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The Open University Reaching the OU community worldwide Autumn 2006 Issue 231

Study buddy success 2 SESAME 231 Autumn 2006 Autumn 2006 SESAME 231 3 Business opportunity COMMENT CONTENTS

News round-up Pages 4 - 9

Letters Pages 10 - 11 Your views

Glorious Gateshead Pages 12 - 13 NEW HORIZONS An eco-friendly graduation ceremony in Gateshead

Explaining the unexplicable Pages 14 - 15 OU’LL notice that there’s a brand new name at the bottom of this issue’s comment. The introduction of intelligent design as a That’s because you have a brand new editor! I’m delighted to be taking over the subject Yreigns here at sesame and feel very lucky to have inherited a great publication from Yvonne Cook. Fuel for free Page 17 And what an issue to start with! We’re delighted to report that once again, The Open One man travels around Europe on University has been awarded the highest score for ‘overall satisfaction’ in the National Student vegetable oil Survey. How satisfied are you as an OU student? Let us know your views using the usual Pluto demoted Pages 18 - 19 contact details. Turn to our news pages to read more about this, as well as some other news The OU’s response to Pluto’s demotion that might pique your interest. This includes a brand new BBC drama about a man who’s taking an OU course – written by celebrity OU student Lenny Henry – and a warning about TMAs being Get clicking Page 21 sold on eBay of all places. New OU careers website OU students are a fascinating bunch. In this edition of sesame, we focus on some Happiness is... Page 23 particularly interesting characters, including a man who travelled around Europe with his car What makes us happy? running on vegetable oil (see page 17). We also touch on some serious issues facing students including age discrimination and how Age is just a number Pages 24 - 25 the OU enriches the lives of older people (pages 24 - 25), plus one professor’s account of what What impact does your age have on your it’s like to be a black student (page 27). studies? Don’t accuse us of not showing you the world – fancy a trip to Pluto? Discover what the OU’s Do you think Unmarked identities Page 27 views are on the recent decision to downgrade the heavenly body (pages 18-19). We’ve also What being a black student really means launched a new travel page which will focus on attractions and destinations out there that can figures matter? help you with your studies (page 35), starting with a focus on history. The world is our library Pages 28 - 29 I’ll be looking at ideas for future editions of sesame over the coming weeks – and I’m hoping The second installment in Trooper Jones’ you, the readers, will give me a helping hand. So if you have any thoughts and ideas, please do story email me on [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you. Courses Pages 30 - 31 Tracy Archbold, Editor The newest OU courses

Spread the costs Pages 32 - 33 LighterLife operates a weight-loss Programme specifically designed for people with three Advice on postgraduate funding

stone or more to lose. Did you know that there are 13 million obese people in the UK? NEW – travel page Page 35 Each has their own reason for being overweight. Could you help them understand why? Focus on useful visits for history students Crossword Page 36

We are expanding our network of Counsellors throughout the whole of the UK and are WITH THIS ISSUE – Page 37 OU STUDENT looking to recruit motivated self-starters to run their own business under the security of our A round-up of the Open University Students Association’s latest activities national brand.

Were astronomers right to demote Pluto? Picture: Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, NASA

This business opportunity offers comprehensive and accredited training, business support and personal development, whilst providing a medically approved weight-loss Programme Editor: Tracy Archbold Published by: The Open University. sesame email: [email protected] The Open University, Walton Hall, that offers an income of £50K+. telephone: +44 (0)1908 653011 The editorial content of this magazine was Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA correct at the time of going to press. No part email: [email protected] Assistant Editor: Sheila Forman of this publication may be reproduced in any telephone: +44 (0)1908 653761 If you have a real desire to help people change email: [email protected] form without the prior permission of the website: www.open.ac.uk/sesame their lives then call Samantha or Katie for an telephone: +44 (0)1908 653761 publishers. Printed by: Artisan Press, Leicester information pack on 0870 4424744 or Creative Director: Maxine France Views expressed in articles are those of @ ISSN: 0267-033X email:new lighterlife.com email: [email protected] the contributors and not necessarily of telephone: +44 (0)1908 652585 sesame or The Open University. Advertising: Square7 Media www.lighterlife.com Publication of an advertisment or loose email: [email protected] Head of Publications: Jane Matthews insert in sesame does not imply Open telephone: +44 (0)20 7864 9995 email: [email protected] University recognition or approval of the address: Square7 Media, Tulip House, telephone: +44 (0)1908 652451 goods or services advertised. 70 Borough High Street, London SE1 1XF 4 SESAME 231 Autumn 2006 Autumn 2006 SESAME 231 5

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Pay dispute resolved THE pay dispute which stalled the marking of some students’ assignments and delayed exam results has been resolved. However, at the time of going to press, there are still a OU top again OU to feature in new small number of TMAs yet to be graded. Members of the University HE Open University has once again been support we give to our students. Once again, and College Union (UCU) voted by a awarded with the highest score for Open University students have shown very substantial majority in favour of a pay T‘overall satisfaction’ in the National high levels of satisfaction with their OU deal that increases salaries for Student Survey. experience, and we are delighted that TV drama academic and academic-related staff The survey, which is conducted by the the university’s overall satisfaction score of by 10.37 per cent over the next two government’s Teaching Quality Information 4.5 – a top-ranking achievement in 2005 – has years, with further negotiations in year (TQi) website, found that the university been maintained this year.” ELEBRITY OU student Lenny Henry is what makes a story funny and why some jokes funnier than Cornwellians? Are Glaswegians three. achieved the He added: “In using his learning experience to are funny and others not. We’re going to show more capable of raising a chuckle than highest overall “The results reconfirm the excellence reviewing the Cspearhead two major TV initiatives – a you how humour is a kind of a social Brummies – I intend to find out all this and European day of languages score for of our teaching and of the personal survey results, it brand new comedy drama and The Joke Booth, barometer – it reflects the changing social more, and by the end of it, I’m hoping to get a CELEBRATE European Day of assessment and support we give to our students” is important to a new OU/BBC TV programme. and political climate of Britain.” show out of it.” Languages on Tuesday 26 September feedback. The note that the The well-known comedian has The Joke Booth will be present at with The Open University. The OU in satisfaction level was based on responses average age of OU students is 32, and so they announced that he is writing a new “Are Glaswegians more capable of Lenny’s performances in Blackpool on 30 London is holding free taster sessions from over 157,000 students. A total of 4,871 tend to be experienced and demanding comedy drama about a man whose life raising a chuckle than Brummies – I intend November this year; Wolverhampton on in Spanish, German and French at its OU students took part. consumers.” changes for the better – when he takes to find out all this and more” 15 January 2007; Swansea on 18 centre in Camden Town from 3.30pm. Much of the national press, which interprets You can see the full results by visiting the an Open University course! January 2007; and Glasgow on 21 January Call +44 (0)20 7556 6193 for more the survey results in different ways, also listed TQi website at www.tqi.ac.uk The comedian is currently working on the Lenny is also planning to use material 2007. information. the OU as top for satisfaction including the BBC drama, scheduled to hit TV screens in the collected in the Joke Booth in his Berry’s Way is scheduled to air on BBC ONE The OU in the West Midlands is BBC and the Guardian newspaper which both Are you one of those people who is autumn. performances. “I’ll be talking to people about in October 2006; The Joke Booth is due to be running a number of events at local put the university at the top of their league ‘satisfied’ with the experience offered by Lenny describes the new comedy, Berry’s what is distinctive about the humour of their broadcast on BBC ONE in spring 2007. Check venues, featuring information about tables. The Open University? Or maybe you’re Way, as “about a guy… who runs a dry particular region,” he said. “Are Scousers listings for details. the OU’s online language classroom, Mr Will Swann – Director, Students for the not! Email your thoughts to cleaners and is having the worst possible life, Lyceum. Email west-midlands@open. university – said: “These results reconfirm the [email protected] until he takes an Open University English ac.uk or ring +44 (0)121 426 1661 for excellence of our teaching and of the personal degree, which changes everything for the Do you know any details. better (well, most things)”. good jokes? If so And in East Grinstead, The Open The drama, co-written with his long-term email them to University is launching a two-year collaborator Kim Fuller, is the 48-year-old’s [email protected] project aimed at inspiring children first professional writing since he finished six Not only will you from disadvantaged areas with an TMAs sold on eBay years of study. And he claims taking an Open enthusiasm for languages. For more University degree has given him more make us chuckle information email R13-Outreach@ OU STUDENTS have been many sellers warning buyers said spokesperson Gillian confidence to write his own material and but we’ll pass them open.ac.uk or phone +44 (0)1342 informed that buying, selling to ‘observe the OU’s rules Stark. “It means that if make suggestions in writers’ meetings. on to Lenny 341049. and even distributing free on plagiarism’, sesame has members spot anything on of charge, tutor-marked received a number of eBay that infringes their Tell us your jokes New graduate Senate representative assignments (with or without complaints from students intellectual rights, including “Doing my BA has helped me structure my VERONICA Summers has been tutor comments and grades) concerned that the practice copyright, we can take it off thoughts,” said Lenny. “It’s helped me to appointed as the graduate is against the university’s could lead to cheating. One the site immediately so they understand that good work is not an accident. representative to Senate. Veronica code of disciplinary conduct wrote: “This is something I can investigate.” The Open University has shown me that if you was selected from more than 150 and will lead to penalties totally deplore. I have worked The OU is currently working take the time to plan your work and structure applicants, and has a strong under its disciplinary code. for my degree. However, I am on ways in which to make it properly, you can do well. It's just helped me background in HE. A committed Sets of assignments from a aware that students can buy students more aware of to organise my thoughts a bit better and I supporter of the OU, Veronica number of courses have their essays via eBay – so how to avoid plagiarism. think the challenge of producing an essay considers her enthusiasm to be a key appeared on internet auction where does that leave the Other forms of detecting every month or so helped to keep me on attribute for this role. sites such as eBay. Apart from value of my degree?” cheating in assessments and my toes.” breaking the OU’s disciplinary software are also in use to Meanwhile, if you know any good jokes, International Fellowship Programme code by encouraging plagiarism Detecting plagarism stop collusion and over-use of Lenny would love to hear them because this and cheating it can also eBay said it was impossible course materials and internet autumn he’ll be travelling around the UK to INTERNATIONAL students are being infringe copyright laws and is for the site to monitor all sources, with penalties being collect jokes for a new OU/BBC TV encouraged to apply for the OU therefore illegal. items for possible copyright applied when discovered. programme, The Joke Booth. “Over the International Fellowship Programme Items for sale over the past infringement but does run In the meantime students coming months, we’re asking people from all which gives people from the global three months have been the Verified Rights Owners should familiarise themselves over the UK to enter the Joke Booth to tell us community the chance to undertake a offered for sale under such (VeRo) network which helps with the relevant Student their favourite funny stories and jokes, and three to six month fellowship based in listings as ‘K100 TMAs – sellers to protect their Regulations which include the what has made them laugh most recently,” the UK. Log onto www.open.ac.uk/ 2005/6 course GOOD intellectual property. “The Code of Practice for Student said Dr Marie Gillespie, an OU Senior international-fellowship for details. MARKS’ and ‘U212 Childhood Open University is welcome to Discipline (available from Lecturer in Sociology and chief academic Essays 75-90%’. Despite sign up to VeRo, which is free,” StudentHome). working on the series. “We’ll be analysing 6 SESAME 231 Autumn 2006 Autumn 2006 SESAME 231 7

More news online at More news online at IN BRIEF NEWS www.open.ac.uk/sesame www.open.ac.uk/sesame NEWS IN BRIEF

OU developing space technology New distance learning degree THE Open University is developing key THE Open University in Scotland has technology to help the UK be part of launched a new distance-learning the next European Space Agency degree in social work. The new honours (ESA) mission to Mars. The OU has a degree replaces the diploma, formerly £100,000 grant from the Particle Battle of the offered by the OU, as the required Physics and Astronomical Research professional qualification for social Council to design an ultraviolet and workers in Scotland. It is aimed at visible radiation spectrometer for unqualified staff already working in the lander vehicle on the ExoMars the social care field, who may not be Geeks able to access traditional routes to a mission, part of ESA’s Aurora space programme, which launches in 2011. qualification. Students must be The equipment will help OP Gear’s Richard Hammond is to host a Johnston and American performance scientist entered for the degree by their st scientists judge whether the surface 21 Century version of the TV cult Kal Spelletich. employing agency. For details email environment is habitable for human Tgameshow, The Great Egg Race, which “The show demonstrates that bright, [email protected] or ring +44 explorers, or any other kind of life. The sees the cream of British and American inventors imaginative engineers and technologists can (0)131 226 3851. OU’s instrument will form part of a UK and scientists face off in a unique challenge. turn their knowledge and skills to solving bid to be included in ESA’s Mars Battle of the Geeks, a new Open University/ strange problems in amazing places,” said Ian Awards for Janet Grant mission. OU Professor of Space BBC co-production, gives the two teams just Johnston. “And they do it with good humour and JANET Grant, Professor of Education Science, John Zarnecki, says it’s not 48 hours to design, build and fly their own craft not too much shouting.” in Medicine at The Open University, guaranteed that ESA will select the UK across the mighty Fish River Canyon in The show will be broadcast on BBC TWO, has been awarded an honorary instrument, but he is confident Namibia, aided by OU technology tutor Ian date and time to be confirmed. fellowship of the Royal College of

because of the experience the UK has. Richard Hammond, famous for being a presenter on Top Gear, is to host Battle of the Geeks Physicians for her services to The ExoMars mission was featured The DfES is currently trying to come up with terms to describe part-time students medicine. She has also been awarded in sesame 229; you can also find honorary membership of the Royal out more on the ESA website: College of Radiologists. Professor www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Aurora Grant is director of the OU’s Centre for Education in Medicine, which New European distance website What’s in a name? researches and develops medical A NEW website and multilingual education, and she has developed dis- contact centre has been launched to HE Department for Education and Skills (DfES) is currently conducting research to find the tance learning courses in medicine in promote European distance higher most informative and appealing descriptions for use in forthcoming publicity campaigns Bangladesh and India. education worldwide. The centre, for Taround part-time study. which The Open University is among Universities are currently using a variety of terms to describe part-time study including Fond farewell to Ecology ‘non-traditional’, ‘lifelong’, ‘supported open’ and ‘distance’ learning. But it is doubtful that these the partners, allows enquirers to gain THE S328 Ecology course has come to labels mean much to the average student, or prospective learner. information about distance higher a close after running for 32 years. Its Among the terms that the DfES will be testing out for their pulling power are ‘flexible’, education in English, French, German last summer school was held earlier ‘portfolio’, ‘modular’, ‘work-based’, ‘mature’ and ‘on the job [students]’. and Spanish. this summer. Dr Eric Bowers, one of the original course team, and Dr Negative connotations Masters for 81-year-old Yoseph Araya, among the most recent Terminology is equally a headache for David Andrew, Director of Marketing & Sales at the OU. He BY George, he’s done it! OU student tutors to get involved in the course, says. “We once conducted research where somebody said: ‘How can you describe The Open George Murphy has earned himself a were present. University as part-time study when it is taking over my life?’. And the terms ‘supported open masters degree at the grand age of learning’ and ‘distance learning’ have negative connotations; people think they will be studying on 81. His master in Social Policy and OU TV series commended their own, even though we have the largest student body in the UK, who can talk and interact Criminology joins the three degrees he through associate lecturers, regional support and technology.” EPISODES from the Open University has gained with The Open University. Do you have any suggestions to describe part-time study? If so, email them to us at TV series African School won two George was awarded his degree in a [email protected] awards at the One World media awards special ceremony at the regional held in London on 8 June. Show me centre in Sharston, Manchester. the money took the Millennium Development Goals Award and New Cardiff premises Running for your life scooped the THE Open University in Wales is Poster competition Children’s Rights Awards. The juries moving to new, purpose-built premises also commended the series as a whole. UP and coming OU researchers are learning The five winners go forward to represent in the centre of Cardiff in early 2007. how to make their work eye catching – by the OU at the regional stage of the The Welsh regional centre has been Nursing student runner up competing in a competition to design the best national competition organised by the based in Cathedral Road, Cardiff for AARON Ramsey, who is studying the poster illustrating their research. UK GRAD Programme, which supports the the past 27 years. Its new offices in OU’s Diploma in Nursing, has been Today’s researchers are increasingly being development of personal and professional Callagahan Square will be close to the named as runner up in the Northern asked to submit their research in poster form skills as part of postgraduate research railway and city centre, and more Ireland Royal College of Nursing at conferences. The OU competition saw programmes. accessible for students and the 45 Student Nurse of the Year Awards. entries from across the academic spectrum, Log on to www.open.ac.uk/research-school/ regional OU staff, says the university. from arts to social sciences to space research events.html for more information on this year’s to maths and computing. winners. 8 SESAME 231 Autumn 2006 Autumn 2006 SESAME 231 9

