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INKYTEXT 301
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MAJOR AWARD FOR THE PETER SCOTT GALLERY
CRITICAL MASS BIKE ACTION IN LANCASTER THIS AFTERNOON
"Do not try to solve all life's problems at once - learn to dread each day
as it comes." Donald Kaul
Issue No 301 Friday 18 June 1999
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Editorial correspondence should be sent to InkyText@lancaster.ac.uk
Subscription requests to Inkytext-distribution-request@lists.lancaster.ac.uk
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MENU
1. News: Scott Gallery, Prof Hewison, Ruskin, AUT PAY Action, Council, UMAG,
Cross-Country Walk, Can-Do, Dave Orr.
2. Events: Lunchtime Concert for Kosovo, Student Art Show, Midsummer Dance.
3. Small Ads: Usual stuff plus sailing gear wanted, sound blaster card for
sale, Yamaha Bike, Silver Jubilee, Citizens' Advice Bureau needs volunteers,
Summer Studies, Rover for sale.
4. Readers' Letters: Letter from Bulgaria, Cyclists, Nick Bardsley,
Richard Roberts, Pascal Desmond.
1. NEWS
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CONGRATULATIONS TO LUCY HUNTER OF DCE (a French/Marketing graduate)
who married long-term partner Sam Lloyd on Saturday 12 June at
Lancaster Registry Office. The celebrations were enjoyed by many and
most were still feeling the after effects on Monday morning. Lucy will
be known as Hunter-Lloyd at work.
MANY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PETER SCOTT GALLERY whose wonderful
Michaelmas term exhibition of Japanese Art ('Japan - A Northern Focus'
reviewed here) is, along with the British Museum and London's
Serpentine Gallery, one of only three winners in the visual arts
section of the 1999 Japanese Festival Awards. Told you that yon young
Japanese Cultural Attache was astonished at the quality of the exhibits
when he came to the official opening. If you missed the show you can
see it again in April at Blackburn Art Gallery (always worth a visit
but usually a short one.)
CONGRATULATIONS TO PROFESSOR ROBERT HEWISON (English) who has been
elected Slade Professor of Art at Oxford, a post once held by John
Ruskin himself, and who is curating the centenary Ruskin, Turner and
the PreRaphaelites exhibition at the Tate Gallery next year. (A major
Ruskin Jamboree is also being held next spring in Christ Church,
Ruskin's old college, starring all those who brought us the well-known
edifice.)
COAST TO COAST 1999 WALK: Many congratulations to Peter Lund, College
Residence Officer in County and his friend John Bradsha of Estates, who
triumphantly completed the 190 mile Wainwright Coast to Coast route in
11 days. They thank all those who supported them. Sponsorship money
should be sent ASAP to John or Peter. Cheques payable to "Coast to
Coast 1999" so that a presentation can be made to St Johns Hospice and
the Macmillan Cancer Unit at the earliest opportunity. Expect the
walkers' diary highlights later.
AUT PAY ACTION: No dates for boycotting exam work have been agreed in
Lancaster. An amicable meeting of the LAUT executive was held yesterday
evening and members should learn of future action, including admissions
boycott and withdrawal from appraisal, TQA etc, next week.
COUNCIL MEETS THIS AFTERNOON (Friday) and members are invited to a
'finger-buffet' lunch in Room 3 of the new Conference Centre (12.30 for
12.45) followed by a presentation on the environmental JIF from Prof
Davies. Street-wise council members will prolly prefer to attend the
much more sophisticated and glamorous Vin d'honneur being run by the
Editor next door in Room 1 to mark the end of the Preparatory Course
for students spending next year in France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
They are cordially invited.
COUNCIL'S AGENDA: members will approve a navel-scrutinizing review of
its own procedures to be conducted by the Deputy VC, Pro-Chancellor,
the Dean of Grad Studs, Dep-Pro-Chancellor Martin, Mr M Hart and Mrs
McClintock, with the new Secretary in attendance.
Other major items include approval for next year's budget plus
financial forecasts and capital budgeting to 2002;
Appointment of Lord Shuttleworth of Leck as chair of the Peter Scott
Gallery Trust, plus transfer to that body of the legal title to the
Manton collection, the Chambers ceramic collection and the Piper doors.
Approval of the new SU constitution (makes it easier to remove
sabbaticals who do nowt) and the SU's ambitious but perfectly feasible
Corporate Plan. (Quorum lowered to 200, but same number of votes
required to pass a measure; only 2 statutory meetings a year instead of
5; introduction of a referendum on a 750 member petition, with 1000
votes requireed to pass any motion.)
