Journal Entries
Hotting up
Posted Oct 26, 2011
It's the time of year when overtime starts for me ...
We now have our allocation of 'Open' applications as well as the ones who applied 'direct' to our college, and today I've ploughed through well over 100 forms, checking that they have all submitted the correct information. As a fair proportion of Open applications come from students outside the UK, who are not necessarily familiar with the UCAS/Cambridge application procedures, this involves lots of follow-up emails. Should get it finished tomorrow.
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Latest reply: Oct 26, 2011
Festival of Ideas
Posted Oct 23, 2011
Went to a couple of events yesterday. http://www.cam.ac.uk/festivalofideas/
The Festival started a few years ago as an arts/humanities counterpart to the Cambridge Science Festival, which has been established for a long time. They are both opportunities for the general public (and children in particular) to get a taste of what is going on in the university, and very enjoyable they are too.
Yesterday I went to a talk by Richard Sennett (Professor of Sociology, New York University and LSE) on 'The Left in crisis - what is next?'. He was very interesting on the contrast between what he calls the social Left and the political Left, and his experiences at the Wall Street and St Paul's occupations.
The second event was a panel of speakers on 'Why do languages die?'. The most interesting one (unfortunately he was on first, and was rather neglected in the final Q&A) was Dr Stephen Pax Leonard, who has spent a year living in Northern Greenland, documenting the language of the Innugguit (Polar Eskimos) - basically devising a written system for a previously oral language. It's a fantastically complex system with 8 cases, and over 40 affixes, giving rise to hugely long words.
In between, I went into the office and did a bit of work on our applications.
Today I'm planning (after the Sunday lunch club) to go the ScienceXchange - put on by a group of people who are trying to start a permanent science centre in Cambridge.
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Latest reply: Oct 23, 2011
A good week so far
Posted Oct 18, 2011
Well, here I am writing my (occasional) journal again, so that's the first good thing.
Secondly, although autumn is definitely here with a vengeance and a chilly wind (needed gloves on the way in to work this morning), we've had a few days of beautiful sunshine. On Saturday there was an event at College to launch a book of photos to celebrate our 140th anniversary - lots of alumnae came back and were able to sit in the gardens. On Sunday the (rather depleted) Sunday lunch bunch met in a pub with a garden and we were able to sit outside then too.
Saturday was the deadline for applications, although a trickle usually come through in the following few days, as they filter through the UCAS machinery. We had all been wondering what the effect of the increase in tuition fees would be - well, our applications are up 20% on last year! Not sure yet what the figures for the university as a whole will be ... have to wait and see.
This evening I went to a talk by Baroness Onora O'Neill (former Principal of the College) on 'University and diversity'. It was very interesting - she was talking about accountability in higher education, and how it doesn't really make sense that very different institutions are measured by the same criteria (i.e. league tables), and how these criteria can have adverse effects in similar ways to school league tables. A lot to think about.
Oh, and I have a new bed. And I'm cooking a small lamb joint for supper - must go and check on it. See y'all!
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Latest reply: Oct 18, 2011
Cambridge Film Festival 2011 - part 3
Posted Sep 27, 2011
Last three films:
Midnight in Paris:
Very enjoyable, put everybody in a good mood. Bit of a return to form for Woody Allen, and it's always nice to see beautiful shots of Paris. The lead (can't remember his name, sorry) does the Woody Allen voice, we weren't sure whether this was his idea, or whether he was directed to do it!
The Help:
I had really enjoyed the book (by Kathryn Stockett), about black maidservants in the southern US states, and the film was an excellent adaptation. Very moving, as well as funny in parts.
The Look:
Really interesting film about the actress Charlotte Rampling. A series of conversations between her and various different people (directors, artists etc), interspersed with clips from her back catalogue. Excellent, but a lot of 'talking heads' and I was feeling a bit tired by that stage on Sunday night, so would like to see it again.
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Latest reply: Sep 27, 2011
Cambridge Film Festival 2011 - part 2
Posted Sep 23, 2011
Two documentaries to report on since the last entry:
Eleanore and the Timekeeper:
American film, made by the granddaughter of the Eleanore in the title. E is 85 when the film begins, and has a learning-disabled son of 62. She needs a knee replacement (despite being pretty sprightly and still driving herself around), and is worried about how he will manage while she recuperates from the operation.
We follow the two of them for several years, while he settles into a "group home" (sort of sheltered housing), she has her op, and celebrates her 90th birthday.
Very slow at first, but got more interesting when we saw him interacting with the other people living in his new accommodation.
Henry Morris:
A very interesting film about someone I didn't know anything about. HM was Chief Education Officer in Cambridge in the 1920s and invented the concept of the Village College - comprehensive education before its time. The first VC, Sawston, was founded in 1930, and the pupils made the film to celebrate the school's 80th anniversary. They couldn't find anyone who had actually known Morris (d 1961), but several of his successors in the job were interviewed, as were the current and previous headteachers, and a historian who knew a lot about his work.
Not just talking heads, it was interspersed with a little drama depicting a young student teacher in 1961, who is writing her dissertation about HM. The part was played by a 16 year-old from Sawston VC and she did it very well - much better than most of the adult actors. Her proud mum was sitting next to me in the audience, as were several of the other families whose children had been involved in making the film. A very professional end product.
The film was preceded by a BFI archive film about the development of Harlow New Town in the early 60s, equally fascinating, partly because of the clothes etc, but also for the (now) hilarious script!
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Latest reply: Sep 23, 2011
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