More news online at PVC’S VIEW NEWS www.open.ac.uk/sesame Not studying next Benefits of year but still want eLearning to keep in touch? THERE is much talk and questioning VC visits across the OU about the new Virtual Learning Environment and the eLearning that it can deliver. A common question is: what can residential schools eLearning provide for OU students? The many particular activities that HE Vice-Chancellor of The Open University, Professor Brenda Gourley, has visited three constitute eLearning can, for me, be residential summer schools this year – the OU Business School's B822 Creativity grouped under two major headings: Tresidential school at Milton Hill House (just outside Oxford) in June, the Bath interactive learning and independent residential school in July and a residential course for level 2 Spanish students in Santiago de or autonomous learning. So what are Compostela, north west Spain. they? During her week-long stay in Spain, the VC highlighted the benefits of joining a residential For just £8 (£15 overseas) you can be added to sesame’s list of subscribers. You will receive all copies published in 2007 and be invited to The ability to discuss new ideas, school in the country where the target language is spoken, commenting: “You need immersion to renew your subscription anually. Don’t forget all OU students receive sesame free while they are studying. If you wish to subscribe just fill to explore different perspectives catch the musicality of the language and you need to hear it spoken.” in the form below and return to: sesame subscriptions, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA with other students and the tutor, She also found the destination itself fascinating: “Santiago, as a city, is a beautiful place. It’s a or to collaborate in group work of place of huge historic and cultural interest and I found it very uplifting talking to pilgrims coming Please send me sesame in 2007. I enclose my subscription of £8/15 different kinds, are prime examples of onto the [Cathedral] square at the end of their long journey.” interactive learning that the VLE, Cheque/PO payable to ‘The Open University’ through forums, blogs, audio Name: conferencing or instant messaging, Address: extends to a much larger proportion of Mooting success our student body. Online group work develops valuable online collaboration IT’S success all around for OU Law Programme programme courses. It is a tremendous Post Code: skills and reduces the sense of students who have experienced achievements confidence boost to take those skills out of the isolation for the distance learner. in a number of national and international law box and use them in a ‘real world’ environment Advertisement competitions. and compete favourably with students from Independent learning These include being quarter-finalists in other universities.” As for independence, connection to a Memory the national ‘Incorporated Council of Law To discover more about the OU law range of online resources – some Reporting’ competition where students programme, log onto www.open.ac.uk/law provided explicitly by the OU VLE and mooted in front of Neil Denison QC, the library, others available on the web – former Common Sergeant of London. They allows the teacher to construct a Like a Sieve? were also semi-finalists in the international sequence of activities that develops ‘London Law Review’ moot, which was held over A FAMOUS international publisher reports For example, you need never forget the student’s independent learning two days in the distinguished setting of the that there is a simple technique for acquir- another appointment — ever! You could skills that will be of value for Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand, as well as ing a powerful memory which could pay you learn names, faces, facts, figures and for- professional or personal development. enjoying an internal competition at Milton real dividends in both business and social eign languages faster than you ever thought The OU used to be criticised for advancement. It could work like magic to Keynes Magistrates’ Court. possible. Whole books and plays may be providing every bit of learning give you added poise, self-confidence and Nick Everitt, Chairman of The Open indelibly imprinted on your memory after a material that a student would ever greater popularity. University Law Society, said: “Our single reading. You could be more successful need (“spoon-feeding” was the According to this publisher, many people achievements in the national and international in your studies and examinations. At par- epithet often used – not quite “higher do not realise how much they could influ- ties and dinners you may never again be at moots are, I believe, remarkable and underline education”). But our students can now ence others simply by remembering accu- a loss for appropriate words or entertaining the relevance of the skills taught in the law use our online library, and the web as rately everything they see, hear or read. stories. In fact, you could be more poised Whether in business, at social functions, or well, to search for information and and self-confident in everything you say and even in casual conversation with new do. These are only a few of the ways in Forget names, faces? study materials that they select, acquaintances, there are ways in which you analyse and evaluate in relation to the which you could benefit by possessing a could dominate each situation simply by Free Memory Booklet study task at hand. With experience, First student to benefit from ILA your ability to remember. trained memory. To: Memory and Concentration Studies, the student can exercise more To acquaint all readers of Sesame with SHONA Sharp from Oban has become the first become a teacher. WHAT THIS FREE BOOKLET (Dept. SSM76T), FREEPOST, Marple, independence in study. the easy-to-follow rules for developing skill person in Scotland to benefit from an ILA Scotland is a Scottish Executive scheme Stockport, SK6 6YA. Through interactive learning and COULD SHOW YOU in remembering, we, the publishers, have Please send me your free “Adventures in Memory” Individual Learning Account (ILA) to study to help fund learning, and is available to booklet. independent learning, the use of How to remember names, faces, facts, printed full details of this interesting home- with The Open University. anyone 18 or over who lives in Scotland, and is online communication can bring new and figures! study method in a fascinating booklet, NAME...... The Open University joined the ILA Scotland earning £15,000 or less. (Mr./Mrs./Miss/Ms) dimensions to the OU’s student How to earn more — get a better job! “Adventures in Memory”, sent free on ADDRESS...... scheme in June, enabling people on low If you earn more than £15,000 a year you How to learn faster! learning experience, for personal or request. Either phone 0800 298 7070 (free in ...... incomes to get up to £200 a year towards the could receive up to £100 a year towards How to concentrate and overcome professional advantage. the U.K.) or send an e-mail to cost of an Open University course. Shona’s various computer courses. It is not a loan absent-mindedness! ‘[email protected]’. Or simply post ...... Postcode...... Paul Clark, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, ILA is helping pay for her first OU course, so the money does not have to be repaid. How to increase your personal efficiency! the Free Memory Booklet coupon on the POST TODAY OR CALL 0800 298 7070 FREE How to speak fluently without notes! OR E-mail: [email protected] (Learning and Teaching) A103 An introduction to the humanities, Further information is available on 0808 right (no stamp is needed if posted in the with your name and postal address How to succeed in examinations! giving her a head start in her ambition to 100 1090. U.K.). No stamp needed in U.K. 10 SESAME 231 Autumn 2006 Autumn 2006 SESAME 231 11 LETTERS LETTERS

No to OU degrees At the end of their studies, the language at over 50 years of age. The Student Loans Company within the tax year must contact However, we have been assiduous in given to Nottingham staff. just get on with it! RBS Graduate Royalties account Mike Kelly blame the Inland Revenue for not SLC to make this known. When the recent years in reining back authors OU students and staff are asked The article also made me I AM writing to you as a previous aims to support students making Kings Heath, Birmingham supplying annual statements on payslips which show this to be the to try to ensure that the average to park in the Hall of Residence car realise dramatically that the Open University student who the transition from full-time study time! I have been assured that case are presented to SLC to student can study the material in parks. It is true that last year there wives and partners of our confirm the overpayment, SLC will the time specified (i.e. 10 hours per were a number of break-ins, hence graduated in May this year in to working life, predominantly by RAQUEL MARDOMINGO, L204 eventually the company will soldiers endure a daily hell with recognising that they may still be immediately advise HMRC to stop point). Furthermore, this usually our warning in the 2006 booklet, Glasgow with a BA (Hons) COURSE TEAM CHAIR, REPLIES: calculate any overpayment and each and every news bulletin. I managing some debt accrued during repayments and will process and includes some ‘consolidation’ time. urging students not to leave degree. This is just to make you LIKE most OU courses, L204 Viento reimburse me but until they do I read the weblog referred to in the course of their study. pay any refunds due, including any We believe that courses first valuables in their cars en Popa does not prevent certain aware of a situation that I have Where customers have different still have to make monthly undue interest payment which may presented during the past couple of In fact in 2006 we are aware of the article and certain sections students from taking it. The come across which involves OU needs to those experienced by payments (which I will then have have been deducted. years or so are not overloaded. only one attempted car break-in at of it must be among the most materials in the course pose students being discriminated full-time students, we have a to re-claim!). Wherever possible, SLC will Unfortunately, a few of those that Nottingham University – from a heart-wrenching things I’ve ever different challenges for all students against and also undervalued as range of accounts, which may be So students beware, enjoy attempt to forecast when a loan have been around for a while probably school involving about 2,000 read. – native and non-native speakers graduates. suitable to their circumstances your course, keep on studying, balance is likely to be repaid in full do contain rather more material students and staff over a five-week I would like to wish James and alike – and it is often the case that I have been told by my bank, and are happy to discuss these with but keep an (open) eye on the and will write to borrowers advising than they should. The Life-Cycle period. Undoubtedly this is a result all his colleagues a safe return native speakers lack the academic Royal Bank of Scotland, that I them. that SLC believe they are nearing Review procedure is enabling us to of Nottingham University and the skills required for a level 2 course. Student Loan Company. from Iraq and both James and completion of repayment. It is a identify and quantify such local police working together to am not eligible to have a Tutorials and residential school take Sue Heley Rochelle all the best in their OU requirement that, before SLC stops overloading, which will be put clamp down on this type of crime – graduate account due to Open mixed ability into account and, in Dunstable, Bedfordshire studies. repayments, the customer must right as courses are revised or this as a direct result of concerted University degrees not being Spanish nationals our experience over the years, Richard Greaves contact SLC to confirm that replaced. efforts by staff in the OU East acceptable. A graduate account non-native speakers report having OUSBA directed sesame to the York I HAVE recently attended my calculations are correct. If they do Midlands regional centre to resolve learnt from native speakers in these Student Loans Company, which offers various preferential rates not do this, repayments continue this issue through meetings with last day course prior to situations. Ultimately, all students for graduates. I feel incredibly offer loans separately from The until SLC receives notification from them in the months leading up to attending a residential school in have their work assessed against Security scare annoyed at this and feel that this Open University. HMRC of the deductions made in the residential school. I AM a new student to the OU Santiago, Spain. In the group of the course criteria and not against is discrimination against OU the tax year. This may cause I’VE been studying with the OU Nottingham is an important site and am studying Y160 Making about 20 students, there were each other. students. I hope that you can THE STUDENT LOANS COMPANY overpayments but these will for residential schools, offering sense of the arts. It was with five Spanish nationals and a lady for a few years now, but this make students aware of this and REPLIES: eventually be reconciled and specialist academic facilities which eagerness that I read my first who had lived in Mexico for year is my first occasion on a maybe provide me with any THE collection of monies lent under refunded. residential course. I chose would be difficult to replicate issue of sesame (issue 230). some 10 years, all fluent in the Word of caution Because a student loan is not a elsewhere, so we prefer to continue information on this subject. the Income Contingent Repayment TXR248 Experiencing systems, a It was inspiring to read language and therefore leaving (ICR) scheme is conducted by HM commercial undertaking, it is not to work with the Nottingham Claire Reilly I WOULD like to issue a word of course that is run at Nottingham about Renée Myserson who is the lesser mortals in the class Revenue & Customs (HMRC), repaid in the way that a bank loan is. University authorities to overcome Glasgow, Scotland caution to fellow OU students. If University. achieving her life long dream of ‘miles’ behind. I gather that they formerly the Inland Revenue. The Several different options were fully any future difficulties. At one of the course studying medicine. Good luck to are here to get a qualification to you are fortunate enough to be Student Loans Company (SLC) examined when the ICR scheme was ANITA BALLANTYNE, MEDIA conferences a student, who has her in her studies. subsequently teach in the UK. offered a student loan via the administers the ICR process in set up and the method using the RELATIONS, THE ROYAL BANK OF The article written by Rochelle With over a third of the class OU, take care to monitor the partnership with the HMRC, and existing tax collection processes past experience of Nottingham Readers inspired SCOTLAND, REPLIES: Jones about her soldier husband being nationals of Spain, I repayments once your course repayments collected by HMRC are of HMRC was determined to be University, warned us of the the fairest, most efficient and WE had a number of letters from James in Iraq invoked a sense of THE Royal Bank of Scotland’s wondered just why the OU allows has finished. transmitted to SLC on an annual poor security provided for Student and Graduate Royalties most cost effective both for people who were inspired by the pride. James Jones is doing a them to attend classes when I received a small loan in 2001 basis after the end of the tax year. vehicles parked on the campus. accounts are designed specifically The joint administration of the borrowers and for UK taxpayers, articles that appeared in the last difficult and demanding job – they have such a high academic and began paying it back in Tales of cars being broken into to meet the banking and lifestyle who provide the funding for student issue of sesame (230), in particular December 2004. To date, repayment scheme means that SLC and damage being done were an understatement surely if needs of full-time students. level in that tongue? There is a finance. the ‘Studying under fire in Iraq’ payments are still being taken will not receive notification of any common. there ever was one. James is Throughout their full-time study wide chasm of student ability on repayments until beyond the end of feature. Here are a couple of those from my monthly salary even I’m quite shocked at carrying out his duty and is period, it is presumed that such the course which becomes each tax year. As a result, any letters. though I have more than repayed Nottingham University for making a real difference but, students will be in a position to depressing to other students borrower who thinks that their loan 30 miserly points allowing this to happen, and despite this, is finding time to earn little or no income because of trying so hard to learn a foreign the loan and associated interest. is likely to be fully repaid at a point ROCHELLE Jones’ article about study. James and Renée are true their course commitments. As such, IN response to the ‘Why no especially disappointed with the her husband James, who is inspirations. applicants are required to present ecology’ letter published in issue OU for seemingly accepting the studying whilst serving as a I eagerly await the next issue proof of their full-time student STAR LETTER 230 of sesame. I feel sure that S situation and putting students at soldier in the British army in of sesame and, like Toby Boyd, status in order to qualify. We accept prefixed courses would be more risk. My point is, if students are southern Iraq, certainly made such applications from students at a the date for my TMA has drawn Hope for carers every day and some nights, gained a 96 for my final popular if they were worth more aware of the poor security in the me re-evaluate my own studies. range of institutions and courses, close and passed. Hope the following the inevitable ups assignment, a distinction, and a points. A substantial effort is first place we can choose not to Never again will I feel that a including vocational ones such as Royal Mail has got it there in MANY thanks for the article in and (all too often) downs of first-class honours degree in required for many of the science attend courses run at nursing. TMA is insurmountable, living sesame issue 230 entitled treatment and medical English Language and Nottingham University. time. I appreciate the point that Ms courses. For what? 30 miserly in the pampered peacetime ‘Students who care’. I hope complications. Unfortunately Literature. I am currently David Connor Janet Smith Reilly raises given her recent points. civilian conditions of York. My student/carers like myself Stockport Cheshunt, Hertfordshire graduation. However, the diversity the experience left her unable studying towards an MA with Christopher Cornwell resolution – no more whining, and flexibility of The Open might take encouragement to look after herself, and for the OU, alongside my carer’s Holmer Green, Buckinghamshire University courses obviously allow from my own experience last the second half of my course responsibilities, and hope this TESSA HOLROYDE, HEAD OF year. RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS, REPLIES: part-time distance learning for terms and since I have become will particularly encourage PAT MURPHY, SCIENCE Please send your letters to: Letters to the Editor, sesame, Just before my final year of people, often over a longer period. her full-time carer. those new to caring. PROGRAMME DIRECTOR, REPLIES: WE do advise students attending The Open University, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA. Such part-time study could allow OU my degree my mum was I persevered with my studies, It doesn’t have to mean your residential school at Nottingham THE Faculty of Science accepts that Fax: +44 (0)1908 652247 Email: [email protected] students to achieve their degree diagnosed with a brain tumour, (in the Residential Schools booklet with thoughtful support from studies will suffer: overall I some of our 30 (but also 60) point Include your address and daytime telephone number. and work full-time concurrently which meant that while my tutors Dr Suzanne achieved better marks last courses are perhaps a little too and on the Residential Schools should they choose. As such, on this We reserve the right to edit letters. studying my two final 60-point Fairless-Aitken and Mr Gordon year than any other! much of a good thing! Mainly this booking and information website) part-time basis, students are not £20 book token for published Star Letter courses I spent the first Jones, and not only did I John Hosker reflects the enthusiasm of the not to take their cars as there is eligible for our Royalties Student very limited parking on campus, £10 book token for published letters months of the term in hospital complete my courses but Sedbergh, Cumbria authors for their subject and their and Graduate accounts. desire to share this with students. priority not unreasonably being 12 SESAME 231 Autumn 2006 Autumn 2006 SESAME 231 13 PEOPLE PEOPLE Glorious Gateshead

An eco-friendly degree ceremony in Gateshead impressed Sheila Forman on a recent visit

HE long journey to today’s celebration has been a demanding Study buddies one for the audience at Gateshead degree ceremony. “But The Graduates Graduating together was so important to four women who Ttoday you shine in the delight and the pride that we all share The sun has got her hat on! were at the ceremony that one of them put off graduating with you,” Will Swann, Director of Students, told them in his address. One reason for the glorious weather on the day may well have been for two years so that she could graduate with her ‘study The graduates themselves almost certainly didn’t need a reminder graduate Trai Anfield (pictured below left), a weather presenter for buddies’. of the long journey, as the years of early mornings and late nights, BBC Look North as well as BBC local radio. She studied environmental Pictured on our front cover (left to right) are Joanne exam nerves and anxious waits for results came to fruition in the science subjects covering topics including pollution modelling and Atkinson, Sue Duffield, Jo Coote and Jennie Rees. The magnificent Tyneside setting of The Sage in Gateshead. the geological record of climate change, and collected a First Class four met in February 2000 at the first tutorial of An With The Open University gaining a reputation as a leading Honours degree at the ceremony. She began studying with the OU in introduction to the social sciences. They formed a study academic authority on climate change, the OU in the North (which the early 1990s and says that, thanks to its flexible system, she was group which turned into a life-long support and friendship covers the north east and Cumbria) did its bit to reduce global able to take time out to study forecasting with the Met Office. group. “We didn’t all study the same course but we have warming by making its 2006 degree ceremony eco-friendly. “I have ME which meant I had to be away from work for seven been there for each other through thick and thin, The region worked with green experts CarbonNeutral Newcastle to years,” said Trai. “Studying with the OU kept me going, helping me to relationship traumas, employment changes and family implement eco-friendly measures, which included encouraging focus and giving me the hope that I would come through it. There illness,” said Jennie Rees. graduates to use public transport to travel to the ceremony and were times when I was too ill to even sit up and write notes. I used a Jennie, who left school 35 years ago without any making a financial contribution to CarbonNeutral Newcastle’s local dictaphone, then wrote the notes up later when I was feeling qualifications, says she was full of doubts about whether renewable energy projects. stronger. The OU revolutionised and kick-started my career – she would cope with studying. “At first I found the otherwise I wouldn't have had the qualifications that the Met Office Director of OU in the North, David Knight, said: “We hope these coursework hard but I persevered and here I am, 41 years measures will drastically reduce the environmental footprint left by was looking for. It also gave me the confidence to go out and tackle after leaving school, having gained a BSc and some lovely the degree ceremony.” postgraduate studies in forecasting.” friends too,” said Jennie. Dr Eric Wade was awarded for his services to the OU at the ceremony “We selected Gateshead because The Sage centre was True son of the north east new and we had heard the graduation ceremony the As with all other ceremonies, one award was reserved for someone previous year had been really good in this venue,” Jo Coote the university wished to honour, either for their services directly to told sesame. “We wanted to make a weekend of it, because the university, or to other aspects of public, cultural or educational we felt we deserved it as there were times when we didn’t life. The OU in the North chose to honour one of their own, former think we would complete the award. We also wanted to staff tutor, Dr Eric Wade, “a true son of the north east, proud of his share our success with our families and friends who had roots, but who achieved in academe, just as you have,” his presenter supported us so much,” she added. Rob Clifton told the audience. Brought up in the mining village of They all agreed that OU study had changed their lives. Broomhill, Eric Wade left school at 16 to become an apprentice Sue Duffield, who started studying at 40 because she mining surveyor at the local pits before going on to gain a degree in wanted a challenge, said: “I’m now more confident both mining and then a PhD on the subject of “Thin seam mining in County personally and professionally, and am applying for jobs Durham”. He then either worked on, or was a member of, the which I wouldn’t have dreamt of applying for before. Life Examination and Award Board at the OU for every subsequent level 1 definitely begins at 40!” social sciences course up to D103, until his retirement. Apart from his unfailing commitment to students, Dr Wade also Wedding bells committed himself to his colleagues, becoming President of the OU When Markus Hirmke enrolled for an MBA course in Association of University Teachers from 1985 to 2000 and serving Austria he ended up with one certificate that he hadn’t on their National Executive for seven years. He was also geological and economic adviser to the National Union of Miners and advised actually signed up for… a wedding certificate. both the German and American Miners Union. He continues Markus and his coordinator in Austria, Sarah Shaw, first his lifelong mission with the mining industry and The met in 2002 at a presentation Sarah was giving at an OU Open University as a visiting senior research fellow open evening. He registered for the course and, recalls specialising in mining history. Mr Clifton, a staff tutor Sarah who was completing her PhD with the University of in the OU’s north west region, said: “Like all the Vienna at the time: “We spent three years bonding over the founding fathers of the OU, Eric Wade took a tops of our respective piles of books, and in April this year substantial career risk when he joined the fledgling we got married.” Open University in 1970.” In accepting the award of Sarah adds that studying alongside Markus had given Honorary Master at the university, Dr Wade said: “It is her a unique additional perspective on the OU experience: an honour and a privilege to share this moment with “I have experienced through him the doggedness required the graduates here that have been part of my life for for an OU degree, coupled with the incredible sense of