Setting up of a working group to look at how to make the Pre-School
centre more affordable for student parents.
Corporate Plan - Consultation draft 5 - now only 55 pages. (Haven't
read it yet.)
Note changes to the capital programme to 2001/02: only161K for minor
works next year (plus 450K for 'Estates Strategy' and 167 for 'social
and catering facility'; 250K each year for IT infrastructure but a
_halving_ of the equipment fund (to 676K) for next year only.
[NB: still no mention of a final settlement of the Library costs...
Have I missed something? ]
JIF BIDS: Approve the bid for a Lancaster Informatics Institute, an
Environment Centrre and negotiations with NERC; approve possible
fyurther expendture to a maximum of 400K in the period to the
announcement of any award.
FINANCE: PAYE audit - the Inland revenue is descending next month to
look at our handling of expenses claims, hospitality, etc. Hopes of a
deal with Fretwell Downing Informatics if the Library recommends its
Inter Lib loan software to clients currently using our own (ageing, non
GUI, version). Approval of residence charges for next year (2.5 pecent
increase plus reinstated cleaning levels, 1.5 percent for en-suite
rooms and even less for en-suite in Grad Coll.
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE was drew the VC's attention to the difficulties
created for it by not seeing the 'sensitive' reports on the public
arts, which the VC intends to discuss with UMAG and the providers.
UMAG met on Wednesday and considered Cost Reductions for the period
1999-2002. It also received a paper on Income Generation from John
McGovern.
CANDO: Still no news on the future location of this very successful
outfit with lots of eminent industrial supporters.
HOLIDAYS: An extremely useful routeplanner for Europe can be found at
http://www.cwlease.com/cwlint/index2.htm Merci Marcus Duffy. Easyjet is
also celebrating the inauguration of its new Geneva to Amsterdam, Nice
and Barcelona routes with return flights at 77 Swiss Francs between 27
July and 6 August. And don't forget this month's 49 quid Eurostar
return to Paris.
2. EVENTS
---------
IN AID OF KOSOVAN REFUGEES
A Lunchtime Concert
CRESSIDA VAN GORDON (Soprano)
MERVYN WILLIAMS (Piano)
Purcell, Faure, Debussy, Schubert
Chaplaincy Centre
Wednesday 23 June
1.10 pm
-------------------------
CITY CENTRE BIKE RIDE
JUNE 18TH
Alex Square, 3:00pm; Market Square, 3:30pm
In co-ordination with hundreds of events taking place across the globe
on Friday June 18th, an international day celebrating the vibrancy of
local communities in the face of global corporate capitalism.
Riding the streets together, we feel safe and strong: a glimpse of
Lancaster freed from the stranglehold of carmaggedon. Bring friends,
bells, whistles, flags, fancy dress, music and food for a post-ride
picnic.
WAKE UP LANCASTER! CELEBRATE!
----------------
HANDS ON
VISUAL ARTS STUDENTS DEGREE SHOW
Peter Scott Gallery
To 23 June
-----------------
MIDSUMMER DANCE NIGHT
Gregson Centre
Tonight Friday 18 June
8.00 p.m.
The Clocks Back Ceilidh Band
The Freehold Flea Circus
Tickets: 4 GBP and 3GBP at the door
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3. SMALL ADS
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HOUSE FOR RENT: August 15th -January 28th 1999. Ideal for visiting
academic. 200 year-old terraced cottage, overlooking the Forest of
Bowland, in small, quiet village 5 miles from University campus. Double
Bedroom/study, bath/shower, fully-equipped kitchen and lounge with sofa
bed. 350GBP. Contact: j.stacey@lancaster.ac.uk (01524-594184).
--------------
FOR SALE: SOUND BLASTER 16 ISA-SOUND CARD with CD software. E-mail:
castletrans@freeuk.com or tel. Lynda 841169
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CONFIDENTIAL WORDPROCESSING, faxing, transcription of tapes;
translation and interpreting in any language. E-mail:
castletrans@freeuk.com or tel. Lynda 841169
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SILVER JUBILEE DINNER
Were you at Lancaster in 1974? The Alumni Office is putting on a Silver
Jubilee Dinner for the graduates of 1974. Staff are cordially invited to
attend. Details of attendees and programme on
http://www.lancs.ac.uk/users/alumni/silver.htm
Full details or queries to e.fay@lancaster.ac.uk
--------------------
EMBRACING MATURITY.
Two experienced facilitators are leading a series of workshops to
explore and embrace the gifts and challenges that come with maturity.
