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INKYTEXT 308
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Issue No 308 Monday 9th August 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, Amendments, Matters Arising
1. Editorial: On Saying Goodbye
2. News: Marriage, Chairs, Admissions action, More League Tables, Agresso,
Mark Elkins, Virus,
3. Readers' Letters: Lisa Whistlecroft.
4. Small Ads: Caravan, Car, Accommodation to let and wanted, Michael Auty,
Computers, Videos wanted, etc.
Minutes, Amendments, Matters Arising
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THE ACADEMIC REGISTRAR is to report to Committee of Senate on the
outcome of two recent hearings of the University Tribunal. (Perhaps
this should become, or become again, a routine procedure so as not to
highlight particular cases.)
THE REPORTER who wrote the Times' article on Dr. Keith Jones thought
the photograph looked like a 'Dutch Master'. The photoshoot lasted
about 3 hours, much of which was spent in the pub waiting for the sea,
which never appeared. (It was a low high tide.)
BOCUSE'S WEBSITE is at http://www.bocuse.com or http://www.bocuse.fr
but you might find http://www.epicuria.fr a faster way of getting
there.
"Le Manoir aux QUAT' Saisons"... sorry.
1. EDITORIAL: ON SAYING GOODBYE
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The graduation ceremonies are events on which we expend much care and
attention, and happily some thought on modernising them seems likely to
take place. (Alan Wood's piece on SOAS graduations last time brought
lively responses, not all printable.)
These are pieces of flummery, but rites of passage are solemn flummery
that matters. They mark the departure from the university of junior
members, and rightly associate their families and others, who over the
years have had a tangential relationship with the university but are
not themselves part of us. They are happy events and widely publicised.
Contrast these with the departure of senior members of the university,
sometimes after 30 years rather than 3. This has now become so
routinely embarrassing that many decline a celebration far less bring
along their spouse.
In some cases this is because they don't particularly want to leave,
and feel themselves forced into departure by circumstances. In others
it is because words that might be spoken would seem either bitter or
ironic. It is a mark of how instrumentalist our corporate life has
become.
For some the turning point was the farewell reception for the former
VC, organised by Sir Christopher Audland, described by participants as
a cross between a wedding reception and a royal garden party, but with
much greater reverence.
Yet, for many who nonetheless attended, Professor Hanham was already
an ambivalent figure and that event, in a trivial way, typified the
exacerbation of the financial crisis that led to the mass departures of
subsequent years.
Official contributions to such celebrations fell victim to the new
austerity. A few formal solicitations for a gift were circulated by the
VC in respect of the eminent, but often these have been silently
boycotted, as indeed have the events. Buy-backs have meant that some
don't depart but merely ooze away.
The time has come for a change, bearing in mind that we are enjoined
by our Royal Charter to set an example for all by our corporate life.
Mr McGregor, who recognises the importance of the cosmetic, might think
about budgeting modestly for such events. The benefits in terms of
goodwill and decency are likely to be incommensurate with the cost.
Meanwhile, to the likes of Ron Adelson, Nan Anderson, Prof Peter
Ayres, Angela Bidle, Winnie Clark, Kate Currie, Peter Dixon, Chris
Kenny-Levick, Prof John Mackenzie, Ron Woodley, Prof Peter Young, Ged
Watts, and myriads of others already gone or overlooked, even Prof
Michael Pye!.... grateful thanks, fond memories ... and try not to grin
too broadly when you see the rest of us.
2. NEWS
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BEST WISHES TO JAYNE CROOK AND SIMON CORLESS, who get married on
Saturday. A presentation on behalf of colleagues was made on Friday in
Cartmel Bar, including a speech by Barry Ford and a rhyming 'Life of
Jayne'.
MANY CONGRATULATIONS TO PROF JH BROOKE on his appointment to the
Andreas Idreos Professorship of Science and Religion at Oxford with
effect from 1 October 1999. Professor Brooke will be a member of Harris
Manchester College.
BEST WISHES TO BEV SKEGGS AND ALAN WARDE, who leave to take up chairs
of Sociology at Manchester.
AUT INDUSTRIAL ACTION is planned for this week when admissions results
are announced. The Admissions Office is functioning normally, but if
decisions are required from departmental officers taking action they
will not be available till Monday. This affects departments who cannot
make quota and will concern, for example, candidates who just fail to
make the grade. In the case of departments struggling for numbers it is
heroic self-sacrifice or mildly suicidal depending on your point of
view.
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH table of teaching quality assessment was the usual
methodologically primitive John Clare affair, but it placed us in the
premier league at 10th equal with Loughborough and alongside Warwick,
Durham, York, Nottingham, so locally no one is complaining. The table,
among a multitude of injustices, grossly mistreats the Scottish
Universities, which use a 4 grade scheme where the top grade is almost
never given. It was the object of a scathing, lip-curling editorial in
the Scotsman last week.
TODAY'S TIMES publishes a curious table in which we come 18th. It is a
survey conducted by MPW, the tutorial college, of major employers who
mention where they have recruited graduates from. Interestingly Oxford
drops in this dramatically, along with Imperial... When this survey was
last done in 1966 we came 31st.
