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INKYTEXT 320
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Issue No 320 Thursday 2nd December 1999
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Editorial correspondence should be sent to InkyText@lancaster.ac.uk
Subscription requests to Inkytext-distribution-request@lists.lancs.ac.uk
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AGENDA
Minutes of the last issue
1. News: Death, Jif Bids, The Venue, Committees, UMAG, etc.
2. Readers' Letters: Dates, Parking, Carping, Catering.
3. Small Ads: Events, accommodation, furniture, bicycle, etc.
MINUTES OF THE LAST ISSUE
-------------------------
It is Fylde coffee bar, not Fylde JCR, which is being spoken of as
possible non-alcoholic refreshment area. For such an area to work it
would have to be serviced and provide refreshments in the evening.
Machines are no substitute. Experience shows that in our context this
would probably be at a loss and requires a willingness to see catering
ventures as a service rather than a profit-making enterprise.
1. NEWS
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DEATH OF WALTER KIRBY: It was with great regret that we learned of the
sudden death of the perennially cheerful and polite Mr Walter Kirby,
Senior Porter in the Great Hall. A regular traveller on the bus to
Bowerham, Walter came to the University in December 1983 and has worked
in the Great Hall since 1985. He was found dead at home where he had
lived alone since the death of his wife two years ago. His funeral took
place on Thursday 2nd December at 10am at Scotforth Cemetery. Donations
are welcome to the British Heart Foundation.
MANY CONGRATULATIONS TO INKYTEXT SUBSCRIBER MARTIN TROW, the eminent
sociologist of education from Berkeley, who receives an honorary
doctorate at next week's graduation ceremony. He is believed to be the
first subscriber so honoured, since neither Professor Ross nor
Professor Hanham subscribed personally.
A NATIONAL PRESS CONFERENCE is to be held by HEFCE and the Joint
Research Councils on Monday 6th to milk publicity from the JIF monies.
Total blackout on news till then - no university appears to have heard.
The likelihood is that we will get some but not all of the money for
the Env Sci bid, which means back to the drawing board plus a battle
for internal resources. High hopes for the Informatics Institute. (A new
bid from particle physics is in preparation and is related to one of
two Physics bids under the JREI which will announce results within the
month. A working group to define the Social Sciences/Management JIF
bid/s has been convened with a view to submitting at Easter 2000. )
SADLY LITTLE PUBLICITY, national or local, for last week's national
NUS demonstration on loans in London. Several Lancaster coaches went
down for the event.
YESTERDAY'S UMAG congratulated Mr McG on the very satisfactory
auditors' report. It also considered the extensive Estates Strategy
under way and means by which agreement on priorities can be reached and
the whole thing can be funded.
UMAG suggested a Ruskin bid to the National Heritage Lottery fund
could be restructured to identify recurrent fixed costs which could be
attributed to the project and thereby make a more significant
contribution to reducing University costs. This contrasts even more
bizarrely with the 700 pound running costs allotted to the Peter Scott
Gallery.
STAN CINNAMOND, director of teh Centre for Sport, sees UMAG next week
to explain the facts of life relating to the sports centre and pitches.
(Members, other perhaps than Mr Adams, are not regular visitors.) AU
President James Crouch will attend separately to give his equally
forceful endorsement.
DESPITE THE FACT THAT THREE of its number (50%) were members of the
Charter and Statutes working party, UMAG, biting twice on the cherry,
has asked that body to reconsider many of its laboriously agreed
proposals. (This is thought to be a product of Prof Davies conversion
to corporate management as a result of sitting on too many
inter-university commmittees.)
In particular they want support for the populist and egalitarian
inclusion of assistant staff as members of the University (a la John
Lewis Partnership) with related amendments to statutes to bring them
into the same position as academic staff under section 206 of the
Education reform Act 1988. (Legal advisors say that this would
effectively mean the end of visitorial jurisdiction and is unlikely to
be accepted by the Privy Council, but the argument is too long and
unpopular to rehearse here.)
