University of St Andrews The StAndard Issue 1, Staff Magazine, March, 2004
Men In Black The role of the janitor
A degree on your doorstep Dealing with Spam Excellence - who pays?
Scotland’s fi rstuniversity Produced by:
The StAndard Editorial Board
Joint Chairs: Stephen Magee is Vice-Principal (External Relations) and Director of Admissions
Contents Alastair Work is Secretary and Registrar
Page 1: Welcome
Joe Carson is a Lecturer at the Department of French; Disabilities Officer for the School of Modern Languages; Warden of University Hall and a Senior Pages 2-10: People Warden.
Jim Douglas is Assistant Facilities Manager in the Estates Department and line manager for cleaning supervisors, janitors, mailroom staff and the out of Pages 11-15: Town hours service.
John Haldane is Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Centre for Ethics, Philosophy and Public Affairs. Page 16-21: Opinion
Chris Lusk is Director of Student Support Services covering disability, counselling, welfare, student Page 22: Red Lion development, orientation and equal opportunities.
Jim Naismith teaches students in Chemistry and Biology and carries out research in the Centre for Page 23-25: Gown Biomolecular Sciences.
Niall Scott is Director of the Press Office. Page 26-33: News
Dawn Waddell is Secretary for the School of Art History.
Charles Warren is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Geography and Geosciences.
Sandy Wilkie works as Staff Development Manager within Human Resources, co-ordinating the work of a team of three staff who support personal and management development activities for all University staff. Welcome
Welcome to the first issue of The StAndard, a new magazine intended to keep all of our staff at the University informed of key developments, university news and staff activities and opinions.
The StAndard is funded by the University and edited by the Press Office under the direction of an independent Editorial Board comprising staff from every corner of the institution. It is produced as a direct response to concerns and desires expressed in the Staff Survey.
At its most simplistic, The StAndard is designed to act as a noticeboard for all staff regardless of status or seniority, improve our internal communications and increase the accountability of University management and governance.
In essence, if you work or study at St Andrews, whether you’re a cleaner or a chemist, this is your magazine.
We make no apology for the eclectic mix of news, feature and opinion which populates Issue One.
Inside you will find articles and features on our own janitorial men in black, members of staff juggling full-time work with part-time study, more information on spam than Monty Python could helpfully shake a parrot at, updates on staff discounts in local shops, debate on top-up fees, news of cloned enzymes, the therapeutic powers of the strawberry and a quick guide to recycling your fridge.
As we went to press, the preliminary results of the 2003 Staff Survey became available. We’ve included top level details of the new findings which will be published by the University in much greater detail in April. The survey shows progress in many important key areas - but confirms that issues like stress, communication and car-parking remain the source of much angst for many of us.
If you’ve got something you want to get off your chest, do it here. John Haldane wants to dig up the lawn in St Salvator’s Quad and erect a big fountain, Brian Lang wants Jack McConnell to get his wallet out while the Red Lion demands investment in a Staff Club in celebration of the richness of university life. What do you want?
Issue Two is now in planning and will be published in early Summer. The Editorial Team welcomes all suggestions, letters, articles, news and photography from staff, students and members of the wider St Andrews community.
Please contact us at magazine@st- andrews.ac.uk or via the Press Office, 82 The StAndard thanks all contributors North Street, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AL, telephone 01334 462529. including Alan Richardson, Pix-AR
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A Degree on Your Doorstep Over 30 University of St Andrews staff – ranging from a chef and electrician to residence managers - are making the most of their academic workplace by juggling full-time jobs with part-time study.
Thirty-three staff, from a range of locations and services, are studying for degrees through the part-time evening degree programme which involves one or two classes a week and up to 20 hours a week of private study. The first batch of successful students will graduate in June. The initiative, which was launched in 2000, is aimed at adults over the age of 21 who would like to study for a degree. Depending on preferred pace of study and on any appropriate recent qualifications, for which transferred credit can be given, a General MA degree can be obtained within 3 to 9 years. Students returning to study after a gap are eased back into the way of things with a specially designed study skills programme at the start of the course. Various financial arrangements are also in place to help those on low incomes Roy Dittrich take advantage of this flexible academic programme. Nicky Haxell, Part-time Degree Co- ordinator said, “Staff will probably know year. Those in receipt of Working Families of at least one person studying in this Tax credit, etc., pay no fees at all. Studious Staff way for their Master of Arts degree. Age In 2004/05, there will be 11 subjects on is no excuse since we have students offer: English, Information Technology, Name – Roy Dittrich up to the age of 80! We have also Mediaeval History, Modern History, Age – 43 admitted people with fairly rusty school Human Biology, Art History, Psychology, Job – Head Chef, Hamilton Hall qualifications as well as those with more Philosophy, Divinity, Physics/Astronomy Currently studying – Mediaeval recent professional awards, or who have and Environmental Biology. In Scotland (semester 1) Modern History completed a college course. Evening subsequent years, there will also (semester 2) degree students often want to increase be Environmental Geography and Previous qualifications – 3 O’Levels their job or promotion prospects, or Economics/Management. simply broaden their horizons through If you would like further information “I left school when I was 16 with 3 O’ studying an interesting range of subjects – or just a chat - about the degree Levels and a great sigh of relief! Now with like-minded fellow students.” course, please contact Nicky Haxell, Part- I’m studying for the General degree Members of staff also benefit from a time Degree Co-Ordinator, Admissions: and attend once a week for a two hour generous concession, which means they Continuing Education, 66 North Street, session. I’ll finish when I finish – I find it only pay an annual fee (currently £87) for St Andrews, KY16 9AH – telephone 01334 easier not to plan too far ahead. My work however many modules they take in the 462203 – email [email protected]. mates – and friends and family - have
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Name – Elizabeth Watson Age – 59 Job – Cleaner, St Salvator’s Hall Currently studying - English Literature Previous qualifications – Higher English
“I’m studying English Literature this year, having previously studied Mediaeval History. I have to study at least seven hours a week for one class. I left Waid Academy with no qualifications but studied at evening class for my Higher English. When I left school, further education was not an option. Evening class is more flexible and gives as much time as is needed for each module. Name - Alison Reed Studying at home is a matter of Age - 42 organisation and probably nagging the Job - Reprographic Technician family for space! I would like to do this Currently studying – Computer to prove that I can and, although the next Science: Information Technology five years will seem a long time, I hope and Perspectives on Information to finish. If I’m trying to do this, anyone Technology can, and the University supplies all the Previous qualifications – O.N.C. support necessary. I’ve also received SCOTVEC (for 5 printing modules) excellent back-up from Student Support and SQA Certificate in Information Services who arranged for equipment Technology: Office Applications for my hearing disability and provided a Intermediate 1 and 2 note-taker for my lectures and tutorials”. Elizabeth Watson “I try to study at least five to six hours per week, depending on the subject matter. I’m sticking to just one module this semester – it’s all I can cope with until my daughter goes to secondary school next provided great support. My colleagues year. Then maybe, I’ll be able to increase changed shifts when I needed to attend the modules to two per semester, the classes, for which I truly thank them. meaning I can complete the degree a The best thing about the course has little earlier. Juggling a job with a degree been getting me out the house – I’d just is hard. My Mum looks after my daughter separated after 24 years of marriage - also after school and, because I finish so late meeting people with similar interests in the evening, both myself and my and learning a subject that I have a great daughter sleep over every Tuesday night. interest in. The worst was writing a REAL Weird, seeing as I have a husband -to-be essay - not like the ones I wrote at school sitting at home! But once you get your – and as for all those Scottish Kings who routine in order, it gets a bit easier. The had sons with the same names! For best thing is the variety of people you anyone with an interest in any of the meet and getting your brain working courses, go for it! You’ll be surprised by harder – I’m doing it to improve myself the range and diversity of the subjects and to further my career prospects. For and the fun you have learning with those people thinking about it, I’d say go for it! in the same boat as yourself.” Alison Reed What have you to lose?”
3 PEOPLE The Men In Black A look behind the Uniform Who would you call if you needed help reorganising your office furniture? Or if you had lost a letter? Or spotted a suspicious character entering a University building?
Well, if you didn’t already know, the answer to all of the above is the University Janitors. There are currently 24 janitors employed at St Andrews, whose large and varied duties range from looking after security and providing an out-of-ours telephone service to replacing lightbulbs and moving furniture. In a recent audit undertaken by the University, the team proved itself to be worth its weight in gold, emerging well in terms of value for money. Spread across several University sites, the janitorial service has seen reduced staffing levels over the last five years but, more recently, new appointments have been made after the University felt the need to set up an out of hours team. To ensure essential access to University buildings is consistently maintained and a central point of contact for staff, students and visitors is provided “Janitors have to be trustworthy and undergone major surgery. One of the outwith office hours, a team of out of dependable and I am confident that mace-bearers was a mountain of a man hours staff was set up in October 2003 our team of staff provide an excellent standing 6’ 4”. He decided to hand in with considerable success. Up until standard of service across the whole his notice with only about six weeks this point, essential access to University University.” to go until graduation. The hunt was buildings after 7pm would mean a call on. Look for a 6’ 4” substitute. Panic! to a member of school/unit staff at home, Size Matters No-one fits the bill. Disaster looms. The not only inconvenient for the staff but question is raised, “Can the uniform be also very impractical. Assistant Support Services Manager Jim altered in time to fit a 5’ 11” midget?” Helen Mackie, Assistant Director of Douglas takes a light-hearted look at the The search is on for a seamstress. One Facilities Management, is delighted with ceremonial uniform. is eventually tracked down. She has the the overall achievements of the janitorial “Because of financial restraints, only expertise. She has already had to perform service. “The smooth running of day to those janitors who can fit in to the current emergency repairs to the Chancellor’s day life at the University relies heavily ceremonial uniforms are eligible. These gown between graduations! She has the on the work of the janitors, whether it uniforms were provided by the University necessary skills. Does she have the time? be answering general enquires from a couple of years ago and at considerable After an agonizingly long deliberation visitors and students, resetting of rooms, cost. They were made to measure for the she assents. She will make the time. Once assisting at official ceremonies or security mace carriers at that particular time. again the University had been extricated checks on buildings. One uniform, however, has already from the mire. “
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People Matters Diversity Awareness
By Jo Kearns, Human Resources Officer
What sort of reaction do you usually have when another request comes in asking you to attend a meeting, training session or workshop?
