University of St Andrews The StAndard Staff Magazine, Issue 10, March 2007 The language of dance The Lean dream SMRU by Royal Appointment Higher Education and the May election Scotland’s first university The StAndard Editorial Board Chair: Stephen Magee is Vice-Principal (External Relations) Contents and Director of Admissions. Joe Carson is a Lecturer in the Department of French, Disabilities Officer in the School of Modern Languages, Warden Page 1: Welcome of University Hall and the Senior Warden of the University. Pages 2-16: PEOPLE Jim Douglas is Assistant Facilities Manager in the Estates Pages 17-20: TOWN Department and line manager for cleaning supervisors, janitors, mailroom staff and the out of hours service. Page 21: OPINION Pages 22-28: GOWN John Haldane is Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Centre for Ethics, Philosophy and Public Affairs. Pages 29-32: NEWS Chris Lusk is Director of Student Services covering disability, counselling, welfare, student development, orientation and equal opportunities. Jim Naismith teaches students in Chemistry and Biology and carries out research in the Centre for Biomolecular Sciences. The StAndard is financed by the Niall Scott is Director of Corporate Communications. University and edited by the Press Office under direction of an independent Editorial Board comprising staff from every corner of the institution. The Editorial Board welcomes suggestions, letters, articles, news and photography Dawn Waddell is Secretary for the School of Art History. from staff, students and members of the wider St Andrews community. Please contact us at [email protected] or via the Press Office, St Katharine’s West, The Scores, Sandy Wilkie works as Staff Development Manager within St Andrews KY16 9AX, Fife Human Resources, co-ordinating the work of a team of three Tel: (01334) 462529. staff who support personal and management development activities for all University staff. Cover picture: Jenn Hogan Credit: Alan Richardson, Pix A-R Produced by Reprographics Unit, University of St Andrews Printed on FSC accredited recycled paper Welcome Welcome to the 10th edition of The StAndard, the first of 2007 and our third anniversary issue (no, we can’t believe it either). In the last two years we have probed every corner of the University in an attempt to find the best stories about the people who work here - from colleagues with hidden (or not so hidden) talents to the latest news from those in the know. Since March 2004 we’ve covered everything from classic cars to cakes, birds to bikes and tartan to traditions, while also taking on serious issues such as fake degrees, occupational health and the ever-annoying concerns of parking and spam… while our regular features look closely at individuals and units across the University. We’ve covered charity events, news, views and reviews and zoomed in on St Andrews for the popular ‘Guess where?’ feature, yet somehow there is still so much to cover. Talking of which, our cover star this issue is Jenn Hogan, St Andrews graduate and part-time secretary with the School of Modern Languages. Jenn joins our host of talented members of staff who have shone under the spotlight of ‘our creative colleagues’ – read all about her independent dance company on pages 6-7. She is joined by Computer Science’s Ishbel Duncan, who was lucky (and talented) enough to take part in a unique BBC event for bassoonists, and who kindly offered to share her experience with readers of The StAndard. From Rory Gallagher to Roxy Music, read on for Barbara Fleming and Don Burnett’s top tracks, while hot seat ‘victims’ Ron Morrison, Heidi Fraser-Krauss and Helen Kay reveal their favourite things. On the academic side, Moira Jardine and Phillip Mallett tell us why their research – into young stars and Victorian studies - is important and a constant challenge. We also welcome four new members of staff – Rob Warren, Lyndsay Gallacher, Vickie Cormie and Alice Crawford. Read all about who they are and what they do on pages 13-15. And finally, do you know what it is to be Lean? Most of you will identify with some of the underlying issues behind the Lean process recently implemented by the University, but what does Lean really mean? Our focus on pages 10-12 should answer those burning questions. In the issues ahead, we look to you for feedback, suggestions or contributions – please share with us – email [email protected] or write to the address opposite. As always, The StAndard thanks all contributors and acknowledges the use of images supplied by: Alan Richardson, Pix-AR, Peter Adamson (IT Services), University of St Andrews Library, Department of Sport & Exercise, Peter Adamson, Museum Collections, University