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INKYTEXT 312
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NEW ACCOMMODATION PROBLEMS
Issue No 312 Monday 13th September 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. Introduction to Plagiarism
2. News: Accommodation problems, Voice-mail, Nurse-led unit, SU 5-Year Plan,
Charter & Statutes, Peru, French School Meals.
3. Bloomsbury Diary [Held over]
4. Guest Contribution: Mr McGregor's Garden
5. Readers' Letters: John Shepherd, Car Parking, Debenture, Cycle track,
Open Day for Industry, etc.
6. Small Ads: MA Art Exhibition, Services Dining Club, Car free day,
Accommodation, Houses, Charities Auction, Environment Workshop,
Grad Social, UNISON Drop-in Information Lunch.
Minutes, Amendments, Matters Arising
------------------------------------
Fylde JCR is not being carpeted.
The Debenture has 26 years to run (till May 2025). Sorry - brain slip.
AMBAC charge typically between 25 and 50 basis points (1bp=0.01%) per
annum of the outstanding principal. Lancaster will be at the upper end
of the range, if not a little higher. (I make that 175K to start with.
On a reducing sum?) Ambac's fee is paid up front on the Net Present
Value of the cash payments. (AMBAC will lay off some of the risk to
other insurers.)
What our deal does is cap the losses of the original parties.
Lancaster gets out of the problem of funding a sinking fund whilst
receiving a much lower interest rate than they had originally factored
in to their estimates. The bondholders lose the majority of the credit
risk of owning the bonds, sacrificing some cash flows.
A reader learned in the arcanae of corporate financing suggests that
talk of 3 million "savings" over 26 years is misleading. We should
instead ask what is the NPV of the savings? (Answers please!)
CHEMISTRY: Substantial account of the dealings you know about on p3 of
Friday's Times Higher. The university spokeswoman adopted a holding
position.
1. EDITORIAL : INTRODUCTION TO PLAGIARISM
-----------------------------------------
This vast new discipline is much misunderstood. As a para-presbyterian
organ, welded to truth-as-we-see-it, this journal can't be expected
countenance dishonesty of course. Equally, however, it cannot stomach
cant.
Plagiarism is a university discipline par excellence. Seek a
definition and you find a departmental handbook, university rules, a
web-site offering guidance. Indeed, determining whether plagiarism
exists outside universities is a useful research topic. Breaches of
copyright, for example, are a subtly different thing. Patent law is at
once more precise but far more wide-reaching.
Definitions abound. Under the strictest of them, every essay you or I
ever read has probably been plagiarized, since somewhere the writer
refers to a fact that is not part of their personal experience and
which, since they must have read it somewhere, some say should have
been given an identifiable source.
Plagiarism is almost universally denounced as, in university terms, a
capital offence, repugnant to right-thinking people and situated
somewhere between matricide, incestuous rape, bestial necrophilia and
anthropophagy. A certain kind of staff are eager and proud to identify
it, the ability to do so being a itself a testament to their talent.
The reason for this is not claimed to be a breach of the Eighth
Commandment, which, though old-fashioned, would at least be
understandable, but rather that it gives a wrong impression of a
student's understanding and performance, so distorting our assessment
of their ability ... and ultimately degree standards.
Ah yes, standards.... Scientists, medics and engineers always tend to
be hottest on standards and argue from 'the need for expertise'. It
doesn't matter much what you know in the humanities and social
sciences, they say, but would you want to risk yourself in the hands of
a brain surgeon who had copied his exams, or on a bridge built by a
civil engineer who couldn't calculate load tolerances? Or trust your
legal translations to a student who did it by Babelfish.
This is of course fatuous. New graduates are not allowed anywhere near
brain surgery, legal translation or bridges. During the 'Killing
Season', in August, new interns can be seen helplessly flicking through
books at the end of the bed or appealing to nurses to tell them what to
do. Fledgling architects and civil engineers begin with lavatories and
corridors before graduating to more dangerous structures like
stairwells.
You find out how good people are at brain surgery by getting them to
do it, and if they copy successful masters in doing so so much the
better. If they obviously confuse the brain stem with the parietal
lobes their teacher steps in and takes over. Just as well, but a long
way from the exam room and cwa.
There are indeed ample grounds to believe that the denunciation of
plagiarism is a kind of protectionism practised by university staff and
based on outmoded conceptions both of property rights and of learning,
as will be argued next time.
Meanwhile two tips for would-be plagiarists. Best of all, do it
orally, with conviction, and everyone will admire you for it since
learning by rote has gone of fashion and so few people do memorize
well. You can always sketch a few inverted commas in the air, in best
Cambridge fashion, with the first two fingers of each hand.