They also want faculty constituencies for elections to Senate and
Council rather than trusting the electorate to ensure representation
where it is compatible with merit and ability. And academic Council
members also to be members of Senate. And the Pro-VCs as voting members
not merely in attendance. (Not that votes on Council are as common as
some would like). Attack on college representation on Senate of course
- but that is all the more necessary since we did away with the
poweerful Committee for Colleges. And a smaller Senate. And recognition
for the new role of APC (at present wimpish compared to the all
powerful Finance Committee - a relationship that all accept Messrs
McGregor, Cann and co agree should be reversed.)
THE VENUE is likely to be ready for next week's graduation - just!
Workmen are doing the noisy work at weekends and in the evening in
order to avoid disturbing Counselling upstairs. Raised eyebrows in
Buildings about the choice of designer and the tendering process. The
development is being master-minded by Mr Peek and rising star Martin
van der Marel. Soups and sandwiches by the company that makes them for
Costa coffee are the staple fare. Expect coffees to be from 60/70P
upwards. Wine from 1.95 a glass. No news on staffing (which puzzles
Catering). Bets are on as to how long the ambitious promised opening
hours can be maintained.
COMPLAINTS FROM POPEYES/MOONLIGHTS that when he took out his lease for
the Edward Roberts Court (Tower Avenue) premises he was promised there
would be no other sit-down Catering development in the area. Complaints
also from Mr Wibbly-Wobbly who points out that he provides Hallal meat.
Second thoughts about the wisdom of losing Penn's as a venue for
conference catering and events down south, proving again the wisdom
of wider consultation in the first place.
LAST CHANCE TO SEE THE BRACAVAL exhibition - outside the Rare Books
room in the library extension. Excellent example of fine hand printing
and paper-making: 'livres d'artiste' for bibliophiles. The artist and
publisher Bernard Bracaval attended for the opening himself. The even
was subsidised by the Yves Hervouet Fund for Anglo-French relations.
(Magnificent catering - dim-sum and amuse-gueules - congratulations!)
A SUBGROUP OF THE NURSE-LED UNIT working party met recently to deal
with a list of student queries about the operation of the thing. The
university had provided written answers to the students' detailed
questions. Unfortunately so had the practice and the Area Health
authority and there are claimed to be important discrepancies which (a)
justify student reticence and (b) leave an amicable solution still far
out of sight.
LAST WEEK SAW ANOTHER FORCES DINNER this time addressed by a
frighteningly hawkish Menzies Campbell MP, Liberal Defence spokesman.
The officers seem to enjoy these. Much praise for the splendid meal -
no one has ever said our chefs can't cook when given the chance.
THE WORKING PARTY to review the functioning of the University Council
also met. Whispers of dissent and back-tracking on some of the propsals
that seemed acceptable to the last Council.
THE AGENDA FOR THE LAST STAFF DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE included a
proposal to lay the commmittee down and to agree the distribution of
its business to other bodies. Following on the abolition of the
Transport Sub Committee, this is perhaps yet another example of the
Deputy VC's 'rationalisation' which we could do without. (And which
increase the likelihood of rash 'operational' decisions being taken
without consultation.)
REPORTS FROM THE US that anyone who bought or leased a Toshiba laptop
computer before November 8, 1999 (prolly recently, i.e. within the past
year) is eligible for a rebate in the hundreds of dollars, due to a
minor flaw related to the floppy disk drive. For information on this,
call 1-888-353-8139 or go to www.csd.toshiba.com and click on "FDC
Settlement."
PEOPLE KEEP ASKING about the bona fides of The Hunger Site, which does
appear to figure on UN sites, From the November 18th 1999 NY Times:
"... Shoppers who are low on funds or just browsing can head to the
Hunger Site (www.hungersite.com), where it's not necessarily the
thought, but the click that counts. Hitting the Donate Free Food button
will call up a page of banner advertisements from companies including
Games2Learn and ProFlowers. Each company pays the Hunger Site a
half-cent every time its advertisement appears, enough to buy a
quarter-cup of rice for the United Nations World Food Program, which
serves 80 countries. The combined sponsors add up to about three cents
for each click, ultimately generating 100 tons of food each week, said
John Breen, a computer programmer in Bloomington, Ind., who opened the
site in June."
THE CAMPUS BUSCAM has now become the FoyerCam (on an experimental
basis, as Susan Armitage is asking the library staff what they think of
it), and an older computer has been turned into the BusCam. Both can be
seen in the Learning Technology Pages.
