Dialogue Magazine
News for Staff & Students
THE BIG THINGS ABOUT THE BIG 3' TEAM DURHAM CELEBRATIONS May - June 2019
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Contribute to your magazine
@durhamuniversity
@Durham_Uni
@DurhamUniversity
Welcome Welcome to a new issue of Dialogue. With dissertation and summative submission deadlines upon us, not to mention exams, it's important that we all take time for ourselves during a busy period. Maybe you could take a stroll around our beautiful City, catch a show, or take part in one yourself! Do read about our wellbeing activities, cultural programme and staff choir on pages 21, 8 and 22, respectively.
@DurhamUniversity
Tell your story Please send your contributions and feedback to dialogue@durham.ac.uk
Also in this issue of Dialogue, we celebrate our students’ achievements across a whole range of pursuits. Our sportsmen and women have had yet another outstanding year in the British Universities and Colleges Sports competition, finishing second overall for the seventh consecutive year (in team sports we remain at the very top!). And our Gospel Choir reached the finals of the University Gospel Choir of the Year contest. Our students’ achievements are something of which we can all, as the University community, be very proud. I am delighted to report that we were recently ranked sixth in the Complete University Guide (2020), maintaining our position from last year and achieving our 12th consecutive year in the top 10 of this prestigious guide. Well done and thank you to all of you for making this possible. Looking ahead, we will be welcoming Jeremy Cook OBE as our new Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Colleges and Student Experience) in September. Jeremy will have a pivotal leadership role as we deliver new Colleges and a student experience to rival the best in the world. Finally, may I wish you all every success for this final Term of the 2018/19 academic year. I look forward to seeing many of you, your friends and family at our Congregations and various end-of-year celebrations this summer.
Professor Stuart Corbridge Vice-Chancellor and Warden
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Contents issue
62
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16
18
7
4 Social
15 The big things about The Big 3
Ulrike Klaerig-Jackson
5 Community Celebration Event
16 Durham Vocal Festival 2019
Contributors
6 Business School, Psychology and Education reunion
17 Libraries and museums
Editor
Daryl Dowding, Museums and Attractions; Christina Milner, Karen Frost, Nicky Sawicki, Mark Tallentire, Izzy Rooke, Marketing & Communications; Kate Barton, Durham Student Theatre; Lydia Heald, Music Durham; Laura Day, Colleges; Mandy Marlow, The Student Wellbeing and Community Engagement Office; Ellie Rawnsley, Team Durham; Florianne Humphrey, Experience Durham; Clarissa Humphreys, Student Support and Wellbeing
7 #DUinspire competition 8 Durham Student Theatre 10 Music Durham
18 College round-up 22 University staff choir 23 An Insight into 24 What’s on
11 Team Durham celebrations 12 Research Insights 14 Experience Durham leadership programme
Cover Image Triffie Axworthy
CUR/05/19/081 Durham University and Durham University logo are registered Trade Marks of the University of Durham. Unless otherwise stated, all material in this publication is copyright of the University of Durham. The University makes every effort to ensure that the information contained here is accurate. Please note that the University’s website is the most up to date source of information and we strongly recommend that you always visit the website before making any commitments.
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Social Our favourite posts, tweets and videos over the past two months to show you what's been happening around the University!
Top 3
tweets We are very proud that over 130 Durham sportswomen have gone onto represent their country since the turn of the millennium. You are all extraordinary. @TeamDurham
Twenty-six students from 17 different countries will be tackling global problems through our Durham Global Challenges Centre for Doctoral Training, which officially launched this week. Find out more: fal.cn/iZT8 #DurhamResearch @ResEngland
Photo
of the month
The kind of sunrise that’s worth getting up early for. Thanks to @kelsiejphotos for a quintessential Durham dawn.
Video
of the month from YouTube youtube.com/watch?v=aUkQl2x9-2g
On International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating our extraordinary sportswomen – their commitment, their talent, their success. Many sporting legacies began right here, at Durham. Where will your legacy begin? #IWD2019 #DUInspire
Our latest student recruitment video designed to inspire the next generation to study at Durham University #DUinspire
@durhamuniversity
@Durham_Uni
@DurhamUniversity
@DurhamUniversity
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Community celebration event
You’re invited to our Community Fun Day!
Find out more Visit: durham.ac.uk/communityfunday Email: community.funday@durham.ac.uk
Summer is on its way and we’d like to invite you to our first Community Fun Day! Our staff and students organise and run a huge variety of activities for local communities, so we thought we’d bring as many of these activities as possible together in one place for an event which is free and open to all to enjoy.
What’s on offer? There’ll be something for all ages. That will include live music, theatre, sports, dancing, hands-on science, arts and crafts, stalls, exhibitions and much more. There will also be refreshments available. You’ll be able to get a flavour of some of the regular activities and events run by our staff, students and community partners. Entry is free. A small charge may apply for some activities.