(a) Check your diary immediately to see if you’re free (b) Groan and think “I’ll deal with that tomorrow” (c) Write back saying you are too busy to attend (d) Bin it
It would be interesting to know how many people heaved a big sigh when they received their invitation to a “2- hour Diversity Awareness Session”. Not What to expect: the most exciting invitation you’ve ever have been pleasantly surprised about received and not the kind of subject The sessions themselves are run by Viv how quickly two hours can pass! that usually has people clamouring for Brosnahan, Senior Training Consultant at a place. But, the sessions have proved to Peoplematters. We were prompted to start running be a huge success with members of staff these sessions by the Race Relations from all departments taking part and The training sessions cover all (Amendment) Act which came into giving us this kind of feedback: diversity issues including:- force in November 2002 and placed new duties on the University as an employer, “The presenter was excellent, very Age but we also wanted to provide a broad knowledgeable, very friendly and able Disability range of information on these issues to deal with the questions posed, even Gender and make them accessible to everyone. those on St Andrews.” Harassment and Bullying The University is committed to equality Race of opportunity and we will continue to “The whole session was very user friendly Religion work to ensure that individuals, both staff with a broad mix of staff present. Well Sexual Orientation and students, are able to reach their full presented and interesting.” potential. The sessions are an informal two hour “Overall, I thought it was one of the best run-through covering these areas. They So when your letter arrives inviting you staff training days I have attended.” incorporate a quiz based on information to the next Diversity Awareness session, provided before the session, case studies don’t choose (b), (c) or (d) – choose We are committed to providing these and the opportunity to ask questions and option (a) and see what it’s all about! sessions to all members of staff this debate the issues raised. For anyone who year and aim to give everyone an doesn’t relish the prospect of a quiz, don’t If you would like more information understanding of new and existing worry, you complete it in groups and no- about the sessions or have any other discrimination law and to provide you one is put on the spot. Viv brings her own queries relating to equality issues with a broad understanding of the bubbly personality to what you might please contact us at issues. think is a very dry subject and people [email protected]
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The event was co-ordinated by Catriona Wilson in Staff Development. Included in the list of activities at the Apex event was a ‘colourblind’ communications exercise - a group problem solving task on the importance of communication, where the group is blindfolded and has to deduce the colour and shape of objects missing from a set. The exercise highlights the essential aspects of clarity and feedback surrounding verbal communication and how individuals perceive information differently. Research Centre Manager, Alison Sandeman, is delighted with the results her team has gained from away-days. She comments: “ We have had two away days and the benefits have exceeded my expectations. The team has nearly doubled in size over the last year and the opportunity for Staff Get Roped them to meet outside the normal work environment has strengthened the chain of communication Into Teambuilding enormously. “The exercises help on a variety of levels, not only improving Can you tell what the group process will enable each group member to discover individual strengths, communication, but also helping staff in this picture is up to? Or to disseminate information and meet how it might improve your roles and responsibilities, ultimately helping them move towards better with team members that they would not working life and that of your ordinarily have contact with. colleagues? overall communication, resulting in a stronger team”, said Sandy Wilkie, “Although taking the team out of work Staff Development Manager. for a whole day is a big commitment Well, jokes of secret societies aside, Staff Development has seen increased the benefits and experiences to date this particular group of University interest in its services over the last two have been really worthwhile.” staff is taking part in an exercise Team activities can be arranged by Staff called ‘Blindfold Square’. Addressing years, both from the University and externally. With 14 away-day events Development for any number of staff difficulties such as communication and are set up as a bespoke package skills and problem solving, the exercise under its belt this year, the number is set for clients, depending on the required helps to encourage groups to work as to significantly rise over 2004. objectives. a team. The blindfold is to make the Sandy comments: “There are three Objectives can range from teams task all the harder and to increase the main benefits that come from team getting to know each other, preparing emphasis on getting communication development; improved team dynamics, right. improved self awareness and practical for change - such as moving buildings The activity is one of many set up by improvement, such as action planning on - to longer term issues such as learning the University’s Staff Development team processes.” about key people management skills and team, geared at improving One group, which has signed up for a building a sense of the wider team. the way staff work together, team away-day for the second time, is whether within one department or the Joint Centre for Scottish Housing For any queries on the above please across a number of teams. Research (JCSHR), based in St Andrews’ contact – “Primarily, team events are a positive Observatory. Headed up by Project Sandy Wilkie, opportunity for groups to get out of Manager, Alison Sandeman, the 30-strong Staff Development Manager, their normal working environment and team took part in an away day based at [email protected] address some key issues. The whole Dundee’s Apex Hotel in December 2003. or on Ext: 2599
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New professors inducted
As part of November’s Graduation ceremony, the University formally inducted its new Professors. Staff Development
They are: The next Staff a local charity. If you Development Day is on would like to contribute Professor Jagit Chadha, School of Economics Monday 10th May. For suggestions to help us Professor Kishan Dholakia, School of Physics and Astronomy our theme this year, we with the planning for Professor Malcolm MacLeod, School of Psychology have chosen ‘employee the day, including any Processor C. Simon Herrington, Bute Medical School volunteering’. local activities or groups Professor Peter Gow, School of Philosophical and This is a growing area that may be interested Anthropological Studies of interest within a wide in some assistance from Professor Andrew Riches, Bute Medical School variety of organisations University staff, please - one that involves staff get in touch with us at Professor Stephen Reicher, School of Psychology giving some of their staff.development@st- Professor Craig Littler, Centre for Business Education own time, energy and andrews.ac.uk. Professor Sandra Nutley, School of Management ideas towards external We look forward to Professor Gerry Humphris, Bute Medical School voluntary projects. hearing from you! Professor John Hudson, School of History We propose to arrange Professor Sarah Broadie, Bishop Wardlaw Professor, School of a number of taster Philosophical and Anthropological Studies events and sessions , Sandy Wilkie including at least one Staff Development Professor Broadie was unable to attend. event to directly benefit Manager
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Dealing with spam B y Julian C r o we, Head of User Services
This article discusses the vexed issue of unw an t ed email. It r ef ers t o var ious t echniques f or dealing with the menac e. Further discussion and mor e detailed instr uctions can be f ound on the Libr ary and Inf or ma tion Servic es web pages .
See: h ttp://www.st-andr ew s .ac .uk/lis/help/ spam
W ha t is spam? S pam is the name giv en t o email messages sen t out in bulk t o people who hav e not asked f or them and who don’ t y ou ar e in t er est ed in the subject ma tt er kno w the senders . T he name is said t o Ho w do the spammers get hold of the spam message . N o-one will blame be taken fr om the Mon ty Python sket ch of your addr ess? y ou f or r ec eiving undesir able spam about spam, and a t first it w as a bit of a If y our email addr ess appears on any messages . joke . In the last f ew y ears it has st opped w eb pages it is almost c ertain t o be being funny. S pam is almost alw a y s “harv est ed” f or use b y spammers . Many W ha t is Libr ary and Inf or ma tion ad v ertising goods and servic es, usually spammers simply gener a t e r andom Servic es doing about it? of a dubious na tur e . It oft en includes email addr esses . T he y can aff or d many LIS use a piec e of softw ar e called w or ds and pictur es which many people failur es, so long as most of their messages S pamA ssassin t o scan all email tr affic find off ensiv e. get thr ough. t o try t o iden tify messages tha t look W ho ar e the spammers? Oft en a spam message enc our ages y ou like spam. S pamA ssassin uses a whole t o click a butt on t o “unsubscribe” fr om ba tt ery of t ests: T he y ar e people who ar e aft er y our the list. Resist this t empta tion because ● it checks the origin of the message mone y. T he y can send a huge number it will only c onfirm tha t y our addr ess is against a “blacklist” of kno wn sour c es of of messages a t virtually no c ost in the valid, and so incr ease the likelihood of spam hope tha t one or tw o r ecipien ts will fall further messages . ● it checks the c on t en ts and the message f or their tricks . Some people ar e afr aid tha t using the header f or t ell-tale signs of spam You cannot easily t ell who sen t the vaca tion mailer t o send an aut oma tic ● it calcula t es wha t pr oportion of w or ds message . T he sender’s addr ess giv en “out of offic e” r esponse t o messages in the message ar e of a sort r egularly in the message header is usually either migh t c onfirm t o the spammer tha t y our associa t ed with spam the genuine addr ess of an innoc en t addr ess is valid, but this will hav e only a On the basis of these t ests it decides person or a c omplet ely r andom addr ess . mar ginal eff ect. T he w eb pages r ef err ed whether, on balanc e, the message is N e v er accuse any one of sending y ou t o a t the start of this article e xplain ho w likely t o be spam. If it decides tha t the spam without checking the full header y ou can r educ e the likelihood of sending message is pr obably spam it inserts the inf orma tion t o see wher e the message the aut oma tic vaca tion message in w or d {S pam?} in t o the Subject line of actually origina t ed. r esponse t o spam. the message . T his is kno wn as the spam Your addr ess migh t be used in the header T he importan t thing t o understand is flag, and messages tha t hav e the flag ar e of a spam message . Don’ t be alarmed if tha t ther e is nothing personal about r ef err ed t o as flagged messages . Flagged y ou get “deliv ery failur e” r eports r ef erring spam. It is not sen t t o y ou because messages ar e then deliv er ed t o y ou as t o messages tha t y ou ne v er sen t. any one who kno w s y ou imagines tha t usual.
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“It has at least given us a few moments of amusement along the way, such as the fantastic offers of untold wealth, if only we will reveal all our bank account details, and, for lovers of the surreal, the bizarre lists of words which so often accompany spam messages.’’
Note the question mark in {Spam?}. to take responsibility for discarding there are the long lists of randomly The SpamAssassin tests are only based messages which may be genuine, selected words which are inserted to on probability. Occasionally, not often, however small the risk. camouflage the key spam-like words. genuine messages are flagged as spam As the volume of spam grows this policy may well have to change. The email Can you do anything about the What can you do about it? system is being placed under increasing spam that gets through? You can use the spam flag to identify strain by spam and viruses, and the messages which are probably spam so time will soon come when we have to You could use the filtering feature in your refuse to accept delivery of messages as to prevent them appearing in your email program to search for spam that originating from blacklisted addresses. mailbox. The recommended way of gets through unflagged. SpamAssassin doing this is by setting up a filter in your This will inevitably mean that a very uses hundreds of carefully thought email program (Eudora or Webmail; if small number of genuine messages will you use Outlook, filters are referred to be rejected. out tests. Our own individual efforts as rules). Your filter should check for Individual users, in the meantime, might are likely to be cruder and to increase the spam flag in the subject line of the decide that they are willing to take the the likelihood of mistaking genuine risk of losing the occasional genuine message, and move flagged messages messages for spam. This is discussed into a separate mail folder, which you message. If you are away from the office and are reading your email over a slow further on the LIS web pages. might call spamfolder. phone line, you might well prefer to have You can reduce the unpleasant impact You can then check your spam folder all flagged messages removed from your every so often to make sure no genuine of the spam that gets through by mail box before they are downloaded. If messages have been flagged in error. If preventing your email program from you are prepared to take this risk, you can you suspect that a message has gone displaying images. There are good arrange to have all flagged messages astray you can look for it in your spam discarded on the server. The LIS web reasons for doing this in any case, quite folder. pages tell you how to make this choice. apart from the offensiveness of some of Can messages be discarded Why do some spam messages the images. altogether? escape the spam flag? The future For some people, filtering messages into SpamAssassin cannot catch all spam. a separate spam folder is not enough. The spammers know the tests that are We are now at an early stage of email If you set up a filter in Eudora, it means used by programs like SpamAssassin technology. Previous improvements that the flagged messages are still being and they are all the time devising ways in communications, such as the penny downloaded to your PC, and you still to defeat them. When LIS introduced post, had some undesirable side-effects have to think about them and check your SpamAssassin its initial success rate was at first. The spam muddle will almost spam folder before emptying it. well over 90%. As time went on this certainly be cleared up over the next few Why does LIS just flag these rate dropped slightly, and more spam years, and we just have to grin and bear messages and then deliver messages got through unflagged. When them? Why not discard them the software was upgraded, the success it for now. It has at least given us a few altogether? rate again rose. This kind of fluctuation moments of amusement along the way, is inevitable. such as the fantastic offers of untold The reason is that SpamAssassin cannot You may have noticed two of the wealth, if only we will reveal all our bank guarantee that no genuine messages will devices used by spammers to confuse ever by flagged as spam. There are cases SpamAssassin. First there are the account details, and, for lovers of the where innocent and important messages deliberate mis-spellings of key words surreal, the bizarre lists of words which so have been flagged. LIS is very reluctant such as Viarag and V1@gr@, and secondly often accompany spam messages.
