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INKYTEXT 310
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Issue No 310 Tuesday 31st 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. News: Marriage, Health Centre, Catering, Research cost transparency,
Admissions, Jif bid, Cando.
2. Readers' Letters: Paul Bagguley, Wedding, Cycle Path, Plagiarism.
3. Small Ads: Accommodation, Vauxhall Astra Estate, Fairfield Association,
Free furniture, Room wanted, Fractions font.
Minutes, Amendments, Matters Arising
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Plagiarism: The father of one of the students accused of plagiarism is
planning to sue Edinburgh University for defamation. Glasgow also found
a number of cases, again in Computing.
1. NEWS
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CONGRATULATIONS TO DEBBIE CAMPBELL (Lonsdale 1991-1994, Psychology and
English) got married a week last Saturday to John Todd in Bowness. The
reception was at the Merewood Hotel overlooking Lake Windermere and the
weather was beautiful.
ADMISSIONS BUOYANT: for over a week now our clearing page has
announced no vacancies for home and EU students. In fact the take-up of
Insurance (CI) offers has been higher than expected (after last year's
decline) and the danger is of slightly over-shooting.
HEALTH CENTRE: Reports that a request for planning permission for a
health centre (on Green Lane adjacent to the hotel) have been turned
down by the City Planning Department on grounds of access and traffic
generation. More info please.
CHEMISTRY: A slightly worrying note appears in APP/99/099 (the
Academic Planning Committee's appointments sub group report for 12
June). "It was noted that a revised plan for delivery of Chemistry
teaching is in preparation and will be brought to APC before the next
budget round." What is worrying is that no trace of discussions of this
can be found in other public minutes, suggesting behind-the-scenes
activity... More later.
CATERING GOLD CARD: another attempt is being made by Catering to win
customer loyalty. The new Dining Club Gold Card will give members
breakfast and dinner 5 days a week at a cost of 250 pounds for the term
(ie 10 meals for 25 pounds). Dinner only is available at 150 pounds.
Similar previous ventures on campus have not been successful, leading
to a drop in 2nd term take up, transferability of tickets and endles
complaints about quality. Timing of meals is also a problem. The fact
remains that such schemes work perfectly well in halls elsewhere
provided there is no obvious alternative. Some bachelor staff may be
interested.
TRANSPARENCY OF RESEARCH COSTS: prepare to be inundated with demands
for nigh imponderable information. We have agreed that as a
'research-intensive' institution we are going to implement official
costing standards 2000/01. (Don't ask me what this means apart from
requests for info from Finance and Planning.) This is though to be a
highly unpopular move. (I think that's what's meant by "considerable
cultural and political difficulties in implementing the recommendations
as they currently stand".)
THE PLANNING OFFICER attended a meeting of the North West Universities
Association Management Group to consider a consortial "Herobic" (???)
bid. This is to be based on providing a regional interactive web portal
to facilitate contacts between universities and companies.
NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR SCHOOL LEADERSHIP: a letter has gone to the DfEE
proposing collaboration between the Management School and S Martin's on
the establishment of this (a headteacher's training centre?)
NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL: Mr Adams and Mr McGregor have
had further discussions with NERC on lease arrangements, facilities
management and legal issues if the Institute for Terrestrail Ecology
comes to Bailrigg. (Ongoing) The NERC Panel will reach a recommendation
in October and the Joint Executive Committee in November. No follow up
has been received on either academic or building issues. The steering
group will comprise Dir of Resources, Plannign Officer, Univ Secretary,
Prof Bill Davies, Martin van der Marel.
CANDO: Arrangements for transfer of CANDO were still uncertain late
last month. Incorporation in an institution is an essential
precondition for receiving the heritage grant.
3. READERS' LETTERS
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Regarding Louis Barfe's inquiry as to the whereabouts of Paul Bagguley
- he returned to Lancaster for his annual pilgrimage about six weeks
ago, having been working abroad for a couple of years. He was lining up
a job on the White Lund and a house in town....
Reuben Edwards
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And very pleasant the Pounder-Box wedding was too! The hotel, an
imposing Elizabethan manor in 25 acres of woodland, was an idyllic
setting. Grand halls, two fine cuisine restaurants, a leisure complex
and extensive grounds. The Bride and Groom certainly were set for a
weekend to remember. So were the guests.
The ceremony dispensed with the usual droll religious readings and
butchered organ music, but instead was blessed with readings from Terry
Pratchett, and pleasantly arranged sounds courtesy of Sony, Yamaha and
Wharfdale. Should anything have gone wrong, track one was ready to play
'Help' by the Beatles...
However the ceremony proceeded without a hitch, and rather amusingly
at one point when Zoe's young niece shouted out 'lager' as the
registrar was asking the onlooking witnesses if they knew of any lawful
impediment why Zoe and Simon should not be wed.
