Issue 27 AUTUMN 2007 The magazine for alumni and friends of the University of Ulster Honorary Graduates Summer 2007 University News Events and Reunions People Arts Sport Supported by http://alumni.ulster.ac.uk ISSUE 27 | AUTUMN 2007 2 11 12 15 19 32 A WORD FROM THE EDITOR contents Welcome to issue 27 of The Ulster Graduate, and a special welcome to the 4,500 alumni who graduated this summer. Our cover photograph for this issue is of His Grace The Most university news Reverend Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws in July. Some of our most University News 02 recent graduates will have been present when His Grace Honorary Graduates 09 spoke about what an incredible time this was for Northern Ireland. His Grace’s graduation speech can be heard at innovation and enterprise www.publicaffairs.ulster.ac.uk/podcasts.Tutu.mp3 Bouncing Bugs 10 During the last six months we have been working hard on Let’s Work Together 10 the development of a new alumni portal, which will replace Graduate Innovation 11 the existing web pages early in 2008. This will enable you to check your record to see if we have your details correct, to make event bookings and buy memorabilia online, and development and alumni news it will also offer an enhanced email directory, amongst other benefits. We will be contacting everyone by email Richard K Degenhardt Belleek Collectors Scholarships 12 when this is launched, so do let us have your email address Alumni Library Membership 12 by contacting the Alumni Relations Office or by completing Alumni Fund Travel Scholarships 13 the update form on the back of the magazine’s carrier sheet, if we do not already have it. alumni reunions and events Another recently introduced service for our alumni is the Magee Reunion 14 Alumni Library Membership scheme, which enables alumni London Alumni Barbeque 14 to borrow up to two books at a time free of charge. Hong Kong Reception 14 Further details are on page 12. Coleraine Graduates of the ‘70s 15 I hope you enjoy reading this issue of The Ulster Graduate. Reception in Washington DC 16 Working with Eastern Europe 16 Best wishes Dublin Wine Tasting 17 Belfast campus Class of ’57 Reunion 17 Munich Alumni Event 17 Published by Alumni Golf Challenge 18 The Alumni Relations Office, The University of Ulster, West Coast, USA 18 Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, BT37 0QB. Quiz, Coleraine campus 18 Tel: 08 700 400 700 (Switchboard), or people 028 9036 8350 (Direct Line), Fax: 028 9036 6085, Email: [email protected] Northern Ireland Assembly 19 Web: http://alumni.ulster.ac.uk Coffee with Oliver Jeffers 20 Three Cheers for Ikea 21 Editor: Sue Rees, Alumni Relations Manager Class Notes 22 Design: Lairdesign Print: W & G Baird arts Views expressed are those of the contributors and not necessarily of the University. The University of Ulster regrets that it cannot Riverside Theatre 29 accept responsibility for any claim whatsoever New Faculty of Art, Design and the Built Environment 29 which may arise out of advertisements carried in good faith. Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter 30 Cover Story sport His Grace The Most Reverend Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who was awarded an American Stars Sign for UU 31 honorary Doctorate of Laws in July 2007. Remembering a GAA Great - Eamon Coleman 31 Find out more on page 9 Colours Sports Awards 32 the ulster graduate l autumn 2007 1 university news Moving Out of Conflict Determination, Picking at the sores of the past “Europe is emerging, not as a superstate Dedication and could frustrate the development of but as a union of states where the more peace and reconciliation in Northern stridently aggressive expressions of Ireland, according to Senator Maurice national interests are suppressed and Leadership Hayes, who delivered the latest in modulated in the interest of the wider the Tip O’Neill Chair Peace Lecture good in a globalised world, and at a series at the Magee campus in June. time too when regionalism has become a motor for growth, and great cities Senator Hayes took as his theme reassert their salience as economic and ‘Moving Out of Conflict’ and said: cultural poles of growth.” “There is a lot to be said for drawing Concluding, Senator Hayes called for the line, in order to let politics and a loosening of the tightly-packed knot mutual trust develop. The present of competing national identities on the democratic institutions are a delicate island of Ireland, for a kind of breathing graft on a rootstock riddled with space in which new forms of everyday memories of sectarian struggles, deeply living and ordinariness could develop rooted in centuries of animosity. and flourish, free from the animosities Seated from left: Anne Rowe, Ruth Mein, and passions of the past: Professor Richard Barnett “There is a real danger that the graft Standing from left: Dr Max O’Brien, Professor David might not take if there is too much “What the Northern Ireland conflict