We intend to attract people who have reached an age where they are
reflecting on mid life and beyond. First workshop 3rd July. ffi 01524
60387 or 01524 35703
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F O R S A L E
SR125 Yamaha Custom Motorbike
Taxed and Tested
4,500 miles
Nice Condition, Good looking bike
1,200 GBP
ring 01524 840695 after 6pm
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LANCASTER CITIZEN'S ADVICE BUREAU
Volunteers are urgently needed in the following areas:
*Management Committee (to maintain and develop the CAB Service locally
to meet the needs of the local community.)
*Information Systems Working Party (to manage the process of funding,
purchasing, installing and developing a computer network of equipment
on an ongoing basis.)
*Diamond Jubilee Events Organisers
*PR and Fundraising Group
To volunteer or for more information please contact: Angie Kay, 6
Hunters Gate, Lancaster LA1 5BX Tel: 01524 64837 Fax: 01524 388105
e-mail: angiekay@compuserve.com
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SUMMER STUDIES 1999 AT LANCASTER UNIVERSITY
Have you heard about the summer courses over in Continuing Education
this year? I was talking to Phil down in Engineering and he went on the
Antiques course last year - it's only 96 quid for staff you know - for a
whole week.
My sister is doing the Celtic Art course. She's always liked arty
stuff and fancied a chance at drawing some of those patterns herself -
said she might even make up her own (and it's a real bargain at 31
pounds). Now, Jean (do you know Jean in Applied Social Science?) has
got her eye on the Alexander Technique course. She's had a bad back for
years and apparently AT is just the business. She was trying to
persuade me to do it but I'm doing the one on Creative Writing - mind
you, I could still do Neuro-Linguistic Programming in the mornings.
Eddie's really into computing at the moment so he's enrolled on an
Introduction to the Internet - when he first said he was going surfing
I nearly fell off my chair! We're bringing the kids this year - they're
doing the special arts and crafts workshop. It's like going on holiday
together except there's no packing and we can all do our activities.
Only 60 pounds each for the kids. Must go - can you give this brochure
to Judith? She wants the info about Walking courses for Peter and Batik
for herself. You want one too? You'll have to drop into DCE to pick up
a copy - or give them a ring on 92645. See you.
Advantage scheme rates for LU staff on Summer Studies 1999: 25GBP off
full day courses (5 days). 12GBP off all other courses. Staff may only
use this offer in conjunction with one course.
The Department of Continuing Education has a terrific web site which
has full details of all the courses on offer this summer. Check it out
at: http://www.lancs.ac.uk/users/conted/ssindex.htm
---------------
HOUSE TO RENT: 3 bedroomed furnished house available for rent in
Galgate, Close to schools, and University. Briefly comprising 3
bedrooms, lounge, four piece bathroom suite, separate dining room and
kitchen (fully fitted) to include washing machine, gas central heating,
gardens to front and rear, off-road parking for up to four vehicles,
would suit visiting academics or postgraduate students. 400 pcm,
available from 1st September 1999. Further details please contact
k.gammon@lancaster.ac.uk or ring 594172
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CAR FOR SALE: Rover 220 Coupe M Reg 1995, Tahiti Blue 39,000 miles,
Power Steering, A.B.S., Taxed and Tested, half leather interior, 2
owners, 6495 o.n.o. Contact k.gammon@lancaster.ac.uk or (5) 94172
--------------
WANTED: ANY SECOND HAND/NEARLY NEW SAILING CLOTHING/ACCESSORIES (eg
wetsuits, buoyancy aids, those little bootee things, gloves etc) for 2
novices new to sailing. One 6ft tall, 40" chest, long legged male and
one medium sized female. mailto:a.j.jackson@lancaster.ac.uk or
telephone 01524 848605 (evenings).
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4. READERS' LETTERS
-------------------
Your correspondent's sad mishap with his bike makes the point that
cyclists and pedestrians cannot easily share the same track. This is
recognised by the DETR who issue various ideas for segregation. It is
therefore sad that the cyclist lobby in Lancaster is campaigning for
that advice to be ignored on the possible Millennium Bridge and its
approaches. Can they say why?
It would also be nice if this group, who campaign to keep red-tarmac
makers in business, could spend a few Saturdays educating riders about
pushing bikes in the shopping precincts of our City. They might also
promote the business of the 'No Cycling' sign makers who did not get a
very big order for Lancaster's needs.
Wherever a cycle track crosses a foot track, should not cyclists
reduce to the speed at which they can stop in three yards?
Michael Jackson (mike-de-hest@talk21.com)
-------------------------
With regard to WHERE, If men set up what sounds like a national
Masonic Lodge to further their interests then there would (rightly) be
an outcry.
