theCaledonian News and views for the people of Glasgow Caledonian University April 2013 Glasgow Caledonian University is a registered Scottish charity, number SC021474 Show of success TV’s Mal Young shares his expertise with students
In this issue... The heat is on! page three It started with a kiss page four Win a Forever 21 gift card page eight page two
£25million has been invested into the Heart of the Campus project. (Facilities) The heat is on for Campus Futures Welcome A new combined heat and power Students’ Association building. The engine, system that will reduce GCU’s carbon which arrived at the beginning of April, will take If this magazine was written by footprint is on target for completion this nine weeks to fit out. “The entire thing needs to Mal Young, then it would probably start May. Work is progressing on the introduction be commissioned before it’s operational – think with a fight. Well, that’s the advice that the of a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) and of it like a test drive – to ensure it’s working the renowned TV producer gave MA TV Fiction district heating supply that will generate on-site way it should,” said Kenny. students for grabbing their viewers’ attention! electricity and heat in a single process. It will There are also plans to use the CHP as a You can read more about Mal’s hugely also supply hot water via a district heating research and teaching tool. “On completion, it successful talk on page five. network to all buildings on campus. will be a purpose-built student learning facility This month, student and staff talent The CHP is a major project within Campus offering hands-on experience and access to all was rewarded at the Student Leaders and Futures, a dynamic development that will the information. Other universities have CHP Teaching Awards Ball at Glasgow’s Old transform the look and feel of GCU. energy centres but none that I know of are Fruitmarket. Find out who the winners were Pipework and cabling has been installed used for teaching purposes.” and why they fully deserved their awards on around the perimeter of the campus and The CHP has been introduced to create page seven. buildings – including the Hamish Wood. a greener future for GCU. The £4.9million Elsewhere in this issue, there’s a look Yet despite the scale of the project, the investment – on top of the £25million being at the new reverse vending machines that Estates team has ensured there has been no spent on the Heart of the Campus project give something back, GCU’s Gold Healthy disruption to university life. “It is a huge job – – will not only serve existing buildings, it Working Lives award win and why the heat is but I don’t think many people are aware of it can be expanded to meet future growth of on for the Campus Futures project. Check out as it has been a smooth process so far,” said the campus. our new feature on page eight, and please Kenny Allen, GCU Estates Manager. “We’ve It will also support the delivery of the get in touch if you are inspired by it! And don’t been liaising with timetabling and every school University’s carbon management plan as well miss your chance to win a £25 gift card for and department to ensure there have been no as initiatives such as Sustainable Glasgow, a Scotland’s first Forever 21 store. interruptions to the running of the University.” partnership formed to help Glasgow become Happy reading, and as always, don’t The last stage is to connect the engine one of the most sustainable cities in Europe forget to share your news, views and for the CHP, which will be housed in a by reducing carbon emissions by 30% within stories! purpose-built energy centre tucked behind the 10 years.
The Communications Team Contact us: • Charles McGhee, Director of Top Scottish business leader to join GCU Communications and Public Affairs, x8670 “Her creativity, energy and passion have • Charlotte Bozic, Internal Communications made her an outstanding advocate for Scottish Officer, x8680 industry, at home and on the international • Roisin Eadie, Press Officer, x8614 stage. I have no doubt she will provide • Lynn McGarry, International inspirational leadership as we achieve our goal Communications Officer, x8684 to be a globally networked University, meeting • PJ Meiklem, Research and Community the needs of business through a partnership Communications Officer, x8671 approach.” Professor Sawers said she was thrilled to be joining the University at such a pivotal point in its development. “I’m looking forward to adding my effort and energies to support the University to deliver against its global ambitions while ensuring it continues to provide access One of Scotland’s top businesswomen is to education and opportunity for all. Building to join GCU to lead its ambitious global on my extensive experience at senior levels business development programme. across the public and private sectors, both in Professor Lesley Sawers (pictured), the the UK and overseas, I look forward to joining Chief Executive of the Scottish Council for “Team Caledonian” to identify and secure Development and Industry (SCDI), will take new global opportunities for the benefit of the up the new role of Vice-Principal for Business University, Glasgow and Scotland.” Development in early summer. Professor Sawers joined SCDI from Professor Sawers has been Chief Executive Glasgow Chamber of Commerce where she On the cover: Mal Young of SCDI, Scotland’s leading economic was the first female Chief Executive in its 230- development organisation, since 2008. SCDI year history. She has held senior appointments uniquely represents the broad spectrum of in Scotland and internationally, including with “Great drama holds a mirror Scotland’s public, private and third sectors the Royal Mail Group, ScottishPower, CACI, up to society… as a nation, we and has been helping to shape government Management Horizons and VisitScotland. economic policy for more than 70 years. She received an honorary doctorate from love seeing ourselves” Strathclyde University business school in 2009 Mal Young Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Pamela Gillies CBE, said: “Professor Sawers’ and from Glasgow Caledonian University in 2012. In 2008, she was awarded the Lord Read more on page five. exceptional knowledge and experience will have a transformational impact on how we Provost of Glasgow Award for Enterprise identify and develop new opportunities to and the Evening Times Businesswoman of support business. the Year.