Failing that, do it in translation.
2. NEWS
-------
ACCOMMODATION PROBLEMS: Not grave, and not priority cases, but 50 -
100 students likely to be involved. This comes two years after our
problem year, and the publication of the Davies Report intended to
ensure that, so far as possible, the problem was not repeated.
Admissions are comfortable with their figures and are only 'penny
numbers over'. The problem seems to arise from post-graduate and
overseas numbers.
VOICE-MAIL: Our new answering service, styled 'phone mail', starts on
Wednesday. A explanatory leaflet is on the way. Many thanks to John
Hunter and telephone staff. Review next time.
THE CHARTER AND STATUTES WORKING PARTY recently had an all-day meeting
to resolve its differences on the question of the composition of
Council and sum up its work to date. Much praise for Professor Rowe's
patient guidance through the wording of statutes that need to be
revised because of our change in practice or subsequent legislation.
These will be presented to Senate and elsewhere in annotated form,
explaining the reasons for the (sometimes necessary) changes.
Somewhat worrying reports that the working party resolved its
differences on the composition of Council amicably. Senate itself is to
be asked to discuss its own composition, with Prof Abercrombie arguing
for abolition of the elected college members and possibly others as
well (e.g. faculty elected) and their replacement by Assistant Deans.
This as part of an overall reduction in the size of Senate. Expect
dispute.
NURSE-LED UNIT: The more one hears about this the more bewildered one
gets. (Are there in fact other universities which do not have a
'doctor-led' University Health Service?) A meeting last week chaired by
Pro-VC Whitaker heard numerous concerns voiced by LUSU representatives.
Building work is taking place at the rear of the Security building to
convert the old computer techicians' workshop. There will eventually be
a waiting area, treatment room, nurse-manager's office and two beds.
Interviews for the post of nurse-manager are about to take place.
It is intended that existing health centre nurses, except Sister
Steer, will become university employees where they are not already, and
that the new unit will provide a 24-hour term time 'matron' facility,
including visits to student rooms where necessary. Nurse-practitioners
will provide all sorts of services under the aegis of the Health
Authority rather than the practice, just not sure exactly what. Staff
may also use the unit. The Health Centre will become simply a practice
renting premises on campus, where students may register if they wish.
Head of Student Welfare Sylvia Brennan is hopeful that the new
facility will be ready for Intro Week. Unfortunately agreement with the
Health Centre on the cessation of the university's contract with it,
which includes payment of a capitation fee, has not yet been reached.
The existing doctors see all sorts of drawbacks in the proposed
arrangements. Conflicting information on the service emanating from the
SU and Student Welfare.
PERU: Astonishing number of reports of people going to Peru for their
holidays. Dunno if they meet there. Andy Stafford (French) coincided
with Fiona Frank (Ed Research) and Michael Portillo.
STUDENTS' UNION 5 YEAR PLAN: Get yourself a copy of this if you
haven't seen one. Rather good and very thorough. Even enemies of
student unions would have to admire the honesty of the autocritique and
the soundness of their finances. On-going consideration of a club on
campus, much improved SCAN promised including an online version. Very
thorough appendix detailing market research on student satisfaction....
not as clearly or consistently presented as it might have been but
fascinating stuff. Complaints about the adequacy of computing
facilities of course, but that's what the decision to finsih the
Library entailed.
HOW TO GROW UP FRENCH OR FRENCH SCHOOL MEALS: Each local authority
in France is obliged to display outside primary schools the menu for
the week or the month, so that parents can check for themselves their
children's diet. Some obligingly include the proportion of
carbohydrates, lipids, fats, etc.
Found this list of the meals served in primary schools in the 13th
arrondissement of Paris in May. Four courses. Very correct and the full
price (unsubsidised) is 1.40. Some ideas for our own Catering's Gold
Card selection. Note the variety, the fact that chips only figure once
and the absence of cooked puddings. Also the selection of national
cheeses. The absence of choice is intended to discourage faddishness
(e.g. vegetarianism!) but apparently exceptions are made on
medico-social grounds. It is also extraordinarily simple food really...
no doubt the enfants insist it's boring.... Enjoy.
