h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Wouldn't want it left out, despite it's atrocious decision to axe its Maths department.

http://www.hull.ac.uk/ is very comprehensive. History, location, fact, figures - probably everything's in there. Lots of alumni, but most are honorary degrees rather than people who studied there. Though Sarah Greene and John Prescott are not to be sniffed at. Especially the latter. Oh, and Anthony Minghella. And Philip Larkin brooded over the books in the Brymor Jones for thirty years.

http://www.hullstudent.com/ Student Union site.

There's a relevant handful of lines referring to Hull in a Blackadder sketch too. Which can be found in Wikipedia. Possibly its greatest claim to fame.

It had a reputation for high levels of graduate employment, which companies doing milk runs seemed to agree with and which I noticed is still claimed on the official site.

There was a reputation for common sense and practicality. In the occupation of the admin block during one of those protests about finances (late 70s and over accomodation costs I think), what the local paper picked up on was the cleaning rota the protesters had organised. Sort of summed up Hull Uni. at the time .

If you want a volunteer for the basics, history, location, etc I could do that. I can't give any recent experience info though.
Waz

'the local paper' - yeah, memories returning - in fact the picture they published was an 'occupying' student weilding a brush and dustpan .

Thanks Waz! So what *is* happening to the maths department?

The university itself seems to be regularly rated in the top five. And it's been voted the UK's friendliest university!

Ahh I remember Blackadder - 'I knew she was a spy...when talking to her, I referred to the three great English universities – Oxford, Cambridge and Hull.'

Top five? Really? I'll have to find out where these rankings are. And what they are, I saw references to what looked like Govt. performance type measues.

Friendlist - not surprised, it was a friendly place. Though not, apparently towards Maths students anymore. They axed Maths last year.

The Blackadder lines might make a good intro.

I know of someone on-site and still around, who went to Hull recently. If they don't turn up here, I'll go ask if they've recent info to add once the basics are covered.
Waz

I was a student in the Chemistry Dept (opposite the BJ Library) from 1967 if it's relevant

Well, as someone who just finished a degree in mathematics with French at the university of Hull, I can tell you everything you need to know about the maths department. If anyone cares? Basically nobody was applying to do maths at Hull, so they decided to close the department. I know in my year (which started in 2002) 50% of the students were foreign, which just shows how few British students wanted to do maths at Hull.

Oh, and maths isn't axed as such, just no new students for the last two years, and most of the lecturers have moved on. Some are staying though, to provide maths modules for degrees like physics and computer stuff.

Bonjour Cyzaki, ca va?

[Hi Cyzaki, how are you?]

Have you finished your exams then? Some of our poor students don't finish until the end of next week!

annie

Yup, all finished, I get my results on Monday and graduate on July 10th.

I hope all went well, Cyzaki!

Well, slight change of plan, results are out on the 26th now, because they figure that now the lecturers aren't striking any more they might as well wait until they have the full results before telling us how we did.