Where and When? Our Community Fun Day will be held on Saturday 22 June, from 10am to 3pm. The venue is a marquee on Palace Green, between Durham Castle and Durham Cathedral, so we’ll be going ahead whatever the weather!
How do I sign up? No registration is necessary: just come along and have fun! Some activities will be scheduled for certain times of the day, so keep an eye on our web page for all the latest information.
Follow #FUNinDurham
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Engagement and clear messaging is key when leading change. It must have been a big change. What did you do to help smooth the transition?
The reunion Last summer our Business School, Psychology and Education departments, which were previously split between Durham City and Queen’s Campus, united in Durham. Dialogue caught up with Professor Susan Hart, Dean of Durham University Business School and Professor Richard Crisp, Head of Psychology to see how the reunion went. What did your Department hope to achieve by merging in Durham City? Susan Hart (SH): Bringing staff and students together on a single site will help us become a top European business school and this allows us to form one community of academic practice, close to support facilities. Professor Susan Hart, Dean of Durham University Business School Professor Richard Crisp, Head of Psychology
Richard Crisp (RC): We hoped we would create a more unified Department in both spirit and character. This would place us on a firm footing as we embarked upon our ambitious plans for growth.
SH: It was a big change: we had over 1,500 students at Queen’s, plus staff. We communicated with our staff and students regularly: holding open meetings, focus groups, consultative committees and dropin sessions. RC: We held regular meetings to feed through information and listen to staff and student concerns. We consulted widely on what positive changes we could make as a result of the transition. What did you learn through the transition process? SH: The process confirmed what we knew: engagement and clear messaging is key when leading change, and brings people with you on the journey. RC: That including everyone in conversations about the move was critical to its success. There was some disruption, but by keeping everyone informed we were able to strengthen our cohesion as a community. How has your Department’s research, teaching and student experience benefitted from the change? SH: All colleagues are now fully integrated into the School community. They can collaborate more easily and work across subject and functional areas, without the barrier of travel and split-site working. RC: Students have a broader range of modules and our third years can now access a wider range of potential supervisors and a larger pool of participants.
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#DUinspire The new Teaching and Learning Centre, due to open for the 2019 academic year, is rapidly taking shape. Our students were asked to share their vision for the inside of the building. The space within the Centre has been designed to provide the best possible environment for learning – be this in lectures, teaching rooms, or in independent study spaces. In January, a student competition called #DUinspire was launched. Students were asked to enter via Instagram and share photos of what inspires them to learn. The seven winning entries will be printed in a large format and put on display within the Teaching and Learning Centre. Here’s a sneak peek of these stunning photographs.
Wendy Xu
Jesus David Bernal-Morales
Jesus David Bernal-Morales
Maggie Matthews
Lizzie English
Over
100 7
entries
winning entries
Teaching and Learning Centre opens for students
September 2019 Lucy Jackson
Triffie Axworthy
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The Tempest
Durham Student Theatre’s
jam-packed
summer of theatre The Tempest
This summer, Durham Student Theatre (DST) offers you an amazing line up of shows – from musical theatre, to sketch comedy, to gut-wrenching drama, and a fun-filled spectacle of ‘The Tempest’ at the Gala Theatre. Our students' production of Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’ had a fantastic run late last year in Hild Bede’s chapel. Considering the show through a post-colonial lens, the production uses an abundance of dance, music, physical theatre, bright costumes and makeup, as well as fiercely enthusiastic and driven performances to bring the show to life. Come along to the Gala Theatre on Wednesday 26 June to watch the show. The Assembly Rooms Theatre is producing a black box series of work. The Spare Room has programmed nine amazing productions
from theatre performers in the North East, to Durham alumni, and current student theatre companies. Involving work from an all-female sketch comedy group Your Aunt Fanny, and winner of the Durham Drama Festival 2019 Lion Theatre Company’s ‘Tuesday’. The programme of work runs from Tuesday 18 June to Thursday 20 June. DST has a wide variety of other productions happening throughout June, and tickets can be bought at: durhamstudenttheatre.org. With over 100 shows annually, there is always something to watch.
Student theatre Jack Firoozan
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Durham show selected for the National Student Drama Festival 2019
WHAT WE AREN’T SUPPOSED TO TALK ABOUT This is a week-long campaign run by Pitch Productions from 10-15 June, encouraging the discussion of taboo subjects. From a conference, to a film night, the week culminates in the production of Gutted. Tracing one woman’s journey as she navigates a life with Ulcerative Colitis (similar to Crohn’s Disease). Gutted is an urgent, one-woman play of heart-felt honesty, hilarious anecdotes and many trips to the toilet; which seeks to confront the damaging culture of the shame surrounding ‘taboo’ topics in our society. Gutted will be shown at the Dorwick Suite, Trevelyan College at 7.30pm 14 June, 2.30pm and 7.30pm 15 June. All proceeds will be donated to GutsUK.
LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST (Castle Theatre Company) Friday 21 - Saturday 22 June, 2.30pm Fellows Gardens, Durham Castle Castle Theatre Company’s annual outdoor Shakespeare is back, and promises a fantastic production of ‘Love’s Labour’s Lost’ before they head off on a national tour. King Ferdinand of Navarre and his friends vow celibacy for three years in order to devote themselves to scholarly pursuits. They forswear women for this period in order to keep their minds solely focused on learning. Unfortunately for them, they have forgotten that the Princess of France and her ladies are scheduled to visit on diplomatic business - when they meet, romantic chaos ensues as their vows are tested.
THE TEMPEST (Sightline Productions and Suffragette Theatre Company with Durham Student Theatre) Wednesday 26 June, 7.30pm The Gala Theatre
SPARE ROOM PROGRAMME Tuesday 18 - Thursday 20 June The Pemberton Buildings, Palace Green, Durham City Programmed by the Assembly Rooms Theatre, this temporary black box venue hosts nine productions over three days. Showcasing everything from sketch comedy to thought-provoking drama to experimental devised work, the full programme of the Spare Room can be found at theassemblyroomstheatre.org/ spare-room
Following exile by her treacherous brother and the King of Naples, Prospera, the rightful Duchess of Milan is isolated with her daughter Miranda and nymphs on a desert island, until she casts a storm to seek revenge. Viewed through a post-Colonial lens, this production will emphasise the political and historical aspects of one of Shakespeare’s greatest works. This interpretation combines experimental physical theatre with dance and live music to create an exciting night of electrifying Shakespeare. Get tickets at: galadurham.co.uk/galapost/the-tempest
Barney Mercer
We are thrilled to announce that Durham will be returning to the National Student Drama Festival (NSDF) this year. The NSDF panel has selected from our shows for the last four years, and this year Fourth Wall’s production of ‘Killology’ will be shown alongside fantastic shows from other young theatrical creators and performers. ‘Killology’, written by playwright Gary Owen, was originally performed in 2017. Imagining a world with a new violent gaming phenomenon, the show explores the consequences of moral decisions made and where the boundaries lie. As well as these selected shows, around 10 of our shows in total were longlisted for the festival, and many of the individuals from these shows have been invited to attend as company members of the festival, meaning NSDF selectors were impressed with their performances.
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Take a bow, Music Durham The past few months have been an exciting time for Music Durham, with a huge number of concerts taking place across Durham city, plus an array of performances further afield. Don't worry if you missed them, there's more to come in June.
Arguably the highlight of the musical calendar, these annual collaborative concerts are always a great way to spend a summer evening, showcasing the breadth of musical talent at the University. On Saturday, we are delighted to be welcoming special guest Sir Thomas Allen to sing alongside the Orchestral Society. Don’t miss out! When: Saturday 8 June, 7.30pm Where: Durham Cathedral Tickets: £10-20, available at musicdurham.org
Stage and Screen: Act 2
The end of March saw the Orchestral Society set off for their annual European tour, this year to Munich. Alongside three spectacular concerts, there was also plenty of time for members to explore the sites of Bavaria, including Neuschwanstein Castle and Bad Tölz. Closer to home, Gospel Choir was one of eight choirs to get through to the finals of the University Gospel Choir of the Year Competition 2019 in London. After a
fantastic performance, they were delighted to be awarded an impressive second place. The Concert Band also achieved a Gold Award in the National Concert Band Festival in April.
Following Act 1 in the Cathedral, expect another outstanding array of music acts across a wide range of genres, all under the theme of Stage and Screen. From jazz and a cappella to orchestral music, there is something for everyone.
Music Durham Cathedral & Gala Concerts
When: Monday 10 June, 7.30pm
Stage and Screen: Act 1 Keep the evening of Saturday 8 June free for the first of a two-part concert series, featuring a fantastic line-up of musical acts, all under the theme of Stage and Screen.
University Gospel Choir of the Year Competition 2019 in London
Where: Gala Theatre Tickets: £10-15, available at galadurham.co.uk More information at musicdurham.org Summer Concert Series June is set to be a busy time for our musicians, with the Music Durham Stage and Screen concerts kicking off two more weeks of spectacular musical events. Enjoy an evening of jazz, swing, hip hop and more with Durham University Big Band on Thursday 13 June, or by complete contrast, hear the Chamber Choir perform in the Cathedral on Saturday 15 June. The next day, join the Palatinate Orchestra together with pupils from St Margaret’s Primary School at Elvet Methodist Church. If brass is more your thing, enjoy an evening with Brass Band on Tuesday 18 June, or add woodwind to the mix for the Concert Band Summer Concert on Thursday 20 June. Bringing a close to an exciting musical fortnight, join the Orchestral Society for their annual Cathedral concert on Saturday 22 June. For information and tickets visit musicdurham.org/events
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Team Durham celebrates another winning term
A number of our Team Durham athletes have been called up for international duties this season.