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Prize double for St Andrews Don St Andrews lecturer and and his “most accomplished and spiritual visceral rendering of the thirteenth canto Dundonian poet Don Paterson collection to date”. of Dante’s Inferno. One poem, ‘The Box’, has won two prestigious poetry Paterson (40), who left school at 16 to is a homage to Paterson’s guitar, whose awards in less than a month. become a musician and did not begin lines on the page themselves form training himself in the craft of poetry the shape of a guitar. Others explore January saw Paterson - a School of until his 20s, has won golden opinions the Scottish landscape and the Scots English lecturer on the popular creative from critics since his first volume, “Nil Nil” tongue. But the collection consistently writing courses – collect the T S Eliot Prize , burst upon the literary scene in 1993. looks outward - in conversation with the and the 2003 Whitbread Prize for Poetry That book won the Forward Prize for best work of Rilke, Cavafy, and even Plutarch with his fourth collection, “Landing Light”. first collection and a Scottish Arts Council - as well as inward to the most intimate Don is the third member of the School book award, and its successor scooped experiences of love, family, and memory. of English to win the Whitbread Prize for the T S Eliot Prize and the Geoffrey Faber Professor Robert Crawford, Head of the Poetry, since previous winners include Memorial Award. As well as teaching on School of English said, “As anyone who both Professor Douglas Dunn (who went the University’s highly successful M Litt attended his recent St Andrews public on to win the overall Whitbread Book in Creative Writing, Paterson edits the lecture in The Poetry House series will of the Year award in 1985) and John poetry list for Picador and continues know, Don is unerring in his sense of what Burnside, who won the Whitbread Prize to play guitar with his successful band, makes a poem work. His own verse has a for Poetry in 2000. Lammas. He has also written plays for sophisticated fluency, a combination of This year’s Whitbread judges praised stage and radio. finesse, profundity, and daring that is Paterson’s “dazzling authority”, confirming “Landing Light” is a rich and varied utterly remarkable. We’re very fortunate his status as one of the best poets writing collection of poems, ranging from to have on the permanent staff of the today. Meanwhile, T S Eliot Prize judges the lyrical ‘Waking with Russell’, which St Andrews School of English such an hailed Paterson’s collection as the best movingly evokes the smile of his four- internationally distinguished team of published in Britain and Ireland in 2003, day-old son to ‘The Forest of Suicides’, a creative writers - one that includes John Burnside, Douglas Dunn, Kathleen Jamie, A L Kennedy and Don Paterson. At a time when creative writing is the fastest growing aspect of English Studies, these colleagues, who teach the subject at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, confirm the pre-eminence of St Andrews as one of the world’s leading universities in this field”.
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Food and Drink
A tale of two cities… (or what the Dickens can you get for a tenner at lunchtime) by A. Vocado
Armed with nothing more than a biro and scrap of paper, this novice roving gastronome accepted the challenge of doing the very first restaurant review for ‘The StAndard’. Clearly influenced by the last RAE exercise and the value placed on benchmarking by SHEFC, the thought of not one (but two) free lunches prompted me to do a comparative review of a couple of cultured, culinary centres of excellence – The Byre in St Andrews and the Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre (DCA) in neighbouring Dundee. So, was this a academic collaboration made in taste heaven ?
The Menu With 5 colleagues at The Byre for a Friday my first two choices, warm tempura squid two venues, perhaps down to a matter lunch, I opted for a starter of‘Spicy Chorizo salad or chicken caesar salad, but even as a of personal taste. I love the cosmopolitan Sausage with Onion, Potato and Black Olives’ third option it tasted good – the vegetables feeling, light and connected spaces within (£4.50) from the new “small dishes” menu. remained sufficiently crunchy in a medium the DCA (3/5) but perhaps the more This was followed by a main dish of ‘Smoked thai sauce and the fragrant mint shone intimate “architecturally interesting” and Salmon Penne Pasts with Lemon and Parsley through the yoghurt accompaniment. I was bustling Byre wins this time (4/5). Certainly Cream, served with bread basket’ (£4.95). served with a friendly promptness and a both have merits. The starter was rather oily but very tasty. The minimum of fuss. Value for Money – By no means a one seafood pasta had a nice bite to it with just horse race, not even a photo-finish would the right amount of fragrant lemon. Pretty Scores on the Doors separate these two mares. Decent food at a good food I’d say, but the whole meal took Quality of Food – With richer tastes, The Byre reasonable price. The Byre ‘small dishes’ are a 1.5 hours and we ran out of time for coffee. gets 4 out of 5. The spicy chorizo and lemony tad pricey, but you get good value on some At no time were the expectations of the seafood pasta were pretty damn fine. A of the mains. The DCA is good, but again table set with regard to possible timing of slight blandness, perhaps lack of seasoning, not spectacular. Neck-in-neck I’m afraid on food arrival. Hmm… drops the DCA back to 3.5 out of 5 on an 3/5 each. On a solo working lunch at the DCA the otherwise impressive menu. Just get there following Monday, I chose the soup of the before 2pm if you want a full choice ! And the winner is ? day, a winter-warming ‘Lentil and Coconut’ Service – Unobtrusive efficiency brings With 13.5 out of a possible 20, the DCA in with bread (£2.95). Served piping hot and the DCA in at 4/5, the impractical delays Dundee just shades it. The extra 40 minutes thick, it perhaps was a little bland and would and invisible communication to twitchy travelling time is worth it to expand your have required a serious helping of black customers at The Byre result in a miserly 2/5 horizons beyond St Andrews. Besides, if The pepper to make it complete. To follow, I I’m afraid. If you do go there, don’t expect to Byre (13/20) is busy, you could easily have chose a ‘Thai Green Vegetable Curry, Scented be on time for your 2.00 meeting with the spent longer than that waiting on your main Basmati Rice with Minted Yoghurt’ (£7.25). Vice-Principal ! course to arrive. Worth the 80p bridge toll for Earlier diners had exhausted supplies of Atmosphere – A difficult call between the a working lunch at the DCA ? Definitely.
11 £ £ TOWN £ £ ££ £ £ £ Staff Savings £
University staff can now benefit PAPA JOE’S RESTAURANT GIFT SHOPS, SHOES AND 87/89 South Street, St Andrews £ from discounts at more local shops, CLOTHING 15% discount (off total bill); Sunday to Thursday restaurants and hotels than ever CAVA only; October to March only before. 160 South Street, St Andrews SCORES HOTEL 10% discount; discount available on full price The staff discount scheme, launched in January St Andrews, KY16 9BB items only, ie no discount on sale items 2003, has just been extended to include local 20% discount off all food in the Coffee Shop IAN JOY PHOTOGRAPHIC solicitors and a number of other businesses. and Chariots Bar (between 12 noon and 2.30 13 Bell Street, St Andrews The list will be reviewed in December. pm); 20% discount off all food in Chariots Bar Variable (between 5.30 pm - 9 pm) How to claim your discount: JUMPER LTD ST ANDREWS GOLF HOTEL 29 Bell Street, St Andrews ● Ensure that you are making a purchase 40 The Scores, St Andrews, KY16 9AS 10% discount off regular stock - offer not from a shop/business listed below 10% discount off food bill at Lunch time; 20% available in conjunction with any other offers ● Produce your current Staff ID card off food bill at Dinner (discount available in the LYN AT NO 1 at point of purchase Dining Room) Greyfriars Garden, St Andrews ● The retailer will discount the price as per ST ANDREWS OLD COURSE HOTEL 10% Discount their negotiated rate. St Andrews MOSTYN McKENZIE If you have any suggestions or comments, 15% discount off food and beverages in all Market Street, St Andrews please contact Human Resources on outlets telephone 01334 463096 or email Humres@st- 10% discount andrews.ac.uk. HAIR AND BEAUTY ROCK SENSATIONS Happy Shopping! CHARLIE TAYLOR HAIR & BEAUTY 83a South Street, St Andrews 74 Market Street, St Andrews 10% on all purchases over £15; can not be used RESTAURANTS/CAFES 10% discount (subject to conditions) in conjunction with any other offer BELLA ITALIA HUGH FARQUHAR HAIR SALON SUSAN SLOAN 39 Bell Street, St Andrews 5 Church Street, St Andrews 205 South Street, St Andrews 20% discount on food ONLY 10% discount Monday to Thursday ONLY 10% discount BROONS BAR AND BISTRO JOHNALAN HAIRDRESSING THE SCOTTISH SHOP 119 North Street, St Andrews 2 Greyfriars Garden, St Andrews 147 South Street, St Andrews 10% discount on food and drink 10% discount Monday to Thursday ONLY 10% discount on items over £10 CAFÉ INDIA SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL OFF LICENCES 64 Market Street, St Andrews 136 South Street, Second Floor (West Port End), LUVIANS BOTTLE SHOP 20% discount “sitting in” St Andrews 66 Market Street, St Andrews 10% off beauty treatments (discount does not CAFÉ JANNETTA 10% off Wines and Malt Whiskies; can not be extend to gift vouchers or courses) 31 South Street, St Andrews used in conjunction with any other offer Coffee and Cake for £2 every day between the hours of 9 am - 11.30 am GOLF SHOPS GARDEN CENTRES JIM FARMER GOLF JAHANGIR TANDOORI RESTAURANT ST ANDREWS GARDEN CENTRE 1 St Mary’s Place, St Andrews 116a South Street, St Andrews 199 South Street, St Andrews 5% discount on clubs and balls; 10% or more 20% discount (a la carte menu only) excluding 5 - 10% discount depending on product, ie, on clothing and sundries Saturday NOT Interflora or Gift Vouchers LITTLEJOHN’S RESTAURANT OSCAR JACOBSON 73 Market Street, St Andrews 10 Golf Place, St Andrews TAXI COMPANIES Minimum discount of 10%; may increase 10% discount on whole bill (food AND drink) JAY TAXIS depending on amount spent NORTH POINT Brownhills, St Andrews 24 North Street, St Andrews THE PRO SHOP ST ANDREWS 10% discount 10% discount from 10 am - 12 noon; 1 Ellice Place, St Andrews and 2 pm - 5 pm ONLY 10% discount
12 £ £ TOWN £ £ £ £ ST ANDREWS TAXIS 16 Woodburn Terrace, St Andrews 10% discount off metered fares GARAGES GLENVARIGILL RENAULT 37 Largo Road, St Andrews 10% off labour costs and 10% off parts COMPUTER SUPPLIER STUART REID - REID’S COMPUTERS 151 South Street, St Andrews 5% discount REMOVAL COMPANIES LEUCHARS REMOVAL SERVICES 9 Schoolhill, Leuchars 10% discount SOLICITORS AND ESTATE AGENTS BRADBURNE & CO Estate Agents 139 South Street, St Andrews 15% discount in respect of all services (including agency work) DRUMMOND COOK & MACKINTOSH Solicitors & Estate Agents 14 Argyle Street, St Andrews 10% discount ROLLO DAVIDSON McFARLANE Solicitors & Estate Agents 6 Bell Street, St Andrews 15% discount in respect of all private client Aurora magic work. Please let the Solicitor know at your initial meeting that you wish to make use of Eagle-eyed student Nicholas information from space observatories placed the discount scheme Dunstone captured the magnificent between the Earth and the Sun. OTHER OFFERS auroral activity in Scotland late He said: “Auroras are caused by the excitation last year, from the magnificent of charged particles in the Earths atmosphere BALAKA BANGLADESHI RESTAURANT by material violently ejected from the Sun 3 Alexandra Place, St Andrews setting of St Salvator’s Quad. Keen during a Coronal Mass Ejection or solar flare, The Balaka offer, at a fixed price, a Two course photographer Nicholas captured several of which hit the Earth during October eat as much as you like for a party of 10 at a this previously unpublished photo and November 2003.” cost of £12.95 per person (this offer excludes on a clear night in November. Photography buffs might be interested to drinks) The Fourth year Astrophysics student know that Nicholas took his stunning image IDEAL CLEANERS knew the aurora was expected, thanks with an Olympus OM-1 camera with 28mm 57 South Street, St Andrews to advance warning from the website: lens, on Fuji ISO 400 film using an exposure of 10% discount on in house dry cleaning www.spaceweather.com which generates about 30 seconds.