theCaledonian page three Over 850 UK companies are BITC members, with a further 10,700 companies engaged Recycle and be rewarded globally... (BITC) into a designated bin which saves up Research to 15 times the volume compared to a non-compacting unit. Every user will receive a voucher for 5p for each item recycled which New Research Institute can be redeemed in Encore’s catering outlets launches on campus. The number of multi-disciplinary research Frank McCabe, Encore’s Catering Manager, Institutes at GCU has risen to three with said: “In this pilot project, we aim to make all of the launch of the Institute for Sustainable our customers aware that reducing waste and Engineering and Technology Research (ISETR). recycling will mean less going to landfill. To help with that, the reverse vending machines will The new Institute will undertake research That’s the concept behind the ‘reverse give rewards. Our research suggests that 80% across three broad themes: Engineering vending’ machines that have been installed of our population will take advantage of our and Energy Systems, Interactive and at GCU. Cups, cans and bottles can be reward, which is substantial.” Communications Engineering and Sustainability recycled in the machines which offer staff and Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for in the Built Environment. students discount vouchers as an incentive. Rural Affairs and Environment, said: “Years ago, The University is one of nine companies and we thought nothing of taking our empty bottles Led by Institute Director and School of organisations throughout Scotland piloting the back to the shops with the added bonus of Engineering and Built Environment Associate ‘Recycle and Reward’ scheme, part of the getting cash back in our pocket. Now, thanks Dean (Research) Professor Scott McMeekin, Scottish Government’s Zero Waste Scotland to modern technology, we are breathing new the Institute will focus on projects which programme, and the only one in Glasgow. life into this traditional approach. By offering minimise impact on the environment. Encore Hospitality Services, a subsidiary customers incentives such as vouchers, I hope of Cordia LLP which provides catering services we can encourage more people to recycle on at GCU, was awarded £90,000 by the go.” Zero Waste Scotland to install six machines New parenting scheme to on campus. protect children Located in the Refectory and Café Roots, Did you know? both sites have a set of three machines – a A parenting programme designed to protect Flex Interactive to collect crushed cans, a In addition to discount vouchers, you children whose parents have previously been Flex Interactive to collect and crush PET soft can win a Golden Ticket when you use convicted of domestic abuse offences has drinks bottles and an EcoVend to collect paper the reverse vending machines – this launched at GCU. The two-year Alba Project is coffee cups. will entitle you to a week’s worth of co-funded by the Scottish Government and NHS The machines recognise the composition free campus meals. Good luck! Greater Glasgow and Clyde and will be led by a of the products which are flattened and sorted GCU team. One of its main aims is to increase the safety and improve the health and wellbeing for children in families where there is a high risk of GSBS joins Business in the Community domestic abuse occurring. The team – led by Professor Liz Gilchrist Glasgow School for Business and Society As one of only 30 BITC university members, – will receive more than £100,000 from the has further confirmed its commitment to GCU aims to contribute to sustainable social Scottish Government to implement and evaluate responsible management by becoming and economic growth by developing a new a number of parenting interventions for a a member of Business in the Community generation of business and community leaders group convicted of domestic abuse offences. (BITC). capable of managing the complex economic, These interventions will be based on the BITC is a Prince of Wales charity that aims social and environmental challenges faced Triple P parenting initiative (Positive Parenting to transform business and communities by by business and society; undertaking Programme). practising responsible management. sustainability research and sharing findings Membership of BITC is the latest initiative with policy-makers, business and community to help deliver GCU’s mission of working ‘For leaders and increasing staff and student Stroke research wins special the Common Weal’. In 2011, the University, engagement levels with the wider community. through the GSBS, became a signatory to GSBS recently embarked on the BITC award the Principles for Responsible Management ‘CREATE’ programme to critically assess Researchers at GCU are undertaking a Education, a United Nations Global Compact- its commitment to corporate social breakthrough study which will benefit the lives of backed initiative to promote and inspire responsibility (CSR). This will consider stroke victims across the country. The Chartered responsible management education and academic programmes, and how responsibly Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) Charitable Trust research in academic institutions around the the School’s affairs are managed in relation has given its special award of almost £200,000 to globe. to the four key areas of CSR (marketplace, the project titled ‘Early VERsus Later Augmented GSBS lecturer Dr Alec Wersun, who workplace, community engagement and Physiotherapy (EVERLAP) compared with usual manages GCU’s involvement with BITC, said: environment). upper limb therapy: an exploratory RCT of arm “Membership enhances the School’s ability The process involves an intense examination function after a stroke’. The research, conducted to contribute to sustainable economic, social of policies, programmes and practices by Dr Frederike Van Wijck, aims to discover and environmental development. Working right across the School, including human how extra physiotherapy can improve the use of with BITC, members transform communities resources, the workplace environment, and the arm and hand after a stroke. by tackling critical social and environmental the degree to which resources are managed issues where organisations can make a real in an environmentally friendly way. ‘Create’ difference. The expertise, resources and workshops are already underway and will capacity of BITC and its members will help continue over the next trimester. Want your research to be featured in the GSBS in its efforts to become recognised as For more information, check out www.bitc. Caledonian? Contact PJ Meiklem, Research a socially responsible School that serves both org.uk. Contact [email protected] with and Community Communications Officer, business and wider society.” any queries. on [email protected] theCaledonian page four
145 donations were received in the 2013 Brighter Futures telethon fund.
News Creating brighter futures
Principal Professor Pamela Gillies with Judith Mackinnon Ryan Bounagui
This year’s Brighter Futures Fund telethon A healthy outlook for GCU raised £40,000 in gifts and pledges – which will be used to make a difference to GCU’s ongoing commitment to the health receive discounts on bikes and equipment, people’s lives. and wellbeing of its staff was confirmed and a regular on-campus presence by the Dr The Brighter Futures Fund supports widening when it received Gold in the Scottish Bike mechanic unit. access scholarships, enhances student Healthy Working Lives Awards. The formal agreement between SAMH and facilities and adds value to clubs, societies and This follows the signing of a unique GCU builds on a long-established relationship community engagement projects. It enables partnership between the University and and enables both organisations to benefit from alumni and friends to donate whatever they can Scotland’s leading mental health charity SAMH an exchange of expertise while ensuring that afford, whenever it’s convenient to them. that will raise awareness of mental health the mental health agenda is further embedded Projects that have benefited from the Fund issues while providing staff and students with in staff and student wellbeing initiatives, include the Caledonian Club, GCU’s award- easier access to support services, as well as training and the curriculum. winning widening participation and community volunteering and employment opportunities. Alex Killick said: “We already have a close engagement initiative which works with local Director of People Alex Killick said: “The working relationship with SAMH and this communities and schools to raise aspirations. results of the recent Pulse Staff Survey showed agreement strengthens our ties even further. GCU students are recruited and trained to that Health and Wellbeing was an area with We have a joint interest in improving the health make the calls. Being part of the telethon is a room for improvement. Hopefully this award of the population and having positive support valuable experience – not only do they receive success and our agreement with SAMH go for staff and students when they need it. I look money to support their studies, they also gain some way to demonstrating our commitment forward to our relationship developing in the new skills and confidence. to making major improvements in this area, months and years to come.” One such student is Ryan Bounagui, a exploring practical ways to support