AGRESSO, THE NEW COMPUTERIZED ACCOUNTING SYSTEM IS NOW OPERATIONAL. It
'went live' on purchase orders in selective areas from 1 July 99 and
campus wide from the 1st August. As planned in Martin van der Marel's
impressive military strategy, it replaced Prophecy on 1 August as the
financial management system for the institution. Some scepticism among
end users but much official enthusiasm in Finance.
THE OPEN DAY FOR INDUSTRY is a major and glossily publicized event
being enthusiastically promoted by Pro-VC Davies. It is an invitation
only affair and mainly affects the sciences and management school. 18th
September. Ambitious catering projects for the event but still some
obscurity about its funding.
FORMER SU PRESIDENT MARK ELKINS is working for the BBC. He writes
"It's just a "foot in the door" job - Team Assistant, which is
basically a posh name for admin, but I get to do some quite cool stuff.
It's in the Education Online dept., so it's all digital media, which is
a massive growth area. And I get to play with some pretty cool "toys",
I've been taking screen grabs and writing CDs etc. Much fun! And one of
the project managers I'm responsible to (4 in all - could get v.busy)
is in charge of the History 2000 website, which will be Britain's
biggest, and first, generic UK history website. This is particularly
cool for me, as it's what my degree was in, and I've already done a
fair amount of research, which was actually pretty interesting and
jolly good fun!"
FILE LOCKING VIRUS: During the last six months the WM97/Proteced virus
has been found frequently on campus and its 'trigger date' is
approaching. On 30th August 1999 all Word documents infected with
WM97/Proteced will become 'locked' and demand a password. The password
is: WM.MALAYSIA 1998 To disinfect ensure that you have Dr. Solomons
v7.94 or later installed.
For further details see
http://www.lancs.ac.uk/users/isstrain/Anti-vir.htm For help ring the
Staff Help Desk x93667
3. READERS' LETTERS
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NO disrespect to your journal in this comment - only to the placer of
the advert. I was appalled and saddened to read the following in the
small ads:
> Non-smoking academic/academic related staff only;
Whatever makes them think that a technician would be a less
responsible tenant than a research assistant (examples of non-academic
and academic-related posts chosen simply because I've been both).
If it said 'English people only' or 'Christian people only' she'd be
breaking the law. Sad that job-title-discrimination is still legal,
don't you think?
With all best wishes - get some sun and stay out of hospital,
Lisa Whistlecroft
Music
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4. SMALL ADS
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FOR SALE: Minuette Caravan, sleeps 4. Good condition, genuine reason
for sale. 595 pounds ono. Also awning (used only 5 times) - ?175 ono.
Contact Debra Thackrah on extension 93270 or email
D.Thackrah@Lancaster.ac.uk.
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NEW MEMBER OF STAFF seeks three-bedroomed, unfurnished house to rent
for six months, preferably in central Lancaster and with a garden, from
end September '99 - prepared to pay stlg400 to stlg500 per month."
Please e.mail: AJW13@leicester.ac.uk.
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CAR FOR SALE: Nissan Bluebird Saloon Premium (Black) -G Reg.; 1.6 L
-very good condition -runs well, power steering, sunroof -83 000 miles
-taxed and tested until October 1999. Driven for 1 year by visiting
post doc. who is returning to Canada. Asking 1200 (negotiable). Please
contact Tom Harner at: Univ tel. 592 578 Home tel. 382 401 email:
t.harner@lancaster.ac.uk
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ACCOMMODATION AVAILABLE - Immaculate one bedroomed flat suitable for
single person. Fully furnished and fitted, centrally heated and double
glazed. Bedroom, lounge, shower room and small kitchen well equiped
with fridge, freezer, microwave/fan oven, washer/dryer. Situated in
Scale Hall six miles from campus. Good bus service. Rent of 310 pounds
to include gas, electric and water rates. Telephone available.
Short/long lease. References and bond required. Non-smoking post
graduate, mature person, visitor or staff preferred. Contact Anne on
65918 evenings, or ext 94358 days.
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MICHAEL AUTY COMBINES COMPUTER SKILLS WITH A DESIGN SENSE. You could
have your own pages in just a few days. See an example of his work on
http://www.lums.lancs.ac.uk/mba. References are also available. Please
phone 01524-61847 or e-mail garfield@axford.co.uk.
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OLD COMPUTERS (or monitors/keyboards/processors) for sale. Please
contact Michela Masci via e-mail: M.Masci@lancaster.ac.uk.
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"THE MAYFAIR SET" DOES ANYONE HAVE A VIDEO COPY OF all 4 episodes of
BBC2's recent documentary series 'The Mayfair Set'? If so we would
very much like to borrow it to make a copy. Please contact me, Karin,
on k.tusting@lancs.ac.uk or 01524 847650 or via the Linguistics
department.
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QUIET ROOM FOR RENT IN CLEAN SUNNY TERRACED HOUSE from end of
September. Suitable for a Post Graduate or Mature Student. Must be a
non-smoker. Share lounge/kitchen/bathroom with one other post grad and
partner from January. Gas central heating, electric shower, washing
machine, sunny yard, cycle storage. 187.50 pcm month plus bills. (Will
reduce rent when three sharing to 125 pcm.) Deposit and refs required.
Phone 382219.
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EXCELLENT ISSUE - SHORTEST IN AGES!