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INKYTEXT 306
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Issue No 306 Thursday 19th July 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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AGENDA
Minutes and matters arising
1. Editorial: Crime and Punishment
2. News: Monica Lee, Guy McEvoy, Lancashire & Cumbria MAN, TEP money, Ruskin.
3. Catering Review
4. Readers' Letters: Memes, Cycle Path, Michael Jackson, George's, The Beach.
5. Small Ads: Parker Knoll suite, Washing machine, House in Glasson for sale,
Dawes Bike, Minute taker wanted, Satellite aerial, Accommodation,
Environmental Workshops, Service.
MINUTES, AMENDMENTS AND MATTERS ARISING
----------------------------------------
Aaargh: a 'there' for a 'their'. How does it happen?
For 'Private Funding Initiative' read 'Private Finance Initiative'
For 'radiologist' read 'radiographer'.
Plus a few typos - sorry.
A reader points out that the ostensible purpose of HM's visit last
Friday was to attend a service in the Priory celebrating the duchy's
600 year association with the Crown. True, but the newsworthy element
in Her Majesty's visit was correctly identified here (and in the front
page of almost all the national dailies).
1. EDITORIAL: CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
----------------------------------
Once upon a time the outcome of disciplinary proceedings was made
public. Student x was fined 50 pounds for tampering with fire
equipment, student y was excluded from residence for repeated
antisocial behaviour in the bar, student z was reprimanded for doing no
work.
In recent years legal and other considerations have made us extremely
coy about announcing the the punishments we mete out.
Students are happily humiliated by separating them from their fellows,
unjustly, in academic terms, but in areas of non-academic activity we
shy away from announcing results even anonymously.
True, we are anxious to exclude so-called 'double jeopardy' where
police proceedings are involved, though that term cannot possibly be
as all-embracing as is sometimes claimed.
Yet it is a prerequisite of justice that it be seen to be done, if
only _pour encourager les autres_. And where the outcome is highly
controversial doubly so, for the wish to avoid publicity is likely to
prove counter-productive.
More important however is the need for the community's organs of
justice to be seen to command popular assent.
2. NEWS
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ALL BEST WISHES TO DR MONICA LEE, Senior Lecturer in Management
Learning, who is retiring on grounds of ill-health on 18th August.
Monica joined the University in 1989. Monica is very appreciative of
all the good wishes she has received since becoming ill. She continues
to make good progress.
BEST WISHES TO FORMER FURNESS AND LUSU PRESIDENT GUY MCEVOY (1998
Inkytext Administrator of the Year) who, after two degrees plus a year
of SU presidency at Lancaster and a gap year either side of university
has, at the grand old age of 25, got a 'real job'. Next month he starts
working for PriceWaterhouseCoopers as a "Global Risk Management
Solutions associate".
SOME PUZZLEMENT OVER THE TEP MONIES which were to have been made
available for their various projects from May. Any news? Have the
Inland Revenue created difficulties?
CONGRATULATIONS TO BARRY FORDE and the ISS networking team on being
successful in the HEFCE 1999 - 2000 MAN (metropolitan area networks)
inititiatve. The Cumbria and North Lancashire MAN will create an
infrastructure for the region that immediately links most of the HEI
sites and can be extended to reach the rest, and also the regions FE
colleges and research council sites, later. It will create a fibre
optic cable based network in Carlisle connecting all nine tertiary
education sites in the city. It will extend the fibre network in
Lancaster to connect the remaining campus there. It will provide high
speed links between the northern and southern parts of the region with
extensions to Ambleside, Whitehaven and Barrow to serve the HEI
campus's located there.
The structure has been designed not only to provide links from
connected institutions to SuperJANET III and the outside world, but
equally importantly, inter site working within the region. This will
greatly facilitate co-operative projects involving the Institutions in
the region and also go some way to mitigating the geographical
difficulties.