managers The agreement was formally signed by Caledonian Club Scholar and mentor, who is and staff in managing workloads, clarifying GCU Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor in his second year of a BA(Hons) Multimedia roles and responsibilities and improving Pamela Gillies and SAMH Director of HR Journalism. He said: “It’s quite fascinating, some communication about matters that affect Judith Mackinnon. of the people you end up speaking to... the us all.” other night I spoke to a journalism graduate, Initiatives such as healthy eating and “This award demonstrates the which is what I’m studying, and it really opened physical exercise campaigns, mental wellbeing my eyes as she told me all about the industry sessions, community engagement and progress we’re making on and how it’s going through a hard time at the environmental schemes have all contributed to what remains a continuing moment. Hearing it from a graduate as opposed Gold success with the Healthy Working Lives to an employer really put things into perspective. scheme, which helps employers create a safer, journey. Special tribute “I wanted to get involved purely for the fact I healthier and more motivated workforce. should be paid to those key wanted to give something back. I am a recipient These have included awareness-raising of the Brighter Futures Fund and it has honestly events on cancer and stress management, staff whose enthusiasm made a remarkable difference to my life.” mental health and wellbeing training for and dedication have driven Director of Development, Janet Roberts, managers and themed healthy diet days held says: “We are continually amazed and grateful by campus catering provider Encore. In 2012 forward the agenda and who for the generous support given by so many GCU held its first Health and Wellbeing Day have contributed so much to friends of the University.” (which will be repeated this year), and an event to coincide with World Mental Health Day this success” last October. Jan Hulme, University Secretary and Vice- GCU’s work with the local community Principal (Governance) Did you know? through fitness sessions for over-65s at the Arc Health and Fitness Centre also impressed GCU has signed up to the Charities Aid judges. MOT Fitness sessions have proved SAMH’s five ways to better mental health Foundation Give As You Earn scheme particularly popular, with staff and students 1. Stay connected which provides employees with an easy from the School of Health and Life Sciences 2. Get active and tax efficient way to give to charities. assessing fitness levels and providing advice 3. Take notice www.gcu.ac.uk/giveasyouearn. and support for an active lifestyle. 4. Learn The University’s drive towards a greener 5. Give campus has led to schemes such as Cycle to theCaledonian Work, a salary sacrifice scheme where staff Find out more at www.samh.org.uk page five It started with a kiss...
Staff and students came together for the summit.
Mal Young speaking to students
HE is the man who dropped a plane dramatic TV being made in the world than ever aspire to – so we had Coronation Street and on Emmerdale, shot Phil Mitchell and before – if you can provide the content, it’s like Ken Loach’s Cathy Come Home and the brought Daleks back on to our screens. a gold rush.” Although this has led to what Americans had Dynasty and Dallas.” Yet Mal Young’s proudest moment came he describes as the ‘X Factor’ effect. “People Mal’s advice to “always aspire to the next when TV’s first pre-watershed lesbian kiss - watch TV and think ‘I can do better than that!’” level” is something he’s clearly taken to heart, which made television history on Brookside Echoing the advice of early Hollywood given that his career is now based in the in 1994 – was shown at the 2012 Olympics. writers to “start with an explosion and work US. He describes himself as someone who “I was watching the opening ceremony, so to up from there,” Mal stressed the importance has gone from the Liverpool Docks to the see something that I had created flash up on of grabbing the audience’s attention. “If you Hollywood Bowl. the screen gave me a chill down the back of don’t have them in the first 30 seconds, The Caledonian hopes that Mal finds the my neck,” said Mal. they’re likely to switch over. For a while, we time to write his long-promised autobiography However, that now-famous kiss was merely banned any EastEnders episodes that started – he is one man with a very interesting story a ploy to divert attention from a long running with someone buttering toast - the energy just to tell. domestic abuse and murder storyline. drops. We also banned postmen, for the same “We had this body (Trevor Jordache) buried reasons.” under the patio