Talk:University of East Anglia

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[edit] Notable Alumni

There seem to have been a few shady additions to the list, at least one fictional as well as Eddie Izzard who simply recieved an honourary degree there but never attended a course or earnt a degree in the typical fashion. Surely honourary degrees don't count toward that list or else many universities would have thousands of celebrities down as 'notable alumni' given that several celebrities recieve one each year? UEA could also claim Bob Geldof and David Attenborough for starters. Also I'm pretty sure that Paul Whitehouse dropped out in his first or second year, so technically I guess he shouldn't be on the list either as he never graduated.

MagicBez 23:26, 6 November 2005 (UTC)

Just added my old flatmate from when we moved into flat 4 of Mary Chapman Court the day the builders moved out in 1977! I noticed last week that Neil Morisetti (ENV 76-79) got promoted to Rear Admiral and Commander UK Maritime Forces last November, so that's fairly notable, I think. He was only a midshipman in his UEA days... -- Arwel (talk) 12:53, 4 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Nexus?

Nexus was founded in the UEA Audio Visual Centre in 1968, not the "early 1970s" -- I know, 'cos we celebrated the 10th anniversary in 1978 when I was Nexus' Treasurer! -- Arwel 16:08, 26 Feb 2004 (UTC)

...but is it rightly "believed to be the oldest still-running student television station in the country"? YSTV [1] was founded in 1967, and GUST [2] claims to date back to 1964. GTV [3] is, like Nexus, a 1968 creation. (I was briefly in Nexus and later a GTV committee member, myself.) --rbrwrˆ 08:46, 22 Jul 2004 (UTC)
Well, of course the statement is true while someone still believes it! :) I see YSTV also believe themselves to be the oldest, despite the evidence of GUST.... I remember GUST was active in NaSTA in the late 70s but I never saw anything of theirs myself. -- Arwel 19:38, 22 Jul 2004 (UTC)

[edit] LCR?

What's the proper name of the LCR? I see it's down as the "Lower Common Room", but in my day (admittedly nearly 30 years ago) it was the "Large Common Room"! -- Arwel 00:26, 16 October 2005 (UTC)

I have a friend who is currently an undergraduate there and she refers to it as the "Lower Common Room" - perhaps "LCR" usage is so ubiquitous that all had forgotten its original meaning? Wee Jimmy 11:07, 15 August 2006 (UTC)

Dunno, but its definately "Lower Common Room" now - FrancisTyers 02:26, 16 October 2005 (UTC)
"Large Common Room" according to this page. --rbrwr± 08:46, 16 October 2005 (UTC)
Definately lower. Martin 08:52, 16 October 2005 (UTC)
Both. Those crazy Union goons. [4] and this page. - FrancisTyers 14:41, 15 December 2005 (UTC)
* As a current member of the student population, I am absolutely certain that the name of the venue is the Lower Common Room. It would be more appropriate to say that it is sometimes refered to by its former name, The Large Common Room. A Google search of the site yields the following results:
site:www.stu.uea.ac.uk "Large Common Room" (Five results, but identical pages) site:www.stu.uea.ac.uk "Lower Common Room" (Nine results, five individual pages) Which, therefore, do you think is most accurate? 139.222.229.185 20:48, 17 December 2005 (UTC)
Hi, I'm also a current member of the student population (I think people who are editting this page are mostly students or former students) and I've heard it called both. - FrancisTyers 21:21, 17 December 2005 (UTC)
What is reads now is fine. - FrancisTyers 21:22, 17 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Student Union?

The article perhaps overlooks the activities of the student union. What brings me to say this is that the clubs and societies are not mentioned once.

[edit] Debate concerning the relative merits of UEA and its relationship with the city of Norwich

It is said by the locals that Norwich lost a second-class golf course to acquire a third-class University, the University of Easy Access. In fact the University was built as much to attract the professional graduate to relocate in Norwich as acquire an education. Today a good 5%-8% of graduates recognising the quality of life in Norwich to be in many ways superior to that of London and the home Counties decide to stay on after graduating. There is also large-scale commuting between Norwich and London each week-end during term time.

UEA has in fact an extremely poor relationship to its host City and did not even bother to acknowledge any of Norwich's famous Citizens (Elizabeth Fry, Crome and Cotman, George Borrow, Sir Thomas Browne) for almost thirty years. Nelson however, jingoistically it did.

When UEA was being built it was a mere gentleman's agreement by handshake that it would NOT encroach upon the nearby green belt. It has NEVER stopped building, albeit often with fine architecture, and is fast becoming a festering carbuncle encroaching upon the green belt. UEA has one of the largest, if not the largest, campus car park, which now sprawls ugly onto turf and anywhere else one can dump a car. How's that for green awareness amongst staff and students.