13 TOWN
StAnza 2004: A Celebration of Poetry in St Andrews this Spring
by Louisa Gairn With StAnza 2004 featuring Poetry and Art The festival’s headliners, however, are Press Officer, StAnza and Poetry and the Sea as its twin themes, sure to attract the biggest audiences, a raft of poets and artists will be found and many will be making the trip to StAnza: Scotland’s Poetry amongst the big international names. St Andrews specially to hear Louis de Festival has, since 1998, been Dundee poet John Glenday and artist Bernières, the best-selling author of one of the highlights of the St Reinhard Behrens will mount a special ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’, talking about Andrews cultural calendar, each exhibition, Burns: ‘Out of his Box’, which how poetry has informed his writing, should prove an entertaining look at the reading a selection of favourite poems year attracting an impressive life of Scotland’s bard. The internationally and sharing some of his own verse array of literary superstars to acclaimed artist Will MacLean will be talking – an exclusive for those attending the the town. This Spring’s festival about the crossover between poetry and festival. Similarly, the opportunity to hear (18th – 21st March) looks set art in his own work, whilst Stornoway artist/ Wendy Cope is a real delight. That rare to continue the trend, with the poet Ian Stephen will sail into St Andrews phenomenon – a poet who sells by the likes of Derek Walcott, Wendy Harbour to participate in the Poetry Boats lorryload and is critically acclaimed – her Cope, Tony Harrison, Louis exhibition, along with two historic vessels first collection went straight into the de Bernières, Anne Michaels, from the Scottish Fisheries Museum. The bestseller lists and in 1998 she was the U A Fanthorpe and Piotr art highlight of the festival, though, is listeners’ choice in a BBC Radio 4 poll for Sommer, not forgetting the likely to be Elizabeth Ogilvie’s specially Poet Laureate. Another StAnza headliner UK’s leading children’s poet Kit commissioned installation ‘The Meaning is Britain’s leading theatre and film poet, Wright, headlining the four day of Water’ featuring text by Douglas Dunn of Tony Harrison who has written for the ‘celebration of poetry’ – proof of the University’s School of English. National Theatre, New York Metropolitan StAnza’s international outlook and breadth of appeal.
Of course, St Andrews has its own pantheon of respected writers, some of whom will be appearing at this year’s festival – including award-winning poets Kathleen Jamie and Robert Crawford, critic Neil Corcoran (all of the School of English), who will be ‘Talkin’ Bob Dylan’ with Canadian poet Stephen Scobie, and Peter Read (Dept of French) who will deliver the 2004 StAnza Lecture on concrete poetry. Indeed, the University continues to be a staunch supporter of StAnza along with other poetic ventures, having recently designated one of its buildings The Poetry House, making it the largest non-library building devoted to the reading and writing of poetry in Britain – and one of the many top-class venues for this year’s festival.
Elizabeth Ogilvie’s installation ‘The Meaning of Water’
14 TOWN
Opera and for both the BBC and Channel 4. Harrison forges his own individual response to these dark times through his hard hitting and sardonic, but always uniquely powerful poetry.
Undoubtedly the festival’s highlight is Caribbean-born poet and playwright, Derek Walcott. The second Nobel Prize winner to headline StAnza, he is widely considered as one of the most important poets writing in English today. His most recent work, Tiepolo’s Hound, was hailed by Andrew Marr as ‘the mighty poem of a major poet in the full flight of his authority and curiosity.’ His reading is likely to be both resonant and moving, and a fitting occasion to close the festival.
As Directors Brian Johnstone and Anna Some of the headliners Crowe said, “We feel this is the most at this year’s Festival, exciting and wide ranging StAnza yet. Louis de Bernières (Top) It covers more aspects of poetry than Derek Walcott the festival has done before and shows (Left), poetry interacting with other art forms and Wendy Cope and different environments in new and (below). engaging ways. On top of that it is the most international StAnza yet, with poets coming from no less than five different countries plus three of the UK nations. With such a strong and diverse programme we are confident StAnza 2004 will truly be a celebration of poetry.”
StAnza 2004: Scotland’s Poetry Festival takes place in St Andrews, Thursday 18th – Sunday 21st March. Tickets are now available from the Byre Theatre Box Office, telephone 01334 475 000. Free programmes are available from Fife Council Arts Development, telephone 01592 414 714, e-mail arts. [email protected] or at various locations around the town.
15 OPINION
Please send your letters to: The StAndard, Press Offi ce University of St Andrews 82 North Street, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AL
T: 01334 462529 F: 01334 467458 Dear Editors, E: [email protected]
I retired from the University on 29 Amidst the babble of talk about the Firstly let me congratulate the Feb 2004, 32 years to the day since funding of the British universities University on its foresightedness giving my fi rst lecture to what it may easily be forgotten that and caring philosophy in the was then the 2nd BSc class in these are, in general, privileged development of the StAndard. I Physiology! I would like to take this institutions; and among the am sure that we all wish it the opportunity to thank you all for Scottish universities St Andrews success it deserves. Clearly in your support and friendship over enjoys an enviable position. an environment dedicated to the years. It is much appreciated. Anyone disposed to doubt this Teaching and Research in which the would do well to make a tour of academics strive to communicate My wife and I will be moving to sister institutions. their interests and enthusiasm we Chicago where I will be taking up a have to consider every avenue for Visiting Professorship in Cell Biology at It was once common among the discussion. Following on from the Northwestern University. If you should privileged to make provision for the achievements of the Friday memo visit the Windy City, look us up and we’ll less fortunate; and to that end schools, – which is a great time saver for me show you the sights! colleges, universities, parishes and at least - we can look forward to libraries, not to mention individuals and similar developments here. Our new addresses: families, have taken on projects involving the support of fellow communities in I thought it worth commenting on the Cell Molecular Biology, deprived conditions. equality seminars. This was a very pleasant Feinberg School of Medicine, way to spend a couple of hours and once Northwestern University, With these thoughts in mind, I propose again we can see that St Andrews is in the 303 East Chicago Avenue, that members of the University of St forefront – I don’t know of any colleagues Chicago, Il 60611 Andrews, and the University itself, adopt in other universities who have been USA one or more support projects. If staff lucky enough to have this opportunity. 001-312-503-4215 were willing to give even 0.25% of their It certainly was an eye opener to me to after tax incomes to a fund established discover that ‘lady’ is now a pejorative expression and that I should call all my and and administered for that purpose this would provide considerable benefi t. Such gender changing friends/colleagues a fund would also be liable to recover tax transpeople. Unfortunately we didn’t Apt 902A via charitable covenants. have time to discuss how we deal with McClurg Court Center, the toilet arrangements for transpeople 333 East Ontario, This, then, is an invitation to the in detail but I think the StAndard an ideal Chicago Il, 60611 University and to its members to take forum to raise the issue of the University USA up that proposal. I hope it will be adopting unisex toilets throughout. On accepted. The likelihood of this would be another note I was disappointed that we Best wishes didn’t have time to explore the Scottish/ Eric Flitney increased by the matter being put on the agenda of Schools, Faculty Councils, the English interaction – partly because the Management Group and the Court. seminar was run by an English company I suspect this nuance was a little outside Yours faithfully, their customary area. Professor John Haldane School of Philosophical and Yours sincerely Anthropological Studies Prof J Derek Woollins School of Chemistry
16 OPINION
Preservation is not Enough: A Proposal for Enhancement By John Haldane, Professor of Philosophy It is commonly said of St Andrews that it is a place of beauty.
This is often a compliment to its natural setting, with open skies arcing over the reaches of the bay, and ancient rock and cliff yielding to the changing rhythms of the waves. At the same time visitors are generally struck by the pleasing combination of natural and built environments: the ruined grandeur of the Cathedral and Priory standing bare to the elements; crowstep-gabled cottages gathered in against the wind; the broad thoroughfares interlinked with narrow cobbled lanes; and the church towers etched against the sky. There is also the scholarly dignity of Deans Court, the quizzical posture of the Roundel, the charm of the courtyards to the south of South Street, the sad ruination of Blackfriars juxtaposed with the aspiring frontage of Madras College, and other evocative sights besides. John Haldane’s vision of a fountain in St Salvator’s Quad Here and there within the midst of all of this stands, physically, historically and 19th and 20th centuries), St Leonard’s attentive to its role as principal socially, the University. Its contributions Chapel (remodelled c. 1512), and the architectural patron; and second, how to the architectural distinction of the ‘Admirable Crichton’s House’ (16th it might now hope to enhance the built old town are obvious enough. They are, century), but the principal architectural environment of St Andrews. The main principally, the harmonious South Street benefactions of the University to the in-town developments since 1950 are complex of St Mary’s College (1539-41) to town are the North and South Street the Buchanan Building (1964) and the the west, Parliament Hall (1612-43) to the college complexes. I have not mentioned University Library (1972-6) both of which north, and the Library extension (1889- the Younger Graduation Hall (1923-9) are essentially functional solutions to 1959) - now Psychology wing – to the east; and the Student Union (1972) and prefer practical needs rather than exercises in and the North Street set of the Collegiate to leave it for readers to determine what collegiate architecture. It is worth saying Church of St Salvator, Gate Tower and might be said of these. that given the conditions obtaining at tenement (1450-60), and beyond it the the times of their creation both could west block (1683-90) containing the It could hardly have passed unnoticed have been much worse in design and Hebdomadar’s Room, and to the east that the list of contributions dates building quality. As it is, the first has the and north the College buildings (1829- mostly from the late middle-ages to merit of being more or less unnoticeable 31 and 1845-6, respectively). There are the nineteenth century, and this fact from the street, while the second has the other smaller and oft-reworked jewels raises two questions: first, whether virtue of truth-to-function, looking to be associated within the University: St John’s in the second half of the twentieth what it is, namely, several stories of book House in South Street, (15th, 17th, 18th, century the University was sufficiently cases.