so long.” accomplishment at the end.” Markus and his wife, Sarah, met at a presentation Sarah was giving at an OU open evening 14 SESAME 231 Autumn 2006 Autumn 2006 SESAME 231 15 RESEARCH RESEARCH

continuation of a movement that, said Dr mere re-labelling of creationism, and not a about religion? “I would use a biblical phrase,” Moore, has been around for decades. “People scientific theory”. said Dr Moore. “‘At ease in Zion.’ People have been arguing that creationism is Dr Moore, joint author of a best-selling say – sometimes with a hint of cultural Explaining the inexplicable science since the 1960s, and trying to get biography of Darwin, was quoted after the superiority – ‘creationism can’t happen here’. schools to teach it. case in the New York Daily News, observing They are wrong. It’s dipping under the radar. “The intelligent design movement is that the US was a “very religious nation”, with ID is ‘stealth creationism.’ What impact will the possible introduction of teaching religion as a science have on the reputation of politically adroit. It doesn’t deny evolution 60 per cent of the population regularly “Don’t get me wrong,” Dr Moore added. British research? Peter Taylor-Whiffen speaks to OU lecturer Dr James Moore about his views on this directly, but instead offers itself as a broad attending church. In contrast, perhaps five “It is possible to be a good engineer or church, so it can attract support from all per cent of Britons are regular churchgoers, cyber-geek and still believe in intelligent these factions. ID gives them a new angle for yet in Britain religious education is design. ID holds great appeal for MOVEMENT to re-introduce religion into American schools (from a number of faiths) to question Darwin’s theory of evolution. getting religion into schools, but it still mandatory in schools. So why is Dr Moore fundamentalist Christian young people who by teaching it as science is taking a foothold in Britain – and It has made headlines across America because its champions label breaks the First Amendment.” so concerned about ID reaching these want to remain ‘faithful’ and be ‘scientific’ at Acould seriously damage the UK’s reputation as a great it ‘science,’ not ‘religion’ – therefore enabling it briefly to duck under The ID movement has had a mixed shores? the same time. science nation. the US Constitution’s First Amendment, which states “Congress shall reception in the States. ID has been “But how far can you get as a scientist That’s the view of The Open University lecturer Dr James Moore, make no law respecting an establishment of religion,” and so introduced into some schools, particularly “It’s precarious to argue that, believing that certain things are who believes the British government’s plans to create independent effectively bans the teaching of religion in America’s state schools. those whose boards of governors, or regional because we can’t explain something, scientifically inexplicable? What sort of trust schools – which currently need not adhere to the National But supporters of intelligent design argue that using scientific politicians, have a right-wing fundamentalist God must have created it” biologist believes that the basic components Curriculum – will see an explosion in the number of pupils being evidence to dismantle a scientific theory such as Darwin’s is, by its Christian bias. In Dover, Pennsylvania, ID was of life are too complex to have evolved? If taught so-called intelligent design (ID). very definition, science. introduced in 2004 after the school board “It is already here,” he said. “I understand it you bring up a generation to reject Darwinian “It’s being promoted in the name of ‘better science’,” said Dr Moore. “This is a dangerous notion because ID supporters are encouraging declared ‘students will be made aware of is taught in some independent trust schools, evolution – the central premise of the life “And of course we all want better science in this country – you, me, people to believe that science has finally discovered God,” said Dr gaps/problems in Darwin’s and of other and my concern is that there is no legal sciences today – that must inevitably Tony Blair. But in my opinion the widespread introduction of the Moore, an American-born Reader in the OU’s Department of the theories of evolution including, but not barrier, as in the US, to teaching ID within compromise Britain’s future as a scientific teaching of ID as science will blunt the cutting-edge of British History of Science, Technology and Medicine. “It’s precarious to argue limited to, intelligent design’. schools that can operate outside the nation.” research, particularly in the life sciences.” that, because we can’t explain something, God must have created it. But eleven parents sued, and weeks later National Curriculum. And Tony Blair’s dream Q The Open University has launched a new Intelligent design is, broadly speaking, the doctrine that life could What happens if the inexplicable is explained?” District Judge John Jones III ruled the is to see more and more schools become third-level undergraduate course on not have evolved by chance, and is put forward by religious groups The push for teaching intelligent design in US schools is a teaching of ID was unconstitutional, independent trust schools.” evolution; for details of this and other Open declaring that what ID calls “the science of But does the introduction of ID really University courses on science and religion design detection” was “a religious view, a matter, if so many Britons aren’t bothered see www.open.ac.uk/courses Here’s a credit card that Dr Moore believes that children are already being taught ID in a number of independent trust schools within the UK works as hard as you do.

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CN6/0673 16 SESAME 231 Autumn 2006 Autumn 2006 SESAME 231 17 PEOPLE ).$)6)$5!, ). Have veg oil, will travel /52 4().+).' One OU student discovered an alternative to traditional fuel to take him across Europe

NVIRONMENTAL sciences student Antony Berretti has made the UK you have to declare that you are using it as a fuel, and you history by becoming the first person to drive across Europe in get taxed for doing so – so heavily that it’s actually no cheaper than ',/"!, ). Ea car fuelled by vegetable oil. But how did he get hold of all this buying diesel.” Regulations in other European countries vary – in vegetable oil? He simply asked various restaurants that he passed to France, says Antony, you can be fined for putting vegetable oil in your give him their waste oil – all for free! tank. Portugal, on the other hand, has just reduced its tax in the hope The OU student made the month-long journey to prove his fuel was of encouraging a recovered vegetable oil industry. a cheaper and greener alternative to diesel and other more traditional And that was one of the several issues Antony wanted to raise on /52 /54,//+ fuels. “I’d been aware of the concept for some his journey. “The tax is artificially high, which time,” he said. “The BBC’s Top Gear programme “It’s possible for virtually all of us can only be to protect commercial interests,” he had run an item on it five years ago as a sort to run our cars on vegetable oil” said. “It’s possible for virtually all of us to run of spoof – but while at the research library in our cars on vegetable oil, which would be so Milton Keynes last year, I twigged this was a journey that could be much cheaper for us and better for the planet, but regulations made. And as an environmental scientist, I have an enthusiasm for including the high tax rate mean there is little financial incentive for finding ways of reducing the environmental impact of modern life.” people to do so. Antony, from Newton Stewart in south west Scotland, drove “All it needs is for the government to change the law and that through France, Spain, Portugal, Gibraltar, Italy, San Marino, Austria, incentive would be there. This trip was about raising awareness and Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium in a modified Fiat Scudo 1.9 showing how green we can be – if we really want to.” Turbo Diesel van but says the modification to the engine was so Q To learn more about using vegetable oil as a fuel, visit relatively simple that it could have been done by anyone, in virtually www.macharsoft.co.uk/rmp/freefuel.html This includes a diary of any diesel car. “All you need is a kit, which costs about £500 and, if Antony’s trip and links to how to get a converter kit and the law about you can’t fit it yourself, it should be an easy task for any good using it.

mechanic,” he said. “I’ve spent the last 30 years repairing engines so I Antony Berretti is pictured here holding his suggested alternative to diesel – vegetable oil knew what I was doing and what could be done.” But while it’s one thing getting the car to run, it’s quite another to blag free vegetable oil across Europe. “I think I did a Dudley Moore impression on most of the people I asked for help,” said Antony. “I come from a Tuscan family so speak Italian, and gave a reasonably close rendition of Spanish and French, but when someone did understand me I asked them to write down the proper question I should have asked, and I just showed that at the next restaurant!”

Considerably cheaper He was interested to see how much reaction to his request varied between countries. “Many of the French restaurateurs couldn’t 'LOBALGRADUATEDEVELOPMENTPROGRAMME believe what I wanted it for – some looked as if they wanted to stop me for the sake of my car! Others rang their friends to tell them to 9OU DONT JUST THINK PROlT YOU THINK PROlT WITH SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 9OU DONT JUST CONSIDER YOURSELF YOU CONSIDER come and watch me pour the oil in. But in Germany several people YOUR TEAM !ND YOURE NOT JUST AN INNOVATIVE THINKER YOU MAKE MORE POSSIBLE FOR CLIENTS COLLEAGUES AND YOURSELF said they had heard of it and understood that it was possible. And )N SHORT YOU SHOULD CONSIDER A CAREER WITH !". !-2/ other countries I visited are interested in learning more. Four TV 7E THINK YOULL ENJOY THE CHANCE TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE STRUCTURED DEVELOPMENT AND ROTATIONAL PLACEMENTS ON OUR stations covered the story when I was in Portugal, and the Italians GLOBAL GRADUATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME 7E BELIEVE YOULL WELCOME THE EARLY RESPONSIBILITY CLIENT CONTACT have invited me back to an expo.” AND COMPLEX CHALLENGES IT OFFERS !ND WHETHER YOU JOIN US IN ,ONDON !MSTERDAM 0ARIS .EW 9ORK #HICAGO So how effective was the switchover from diesel to vegetable oil? It was just as effective, according to Antony. You start the vehicle (ONG +ONG OR 3YDNEY WERE SURE YOULL APPRECIATE A CULTURE THAT VALUES YOUR WORKLIFE BALANCE AS MUCH AS YOUR SKILLS with a small amount of mineral diesel, he explains, then when the 4HINK ABOUT OUR GLOBAL GRADUATE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME 4HEN GO TO WWWGRADUATEABNAMROCOM engine is warm and has heated the oil to the required temperature, you switch it over to run on oil. Vegetable oil produces only a fraction of the harmful substances created when burning diesel, it’s non-toxic and it’s actually safer – its flashpoint is higher than that of diesel, which reduces the risk of fire. And it’s biodegradable and using it protects our fossil fuels. And it’s considerably cheaper – at least in theory. “Vegetable oil costs a fraction of the price of a litre of diesel,” said Antony. “But in 18 SESAME 231 Autumn 2006 Autumn 2006 SESAME 231 19 RESEARCH RESEARCH FIFTH COLUMN Outdated study

Planetary science and the search for life, is we’re finding more all the time. materials adamant that common sense prevailed. “It “The BBC’s online report about downgrading was absolutely the right decision,” he said. “I Pluto said it would lead to the planet being MY box of books ‘Planet’ is just a word was horrified that they might be upgrading ‘airbrushed out of school textbooks’. That’s a and support asteroids and moons to planet status. In stupid thing to say. It remains a very exciting material for The controversial decision to strip Pluto of its status as a planet has divided OU scientists. Peter 1930, when we didn’t know any better, field of research.” TUXX870 Taylor-Whiffen speaks to three leading lights about their views scientists were right to call it a planet, but Professor John Zarnecki from the OU’s Capacities for any decision to keep it that way with the Planetary and Space Sciences Research managing knowledge we have now would have been Institute (PSSRI) is an IAU member. Family development “ ’VE been telling schoolchildren for years category, but some satellites, some of television character – would be ‘upgraded’, purely sentimental.” commitments meant he was unable to attend arrived in April, a that Pluto isn’t really a planet,” says The Jupiter’s and Saturn’s moons, and UB313 are giving a total of 12 planets. And he said the situation did have a the meeting but he says: “I would have voted few weeks earlier than expected. Open University’s Dr Andy Norton. “They all larger than Pluto. “I think it’s a shame that Pluto lost out,” I precedent. “When Ceres was discovered to keep things as they are. Changing the I am an education consultant for the love the idea that I’m letting them into a “I think we should have broadened the said Dr Norton. “But there are also very good between Mars and Jupiter in the early 1800s definitions will probably confuse Ministry of Education in Kathmandu, secret – that their textbooks have got it definition of what a planet is. I would have reasons for narrowing the definition – it was called a planet, but when scientists non-astronomers – although for those who Nepal and worked for VSO for two wrong.” liked us to have more planets.” especially in terms of making it easier for learned it was an asteroid they sensibly went to school before 1930, it will be a case years, so my OU course suits me But it’s not a secret any more with the people, in particular schoolchildren – to have downgraded it. I’m appalled that the IAU even of ‘as you were’! completely. Thirty per cent of the recent and controversial decision by the Pluto is still fascinating a basic understanding of space.” considered broadening the definition of a “We’ve known for years that Pluto is Nepal education budget is provided by International Astronomical Union (IAU) to There may well have been more if the IAU’s In what observers called a ‘stormy’ planet that would have upgraded it again. To anomalous, and that there are thousands of donor nations and I work in the strip Pluto of its status as a planet – a general assembly had voted differently. Had meeting, the majority of the 2,500 delegates do so, in spite of having 200 years’ more objects orbiting our Sun. I feel sorry for ministry section responsible for decision that has divided OU scientists. delegates at the Prague event voted for opted to define a planet as being in orbit knowledge behind us, would have been Venitia (see the fact box) as she was the only liaison with them. “We have four terrestrial planets – another of their options, not only would around the Sun, large enough for its mass to madness.” living person who could claim to have named a Better still, I had my new books for Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars – and four Pluto’s status have been maintained but break down into a spherical shape and But Dr Rothery is keen to stress that losing planet, but I don’t imagine she’ll lose much the two weeks of government curfew gas mass planets – Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus three other bodies – the largest known clearing its orbit of other objects – and the its status does not make Pluto any less sleep over it. and Maoist blockade of the and Neptune,” said Dr Norton, Senior asteroid Ceres, Pluto’s moon Cheron and an latter two criteria disqualify Pluto. fascinating. “Pluto lies on the edge of an outer “After all, ‘planet’ is just a word. Whatever Kathmandu Valley, so I sat in the warm Lecturer in Astrophysics and Chair of the OU even further outlying object 2003 UB313, Dr Dave Rothery, Chair of OU courses region of the Solar System called the Kuiper it’s called, Pluto will keep doing what it’s sunshine on our roof terrace and Astronomy Club. “Pluto doesn’t fit into either known colloquially as Xena after the popular S296 Planets: an introduction and S283 Belt,” he said. “Over the last 15 years we’ve always been doing. It’s not as if it’s going to be began my reading. Less than a mile discovered many more objects out there and bothered that we’ve called it something else.” away, on the ring road around the city, 250,000 people were flouting the shoot-to-kill curfew, and we heard Software for OU Students PLUTO FACTS their shouts and saw the smoke of burning tyres used as blockades. Measurements What I hadn’t allowed for when we It is oval-shaped, only one-fifth the size of the Earth, with an left the UK in August 2005 was VHS Massive discounts on top name software* eccentric orbit that occasionally takes it closer to the Sun than and cassette tapes. Our laptop has its nearest planetary neighbour Neptune. our photos, our emails, our contacts, our music and all our documents, A wide range available from Microsoft, Adobe, Quark, How was it discovered? but there’s no function on it that Pluto was discovered on 13 March, 1930 can deal with the outdated way that Mindjet, FileMaker, TurboCad, Corel, AVG and others...... by American Clyde Tombaugh at Arizona’s the OU sends audio and video Lowell Observatory when he took two photographs materials. which revealed the movement of a celestial body Once the King stood down and Nepal and the existence of the hitherto mythical planet. returned quickly to normal I was able Microsoft Offi ce Standard £64.00 AVG Anti-Virus £14.99 to buy a cheap radio cassette player How did it get its name? made in China (£8) and have the VHS plus FREE Learning Essentials (2 year license) The planet was given its name by, somewhat put on to DVD (£16). But surely it’s Windows XP Pro £64.00 TurboCad Deluxe 12 £57.58 improbably, 11-year-old English schoolgirl time for the OU to move forward and Macromedia Studio 8 £99.01 Quark XPress Passport £152.75 Venetia Burney. Inspired by her studies of either offer a choice or send material mythology, she suggested naming the planet like this in CD-rom and DVD format? Mindjet MindManager Pro 6 £71.09 Corel Draw Graphics Suite X3 £99.88 after the Roman god of the underworld to her Adobe Web Bundle £551.08 Adobe Creative Suite Premium 2 £346.63 grandfather, Falconer Madan. Madan ran the idea Discover more about Peter Reid past his friend, leading astronomer Herbert Hall by logging onto Turner, who then cabled the suggested name to www.rosemaryandpeter.com his colleagues at Lowell and the rest, as they say, is history. Do you have a gripe or would like to share something interesting? Send us an article Venetia, now 87, recently told the BBC: “At my age, I’ve been See our student store website for the full range and pricing of no more than 250 words to The Editor, largely indifferent to [the debate] – though I suppose I would sesame, The Open University, Walton Hall, *Prices shown include VAT. You will need to quote your OU student number to validate entitlement to student pricing. E&OE prefer it to remain a planet.” Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA or email [email protected] Include contact order on-line at www.citnexus.co.uk/student details and a daytime telephone number. We pay £50 for each contribution used. citnexus or call 0845 338 5 339 20 SESAME 231 Autumn 2006 Autumn 2006 SESAME 231 21