Week 1
Mon: Tomato salad, chicken breast, carrots, St Nectaire, eclair au chocolat
Tue: Cucumber salad, cottage pie, petit suisse, apple
Wed: Veg soup, eggs florentine, Vache Grosjean, caramel dessert
Thur: Smoked salmon salad, stew, camembert, ice cream with maple syrup
Fri: Mediterranean salad, fish pie/ tomato rissoles, brie, fruit
Week 2
Mon: Grated carrot, omelette, chips, fromage frais, filled biscuit
Tue: Gazpacho, steak hache, pasta shells, munster, clementines
Wed: Soup, chicken leg, peas or carrots, petit suisse, kiwi fruit
Thur: Cheese pancake, sauteed veal, cauliflower, yoghourt, tinned fruit
Fri: Tomato salad, fried hake, mashed potatoes, junket, banana
3. EDITORIAL BLOOMSBURY DIARY
-----------------------------
[Held over]
4. GUEST CONTRIBUTION: MR MCGREGOR'S GARDEN
--------------------------------------------
When Beatrix Potter wrote the 23 original Peter Rabbit Books she had
little idea how popular they would immediately become. With the
establishment of the Ruskin Library and the conclusion of the tale of
the Late Gemma Bovery it seems appropriate to celebrate Beatrix
Potter's contribution to literature by inviting your readers to
collaborate in creating a 24th Tale, illustrating the relevance of her
insights to the contemporary university scene.
The first instalment appears below. Readers are now invited to compose
future instalments for publication.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
Chapter 1
Once upon a time there were four little Rabbits, and their names were
Flopsy,
Mopsy,
Cotton-tail,
and Peter.
They lived with their Mother in a sand-bank, underneath the root of a
very big fir-tree. 'Now, my dears,' said old Mrs Rabbit one morning,
'you may go into the fields or down the lane, but don't go into Mr.
McGregor's garden: your Father had an accident there; he was put in a
pie by Mrs. McGregor.' 'Now run along, and don't get into mischief. I
am going out.'
[TO BE CONTINUED... BY YOU?]
5. READERS' LETTERS
-------------------
I visited Lancaster briefly in mid-August and found that people had
read in Inkytext that I had retired. In fact I am Head of Seismic
Research at the University of the West Indies. I run a small department
(8 academic and 16 other staff) which monitors earthquakes and volcanos
throughtout the eastern Caribbean region (including Montserrat).
"Retirement" was a convenient method of leaving Lancaster. I can be
contacted at sruuwi.tstt.net.tt or johnbshepherd@hotmail.com.
John B Shepherd
Seismic Research Unit
The University of the West Indies
St. Augustine
Trinidad
------------------------------------
There is not going to be a carpet installed in the Jcr in Fylde. The
carpets that were seen were being stored for installation into the
residence blocks. As a side issue, no one knows (or seems willing to
find out) when the bar will be repaired.
I am told that this building fiasco has happened before in Grizedale.
And Pendle. And probably a few other places as well. Will they ever
learn?
Huw Owen
--------------------------
I send / receive quite a few emails with attachments and have rarely
had a problem.
Andrew Sellers -LUTV
[NOTE: Hmm - you're lucky in your choice of correspondents I think.
(Ed.)]
---------------------------
Brigette Theunissen-Hughes wonders why all car drivers, irrespective
of how frequently they drive to the University, have to pay the same
parking fee. I think this is mainly because, when it comes to transport
and environmental policies aiming towards greater sustainability, this
institution is either uninterested or incompetent. Probably both.
Lancaster University is surely the biggest traffic generator, and the
most unsustainable workplace, in our area; and, from what I can tell,
absolutely nothing is being done about it.
A 'pay-as-you-use' parking system would be one improvement. This might
encourage more people to think twice before driving onto campus, and
get them to think about the various alternatives.
Of course, if the University was serious about shifting the transport
choices of its employees and students, the daily parking fee should be
higher than the price of a return bus ticket between the town centre
and campus.
But why is Lancaster University, with so much expertise in
environmental disciplines, such a dinosaur when it comes to facing the
challenge of moving beyond car culture? Incidentally, September 22nd is
Car Free Day - an opportunity to experiment with, and perhaps be
surprised by, alternative means of getting around.
Best wishes
Dave Horton
[NOTE: I think the answer is that no one currently in authority has
the enthusiasm or motivation as the John Wakeford/Barry Rowlingson/etc.
lobby. Hence we have temporarily abandoned our erstwhile ambition to be
a 'green' and 'health promoting' university. I well remember Prof Finch
promoting car-free day. Can't remember if she biked or came by bus.
(Ed)]
----------------------------
In response to the letter about car parking charges... <Surely there
must be a system whereby one could get a reduced fee for finding ways
of not needing to park on campus>. I would hesitate to recommend to the
University that they start charging for NOT parking on campus...