17 OPINION
The simple fact is that the expansion of architectural contribution, but that than their counterparts in past decades the University was (and continues to be) overlooks other possibilities. In particular to contribute to projects that are both achieved without any great endowment there is the matter of enhancement of inspiring and realistic. With these points or enhancement in its funds. It is hardly existing sites. Landscaping offers one in mind I would like to propose that a surprising, therefore, that in modern means of pursuing this, and although scheme be taken up and pursued by times it is has been unable to give the University has made some progress the University for completion by the thought to the aesthetic improvement on this front it has been too willing to time of the sexcentennial celebration of of the town. But this state of affairs limit itself to the maintenance of existing its formal establishment in 1413/4. (The cannot long continue without the plantings rather than creating new 1412 charter of Bishop Wardlaw was charge of philistinism beginning to arise. schemes. But in any case landscaping confirmed by a series of Papal Bulls issued The University is audibly proud of the is at best a complement to building in by Benedict XIII in 1413 and promulgated distinction of its teaching and research, stone and not a substitute for it. by him in February 1414). of its place in various national and international rankings, and of its appeal It is necessary to take account of the Where then to focus such an effort? to well-qualified students from around funding difficulties affecting St Andrews The oldest University buildings are the the world. But the first and last are along with other British universities (and original St Salvator’s set. It is generally mortal resources, and approval of what anticipating the possibility that this will agreed that the most impressive element is currently approved of is no substitute worsen for Scottish institutions as a of these is Bishop Kennedy’s Tower. for determining to do what is right on its result of different funding and income Rising up above the main entrance to the own account. patterns north and south of the border), College it faces in four directions three but also to remember that St Andrews of which are to the world beyond and The time is (over)due for the University already has some significant architectural one is inward to the place of learning. Its to address the matter of its material settings, and that its current students plainness (some might say “austerity”) is contribution to the environment of and friends are probably better placed offset by the bays of the chapel seen on the town of St Andrews. It should aim to devise one or more projects whose products will outlast the generations of those managing, teaching and studying in the University now, and among these projects should be an enhancement of the built environment. The scope for extensive building is limited by the want of plots, funds and needs. In town there are large sites to the north of the library and to the west of Castlecliffe (1869) but the cost of developing these would be very great and would only be justified by major projects for which there is currently no general call. (The exception is the need of a University art gallery and museum but, important though this is, I set it aside for now).
It would be easy to use the excuse of a lack of means and demand as grounds for postponing the day when the University will set about making a significant
A birds-eye view of St Salvator’s Quadrangle and surrounding area
18 OPINION
the North Street side and by the cloister House is eye-catching but architecturally context it would be necessary to work and view across to the College buildings low-key, while to the right there is the again within a recognisable historical as one enters through the gateway. Here, unresolved northeastern corner. tradition perhaps adding a further though, there is a problem. mediating style. With that in mind I offer a One architectural ‘improvement’ would view of a possible design intended more In 1827 visiting Royal Commissioners be the erection of a tower at the junction to give the impression of how a fountain judged that the Common Hall and of the two blocks but this is fraught might improve the quad rather than as School of Bishop Kennedy’s original 15th with all sorts of difficulties. Another a specific recommendation. These show century design were “entirely ruinous and innovation, which I believe would be a three-tier crown fountain based on incapable of repair”. Their dilapidation much preferable, would be the creation the French Gothic design of the Stewart meant that nothing could be done other of a tall fountain in the middle of the Memorial Fountain (1872) in Kelvingrove than demolish them and build anew. In lawn. This could be approached by Park, Glasgow. 1828 a set of plans by Robert Reid, King’s diagonal pathways leading from the Architect for Scotland, was approved by four corners of the quad. These could be With a new millennium having begun, the Commissioners and the following cobble edged (as indeed should be the and the six century celebration in year building began on the east wing existing driveway). Such pathways would prospect, the installation of a fountain and was completed two years later. What very aptly introduce the saltire into the would be a particularly timely project and we see today is in fact something of an ground plan and add visual interest one for which external funds might be assemblage of different ideas more or by increasing the movement to and especially forthcoming. Such an initiative less linked by a somewhat Jacobean look. fro within the quad. More importantly, might also serve as an encouragement to Reid’s north section of the east wing was a fountain would provide a point of the civic authorities to restore to working extended in the twentieth century (1904- considerable architectural and symbolic order the George Whyte-Melville 6) while the north range (1845-6) is by importance in the heart of the university. memorial fountain in Market Street William Nixon who also added the arched The flow of water would also bring – and perhaps even to recreate the old cloister (1848) to the College side of the animation to an otherwise featureless Mercat Cross which stood nearby from church. Nixon saw himself as working expanse and serve as a designed the middle ages until its removal in 1768. within a design established by his counterpart to the natural movement of Then future generations of University predecessor, but while the result is not a the sea beyond. staff, students, townsfolk and visitors and failure nor yet is it a great success. The might have further reason to look with most obvious weakness is the point in The question of what sort of design appreciation around St Andrews at what the northeast corner of the quad where would be most apt is a large one. St the past has bequeathed to them. How the two ranges converge, for although Salvator’s chapel is in late Scottish better to celebrate six hundred years of the blocks are architecturally related they Gothic with some Victorian additions. the University than to create something are not fully integrated and as a result the The College buildings owe something to of beauty that might survive for as many meeting of the two is visually unresolved. the Jacobean and to the classical. In this centuries again? The passage of the two wings north and east is simply arrested rather than merged into a new upward movement; where one might have expected a low tower or other prominent vertical feature there is simply a meeting of roof lines.
The area of the quad is large, but because John Haldane is Professor of Philosophy in the of the scale and form of the chapel, tower School of Philosophical and Anthropological Studies and hebdomadar block, the prospect (of which he was formally Head). For some years he from the north combine openness with visual interest. The first view the visitor was a visiting lecturer in the School of Architecture is likely to face, however, is of the north of the University of Westminster. and east as seen from the area adjacent to the former porters’ lodge entered from beneath the tower. Certainly the College halls are impressive but to left and right there is an absence of prominent or skyline features. The view through to lower college lawn and University
19 OPINION Excellence – who pays? The ‘top-up’ fees debate By Dr Brian Lang Vice-Principal and Chancellor public purse (to be repaid by students after Tam Dalyell (St Andrews Hon DLitt 2001) graduation) could mean significant funds drew attention, famously, to the ‘West flowing to Scotland under the Barnett Lothian Question’ during the Westminster formula. The First Minister has pointedly not debates on devolution. How could it be, ruled out more funds being paid by Scottish he asked, that MP’s representing Scottish graduates into the Cubie endowment constituencies in the House of Commons scheme. Those sources, welcome though should be able to vote on matters affecting they would be, are unlikely to provide for England when their English colleagues had all of the universities’ needs. . So if the limited influence in Scotland? But it came to universities in Scotland need to ask for more pass. Scottish MP’s at Westminster recently public money, then we need to be much ‘saved’ foundation hospitals in England, better at explaining to the taxpayer why we and have now carried Mr Blair’s Higher deserve it. Universities Scotland, our ‘trade Education Bill, too. MP’s representing association’, has submitted a considered and Dr Brian Lang Scottish constituencies at Westminster have persuasive case for higher public spending voted into English universities, a source of Higher tuition fees paid by students do on our universities. The recently-published funding that is denied to those institutions’ not figure in the Scottish debate because review of higher education confirms that Scottish competitors. While we must await they are ruled out by all parties. A realistic more money is needed. We cannot take the outcome of the Committee stages of graduate tax is out of Scotland’s reach for granted, though, that universities will be the Bill, because further wrangling over its because taxation is an activity reserved to given priority among the other necessary detail is still going on, we can anticipate the the Westminster parliament. The ‘Cubie publicly-funded areas such as healthcare, introduction in England of the so-called endowment’ is presently set on terms schools and law and order. ‘top-up fees’, those variable tuition fees that could take a generation to benefit whose payment is postponed until after universities and even then with limited At St Andrews, we want to be valued for our graduation. impact. A more lucrative engagement excellence in research and teaching and for with commerce and industry will take the benefits these bring to Scotland. The The stakes were high in England, high years to develop, particularly bearing in way we care for our students means a tiny enough for this Bill to top the list of mind that the mood of ministers is that dropout rate. Those are the measures that legislation in the Queen’s Speech, and for Scottish universities should play a strong make us the most successful university Mr Blair to say he was putting his career role in improving the economy and not in Scotland, the only Scottish university on the line to get its measures enacted. For vice versa. Fundraising on a US scale will that is regularly included among the UK Scotland, indeed for the UK, the divergence take generations to develop, albeit we are top 10. We are doing a great deal, despite of policy for higher education arguably getting better at it. To whom can we turn? the geographical disadvantages we face, represents the first major going of separate to increase the diversity of our student ways for the two sides of the border. In The Deputy First Minister, Jim Wallace, was body. We are also taking some painful England, we can observe a Prime Minister admirably quick to note that his November steps to ensure that we run ourselves on a intent on putting higher education on an 2003 speech in Edinburgh on university genuinely financially sustainable basis. We entirely different kind of ideological footing funding had been badly received (he said need to be confident, however, that we - the recipients of university education the case had not been made for more). He are bringing students to St Andrews, no paying a substantial part of its cost in a was also admirably quick to take advantage matter their backgrounds, to a university market for universities and courses. This of the small scale of the higher education that is as good as any similar institution could also mean a loosening of the state’s sector in Scotland by having the Scottish anywhere in the world, and certainly as bonds on a far better funded higher Principals to lunch within three weeks of good as anywhere south of the border. education sector, the research-intensive the speech. The Scottish Principals sat Otherwise, what is the point of Scottish part of it (the part most like St Andrews) at round a table with him, he reaffirmed his universities? We want to offer access on any rate. In Scotland, we have to hope that belief in our universities, and undertook to the basis of equal opportunity, but to an the state will continue to provide. There do his best for us in the spending round. excellent university and not to a second rate will be no-one else that can provide for university. Excellence means continuing universities on the scale we require if we are Since then, Gordon Brown has underlined investment and if that means higher public to stay competitive with the best English that times will be tough for public spending on universities, then that is the universities, and not least Berkeley, Stanford, expenditure. Nevertheless, the way in route Scotland seems to have chosen. But Harvard and Princeton (from each of which which English universities will most likely is more taxpayers’ money really the only St Andrews has recently recruited staff). benefit from up-front payments from the way forward?