UEA has done little to enhance its relationship to its host City and remains quite insular and aloof from it, even having the audacity to 'borrow' the City's motto 'Do different'(which it does not). More appropiate for UEA would be 'look around you more'. Even when UEA did finally acknowledge that it was located in the home of one of Europe's most esteemed seventeenth century scholars (Sir Thomas Browne) it was through a poorly selected plaqued quotation which does not quite make sense as is taken out of context.

It was left to the late and great German-born author Max Sebald to explore and acknowledge the imagination and scholarship of Sir T.B. Fourty years on and still no real substantial recognition of the encyclopaedist, scientist and moralist. 'And this is why although Universities are often full of men they are also often empty of learning'. Even in my undergraduate days the same erroneous received knowledge, heavily influenced by 'political correctness' was peddled about Sir T.B. Let's hope UEA can ammend some of the neglectand DO something substantial for Sir T.B.'s quattrocenttenary in 2005, tidy up their act environmentally and not end up as a heavy traffic-laden short-cut to the newly-built hospital nearby. It's high time for UEA to give something back to their host City, other than a scenic lake.

On the positive side, and there is one (just), the schools of Climate Research, and DEV, the Sainsbury Arts Centre and of course the many writers associated with its Creative writing course, Wilson, Bradbury,Rose Tremain etc. are worthy of praise.

Sorry for the rant its just that I've personally seen the social impact of this University upon my home City ( I now live quite near the campus) and have witnessed UEA's development from 1963 when wearing short trousers I frantically waved my Union Jack with hundreds of others for the Queen's visit, to my graduation there in 1984, to the present day. The Norwikian

I think there are many other positives that for whatever reason you cannot or will not see - the presence of UEA makes Norwich a much more "rounded" city, and that is to its benefit - without the city its relative isolation would have sidelined it long ago. It's hard to imagine that the city's cafes and restaurants would be so numerous or of such high quality without the uni. Also, UEA have done a lot to put Norwich on the map musically, venues such as the Waterfront and NAC only survive because of the uni, and together with the LCR mean that Norwich gets some big name acts that otherwise would not come to the city. As an ex-student of UEA, I have to say I love Norwich, a city I would not otherwise have learned much about if I hadn't spent three years there, and I think most of the fellow students I keep in touch with feel the same - we occasionally revisit the city and surrounding area and enjoy it a lot. You state that the uni attracts graduates to relocate as if that were self-evidently a bad thing. I don't see how this is the case, to me that's a good thing. The quality of life in Norwich is better than in London, so what's your problem? Just want to keep it the way it used to be, just for yourself maybe? Other benefits of the uni are less obvious - for example the courses I took had very close links to local industry, and there was a cross-feeding of both skills and research work between the two. The John Innes institute is a prime and high-profile example. This means that Norwich has some hi-tech companies that otherwise wouldn't even be there. There is a similar cross-pollination of local companies and organisations with lots of other stuff going on at the uni - music and drama as well as "hard" sciences. Obviously it is not possible to build a university without some detrimental impact on the land use, but I would far rather see a university built than yet another bloody golf course - the country is vastly turning into one huge golf course and does not need another one - also, the conversion of what were old gravel workings into an attractive lake and woods now attracts a lot of wetland wildlife that wasn't there before. Overall I think the university has used that land well and sensitively, and far from being a carbuncle on Norwich's doorstep, I think it greatly enhances and benefits the city, often in ways that are less than obvious to the casual observer, but also in very obvious ways, if people can be bothered to think about it. One of the things I was aware of when studying there was a certain antagonism between the students and the locals - this struck me as a great shame and very unnecessary, yet typical of a towns that feel imposed upon by what they see as institutions that have nothing to do with them. This perception needs to be corrected - and perhaps the uni needs to do more in that direction, but equally the local population needs to start seeing the university as a facility that belongs to them and get more involved in it - both town and uni would benefit from that. So stop carping and get off your arse and go up there and see what's on offer - you might feel differently once you get involved. If there are areas you feel the uni hasn't acknowledged sufficiently - local scholars for example - then that's something you can do something about yourself - the uni is there for everyone, it is the sum of its parts and its students and contributors, it doesn't impose the will of some faceless individual on the city. It's not a corporation. People can decide to feel positive or negative abouit something, but if they don't bother to find out the facts then that decision is merely prejudice. GRAHAMUK 23:19, 27 Sep 2003 (UTC)