Mark Elkins
Team Assistant BBC Education Digital Media
mark.elkins@bbc.co.uk
----------------------------------
I am as ever intrigued and interested to view your electronic organ.
However, a piece in 311 caught my eye in particular. The debenture bond
was issued 5-ish years ago. As I understand it, the signatories to the
agreement are joint and severally liable for the 35M it raised for up
to 7 years.
At the time, many people who were required to be signatories were not
especially happy at having to do so, and may have been concerned about
any future changes to the agreement. In the Student's Union at the
time, I remember feeling very much bounced into the decision, as to
refuse would have jeopardised the whole bond issue.
The only person (or so we were told) the University was able to exempt
was Princess A. We also felt strongly that the interest rate that the
University proposed to launch at was too high, and that waiting might
achieve a better result. Would the University agree that in hindsight
LUSU was correct?
[NOTE: Everyone would agree that... but the finance boys don't seem to
think there's much in it, not for example, as much as the difference
between the 9.75 percent we are paying and the 5.25 percent mortgages
you can get today. Time will tell. (Ed.)]
My main concern is that the terms of the bond agreement appear to be
changing withount notification. As a signatory, and so therefore liable
for 35M should the whole thing go arse-up, I'm a bit worried about
this. No attempt (as far as I am aware - the Alumni office has my
address if required) has been made to contact me, and I'm sure that I'm
not alone in this.
If changes are being made that I am responsible for, I feel that it is
correct for the University to at least contact relevant people in order
that we can take independent professional advice if necessary.
Anybody in the Finance Office care to explain?
Paul McGreal
LUSU Officer 94-96
[NOTE: Curiously enough there are very few of the original Council
signatories still members of Council.... But I think you'll find that
the signatories' liability only covers the truth of statements made in
the prospectus. It could not normally be right for past members of a
governing body to seek to thwart or trammel the actions of the present
members, could it? (Ed.)]
-------------------------------------
Since large screens were recently erected along the cycle path (from
health centre townwards), there is now a high risk that cyclers crash
into each other. Would it be possible to mount a few mirrors that allow
cyclists to look ahead?
Stefan Vogt
Department of Psychology.
--------------------------------
Think of the pollution if the whole country scrapped every 'fridge and
cooker after 5 years. The reputation for altering buildings is also
notorious. Must we spend 100,000 pounds a year on Ruskin ? He was not
exactly in the same class as Goethe, Beethoven or Einstein.
Max Lazarus
[NOTE: Nonetheless the refurbishment of residential premises is one of
the things agreed as part of the negotiation of rent rises, and wear
and tear on student kitchens is higher than in the average family home.
Student accommodation has to pay for itself. The status of Ruskin is
not the issue, what matters more is that the Senate never knew it was
agreeing to the running costs until the project became unstoppable.
(Ed)]
--------------------------
Just to say that the Education Research department will also be
represented at the Open Day for Industry, where we'll be ensuring that
training officers from the attending organisations will hear about what
we can offer in terms of 'adding value to training through evaluation,
through developing basic skills among lower qualified workers, and
through developing technology'. The Dept. of Continuing Ed will also be
there.
Fiona Frank
--------------------------
6. SMALL ADS
------------
ART EXHIBITION
THE FIRST MA DEGREE SHOW
Tuesday 14th And Wednesday 15th September
Peter Scott Gallery
11.00 - 4.00
Special Tuesday Evening Opening till 8.00
Works for Sale
-------------
TO LET: COTTAGE IN GALGATE, 1 bedroom, parking, garden at rear, suit
professional couple, non-smokers, available immediately, 6 month let or
over. Telephone: 01524 68130
------------------
UNIVERSITY/SERVICES DINING CLUB
The guest speaker at the next meeting of the USDC on Thursday 25
November '99 will be the Rt Hon Menzies Campbell, Convenor of the
Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs, Defence and Overseas Development
Committee and Spokesman for the Liberal Democrats in Parliament on
Defence. Anyone interested in joining the USDC is invited to contact
Janet Clements on (5)94477 or e mail j.clements@lancaster.ac.uk
-----------
Wednesday 22nd September
CAR FREE DAY
Take the bus, use your feet, ride a bike or catch a train
Watch out for creative and innovative stunts during the day
Join in the celebrations:
Street procession leaving from Market Square at 4pm
Bands, dancing, fancy dress, bikes, roller-bladers:
an authentic carnival experience!
---------
WE ARE 3 CATS WHO TOLERATE SMOKING. We are offering a big room on a
cul-de-sac with an oblique view of the canal. The house we reside in
has most mod cons and is situated 5 minutes walk from the city centre.