OU Careers Advisory Service at SPEAK A FOREIGN LANGUAGE? SPEAK IT BETTER! www.open.ac.uk/careers CAREERS OU AND I

oin the thousands of professionals ecause each audiomagazine is a Our new student columnist chronicles Jand international travellers who Bperiodical, learning never has to NOW AVAILABLE his highs and lows in OU and I... depend on Champs-Elysées, Schau end. Every edition serves up new Champs-Elysées Plus! T’S been a good news, bad news ins Land, Puerta del Sol, and voices, topics, and vocabulary. The kind of time for me recently. The Acquerello italiano to help them stay result: you build fluency month in Accelerate your study of Igood news was that I got a new job, and month out. French with Champs-Elysées Get clicking! starting imminently. And the bad news in touch with the languages and Plus, a new enhanced package o help you integrate language was, er, that I got a new job. cultures they love. Designed to help which now has Actually, I shouldn’t grumble. It’s not study into your busy life, we’ve you dramatically improve your T TRANSLATED features. The OU’s new Careers Advisory Service website has a wealth of new just good news – it’s great. After Champs- listening comprehension, made each audiomagazine portable. Available now, months scraping a precarious living as Elysées Plus features and valuable information for both students and employers vocabulary, and cultural IQ, these Work on language fluency while a freelance, full-time employment is commuting, exercising, cooking— includes the just what the bank manager ordered. unique European audiomagazines Champs- HE national careers team is currently developing a web-based vacancy service which will anytime and anywhere you want! base Plus this looks like being a great job are guaranteed to reenergize your Elysées allow students to search for full-time and part-time vacancies, as well as work experience audio in itself: interesting, intellectually and voluntary work. This will be live on the website in autumn 2006. language study—or your programme, the T stimulating work in a pleasant The revamped site, which was launched by the Careers Advisory Service in 2005, also money back! transcript and glossary, and a environment for a worthwhile cause. printed workbook with includes a section titled ‘Have You Seen?’ which contains all the latest career news including So why do I have mixed feelings? grammar exercises. In addition, conferences and workshops, and guides to career planning resources. Other new features ach audiomagazine For one thing, I’m not wild about the you receive a CD or cassette include an A-Z site map and search facility to provide alternative ways for users to find what consists of an hour- thought of returning to nine-to-five E (your choice) with audio they are looking for. office life. It’s going to be a real shock long programme on CD exercises to help you with The site offers advice under the headings Prospective Student, to the system. Freelancing has its or cassette. You’ll hear comprehension and Current Student, Former Student, Employer and Member of Staff financial challenges – I’ve spent weeks interviews with vocabulary building. Audio which contain sections with specific relevance for the different on end waiting for paying work to prominent Europeans, flash cards of key words and types of visitors. Current and former student areas are materialise, or for clients to pay for segments covering expressions prepare you for password protected, and alumni can use the Careers Advisory work I’ve done – but the great current events and issues, as listening. Several features from Service for up to two years after their last course. compensation is that one often has well as features on contemporary est of all, each programme is put the programme are read at a “One of the key developments has been making this a lots of spare time. Not any more. How together by professional slower pace and four features needs-based site,” said Ellen Cocking of the OU’s Careers culture and beloved traditions. An B am I going to survive without regular broadcasters, journalists, and editors will be translated to make Advisory Service. “A large proportion of our students accompanying booklet contains a fixes of Columbo? them easier to understand. are already in work and want to develop their career complete printed transcript, a who have a passion for European The other concern is, of course, my Audio comprehension or change job. But one in five OU students is now glossary averaging 600 words and languages and culture. That exercises help you make sure course. I’m reaching the final stage of under 25 and is looking for advice at the start of expressions translated into English, enthusiasm comes through in every you’ve understood everything studies for my first module, with the their career, so we need to address a wide range of plus extensive background notes. edition. From New York to London you’ve heard. And just for fun, delightful prospect of my first ever needs.” to Singapore, our subscribers tell us we’ve added a special feature— ECA in September. Spanish and Italian subscribers can There is also a redesigned section for employers in English—in which we And in the longer term a full-time opt for Audio Flash Cards™ (on CD no company produces a better wanting to recruit OU students or develop their explore various aspects of the job is going to make everything that only) which give the correct product for intermediate and existing staff. “We are in contact with French language. Use this much harder. As a freelance, I’ve been pronunciation and translation of advanced language learners. Ring ever-increasing numbers of employers,” added supplement on the go and spoilt. There’s been the odd, mad 100 words and phrases from each for more information, or order at student services manager, Wendy Woolery. see how fast your French 70-hour week rushing to complete a programme. To learn more visit www.open.ac.uk/careers www.audiomagazine.com progresses! job, but in general I’ve been able to devote enough time to my academic Money Back Guarantee: You have nothing to lose if it’s not for you, let us know within 6 weeks and we will completely reimburse you. work to stay comfortably ahead of the Champs-Elysees, Spike Island, 133 Cumberland Road, Bristol BS1 6UX study calendar. YES, Please rush me my first audiomagazine! Your degree in… psychology Now, though, I’ll have to make much Champs-Elysées Plus (French) One Year (11 editions) £189 On CD or On cassette Half Year (5 editions) £99 On CD or On cassette more of an effort to keep on top of Champs-Elysées Base (French) One Year (11 editions) £129 On CD or On cassette Half Year (5 editions) £69 On CD or On cassette YOUR study towards a degree in psychology psychology graduates go on to practise as things. I’ll need organisation, time Schau ins Land (German) One Year (6 editions) £81 On CD or On cassette Study Supplement, add £18 will enable you to develop a specific set of professional psychologists (15 per cent management, self-discipline – all those Acquerello italiano (Italian) One Year (6 editions) £81 On CD or On cassette Study Supplement, add £18 skills and knowledge that will prove useful in according to a survey conducted by the wonderful virtues that open learning Audio Flash Cards , on CD only, add £18 a variety of professions. Learning and Teaching Support Network for helps to develop. Wonderful in the Puerta del Sol (Spanish) One Year (6 editions) £81 On CD or On cassette Study Supplement, add £18 If you are interested in becoming a Psychology). You can use your degree to work abstract, anyway. In practice, developing Audio Flash Cards , on CD only, add £18 professional psychologist, you can practise in in areas such as healthcare, welfare, them is going to be a struggle. Add £5-00 P&P for 11 edition subscriptions, £3-50 P&P for 5 or 6 edition subscriptions. many interesting areas including clinical, education, community services, local As it is, I’ve already fallen behind in counselling, educational, health, occupational government, industry and commerce. Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms______my studies. All the hassle of getting and sports psychology. Professional Whichever career path you choose to go the job and organising a move to Address______psychology can be highly competitive, so you down, you will need to demonstrate that you London has taken its toll. (Truth be Cheque enclosed (payable to Champs-Elysées Ltd.) Tick if you do not want to receive mailings need all the advice you can get – log onto have the right mix of skills when applying for told, the World Cup may also have of offers or services from other carefully Debit my VISA / Mastercard / American Express/ Eurocard / Switch / Diners selected companies. www.prospects.ac.uk, www.bps.org.uk, or a particular job by drawing on examples from been a factor. Ho hum.) Card No.______www.gradireland.com for detailed career and your studies, work experience and other If you don’t hear from me again, job profiles. areas of your life. The OU Careers Advisory assume my brain has melted. The way I “Better than a language Expiry Date. ______Issue ______(Switch) Psychology is a valuable subject for any job Service can give you advice on how to go feel at the moment, it wouldn’t be course.” –about.com Credit card orders may be faxed on 0117 929 2426 Outside the UK call +44 (117) 929 2320 WWW.AUDIOMAGAZINE.COM that involves dealing with people, so you don’t about it. much of a loss. POST TO: CHAMPS-ELYSEES, DEPT. OU306, FREEPOST LON 295, BRISTOL, BS1 6FA 0800 833 257 have to go down the professional psychology Visit www.open.ac.uk/careers or contact Toby Boyd route – in fact, only a small proportion of the careers adviser in your region. 22 SESAME 231 Autumn 2006 Autumn 2006 SESAME 231 23 LA Fitness RESEARCH from £18 per month Happiness is…

He’s already made the people of Slough happier, now he wants the government to help do the same for the rest of us. Neil Baker talks to a leader in the new science of happiness, Dr Richard Stevens

R Richard Stevens certainly sounds happy enough. He whistles The various measures were rigorous enough for Slough Borough a jolly tune from the kitchen as he makes a cup of tea, Council to start monitoring the town’s happiness levels. But Richard Dstopping only to apologise for having soya milk, not dairy. wants the steps undertaken to improve national happiness to play a The Open University psychologist is a guru in the emerging field of role in government policy. For example, he’s concerned about the ‘happiness science’. With a team of five other happiness experts, psychological damage caused by a surfeit of choices – whether it Richard accepted the challenging task of raising the happiness levels be of soap powders or primary schools. Not knowing which to choose, of 50 volunteers from the Berkshire town of Slough, location of that and worrying about whether you’ve made the wrong choice, can agonising carnival of human misery, The Office. The results formed a be big sources of misery. Rather than restricting available choices, series of programmes for BBC TWO, Making Slough Happy. Richard wants to teach people how to cope with them. One of the Working with two other OU academics – Dr Jane Henry, Senior tricks is to accept what is good enough, instead of always looking Lecturer in applied psychology at The Open University Business for the best – what psychologists call being a ‘satisficer’ not a School and Linda Corlett, a social psychology tutor – as well as a ‘maximiser’. psychotherapist, Nevia Mullan, Richard’s role was to run five all-day The most important role for happiness science in government happiness workshops with the volunteers, drawing on ideas from policy is education, he says. “Schools should be helping children to positive, humanist and evolutionary psychology, combined with a bit develop skills and techniques for dealing with the world and of Buddhism and a dash of old-fashioned showmanship – in a increasing their own wellbeing.” previous career Richard directed episodes of Z Cars. But he doesn’t want everyone to be happy in an unthinking, He also took volunteers on a series of ‘away days’ covering happy-clappy sort of way. Melancholia, the Greek mood of approaches such as ‘housework therapy’ which is aimed at making non-specific brooding, can be a positive experience, if it produces mundane work more enjoyable. Richard and his fellow academics constructive reflection about the nature of existence. used a combination of measures to determine how happy the Q Dr Richard Stevens and Dr Alex Linley will be among the speakers volunteers were at the start and end of the project. The results were at the next Open University Psychological Society annual conference, much better than expected. “I thought we’d be lucky to get an on the psychology of wellbeing, at Nottingham University on 22–24 increase of 10 per cent, but we actually got 33 per cent,” he says. June 2007. For more information visit www.oups.org.uk Happiness tools

Try these regularly for two months:

1. Take half an hour of exercise three times a week 2. Count your blessings. At the end of each day, reflect on at least five things you are grateful for 3. Have an hour-long, uninterrupted, conversation with your Call 08701 201 999 partner or closest friends each week 4. Plant something: even if it’s in a window box or pot. Keep it alive! www.health-force.co.uk 5. Cut your TV viewing by half 6. Smile at and say hello to a stranger at least once a day 7. Make contact with at least one friend or relation you have OUTSIDE LONDON Armagh • Bedford • Belfast - Adelaide St. • Belfast-Shaw’s Bridge • Billericay • Birmingham - Kings Heath • Birmingham - Northfield not been in contact with for a while and arrange to meet Birmingham - Sutton Coldfield • Birmingham - Temple Row • Bury • Bury St Edmunds • Cheltenham • Colchester • Dublin-Dartry • East Grinstead 8. Have a good laugh at least once a day Ewell • Fareham • Formby • Glasgow-Argyle St • Glasgow-Milngavie • Henley • Huntingdon • Kettering • Kings Lynn • Leeds • Lincoln • Liverpool 9. Give yourself a treat every day. Take time to really Livingston • Loughborough • Manchester • Newark • Newbury • Northwich • Oxford • Sale • Salisbury • Slough • Southampton • Southend - Thorpe Bay enjoy this Stevenage • Tunbridge Wells• Warwick LONDON CLUBS Aldgate • Bayswater • Edgware • Finchley • Golders Green • Hallam Street • Highgate • Holborn 10. Do an extra good turn for someone each day Isleworth • Leadenhall • London Wall • Marylebone • New Barnet • Piccadilly • Purley • Southgate • St. Paul’s • Sydenham • Victoria • Waldorf • West India Quay

IMPORTANT INFORMATION An administration fee of £20 applies to every new membership. Restrictions on access apply to some memberships, check the website or speak to an operator for full details. Lines are open 8.30am-8pm Mon-Friday, 9am-5pm Saturdays and 11am-4pm Sundays. 24 SESAME 231 Autumn 2006 Autumn 2006 SESAME 231 25 RESEARCH RESEARCH

CASE STUDY Age is CASE STUDY Dr Merton Seigleman Dr Edward Brech “AS you get older, you have to keep doing THE oldest Open University student to earn a something to exercise your brain,” says Dr just a PhD was awarded the MBA in the Queen’s Merton Seigleman. “If you don’t, it would be Birthday Honours list in June. Dr Edward Brech, quite easy to become a vegetable.” 94, achieved Britain’s first doctorate in British Not that this is likely to happen to Dr management history nine years ago and was Seigleman. He’s just achieved a BSc with The cited for services to the history of Open University at the age of 82 – to add to number management in the list. the BA he earned when he was 77. Dr Dr Brech teamed up with The Open Seigleman studied arts and social science University Business School’s Andrew courses on his way to his OU qualifications – a Peter Taylor-Whiffen delves into recent Thompson and Derek Pugh – now Emeritus completely different form of study from the research on age discrimination and Professor of International Management – a medicine degree he achieved at the start of his collaboration which led to the founding of the medical career in 1953. “The most significant discovers more about the part played by Business School’s history of management difference is that when I qualified as a doctor I the OU in enriching older people’s lives research group. needed to write very few assignments, as much Dr Brech’s key work is his 16-year project to of the training was practical. Writing TMAs for research, collate and write a five-volume work, HY are today’s blockbuster movies all targeted the OU took a little getting used to and I wasn’t The Evolution of Modern Management in at a young audience? Why do high street stores very good at first, but I got better when I Britain 1852 to 1979, which was published last think that fashions for older ladies always mean realised what the tutors wanted.” W year. Dr Brech spent most of his working life as flowery patterned dresses? And why, when today’s Dr Seigleman completed his BSc despite a a management consultant. 70-year-olds grew up in an era when the Rolling Stones series of illnesses. “I told the OU I was too ill to “It became clear that the history of were strutting their stuff on the stage, do organisers of travel to the tutorials, so arrangements were management was such a large area that I should entertainment assume they’ll like songs from the Second made for my tutor to visit me at home. And as I Older people don’t always adhere to the stereotypes – especially Open University students really work with the support of an World War? now can’t walk very far, the OU agreed that I could organisation,” said Dr Brech, who lives in Esher, The answer, according to OU researchers, is that age send accounts of their experiences of age discrimination. marginalised by chronological age. This is sometimes sit the examination at home. This was just as well, Surrey. “The OU was the only institution that discrimination is everywhere – and it’s time older people Their stories are already available as a series of appropriate, but mostly it adds up to oppression, putting as two weeks prior to the exam, I was readmitted encouraged me and the doctorate gave me a were seen and respected as individuals with a major part vignettes and show that older people have fewer choices people down.” to hospital to have a pacemaker fitted.” framework in which to do my research.” to play in modern Britain. not only for employment, but also for holidays, leisure – The full results of the research are likely to be But Dr Seigleman duly took the exam – with Professor James Fleck, Dean of The Open A team from the university’s Centre for Ageing and even the way they have their hair cut. published at a major Help the Aged event in the summer. an OU invigilator sitting with him in his lounge University Business School, believes that Biographical Studies joined forces in 2004 with Help the To read the vignettes, which reveal everyday life is – and managed an upper second class management history will become increasingly Aged to launch ROAD (Research On Age Discrimination) – packed with age discrimination, or to contribute to the Honours. And while he may be determined, he “It’s time older people were seen and important in the future, as practitioners seek and although the project will not be complete until later research by posting your own experiences of age says the key to his success was the support respected as individuals” to develop a more systematic view of this year, it’s already clear the results will point to a form discrimination, visit www.road.open.ac.uk and flexibility of the OU. “I want to praise The management. He added: “And from a practical of ongoing, affecting discrimination of which most “It’s very revealing just how much discrimination older With no upper age limits for courses at The Open Open University,” he said. “Everyone has been point of view, it will be very important to help younger people are not even aware. people face,” said Project Director Bill Bytheway. “In the University, older people play an integral role in many so helpful in enabling me to complete my avoid fads and fruitless reinvention of the The project team, financed by grants from the Big past, people measured different social groups by courses – and, in turn, the university plays an important degree. The lesson to be learned from my wheel.” Lottery Fund, asked 40 older people to keep diaries and ‘journey’ is that neither old age nor ill health generation, rather than chronological age, because the part in enriching older peoples’ lives, as these case also issued a general invitation to other older people to need prove insurmountable.” differences were clear-cut. But now people are studies prove… All Dr Seigleman’s hard work was rewarded when he received his degree in the summer, two weeks before his 83rd birthday. CASE STUDY