20 OPINION
How not to widen access…
By Derek MacLeod President, Students Association
Tony Blair is well known for his their constituents – the very people that enthusiasm and drive to make Higher they are meant to represent. Many say Education more attractive to students that we will benefit from the Barnett from socially deprived areas. However, Formula due to the funding increase the Higher Education Bill which scraped created by the Bill but the honest answer through in the vote at Westminster is that we do not know how that will earlier this year has undone much of the affect HE in Scotland. If it were to work good work achieved in this field. as it traditionally has done, then Scotland may gain but it would only be in minimal Funding for students is an incredibly compared to gains elsewhere in the important issue that is considered before UK. However, it is not clear whether the deciding to embark on a path that will Barnett Formula will provide a solution often lead to debts of over £15,000 on and thus is something that Scottish HE completion of an undergraduate course. cannot rely upon. Derek MacLeod The knowledge that this already large debt is going to increase by up to £6,000 So what do we do now? Well, the Bill has for some students is certainly not going still to go through many more tough to attract students from less well off stages in committees and so it remains to backgrounds into Higher Education (HE). be seen exactly what the final document way, students will eventually be able to will look like. We, however, do not believe study here purely due to academic ability What makes this even more that the Bill will change dramatically and through the increased scholarships that unacceptable for many is the fact that it that St Andrews will start to fall behind are able to be offered by the institution. was Scottish MPs who effectively voted its main competitors quickly unless the it through. Whatever your take on the Scottish Executive (and Jim Wallace in Many other suggestions though have ‘West Lothian question’, Scottish MPs particular) face up to the problem. HE in been made to minimise the negative ignored the message from Holyrood, this country needs extra funding if it is effects of the Bill, such as campaigning which was clearly voiced in the Scottish to remain one of the nation’s economic against variable fees and research groups Solutions Enquiry, and voted through a driving forces. If St Andrews were to across Scottish institutions teaming Bill that has damaging consequences for drop down the much maligned league together to bid for contracts. These all Scotland. The Scottish Solutions report tables, and the standard of students have to work alongside each other to pointed out many of the damaging choosing to come and study here were help Scottish HE institutions from falling effects that the Bill would have on to dramatically decline, then we fear dramatically behind. The fear that many Scotland including the ‘Brain Drain’ (staff that many of the able applicants to have is that the only way that Scotland moving to where there would be better St Andrews would disappear, a scene will be able to compete in the long-term salaries and better facilities) and Scottish undoubtedly repeated throughout the is to bring in tuition fees as well. The institutions losing any competitive edge country. This would damage the Scottish current First Minister has spoken against that they currently have when it comes to economy with many able students this numerous times, but few have faith attracting research funding. Had Scottish migrating south, not to return. that in the long term HE will remain open MPs not voted at Westminster, this Bill for those that have the academic ability would have fallen, and similarly, if they With this possible shift towards an to go; instead, it will turn into a place only were going to vote, they owe it to their American system of HE, pressure should open for those that can pay. We need constituents and the MSPs representing be put on the University to do everything to make sure that just because a bad the same areas, to vote against the Bill. By it can to instil a culture of philanthropic decision has been made down south, it is following the party whip, they let down giving in its students and alumni. In this not repeated here!
21 RED LION
Whither the Staff Club?
“The object of the Club shall be to foster social activities among its members”. (Constitution of the St. Andrews University Staff Club, December 1980).
Over lunch, two University lecturers chat, one a “scientist”, the other an “artist”. The scientist has attracted record numbers to her course, which focuses on early scientific observation and debate, and has come to a halt in her researches into work done during the eleventh century. “How dark were the Dark Ages?”, she asks her friend, a medieval historian. They separate half This was a rich time, both for University Southgait, the Club lost its premises and an hour later, both greatly enriched fortunes and for the Staff Club. In its town its activities ceased. However, the Staff by their dialogue. centre position, attracting staff from the Club as an entity has not died. It still has North Haugh to the Gatty Laboratory and a “Committee-in-Waiting” which is of the Where did this conversation take from all the town centre departments in opinion that a Staff Club should not only place? Where did this friendship between, the Club provided a meeting exist, but that it could also pay its way. develop between two teachers whose place and a haven of tranquillity in an paths normally would not cross? In increasingly hectic University life. Many After many years spent working for the the Staff Club. new friendships were forged there and, University of St. Andrews, there are staff at lunch time, you could hear discussions with whom I have communicated by In the University of St. Andrews, an taking place between chemists and letter, telephone and e-mail but have organisation with nearly two thousand librarians, economists and technicians, never met face to face. Such meetings employees, there is at present little physicists and French scholars. could take place informally in a Staff Club, opportunity for staff to mix informally Retired staff continued to contribute enriching and easing the dialogue of the with one another outwith their working to academic endeavour through work place. It is only by communication environment. This has not always been their contacts in the Club, and could that we can expand our perspectives. the case, for from the 1960’s until the frequently be heard discussing research Communication encourages cross- turn of the Millenium there was a Staff with, and encouraging, younger staff fertilisation of ideas and allows new Club. Like the University, it evolved with and post-graduates. Staff Club premises concepts to be born. A Staff Club would time. Originally set up for academics hosted the celebration of “big” birthdays provide the crucible in which collegiality only and based in the bowels of the and anniversaries, and the staff Scottish could flourish. Younger Hall, by the 1980’s it had Country Dance classes had their origins grown to include in its membership here too. During the long vacation, all employees of the University. By this members of the University Summer The Red Lion is an anonymous time, it had moved to Southgait on Schools used the club. It was a hive of viewpoint from a member of the South Street and premises were shared activity, and the use of Southgait by so University community – if you would with St. Leonards College, bringing in many different groups highlighted the like to contribute to a future RL, email: the postgraduate community. richness of University life. With the sale of [email protected]
22 GOWN
Focus On Cancer Research
St Andrews is emerging as a leading light in cancer research.
New methods which may help prove that eating high-fibre foods such as strawberries, lentils and soy and can help prevent or influence the treatment of breast cancer have been developed by our scientists.
Dr Margaret Ritchie, in collaboration with Professor Michael Steel (pictured right) and other colleagues in the Schools of Medicine and Chemistry, is the first scientist in the World to have developed methods of measuring the effects of chemicals called phyto-oestrogens on humans. These plant hormones – similar to the female sex hormone oestrogen – are found most commonly in soybeans and other high-fibre foods.
Dr Ritchie’s work – which also involved The funding, from the Association for Dundee’s Ninewells Hospital and the International Cancer Research (AICR), Scottish Crop Research Institute - has been will allow him to study how the repair described as ‘exceptionally important’ system works in microscopic organisms, and ‘invaluable’ by independent similar to bacteria found in volcanic academics, and generated excitement at pools (pictured below left), to better countless cancer conferences in America understand how the repair system works and Europe late last year. in human cells to prevent cancer.
Over at the Centre for To further strengthen our Biomolecular Sciences growth in the area, leading (pictured right) , Dr Malcolm cancer specialists from White has been awarded across the UK have joined part of a £4.6m funding the Bute Medical School. package by a leading cancer research charity to go ‘back The three Professors, with wide-ranging expertise in the disease, were formally to basics’ in finding a cure for inducted at the St Andrew’s Day the disease. Graduation and will pave the way for future important cancer studies. The Dr White has been awarded a three- three new Professors are Gerry Humphris, year funding package to investigate the Andrew Riches and Simon Herrington. special DNA repair systems that all cells Their main research interests are orofacial have to guard against damage to genes cancer, cancer predisposition and cervical that can make them cancerous. cancer respectively.
23 GOWN
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS The clever calls of nature
Biologists at St Andrews have discovered that birds are capable of recognising calls The smell that other species use to warn each other about predators.
Not only that, but certain species are able of love to tell one warning call from another, Psychologists at St Andrews investigating learning to ignore those which did not Hugo Rainey spent eighteen months the attractiveness of the opposite sex indicate a danger to them. in West Africa studying wild hornbills have found that, when it comes to long- and their interaction with the Diana term relationships, the scent of a partner The group found that wild hornbills monkey, who shares a predator – the is just as important as looks. recognised and responded to threatening crowned eagle – with the hornbill. Hugo noises from a potential predator as well collaborated with fellow biologist The researchers headed by R. Elisabeth as warning calls from other animals Professor Peter Slater and primatologist Cornwell at the Perception Lab studied under threat from the same predator. Dr Klaus Zuberbühler. how much women and men were attracted to the looks and potential smell of possible partners, and found that both women and men tend to use both odour The History Of Shakespeare and visual signals when considering a Four centuries after the first history of Shakespeare publishing from partner for a committed relationship. It was not so consistent when they were the Renaissance through to the present. publication of Shakespeare’s asked to consider a brief affair or casual plays, a new book explores for Utilising new archival material, it relationship. the first time how different discusses the many different faces that eras and different editors Shakespeare has worn, from the first have presented his work to the collected edition published in 1623 to reader. the miniature Pickering edition of the ‘Outstanding’ 1820s (pic available) described by one Written by Dr Andrew Murphy, of the reviewer as ‘exclusively intended for School of English, ‘Shakespeare in Print’ sale in the kingdom of Lilliput, or for the recognition is the first ever book-length complete benefit of opticians’. for historian A University of St Andrews historian has been commended by a prestigious academic review journal for his “outstanding” book, beating off competition from thousands of other titles.
’The Swiss Reformation’ by Dr Bruce Gordon, a Reader in Modern History, has been voted one of the Outstanding Academic Titles of 2003 by Choice The miniature magazine, the major review journal for Pickering American Academic libraries.
24 GOWN
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS Openings Licensing The University recently opened ... Agreement CREEM (Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling) is a new £1.3M research centre which will look at anything from the monitoring of wild animal populations to oceanic For Vital Renal phenomena. It is the only research centre of its kind in the UK and spans the fields of ecological and environmental modelling. It specialises in wildlife survey techniques and modelling population Research dynamics. The Universities of St Andrews and Edinburgh have announced a licensing and commercialisation agreement CREEM is a collaboration between experts from three Schools: with an emerging pharmaceutical company to develop Mathematics and Statistics; Biology; and Geography and Geosciences medicine for the treatment of acute kidney failure. and is headed up by Professor Steve Buckland. The researchers are working with NitroMed, Inc. a ARCHE is a new £1.3 million AHRB Research Centre which will Massachusetts- based pharmaceutical company developing address fundamental questions in the philosophy of logic, language, nitric oxide-enhancing medicines, used to treat renal failure. mathematics and mind. Dr Nigel Botting, of the School of Chemistry is leading the The centre is the only research centre of its kind in the World, and as organic chemistry side of research, while the Pharmacology well as addressing questions of philosophical importance, it will act as and Therapeutics element is being led by Dr. Ian Megson, in a training ground for young philosophers of the future. collaboration with Professor David Webb, of the University of Edinburgh. Named Arché after the ancient Greek term for ‘knowledge’ or ‘first principle’, the Centre is funded by the AHRB (Arts and Humanities Research Board), and is the first AHRB Research Centre dedicated to the study of philosophy in the UK. It is directed by Professor Crispin Scientists clone Wright.
SDHI (Social Dimensions of Health Institute) is a joint initiative of the novel enzyme Universities of St Andrews and Dundee Professor Paul Boyle, from the School of Geography and Geosciences, has been appointed Founding Scientists at the CBMS have cloned a unique environmentally Director and is joined by Professor Huw Davies (St Andrews), Dr friendly enzyme, which will open the doors to researchers Martyn Jones (Dundee) and Dr Brian Williams (Dundee) as associate around the World developing possible commercial and Directors and Karen Munro as the Research Administrator. medical applications.