This term has seen a plethora of sporting prowess and achievement, with over 75 per cent of the student body participating in sport, it is no wonder that we have been rewarded with such impressive results!
• Tessa Howard was included in the Great Britain Hockey Squad for the next phase of the Pro League Tour.
It would also be impossible not to point out the WBBL Durham Palatinates who made history, reaching the final of a major national club event, a first for the University. After a very tense final and an excellent display from the girls, unfortunately they just missed out by two points, but left Glasgow with their heads held high having pushed their opposition to the very end.
• Netball’s Rebecca Edgar was called up to the Scottish Senior squad. • Daniel Spiers was selected for the U24 GB mixed Ultimate team competing in Germany in July. • Women’s Rugby’s Heather Kerr was selected for the Barbarians and Men’s Rugby’s Josh Basham, has signed a 3-year contract for the Newcastle Falcons and the England Students Rugby Squad.
There are many highlights and it is a pity that we cannot mention them all. However it is hard not to reference our Women’s Rugby Union Team, who culminated an undefeated season with a Championship Final played at Twickenham Stadium. Narrowly missing out to defending Champions Exeter by only four points was heart breaking but what they have done in the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) league this year is ground breaking in itself and the girls have laid the foundations for years to come. What a great season it has been for Durham University Rugby Football Club, in what has been the most successful one in the clubs 36 year history.
• Tilly Fisher, Tilly Foster and Emma Brown have been selected for the England Lacrosse squad.
• Fitz Harding, Charlie Wilson, Matt Welsh and Paddy McDuell have been included in the England Students Rudby Squad and will head into fixtures against opposition from French universities. • Sasha Adamson has also been included in the England Students Football team who will play in the Home Internationals competition.
Our BUCS season was concluded with five National Championships titles and a 3rd place finish in the medals table as 10 teams travelled to Nottingham for the highly anticipated BUCS Big Wednesday Finals. Lacrosse saw the women’s 2s take the win in the Trophy final with the men’s and women’s 1s securing their gold medals in the Championship round. Women’s Volleyball put on a great display to bring home gold as did men’s Fencing, whose efforts were rewarded as we took the Championship title by just two points.
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Shaping the future of energy RESEARCH INSIGHTS
MAY - JUNE 2019
Professor Jon Gluyas, Director of Durham Energy Institute (DEI), recently travelled to Davos to take part in an interview examining the future of energy, ahead of the 2019 World Economic Forum. The interview was conducted by The Business Debate, a thoughtleadership series in partnership with Reuters news agency. Speaking about the event, Professor Gluyas said: “Engaging with thoughtleadership organisations in this way helps us to showcase the University's work to new audiences and, hopefully, contribute to shaping the future of national and global energy production. “We are able to shine a light on the importance of Industry – University collaboration for tackling global challenges and issues that are underrepresented in the energy debate, such as the need to consider ways to utilise heat more efficiently.” The interview forms part of a series of videos examining the World Economic Forum ‘system initiatives’ looking at global, regional and industrial challenges facing the world, and the work being undertaken to address these. Find out more about the work of the DEI at durham.ac.uk/dei
Jon Gluyas
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Women, peace and security To celebrate twenty years of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda, two of our academics were invited to Buckingham Palace.
Many women are active and successful local level mediators during violent political conflict, but this expertise is not seen at international level.
Sexual violence during conflict Nayanika’s research within political anthropology looks at the sexual violence committed during the Bangladeshi War of Independence, the war crimes tribunal and ‘war babies’ linked to the war of 1971. It is estimated that over 200,000 (official and contested numbers) women were raped during the conflict and in 1971 the Bangladeshi government designated the term birangonas (brave women) to honour the survivors. Nayanika has studied the impact of this approach on the affected communities as well as the public memories of these wartime acts of sexual violence.
Professor Nayanika Mookherjee from Anthropology and Dr Catherine Turner from Law joined HRH The Countess of Wessex for the International Women’s Day Event held in March. Women and peace mediation Catherine is an expert on international law and conflict with an interest in the representation of women in international peace mediation.
Many women are active and successful local level mediators during violent political conflict, but this expertise is not seen at international level. The underrepresentation of women in international peace-making is currently on the agenda of the UN Security Council. Working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, Catherine’s work contributes to policy in this area by examining the legal, political and cultural barriers that women face in accessing highlevel mediation positions.