Mabel Lainson age of 17. found the subject matter fascinating,” she She says that she began her OU course “When I left school I never went to said. “I must admit I never had a lot of “because I am on my own and it was IT’S a few years since new OU student university or anything,” said Mrs Lainson. time for Wordsworth at school – I something interesting to do. I am alone Mabel Lainson last picked up a textbook. “I’m ashamed to say I spent a few years preferred Byron and Shelley – but I really but I’m not lonely – I have a large family 74 years, to be exact. living off my mother, and I suppose I enjoyed discovering his work on this (three daughters and six grandchildren). Mrs Lainson, who celebrates her 92nd wasted a lot of time. But then I met course. I’d never done a critique of a In fact it was my family that encouraged birthday this year, caught the learning my husband, who was setting up a painting before, so that was also new. And me to do a second OU course. They bug when she began an Open University business, and I became a director there. of course we didn’t study things like saw how much I’d enjoyed the Openings Openings course last summer – Y152 But I’ve loved reading all through my philosophical arguments when I was at course and bought me A103 An Living arts – her first formal education life.” school, so I was interested to learn about introduction to the humanities as a experience since leaving school at the And she enjoyed the reading on Y152. “I that too.” Christmas present!” 26 SESAME 231 Autumn 2006 Autumn 2006 SESAME 231 27 PEOPLE (FU B EJGGFSFOU QFSTQFDUJWF CZl>ciZgcVi^dcVa^hi
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, ","1Ê nÇÊ{ people would receive my declaration and, in everyday life where sent me a copy of the paper. To my relief, Elaine Pinderhughes had °mYES send me three issues FREE I wish to take up your offer of a free trial to the New Internationalist magazine colour certainly matters, I am expert at gauging reactions. Here I had given sufficient detail about and a free book. Please send me the next 3 issues of the New Internationalist, if I decide not to subscribe I will write and let you know within ten days of receiving my third issue. If I wish to continue I need do nothing. Starting from the first of the following month my no cues and if I alone mentioned my colour I would possibly be her sources for me to find the “I feel we need to do account will be debited quarterly, until I cancel in writing, with the NI subscription price Ð currently £8.85 (or £9.85 if delivery outside UK). making the other students and tutor think about issues they didn’t data I needed using the much more to recognise / iÊ ˆÀiVÌ want to and would mark myself out as ‘different’ in many ways Louisiana census online. iLˆÌÊÕ>À>˜Ìii Name Address processes of racialisation in ¬ / ˆÃÊÕ>À>˜ÌiiʈÃʜvviÀi`Ê without wanting to. I joined www.Ancestry.com the courses we produce” LÞÊ>ÊL>˜ŽÃÊ>˜`ÊLՈ`ˆ˜}Ê Postcode ÜVˆïiÃÊÌ >ÌÊÌ>ŽiÊ«>ÀÌʈ˜Ê I decided not to mention it, but then felt I had to be careful how I and traced enough of her Ì iÊ ˆÀiVÌÊ iLˆÌÊÃV i“i°Ê/ iÊ INSTRUCTION TO YOUR BANK OR BUILDING SOCIETY TO PAY BY DIRECT DEBIT described people in my fiction so that I did not inadvertently other sources to work back to slavery, and I obtained various texts ivvˆVˆi˜VÞÊ>˜`ÊÃiVÕÀˆÌÞʜvÊÌ iÊ *i>ÃiÊvˆÊˆ˜ÊÌ iÊvœÀ“Ê>˜`ÊÃi˜`ÊÌœÊ iÜʘÌiÀ˜>̈œ˜>ˆÃÌÊ, *"-/Ê  £ÇnnäÊ >ÀŽiÌÊ>ÀLœÀœÕ} Ê nÇÊ{ ÃV i“iʈÃʓœ˜ˆÌœÀi`Ê>˜`Ê communicate my colour. If this convoluted way of thinking seems and papers to contextualise black and white families in Louisiana. «ÀœÌiVÌi`ÊLÞÊޜÕÀʜܘÊL>˜ŽÊ >“iÊ>˜`ÊvՏÊ«œÃÌ>Ê>``ÀiÃÃʜvÊޜÕÀÊ >˜ŽÊœÀÊ Õˆ`ˆ˜}Ê-œVˆiÌÞ "Àˆ}ˆ˜>̜À½ÃÊ`i˜ÌˆvˆV>̈œ˜Ê ՓLiÀ œÀÊLՈ`ˆ˜}ÊÜVˆiÌÞ° To: The Manager Bank/Building Society extraordinary, I agree that it is, particularly for someone like me who The resulting TMA was, I thought, genuinely interesting. I ™n{{{Ó ¬ vÊÌ iÊ>“œÕ˜ÌÊ̜ÊLiÊ«>ˆ`]ʜÀÊ Ì iÊ«>ޓi˜ÌÊ`>ÌiÃÊV >˜}i]Ê  Address ,iviÀi˜ViÊ Õ“LiÀÊqÊ̜ÊLiÊVœ“«iÌi`ÊLÞÊ iÜʘÌiÀ˜>̈œ˜>ˆÃÌ has written a great deal about racialisation and who is comfortable learned something about black family history, albeit in a USA ܈Ê˜œÌˆvÞÊޜÕÊ>Ìʏi>ÃÌÊ£{Ê`>ÞÃÊ addressing it in most settings. I learned that being online does not rather than UK context. But there were other lessons. I felt black ˆ˜Ê>`Û>˜ViʜvÊޜÕÀÊ>VVœÕ˜ÌÊ Postcode Liˆ˜}Ê`iLˆÌi`ʜÀÊ>ÃÊœÌ iÀ܈ÃiÊ ˜ÃÌÀÕV̈œ˜ ̜ ޜÕÀ >˜Ž œÀ Ո`ˆ˜} -œVˆiÌÞ necessarily make people equal and remove barriers. It certainly does students were put at a disadvantage. I learned very little from what >}Àii`° *i>ÃiÊ«>ÞÊ iÜʘÌiÀ˜>̈œ˜>ˆÃÌÊ*ÕLˆV>̈œ˜Ã ˆÀiVÌÊ iLˆÌÃÊvÀœ“ÊÌ iÊ >“i­Ã®ÊœvÊ
VVœÕ˜ÌÊœ`iÀ­Ã® >VVœÕ˜ÌÊ`iÌ>ˆi`ʜ˜ÊÌ ˆÃʈ˜ÃÌÀÕV̈œ˜ÊÃÕLiVÌÊ̜ÊÌ iÊÃ>vi}Õ>À`ÃÊ>ÃÃÕÀi`ÊLÞÊÌ iÊ not remove the racialised dynamics that operate in society. is an otherwise excellent course about black families and nothing ¬ vÊ>˜ÊiÀÀœÀʈÃʓ>`iÊLÞÊ  œÀÊ ˆÀiVÌÊ iLˆÌÊÕ>À>˜Ìii°ÊÊ՘`iÀÃÌ>˜`ÊÌ >ÌÊÌ ˆÃʈ˜ÃÌÀÕV̈œ˜Ê“>ÞÊÀi“>ˆ˜ÊÜˆÌ Ê Ê ÞœÕÀÊL>˜ŽÊœÀÊLՈ`ˆ˜}ÊÜVˆiÌÞ]Ê >˜`]ʈvÊÜ]Ê`iÌ>ˆÃÊ܈ÊLiÊ«>ÃÃi`ÊiiVÌÀœ˜ˆV>ÞÊ̜ʓÞÊ >˜ŽÉ Ո`ˆ˜}Ê-œVˆiÌÞ° about those with histories in the UK or of Asian descent. ޜÕÊ>ÀiÊ}Õ>À>˜Ìii`ÊÌ >ÌÊޜÕÀÊ A harder lesson, and one that has to be addressed in course >˜ŽÉ Ո`ˆ˜}Ê-œVˆiÌÞÊ>VVœÕ˜ÌʘՓLiÀ LÀ>˜V Ê܈Ê«>ÞÊ>ÊvՏÊ>˜`Ê Signature production, came from the second eTMA for A173. We were asked: So my period as an OU student has been mixed. I am both ˆ““i`ˆ>ÌiÊÀiv՘`° ®®®®®®®® ¬ 9œÕÊV>˜ÊV>˜ViÊÌ ˆÃÊ`ˆÀiVÌÊ À>˜V Ê-œÀÌÊ œ`i ‘With reference to a family history you have been investigating, delighted and sobered. However, I feel we need to do much more to `iLˆÌÊ>ÌÊ>˜ÞÊ̈“iÊLÞÊÜÀˆÌˆ˜}ÊÌœÊ Date ޜÕÀÊL>˜ŽÊœÀÊLՈ`ˆ˜}ÊÜVˆiÌÞ° >˜ŽÃ >˜` Ո`ˆ˜} -œVˆïià “>Þ ˜œÌ >VVi«Ì demonstrate how you can use family history to understand the recognise processes of racialisation in the courses we produce, to ®®®®®® ˆÀiVÌ iLˆÌ ˜ÃÌÀÕV̈œ˜Ã vœÀ ܓi ÌÞ«ià œv >VVœÕ˜Ì° l "VV>Ȝ˜>ÞÊÜiÊ>œÜÊV>ÀivՏÞÊÃVÀii˜i`ʜÀ}>˜ˆÃ>̈œ˜ÃÊ̜ʓ>ˆÊœÕÀÊÃÕLÃVÀˆLiÀðÊvÊޜÕÊܜՏ`Ê«ÀiviÀʘœÌÊ̜ÊLiʓ>ˆi`ÊLÞÊ>˜Þœ˜iÊiÃiÊ«i>ÃiÊ̈VŽÊÌ ˆÃÊLœÝ°Ê history of families more generally?’ The alternative, in case students be more sensitive to the experiences and histories of others, and to / ˆÃ vÀii ÌÀˆ> œvviÀ œ˜Þ >««ˆià ̜ `ˆÀiVÌ `iLˆÌð
˜˜Õ> ÃÕLÃVÀˆ«Ìˆœ˜Ã vœÀ ËÎÓ°nx 1 É ËÎÇ°nx œÛiÀÃi>à “>Þ >Ãœ Li «>ˆ` LÞ V iµÕi] 6-
œÀ >ÃÌiÀV>À`°  iÜ ˜ÌiÀ˜>̈œ˜>ˆÃÌ *ÕLˆV>̈œ˜Ã Ì`° ,i}° ˆ˜ ˜}>˜` œ° £ääxÓΙ° ,i}° "vvˆVi xx ,iV̜ÀÞ ,œ>`] "ÝvœÀ` "8{ £ 7° were not researching their family histories, was to use the census be genuinely inclusive. To ignore racialisation is, paradoxically, to data presented in the course for one family and perhaps pair that racialise in unhelpful ways. 28 SESAME 231 Autumn 2006 Autumn 2006 SESAME 231 29 PEOPLE PEOPLE

our hard work and their (Iraqis’) sacrifices meant something.” him have struggled to study while serving. A number were from OU He acknowledges the sacrifices and excellent job done by his faculty and staff but of course, the most memorable ones came regiment, 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards (the Welsh Cavalry) with from our fellow students who above all have found inspiration in The world is our library pride. They suffered two casualties last May when two of his fellow James’ current challenges to continue their own. More than ever my soldiers were killed by an IED bomb while patrolling the streets of firm belief in the excellence of The Open University is made real in Basrah. He sees his fellow soldiers as heroes. the kind of people that make up its community – real people whose Trooper James Jones is studying the OU social science course DD100 while serving in Iraq. In the second academic challenges are steeped in experience. With the OU, of two articles his wife Rochelle, also an OU student, describes how his study helps make sense of his Making friends humanity becomes more vivid; the world is our library, our source and Some time last June, James was in the company of Japanese and repository of knowledge. Learning is a haven of endless possibilities. experience Australian soldiers while preparing for the handover. He said he James has recently registered for D218 Social policy: welfare, power found it a funny yet apt coincidence that he was studying the DD100 and diversity. Due to several delayed and lost TMAs however, he is S the Thai Airways stewardess hands Smitty, Al Muthanna, southern Iraq, James Prime Minister Maliki took part. James said chapter on globalisation, studying and reading on issues of world still on hold for his DD100 course results. However, credit must be me my menu for breakfast on the last witnessed and shared in Iraqi history. Al that emotions ran high in those weeks: politics, economics, culture and migration. For James, his DD100 given to Graham Parkin, his tutor and the DD100 course team. They Aleg of my flight to Bangkok, I think of Muthanna, under British control, was the apprehension, elation, worry and pride. studies have somehow given a more vivid meaning to what it means have taken James’ situation into account and have given him leeway how James and his fellow soldiers bounce first Iraqi province after the war that got Finally, he said, he got to really understand for him to be a soldier in the British army in in the deadlines set. The Open University is around the back of a C130 Hercules, sat on returned to full control of the Iraqi the concept of identity, one of the topics in the current context. Whilst deployed in Iraq, “James is filled with gratitude towards one of the education providers acknowl- the floor side by side with cargo boxes for Government once again. In the last days of DD100 An introduction to the social British soldiers observe a strict protocol the very supportive OU community” edged by the Ministry of Defence. As such, backrest. On his last rest and recreation trip, June and early weeks of July, James’ contact sciences: understanding social change. that protects them from doing acts that James’ sesame feature has led to enquiries in mid-July, he brought back with him vivid with me and the OU was very limited due to On witnessing the handover in mid-July, would be disrespectful to local customs and cultural sensibilities. from his fellow soldiers and several from his own squadron have images of Iraq, of coalition force activities the frantic preparation for the handover. James said: “Thousands of people attended Before being deployed, the soldiers are trained in local languages registered or are planning to do so. Somehow to them, James’ and stories that are both heart warming and the event, and although security was tight, and are taught local culture. James, while on patrol, wears a beret, academic dreams have become an impetus to jumpstart their own. alarming. As news of chaos and tragedy blast Concept of identity they were all there. Suddenly, when the Task not a helmet. His weapons are pointed down in a relaxed manner. The W01 Giles Powell, the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Queens across TV screens all over the world, making The Iraqi army and police personnel trained Force Commander handed the ‘symbol’ of soldiers always greet the locals with respect, civilian and military Dragoon Guards, and Staff Sgt. Phil Martin, James’ former squadron Iraq seem like the new Wild West, James’ by his regiment took over and every control of Al Muthanna over, there was a alike. As a result, James has made friends with the local Iraqi army, leader, acknowledge the positive changes in James since he started stories and images are calming and important official from both the coalition collective joy in all present. For a moment I even getting as close as sharing stories and jokes with them about his studies with The Open University. A good soldier does a good job; humanising. On his last posting in Camp forces and the Iraqi government including felt a part of something important, that all their families and their aspirations. an excellent soldier, however, does not only try to do a good job but James is filled with gratitude towards the very supportive OU also struggles to understand the value of his work and what it means community who have sent us both emails that left us with a great to his country and to the world in his passion to serve. Thank you to feeling of community. Several were from veteran soldiers, who like The Open University for giving James the opportunity to live that. Committed to providing AHST activities that support your studies

December 2006 - May 2007 Venice, Murano & Paris: Avant-Garde Torcello, Studytour Art & Panel Painting (AA318/A216/Gen Int) (Gen Int/A354/A424/AA315) 19 ² 23 Apr 2007 04 10 Dec 2006 ² Venice and its Florence & San OU Gift Lagoon Gimignano (AA315/Gen Int) (AA315/A216/Gen Int) 05 ² 09 May 2007 23 ² 29 Jan 2007 Mantua & Ferrara Plus Studytours to: Vouchers (AA305/AA315/A216/Gen Int) Classical Athens, 21 25 Mar 2007 ² Bruges & Antwerp, Give the gift of learning with an OU Gift Voucher Renaissance Rome Padua & Florence, &Florence Siena & Pienza, Choose from a range of ten OU short courses including (AA315/Gen Int) Madrid &Toledo Start Writing Family History, Perspectives on 19 ² 25 Apr 2007 Leonardo da Vinci and Introducing Astronomy. Gallery & Museum Visits for A103, A216, OU short courses are designed to be engaging, A219, AA309, AA315, AA318, A424 interesting and accessible to everyone, regardless of See website for further details their previous study experience. Open up a fascinating new area of interest for someone Siragusa Ltd, Unit 26, JBJ Business Park, Northampton you know. Road, Blisworth, Northants, NN7 3DW, UK Tel: 01604859491 Fax: 01604 858511 Buy online at www.open.ac.uk/vouchers [email protected] www.siragusa.co.uk 30 SESAME 231 Autumn 2006 Autumn 2006 SESAME 231 31

More courses online at More courses online at COURSES www.open.ac.uk/courses www.open.ac.uk/courses COURSES

Discover more about Troy From medieval madrigals

HE epic legend of the fall of Troy is a main focus of the Before studying the set text, students will focus on grammar, OU’s new language course A397 Continuing classical consolidating what they have already learned and introducing them to The Darkness TLatin. to new features. They will also read selections of passages by As the name suggests, this is an intermediate-level course authors including Catullus, Cicero, Horace, Ovid and Pliny the following on from the beginners’ course Reading classical Latin and Younger, as well as medieval Latin and hear interviews and lectures VERYTHING from medieval madrigals to hits by The Darkness develops students’ confidence in reading on the history of the language. is explored in the OU’s new course A179 Start listening to various styles of text. “Much of the 30-point Naoko said she was hopeful the course Emusic. Much of the 30-point course is built around course is built around would prove popular. “We started the This fascinating 12-week course, worth 10 credit points, teaches Virgil’s Aeneid II, which course chair Naoko Virgil’s Aeneid II” beginners’ course in 2000 and more than 1,000 its students how to listen perceptively, understanding how the music Yamagata said should be an attractive text for students registered. Reading classical Latin is constructed by appreciating metre, rhythm, structure, timbre and many students. continues to be extremely popular and I think many people will want texture. It covers the relationship between musical sounds and styles “It’s the most extensive version of the fall of Troy and is a to sign up to Continuing classical Latin to develop their knowledge and the cultural, social and historical contexts in which different wonderful story,” she said. “We chose it because many of our students further,” she said. “The Latin language continues to fascinate people pieces of music have originated. will have studied this Greek legend through Homer. The Aeneid is a and it’s being taught in many primary schools. It’s as popular as ever “Start listening to music aims to develop people’s ability to listen Latin retelling of the story and students can observe Greek and we’re giving people the opportunity to learn more about it.” and to describe what they are hearing,” said course chair Kirsten influences on Latin literature.” A397 Continuing classical Latin is a specified course in the OU’s Gibson. “We’re not asking people to rate the music as good and bad, But a knowledge of classical Greek texts is not necessary to enjoy BA (Hons) Humanities, BA (Hons) Humanities with Classical Studies, but more to understand what they are listening to.” the course, added Naoko. “A lot of people are familiar with the story and Diploma in Classical Studies. Registration costs £295 and the The most eye-catching element of the course is the diverse mix of of Troy through the recent film, and this is an opportunity for them to course will run for the first time from February 2007. Registration music studied. There are certainly few, if any, other places you can learn more about the legend.” closes 15 December 2006. experience medieval, flamenco and world music alongside that of The Darkness, Queen and The Doors. “We really enjoyed selecting the music to study,” said Kirsten. “In one part of the course we ask students to compare two different versions of the same song. People might not believe, for example, SERIOUS ABOUT HISTORY AND THE HUMANITIES? Paul Anka has covered Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit – but he has, and that’s in the course!” The course will also ask students to think about how they hear Then History Today and its ‘Online Archive’ OU students music differently in different contexts and will include comparisons are your ideal study partners. of live performances by jazz diva Ella Fitzgerald, folk legend Dave Save Over 40% Swarbrick and classical violinist Nigel Kennedy. The course tuition is developed online through the OU’s FirstClass Pinpointing the Past History Today is a lively and VolumeVolume 5656 (1)(1) JanuaryJanuary 20062006 £4.20£4.20 on Print and our system and students will write two tutor-marked assignments. A179 istory Start listening to music costs £135 and will be presented for the invaluable magazine of H TODAY H TODAY www.historytoday.com March 2006 The New Focus on History ‘Online Archive’. first time in February 2007. For further details visit King Arthur reference and resource. and the Baiting the Normans www.open.ac.uk/courses and key in A179. Mongols Every issue is a visual and To find out more and details of Did Cromwell Welcome Florence FREE History Today H the Jews? Nightingale:Nightingale a copy of literary feast of well-written Social Worker ‘Doctor Social Worker Love’ in la Belle and trial of the ‘Online Archive’ conventional wisdom and make changes Epoque features, absorbing analysis Here’s Looking EQUIPPING STUDENTS BEYOND GOOGLE Empire at War which could lead to more effective and fascinating images. At You... Spies, Collaborators go to: and Film-makers healthcare for patients. See our IN LIFE SCIENCES WANT to make the most of all that A Grave Matter £4.20 A Rose is a Rose Documentary The Good, The Bad and the Holy Hawking History 03 Documentary PLUS of the Year

275110 Win our information out there on the internet? A 01 Best Books

770018 www.historytoday.com/ou 9 of the Year 9 770018 275110 A NEW life sciences management course is Key skills new short course from The Open University aimed at students who want to influence Areas covered include healthcare shows you how to go ‘beyond Google’ and No other magazine has the same scope of Volume 55 (11) November 2005 £4.20 the future direction of medical discovery systems around the world, the role of make the best use of databases and search coverage – all types of history from all times and and healthcare provision. BS811 Strategic pharmaceutical companies, regulation, engines to find what you want. management in life sciences and health finance, social policy, science and ethics. The course also helps you to evaluate In print and online History’s Secrets Revealed all parts of the globe. . The ‘Online Archive’ has care is a 60-point postgraduate course Students will develop key masters level what you find, present it clearly, write a every article we have which forms part of the MBA (Life skills including critical reading and analysis, bibliography and work in a more systematic Sciences) programme, but can also be the synthesis of complex ideas and the way. Shakespeare published over the last 26 The Duke of Clarence studied as a stand-alone course by any presentation of findings. Study is mostly online and includes The Man in the Iron Mask years - over 10,000, written Unmasked suitably qualified student. As with any MBA study, students must be interactive activities, podcasts and by about 2,000 top historians, It’s designed for those involved in the aged 25 or over and have sufficient blogging. TU12 Beyond Google: working purchase or supply of medicines or medical managerial experience. BS811 starts with information online is a 10-point 1,000 Years Young Hitler’s Swingers Why Did They Plot? connecting you to the global goods, in the public or private sectors, and this November and registration closes 30 11 course with two start dates a year in May

9 770018 275110 history community. sets out to equip students to challenge September so act now! and October. 32 SESAME 231 Autumn 2006 Autumn 2006 SESAME 231 33 SUPPORT SUPPORT

