority. It was the focus of Graham Bentham’s work and the article’s author, Tom Knowland, highlighted the human cost of inaction.
In 1992, the main threat to the ozone layer was CFCs and HFCs (chlorofluorocarbons).These molecules were commonplace in aerosols and refrigerants which were capable of surviving the journey up to the stratosphere and then were broken down into free radicals– atoms or ions that are highly reactive. A single radical from a CFC could destroy 10,000 ozone molecules, meaning stopping these ozone-depleting compounds was vitally important. In 1978, Canada, the United States and Norway voted to ban them from aerosols. The impact of CFCs at the time of the article being written was well known but looking back, has the action taken on the issue since made a difference? The Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol were worked on in 1985 and 1987 respectively, and reached a consensus between 197 countries on the phasing out of large numbers of harmful compounds. Triggered by the findings of a large ozone hole above Antarctica, international action was swift and effective, with Kofi Annan
stating the Montreal agreement may be “the single most successful international agreement to date.” By 2016, scientists had formed a consensus that progress was being made and the ozone layer should return to its original state midway through the 21st century. While other protocols and conventions like the Kyoto Protocol regarding climate change were largely considered failures, action on the ozone layer has been seen as a success. Without the action and awareness seen 30 or even 40 years ago, we would have likely been living on a far hotter, dangerous and inhospitable planet than we are today. Work from scientists like Graham Bentham and others helped to raise awareness about the issue and put a plan in place. It is fitting in the year of the COP26 summit, where nations look towards the future for global action on climate change, that success stories can be found thus giving hopeto the current generation. Photo: Concrete
Could farm animals solve the organ donor crisis? Mariam Jallow Science Editor
For many who spend years on organ donor lists, the long wait may soon be coming to an unusual end. Thanks to a common farm animal– the pig the medical practice of transferring tissues and organs from one species to another (xenotransplantation) has reached new levels, with an entire heart being successfully implanted. The owner of the new organ, David Bennett, underwent an
eight-hour-long procedure at the University of Maryland Medical Centre after having been admitted to the hospital for weeks for a terminal heart condition. Although the use of pig or bovine tissue in valve replacement surgeries is relatively old news, progress in whole organ xenotransplants has been slow. Interest in this alternative to human-to-human transplants waned over the years due to the increased risk posed by organ rejection, where the body’s immune
system attacks the foreign tissue after identifying it as a risk. With the long-term consequences of the experimental surgery yet to be seen, medical experts hope observations over the next few months will help confirm the procedure is as successful. Advances in gene-editing technology are largely responsible for making such a feat possible. The pig from which Mr Bennett received the heart contained geneknockouts. In the engineering
process, pig DNA is altered to remove the “markers” responsible for organ rejection, after which the animals are raised until their adult organs have developed to an appropriate stage. Expectedly, such a technique raises a slurry of ethical concerns regarding animal rights, the risk posed to potential patients and even religious considerations. In the case of this recent surgery, Dr Alka Chandna, Vice President of Laboratory Investigations Cases at PETA states “animal-to-human
transplants are unethical, dangerous, and a tremendous waste of resources that could be used to fund research that might actually help humans”. The question of whether the ethical concerns raised by animal rights organisations and bioethics professionals are enough to halt xenotransplantation remains unanswered for now. However, there is no denying the positive implications the surgery has for resolving the crisis of organ donor shortages.
Bizarre Science: Concrete on concrete George Barsted Senior Science Writer
UEA is famous for its brutalist architecture, from the Lasdun teaching wall to the iconic Ziggurats, but all this concrete comes at a cost. Despite the abundance and usefulness of the material, concrete is responsible for eight percent of global carbon emissions worldwide. Scientists think they may have found a solution to a greener, and just as useful, form of the building material.