MEASURED TIME CONTRACTS: The fixed rate costs of routine maintenance
actvities agreed with Piningtons' the builders are proving
contraversial. These are intended to allow us to charge costs of
income-generating buildings to VAT rather than to employ our own
builders. In practice various drawbacks occur which make it desirable a
long hard look at the accounts are required.
RUSKIN-UNIVERSITY RELATIONS: MEETING ON MONDAY of the group (Richards,
Mackenzie, etc.) set up to sort out the exact nature of continuing
relationships between the university and the Ruskin Foundation. This
matter has been made urgent by the departure of Prof Wheeler, and the
wish of the Foundation to hunt for a head of equal standing.
FIONA AIKEN is completing her month-long induction course and coninue
to impress those who meet her.
3. CATERING REVIEW
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Catering should play a pivotal role in promoting our image; its
financial performance over the past two years compares favourably with
that of other similarly sized universities; there are however problems
relating to quality standards, the confidence of the customer base,
staff motivation and morale, lack of key performance indicators, the
quality and location of the facilities, and past policy on commercial
lettings.
These are the main findings of the review prepared by Tim Baker and
Chris Everden of Focus Healthcare Consultancy Ltd and is dated December
last year.
In the medium to long term the only real option is significant
investment in new and appropiate central facilities. Since catering is
crucial to the conference business it is appropriate that a commercial
director be appoiinted.
(So far this is the almost the only bit of the report thus
implemented, apart from behind the scenes paperwork. Items not covered
but since advanced (where from) include the obviously desirable new
coffee bar and a proposed return to helf-board).
Catering last year had a turnover of 800K, incl. 340K from
Conferences, 300K from retail and 160K from hospitality.
There are 19 catering outlets on campus and 2 (it says, but surely 3)
offering take away). Catering operates only 7 of these.
Staff feel demotivated and disenfranchised, a level of esteem that
reflects on the service offered.
For residential students we are predominantly a self catering
university. The main staff outlets, Georges and the Management School,
are not cost sensitive.
So it goes on, considering in detail 8 new options. It concludes that
under most of these there is a downside, and the only feasible option
is current services with improvements and, later, investment in a new
location.
Unfortunately, the draft plan of action it gives for the months since
Christmas has not been adhered to....
Given the quality of some of the 'consultancy' reports we have forked
out a few K for, and I'm thinking especially of the one advising us to
buy Prophecy, and the KPMG one on staff sickness, this one really is
rather impressive. Pity if the cost is another burden on Catering.
4. READERS' LETTERS
-------------------
Does anyone amongst our scientists at Lancaster believe in Susan
Blackmore's recent provoking book on the Meme Machine, or is it merely
an example of popular science that is actually hocus-pocus? It would be
interesting to find an expert opinon on this. Are we mere complex
machines, without an *I* at the centre of us? Do we merely imitate
others without knowing it?
Are we in a complex sense repositories of *memes* and do they exist?
This is worrying. For example, is there someone who thinks he is Chief
Inspector Morse, limping about Oxford and patronising crackpot
academics who, for a brief moment, have had enough good sense to murder
their wives? Does nature imitate art? Can a good scientist here let us
know?
Is there some vital flaw in Susan Blackmore's argument, deftly
concealed from us laymen, but glaringly obvious to the professional
scientist. Richard Dawkins' introduction supports the thesis, and with
good examples too. Susan's argument is that not only are mannerisms
caught from one person to another, but even our thinking is to a large
extent imitation.
Who is writing this letter? Or rather, what is writing this letter!
Tony Gilbert
[NOTE: The idea that, as Rimbaud put it, "'Je' est un autre" has a long
pedigree. Serious implications for 'plagiarism' of course... :-) (Ed)
---------------------------------------
Can I please unsubscribe to Inkytext as I am in the last stages of my
Ph. D and must super concentrate. Thank you for a refreshingly
different news.