The Crowther Fund The OU offers students support for further study through The Crowther Fund. The fund, named after the university’s first Spread the costs chancellor Lord Crowther, helps graduates “to build upon the work already undertaken (for their degree) either by Sheila Forman provides an insight into the postgraduate funding that’s available out there formal study or research or by a general broadening of experience” The fund gives a total of about £60,000 a year, and usually this is up to about £1,000 per O YOU’VE got your degree, and even your masters, but you’ve Below is an overview of funding options to consider: student. Students are not obliged to do their further study at the OU. caught the bug and don’t want to stop learning. Is that the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships Applications are judged, says The Crowther Fund Ssound of a PhD calling? But there’s a catch – research can be A major potential source of funding for postgraduate research Awards Advisory Board, ‘solely on their merits’ and an expensive business. So why not find someone to help you share students at The Open University is Knowledge Transfer Partnerships. the board emphasises that this ‘is not a fund to the cost? This is a part-government-funded initiative that gives students relieve financial hardship’. One option is funding. Some courses are advertised in the national practical study opportunities and enables the company – and the OU For an application form write to: The Secretary, press complete with funding. Sometimes you get financial support – to put its name to valued research. The Crowther Fund Awards Advisory Board, PO from the university that’s running the postgraduate course; All projects – most of which are technology, science or business- Box 197, The Open University, Milton Keynes sometimes you need to apply to an external organisation. Awards are based and typically include market research, production equipment MK7 6BJ, call 01908 652930 or email available for a range of subjects, both for taught courses and processes or IT and computer systems – begin with the university [email protected] research programmes and cover a variety of different durations, and a company submitting a joint research proposal to the The Research Council amounts and restrictions. There are strict eligibility rules and Department of Trade and Industry. Once funding is approved, the The Research Council is government-funded and deadlines for applications, and competition for funding is fierce. partners recruit a student who, with the aid of an academic invites applications for postgraduate funds from There are various organisations that offer funding for postgraduate supervisor, is employed by a company on a temporary basis (anything students in a number of different fields. Depending on their study including research councils such as the Arts and Humanities from one to three years) to further a specific area of research. The degree and the topic of their proposed research, students might Research Council and the Medical Research Council; government graduate is paid a salary and the university receives funds from the receive funds from one of the Department of Trade and Industry’s departments offer funding for postgraduate studies in a specific DTI for the academic’s time and overheads. For more details email eight different research councils. area; and charities and charitable trusts also offer funding. [email protected] Competition for Research Council funding is strong and the awards Financial Assistance Fund are made to various academic departments and institutions which The Financial Assistance Fund provides financial support for then invite applications from candidates. To find out more visit students who are experiencing hardship. The money is provided from www.rcuk.ac.uk and check higher education supplements in the voluntary donations by the trustees of The Open University national press. Development Fund. Students can apply for support towards living m What loans are available? expenses and unfunded study costs. Unlike the Access to Learning To help fund your studies there are specialist postgraduate loans Fund, this fund has no citizenship restriction: both UK and non-UK available. It is possible to find employment whilst you are studying citizens are eligible to apply as long as they’re resident in the UK. You HIIHKMNGBMR but it is worth noting that full-time students are expected to spend may not apply for financial support for expenditure already incurred. approximately 40 hours per week on their studies (20 hours for Applications can be submitted at any time. Forms are available by FZd^ma^kb`amfho^ part-time postgraduate students). calling +44 (0)1908 654882 or emailing [email protected] UK applicants can apply for a Career Development Loan (CDL) Access to Learning Fund which is a deferred repayment bank loan available through the The Access to Learning Fund is money provided by the Department B_rhn]^lbk^Zmknerln\\^ll_ne%]bo^kl^Zg]bgm^k^lmbg` Department for Education and Skills (DfES). All UK applicants Phne]rhnebd^mhbgÌn^g\^ma^phke]Ãlfhlm for Education and Skills (DfES) to enable institutions to give \Zk^^kbg[nlbg^llma^gma^fiehr^kl\hglb]^kma^' l^lZf^9\bfZ`eh[Ze'\hfuM')+)11-2+,00 liasing with staff in the Disability and Additional Requirements Team Q www.thes.co.uk (subscribe to the Times Higher Education on 0131 226 3851 or emailing [email protected] Supplement’s database of funding opportunities) 34 SESAME 231 Autumn 2006 Autumn 2006 SESAME 231 35

FREE STAY AT TRAVEL

PARTICIPATING HOTELS FOR

Step back in time Focus on... Next time you’re planning a day trip, short break or holiday, keep the following ideas in mind to aid your history studies history

T’S not too long before all the ghosts and ghoulies come out to play for Halloween. You City spotlight – York tel Accom Ican combine spooking yourself with educating o mo yourself at Ham House in Surrey, a stunning Stuart H VISIT York, which was once the Roman capital of E da mansion that sits on the river Thames. Associated E t Northern England, and you’ll be spoilt for choice if ar r io with Civil War politics (it was owned by Royalist R ll ye oun you’re a history buff. With a variety of museums F a d n William Murray during the Civil War) and and attractions to quench your historic tastebuds Restoration court intrigue, it is also one of the – including the famous JORVIK Viking Centre and most haunted houses in Britain. So what better way the stunning York Minster, the largest Medieval Treat yourself to a break for OU history students to spend their Halloween? Gothic cathedral north of the Alps – you won’t run Do you enjoy getting away from it all? Stay for just 1 night or more – however long you stay, just pay Cost: £8 (guided tours are free). Call +44 (0)20 out of attractions to visit in the city. With a Privilege Hotel Pass from Travel Offers 8940 1950 or log onto www.nationaltrust.org for your meals and any additional items you choose to purchase, Guided tours of this pretty city are also a Ltd, you and a partner can stay for free at e.g drinks and spa treatments. The World Heritage site of New Lanark in Scotland must for OU history students. Open-bus city 04/06 Choose from over Privilege HotelEXPIRES ENDPass over 320 hotels and sample their culinary is a 200-year-old conservation village set in the 273360 Where you can stay 320 hotels: sightseeing tours are offered throughout the year delights without paying for your room. England 213 scenic Clyde Valley. The cotton mill village came which provide an interesting commentary on York’s We have an extensive range of hotels Channel Islands 6 into its own when Robert Owen was a mill manager turbulent past. Continuing with the Halloween How it works Wales 26 in a wide variety of impressive locations Scotland 62 there from 1800 to 1825, and in that time he theme, there are also the obligatory ghost tours For only £29.95 per person, your Privilege Hotel Pass across the UK and Ireland. N. Ireland & Ireland 21 brought about many pioneering changes, from including one that is hosted by the ‘ghost detective’ gives you the freedom to enjoy as many hotel breaks as you banning child labour and corporal punishment to and is described as ‘historically funny’. Call York Whether you’re looking for a relaxing break by the coast, providing free health care. It offers students a wish over 12 months. All you have to do is pay for your meals – Tourism on +44 (0)1904 550099 or visit a weekend away in the country or fancy exploring a new ‘living’ sense of the first industrial revolution with a www.visityork.org for more information. dinner and breakfast – your accommodation is absolutely free! town, we have the perfect break for you. Many of our featured number of attractions. Cost: £5.95 (for a Passport Twin or double rooms are available and meal prices range from hotels have won awards for their cuisine, boast top leisure Ticket). Call +44 (0)1555 661345 or log onto £19 to £30 and over per person for award-winning dining. facilities and have a stunning selection of attractions and www.newlanark.org With your pass you will also receive the Travel amenities close by – all you have to do is decide where you Next time you take a trip to London, make sure you Overseas spotlight – Rome Offers Hotel Directory which provides details want to go! visit the Sir John Soane’s Museum which is located just off Aldwych and was the home of the famous on each of our featured hotels. With so many 18th century architect. It is a particularly useful AS the saying goes, ‘Rome was not built in a to choose from, you’ll be spoilt for choice! Telephone: visit for those studying A207 Enlightenment to day’ – nor can you visit the huge variety of 0871 282 2882 romanticism. The museum holds a huge number of historic sites in the city in just one day! You can £29.95 items from Soanes’ collections, and personal also feed your thirst for historic knowledge with Lines are open visits to the variety of attractions – many of for as many hotel effects which he acquired between the 1780s and Mon-Fri 8.30am-9pm, Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 2pm-6pm his death in 1837, including paintings by Hogarth. which are free. breaks as you wish From the days of the Roman Empire to the rule over 12 months www.travel-offers.co.uk There are also regular exhibitions and lectures. Cost: free. Call +44 (0)20 7405 2107 or log onto of Mussolini, there are plenty of museums and www.soane.org monuments covering a number of eras. Any tour must include the Piazza del Campidoglio, one of XME 2 The National Waterfront Museum in Swansea only the famous Seven Hills of Rome and the seat of MR/MRS/MISS/MS Code HOTEL DIRECTORY & PRIVILEGE HOTEL PASS QTY. PRICE TOTAL opened in October of last year, and provides a divinity and power. GCD 12 months free accommodation for 2 adults £29.95 ADDRESS fascinating insight into the history of the area and The Trevi Fountain, part of the Vergine £3.50 Postage, packing/handling £3.50 its people. Particularly useful for students aqueduct built by Agrippa is also a must visit. I enclose a cheque payable to Travel Offers Ltd. Please print your name TOTAL: exploring the Industrial Revolution and maritime POSTCODE A highlight for OU history students is the and address on the reverse of cheque (orders from ROI – credit cards only) history, OU students can explore 15 themed areas Roman Forum which was the heart of this Please debit my: Mastercard Visa Maestro Delta TEL NO. (DAY) including the ‘People’ area which includes interiors ancient city. Not only is it home to a variety of EMAIL of typical houses of the times, and gives access to historically important buildings but you can also public records. Cost: free. Call +44 (0)1792 Expiry date Maestro issue no. Maestro valid from DATE OF BIRTH see items that have been discovered at the site in 638950 or log onto www.waterfrontmuseum.co.uk the Antiquarium. Visit the Rome Tourist Board’s Cardholder’s signature Travel Offers Ltd. may make names & addresses available to other companies, tick here if you prefer not to receive mailings. Please send to: Travel Offers Ltd., Please allow up to 14 days Can you recommend a particular visit for OU website at www.romaturismo.com for more *At many hotels this offer is not available for some Bank Hols. Some hotels require a minimum stay of two nights and some may not take bookings for certain for delivery. Closing date for information or call +39 06 488991. months e.g. some Scottish Hotels close in the winter. The room is FREE – you must pay for dinner & breakfast. All Hotel bookings are subject to availability. PO Box 503, Leicester LE94 0AD orders 30/11/06. students? Email [email protected] AUTUMN 2006 36 SESAME 231 Autumn 2006

competition Edited by sesame crossword competition OU STUDENT

The official publication of the Open University Students Association Rebecca Rosenthal Win £75 cash plus a copy of the Chambers Dictionary

OMPLETE the sesame autumn the hat on Friday 20 October will receive a Winners will be notified by telephone or crossword and be in with a chance copy of the Chambers Dictionary. email. Cof winning £75. Senders of the In addition, the first one drawn will Details of Chambers dictionaries can be first three correct solutions drawn out of receive £75 cash courtesy of sesame. found at www.chambers.co.uk In under 200 Letter from Across 7. Greedy old chap in our opinion (8) the editor... 9. Princess who fell for a neat trick by Zeus (6) words… what does 10. Flag officer chases a group of women (4) 11. Unpaid workers put up with eccentric views (10) Welcome to the Autumn edition 12. Part of dance to look on as old hat in France (6) of OU Student 14. Quarters Ottoman leader ordered a girl into? (8) OUSA do? AT the time of writing we are in the throes of 15. Nymph starts to shed clothing? Yes and everyone turns up! (6) the Residential School period. OUSA plays an 16. Underling showing a lot of leg?... (6) VERY student studying with the OU is automatically a member of OUSA important role at Residential Schools, and in 19. ...stock-farmer managed to get her into business (8) (from the date you register for your course to the 31 December of the year of this edition I hope to bring more information 21. Live broadcast includes the Spanish medieval instrument (6) Ethe course end). OUSA is a membership led organisation – led by its and views from those involved. Myself and 23. Sheridan’s woman so upset, being out of place (10) members, for its members. We strive to provide an environment of equal some other members of our Officer Team 24. Bridge closure? (4) opportunity and work to represent the views of our members to the university. We undertook a series of visits to as many of the hold our independence close to our hearts, and firmly believe that it gives us that 25. Strike out when allowed to plunge into the river (6) Residential Schools as was possible. I’ve little more room for manoeuvre in allowing us to concentrate on the educational 26. Second volume came first? That’s dotty! (8) certainly been left with some memorable and support issues for our members. experiences myself! Our regional network enables us to ensure that students are in a position of Down support and guidance for other students, and able to channel the issues to those Feedback from members 1. Get into trouble over a glass of sherry (6) able to raise them directly with the university. In addition to our representative role One of the common questions I was asked at 2. Furniture put up on time – that’s outstanding (4) we work to provide students with a social environment and space through our large the Residential Schools was “what exactly does 3. Favourable maternity report for Mary’s husband (8) network of local branches and our large suite of social conferences on FirstClass. OUSA do?” With the variety and diversity of 4. Finish on top? (6) This social environment provides students with not only access to other students, activities that OUSA undertakes, that was not but also to our representative function, which gives students access to personal 5. Court session could be a harrowing experience (6,4) an easy question to answer, I can tell you! One and professional development opportunities. SESAME AUTUMN 6. Left one without a mobile phone? That’s really way out! (8) student challenged me to let people know what OUSA does in less than 200 words (am sure he 8. Suppress activity in court (6) Delegates voting at OUSA Conference is planning to become an OU tutor one day). Not CROSSWORD ENTRY FORM 13. This contains material for a great many stories (10) being one to turn down a challenge, I have to 15. Salt needed for cockles and mussels, right? (8) Send your entry with the completed coupon to: admit that I came in at 204. 17. Being installed in office, supplied capital (8) Cullen Crosswords, 19 Cyncoed Place, Cardiff, CF23 6SG As a result of feedback from our members, 18. Works in college (6) Closing date 20 October 2006. Only one entry per person. this and future editions will include shorter 20. Pulled in for a service? (6) articles, more information on what OUSA does Name: 22. Well-heeled or well-oiled? Such a question is unfair (6) and the services it Address: 24. Writer heard to be full of bitter irony (4) provides, and more profiles of students Postcode: Tel. Number: engaging in activities Email: and roles for OUSA. Keep that feedback pouring in! Summer crossword winners Good luck if you are taking your The winner of our summer crossword was of the Chambers Dictionary. 24 The white rabbit, 25 Ararat, 26 Eyes exams this Frances O’Farrell from Croydon who wins Answers – Down: 2 Spurn, 3 Asides, autumn/winter. Answers – Across: 1 Ossa, 4 Sabian, £75 plus a copy of the Chambers Dictionary. 4 Skean dhu, 5 Bishopric, 6 As the case may 9 Open University, 11 Atlantean, 12 Odeum, The two runners-up were Anne Braithwaite be, 7 Gobang, 8 Hell for leather, 10 Smee, REBECCA from North Yorkshire and Mrs T. Alexander 13 Ghosts, 15 Shortage, 17 Culloden, 14 Trojan war, 16 Benedict, 17 Cedi, ROSENTHAL from Hertfordshire who each receive a copy 18 Achebe, 21 Drama, 22 Evaporate, 19 Ejecta, 20 Manege, 23 Osage OUSA PRESIDENT 38 SESAME 231 Autumn 2006 Autumn 2006 SESAME 231 39