The main problem with concrete is after a while it begins to crack and degrade, but using bacteria discovered by European scientists there are hopes they have invented self-repairing concrete. Utilising the bacteria Bacillus pseudofirmus, they are distributed throughout the concrete and are activated when in contact with water. Water in concrete is usually a sign of degradation beginning to take place and the bacteria begins to produce limestone which repairs the cracks, thus prolonging
the life of the material. This is a similar process to what happens in osteoblast cells in the body. Whilst the technology is still in relative infancy, it’s hoped it can lead to a greener and more sustainable building material. Although it might seem like a bizarre mix of biology meeting engineering, this innovative building material could soon find its way onto UEA’s campus. Photo: Pixabay
8 February 2022
TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE
20
The smoke of student cooking: a response to thirty years ago Katy Fajkus Travel & Lifestyle Writer
University is often the first-time teenagers are left to fend for themselves and all genders are bound to take an adjustment period, but it’s clear that some slip into this lifestyle easier and quicker than others. The majority of us will burn something we didn’t know we could burn, set a smoke alarm or two off before deciding that a week of pesto pasta doesn’t sound too bad. 30 years ago, Matthew Broersma investigated who was the better student cook - men or women? Although cooking has nothing to do with gender and there are many talented female, male and nonbinary professional chefs, there is something to be said in the role that gender norms play in the kitchen. The idea that “a woman's place is in the kitchen” is undoubtedly outdated as many men and nongender conforming people enjoy cooking, proving gender is completely irrelevant to the culinary skills of the student.
similar, deciding that neither gender is very culinary talented when it comes to student meals and that the fault in cooking skills says more about how society teaches students life skills, which provides much food for thought (pun intended). Not much seems to have changed as a lack of cooking education before university still seems to be a problem for over half of students. James Eder, founder of Studentbeans, said: “Over half of students wish they’d learnt to cook at school and therefore go off to uni with limited cooking know-how.” So, it seems as if learning how to correctly chop a fruit salad in year seven didn’t go a long way for a lot of us. It comes as no surprise that a microwave was voted the most important ‘musthave’ kitchen appliance among students.
“Tackling the cooking battle at uni can seem daunting"
“As if learning how to correctly chop a fruit salad in year seven didn't go a long way"
Broersman’s conclusion 30 years ago was
independent study, clubs, societies, paid work, and (most importantly) nightlife. It’s no wonder that with all that going on, a quarter of us indulge in at least one takeaway every single week. It’s quick, convenient and feels like a treat, but also goes a bit over budget for a lot of us.
Students are given the label of being lazy, messy and all-round fairly incompetent, so it’s hardly surprising that “student meals” websites consist of quick and easy dinners. A lot of students are very busy, balancing lectures,
On the other side of the scale, being a student is expensive. There is a constant emphasis on cost when it comes to student recipes and this undoubtedly impacts the meals that students survive on. It is reported that over half of students have a daily budget of £2.50 to spend on food. Tackling the cooking battle at uni can seem daunting, but it’s something which can quickly become part of your routine if planned correctly. There are lots of easy recipes online which can be cooked in bulk to save money on ingredients and frozen for later convenience. And if you’re confident
enough to go for a fancier option, be careful not to set the smoke alarm off.
What's the point to travel? Tristan Pollitt Travel & Lifestyle Editor
After all, to travel is to invite discomfort and distress. It is a request simultaneously to be bothered and to deal with the bothersome in whatever form that may take. It is at once a joy but increasingly – and one needn’t mention the current circumstances – a chore. It is an activity willing participated in (at least, for the most part) for which the ultimate reward is more often than not a financial slump for the next few months, a sunburn, and perhaps one or two unfortunate memories. From any reasoned, outside perspective, it is an activity which only a sadist could take active pleasure in both performing and then actively share with the virtual zeitgeist.
And still, we persist. Why? For what reason beyond the need to momentarily escape the routine and the monotonous do we travel, at times thousands of miles, away from home when England’s own garden would suffice? Of course, perhaps there is no reason beyond the simplistic – to question for questioning sake is one of the main reasons I never took up a serious interest in philosophy and a surefire way to kill a conversation and bury it amongst the greenery. Yet, I suspect many would challenge already the notion that people do not simply travel to satisfy no desire at all. There is, of course, the very real need to take a break, to rest and recuperate. There is also the desire to see and experience other cultures, to challenge some belief subconscious or otherwise about the world.