Richard Shaw
---------------------------------------
On the subject of the IMPACT course (Inky 305) that has gobbled up all
the staff: has anyone read Alex Garland's "The Beach"?
A group of like-minded individuals live and work together in a natural
paradise (sub: Windermere). The group is split according to the jobs
that need doing for survival and expansion. The good swimmers (sub:
20,000 + salary) catch the fish, the skilled woodworkers (sub: Estates)
carve the furniture required, the good cooks (sub: Catering) look after
the edibles and the natural leaders (sub: finance, obviously) tell
everyone what to do.
One of the fish-catchers doesn't get on with one of the leaders,
everything gets blown out of proportion and a bloody climax ensues
(sub: brief argument over who is better at navigating the group through
the jungles of....Cumbria).
Only a select few escape by making a raft (sub: hiring a taxi) to make
their way back to the mainland (sub: Bailrigg) where the mental scars
of their last few days in Thailand (sub: sunny Lake country) live on in
the minds of the lucky few who are still alive (sub: are operating at a
profit).
The Beach (sub: The IMPACT) has now been made into a film starring
Leonardo Di Caprio (sub: rumours abound, latest "someone from UMAG")
the world-famous film star (sub: has a big office and a 4-door saloon).
Huw Owen
---------------------------------
Couldn't agree more re: the singing of the National Anthem at degree
ceremonies. My first experience of this was in the audience of my
husband's MBA graduation in 1998. The ratio of non-British-born to
British-born students on that course (and presumably at the ceremony)
was something like 10:1, so the whole exercise struck me as pointless.
I then joined the platform party at the Bowland ceremony this year,
and felt it more consistent with my beliefs to keep my mouth clamped
shut during the sing-song. (Although, unlike the brave soul you
mention, I did stand up.)
The guy next to me muttered at the beginning that he hadn't sung it
for so long he was afraid he had forgotten the words. I also know of
someone who omitted some of the words but sang others (e.g. it's fine
to wish that the Queen be 'happy' but it is surely inappropriate in
this day and age to 'send her victorious').
It's certainly time for a re-think, even if the only change that is
made is that the Anthem is played and not sung.
Kathryn Crameri
Spanish Studies
-----------------------------------
Something to do while waiting for your food next time - work out your
George's quotient. This can be calculated by dividing the number of
minutes you have to wait to be served by the number of people in front
of you when you arrive. Last week I waited 17 minutes, 3 people, my
quotient is therefore 5.66. Anyone beat that?
No extra points are added or deducted for the vileness of the coffee,
nor will your spirit be lifted through contemplation of the quite
mind-melting management and systems failure that the service
arrangements represent, but they are something to ponder while you
wait...
G Green
Independent Studies
-----------------------------------
Quote from Michael Jackson in last Inkytext: "....... whereas Barry
Rowlingson possibly comes from the group who believe that cyclist's
have a birthright to cycle how they prefer on every bit of paved land
in the world."
Whereas I think Barry Rowlingson was quite reasonably suggesting that
the cycle path ought to be a safe place to cycle on rather than the
obstacle course it is now. I walked along it the other day and actually
bumped into another walker coming in the opposite direction as we
rounded one of the many blind bends!
Sheila Hargreaves
----------------------------------
On the Bailrigg cycle path I would only make a couple of comments. The
purpose of this way is for cyclists to have a relatively clear and safe
route between Lancaster and the university campus. It is perfectly
understandable, therefore, that cyclists should complain at bad
mannered pedestrians snarling up the way.
Having said that, the way cannot be accounted the exclusive preserve
of cyclists, no more than a road can be said to be exclusively for
cars. Indeed, except in the case of motorways and these new
abominations called 'red routes' it is perfectly legal to walk in the
road, observing the convention that pedestrians should walk against the
flow of traffic, i.e. on the right-hand side.
Could not this convention be observed on the cycle way? Might cyclists
observe the left-hand side convention for vehicles? They don't always,
some really do seem to think it proper to ride down the middle or on
the right-hand side.