All very well said,and valid points made, but as a seventh generation native of Norwich I am as much in possession of 'facts' about UEA and the City of Norwich as anyone else. My concern is that many who graduate from UEA possess little or no civic responsibilty and merely milk the City without making any positive contribution to its welfare. Norwikian 02:20, 15 Dec 2003 (UTC)

To be fair, I think the perception that students 'milk' their host town is common in many places, due to many staying there for the duration of the course and then moving on. I remember encountering that at Newcastle where I did my degree and in Sheffield where my brother did his. There's certainly something to that, but to be fair when you leave University you often end up living wherever you can get a job; as a recent graduate you end up with less chance to be choosy. (TimTim 17:33, 9 March 2006 (UTC))
For a 'third class' university it does remarkably well, academically and socially (fact, not opinion). As for the affect on Norwich, UEA has brought much investment into the area. Without UEA Norwich would still be a quirky city far away from everywhere, poor, with all the usual generalisations about the Norfolk population. UEA put Norwich on the map. It is actually quite far out of the town centre anyway, so its not as if it dominates the whole city. If anything Norwich 'milks' the wealth students bring in, and the skills they provide. Anyway, there is still a small golf course! Bluemoose 16:53, 11 Mar 2005 (UTC)


[edit] The Locals

Have to say re: University of East Access, perhaps true 40 years ago, but places are pretty competitive there for subjects now, and it's a European and even world leader in plenty of subjects (Environmental Science, Creative Writing, American Studies, Biological Sciences, and many more). From memory, the Medical School is something like 1:8 ratio accepted.

I frankly think it is a little tragic that the locals would rather have a golf course than a university on their doorsteps. There are public lectures open to all, evening classes, the largest sports facilities of their kind in the UK, libraries, and so on. Presumably the population of Norwich would rather hit balls with sticks than read a book.

[edit] Reply

Yes of course, no-one is belittling UEA's academic acheivements, though Schools and specialities it develops come and go depending on which way the wind is blowing, these days and these days it is all hands to the pump to develop in medicine (ever wondered why the new NNUH was built on other side of Yare yalley ). The fact remains however that UEA has an extremely impervious and indifferent relationship to the City other than basically just economic, when so much more could be contributed. I hear planning permission for a multi-storey car-park is in the pipe-line, now there's a true display of envronmental acumen for you, when it would be empty half the week when almost everyone schuttles off to London and Home counties at the week-end.

There seems to be a lot of popular self-help books equating golf with spiritual enlightenment these days, i for one would rather hit a ball with a stick anyday than be on the grey terraces known as Campus where the transient briefly gather for a term or two.Norwikian 15:15, 31 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Well those who are apparently being guided by wind direction are the doctors who will save your life when you get ill, but i suppose a golf course is more important. Bluemoose 14:39, 1 Apr 2005 (UTC)
Haha, you probably play golf aswell. - FrancisTyers 02:37, 16 October 2005 (UTC)


As a note, the car park _has_ received planning permission but is no longer required due to action on behalf of the University, they seem to be wanting to build it anyway. If you're really against it, there is a group campaigning against it called STAG (Sustainable Transport Action Group) who would love to hear from you. As a side note, the Student Union Council recently passed a motion condemning the car park. - FrancisTyers 12:22, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

Please don't forget that as a native of Norwich i (unlike all other posters here) have personally witnessed the development and non-existent relationship to host City for the past 40 odd years ! Indeed last week whilst cycling to work at N&N hospital thru campus i was fired at with a paint pellet from residences. These are the people claiming to be educated . In reply to Francis Tyler the UEA has in all probability only begun a medical school out of expediency to geographical location to the new hospital.It had 35 years previous to develop a medical school  ! As previously stated this university behaves like a crazed drunk, only 'developing' schools when economic reward is within grasp. It could not even choose its own motto or identity 'borrowing ' the City's (not town) motto for itself. Again other than directing students with spending cash to the City both UEA and the city remain fairly indifferent to each other, much more could have been done in developing a relationship to City, as for doctors saving lives don't forget that Dr. Rihab Taha: Iraqi Biological Weapons Chief, AKA Dr. Germ was also a UEA graduate!Norwikian 12:05, 26 February 2006 (UTC)