and there it had to stay for two Once the viewer has decided to watch your years. That meant we were constantly thinking show, you need to keep them there. “The of ways to distract the viewer from that, so success of Dr Who has been about tapping really the lesbian kiss was invented to keep it into contemporary emotions. Russell (T Davies) all going!” joked Mal. and I had an agreement not to go near Planet This was just one of many insights into his Zog – basically, our code word for not being 30-year career that Mal shared with MA TV too geeky.” Fiction students at GCU, where he’d been However, despite the dozens of bodies he invited to speak by fellow writer and course has buried, characters he’s killed off and illicit lecturer Professor Ann Marie di Mambro. affairs he’s overseen, Mal’s favourite ‘soap’ Mal Young has come a long way from his storyline of days gone by is far more down early days as the ‘Brookie’ extra who spotted to earth, yet it sparked many a heated an ad for the position of design assistant argument in the Liverpool home he shared on the show. Hard work and a childhood with his parents. determination to make shows that people “In Coronation Street, Ken Barlow becomes want to watch led to stints producing soap the first person in his family to attend university operas including Brookside and EastEnders, – much like me. He has this girlfriend – Joanna Mal takes a turn in front of the camera! medical series such as Doctors and Holby Lumley – and they came downstairs to see a City (both of which he co-created), and crime milk bottle on the table. Ken is ashamed and thrillers including Dalziel and Pascoe and ends up rowing with his father about it. This is Waking The Dead. something that you could pop in a show today During his seven-year tenure as BBC Head and it would still be relevant, everyone would Did you know? of Drama, Mal also championed the return of have an opinion on it. Great drama holds a the iconic Dr Who series, which has gone mirror up to society.” According to Mal, scriptwriter Jimmy on to become one of the Beeb’s biggest This, he argues, is the great appeal of McGovern once said he’d rather be ratings successes. British-made television. “As a nation, we confused (by a TV show) for ten minutes Mal had words of encouragement and love seeing ourselves. Americans, on the than bored for one minute. warning for the students. “There’s more other hand, like to see a world that they can page six
100,000 beats is the average daily rate for a human heart. (British Heart Foundation) Getting to the heart of the matter News A book written by GCU academic Dr Morag Thow is supporting heart patients in leading a The view from here: healthy life. Anne Smith ‘The Healthy Heart Book’ provides information on exercise and active living, diet and coping with stress for those who are recovering after a major heart event (including stents, surgery or a heart attack). Dr Thow, a physiotherapy lecturer specialising in cardiac rehabilitation at GCU, wrote the book together with Keri Graham, a senior physiotherapist who graduated from GCU, and qualified dietician Choi Lee who is based at Paisley’s Royal Alexandra Hospital. The book, which was published by USA physical activity publisher Human Kinetics, has received the official support of the British Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation and Chest, Heart & Stroke Who? Anne Smith, senior lecturer in Scotland. It has also been peer-reviewed by a Business Management, GSBS. My teaching number of organisations, including local phase responsibility is for an entrepreneurship portfolio IV Cardiac Rehabilitation members at the in the discipline area of entrepreneurship and Jordanhill Heart Beats. developing nations seeing an increase in innovation. Dr Thow hopes that in addition to the UK heart disease.” and the US, the book will pick up interest in The book aims to help cardiac patients What? Wikis are the teaching tool that I other countries. “Coronary heart disease is a and families understand their condition and am sharing, which we use for group based major problem across the world, with many develop strategies to lead healthy happy lives. student projects. Wikis appear in academic literature often as a collaborative Web 2.0 tool which can be used for document production and collaborative activity (Smith, Halcro and Chalmers, 2010). We use wikis as a method for students to produce enterprise related projects that require group collaboration. When a group project is industry linked as they often are in enterprise education, wikis support and enable remote working allowing external industry partners to feed comments into the student groups. GCU Learn supports our internal and external wiki usage.