Muniments, StAnza and the BBC. 1 PEOPLE In the hot seat (of learning) Would you like to put yourself or a colleague in the hot seat? Email us at [email protected] with your suggestions. Ron with his prized Gibson NAME: Ron Morrison HAPPIEST CHILDHOOD MEMORY ALL-TIME FAVOURITE FILM – Annie Hall – Winning the Glasgow Schools discus directed by Woody Allen from a script POSITION: Professor of Software championship at the age of 13. My Dad, he co-wrote with Marshall Brickman. Engineering and Head of School of an athletics fanatic, was so pleased. Brickman is a superb five-string banjo Computer Science player and played Dueling Banjos with IDEAL MEAL – Ann’s beef vindaloo. I Eric Weissberg as two banjos on the LAST GOOD BOOK – The Life of Pi by hope I get some when she sees this. Rhapsody label. Weissberg plays it with Jann Martel. This is a masterful story of Steve Mandel as a guitar and banjo duet the life of an Indian boy whose family MOST PRIZED POSSESSION – A Gibson in the film Deliverance. I really enjoy move to Canada. The first part is very J45 acoustic jumbo guitar although I Woody Allen’s films and watch them descriptive of his upbringing in an have not played it seriously for twenty with my son David. Ann and Catriona, Indian Zoo and his almost philosophical years and not at all in the last four. In an my daughter, cannot stand him. thoughts on captured animals. The attempt to start again I took the guitar second part finds Pi cast adrift in a to get the action lowered and a general CURRENTLY PLAYING ON STEREO lifeboat with an orang-utan, a zebra, a service a few years ago. The guitar – Modern Times by Bob Dylan which Ann hyena and a Bengal tiger. The great part maker accused me of guitar abuse. gave me for my 60th birthday. I was an of the book is that it balances delicately early Dylan fan who stopped listening on whether the horrific boat journey is CHILDHOOD AMBITION – To be an after he went electric. This album real or an allegory for Pi’s struggle with Olympic athlete – delusionary! I still run captures the essence of Dylan with its life. I still do not know. (shuffle) with Don Macgregor (seventh driving and subtle rhythms. I will have in the Olympic marathon at Munich) to explore the missing forty years now. FIRST RECORD BOUGHT – Folk, Blues and Ron Hilditch, when we are not and Beyond by Davey Graham. This was injured. THE PERFECT WEEKEND – Saturday the album to be seen with if you were morning, Farmer’s market buying nice an aspiring cool guitarist in 1964. At FAVOURITE LOCAL HAUNT – The Vine food, followed by cross-country running least I got the aspiring part. Leaf. In twenty years I have not had in the afternoon either taking part or anything cooked by Morag Hamilton officiating. Most Saturday evenings I like TOP HOLIDAY DESTINATION – Having that I did not like. to cook and have dinner with what parts travelled extensively I still love the of the family are in attendance. Sunday long summer days in the north west of FIRST LOVE – It has to be sport. I grew morning running in Tentsmuir with Scotland. Ann and I almost always go up in the east end of Glasgow playing Don and Ron followed by golf in the north in the summer. This year while on football in the street but soon settled on afternoon is just perfect. In the evening, research leave we visited some remote distance running. I started to play golf dinner with Ann with whatever she has parts in the south of Western Australia when I came to St Andrews. cooked after her sailing. (Esperance) and that was pretty spectacular. 2 PEOPLE NAME: Helen Kay MOST PRIZED Helen at the wheel with her precious driving licence POSSESSION POSITION: Secretary, Reprographics – My driving Unit/Publications licence. Having come to driving LAST GOOD BOOK – The Da Vinci much, much later Code. I don’t necessarily agree with Dan than most folk, Brown’s views, the book’s just a great it was a major murder story. achievement for me, and to pass FIRST RECORD BOUGHT – A Whiter first time!! It Shade of Pale by Procol Harum. was my present to myself for my TOP HOLIDAY DESTINATION 50th birthday, so – Anywhere in France. Nothing beats it’s very precious. sitting at a pavement café with a glass of ‘le cidre’, people watching. CHILDHOOD AMBITION – To win the ALL-TIME FAVOURITE FILM – I have a HAPPIEST CHILDHOOD MEMORY ladies’ singles at Wimbledon! What few but Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead – Holidaying in a cottage on an island happened? Man’s Chest would have to win. And in the middle of the River Thames at Spaceballs and Blazing Saddles have to Henley, where we had to punt across FAVOURITE LOCAL HAUNT – Roome get a mention, Mel Brooks is a favourite the river every morning to collect the Bay, Crail.