Will the new, women-only network WHERE be monitored by responsible
parties so that it avoids the dangers that restricted-access,
semi-secret, interest-driven organisations are invariably liable to
fall into?
The ethical criteria applied to the prevention of insider-trading
might well be considered appropriate with regard to the circulation of
privileged information concerning the "trading" of posts. This
precaution might prevent the impression spreading that WHERE is a
covert means of securing a form of positive discrimination.
It might be better (at least more honest), perhaps, to go up-front and
implement a gendered quota system on all posts.
Richard Roberts.
--------------------------------
The news of the demise of Mitchells brewery came the same day that I
was supping a pint of decent ale at a nearby pub in the company of my
new colleagues. For some reason this lockside hostelry had affixed a
Mitchells sign to one of its walls, presumably as a threat to what
patrons might be forced to drink if they failed to support Devonian
beers.
Mind you, Mitchells did have some memorable copy for Bomber: alongside
a representation of the famous aircraft used to such devastating
effect by the Dambusters and by Bomber Command in its attacks on
cities, was the message "Beer brewed for a mission". I wonder how that
went down with German tourists?
Regards from a sunny and delightful Exeter.
John Withrington
-------------------------
Re Rob Bracewell's comments about 'No Car Day' This initiative,
"National Car-Free Day", of the Environmental Transport Association
forms a part of 'ETA Green Transport Week'. The ETA is a breakdown and
recovery service for people who care about the planet and the people
who live on it. They were the first rescue provider in the UK to extend
their services to cyclists. These events are not associatied _in any
way_ with the Green Party.
The purpose of ETA Green Transport Week and National Car-Free Day is
to heighten awareness about the health risks and loss of community
associated with car use. Long before the Pauline conversion of the
Government on their particular road to Damascus, many NGOs (such as the
Children's Play Council, RSPB, the WI, CPRE, the Road Danger Reduction
Forum http://www.btinternet.com/~spokes/isitsaf1.htm etc.) expressed
their concern about vehicular traffic. Today, 15 June, the World Health
Organisation has issued a report which states that many more people are
killed by traffic-derived air pollution than in road traffic
'accidents'.
In the UK, according to the Dept of Health, it is at least 3 times as
many. Loss of community is a more difficult concept for many to grasp
but I hope this somewhat bizarre (at first appearance) example helps...
England will not produce a world cup winning team again because the
place where English kids learn the rudimentary skills of soccer is no
longer available. It is the place where the world's greatest living
honorary Irishman, Jack Charlton, and his less skilled brother, Bobby,
learned. The place is called the street.
For the record, I am not associated in any way with the Green Party.
In the Euro elections last week I voted for Rev Dave Braid in the vain
hope that some day he might get jammed in a lift in Brussels or
Strasbourg with the c. 1971 Eurovision winner and MEP, Dana Rosemary
Scallon, and Rev Ian Paisley, MP, MEP. I certainly have no liking for
Rev Braid's 'rampant' homophobia.
Now, if only Israel was in the EU and Dana International was an
MEP...and got stuck in the lift as well... oh to be a fly on the wall.
Besides discussing such important matters as 'how to reverse the
Directive on low level nuclear waste being used in the manufacture of
metal cans containing baked beans and glass jars filled with tomato
sauce' (Directive 96/29 Articles 3 & 5) and 'how many angels can dance
on the head of a pin at the same time' (fundamental RC theology), they
could turn their thoughts to 'the Devil in a pigskin swimsuit' (title
of a sermon by Dr Paisley about 'the slanderous bachelor who lives on
the banks of the Tiber').
Pascal Desmond.
--------------------------
Now about the war - or, as the Bulgarian media loyally call it - the
"air strike".
There are at least four devastating effects I think. The first is the
ecological - however, since there is an information ban on that, we can
only read the foreign press and it doesn't sound very reassuring. Well,
it's clear that you can't drop that amount of bombs with such intensity
over a small area and not turn it into a desert -a radioactive desert.
Besides, only the military know what some of the missiles contain. I
guess this is a welcome opportunity 1) to get rid of aging weapons and
2) to experiment with new ones and 3) boost the arms industry. Then a
series of research projects may be launched to study the effects. There
are all sorts of detached ways to look at this tragedy, apart from the
official tag of "humanitarian mission".
Another optimistic, fairy tale image is what the American ambassador
in Sofia - a woman - suggested to the media. (The Bulgarian media are
regularly briefed by the Americans on what to say, how to say it, etc.