“The desire to see and experience other cultures, to challenge some belief...about the world"
But here I’d like to argue another point. That the point of travel, the point of this very section even is to not just see the world and those within it from the inside out, so to speak, but to return and look upon our culture, our own place in the world with fresh eyes. Today, we live in an age when the pervasive mood all around is one of tearing down and destruction. We spend too much time thinking of how the world ought to be remade that we have forgotten what exactly makes what we have ours, which makes it appealing to so many others across the world.
because they held some meaning to those before us. They were, simply put, cherished. It is only through experience and contrast with others that we come to truly appreciate what it is that makes ours, ours. The point to travelling for which we should all strive is so that we may return to that which we cherish and hold onto them tighter than ever before.
to other, 'more important' sections of a newspaper. Even our very own Concrete did not have a properly f o r m e d t r a v e l s e c t i o n thirty years ago, pieces, irregular as they were, often t h r o w n u n d e r features or some other heading. As fortunate as I am to have the position I do at the time I do, it is my hope with this section and all its iterations henceforth that it becomes more than just another section fallen by the wayside. Travel should give us a moment to reflect. To find some part of ourselves thought mundane and share it with the world with ever new relevance. To connect us together as well as with ourselves. It is my hope, in sort, to show the point to travel.
“The point...is so that we may return to that which we cherish and hold onto them tighter than ever before"
With such lofty talk of travel, however, it would be amiss of me not to mention the attitudes towards travel more generally. Indeed, despite the importance of travel to how we experience the world around us, the subject is often left by the wayside in comparison
“We have forgotten what exactly makes what we have ours"
It may be unfashionable to say – in fact, I expect it is – but the things we have today, to which I mean culture, architecture, Et cetera, did not survive by accident; they survived
Photo: Pixabay
8 February 2022
21
concrete-online.co.uk/category/travel/ | @ConcreteUEA
Are Vegans still craving imitation? Sam Gordon Webb Deputy Editor
The vegan fry up at Campus Kitchen comes with everything you’d expect from a proper English fry-up. The sausages are made using potato, adding a softer texture to the meatier pork sausages sizzling in the nearby tray. Putting aside the taste factor, how much does it matter that the vegetarian sausages are both visibly and textually nothing like the meat version? The answer is unclear, but the question is an important one. Take Impossible Foods, for example. Impossible, because the company is supposedly doing the impossible by using wheat, coconut oil, and potatoes to replicate the exact taste and texture of a meat burger. The process involves the mass production of heme, a plantbased iron-containing molecule made using a yeast genetically engineered with the gene for soy leghemoglobin, giving the burger its blood-like sauciness. Vegans seem to love it, with a total of 92% meat-eaters converting to Impossible Meat products according to data provided by the analytics firm, Numerator. The company’s international expansion, coupled with a growing inclination to go vegan at a time of enhanced health concerns, has helped to shore up sales both domestically and globally.
The desire to make ‘fake’ blood stems from the belief vegans, particularly recent converts, crave – if not require - the textual and visual ‘pull’ factor of meat, hence why vegan steaks are described as ‘juicy’ and ‘succulent’, and why Sainsbury's now makes vegan ‘salmon’ adding the same Omega 3 fat content as the fish itself. In a world where nearly every kind of meat has been equalised in an alternative plant based form, is this preying on market demand or further evidence of idealisation? Do vegans still want ‘fake’ meats, or are the imitations starting to lose ground?
“[Do] vegans of the 21st century... mind if the burgers are softer, even bloodless? Impossible’s burgers and sausages are only available at around 20,000 stores worldwide, compared with Beyond Meat’s 122,000. But the problem deepens by way of the company’s controversial production of heme, banned in Europe and mainland China. The FDA’s approval of the colour additive was contested by the Center for Food Safety (CFS), finding “a number of potential
adverse effects…detected in a shortterm rat trial”, including the risk of cancer as well as reproductive impairment. The CFS argues that because heme is a relatively new phenomenon, safety tests ought to have been carried out before its approval, in accordance with the law. More pointedly, the decision to uphold the FDA’s approval in May 2021 by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals came due to the CFS’s lacklustre evidence, described by Impossible Meats as “an antiscience, anti-GMO activist group that’s been spreading lies for years.” The benefits of vegan food are well known, and to a large extent, proven. But after widespread criticism, despite the CFS’s claims being reduced to rubble in a legal framework, is it time for a rethink? The media's attention on ultraprocessed foods has begun to focus their attention on the plant-based diet, particularly the fast-food industry that might even have the same adverse impact on human health as their meat counterparts. And whilst vegetarians in a bygone era desired more than just lettuce, could it be – in a world of greater choice and thus greater opportunity to go completely meatless - the vegans of the 21st century don’t mind if the burgers are softer, even bloodless? No chick’n, or ‘vish’, or ‘vork’ or ‘nozzarella’. And bloodless also means “unprocessed”. And “unprocessed” foods are evidently
healthy for us, regardless of whether the food is animal or plantbased, allowing for a more diverse microbiome in our lower intestines to support all aspects of our health. In
a
recent
Guardian
article,
Professor of epidemiology Tim Spector made an important point: “The ultra-processed food industry is astute at picking up on trends to cash in on them”. But nowadays, on campus, in the city, at the market, is the consumer still buying it? Possibly not.