IN BRIEF Representative profile… Inspirational stories Calling for ideas! Executive Committee DO you have a fundraising idea that would N the last edition of OU Student, we published in the autumn. The knowledge birthday present! In a few months time I work well within a branch or region? An idea asked you to share some of your and experience I gained with The Open hope to complete my current OU course that students could get involved with Member Iinspirational stories with our readers. University has enriched my life in so many leading to an honours degree, an individually or collectively? If you do then Here are just a few from the selection that ways, and I am currently considering the encouragement to further study. The world please contact our Vice President Student you sent on to us… possibility of working towards an MA with feels a great deal richer… and easier to Support, Chris Bell, on FirstClass: Ousa VP N addition to responsibilities to the decision making body of OUSA that acts The Open University.” understand.” Maureen Coller, born in 1936, first Student Supp; by email: ousao8@student. between conferences, Executive Committee Members for Geographical Areas discovered her love of reading when her Jerzy Lando found that his aspiration to After spending most of her career in open.ac.uk or by letter to the OUSA Office. also engage in a very practical role within their regions. Here’s a few words from I family were bombed out of their home and attend university was dashed in November administration, Moira Reid decided that she Petrina Douglas, Executive Committee Member for the North. Petrina is also a they went to live in a top flat with her 1939, two months after the Germans wanted to become a nurse and went onto member of the OUSA (Services) Ltd Board of Directors. Rt Honourable Baroness grandparents. After a varied career in occupied Poland, when Jews were banned the employment bank of the hospital as an Boothroyd teaching and working with children, from all schools. That December, Jerzy and auxiliary. It was a huge drop in pay which, as What do you do as Executive Committee Member (ECM) for your region? Maureen is now nearing the end of her BA his family were deported to Cracow from a single parent with two growing girls, made MANY of you will have heard that Baroness Although I’ve only been doing this for a couple of months, it has already been a (Hons) in History with the OU at the age 70. Lodz where his thirst for education led him for difficult times. Even though Moira was Boothroyd has chosen to retire from Office as somewhat varied and interesting experience. In my role I support the active Maureen is keen to see the university to the only publicly available courses: for able to progress in her career, she still the Chancellor for The Open University. She Branches in our area, and help out Branches trying to reactivate. This is one of my develop dual start dates: “I changed to the locksmiths and secretaries. Jerzy later wanted to know more. The prospect of a will be sadly missed by all in OUSA. The search favourite activities, as it brings me into contact with a number of students I may new October starting date last year and escaped for two years, with his only method student nurse bursary was daunting, and is now on for a new Chancellor of the OU, and otherwise not get to meet. I get to hear students’ views on study with the OU, and have my first free summer in six years! of survival being to live under a false identity. seemed impossible. “I applied for a place on the President has been elected by Senate to their experience as a member of OUSA. I have also been recently supporting our What next I wonder?” In 1946 Jerzy escaped to England as a the OU Student Nurse Training Programme, serve on the Chancellor Appointment Residential School Co-ordinator. It has been fascinating to see what goes on behind refugee. Although keen to pick up his where I could maintain my level of income Committee. Watch this space! the scenes at a Residential School and the work that goes into organising the events Ann Dinsdale found that her Open academic studies where he had left off, the as an HCA.” Moira was invited to attend an and making them a success. I have also helped out at the Degree Ceremony in our University degree helped her to take on new need to earn a living prevented Jerzy from interview: “I felt scared, excited, worried, region. It has been fantastic to meet some students who have reached the end of challenges. “I completed my final year with Record your thanks following his dream of gaining his degree. too old to train and all of this combined with their degree, and it has certainly inspired me to keep going with my own studying. the OU in 2003 and graduated with a BA MANY students have been recording their Over the next 30 years, Jerzy built up a an underlying fear of failure. But putting on (Hons) in Humanities in the following year. thanks to Baroness Boothroyd on a FirstClass successful textile business but still yearned my uniform for the first day was the What does this role mean to you? My prospects improved shortly after conference. You can reach the conference by to learn. “Two wounds remained. In addition equivalent to me of that longed for designer Well, I believe in a small way that I am helping to make the OU experience a better completing the Arts foundation course clicking on the following on your FC desktop: to being robbed of all my family’s properties outfit. I felt so proud; I had arrived. My first one. Not just for those studying now, but also those who will study at a later date. (A102) when I was promoted to Librarian at OU > OUSA > OUSA Live > OUSA Thanks to by the (then) Polish governments, I was year went by in a whirl of TMAs (apparently Part of my role is also to pass on issues raised by students; I feel I can represent the the Bronte Parsonage Museum where I had Chancellor. OUSA will be looking for a way to deprived by the Nazis of what I have always that meant Tutor Marked Assignments – but views of students to the people who matter in the OU. worked for several years. A few months present the comments from students to considered most precious, a university my definition was Torture Me Again!), then after graduating, I was approached by a Baroness Boothroyd, but in the meantime, why degree. At the age of 79, having read a came the end of year exam, which was a What do you think this role means for the students in the region? publisher and asked to write a book about not pop along to the conference and be part of prospectus of The Open University, I took daunting task in itself. I am still learning to I hope that I am there for both those students in the region actively involved in the Brontes. Although I was selected the growing number of students recording my revenge; I decided to apply. On 31 take responsibility for my own learning, a OUSA, and those students who like to know that OUSA is there when needed. I am a because of my work at the museum, it was their thanks? Maybe Betty Boothroyd made an December of last year, four years after huge part of any OU course, and rely greatly point of contact between them and the rest of the organisation, in addition to being all those years of researching and writing impact on you at your Graduation Ceremony, or becoming a student, I got a BA degree. By a on family, friends and colleagues for able to provide information and support. TMAs which gave me the confidence to her work has inspired you? Alternatively, strange coincidence the certificate was motivation and encouragement, which I get accept the challenge. My book will be comments can be sent in by letter or email to issued on my 83rd birthday, my best ever without exception. the OUSA mailbox. Semesterisation NUS-OUSA Associate THE university is currently looking at their Whirlwind tour! course presentation patterns with a view to providing a consistent, recognisable pattern of AFTER promising my son that he could count on his mum not having start and completion dates for students. OUSA card 2006/2007 to rush off to meetings during August, the last week of July has been involved from the start, and in order provided me with my last opportunity for an exhausting, whirlwind to address the variety of student experiences visit to four of the OU Residential Schools. It provided me with an FOLLOWING a successful first year of working in partnership with the National we set up a short term focus group to look at opportunity not only to show support for the valuable work Union of Students (NUS), OUSA are pleased to announce that the 2006/2007 the implications of the various possible undertaken by our Representatives, but also to meet with students NUS-OUSA Associate card is available from September to all current OU students options. Many thanks to those students who and talk to them about their experiences of studying with the OU on application. At a cost of £10, the Associate card gives OUSA members a valid took part. The university will soon be and to listen to their inspiring stories of how that has often national student ID offering them access to the widest range of student discounts* introducing a discussion paper to its influenced their lives. across the UK. It is also accepted as ID at all Open University exams. The 2006/ committee structure for the university Each Residential School has its own challenges in terms of 2007 NUS- OUSA Associate card is valid until 31 December 2007, so the earlier Vice-Chancellor, OUSA Reps Jane and Roz and South West Regional Director at Bath Residential community to comment on, and OUSA will of geographical set up of the campuses used, but our Representatives School you apply the more you can save. course continue to be involved. Your views are have been doing a fantastic job of making students feel welcome, Application forms are downloadable online at www.nusonline.co.uk/associate or A warm hello and thank you to all of the students we all met whilst welcome on this and other issues to the OUSA providing them with an opportunity to take away a momentum of available from the card hotline on 0870 2422458 (state OU Student). on our visits, to the representatives who looked after us so well and general email address or by letter to the OUSA their week at an OU Residential School, co-ordinating some of the to the university for accommodating us, often at short notice. * Discounts are provided at the discretion of the retailer except when a Office. evening activities, raising valuable funds for our charity and making negotiated agreement is in operation. Further information will be included with sure that students realise that socialising with other students is REBECCA ROSENTHAL your card. also an important aspect of the Residential School experience. OUSA PRESIDENT 40 SESAME 231 Autumn 2006 Autumn 2006 SESAME 231 41

IN BRIEF Representative profile… Dates for your diary Have you been inspired… Residential School BY the work done by the OUSA Representatives If you would like to see your event advertised here, please Arts Centre, Kendal. Details Brian Wright: 015396 21567. at Residential School? Would you like to give it contact the OUSA Office. Deadline for the next issue of Lancaster Branch Third Wednesday of every month, 7.30pm, Bar a go? Did you enjoy the experience so much Representative OU Student is Monday 16 October. that you want to give something back? OUSA of Gregson Institute, Moor Lane, Lancaster, Details Sybil: provides training and on-going support for all Central Events [email protected] of our Residential School Representatives. We HIS was Lesley Scott’s fourth year as a Residential School Representative. Open University History Society Residential Weekend – Theme, Liverpool Branch Second Thursday of every month, 8pm, The currently have opportunities for local helpers Whilst this year she was acting on behalf of OUSA at Durham, she has also Religion and History, 2 – 4 February 2007, Wedgewood Memorial Pump House on Albert Dock, Details Janet: [email protected] and full-week Representatives. Contact the Tplayed the same role at Umist and Stirling – both of these sites are no longer College, Barlaston, Stoke on Trent. Cost approximately £92. An OUSA Office for more information and an used (and she assures us that the sites no longer being used and her role there opportunity for members to present their own papers on a variety Manchester Branch Second Tuesday of every month, 7.30pm, application form. display no correlation whatsoever!) of topics. Details Rosemary: [email protected] Lass O’Gowire, Charles Street, Manchester. Details Alan: 0161 Open University Travel & Study Society Brighton Revision 292 7209 or [email protected] What do you think Residential School gives to students? Plagiarism Weekends – any course can be catered for! The Courtlands Hotel, I went to Stirling for my own Residential School as a student, and have to admit that Newbury Branch Second Monday of every month, 7.30pm, The OUSA Policy over the past couple of years has Brighton. Weekends throughout September. Send SAE stating it was my favourite site. I was terrified when I first went. Each Residential School is Canal Bar (7.30pm) followed by The King Charles (8pm), Newbury. raised the issue of plagiarism and the possible course to: ‘OUTS’ Society, 64 Buckingham Road, Brighton BN1 3RQ. different in its own unique way. It’s a common situation that students come to their Details Rebecca: [email protected] Web: discrepancies in how it is dealt with by the Residential School worried about what the experience will be like, and leave feeling Local Events university, and what the university can do to www.ousa-newbury.rsmithers.net confident, having progressed on their course and made friends. help students to avoid it. The university has Altrincham & Sale Branch Second Tuesday of every month, Residential School offers students an opportunity to get away from their every Northampton Branch Second Wednesday of every month, 8.30pm, now set up a Plagiarism Project which seeks to 8.30pm, Famous Old Porterhouse, Stamford New Road, day pressures and to engage fully with their learning. It’s important for students to The Fish, Fish Street, Northampton. Details Emily: 07707 057681 look at both university policy, and penalties Altrincham. Details Edna: [email protected] realise that spending time with other students who have the same interests is just or [email protected] and education. as important as the learning itself! Bournemouth & Poole Branch First Thursday of every month, 8.30pm, Grasshopper Pub, Poole Road, Lower Parkstone, Poole. Oldham Branch Third Saturday of every month, 2.30pm, Toby Student Support Review What do you think OUSA provides at Residential Schools? Details Neil Walkling: [email protected] Web: Carvery (Chadderton Park Inn) on Broadway, Oldham. Families www.bournepooleousa.co.uk (including children) welcome. Details: Michael: 07786 924758. AT THE time of writing, students were the One thing that OUSA Representatives can provide is local knowledge. What to do on largest group of contributors to this project. the afternoon off, where the local cash point is and so on. Our Representatives also Brighton, Hove & Lewes Branch First Monday of every month, Oxford, Abingdon & Witney Branch Fourth Thursday of every provide a fresh face during the week, and importantly they are someone who isn’t Whilst the university is in its infancy in terms 7.30pm, Cricketers Pub, Black Lion Street, Brighton. Details Colin: month, 8pm, Rosie O’Grady’s, Park End Street, Oxford. Details tied down with the course and administration of the Residential School itself. They of consultations with such large groups of [email protected] Tracey: [email protected] Web: www.ousa-oxford.org.uk people the fact that students were the largest are also a shoulder to cry on when a student feels stuck or is missing their family. Bristol Branch Meets twice monthly, informally in a pub. Details: group of contributors appears to indicate that Some students are leaving their children and partners for the first time, and this can Plymouth Branch Third Tuesday of every month. Winifred Baker Kate: 0117 955 1992. Web: www.ousabristol.org.uk students are very keen to be able to input be quite an emotional experience. The difference in students can be amazing, when Court, Addison Rd, North Hill, Plymouth. Details Pat: individually, as well as collectively. Here in you see how nervous they are at the beginning of the week, and watch their Cheltenham Branch Second Wednesday of every month, 8.30pm, [email protected] OUSA, we want to ensure that the university is confidence grow and develop by the end of the week. The Somerset Arms, Leckhampton. Details Alli: [email protected] able to learn from the experience, so that more And of course the social events! Feedback from students is that this is a valuable Portsdown Branch First Tuesday of every month, 7.30pm. Toby Chippenham Branch Second Monday of every month, 7.30pm. and more students are able to contribute to experience and encourages students to mix with each other. The marketing that we Carvery, Copnor Rd, Hilsea. Details Keith: [email protected] Pheasant Public House, Chippenham (corner of A4 & Hungerdown the wider consultations in future. do at the Residential Schools gives students a chance to take away a souvenir, Rochdale Branch Last Thursday of every month, 7.30pm, Millers, something they can keep for the future as a reminder of their week away. Lane). Details Pauline Lock: [email protected] Hollingworth Lake, Littlebrough, Details Gill: gill@kilshaw94@ Most OUSA Residential School Representatives are students who have enjoyed Exeter Branch Third Wednesday of every month, 7.30pm. Mill- OUSA Conference 2007 freeserve.co.uk their own Residential School so much that they want to come back and put on-the-Exe, Exeter. Details Margaret: margaret@margaret35. OUSA Conference 2007 will be in Warwick and something back in. wanadoo.co.uk Sheffield Branch Last Tuesday of every month, 7pm, Ruskins, takes places over the weekend of 13 – 15 Lesley marketing at Durham Residential School with fellow OUSA rep Tudor Square, Sheffield. Details Lucy: [email protected] April. All OUSA members have a right to be Glasgow & West of Scotland Branch First Tuesday of every represented at the annual Conference and a month, 7pm, Trader Joe’s, Hope Street, Glasgow. Details Catherine Southend Branch First Thursday of every month, 7.30pm. The Royal Macmillan: 0141 339 7906. right to determine what is debated. Look out Navy Association Club, 73-79 East Street, Prittlewell, Southend- for further details of how to get involved in the Gloucester Branch on-Sea. Details Albert: [email protected] next edition of OU Student. First Thursday of every month, 8.00pm, The Fountain Inn, St Helens Branch First Wednesday of every month, 8pm, Charlon Westgate Street, Gloucester. Details Paula: 01452 750416. A message of thanks Brasserie, Barrow St, St Helens. Details John: 0151 493 1266. Guildford Branch Thursday 28 September, 8pm. Laser Quest STUDENTS at the Bath Residential School would and Ten Pin Bowling, the Big Apple, Woking. Details: Stockport Branch Second Thursday of every month, 8pm, Little like to thank Angela Clark, Psychology tutor in www.guildfordousa.org Jack Horner pub, Wellington St, Stockport. Details Marie: the Yorkshire Region who raised £130 for [email protected] OUSET by organising a Karaoke/Disco on 26 July. Haverfordwest Branch First Thursday of every month, 7.30pm, Haverfordwest Cricket Club, Dale Road, Haverfordwest, Pembs. West Cumbria Branch Last Sunday of every month, 7.30pm. The OUSA website Details Nikki: [email protected] Howgate Inn (on the A595 between Whitehaven and Workington). Huddersfield Branch Third Wednesday of every month, 7pm, Details Tony: [email protected] FURTHER work is taking place on the OUSA Huddersfield University, Howard Wilson Building, Room HWG03. website, and the most recent development is York Branch Third Wednesday of every month, 7 – 9pm. St Johns Details Helen: [email protected] the introduction of a site map. The OUSA College, Lord Mayors Walk, York. Details Elizabeth: ebc34@ website can be found on www.ousa.org.uk Kendal Branch First Monday of every month, 7.30pm, Brewery student.open.ac.uk 42 SESAME 231 Autumn 2006 Autumn 2006 SESAME 231 43 www.onspeed.com Fees and financial support HE face and shape of fees and offset by the introduction of greater costs) by typing in your details to the ‘ready 10x faster Internet financial support within the university financial support. More students than ever reckoner’ on the OU website. You can find Tis set to change. The rules are a little will be entitled to Financial Support from this at www3.open.ac.uk/coursefinance different depending on whether students the OU for the 2006/2007 study period, OUSA has been campaigning for a number are studying in Wales, England, Scotland and you may be surprised at how many will of years for better financial support, more for just £24.99 a YEAR and Northern Ireland. now be eligible. Did you know that students recognition of additional study costs and For students in Scotland, the most earning up to £25,000 per year will now be easily accessible information. We continue notable recent change is the introduction of eligible for financial support? You can find to work closely with the university on what Why suffer with a slow Internet connection? the Individual Learning Account (ILA). For out quickly and easily if you will be eligible financial support is provided to whom, and those studying under the English Funding for financial support, and if so for what kind how and where the information is being You need ONSPEED. Council, the news that fees will rise is often of costs (as an example, fees or study presented.