Working with the Gender Equality team of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Research Initiatives Bangladesh (RIB), she has developed a survivor-led guideline and graphic novel to be used by individuals such as human rights activists, teachers, lawyers, journalists and filmmakers. The graphic novel (in both Bangla and English) is aimed at girls and boys aged 12 and over and looks at what happens when a young girl uncovers a family secret when talking to her mother and grandmother about their memories of the Bangladesh War. Both the graphic novel and the guideline provide guidance for those who record testimonies of sexual violence in conflict. Find out more at ethical-testimonies-svc.org.uk
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Developing our future leaders The Experience Durham Leadership Programme reflects the crucial role that the development of key employability skills has to play in the future of Higher Education. The Experience Durham Leadership Programme is designed to help our students acquire and develop key employability skills. Students are provided with a culture and an environment in which to pursue the highest quality of student experience, to further develop their independence, self-expression, creativity, teamwork, leadership and a strong sense of social citizenship. Emerging leaders are given access to activities in sport, music, theatre and volunteering, as well as mentoring from prominent corporate and uniformed professionals. St Cuth's undergraduate Hannah Knowles tells us a bit more about the programme. Why did you apply for the Experience Durham Leadership Programme? I thought it would be useful to gain skills which are applicable to my role as a club captain for the coming year, and in the future. A big part of the programme is the mentorships. Who was your mentor and what did you learn from the relationship? My mentor was a Commodore in the Royal Navy. At the time of applying to the programme I was interested in leadership within the military environment hence why we were matched.
It’s very useful to have an external contact with real experience of conflict management to refer to for advice. Even if the mentors aren’t directly suited to the career you aspire to in the future the opportunities for networking at the meal and the speaker series, in addition to engaging in personal development plans, are very useful. The lecture series sounds interesting, tell us more about that. The lecture series is a great opportunity to hear from a variety of professionals who were all once in our position as Durham students. It was reassuring to know that many of the speakers did not know what profession they aspired to be, but all emphasised the importance of making the most of every opportunity which was presented to them, and the value of hard work. As an athlete I particularly enjoyed Guy Richardson’s talk about his work with elite sports and performance teams including The British and Irish Lions tour in 2013. Guy’s key
Values provide a framework to support our actions.
principles of communication, transparency and delegation have proved useful in my extra-curricular activities this year. What was the most important leadership message you learned? I think the standout message from all of the leadership training I have received is the importance of values both from a personal and team perspective. Values provide a framework to support our actions. Maintaining your personal values gives you integrity as a leader which is essential when leading by example. How do you think you will apply this experience in your future career? I will continue to make the most of every opportunity that is presented to me. I will maintain contact with my mentor and the others I have networked with throughout the process. I also have practice in managing conflict revolution scenarios and working with individuals with differing skills sets than myself.
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The Big Things about
The Big 3
The Big 3 is a significant IT infrastructure project which will make improvements to our IT network, hosting and storage.
access card readers
ipads
mobiles
CCTV
fire alarms
laptops
telephones
New technologies will provide further stability to our network, hosting and storage, and helping to future-proof our IT systems. We all rely on IT for our work and studies, and this is an important investment to ensure that all staff and students are able to enjoy the benefits of a reliable IT network.
Are you on the new network?
OVER 50KM of cable has been used to deliver the project, which is the equivalent length of 476 football pitches.
Check to see if your College or Department is on the new network or is planned to join in the near future. Take a look at our interactive map of the campus at durham.ac.uk/cis/big3 To check out our interactive map on your phone, simply point your camera at the QR code. Android users may need to download a QR reader app first.
More resilient hosting platform. Increased storage options for academic and research staff.
Who will benefit? The new network is built to last for
25+ YEARS.
Implementing the Big 3 is essential to ensure that we have IT foundations which are robust and will allow us to grow and modernise.
Progress is well underway to deliver on the three pillars of the Big 3, and you may have already noticed network upgrades taking place within your College and Department.
Devices on the network include:
servers
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ALL STAFF & ALL STUDENTS.
We’ve uncovered lots of weird and wonderful artefacts around the City while we’ve been putting new network cables in, including an ancient toilet behind Hatfield College!
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Our students sing the praises of an extraordinary Northumbrian saint ‘The Life of St Cuthbert’ was celebrated in song by staff and students during Durham Vocal Festival in February.
Our festival featured the world premiere of a new cantata, based on the work of Durham’s Dr Charlie Rozier and Dr Giles Gasper and performed by Durham University Chamber Choir and other guest musicians. The Life of Cuthbert was developed as a project between the Department of History and the not-for-profit opera ensemble, Cantata Dramatica.