However, after 50 years of communism we have developed a mistrust on
the genetic level for official versions and reading is done mainly
between the lines, and between the pictures.) So Mrs. Avis Bolan
suggested that we see Yugoslavia as the Sleeping Beauty, and NATO - as
Prince Charming who has come to wake her up for the wonderful potential
of democracy. Great, isn't it!
In this line of optimistic interpretation, we are reassured that this
is our golden chance of being noticed by the Western world (because it
needs air space and ground corridors for the attacks), so we should
capitalize on the tragedy and get as much out of it as possible.
Reality is quite scaring, though. We had two stable years of economic
growth and slightly improving prospects. With the start of the war this
has collapsed spectacularly - international transport, trade and
business are almost ruined, foreign investors have stalled all projects
and I can't blame them. Nobody knows when this will finish - not even
the countries which started it.
Public opinion in the country is 90% against the war, not because we
do not realize who Miloshevich is, or what ethnic cleansing is, and how
long it has been going on. However, from where we watch the events, the
cynicism, arrogance and cruelty of NATO and respective politicians do
not appear to be smaller. Only their effect has a much larger effect.
I think after the military intervention the problem has become
monstrous for the entire region. The last thing people here needed was
a disillusionment of this proportion. Now it is hard to make the
difference between our own communist governments from 10 years ago, and
the governments participating in the war. I find it also very
disturbing that public opinion in western countries shows predominantly
support for NATO. Maybe when the missiles are falling somewhere in
Europe's 'back yard' it is difficult to stir up the democratic
instincts.
I also hate the collective label 'Balkan countries', 'balkanization',
etc. All the countries here are different, and although we were part of
the Ottoman empire, as far as social and political tradition goes, the
differences are much greater than similarities.
Bulgaria, for example, has a tradition of ethnic tolerance - on an
everyday level - we have a large Turkish minority, lots of Jews,
Armenians and Gypsies, some Greeks as well. So far during the
transition not a single political party has played the ethnic card, and
tolerance on the mundane level is exceptional. It is only now, after
the tragedy started, that this has been recognized by our Western
mentors. I read a lot of crap in foreign media about some sort of
Orthodox solidarity between Bulgaria, Serbia and Russia, which shows
complete lack of understanding. The orthodox thing is non-existent.
Finally, you may have read about a NATO missile which hit "with
surgical precision" a house in a Sofia suburb 10 km from the city
centre. I guess this is the results of traditionally not distinguishing
between Belgrade, Sofia, Bucharest and Istanbul. I hope this whole
business will have a certain educational effect for some people.
Irena Vitanova,
Sofia
------------------------
A man calls his mother in Florida. "Mom, how are you?"
"Not too good," says the mother. "I've been very weak."
The son says, "Why are you so weak?"
She says, "Because I haven't eaten in 38 days."
The man says, "That's terrible. Why haven't you eaten in 38 days?
The mother answers, "Because I didn't want my mouth to be filled with
food if you should call."
------------------------
Well, clearly I have touched on a sore point, when a member of Union
Council feels it necessary to engage in an entirely ad hominem assault
on somebody who was merely pointing out that the excuse that there was
insufficient time for LUSU to decide policy apropos the LAUT strike was
nonsense.
Oh yes, 'Huw Owen, student' is indeed a member of Union Council. I may
be out of touch by Mr Owen's standards but I am fully aware of his
status as joint-President of Fylde JCR and that he therefore sits on
Union Council. Quite why he felt unable to openly declare this interest
in his little missive I would not presume to speculate.
As for my alleged fascist tendencies and my fatuity. I humbly own up
to the latter, I do indeed gape, perhaps foolishly, perhaps not, at the
attempts of Union Council members to wriggle off the hook of
responsibility.
The former, alas, I must disavow; rather, I wonder at the notion that
a person 'who hasn't sat on Union Council for a few years' is somehow
wrong to comment on the conduct of that body. The logic of this idea
suggests that people who have never sat at the hallowed table of Union
Council are even less able to comment on its lofty meditations and
proclamations.
I wonder how Mr Owen's constituents regard such a, well, fascistic
view...
Nick Bardsley
Fascist Octopoid Running-Hyena
------------------------------------
Hmmm... the Outlook public folders may be more network-efficient more
efficient, but the InkyText public folder appears to be empty as it has
done for some time.
Dave Ingles
---------------------------
While I do sympathise with David Smith and congratulate him for his
classic parallel-bar manouvre, I do think we're probably all guilty
really, having given up cycle bells as they're just not cool enough...
I suggest a symposium 'Reinventing the Bell' in the near future
(perhaps sponsored by Bells, which would ensure the 'parallel bar'
routine resulted purely from rather inebriated double vision).
Stuart Andrews
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