Nick Bardsley
[NOTE: Your suggestion is what the cryptic signs on the path seem to
recommend. This doesn't quite cater for two cyclists passing, however,
since each lane is wide enough for only one. Unfortunately the major
users of the path in my experience are dog-owners, happy to unleash
their animals. (Ed.)
---------------------------------
I'd like to clear up any possibility in Mr Michael Jackson's mind
that I possibly come "from the group who believe that cyclist's
have a birthright to cycle how they prefer on every bit of paved
land in the world.". I'm quite happy to settle with cycling on the
paved bit called the cycle path. My gripe is that the quality
of this facility has recently decreased in one section. Cycling
facilities should be improving, not getting worse. Surely we can
all take that as a basic principle, especially if it is at zero
or little cost to other transport methods. I'm prefectly willing
to bring my loppers and my pruning saw in my panniers and
make that corner safe again, if the owner of the hedge will let
me.
Has Michael Jackson ever been on the cycle path through campus?
If not, he should shut up, and stick to doing what he does best -
making great pop records like "Thriller" and "Beat It".
Barry Rowlingson
-----------------------------
Kurt Schwitters and Merz
http://www.artbarn.freeserve.co.uk/ may be of interest to your readers
G.R. Steele, Dept of Economics,
------------------------------
I thought this would be of interest to your readers. I was about to
buy some viewers for my family as I am on holiday in South Devon at the
time of the eclipse. Although viewing from the Metz or Picardy areas or
indeed anywhere in Europe is more likely to ensure the good weather
necessary to view the eclipse at its best.
Moyna Kemp
> From: Eclipse99Ltd@dial.pipex.com [SMTP:Eclipse99Ltd@dial.pipex.com]
>
> In common with virtually all other astronomers (as well as many
> optometrists and ophthalmologists) I believe the Department of Health
> has got it quite wrong. Our own Board of Health here in Guernsey has
> taken a quite different view, and has endorsed the giving of eclipse
> viewers to local school children. The French Government, I
> understand, is subsidising eclipse viewers in the tens of millions.
> While the Department of Health is saying one thing, the Department of
> Trade and Industry is, through its approved bodies, certifying eclipse
> viewers as safe to use, under the Protective Personal Equipment
> Regulations. Astronomers have the most experience of solar eclipse
> observation, not just by themselves, but also by the public, whom they
> advise every year when there is a major eclipse somewhere in the
> world. The Government-based UK Eclipse Coordinating Group, set up two
> years ago to tackle these problems for the eclipse in the UK, produced
> an Eclipse Safety Code, which seems to have been ignored by the
> Department of Health. The official website is at
> http://eclipse.org.uk.
> Two astronomers, one from University College
> London and the other from the Royal Observatory Greenwich were on
> Channel One News tonight making just these points
>
> But don't take my word for it. The acknowledged world expert in this
> field is Dr Ralph Chou. He has just issued this statement, which has
> been promulgated by the (Government's) Rutherford Appleton
> Laboratory:-
>
>
> Statement regarding solar eclipse eye safety
>
> Recently the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB), UK
> Department of Health, and organizations representing the eye care
> professions of optometry and ophthalmology have issued advice
> advocating only the use of indirect viewing methods to observe the
> solar eclipse of 11 August 1999. Several of these organizations have
> actively discouraged the use of solar viewers that enable observers
> to look directly at the sun during the eclipse. It is disappointing
> to me that these organizations have chosen not to co-operate with the
> Solar Eclipse 1999 UK Co-ordinating Group in presenting an unbiased,
> common message on how to observe this spectacular natural event
> safely.
>
> While the intention of these organizations is to ensure public safety
> during the eclipse, they have ignored the scientific evidence that
> solar viewers are safe when used as directed. Indeed, an examination
> of the scientific reports on eclipse eye injuries published since the
> 1960s shows that the principal causes of eclipse-related retinal burns
> are (in descending order): 1. Viewing the partly eclipsed sun without
> protection; 2. Looking through the pinhole of an indirect projection
> viewer (sunscope); 3. Viewing the sun through sunglasses,
> photographic neutral density filters, or other inappropriate devices.