Composer Solfa Carlile’s operatic drama told the story of St Cuthbert as a semistaged oratorio performed at Cuthbert’s final resting place - Durham Cathedral. The concert, attended by around 200 people, was the culmination of a week-long musical pilgrimage through Northumberland and County Durham, involving interactive performances at local primary schools. Dr Rozier explained: “The Life of St Cuthbert was a remarkable concert
combining academic research, student performances, outreach work and professional partnerships. “It was a unique musical opportunity to take our music to the people of the region and tell the story of St Cuthbert’s life as a young man, a monk and eventually also a saint. “We hope that the piece will spark new relationships between Durham’s medieval past and the music of the future.” Find out more at duchamberchoir.org
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What's on at
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SMALL ISLAND COFFEE (Library Café)
libraries and museums
By now, many of you will have seen the newly refurbished Library café, proudly named Small Island Coffee, linking to the heritage of Bill Bryson and one of his bestselling books. Quality coffee is the flavour of the day here and Small Island Coffee partnered with local supplier, Rounton Coffee Roasters who are based in Northallerton, to ensure we have the very best. Like us, they are dedicated to providing coffees which are traded sustainably and taste delicious. Why not drop in, meet the team and try us out?
Wild: A celebration of the natural history of the British Isles Palace Green Library, 18 May to 6 October 2019 From high peaks and valleys to meandering rivers and powerful seas – see how animals have adapted to live and thrive in the varied environments of the
British Isles. You will have the opportunity to see some of Britain’s most elusive animals close up and personal in this family friendly exhibition. For admission charges and opening hours visit durham.ac.uk/palace.green/whatson
Things from
Home
For this new exhibition at our Oriental Museum award-winning ceramic artist Katrin Moye has worked with international students studying in the UK to look at how objects that we miss when we are away from home can assume a great importance in our memories. Many of the students involved were far from home for the first time. They talked to Katrin about what they missed and she used their descriptions to create her artworks. Relying only on the students’ words, Katrin filled in the blanks with guesswork and imagination. As a result many of the artworks bear little obvious resemblance to the original object. In this way the exhibition reveals the cultural disconnect and difficulties experienced by people living in an unfamiliar environment and speaking in a new language. Things from Home is on display at the Oriental Museum 22 March to 26 October 2019.
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College round-up
Collingwood College AFC raises over £10,000 for Campaign Against Living Miserable (CALM) This year, Collingwood College Association Football Club (CCAFC) consisting of 14 men’s teams and two women’s teams, is proud to champion CALM, a charity dedicated to preventing male suicide.
In representing CALM, we have foregone sponsorship money we would have traditionally received from a regular company sponsor, and have organised two fundraising events which have collectively raised over £10,000 for CALM. The first event in November was a 24 hour football competition played on Collingwood’s Rubber Crumb pitch. Students were joined by our staff and other enthusiasts for a single match that lasted a full 24 hours and saw a total of 283 players participating, including our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stuart Corbridge, and student Tom Verniers who played for the entire 24 hours! Despite the length of the match, the final result was close: 301-297.
Student Tom Verniers who played for the entire 24 hours!
More fundraising at the Charity Ball In January, a CCAFC Charity Ball at the College raised a further £3,000 for CALM from ticket sales, raffle tickets and donations. The guest speaker for the Ball was Michael Bennett, former professional footballer and Director of Player Welfare at the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA). Michael spoke about the importance of providing a safe and confidential space for players to speak about their struggles, and outlined the fantastic services that the PFA provides.
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Celebrating Chinese New Year – the Year of the Pig At Josephine Butler College, our Chinese New Year activities began with a movie night held in the MCR lounge. On the recommendation of our MCR International Students’ Rep, Wanyu Guo, students from all common rooms came together to watch the special New Year episode of the Chinese documentary series 舌尖 上的中国 'A Bite of China' - this incredibly popular and fascinating production explores the history behind numerous regional specialities in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The evening was both a lovely reminder of home for many Chinese students and a captivating cultural exploration for those less familiar with the cuisine. The main event, however, was our Chinese New Year party. There, students queued up for a taste of delicious delicacies including Kongpao chicken, Ma Po Tofu and homemade dumplings.
Groovin’ at Grey During the Epiphany term, two new music events were held at Grey College for the first time. Wednesday 20 February saw the Phoenix Gala, A Night at the Oscars when musical groups from the College, our Choir, Orchestra, Big Band and Ceilidh Band, interspersed with solo acts from the Jam Society performed at a Black Tie event, which raised money for Signing for Syrians. On Sunday 3 March, we held the first Robin Thodey Competition, in memory one of our SCR members, who was a great supporter of Grey. At this, individual students treated a large audience of both students and SCR members to a range of performances varying from the piano, through improvised song, to the Guzheng, a traditional Chinese instrument.