8th February 2022
22
SPORT
Match Report: UEA 1st XI football held by Leicester Sam Cobbinah Sport Writer
Date: 01/12/2021 KO: 1:30pm Venue: Colney Playing Fields Final Score: UEA 1 - 1 Leicester The UEA 1st XI and Leicester battled out a 1-1 draw in less-thanideal playing conditions at Colney on a Wednesday afternoon. With cold temperatures, relentless rain, and gusts of wind, the game started in a cagey manner as both sets of players tried to find their feet on a boggy pitch. UEA’s first attempt on goal came in the ninth minute, when a strong tackle dispossessed a Leicester midfielder and, after some nice build-up play, the ball fell to UEA’s No.9 who flashed a shot just wide of the Leicester goal. UEA had a flurry of attempts on goal soon after, the first when a back-heel in the opposition box put No. 8 through on goal, but his strike was saved by the Leicester goalkeeper. It wouldn’t have counted, however, as the offside flag was raised during the build-up. UEA’s subsequent attack produced two further attempts on the Leicester goal, No.7 firing a strike across the face of goal which was met by a strong glove down to the keeper’s left-hand side. This was a sign of things to come as UEA grew into the game and UEA’s midfield trio started to dictate play. UEA carved open the Leicester defence a few more times before the half-hour mark with good build-up play leading
to No.2 having a shot at the edge of the box which deflected wide. Then, completely against the run of play, Leicester got the breakthrough - a long cleared ball down the left flank found the No.9 who drove with the ball from just past the half-way line towards the UEA box, cut in onto his right foot, and fired a shot into the roof of the net from 25 yards. 1-0 Leicester! With the weather conditions deteriorating during the break, both sides looked to come out after half-time with some intensity, but it was UEA who started the half on the front foot. Their reward came in the 48th minute when a square ball across the box from No.11 found No.10 who finished calmly in front of goal. 1-1! The momentum was with UEA, and the team pushed to take the lead, with Leicester not offering much in attack. The UEA midfield continued to control the ball, No.8 with a very calm and composed performance throughout. This was followed by another attempt on goal from No.6 which, in similar fashion to the first half, drifted over the crossbar. No.6 then almost turned provider as he played No.11 through on goal, who was prevented from an almost certain goal by a last-ditch tackle from Leicester’s centre-back. On 70 minutes, UEA made a double substitution with No.15 and No.17 replacing No.7 and No.9, No.17 looking lively on the right wing throughout his 20-minute cameo. Shortly after the substitutions, UEA had a further couple of
attempts on goal with No.8 having another shot which didn’t trouble the Leicester goalkeeper, and No.6 lacing the ball onto the crossbar from 30 yards out which would’ve been a wonderful goal! But it wasn’t to be. Heading into the last five minutes of the 90, Leicester had an opportunity to grab all three points, but the UEA keeper made a strong save to his left to deny a strike from Leicester’s No.8. The game was being stretched, as both teams struggled with fatigue. In the final minute, Leicester must’ve thought they were going to complete the ultimate smash and grab and take three points back to Midlands. UEA’s centrebacks had pushed forward for a set-piece and left the goalkeeper exposed. A long goal kick put two Leicester attackers through on goal but excellent recovery work from UEA’s No.17 and No.3 denied Leicester a clear strike on goal. The final whistle blew shortly after as the teams shared the points at Colney. The combination of awful weather conditions and a poor playing surface made for a game that may not have been pleasing on the eye, but both teams battled hard for a point. UEA probably went away from the game feeling as though they should’ve got all three points given the chances they had. Make sure to get down and support the boys after the Christmas break as their season continues!