After the ceremony and photographs we returned to the hall for the
reception. The meal was splendid, with an ample supply of salmon, roast
beef, and lemon tort to feed the masses, and then some. Ther was a
magnificent ice sculpture as a centrepiece, and each table was provided
with a camera for photographs of the event to be taken from the eyes of
the happy couple's guests.
The speeches were highly entertaining, and many presents and
acknowledgements were given out to those who had helped with the
occasion. It was very much a personal wedding, with friends and
relatives being more involved than would usually be the case, as
evidenced by the splendid atmosphere that resulted.
The evening revealed a live band who played numbers from Van Morisson,
Steve Earl, The Corrs, Alanis Morisette, a splendid buffet spread for
those feeling a bit peckish. A lot of the guests appeared to be
addicted to helium, both in its vocal chord tightening / load-carrying
abilities. [NOTE: Eh? (Ed.)]
A splendid day that will be remembered by many, for a long time to
come.
Dave Ingles
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I would be grateful if you would carry on emailing Inkytext to me. I'm
afraid that I'm returning to the University despite all of the bad
things I read about the financial situation. Whatever people might
think up at Lancaster, it is still the nicest place to live and work in
the UK. Be seeing you, I hope!
Anthony Hesketh
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Please could you delete me from your list of subscribers from 27th
August (this Friday). I am one of those accepting severance from the
IELE, and will be going to join my husband in Oman. He subscribes to
Inkytext over there, so we can both keep up with what's going on.
Thanks.
Jane Parsons
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I must agree with your previous correspondent who suggested a change
in the course of the cycle path which runs behind the Health Centre.
The two 90 degree bends at either end of the new fence and the blind
spot in the middle of the 50 yard run in between make the path only
really suitable for occasional use by a few people.
If the University is serious about encouraging us all to use methods
of transport which do not overload other parts of the University
infrastructure, then a relatively small amount of money needs to be
spent here. This part of the path is really not good enough for use by
the number of people who do use it during term time.
Until changes are made to improve the safety of the path, perhaps
cyclists could fit bells or hooters to their bikes, and use them to
warn other cycle path users at this point on the path, especially
during the hours of darkness,
Michael Cowie
Learning Technology & Systems Programmer,
Information Systems Services
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Very interested to see a request on the admin-student mailbase list
asking for software that will detect plagiarism. Is such a thing
possible? No replies to the request as yet...
Anne Lincoln
Kent Institute of Art & Design
[NOTE: which might suggest a lack of computer literacy in this
particular group... There's lots of stylometric software that _claims_
to do so, and Professor Malcolm Coulthard of Birmingham is something of
an expert. For commercial use try www.plagiarism.com. In fact the whole
topic is so vast that I'm thinking of starting a degree scheme in the
subject.... Self-righteousness, authoritarianism and unthinking
adherence to habit dominate the thinking in the field and it's ripe for
advanced research. (Ed.)]
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3. SMALL ADS
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Student accommodation for 1999-2000: Three spacious, well furnished
study bedrooms are available from August 1999 in a large house close to
Lancaster Railway Station and the town centre. Suitable for
postgraduates and undergraduates; non-smokers only. Each room has its
own cooker and fridge; shared microwave and shared bathroom (with bath
and shower) for the three rooms. Central heating. Use of washing
machine and drier. 39 pounds or 43 pounds (largest room) per week
including bills. Tel: Lancaster 37288 or 842605
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FREE! NOT PARTICULARLY PLEASANT SUITE OF FURNITURE available free,
gratis and for nothing (can probably even deliver). The suite consists
of one two seater sofa (seen better days) and two arm chairs (both in
same unfashionable colour, but in contrast to the sofa, in very good
condition). All the furniture has a date with destiny on 4th Sept., but
it seems such a criminal waste to throw it away and they just might do
someone a good turn (as they did me). If you'd like one or more of
them, or just some more details, please contact Adrian on x93807 or via
email mailto:adrian@comp.lancs.ac.uk. (Note: These are most likely
stuffed with horsehair so almost certainly don't comply with the latest
BSI fire safety standards!)
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FUN DAY ON FAIRFIELD GREEN
SATURDAY 4 SEPTEMBER, NOON TILL 4PM
Bouncy castle Pony rides Tug o'war
Lots of games for children Stalls: cakes, produce, traditional baskets
etc.
Exhibition of a wood-turning lathe for furniture making
Funds in aid of The Fairfield Association, your friendly local
community and environmental charity.
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ROOM WANTED :Recently submitted postgrad seeking room to rent in
Lancaster area. Non smoking prffered. Telephone Dan on lacaster 841741
or e-mail: d.chubb@lancaster.ac.uk
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FOR SALE: N REG (1996) VAUXHALL ASTRA MERIT ESTATE. 38,000miles. Full
service history. Taxed/Tested. 6000.ono Tel 751006.
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