> There has never been a substantiated or anecdotal report of
> eclipse-related retinal injury arising from the use of a mylar solar
> viewer.
>
> Messages that discourage an activity or behaviour, particularly when
> they are intended for young people, can backfire.
> B. Ralph Chou, MSc, OD
> Associate Professor
> School of Optometry, University of Waterloo
---------------------------
5. SMALL ADS
------------
PARKER KNOLL 3 piece suite, comprising 3 seater settee and 2
recliners, colour Cowdray Sky. 125.00 o.n.o. Contact Christine on ext
93681.
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FOR SALE: ALMOST NEW TOP LOADING WASHING MACHINE and gas cooker, ?100
each. Contact Andrew on 593018 or A.Richardson@lancaster.ac.uk. Both
very compact and ideal if short of space.
------------------
FOR SALE: SATELLITE DISH @ 50 GBP (i.e. half-price), redundant through
inability to pick up Italian TV! Contact Mr Giuseppe Canti on 811649
----------------
HOUSE FOR SALE IN GLASSON DOCK (75,000). Three-bedroom, stone-built
19th C terrace in Glasson Dock. Quiet, off-road location in the heart
of the village; ten minutes drive from University. Open fire and
wood-burning stove; fully-fitted kitchen; large, tiled bathroom;
office. Available immediately. Please call 01255 675653 (after 6pm),
or e-mail guin@essex.ac.uk
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HELP! - I am looking for a first-class minute taker/stenographer -
preferably with knowledge of "management education" who would be
available to attend a 3-day conference in the NorthWest next April.
Accommodation provided if necessary. If you are that person, or know
where I could source someone, please contact Marilyn Clarke ext 94189
or Email m.clarke@lancaster.ac.uk.
------------------
FLAT AVAILABLE (1 bedroom) for September and/or October 99. Lancaster
City Centre location, close to BR station - 45 per week (including
bills except telephone). Non-smokers only. Contact Ruth on 01524 422037
before August 7th or Ally on 01524 65563 from August 7th onwards.
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FOR SALE DAWES GALAXY touring bike. 21inch diamond frame. Recently
fitted with new derailleur, new freewheel and new chain. In very good
condition. £175 o.n.o. Contact Rita Balderson Ext 93895
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Workshop Announcement
CSEC
ENVIRONMENTAL KNOWLEDGE: uncertainty, authority and responsibility
An ESRC - GEC funded workshop series
20/21 September: Science
22/23 November: Indigenous Knowledge
7/8 February: Social Intelligence
3/4 April: Ethical Expertise
A series of four workshops which will provide a forum for the
presentation of research findings and the comparison, discussion and
elaboration of concepts of environmental knowledge. Considerations of
uncertainty/non-knowledge, of the authority of different knowledges in
different contexts, and of responsibility in relation to the
implications of knowledge claims and policy development cut across all
four domains. The workshops will provide the opportunity to identity
what is known and what needs to be known (and how), as well as
generating opportunities for developing collaborative publications.
For further details/to book a place, please contact
j.hamid@lancaster.ac.uk
---------------
October 14th
SERVICE TO MARK THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW ACADEMIC YEAR
The service begins at 5:30pm an is open to all members of the
University. The address will be given by The Rev'd Dr Alan Billings
(Director of the Centre for Practical Christianity in Kendal and a
part-time lecturer in the R.S. dept here...as well as being the
husband of Dr Linda Woodhead!) and is entitled
"A new spirituality for a new millennium".
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THE EDITOR IS GOING AWAY FOR A WEEK
celebrating his silver wedding chez Paul Bocuse
(Apologies to those like-minded readers who find this unbearably wimpish)