So what? The features of wikis create a rich list of strengths for module learning and teaching strategy involving groups. For example, we can monitor the history of contributions and see who Feedback for Future Learning goes to Finland contributes to the document, how much they contribute and the quality of contribution. This GCU’s successful feedback campaign “Keep giving these presentations because tool is very useful for mediating group disputes went global when Jamie McDermott it’s important that students get to know the and conflicts over contribution. Another useful and Katie Thomson, of Psychology and real meaning of feedback.” feature is the comments function which allows Allied Health Sciences, facilitated a “We are in our final year of study and it is the tutors to feedback directly with students. Finally staff development session for academic first time we’ve really talked about feedback… we find the feature enabling external contributors colleagues at Helsinki Metropolia thank you.” particularly useful as it supports a student- University in Finland. industry interaction on live business issues. This was undertaken as part of an In terms of how we have adopted wiki usage Erasmus Teaching Exchange and provided few limitations appear to exist, students at the the opportunity to share good practice in Did you know? beginning may be unsure of what to do but the provision of academic feedback. The they do find the tool intuitive. Students GCU Feedback for Future Learning Student The Feedback for Future Learning appreciate the group management feature, Workshop was also delivered to a group of campaign at GCU was introduced especially where some have had negative group Finnish students with the aim of enhancing to ensure students are fully aware of working experiences. their engagement with academic feedback. feedback available to them, how to Colleagues in Helsinki have invited Jamie access it and what the benefits and What next? Any module using group work or and Katie back later this year to provide importance of receiving it are. This any form of document production can use wikis. further development opportunities with staff has involved workshops for staff You can contact your learning technologist to and students. and students plus a competition and help you get started. Feedback from Finnish students Feedback Fair to share best practice. “It was wonderful to have you here from Find out more at www.gcu.ac.uk/ Scotland. All of our teachers should hear your futurelearning/. theCaledonian lecture about feedback.” page seven
Student and staff winners with Professor John Wilson, Student President Carla Fyfe and VP Education Danielle Borrett Rewarding student and staff talent
Talent, hard work and ‘exceptional to Africa where she was inspired to set up Finally, receiving awards from employability contributions’ were rewarded at the her own charity to help orphans in Kenya. In lecturer Sabine McKinnon were the three Student Leaders and Teaching Awards May 2009, Gemma and fellow volunteers winners of the Real World Employability Ball. Students and staff came together for the started the construction of a new orphanage, competition, which challenged students to glamorous event, held this year at Glasgow’s St Jerome’s Children’s Home. It was officially come up with solutions to real life tasks set Old Fruitmarket in the Merchant City. opened on January 2012 and is now home to by employers. International student Ana Vega GCU Student of the Year Award went to Pei 20 children. Freitas took first prize, with second and third Ling Choo. Presenting the award, Professor Despite encountering challenging difficulties prize going to Pei Ling Choo and Sogand Azimi. John Wilson praised her for being “involved in (including a robbery), Gemma has bravely just about everything that GCU has to offer.” continued to fundraise for St Jerome’s, and “You embody what is most A highly valued member of the Students’ has overseen the construction of two new Association and GCU community, international nurseries. Professor Wilson described her as important to us at GCU and student Pei Ling is a member of Student “an inspirational leader who exemplifies the you should all take pride in Voice, a postgraduate Research Convenor, University’s commitment to working for the President of the GCU Staff and Student common good”. your achievements here this Choir, a Wellbeing Volunteer, Global Buddy, Newly introduced this year, the Lindsay evening” Head of Regular Events at GCUSA and an Leadership Award is named in honour of Energy Ambassador – and that’s not an Dr Lindsay and the Lindsay family who Professor John Wilson, Pro-Vice Chancellor exhaustive list! generously donated prize money for this and and Executive Dean (GSBS) Pei Ling’s keen interest in student politics future awards. led to her successful election as the delegate Taking home the trophy and £250 prize was for both the NUS national and NUS Scotland fourth year student Jack Fisher. As Erasmus conference to represent her fellow students. Student Society President, Jack has helped She still finds time to give back to the local a previously inactive society to become community by working closely with British GCUSA’s success story of the year, with more Youth Council and GlasgowLife - she recently than 75 members. organised the ‘Find Your Voice’ campaign Winners of the Student Teaching Awards to consolidate young people’s views on were also presented with their prizes. These pressing issues in Glasgow. Despite all this, Awards allow students to nominate members Pei Ling remains a dedicated PhD student, of teaching staff in up to five categories whose work has been presented at many that recognise excellence in different areas international scientific conferences. of teaching. Winning the Allister Boyd Award for Congratulations to: Contribution to Health and Wellbeing in a Excellent Explanation: Stuart McChlery Leadership Role was a student whose drive Inspiring Individual: Susan Ogden and determination led to the construction of Super Support: Louise Boyle an orphanage in Kenya. Fantastic Feedback: Fiona Reid During a gap year, Gemma Steele travelled Tremendous Technology: Robert Law page eight