It's a little unfair to mention being shot at from residences with a paintball from residences to demonstrate a lack of respect for local residences from students without mentioning that over the past few months there have been a series of unprovoked attacks on staff and students of the UEA by, according to the police, one or two groups of local youths. Considering that the people commiting attacks are Norwich natives, then surely it's just as fair to say that the city isn't doing much to improve it's relations with the university as visa versa? However, as a current student, i can't really say i've felt that the uni has a particularly poor relationship with the city. The waterfront venue in the city is co-owned by the union and the city council, many people living locally to the university use the on campus shops and bar and, as previously mentioned, the student population contributes a significant amount of money to the local economy. As best as i'm aware, no university in the country has a perfect relationship with the city/area it's located in, it's common to hear complaints about students causing problems in areas around all universities, and it usually isn't fair. It's also common to hear people say that universities contribute little or nothing to the local area, and this isn't really fair either. Indeed, it strikes me as odd that you would say this as you are both a Norwich resident and a UEA graduate, surely this is evidence that the UEA contributes to the local community, unless you consider your degree and studies to be worthless? --Ant991 01:32, 9 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Remove POV

The Student Union is one of the best ones in the country. It is run by the executive committee of which there are 12 different officers. The full time sabbatical positions are Academic, Communications, Finance and Welfare. There are also Part Time Officers who are International, Publicity, Environment, Womens, Ethical Issues, Sports, Societies and Liberations. They are held to account by Union Council. The Student Union provides a lot for students at UEA and is not often given the credit that is worth by the University who repeatedly refuse to give it a decent level of funding.

have moved this here as it is clearly not NPOV and doesnt cite sources. If these can be sorted it can go back in the article. Ian3055 20:11, 6 March 2006 (UTC)


There’s also the fact that its complete bull, the student union tries to rip its fellow students off at every opportunity. - Current Student, 1 May 2006

In agreement to the comment made above, the student union may appear semi-successful on the outside, however any employees from within would gladly tell you that it is run and managed by a bunch of useless individuals. The ENTS (Or entertainment department) especially is pissing most of the union’s money away on frivolous expenditure. This is not POV as citation and evidence can be clearly supplied if not due to the nature of the post. --Current Student 2006

[edit] Images

Where have all the pictures gone? If we need some non-copyright ones, some of mine — a few of which were here before, many edits ago — are available over on Commons. Angmering 07:28, 20 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Norwich sucks, UEA rules! down with norwich!

I am a student at UEA. I have a message for the norwich local who keeps insulting the university: norwich locals are mostly a bunch of uncouth, violent and simple minded oafs. It's ridicoulous how people accause students of casuing trouble when it's local youths who usually attack students and are agressive towards them. the elderly idiots who complain because they can't stand a bit of noise after 10pm should look at what their own grandchildren are like. if it weren't for UEA there would be simply no intelectual life in norwich, point blank. norwich sucks, UEA rules! UEA student


I had a similar experience as a student 1993-6. The cultural chasm between townies and students generally exists in most cities where the population ratio is quite even (of 18-21 yr olds), but it was most marked in Norwich, of all the cities I visited, at that age. There was no intermingling at all - until the SU re-opened The Waterfront in 1994. That aside, I think Norwich is an amazing city for student life. Visitors expecting a little backwater town were genuinely surprised to discover what Norwich had to offer. I miss it. A bit. Ex-student

[edit] University ratings

(I'm posting this to all articles on UK universities as so far discussion hasn't really taken off on Wikipedia:WikiProject Universities.)

There needs to be a broader convention about which university rankings to include in articles. Currently it seems most pages are listing primarily those that show the institution at its best (or worst in a few cases). See Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Universities#University ratings. Timrollpickering 22:38, 21 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] "Purpose-built theatre"

In the article it suggests that the "purpose-built theatre", the Drama Studio, was built in 2001. I'm fairly certain it predates this by about seven years. If memory serves, there's a plaque in the foyer saying it was opened by Harold Pinter in 1994.

[edit] Alumni order

I've just restored alphabetical order (for the second time) within each category to the list of notable alumni. Does someone think having them in a random order is better?? I've also tried to make clear that the correct form of a Royal Navy officer's name is "<rank> <name> RN", so hopefully someone will stop trying to expand an link the "RN"! -- Arwel (talk) 20:41, 5 March 2007 (UTC)

(Copied from User talk:Arwel Parry:)
btw arwel i am the guy ur locked into a mini edit war with regarding uea alumni, personally i think the list is better ranked in order of notability rather than alphabetically, dont you? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Jamesmh2006 (talk • contribs) 02:05, 9 March 2007 (UTC).

Actually, no - ranking alumni by "notability" is inherently POV and therefore contrary to Wikipedia policy, how do you decide that someone is more notable than another? Alphabetical order is the only objective order to list them in. -- Arwel (talk) 22:52, 9 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Students assessed using Wikipedia?

Can we have something in the article about this: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6422877.stm ?? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 193.62.111.10 (talk) 13:49, 7 March 2007 (UTC).

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