For further details ring Pat on Lancaster 62700.
----------
The Fairfield Association
and Lancaster District Council for Voulntary Service
are arranging a:
CHARITIES AUCTION OF GOOD AND PROMISES
Arranged in aid of charities in Lancaster and Morecambe
MAYORAL SUITE, TOWN HALL, LANCASTER
11 am on SATURDAY 2 OCTOBER
(Items will be on view from 10 am)
AUCTION LIST BOOKLET PRICE 1.00
(The price of this booklet includes your entrance fee)
Auctioneer: Mr Mike Fisher
(Fisher Wrathall, Surveyors and Estate Agents)
Light refreshments available at the auction
Please come along.
A list of the 109 items for auction so far can be
seen at: http://www.ling.lancs.ac.uk/charities/auction.htm
Booklets are available for purchase on campus in Waterstones and the
Trading Post. Or you can contact Mick Short (Linguistics: Tel 93035,
email: m.short@lancaster.ac.uk)
We will continue to accept donations of goods and services for auction
until the end of September, and will issue a suplementary list on the
day of the auction, so it is not too late to donate if you want to.
-------------------
LODGING AVAILABLE. Retired academic living in a comfortable and roomy
house close to the station offers pleasant lodging to a responsible,
civilised and non-smoking person over the academic session. Would suit
visiting single academic person seeking accommodation on weekdays only.
Tel 01524 66567
----------
STUDENT ACCOMMODATION TO LET - 5 single rooms available now. Fully
furnished with gas central heating, double glazed, shower,
fridge/freezer, washing m/c, microwave etc. Council Accredited Scheme.
39 pounds pp pw + gas, elec and phone bills. Close to
University/shops/buses etc. Tel: Lancaster 63759.
------------------
Environmental Knowledge
UNCERTAINTY, AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY
Centre for the Study of Environmental Change (CSEC)
Lancaster University
An ESRC-GEC funded workshop series
First workshop:2 pm 20th to 1 pm 21st September, 1999
SCIENCE
This workshop series will address new challenges in the sphere of
'environmental knowledge', building on fresh understandings emerging
from both academic and public policy worlds. The first workshop will
focus on Science, and will combine presentations from Jon Turney (UCL),
Dan Osborn (ITE), Helen Wallace (Greenpeace) and Brian Wynne (CSEC)
with discussion sessions. For further information and to book a place,
please contact Jane Hunt, CSEC (j.hunt@lancaster.ac.uk).
------
THE LAST BIG SOCIAL OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR!
Farewell to this year's finishing Masters and Ph.D. folk.
Friday September 17th
GSA's GRADUATE SUMMER NIGHTS 4:
THE BIG GOODBYE
at Graduate College, a last chance to catch up with
and get plastered alongside new and old friends. This event is open to
everyone, students, staff, whatever, and the format for the night is as
follows:
* The bar opens at 7pm, with GEORDIE NICK'S GENEROUS PORTION (part 1)
of DIRECTORS' BITTER at the special price of 1.15 per pint, an offer
available ALL NIGHT. Furthermore, the first FIVE people to enter the
bar after 7pm and prove to the satisfaction of GEORDIE NICK the bar
steward that they have just finished a Masters or Ph.D. will be
entitled to A FREE DRAUGHT PINT OF THEIR CHOICE!
* At 8pm, the GRAD BAR QUIZ sponsored by ABC Cinemas begins. Big Prizes
as usual..cinema tickets, wine etc, and a special round on the events,
sight s and sounds of the last twelve months.
* At 10pm, GEORDIE NICK'S GENEROUS PORTION (part 2) comes into effect,
with cans of CARLING and STONES at the special price of A31.00, ideal
takeaways for...
* RETROSCOPE, THE GRADCO DISCO! Beginning at 10pm in the Graduate
Lounge and carrying on through to the early hours. Drink, dance and
dance some more to the retro sounds of the resident DJs.
Hope to see you all there...come and help give our departing
Lancastrians a good send off!
As ever, any questions about these events should be directed to
p.miller@lancaster.ac.uk under the subject 'social life'.
------------
UNISON 'DROP-IN' / INFORMATION LUNCH
Wednesday 15th September
12:30pm - 1:30pm
Furness Senior Common Room
There will be lunch, information about UNISON services.
There is no hard sell of anything - it is a very informal event.
Non-members and members are most welcome, so please do pop in, even if
it is only for a sandwich and a glass of wine or orange.
For further details contact Veronica Longmire, Students' Union, X93768
--------------------