The story behind... Competition Win a £25 gift card for Forever 21
The Californian cool of Forever 21, celebrity favourite footwear and clothing brand Skechers and stationery heaven in the form of a flagship Paperchase … Glasgow’s Who are you and what’s your day job? everything kicks in and the place is bouncing. reputation as Scotland’s style capital has been David Edgar, Social Media and Engagement To be a part of that is amazing. further cemented with the launch of 185-221 Officer. Buchanan Street. And what makes you hesitate to give up The new retail development, which faces What’s your story? the day job? Buchanan Galleries, is part of the wider I’m the singer in an R.E.M. tribute band called Well, despite my earlier assumption, it turns Buchanan Quarter vision to create a new ‘It Crawled From The South’. out that people have been a little slow to shopping, residential and leisure heart in the accept us as actually being R.E.M. This city centre. Why do you do it? means that we can only charge in the £5-10 It’s home to Scotland’s first Forever 21 store, Well, I’d always wanted to be in R.E.M. But range for tickets rather than the £150 I’d one of only seven in the UK from the US fast- they’d always resisted my overtures because, originally envisaged. But no, it was always fashion powerhouse, which offers on-trend, you know, they had a singer and they were a hobby for me. I’ve worked as a freelance affordable styles for women, men and girls. happy with him. And because I was 14 and writer for music magazines for years and I’ve American footwear brand and celeb-favourite, living in Ayrshire. But when they split up, I seen up close how hard it is for genuinely Skechers – which has diversified to include thought ‘there’s a gap in the market here’ talented songwriters to get a break. There are athletic, casual and dress clothing for men, and me and a group of friends got together so many wonderful artists out there who just women and children – has also opened its first and became R.E.M., sort of. I see us as the never get the audience they deserve. So I just Glasgow store and joins Vans, Office, Fat Face, Christian Bale to their Adam West, so to enjoy doing the shows for what they are. Watches of Switzerland, Evans Cycles, Gap speak. You know when you see The Drifters and Paperchase, the UK’s top contemporary advertised as playing ‘featuring no original Anything else you’d like to add? stationery and card retailer, which has opened its members’? That’s us. All joking aside, we’re a rollickingly good night third Scottish store in the development with an out, obviously for R.E.M. fans but we DJ exclusive in-store Tinderbox café. What do you enjoy most about it? afterwards, so there is plenty for anyone who The development, which has created more Performing in front of people is exhilarating. likes alternative music from the 80s onwards. than 200 retail jobs, has transformed the long- Who doesn’t have a rock star fantasy? Getting term derelict site on Glasgow’s busiest shopping to do it, even on a small level, is fantastic. ‘The Story Behind…’ is a new feature that street, and will also house Buchanan Gardens Once you’ve got over the initial ‘I’m going to takes a look at life beyond GCU. What – a collection of 49 apartments that come soil myself here’ feeling when you arrive on do you get up to when you’re not in complete with their own sky garden, gym and stage, it’s great. the office? Do you have quirky or unusual residents’ lounge. hobbies/interests/ambitions? Share them with The Caledonian is offering one lucky reader And, most of all, we all adore the music. your colleagues here. Email charlotte.bozic@ the chance to win a £25 gift card for Forever We only do their early stuff – we’re music gcu.ac.uk to find out more. 21. To win, all you have to do is answer the snobs, no hits – and it’s just incredible when following question: How many stores does Forever 21 have in the UK? Send your answers to [email protected] or on a postcard to Room H216 by Wednesday, May 8. Freshers and farewells
Congratulations to Graham Ward, who Welcome: Kirsty McFarlane, Diagnostic Imaging, Julia Weedon, GSBS, Bernardi Pranggono, won a Pressure Drop massage in last month’s Network and Security, Karl O’Connor, Politics, Dawn Plummer, SEBE, and Sharon Hutchinson, SHLS. competition. All the best: John Kerr; Malcolm Granat; Jeff Murray; Angela Rea and David Bell.
Charles McGhee, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, x8670, Charlotte Bozic, Internal Communications Officer, x8680,Roisin Eadie, Press Officer, x8614Lynn McGarry, International Communications Officer, x8684,PJ Meiklem, Research and Community Communications Officer, x8671 or [email protected]
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