Eastwood, Dr Philip Jordan and Professor Alan Sharp. scrabbling in the underground looking needs is to be taken out of the pressure for evidence of the bad husbandry or cooker of immediacy, which puts stress The Convocation Student of the Year the criminal neglect of yesteryear. on everyone. It might take a generation 2007 is Ruth Mein, in recognition or two – a short time in historical of her charity work for the local “The general political will that the perspective, but if by taking the community of Moshi in Northern institutions should be made to work, pressure off people either to rush to the Tanzania. Ruth, from Eglinton, should be allowed to do so, could easily consummation of their constitutional received a perpetual trophy and £500. be frustrated if we insist on picking dreams, or to frustrate those of others, at the sores of old wounds, raising then a sounder and more lasting The Convocation Student of the Year old ghosts, revive old animosities and arrangement based on consensus could Award is presented annually to a student suspicions, and most of all shattering emerge, then it would be time well or group of students who can demonstrate the burgeoning trust which is a spent. Meantime, the energy which significant personal achievement or a prerequisite for peaceful co-existence could then be diverted into building up substantial contribution to the life of the and co-operation.” the economy and social structures in the University, its students or the community. North would be well spent too.” He looked to Europe and European Ruth’s first experience of resource and integration as a solvent of the To hear the lecture go to social issues in Tanzania came during a national tensions that have affected www.publicaffairs.ulster.ac.uk/ geography field course in the second year Northern Ireland: podcasts/Hayes.doc of her degree studies. Inspired to make a difference when she returned to Northern Ireland, she organised a group of 12 fellow geography students to fundraise for and build a new secondary school in Moshi. Ruth returned to Tanzania in June to oversee the project for three years. Building work began in July, and will be carried out by UU students, local parents and the Moshi village council. Once completed, the school will be run by a Tanzanian charity in partnership with the Tanzanian government. A teacher training programme will also be established and supported by funding from the Moshi business community and from Northern Ireland. Ruth was awarded a BSc Hons degree Senator Maurice Hayes in Geography in July 2007. 2 the ulster graduate l autumn 2007 university news Dr Martin McAleese ROYAL GARDEN In June Northern Ireland Finance Minister Peter Robinson joined with Dr Martin McAleese, husband of the Irish PARTY AT COLERAINE President, to welcome a pioneering cross-border postgraduate innovation Her Majesty The Queen and His The Vice-Chancellor said: management programme delivered Royal Highness, The Duke of “This visit by Her Majesty is a great by the University and Letterkenny Edinburgh visited the Coleraine honour for the University. She took a Institute of Technology. campus in June to attend a great interest in how the campus has Garden Party hosted by The Right developed since her last visit.” Honourable Peter Hain MP, the then Secretary of State for The theme of the garden party was ‘The Northern Ireland. Community and Voluntary Sector’ and the event was attended by leading figures Arriving at the University, Her Majesty from public life, including First Minister and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh The Right Honourable Dr Ian Paisley MP were greeted by The Lord-Lieutenant MLA, local MP Gregory Campbell MLA, of County Londonderry, Dr Denis and Mr Nigel Hamilton, Head of the Desmond CBE, and were introduced Northern Ireland Civil Service. to the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor before mingling with guests. Also amongst the 2,000 guests were Minister Robinson and Dr McAleese were some members of University staff who attending a special graduation ceremony To mark the occasion, Her Majesty had also been present during Her at Belfast City Hall, at which 12 civil service accepted an invitation from the Majesty’s 1977 visit. and public sector high-fliers received MSc Vice-Chancellor to unveil a plaque degrees in Innovation Management in the commemorating her visit and to sign Professor Alan Sharp, Provost of the Public Service. the visitors’ book. Coleraine campus, paid tribute to the work of the University staff who had At the ceremony, the honorary degree Her Majesty also accepted a gift of 24 played a part in making the visit a success of Doctor of Laws ( LLD) was conferred ‘Castle of Mey’ daffodil bulbs, named – with a special mention for the physical on Dr McAleese in recognition of his after a former holiday home of the late resources team who had worked so hard contribution to north-south relations and Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.