Photo: Concrete/Cenning Zheng
Sport in 1992:
the events of the sporting world while Concrete was being born Oscar Ress Sport Editor
1992 was a significant year for the sporting world, while at the University of East Anglia a new student newspaper was conceived on 22nd January called Concrete. Concrete was not the only thing founded in 1992, there were great changes to football as the Premier League and Champions League were both given a new name that still exists to this day. Manchester United won the Premier as Marseille took home the newly named Champions League. Staying with football as the 1992 Euros gave us a brilliant story. Denmark, who initially failed to qualify for the tournament, won their first title in Sweden. This came after the disqualification of Yugoslavia due to the ensuing Yugoslav Wars. 1992 saw both a Summer and a Winter Olympics, which was the last time the two would be competed for in the same year. Barcelona hosted the Summer version, the Winter one was hosted in Albertville, France.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Image: Concrete Sport Football Report, 1992
The highlight of the Summer Olympics was the ‘Dream Team’, widely accepted as the greatest basketball team ever assembled. Headed by Micheal Jordan, whose MVP season had led the
Chicago Bulls to their second NBA title, the team beat their opponents by an average of 44 points to take Gold. The games also signalled the return of South Africa, who competed for the first time since 1960 due to the sanctions placed upon them as anti-apartheid measures. By 1992, the people of South Africa had voted for the end of apartheid. The Pakistan team, labelled the ‘cornered tigers’ by their captain and now Prime Minister, Imran Khan, beat England to the 1992 cricket World Cup. It was also remembered for the controversial ‘rain rule’ that left South Africa needing 22 off the last ball and essentially knocking them out in the semi-final. A lot has changed since 1992, not just in the world of sport but Concrete as well. 30 years ago would have been an exciting time for those running the Sports section at Concrete. While World Cups, Olympics, an European Championships took place. UEA Pirates lost their coach before the end of the season as he resigned, a new £650,000 Hockey Centre was being built at UEA and unfortunately, UEA defeats outnumbered the victories in the 1992 UAU.
8th February 2022
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Analysis: Women’s Rugby performance timeline Whilst the likes of Nottingham 1’s, Cambridge, and Birmingham proved to be daunting opponents over the next few seasons in the Midlands’ top tier, UEA established itself as no pushover, finishing third in 16/17 and 17/18, the club’s highest league finishes thus far. In addition, club captain, Sophie Sibley, was voted UEA’s 16/17 Captain of the Year, and the club received the accolade of being voted the 2018 Students’ Rugby Football Union (SRFU) Club of the Year. Fullback Hannah Shaw added to the honours by being named SRFU’s 2018 Player of the Year, as well as UEA’s Sportswoman of the Year in 2019.
Metin Yilmaz Senior Sports writer
Since records were available in 2004, the UEA Women’s Rugby Union 1st XV have grown significantly, becoming one of the University’s most accomplished sports teams. Comfortably crowned Midlands 2B league champions in 04/05, an eighteen-point gap separated the Wolfpack from the next-best side, University of Nottingham 2’s. Subsequently, the club gained promotion to the Midlands 2A division, where they remained for the following six seasons, achieving a total of four runnersup finishes, the pick of the bunch being in 10/11, where UEA finished level with Nottingham 2’s and agonisingly missed out on the title by goal difference. Regardless, with the introduction of the BUCS league system, this strong end to the season was enough to see UEA promoted to the Midlands 1A division. Whilst the 11/12 and 12/13 seasons were a struggle for the club, eventually meeting its fate and being relegated back down to the Midlands 2A tier, the Wolfpack have enjoyed a fruitful spell of success from
Graphic: Metin Yilmaz
13/14 onwards. The 13/14 season was particularly impressive, as the Women’s 1’s were crowned Midlands Conference Cup champions, beating Leicester 44-0 at Colney Lane, conceding just seventeen points over the entire cup campaign. They faced defeat just once in the league, with De Montfort pipping them to the title. A convincing Derby Day victory against Essex was positive.
The club saw more of the same success the following season, finishing second after an impressive league campaign, and winning a second Midlands Conference Cup in a row, beating Oxford Brookes 5-11 in an admittedly tighter affair than the previous year’s final.
