SYDNEY ALUMNI Magazine Autumn 2007 DIXON THE DEFENDER Reports of the death of our national literature are greatly exaggerated, says the newly appointed chair of Australian literature, ISSN 1834–3937 ISSN Professor Robert Dixon SYDNEY ALUMNI Magazine 6 8 20 26 NEWS: BUSINESS SCHOOL ALLIANCE RESEARCH: PREDICTIVE TECHNOLOGY ESSAY: OUR LITERARY CITY SPORT: WOMEN’S CRICKET Autumn 2007 features 10 DIXON THE DEFENDER Reports of Australian literature’s demise are greatly exaggerated. 16 CAMPUS 2027 Editor Dominic O’Grady What kind of world will our students enter The University of Sydney, Publications Office 20 years from now? Room K6.06, Quadrangle A14, NSW 2006 Telephone +61 2 9036 6372 Fax +61 2 9351 6868 Email
[email protected] Sub-editor John Warburton regulars Design tania edwards design Contributors Robert Aldrich, Gregory Baldwin, 2LETTERS Tracey Beck, Vice-Chancellor Professor Gavin Brown, Cautious and suspicious: US Studies Centre reaction. Graham Croker, Carole Cusack, Rebecca Johinke, 5 OPINION Stephanie Lee, Robert O'Neill, Peter Reimann, Maggie Renvoize, Chris Rodley, Ted Sealy, Rick Shine, We’ll tolerate complexity for the sake of flexibility, says Vice-Chancellor. Marian Theobald, Geordie Williamson. Printed by PMP Limited. 28 ALUMNI UPDATES Senate approves new name for alumni body. Cover photo Karl Schwerdtfeger. Advertising Please direct all inquiries to the editor. 32 GRAPEVINE Class notes from the 1940s to the present. Editorial Advisory Committee The Sydney Alumni Magazine is supported by an Editorial 36 DIARY Advisory Committee. Its members are: Kathy Bail, Editor, Rational order: Carl Von Linné at the Australian Financial Review Magazine; Martin Hoffman Macleay Museum.