OU Student, the publication of the Open University Students Association, is edited by the OUSA President. Most of the articles are www.onspeed.com written by students of the University. It is produced on OUSA’s behalf by the Communications department of The Open University. Editorial enquiries and contributions should be addressed to: Als Ryan, Open University Students Association, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6BE. Telephone: +44 (0) 1908 652026 Fax: +44 (0) 1908 654326 Email: [email protected] OUSA website: www.ousa.org.uk NIVERSITY students rely on the Internet Broadband, you can use ONSPEED to get a Umore than ever these days. A painfully significant speed boast, up to 5 times the IF YOU WANT INFORMATION ABOUT OUSA PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM slow connection can hold back your speed of your current connection. research and mean you spend more time waiting for web pages and emails to load "Once you’ve used ONSPEED you won’t NUS - OUSA ASSOCIATE CARD Link, Disabled Student Link or Student Academic Link (circle area of want to surf the Net without it" Join hundreds of other OU students in gaining specially negotiated and interest). than you do actually writing assignments. other student discounts with your NUS - OUSA Associate card. The card ONSPEED is a simple, inexpensive and Internet & Broadband Advisor costs £10, and many students have reported they have recovered the cost REPRESENTATIVES AT RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS reliable solution to a slow Internet connection of their card within the first few months of ownership through the If you are interested in being a rep at residential schools in the future, discounts gained! The NUS-OUSA Associate card will provide you with a please tick the box for a recruitment pack and application form. and thousands of cash strapped students are At just £24.99 a year, ONSPEED won’t break valid national student ID which will give you access to the widest range already feeling the benefits of ONSPEED. the bank, and if you compare it to around of student discounts across the UK. So if you want to save money on DISABLED STUDENTS GROUP everything from films to music, from clothes to art gallery tickets, from This group is open to all those disabled students interested in helping £200 a year for a Broadband contract, it’s sports to haircuts then make sure you get your card now. This card is also OUSA to achieve its equality policy. Please tick the box if you are interested "An amazing piece of software" an essential purchase for Dial-up users. You valid identification for OU exams. Tick the box for more information or go in receiving details of how to register with the Disabled Students Group. PC Answers won’t be tied into a contract and there is no to www.nusonline.co.uk/assocate or www.ousa.org.uk GRADUATION CEREMONIES set-up charge because ONSPEED doesn’t OUSET DONATION Tick the box for details of how you can represent OUSA at an OU ONSPEED is a quick and easy software require any extra hardware and you can set OUSET, The Open University Students Educational Trust, is a registered Graduation ceremony. download that significantly increases the it up yourself without any expert computer charity, administered by OUSA, and is designed to help Open University students in financial need. Its funds are almost entirely generated by OU STUDENT MEMBERSHIP CARD speed of your existing Internet connection – knowledge. Just in case, you can call the donations and fundraising activities of fellow students. Any donation is Whilst all students are automatically members of OUSA, we do provide a Dial-up increased by 10 times and Broadband ONSPEED technical support centre on a welcome. free membership card. This may secure discounts from some retailers by 5 times. There’s no need to upgrade standard rate number for assistance 7 days and service providers, and counts as identification for OU Exams. Please REPRESENTATIVES ON CENTRAL COMMITTEES send in one passport sized photograph, proof of student identity/ your hardware or do anything to your phone a week. If you are interested in representing your fellow students on Open correspondence from the OU with your PI number on and a 2nd class stamp line, and no need to change your existing University central committees and boards, please tick the box. for return of your card (or alternatively enclose 20p). Documents will be returned with your card Internet Provider. CCCCC SUPPORT LINKS ONSPEED is available to purchase Tick the box for further details about becoming a Student Support Please allow 28 days for delivery of all OUSA Services. The ONSPEED service uses superior securely and download from: ORDER FORM compression technology developed by the www.onspeed.com US military and NASA to help data travel OUSA information is recorded on computer. OUSA is registered under the Data Protection Act. faster – so your web pages and emails come It takes just two minutes to install from start to finish and is covered Name Student Number Region Catchment Area Number through in a fraction of the time. In a test Address by a 14-day money back guarantee. by Internet Advisor magazine, ONSPEED So join over 500,000 happy ONSPEED Postcode Daytime Tel No increased a standard Dial-up connection customers today. Signature from 30kb per second to around the 300kb per second level – well into Broadband Date territory for a fraction of the cost and I include a donation to OUSET. none of the hassle. If you already have Please send completed form and enclosures to: * Internet connection required - standard fees apply. Works with AOL when using an alternative Internet browser. OUSA Office, (OUS22), PO Box 397, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6BE Fax: +44 (0) 1908 654326. Speeds up Broadband connections up to 2Mb. Speeds up web browsing and sending/receiving of emails only. 44 SESAME 231 Autumn 2006 Autumn 2006 SESAME 231 45 Scan Write Oxford University Text & with Digital NContinuing Education Colour Pics Pen & Paper Master's Degree Anywhere! Anywhere! in Creative Writing When you are studying, Docupen researching or at work This Master's Degree in use a mobile or pen Creative Writing is a two- scanner to capture and edit important text in a year, part-time course Slide DocuPen Mobile Scanner book or magazine. offering a unique combination down A4 page: Scan & store Anywhere! COLOUR diagrams, pictures, text. of high contact hours, genre Later download to PC. Write with Nokia or specialization, and critical London Region scan direct to Logitech Digital Pen & and creative breadth. Arts Club To advertise in this cursor point Paper or personlised Serving Students of the forms - transfer your Tel: 01865 270369 or see website Open University section call Mark on text to PC or mobile phone. Anywhere! www.conted.ox.ac.uk/ad/pp11 A207 & A210 0207 864 9995 Run C-Pen, Wizcom or October starters IRIS Pen Scanners, line PEN SCANNERS INTRODUCING by line, over text in a book. C-Pen: 20 £100, 600c £250, 800c £300 YOUR COURSE Transfer text directly to a Wizcom: Pen Elite £130, SuperPen Pro £140 document for immediate for dyslexics Reading Pen £180, Plus £250 Saturday 14th October editing. Or store 1500 A4 IRIS Pen: Express £100, Executive £130 2006 Compare All: http://tinyurl.com/qtdzw Open University pages then later transfer the MOBILE SCANNERS At the Waterloo Centre Development & Environment text to a PC or Mac. DocuPen: R700 £130, RC800 £200 Plustek: OpticSlim £60, OpticBook £160 Kings College Annex Society Megapixels Ltd, 1a Kingsburys Lane, Ringwood, Spanish Summer Courses for 150, Stamford Street Hants, BH24 1EL Prices incl. VAT. E&OE. DIGITAL PEN & PAPER LONDON SE1 Revision Weekend Nokia £110, Easybook £220, Logitech £130 L(ZX)194, L(ZX)140, L314 for U213, U216 and DU 310 (See below for application details) web: www.datamind.co.uk 8th-10th September 2006 email: [email protected] University of Greenwich, One-week intensive residential FEBRUARY AND tel: 0870 770 0848 skype: cstreet1956 OCTOBER STARTERS Medway Campus courses in Alicante, Spain. Practise SHOULD and revise in small groups in friendly JOIN THE LRAC TODAY Enquiries to: SPECIAL INTEREST BREAKS FOR Janet Sharp, OUDES L120, L192, L211, L310 FRENCH LANGUAGE STUDENTS environment. Exclusively available to TO ENJOY FULL 16 Tappan Drive, St Mary’s Island, BENEFIT FOR THE Practise and improve your spoken and written French in a totally French OU students. Chatham, Kent ME4 3SY ACADEMIC YEAR environment! This is our eleventh year and many students return. ENDING DECEMBER Tel: Day 01474 333366 Evening 01634 891007 Price includes accommodation in 2007 6-Day Intensive Email: [email protected] single rooms in modern university The London Region Arts French Courses in a Club offers a range of picturesque Loire hall, meals, excursions, 25 hours’ activities, led by OU village tuition, optional sessions, course tutors, that include day The World in your Mailbox! ** Special Exam materials, access to swimming pool. schools, week-end Are you looking for pen friends? Revision Weeks ** residential schools, museum and gallery visits Please write to: Small group www.spanishintensives.com and is open to ALL OU International Pen Friends lessons with students 12 Hillmead experienced University Crawley/West Sussex Lecturers in French Further details and application RH11 8RR/UK forms on our website: Oxford University lrac.co.uk www.ipfuk.com N INDIVIDUAL ACCOMMODATION WITH FRENCH FAMILIES Continuing Education IMMERSION FRANCE Send for our brochure: Jane McAdoo, 30, Copley Park, London SW16 3DD Master's Degrees Exam stress? Tel: 020 8764 8356 email: [email protected] website: www.immersionfrance.co.uk Missing the grades you deserve? No good at exams? in Archaeology Positive thinking brings better exam results. ITALIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL Two years part-time in Would you like to attend an Italian Residential school for 10 days in the Professional Archaeology or CDs from experienced OU tutor & qualified hypnotherapist help you discover what natural exam takers do. countryside near to Rome to learn or improve your Italian? Landscape Archaeology. Courses (for small groups) are very carefully tailored to meet students' Exam Confidence £19.99 requirements. The courses will include airport transfers, Offered mainly on Saturdays. Revision Focus £19.99 accommodation, three meals a day, 4 to 6 hours tuition per day, Italian cooking lessons and guided excursions to Rome and surrounding areas. Order together for £35.00 If you are interested please contact the teacher Francesca Valentini on Tel: 01865 270369 or see website Contact 0208-673-3760 or tel/fax: 0039 069 625752 for more information or send an email to: www.conted.ox.ac.uk/ad/pp17 [email protected] [email protected] 46 SESAME 231 Autumn 2006 Autumn 2006 SESAME 231 47 FOR SALE WEST WALES: Two excellently equipped Own a PC? ADVERTISEMENTS 4-star cottages sleeping 2 (plus1) and 6 Need some space? You can advertise your O.U. Why not put it to work? Learning a new language ? A103 DD121 & L211, ALL COMPLETE (plus1) with own gardens in Cwmhiraeth course material and set books at: ('Valley of Longing') in beautiful relaxing, and in very good condition. 100 Euros Up to £1,000 – £2,500 pm Publication of any advertisement kite country. Twenty minutes from www.universitybooksearch.co.uk each. (00353) (0) 877908711 The web-site run by OU students around existing schedule or loose insert in Sesame should A103 & U210 COMPLETE COURSE Cardigan Bay and Pembrokeshire coast. for OU students not be taken to imply University MATERIALS £100 each ONO. A210, Open all year. Wood-turning tuition www.fabcash.co.uk available on site. Telephone. 01559 Tel: 01395-274754 AA306, AA316 -Complete course e-mail: [email protected] approval or recognition of the materials & additional set texts £200 each 371997. www.clynglascotttages.co.uk goods or services offered. ONO (inc p&p). Contact: 02844615181 GORGEOUS ANDALUCIAN mountain cottage in Polopos, Granada prov. 10km In particular courses advertised A216 COURSE BOOKS AA310 Maltby MS221, M208, (cinema) arts good study guide. Call from coast. Stunning views over mountains BBP Computer Software Psychometric profiling – matches people to people by other institutions relating FREE join and profile! UK Next Day Carriage £10 or 01361 883696 and sea. Only £140pw (or £220pw to MST209, MT262 Students and others to whom the Established in 2000 – the site attracts an interesting crowd of genuine to Open University courses are + include next door). Details 020 7733 5006 University distributes computer people looking for love, romance, friendship and social contacts. £99 UK Standard Installation £99. L204 VIENTO EN POPA: Wanted course It doesn’t take millions to find ‘the one’... not in any sense part of those materials books, CDs and videos. Good www.casacatalina.co.uk Exam Solution Booklets containing software as part of their course price paid. Phone Helen on 02084051373 LUXOR EGYPT two-bedroom flat to rent for fully worked solutions to past real materials are reminded that the courses: nor, in the University’s or email [email protected] £150 per week total. Near Nile, Luxor and and/or mock examination papers: University only confers upon the opinion, is attendance at LAW - W.201 and W.301 COMPLETE Karnak Temples,Valley of Kings. Optional tour Each course booklet £10.00 plus original recipient of the computer COURSE MATERIALS. SOME MARKING. guide available £40 per week. Belly dancing £2.00 p&p (plus £2.00 overseas software a NON-TRANSFERABLE any privately arranged Call SDS on 01271 325777 or visit www.ousat.co.uk postage). Care should be taken £70 EACH INCLUDING POST AND and photography holidays organised. licence to use it in conjunction with course necessary for the Website: www.everythingegyptian.co.uk or the University’s materials. The when replying to small SDS, Unit 5, Brannam Crescent, Barnstaple, Devon. EX31 3TD PACKING 023 9238 8504 Please send cheque, payable to ads. Readers should be successful completion of A216 COURSE BOOKS AA310 Maltby call 0117 9359040 BLACK BADGE PRESS to: licence specifically states that the Open University studies. (cinema) arts good study guide. Call PERPIGNAN/CARCASSONNE areas: Black Badge Press, PO Box 204, original recipient of the computer aware that no vetting or 01361 883696 choice of 4 self-catering holiday homes, 1 Hatfield, Herts AL10 8ZX software MUST NOT in any way screening is carried out S260 Geology course unused £75 or clean with private pool. Sleeps 6,7,10 or 16. Tel: 020 8457 2605 transfer the computer software on the persons who AA308: 01865 864470. Easy access to Mediterranean. Excellent package(s) or the use thereof to any Do you write poetry? LEARN SPANISH IN SPAIN by living with place these ads. DSE212 ED209 comfort and equipment. Tel/fax: 0141 423 other person or body by means of Then join HOLIDAYS 5760. Email: [email protected] your tutor www.learnspanishinspain.co.uk sale, loan, sub-licence, lease or any D317 DD303 Website:www.southoffrancegites.co.uk Tel: 07971 493977 other method. Any unauthorised use, OU Travel and OU Poets THE SPANISH PA: Interpreting and copying, distribution or adaptation of Revision Packs Your poems will be sent to all Study Society translation services. Business Spanish computer software package(s) other members, for comment and Alix Mackay, 64 Buckingham Rd, Prepared by experienced OU Training and documentation assistance. issued by the University is an tutors helpful advice. Brighton BN1 3RQ 02085460286 / 07963739013 / infringement of intellectual property OU Eve Tel: 01273 775077 [email protected] Geological DSE212 pack (incl. summary Members receive five magazines, rights and is illegal. cards): £10 PROOF READING by experienced, fast, Society WELCOME NEW STUDENTS! each with over 70 pages of poetry Also: ED209, D317 and DD303 and comments, plus an annual friendly English teacher/author/freelance ‘OUTS’ Society offers a wide range Prices include p&p within UK editor. £12 per hour. Tel: 020 8864 3149 of study support events throughout anthology of members’ work. Supports all Earth Science DSE212, ED209 and DD303: the year. Revision weekends (any Further details from: Courses course), study weekends and study [email protected]; 600 Quiz Cards for £20 Field trips, lectures & revision days tours at home and abroad. Still only D317: Adrian Green DSE212, ED209, run from 18 branches throughout [email protected] Flat 3, I Clifton Terrace, the UK & Europe £1 to join! Join now and 2007 Present your work and Events list will be sent to you Southend-on-Sea SS1 1DT DD303 or D317 Full details and samples for all TMA’s professionally Also, regular newsletters automatically in DEC/JAN. courses: www.erikacox.co.uk 01702 435263 Designed to help you rehearse the Annual Symposium and Journal Cheque to ‘OUTS’ Society. [email protected] names, theories and jargon of your • Efficient and professional OPEN TO ALL UNDERGRADS AND course, each of the 600 Quiz Cards is typing service Subscription £18p.a. details from STAFF, GRADS and Associate [email protected] 2” x 3_” and contains both question • Confidentiality assured at all m’ship for family and friends. (Send SAE for samples if times or phone 01913 865973 ALPUJARRAS, ANDALUCIA: Beautiful, and answer. Society details: www.ougs.org 2006: Barcelona post-exam APPLY CENTRAL FRANCE: Paris 2 1/2 hours you would like to see them first.) • Scanning / binding / Bourges 1/2 hour, tutors cottage, rustique spacious village house, stunning panoramic SOON AS POSSIBLE. Ideal for study groups or individual presentation service The Open University village, beautiful area, sleeps 4 adults + views from roof terrace. Ideal for walkers/study • Internet research revision children. £195 per week inclusive. leave. Email: [email protected] • Discount for students OU PS Psychological Society £20 (incl p&p) per course set Phone +33 248588260 or email Website: http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/casadelasollas To save precious time and to discuss A (EU £21.50) O U [email protected] DORDOGNE: 2-bed cottage, sleeps5 plus your requirements, please contact; ΩG DSE212, ED209, SD226, DD303 & D317 Credit / debit cards accepted TWO-BEDROOM FLAT to rent in Luxor, Egypt infant, all mod cons. Large garden, heated Kate Whitmore In my end is my beginning ASSOCIATION OF Good luck with your exam results! HELEN WEST for £150 per week. Near Nile, Luxor and pool. Peaceful, beautiful countryside, ideal t: 01625 585090 Looking forward to your 2007 course? Karnak Temples, Valley of Kings. Optional tour for relaxing, sightseeing, walking and QUIZ CARDS m: 07970 380572 OPEN UNIVERSITY GRADUATES Then look out for our adverts in the next edition of Sesame to guide available £40 per week. Belly dancing cycling. Activities, restaurants nearby. Dillions, Portland Road, Burgess Hill, e: [email protected] From 320 euroes per week all in. Tel: 0033 Run by OU Graduates, for OU Graduates. discover what we have to offer and photography holidays organised. Website: RH15 9RL – Tel: 01444 233539 www.cheshirepa.co.uk e.g. Overview days, mini summer school weekends, conferences www.everythingegyption.co.uk 553 520 497 Email: [email protected] Visit: www.helenwestquizcards.co.uk We have STUDIED with the OU. & not to mention the invaluable revision weekend held every COUNTY FERMANATH, Northern Ireland, DORDOGNE: Renovated 18th century September at Nottingham university!! self catering cottage, beautiful surroundings, Perigordia farmhouse with self-contained We have GRADUATED with the OU. available on fortnightly/weekly basis. £200 annexe. Sleeps up to 10, private pool, MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Rejected by PUBLISH YOUR These courses are supported by very experienced tutors/course friends, shunned by the public, abandoned Why not join us and be part of the modern, PW 02868641677 gated garden, comfortable and well BOOK team members/exam markers. LANZAROTE, COSTA TEGUISE: New 2 equipped, situated in National Park. For by family, more than 3,500 men and independent organisation especially for OU Graduates? £190 members/£205 others (includes meals/accom) availability special deals and prices woman are suffering the mental (and Please contact us for further details Contact the AOUG office for details. bed 1 bath apartment on gated complex. 3 For more details/to book contact Irene Baumgartl, swimming pools. Call Chris or karen on Tel: 01932 705220. Email: sometimes physical) torture of life on America's death rows. Human Writes is a S E R E N D I P I T Y AOUG, 1st Floor, South West Temporary Building, Walton Hall, PO Box 404, Bromley, BR1 2WW; 01625 431373 Mob: 07881 614045 [email protected] Website: www.lanzarotesun.net TUSCANY, Bagni Di Lucca: Detached villa humanitarian organisation which offers Dept SM, First Floor, Milton Keynes. MK7 6AA Tel: 01908 653316 [email protected] ; tel: 0208 315 0049 them non-judgmental friendship by mail: or see www.oups.org.uk CORNWALL: LELEANT, St Ives. Traditional with pool and excellent views. 37/39 Victoria Road, E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.ougrads.org.uk cottage, sleeps 7 comfortably, secluded Conveniently located to visit Florence, Please make someone's life better with Darlington, DL5 1SF garden, close to unspoilt sandy beach, Siena, Bisa Lucca coast. Four bedrooms, your letters. For details, please send an Tel & Fax: 0845 130 2434 SAE to Human Writes, 343A Carlton Hill, golf, walking, RSPB Hayle estuary. Tel: 2 bathrooms, sleeps 8. Tel: 01908 [email protected] Open University OU Computer Sci-Tech & 01694 720003 282240. Mobile 07836 316509 Carlton Nottingham NG4 1JE Website: OU Law Society Take That NEAT LITTLE GITE to let in the beautiful UNSPOILT LA GOMERA: One-bed seaside wwwhumanwrites.org Shakespeare Society Space Society (OUCSTSS) apartment. Pool, private terraces, near For all students with an interest in Quantum Leap! S/W French countryside. £200 per week. WANTED Looking for O.U. law. Annual membership includes Join FUSION – The For anyone with an Affiliated to OUSA since 1989. For all details phone: 0033549872357, or beach. Tel: 020 8677 6212. course material? email: [email protected] Email:[email protected] Why not try: quarterly magazine with OU Physics Society interest in the works of Members’ interests ave expanded M208 course materials wanted. Call academic articles, legal news, over the years from computing, via 07961 043664 www.universitybooksearch.co.uk Shakespeare. Our journal MARKETPLACE The web-site run by OU students course & career info & info on Keep in touch via our is published quarterly and engineering, to space science. OULS events including court visits regular Newsletter and Our ‘Open File’ journal is issued Luxor, Egypt for OU students contains reviews, articles, three times a year. LEARN SPANISH 121: Individual tuition, Tel: 01395-274754 & mooting. attend events across with flexible hours. Qualified Spanish ‘A’ Grade essays, etc.. For TWO-BEDROOM FLAT to rent for e-mail: [email protected] the UK. Open to all. To join send £5 pa subscription to: Teacher. Exams preparation for all levels. To advertise in this To join send CHQ/PO for £10 (UK) £150 per week. Near Nile, Luxor more details see our Membership Secretary & Treasurer Groups starting every month. Spanish £12 (O’seas) payable to OULS, c/o Annual membership just website at and Karnak Temples, Valley of £7 (or £18 including OUCSTSS, 61 Orkney Drive, Kings. Optional tour guide available Clubs for Children. 02085460286 / 079 63 section call Mark on S.Sales, 6 Low Ash Grove, Wrose, 73 90 13 / [email protected] PROOF-READING Institute of Physics). www.ouss.org.uk or send Sunderland SR2 0TB £40 per week. Belly dancing and Shipley, BD18 1JL. SAE to Brian Foster, 3 www.smartgroups.com/groups/ WHO ARE YOU CALLING A CLOWN? A by former academic. Quick - photography holidays organised. plain language guide to grammar, 0207 864 9995 01273 505550 OUCSTSS accurate - reliable. Email: For more information visit Sedgley Close, Middleton, Website: punctuation, words, and how to use them. [email protected] First Class is open to students & lecturers [email protected] http://ouls.org www.oufusion.org.uk Manchester M24 2SP www.everythingegyption.co.uk www.writinginc.co.uk UCISA NationalFifth HE Laptop agreementYear of

Don’t buy a computer before reading this! National Notebook Agreement

Student Support Team : 01473 240470

Features and Benefits of the Scheme u A great price on a wide range of high-specification Toshiba notebooks u Low-cost options, accessories, software, printers, insurance and more u International Warranty with enhanced U.K. service arrangements u Delivery to home address or collection at the University

UK Universities purchase their Notebook Computers through the National Notebook Agreement, a university wide arrangement that provides educational discounts and enhanced warranty and support services to the Higher Education sector. As a Higher Education student, you too are eligible to use these agreements and StudentStore is your online access to the pricing structure and support services offered.

StudentStore is a trading division of Getech Limited, Order online at www.studentstore.co.uk providing an online sales and support portal for students in Higher Education. In addition to our significant relationships or call our Student Support Team on 01473 240470 for with market leading IT vendors, Universities and their advice & assistance. respective purchasing consortia, we have made it our priority to position StudentStore as an on-line portal Each individual store gives you full details of your University’s providing students with easy access to University purchasing own StudentStore Scheme and how to take advantage of arrangements. this University approved arrangement.

Toshiba Notebooks for the new academic year 2006/2007 are A selection of recommended Toshiba Notebooks are updated regularly and full product specification and pricing is available to purchase on-line at StudentStore. Designed available year round at StudentStore. to complement the facilities and requirements of your university, all Toshiba models are supplied with an enhanced U.K. warranty service, providing cover at campus or home address.

www.studentstore.co.uk studentstore_Ad.indd 1 24/8/06 12:22:42 pm