Midlands Conference Cup that year,defeating Harper Adams 1319 in the Final, but the Wolfpack and its Wolves cruised their way to league victory with nine wins from nine games to be crowned Midlands 2A league champions. Beating the likes of Anglia Ruskin 0-113, Bedfordshire 0-100, and Northampton 106-0.
Yet 15/16 was more impressive than them all. Not only did the club win a third successive
The UEA Women’s 1’s had proven that their rightful place was in the Midlands 1A tier.
Today in 2022, the Wolfpack, led by coach Amanda Jones and BUCS Captain Poppy Wakefield, comfortably sit fourth in the Midlands 1A division, two promotions away from reaching the country’s top BUCS Premier National tier. The UEA Women’s 1st XV have made great strides to progress up the league ladder over the past seventeen seasons, becoming a formidable club here at the Home of the Wonderful.
In their own words: Women’s Rugby Melis Erdem, Claudia Holmes & Poppy Wakefield Sports writers
Photo: Concrete
League and Champions League were both given a new name that still exists to this day. Manchester United won the Premier as Marseille took home the newly named Champions League. Staying with football as the 1992 Euros gave us a brilliant story. Denmark, who initially failed to qualify for the tournament, won their first title in Sweden. This came after the disqualification of Yugoslavia due to the ensuing Yugoslav Wars. 1992 saw both a Summer and a Winter Olympics, which was the last time the two would be competed for in the same year. Barcelona hosted the Summer version, the Winter one was hosted in Albertville, France.
1992 was a significant year for the sporting world, while at the University of East Anglia a new student newspaper was conceived on 22nd January called Concrete. Concrete was not the only thing founded in 1992, there were great changes to football as the Premier
The highlight of the Summer Olympics was the ‘Dream Team’, widely accepted as the greatest basketball team ever assembled. Headed by Micheal Jordan, whose MVP season had led the Chicago Bulls to their second NBA title, the team beat their opponents by an average of 44 points to take Gold.
The games also signalled the return of South Africa, who competed for the first time since 1960 due to the sanctions placed upon them as anti-apartheid measures. By 1992, the people of South Africa had voted for the end of apartheid.
Photo: UEA Women’s Rugby
The Pakistan team, labelled the ‘cornered tigers’ by their captain and now Prime Minister, Imran Khan, beat England to the 1992 cricket World Cup. It was also remembered for the controversial ‘rain rule’ that left South Africa needing 22 off the last ball and essentially knocking them out in the semi-final. A lot has changed since 1992, not just in the world of sport but Concrete as well. 30 years ago would have been an exciting time for those running the Sports section at Concrete. While World Cups, Olympics, and European Championships took place. UEA Pirates lost their coach before the end of the season as he resigned, a new £650,000 Hockey Centre was being built at UEA and unfortunately, UEA defeats outnumbered the victories in the 1992 UAU.
Photo: UEA Women’s Rugby
8th February 2022
SPORT
24
SPORT EDITOR OSCAR RESS INTERVIEWS:
Steve Hawkes
1993 Sport Editor of Concrete and current Head of Strategic Media at BCW Global
For Concrete’s 30th Birthday, I spoke to Steve Hawkes, a former Sports Editor about Concrete, his career, and sport. While he currently works for BCW Global, Steve boasts a successful journalism career. The highlights include almost six years as Deputy Political Editor of The Sun, Business Editor at The Sun for nearly five years, and Retail Correspondent at The Times for three and a half years.
I asked him about when his Concrete career began: “I think it would have been 1993. I was at uni from 1990 to 1994 and I’m pretty certain it was 1993 because I did a year abroad in European history and French. When Norwich came third in the Premier League, I remember doing a story for Concrete, which was a bit bizarre, because Norwich were playing Bayern Munich. It was a bit crazy given that every national newspaper would have been writing about it, so why Concrete wanted to write about that is beyond me.”
While he thought of more examples he reflected; “I look back now and the experiences you get from the career I wanted to have. I’d love to go back, knowing what I know now, and do it properly because I think student papers are so important. I’d love to see an issue of Concrete now. I’m glad it’s still going because they’re so important.” Steve reminisced about the news team: “I think it made a mark and I remember reading something after about Concrete being one of the best papers in the country and it didn’t surprise me because I think the production value of some of those guys was particularly strong. It was a very good learning curve for me - it was a great launchpad for what I went on to do.”