After everyone had eaten, we were treated to musical performances by Zeyu Li and Yan Shaoming, including pieces of music from the Peking Opera tradition and contemporary pop music on acoustic guitar. Wanyu then stepped into the role of DJ and provided us with an authentic Chinese playlist for the rest of the evening. Overall, it was fantastic that everyone’s efforts were rewarded with an exceptional turnout and brilliant to see so many people from so many different backgrounds experiencing Chinese culture in Durham!
Josephine Butler College Presidents’ Programme. At Butler, we pride ourselves on the numerous opportunities available for our students to take leadership roles across a wide range of areas, including sports captains, committee chairs, ball chairs and society presidents. Established in June 2018 by the then-JCR President, James Bowmer, the Presidents’ Programme has since developed into a comprehensive, interactive workshop that allows us to not only support and encourage students in their leadership roles, but also gives them a platform to improve transferable, “employable” skills for later life. From the original all-day pilot, we have streamlined the course to a two hour carousel workshop, which occurs termly. Each course comprises an interactive leadership skills session with our VicePrincipal, Karen Langdon, and a more practical information session led by the College’s Principal, Adrian Simpson, and Tom Weston, our current JCR President. The Programme’s main aim is to equip the student leaders with skills and information to run their group, event or team to the best of their ability. With excellent feedback so far, we hope that this programme will continue to provide a solid foundation for our current and future student leaders.
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Arts and culture headline at Ustinov College Raising International Awareness
St Aidan’s College Senior Common Room (SCR) Lectures Relaunched At St Aidan's SCR we have reignited our monthly lecture series this Epiphany, aiming to share knowledge and raising important questions about the modern world. Lectures are open to anyone who wishes to attend from across the University and the local community.
The International Awareness Week at St Aidan’s, was a collaboration between the International Society and the Welfare committee to acknowledge and celebrate the cultural diversity within our College community and that of the wider University. The ‘International Awareness Week’ this term aimed to get students to think about topics such as cultural appreciation versus cultural appropriation and help international students feel more integrated within the fabric of College life.
Students lead on exploring mental health through art We dedicate multiple ‘campaign weeks’ every year with the aim of raising wider awareness and to deconstruct preconceptions on a wide range of pertinent student issues.
This exhibition captured, through various visual mediums, the artists’ interaction with mental health. Each of the artworks has a story behind them, although some preferred to keep it to themselves and allow the audience to interpret what the piece meant. Most artists who contributed do this work as a hobby, or in their spare time, and several had never painted before they began making these works. By displaying these works we prompted discussion of mental health and made it a part of everyday College conversations.
Works from over 30 artists featured in the exhibition, which explored the encounter between climate change, nature and society. Contributions included audio-visual works, paintings, drawings and installations, as well as research posters from postgraduate students from the Department of Geography. On Sunday 10 March 2019, our Intercultural Forum’s ‘International Dress Party’ took place in the Fonteyn Ballroom, Dunelm House. Performances included aikido demonstrations, music and dance from the Mexican Society, Bulgarian poetry, and a traditional dance from the Chinese Society.
There is an exciting array of events planned so keep visiting community.durham.ac.uk/ st-aidans.scr to find out more.
The February campaign was a College-wide Mental Health Awareness Week led by the JCR Welfare Team. Joining forces with the Aidan's Art Team, students and members of the wider community were invited to raise awareness of mental health through a prominent exhibition of their artworks.
On Saturday 2 March, the ‘Encounter’ Art Exhibition opened at Sheraton Park, with contributions from student artists, professional artists and local schoolchildren.
These events form part of our Global Citizenship Programme, which continues to go from strength-tostrength. Events and activities have taken place across Durham City and we have an exciting programme of events organised for Easter term.
The week-long campaign started with a "Global Quest" Pub Quiz at the start of the week followed by various other events such as arts and crafts, a poll about cultural appropriation and a film screening of ‘Call Me By Your Name’ (2017). Finally, a relaxed cheese and wine cultural mixer on Friday helped international students get to know each other and share their cultures. The ‘International Awareness Week’ activities culminated in the Chinese New Year International night and and we have plans to keep this tradition going in future years.
Dialogue
‘Snow Speaks’ with Eddie the Eagle At John Snow College Welfare, we ran our mental health awareness campaign called ‘Snow Speaks’ from 15-21 February. This campaign took a very personal angle as members of our College shared their own mental health journeys through videos on Facebook. Some topics discussed were depression, anxiety and stress as well as strategies students employ to overcome these issues. It became apparent that our College community and all students are extremely resilient when faced with adversity and we wanted to provide a source of motivation and encouragement to both students and staff at Durham University. Snow had spoken out and now we thought it was someone else’s turn. I knew the name ‘Eddie the Eagle’, I had watched the film and did not think much beyond the character I had seen portrayed alongside Hugh Jackman.