A MEMORIAL SERVICE for Jeremy Boothroyd, a post graduate student who
died on September 23rd, was held on Tuesday.
2. READERS' LETTERS
-------------------
Your letter from Stella of Music re odd and even dates prompts me to
wonder:
(a) why she felt it helpful to give us an example of a date that was neither
odd nor even
(b) why she specified 13-4-89 rather than 13-4-1989
(c) (most interesting of all) why she chose that date, one of the most
significant in my entire life. Should I be inferring some hidden
numerological resonance here?
Mike Wright
Management Science
-------------------------------
Non prolix letter. Non-alcoholic Fylde JCR? Tu rigoles, quoi?
[NOTE: Sorry, my fault. The coffee bar was once upon a time called
the JCR though, wasn't it? (Ed)]
---------------------
After many issues with some kind of centred ending such as MUST GO FOR
A SANDWICH or MORE LETTERS NEXT TIME, the last two issues have been
deprived of such. This leads to about a thousand people scrolling down
looking for more, which must contribute in a small way to global
warming. Have you run out of endings? You could try BREVITY RULES OK or
CYCLE TRACKS FOREVER.
ANONYMOUS (not the same as "anonymous please" in the last issue).
[NOTE: Get a new mailer. Mine doesn't do that. I use UNIX of course. (Ed.)
-----------------------------
The worst abuse of disabled parking that I have seen occurred on
Arnside Promenade. A 'disbled parker' parked on a double yellow line,
causing considerable congestion and went off for several hours on a
cross-bay walk. I saw it myself - I swear it is true.
Colin Jex
---------------------------------
May I also support the provision of unlicensed premises on campus. I
know a number of Muslims who would ideally prefer somewhere to go on
campus to have a halal snack or meal instead of going all the way into
the town centre.
I think it is important for us as a multi-cultural University to
ensure that all cultures are catered for here. It would be great to
have a place to go for a meal at the end of the working day as well as
bringing new variety to the diets of others at the University.
Donna Coward
[NOTE: I'm sure I agree. It's just a question of ensuring it can be done
profitably and at Lancaster evening catering always seems to fail. The
licence for Penn's has been transferred to The Venue. (Ed)]
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3. SMALL ADS
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ACCOMODATION WANTED: Visitor requires houseshare or housesit in
Lancaster area from Jan to June 2000. Single, mature, NS, home-owner.
Ph 0191 374 3757 or email p.cragg@afis.canterbury.nz
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CAR FOR SALE : Rover Metro 1.1 1992, J reg Rover Metro, Red, 2 owners,
Sigma Alarm, sunroof, radio/cassette, 69,000 miles, 8 months MOT, Taxed
till Jan 2000, 1499 o.n.o. Tel: 01524 851684 (after 6pm)
------------
HOUSE SHARING: An easy going, responsible and mature person wanted to
share a two bedroomed house with another easy going, responsible and
mature person. Rent negotiable. Email c.holland@lancaster.ac.uk
----------------
TO LET: LARGE 2 BEDROOMED MAISONETTE in centre of Hest Bank,
magnificent views over Morecambe Bay. Gas central heating, 50 metres
away from local shops/post office. £450.00 per month. Telephone ext.
92183 Monday's, Tuesday's, Wednesday's any other time after 6.00pm
telephone 015395 61050.
----------------
FOR SALE: OLD MAHOGANY CHEST OF DRAWERS - 4 drawers plus 2 minatures
150 ono Also Electric guitar: Aria TA-40 semi-acoustic, nice condition
includes gig bag also in good condition asking 165 pounds. contact
015242 62403 evenings
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TO LET flat in quiet cul de sac close to Lancaster City Centre.
Lounge, kitchen, bathroom, 2 bedrooms, parking space, garden. ?300 per
month. Bond and references required. Contact June Rye,
j.rye@lancaster.ac.uk or tel. 592497/382147
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THE WORLD AIDS DAY EVENT organised by No 6 Cafe/restaurant to be held
Sat 4th December at the Phoenix Club, Phoenix St, Lancaster. The event
involves a disco and auction of a number of donations. Tickets can be
bought for 3.50 from No 6 cafe, China Street, Lancaster. Last years
event raised 700 pounds for HIV organiusations.