He continued on what drove him to join Concrete: “I got a job at the student paper, it was a view to a career. I was on a four-year course and the first two years were about university life. Studying but also enjoying the experience which was incredible. You look back and university days just aren’t real life…I was interested in papers and I always loved sport and so that’s what I thought I had to do. I had never worked on a local paper at the time and so part of it was just trying out to see if I’d be any good or if I enjoyed it.” When I asked what the most memorable UEA-specific sports stories he covered during his time, he chuckled: “I was completely unaware of what job I did on Concrete before you reminded me, so I can’t remember. I do remember I played American football for the UEA Pirates in the first couple of years. Well, I turned up for them. That was a big interest of mine and still is actually but I think I did a few stories on the American football team.”
Steve acknowledges that he may not have made it in journalism without Concrete: “You never know what would have happened otherwise, I know that for me, I sorely lacked direction on what I wanted to do. I wouldn’t say I
was making it up as I go along, it now fits quite nicely that I did that and then went onto the magazine and journalism course. Without Concrete I wouldn’t have made it onto that course because I had no evidence of my work and so therefore it was critical.”
Bank of England Governor, so for a stunt I said I wanted to apply, and the Sun Business Editor applied and launched a manifesto, it was a great laugh.”
On the biggest moments he covered during his time working for newspapers, such as The Sun, The Times, The Daily Mirror, and The Daily Telegraph, he began hesitantly: “I’ve been fortunate. I hate talking about myself.” He moves on to detail a major moment in his career: “One thing that stands out is 9/11. I remember coming back with my lunch and sitting at my desk seeing a plane hit the Tower and then immediately thinking ‘what is PA’s share price doing,’ which makes me feel a bit fatalistic. That was quite a big moment writing about that.” A large part of his journalism career was spent at The Sun: “It is Marmite, people either love it or hate it, it divides people but for me, it was the place I wanted to go. It did business news. People didn’t even realise it had a business page but for me, it was one of the best business pages because it explained things in ways people could understand…The Sun is a great way of learning to write because it explains things.” Steve enjoyed success in using his platform: “I launched the Fuel duty campaign. I remember in January 2011, the oil price was going up and I said we should campaign to do something about fuel duty. That campaign has been in place for 10 years now and fuel duty has been frozen ever since so I suppose I was pretty instrumental in that. At The Sun, George Osborne opened up a competition for the
The horsemeat scandal and a move to The Telegraph to be Consumer Affairs Editor followed before a return to The Sun, this time as Deputy Political Editor: “It was an incredible but exhausting experience, mentally, physically but was incredible. I’ve had some good times.” On Sports journalism opportunities, his first story published in a national newspaper was on Scottish non-league football in The Telegraph earning £80 and he “felt like a king”. This was the same day Eric Cantona jumped over the barrier to karatekick a fan. However: “I was just not getting enough work and I was not getting enough to support my career and perhaps if I had kept at it but I opted for a salary at a magazine called Cleaning News. So I went from talking about Premiership football to contract cleaners and floor wipers but it was a stable income and that was my start moving into the business.”
The next was on Arsenal’s postponement of the North London Derby: “I just think with Covid, the Premier League has got to get its house in order on that. I’m an Arsenal fan but it’s crazy because it looked like a team was playing the system. Think about the clubs lower down in the system who are struggling and you have a club here who are loaning out players. Academies everywhere, players everywhere but yet they lose one person and say we have to cancel it. They are allowed to do it under the rules so the Premier League has to buckle down on it and put some guidelines in place.” Asked whether there is a place for politics in sport, Hawkes said: “I would point to Tracey Crouch’s recent review of the game, which got praise from almost every quarter. It got some pushback from the Premier League, who have a vested interest. It was prompted by the European Super League and came up with some cracking proposals. Tracy is someone who was a superb backbench MP, former Cabinet minister who is very good and loves the game.” His frustration is that politicians use Sport, like Boris Johnson’s appearances at England games and George Osborne, whose visit to the 2012 Olympics backfired when he was booed. He admitted the government is not likely to act upon Crouch’s suggestions. “So I think the relationship, I fear, is just one way. Politicians use it and abuse it for their own ends. I think politicians have this knack of tapping into sport when they can, to gain credibility but sometimes it comes back to bite them.”