SDHI is an umbrella organisation which encompasses the variety The researchers, led by Professor David O’Hagan in of inter-disciplinary health-related research being conducted in collaboration with colleagues and the University of both institutions and brings together leading social scientists, Cambridge, have cloned and crystallised the World’s first medical researchers and practitioners (nurses, midwifes, allied health fluorinase enzyme, a biological catalyst which can be used to professionals, doctors, paramedics etc.) to tackle issues of widespread create compounds as diverse as Teflon and Prozac. public and political concern. Indeed, the St Andrews researchers are currently The Research Centre for Environmental History is a St Andrews and investigating potential applications in diagnostic therapy Stirling joint research centre for environmental history, with special with GlaxoSmithKline. There are real prospects of using the reference to the history of waste. Established in October 2002 with enzyme to make radiolabelled biochemicals for brain imaging a grant of £900,000 from the Arts and Humanities Research Board applications, such as PET (Positron Emission Tomography) (AHRB), the centre brings together historians, environmental scientists, scans. ecologists, philosophers and economists from both institutions. The flourinase Determined to address both cultural and biological diversity through structure time, the centre will focus on the theme of waste and wastelands for the next four years and is currently directed by Dr John Clark of the School of History.
25 NEWS
From Butts Wynd to Vasant Vihar
The University has opened an admissions office in India in a bid to further diversify the overseas student community.
The office, in Vasant Vihar, New Delhi, aims to source the country’s best students, focussing on lesser Indian states including Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka.
Addressing the intricacies of the Indian market, it will be an entirely different approach to recruitment drives in China, Korea and the US. And by establishing a base there, it should provide an efficient and more effective way of monitoring applications.
Few Indian students apply to St Andrews at present. However, in recent years, India has grown to become one of the largest markets to UK institutions. Kurien Joseph It’s hoped that the pilot venture - representing a modest, but strategically significant investment in the University’s recruitment effort - will lead to an intake of 20-30 Indian students within two to three years, and ultimately encourage links with other institutions.
At present, around 20% of St Andrews students are from overseas, with over 1000 overseas undergraduates representing 90 different nationalities. He said, “The New Delhi office can filter the It will be a ‘walk-in’ service, run by Kurien Joseph, deluge of multiple applications that can come whose communications and management The office was established partly because of from Indian students wishing to study in the consultancy Komark Education Services is also the increasing number of Indian students UK. negotiating with prestigious universities in the wishing to study in the UK - indeed, Indian United States and Canada. banks offer preferential rates for loans to assist “At present, our main mechanisms for study in this country. attracting the best overseas students to Kurien said, “India’s massive numbers of St Andrews include direct approaches to bright, young, educated, English-speaking In a recent visit to India, Vice-Principal (External schools and colleges and through the use Indians are quite familiar with what it Relations) and Director of Admissions, Stephen of intermediaries around the world. This means to study in an institution of such Magee, addressed groups of up to 400 new office is a novel approach which, with eminence, because India herself has some potential students at a time in major high the support of the British Council and the of the best in the world, at least in the fields schools in New Delhi and Gurgaon, and was knowledge of the British Embassy, will officially of technology and management. These hot on the heels of a recruitment officer for represent the University of St Andrews in India young Indians are just waking up to the Warwick University. and the Gulf States.” exhilarating prospect of studying in the
26 NEWS
New Italian Initiative Launched world class University of St Andrews. Indian St Andrews language scholars of Italian. It is a unique arrangement between students see in St Andrews an attractive have launched a unique new the region and the Scottish university. option – for many reasons. One, there just initiative aimed at establishing aren’t enough seats in high-quality colleges links with an ancient region in The initiative is open to first and second years in India for any discipline, and certainly not Italy. and includes accommodation, a language for the liberal arts and sciences. Two, with course and excursions to the archeological many of these disciplines – like History or The University will collaborate with the sites and artistic attractions of the region. Philosophy or Chemistry – in the Indian Region Basilicata, a small region in south Italy, The initiative was arranged by ELT and the scene, young Indians do not see a future to organise visits for twenty selected students Department of Italian. for themselves, even if they personally love their subject. Three, the idea of studying – and hence networking - in a multicultural “world campus” is very inspiring and exciting. Fourth, the sheer pace of life of Scotland in general, and St Andrews in Hot off the Press particular, is just right for India’s Gen-next – and their parents. No wonder, more and more students are beginning to call us or A number of successful Scots Sir Trevor McDonald – Newscaster – Doctor write to us asking about studying at St have been revealed as this year’s of Laws Andrews. honorary degree recipients. Sir Tom McKillop - Chief Executive, The June graduation will see the Astra-Zeneca. Distinguished Scientist and “I love our role of “exclusive admissions following individuals commended for businessman - Doctor of Sciences managers” to St Andrews in India and the their achievements and, in particular, their Professor Fergus Millar - Camden Professor Gulf States. I see our job as hand-picking contribution to Scottish life - the right students from India – from all of Ancient History, University of Oxford. Pre- disciplines – to take their part as world Timothy Garton Ash - Historian, University of eminent Roman historian of his generation citizens. In addition to the University’s own Oxford. One of Europe’s leading commentators with long-standing links to the University of St requirements, we look for certain special on the politics and society of central and Andrews - Doctor of Science characteristics in potential students: a keen eastern Europe – Doctor of Letters Cardinal Archbishop O’Brien - Cardinal interest in something such as sport or the Roger Crofts - Chief Executive, Scottish Natural Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh theatre, an openness to ideas and people Heritage – Doctor of Science - Doctor of Divinity from everywhere, and a clarity of vision. I Robert Fisk - Journalist. Middle East Professor Linda Partridge - Weldon visualise this new, confident generation Correspondent with The Independent Professor of Biometry, University of London. of Indians making their own unique – Doctor of Laws Most eminent female evolutionary biologist contribution to the St Andrews culture, to in the UK and one of the most highly regarded their country abroad and to the world”. Fred Goodwin - Chief Executive, Royal Bank of Scotland. Leading Scottish Businessman and worldwide – Doctor of Science Kurien, together with his team, has already influential UK banker – Doctor of Laws Professor Hilary Putnam - Professor of successfully recruited his first student, 21 Professor Roger Green - Dean, Manchester Philosophy at Harvard University. One of the year old Khushi Sadana from New Delhi, Medical School – Doctor of Science leading philosophers alive today – Doctor of who is studying for an MLitt in International Letters Padre Gustavo Guttierrez - Writer and Business in the University’s Centre for theologian. Known as the “father of liberation Professor Cheryl Tickle - Foulerton Research Business Education. theology” - Doctor of Divinity Professor of the Royal Society, University of Dundee. The foremost female developmental For more information, please visit http: Professor Jean-Marie Lehn - Professor of biologist in the UK and one of the most senior //www.st-andrews.ac.uk/services/ Chemistry, Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg. women in British biology – Doctor of Science admissions/india.shtml and http:// Greatest French Chemist of the 20th Century www.komark.net. – Doctor of Science
27 NEWS Results from the 2003 Staff Survey
As a follow-up to our first ��� ����� ������ ������� � �� ������� Making Progress… survey in 2001, a second Staff Survey was completed in ���� �� Preliminary results show October/November 2003. Hot ������� ����� that the responses to many off the press, here are our initial individual questions asked �������� results. We asked 103 questions �������� �� ��� in both our 2001 and 2003 across a range of themes – and Surveys are significantly just under 50% of all university ��������� more positive - further staff chose to have their say. �������������� details will be available with the full Survey results Highlights from the 2003 results are ������ � ������ shown here. The full Survey results will be What’s working well published in April and will contain more detailed analysis. This includes a direct ������� ����� Jobs are seen as interesting and comparison of the 2001/2003 results satisfying and a local Survey profile for each Unit and School. ����������� The role of support staff in ������������� enabling the core teaching and An opportunity to discuss the results has research functions is valued been offered to each Unit/School – local ������������ sessions will be held during April and May. ���� �������� Arrangements for handling Please participate in the action-planning discrimination are seen as effective sessions to help the University improve ����������� our already excellent performance and ������������� Health & safety and well-being at reputation. work are taken seriously ����������� ������������� Staff welcome flexible working Message from patterns where these are possible ������������ ���� the Principal ����������� What still needs Our University is a successful institution. improvement ? However, if we are to improve on the �������������� Staff do not feel involved in the already good performance in research running of the University and teaching, everyone working for the University needs to be confident that they ��������� �� �������� Working stress may be an issue for are valued, that their views are listened to some staff and that they are being given accurate and reliable information about our future �������� ������ Still some issues regarding lack of direction. transparency of Principal’s Office Our first staff survey, conducted in ����������� ���������� University-wide communication 2001/2, gave us valuable insights into could be better the experiences of colleagues working together in this University. As part of our ����������������� ����� ��������� Lack of car parking within the commitment to improve and develop, the centre of town, particularly when attitudes of all staff were sought again last travelling between sites year through our second Staff Survey. I am �������������� pleased that so many of you took the time ������ to express your views. ������������ ���� A summary of the key findings is ���������� presented here. These show a slight improvement, in levels of satisfaction ���������� about working in the University and ������������� the University as an employer. However, there is still considerable room for ���������� improvement. Over the coming months, ���������� I would like to involve as many staff as possible in discussing how we can ���������� make further progress in the areas you ������������� have highlighted. I am determined that we continue to take whatever action ��� ������� is appropriate to make the necessary changes. We also remain committed to consultation and will run further surveys in the future. � � � � � � � � �������� �������� Thank you again – Brian Lang ����� ���������
28 NEWS
University gets the green light
In just over a year, the University’s on Sustainable Development. In bringing together contributions from Geography and first ever environment manager Geosciences, Economics, Biology, Chemistry, has changed the way that many International Relations, Divinity, Modern of us look at the day-to-day effects History and Estates, the module reflects the of environmental issues on our great breadth and relevance of sustainability working lives. concepts at local, national and global levels. With a continued commitment to improving Twenty-seven year old Inga Burton, originally environmental education, Inga has embarked from Orkney, has overall responsibility for on a programme of communication, the University’s energy and environmental which will encompass various awareness management systems. raising schemes, with the aim of promoting environmentally sound practice. Promotions Supported by the management group, her include car sharing, ‘car free’ days and cycle wide remit includes energy management, weeks – ways of encouraging staff and establishing a baseline for the future students to arrive at work or study in a more improvement and development of an environmentally friendly manner. Environment Strategy, raising awareness of environmental issues and the Inga Burton David Loudon, Director of Estates said, “Owing implementation of the University’s ‘travel plan’. to the nature of our business operations, the Principle’s Office, Estates, Residential and the University is a significant consumer Committed to ensuring that the University Business Services, Environmental Health and of scarce natural resources and therefore can make continual improvements to reduce Safety Services, Finance, Student Association, we aim to embrace best practice where the level of impact on the environment, Inga’s Student Support Services, Human Resources, possible in environmental management. role has helped to develop an understanding Teaching and Research, Research, Enterprise “With the implementation of a single of the potential impacts that can occur, and Services and Development. Environmental Strategy by the University, provide a baseline for future improvements. Inga has made a significant step towards This covers a range of issues from energy to Inga continued, “I hope that through meeting our immediate and longer term biodiversity, and assists in defining the policies continual awareness and communication of the University and the development of with both staff and students, I can encourage objectives.” future strategies. the entire University community to take more responsibility for their actions and Graduating with an Honours degree Inga spent most of last year devoted to create a range of new initiatives for the in Environmental Biology from Napier the setting up of an Environmental Policy long-term benefit of the institution and the University in 1998, Inga obtained her MSc Statement as part of an Environment Strategy, environment”. Environmental Management from Stirling which springs out of the results from the 2003 University in 1999. Environmental Review of Schools and Units. Over the last five years, the University has made progress in improving its efficiency in Prior to her appointment with the University, Inga said, “Until recently, there has been little relation to energy consumption and, through Inga spent nine months developing an structure with regards to environmental undertaking an assessment of the progress Environmental Management System for related projects at the University. With the made, it will be possible to identify further Andrew Ltd based in Lochgelly, Fife, for which introduction of a new single policy covering opportunities for improving efficiency they gained accreditation to the international issues like transport, energy and waste, throughout the University. standard for Environmental Management efficiency can be dramatically improved.” Systems. She went on to work for Wren and As part of the University’s involvement Bell, a Structural and Civil Environmental Approved by the University Court in with the Higher Education Partnership Consultancy based in Edinburgh gaining December 2003, the policy was drafted by for Sustainability (HEPS) run by Forum for experience in a range of areas including an Environmental Task Group. This Task the Future and funded by the Scottish environmental, quality and health and Group has now been expanded to included Higher Education Funding Council safety management systems, environmental additional members for the implementation (SHEFC), the University has launched a auditing and assessments, sustainable of the Strategy. There are representatives from new interdisciplinary first year module construction and training.