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ROOM TO LET/house sit a cottage in lovely hamlet 3 miles from the
University. Suit visiting staff or postgraduate student. Available from
mid-January. #50 per week. Phone 793288.
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INSTITUTE FOR CULTURAL RESEARCH - VISUAL CULTURE SEMINAR SERIES
"FROM 'MORPHINOMANIA' TO 'HERION CHIC': ENVISIONING NARCOTIC ADDICTION"
Tim Hickman (Lancaster University)
Wednesday, 1 December
4.30 pm - Furness SCR
Tim Hickman received his Ph.D. at the University of California, Irvine
and taught at the University of Gottingen, Germany before coming to
Lancaster University this year. He is the author of The Secret Leprosy
of Modern Days: Narcotic Addiction, Modernity and Professional Medical
Authority in the United States, 1870-1920 (forthcoming) and other
articles on narcotics and professional medicine in the United States.
His interests span a broad range of topics in American cultural
history, particularly issues of representation, power and the
construction of racial, gendered and class-based identities. His
current projects are clustered around an exploration of the multiple
meanings of "modernity" in American culture.
-----------------
FOR SALE: Lady's or girl's bicycle (town bike), 24" wheels, 5-speed,
with carrier, front basket, lights and pump. New tyres and mudguards.
Suit girl or small woman looking for proper bike, not fashion
accessory. 30 pounds o.n.o. Lancaster 846878 or e-mail
a.heward@lancaster.ac.uk.
--------------
FOR SALE: Bike and saxophone. Boy's Peugeot bike (9-14 years), RAD
formula, Shimano Index 15 gears, 15" frame. In excellent condition. 50
pounds ono. V.B.I.Elkhard alto saxophone also in excellent condition.
Originally 650 pounds, accept 250 pounds ono. Contact 60496 or
G.Easton@lancaster.ac.UK.
----------------
ULMS, the University Music Society has concerts on hte next two
Sundays. Last Sunday's Wind Band and Big Band concert was a rousing
starter - if you missed it, make sure you get to the rest!
Sunday 5th December Choir Concert
Beethoven Mass in C, op 86
Rutter Magnificat
Conducted by Clare Beard and Martin Mason.
Sunday 12th December Symphony Orchestra Concert
Wagner Rienzi Overture
Walton A Shakespeare Suite: Richard III
Grieg Peer Gynt
Sibelius Symphony 1.
Conducted by Noel Bertram and Louise Grinham.
Both concerts start at 7.30pm and take place in the Great Hall.
Tickets are available on the door and cost 5.00 adult : 3.00 concession
(including students) : 2.00 ULMS Member.
-----------------
Professor Alan Irwin, Social & Human Sciences, Brunel University, will
give a lunchtime seminar on the Public Understanding of Science Issue,
in Fylde Senior Common Room (B Floor), Thursday Dec 2nd at 12.30pm.
Alan has directed the ESRC new initiative in PUS since 1997, and is
submitting a major new programme proposal to ESRC in this area. He
wishes to obtain input to this proposal, and will use the seminar to
air his ideas and obtain feedback from Lancaster friends and
colleagues. Please come and join in.
For further information contact: Janet Hamid, CSEC
------------
Department of Educational Research
Seminar in Cartmel Senior Common Room, Tuesday December 7 from 5.00 -
6.30pm (tea at 4.30).
Speaker: Professor Martin Trow (University of California, Berkeley):
'The Sources of American Exceptionalism in Higher Education'.
Professor Trow is to be awarded an Honorary D Litt at the University's
Social Sciences and Humanities postgraduate degree ceremony on the
afternoon of December 8. He will draw on many years of research and
publication: on public policy for higher education, and on what he has
described as the public and private lives of higher education, in the
USA, Europe - notably the UK - and worldwide.
All welcome. For further information contact Oliver Fulton.
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CONDUCTING TODAY - YAN PASCAL TORTELIER
Yan Pascal Tortelier, Chief Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic, the
University's Orchestra-in-Residence, will discuss his career and work with
Professor Denis McCaldin on Wednesday 8th December from 2.15 - 3.15 in the
Frankland Lecture Theatre in the Faraday Building.
ALL WELCOME
At 4.30 pm Mr Tortelier will receive the degree of Doctor of Music (honoris
causa).
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GASTRONOMIC ROUND-UP NEXT TIME