29 NEWS
Environment Get Update Recycling!
Early last year, all Heads of With a lack of data on the Schools and Units were asked to quantities of waste produced by participate with Estates, reviewing the University, the amounts of environmental issues relating to waste disposed of can only be the University, resulting in the estimated. development of an Environment Strategy. To reduce our level of environmental impact, improve the facilities available for recycling, encourage individuals to recycle The list of possible Environmental aspects and contribute to the national targets focused on six main areas: Emissions to for recycling in Scotland, the University is Air; Releases to Water; Contamination of embarking on a recycling trial across 14 Land; Waste Management; Use of Raw sites, which will subsequently be rolled out Materials and Natural Resources and Local across the rest of the University. Environmental and Community Issues. In the fi rst instance it is being proposed A Register of Legislation has been devised that paper and cardboard recycling be and is stored on a web based database implemented within the trial sites and system, managed by Estates, along with where possible facilities for glass, plastic, the information collated from the review. aluminium, and textiles be provided at The Register of Legislation has been various locations. devised providing information on all the environmental legislation and regulations The following trial sites have been chosen applicable to the University, linking them to in order to achieve a relatively even spread individual Schools and Units. of sites from various geographical positions within St Andrews. Maths and Physics; Stored on a web based database system, Biomolecular Sciences; Harold Mitchell managed by Estates, a Register of Building; Medieval History; Castlecliffe; Legislation has been devised providing McIntosh Hall; David Russell Hall and Fife information on all the environmental Park; Estates; Student Association; Sports legislation and regulations applicable to the Centre; Library; College Gate; 79 North University. Street and the Bindery. The web-based database was used to Initial meetings with cleaners and janitors obtain a level of environmental signifi cance have been undertaken, inspections of the for the University. The results indicated trial sites are currently being undertaken that Emissions to Air, Releases to Water to identify locations for bins both internally and Waste are the three most signifi cant and externally and to ensure that the areas based on occurrence and legal locations are in accordance with various requirements for St Andrews. Regulations. Further information will be issued once procedures and facilities have been agreed. Additional information will be issued to staff and students in due course to raise awareness and ensure maximum levels of participation. It is expected that the trial will begin early this year.
30 NEWS
Eco- update
Abandoned Bicycles – the University is working with Fife Council and St Andrews Police Station to deal with abandoned bicycles and has devised a procedure. Anyone can identify an abandoned bicycle.
Fridge Recycling 1 The University has organised a collection IDENTIFY 2 LABEL scheme with Fife Council for the uplift of old fridges and freezers for recycling. Any service can identify an Police Community Team will This is a legal requirement and Schools abandoned cycle, whether it is on locate cycle, attach Abandoned and Units must ensure that Fife Council Council or University property. Cycle Label and mark with: is used to uplift these. To arrange a collection call - Cycles should be reported to DATE 01334 412273 St Andrews Police Station – REFERENCE NUMBER F = Found Property Community Team or Improvements to Cycling Tel: 01334 418973. S = Scrap. Facilities Staff and students are invited to If there is no answer leave a All abandoned cycles will be send their views on what kind of message with your name, service, recorded at St Andrews Police improvements to, and type of, cycle telephone number with the Station. The list will be faxed on facilities they would like to see available location and description of cycle. a fortnightly basis to: around the University.
Environmental Services Car Share Trials Fax: 01334 412721 The University is due to set up a car share database providing an 3 UPLIFT opportunity for staff and students to share transport to and from work and Environmental Services will uplift all cycles as soon as possible after list is study. We are looking for individuals that received. would be interested in participating in a trial of the car share database. FOUND PROPERTY – These are considered to be in good condition, and should be delivered to St Andrews Police Station to be stored for a period of two months, to allow the owner contact the police. Those that are not claimed For any queries relating to the within that period may be auctioned for charity or donated to community above please contact - groups. Inga Burton, Environment SCRAP – Cycles that are in a dilapidated condition will be disposed of by Manager at Environmental Services. [email protected] or at Estates on ext. 3995.
31 NEWS
Leap Of Faith For Student Entrepreneurs The University has launched an employment and starting up new business start-up or for working with the innovative £10,000 competition businesses. best graduate recruiters in the country. for student entrepreneurs, Quantum Leap 2004 – ‘Accelerating The competition is open to all business- Enterprise’, organised by Student Enterprise which will provide them with minded and enterprising students, allowing Officer Christopher Venditozzi, aims to an ‘entrepreneurial toolkit’ them to develop entrepreneurial skills encourage students to create – and invaluable for graduate essential for success, whether in new develop - a sustainable business idea. Sports Centre Update By Martin Farrally, Director of Physical Education
In comparison with many other stakeholders and it is inevitable that we similarly sized universities and will have to follow the pattern in other in comparison to many local Universities and charge a membership alternative health and fitness fee for students. Staff membership fees centres, it is apparent that this are also under review as are user charges. University’s indoor facilities No decisions have yet been made and are much in need of repair, it is our intention to be fully transparent and discursive prior to forwarding the development and expansion. recommendations to Court. This is important not only to stay in Potentially, of course, there is much to be competition with other universities at excited about as we hope to see a number a recruiting level but also to make the of developments over the next few years facilities commensurate with the demand that will produce greater opportunities at and to Scottish Athletics who squad -train and to satisfy the needs of both the staff all levels of sport and exercise for staff and here 3 or 4 times a year. and student bodies. students. In the past 33 years there has been II. FITNESS SUITE the addition of two squash courts, the Facility Developments conversion of the then Weights Room into EXTENSION the Body Workshop and the conversion of a squash court into the CV Suite. At a time I. JUMPS & THROWS Initial design and costing works has begun when the University student numbers Work on installing the jump and throwing on the provision of another fitness suite to have quadrupled it is almost a confession facilities within and around the track area of negligence to have done so little in this was expected to start on February 24th add to the staff and student opportunities. area. with a 7-week timescale envisaged. With In view of the demand and shortfall in the aid of money left over from the original provision for all types of indoor fitness The sourcing of funding has been lottery funding and the financial support machines and equipment, particularly in explored and it is no secret, as has been of Fife Council, this development will the area of free- weights, it is a top priority mentioned in a few column spaces, complete the original plans submitted for that more indoor facility space is created to that one of the proposals is to review lottery funding in the mid 90’s. These new membership charges for staff and students facilities will not only be used by the local satisfy the burgeoning demand . The facility of the University. Already a number of community and local schools but will also is planned to be available at the latest by meetings have taken place with relevant be available to the University Community September 2005.
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By Debbie Sargent, HEALTH & FITNESS Physical Education Assistant Taught Sport & SPORT Exercise Classes SQUASH LEAGUES The Semester 2 Sport and Exercise The University Sports Centre Squash Programme for Staff Members of the Leagues have been established for over 20 University Sports Centre commenced years now. They offer a competitive way on Saturday 7th February. A brochure of playing this challenging sport whether detailing all fitness classes that are FREE is you are an experienced competitor, or available from the Sports Centre Reception. a complete beginner. They are open to Information is also available on the website. University Staff who are members of the Class descriptors and grading of classes Sports Centre. For more details contact will help you to decide which classes will Steven on Ext. 2190 or email sfb. be appropriate for your fitness level and particular activity interest. SUPER 8’s CRICKET
Exercise To Work ‘And you’re asking me to join a school/unit cricket day and give up another day, you ‘Working all hours, lunch on-the-run, home life must be joking’! Well, actually, this form of wrapped up with the family and finishing the packaged recreational cricket below first extension/doing some repairs… I haven’t got team level is all done and dusted in less time to do any exercise and I know I should’. than 3 hours during the first four weeks of Why not use your time more efficiently, fit in the summer term. Teams consist of 8 players some exercise and walk/cycle to walk, take a a side, everyone bats and bowls and it is shower and bounce into work energized for great fun to play half a dozen matches in the rest of the day? the twilight hours of April. The outside changing rooms at the Sports Further details from John Scott at the Centre and those at Butts Wynd are open Sports Centre. from 08.15 and 08.00 respectively during weekdays for all staff members.
NEW POST: CHILDREN’S COURSES Health and Fitness Advisor EASTER VACATION The Physical Education Department have SPORTS COURSES FOR CHILDREN (4-10 YEARS) recently appointed a new member of staff The Department of Physical Education runs sports courses for children during the Easter and to act as Health and Fitness Advisor. The Summer vacations. This year, Easter courses will run from 5-9th April. The brochure giving new post will involve the re-introduction full details of sports courses for children this Easter will be available from the Sports Centre of the fitness consultancy service and the reception desk from 1st March. If you would like to be added to the mailing list, please contact development of a personal training service. Joyce Clark on jrc4 or by calling Ext. 2190. The courses on offer this year are: In response to customer demand, there are developments planned to expand the 4-5s Gym Joeys Mon.-Fri. 9.30-11.30 £25 Bodyworkshop. Fitness training facilities in 4-5s Ball Games; Mon.-Fri. 2.00-4.00 £25 the form of fixed resistance machines, free 6-10s Sports Day 1 Mon. 9.30-4.00 £20 Athletics & Basketball weights and cardiovascular machines are in 6-10s Sports Day 2 Tue. 9.30-4.00 £20 Football & Hockey short supply at present and there are times 6-10s Sports Day 3 Wed. 9.30-4.00 £20 Racket Sports (Tennis & Squash) when there is a waiting list for the gym. The 6-10s Sports Day 4 Thu. 9.30-4.00 £20 Cricket & Rounders expansion of the Bodyworkshop and the new 6-10s Sports Day 5 Fri. 9.30-4.00 £20 Multi Sport appointment will both improve access to training facilities and provide a better advisory All courses are taught by qualified and experienced staff. For further information contact service for all those members who wish it. Tara Graham on tg4 or Ext. 2190.
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