However, when Eddie left Howlands Hall on 21st February I had a new perspective. We were delighted to see so many faces from our College at this event and were also lucky enough to welcome new faces to John Snow which included students from other Colleges and staff. Once everyone had taken their seats and Eddie was introduced, we were all eager to hear his story. Eddie began by describing his love of skiing and told us that he was actually a competitive skier before he got into ski jumping. On his journey to the Winter Olympics he had to overcome a plethora of obstacles such as his late start to the sport, a lack of funding and the consistent belittling of some onlookers. However, we learned that while he trained independently, he was invited to train with a number of his competitors from other countries who coached him and offered advice regarding his jumping.
Regular walks for students to experience the seasonal changes in the Botanic Garden are now available as well as seed planting sessions in the greenhouses. A full timetable of activities is available from SW&CEO who also take bookings wellbeing.swceoffice@durham.ac.uk.
SW&CEO supports our students' education and personal development.
Alcohol Advice
This term we have provided students with an extended number and range of free exercise classes in the Bill Bryson Library, including varieties of yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi-based Core Balance. Students are also being encouraged to take a break from library study for free refreshments and a chat; Time for Tea is offered in the Library and Take a Break in the Student Hub in the Palatine Building.
the positives from every situation he was in which fuelled his desire to achieve his dream of competing in the Winter Olympics of 1988. It was also a relief to hear he (technically) did not take last place as a competitor did not make it to the competition as they got injured during training on the previous day! I hope that those who attended left with some motivation to persevere and overcome whatever obstacle they may face. As Eddie said, “If you think you can do it, ignore what anybody else says and go for it.”
While the biographical details were truly interesting, Eddie’s underlying message of positivity and resilience spoke loudest to me. Even when he struggled to find somewhere to sleep and have food to eat on his journey to the Olympics, Eddie always pictured where he wanted to be which motivated him to get there. Eddie reinforced his mindset of taking
The Student Wellbeing and Community Engagement Office (SW&CEO)
Wellbeing Programme
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Our alcohol initiatives are sectorleading and have been developed with the County Durham Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service (CDDARS). Mandy Marlow, SW&CEO, and Joanne Boyd, CDDARS, were invited to present on their partnership work at the North East Public Health Conference ‘Purpose, Partnership and Passion – Harnessing our strengths to reduce inequalities across the North East’, on 5 February at The Stadium of Light, Sunderland. Their presentation, Alcohol Advice: Developed with Students for Students, reported on the importance of consulting with students to produce successful programmes. Representatives from Chester University visited us on 6 March to learn more about our alcohol programmes. They experienced our Have a Word training session designed to provide alcohol education and enable students to perform
brief interventions and signpost to appropriate support.
International Student Experience Last year SW&CEO took on the management of the Meet and Greet Service for our new international students. Working with a team of student helpers we welcomed arrivals at Newcastle Airport and provided accompanied coach transport on to the Colleges in Durham. This term we have run a series of focus groups for international students about the service and we are using the feedback to enhance the welcome provision and ensure that new starters are given the information and support that they need on arrival.
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Dialogue
MAY - JUNE 2019
Our Staff Choir Singing in a group has been proven to improve both physical health and mental well-being
Do you enjoy singing? Why not join us each Friday lunchtime, when we transform a central University location into our rehearsal space? This informal group was formed less than a year ago, but has come a long way since then, with a public performance and a professional masterclass now under its belt. Back in December, the sound of carols and Christmas music floated down from the balcony in the Palatine Centre café, much to the delight both of those who had come to listen, and those who were caught unaware. Even more recently, we were lucky enough to receive some vocal coaching from alumnus Daniel LudfordThomas, who took a break from his busy schedule as a conductor, chorus master, and singing teacher in London to travel back to Durham. The choir brings together staff members from across many different departments within the University. For some, the choir provides the opportunity to get back into
music after some time apart. For others, this may well be their first foray into music and performance, which raises an interesting question: is it necessary to read music to be in the choir? The answer is no, we rehearse with a piano so everyone can hear their part played to them before singing it. However, all of our members sing from the sheet music, meaning over time, members have become increasingly familiar with musical symbols and words. ‘Dynamics’, for example, refers to the volume of the music, something which is not common knowledge to everyone. So, one advantage of singing in the staff choir is the opportunity to learn. But the benefits don’t end there, as has been shown in a huge number of studies. Singing in a group has been proven to improve both physical health and mental well-being. To make the best sound, singers need to take deeper breaths, increasing oxygen intake
and improving circulation. This aids the flow of various feel-good hormones around the body, such as oxytocin (the ‘love hormone’), dopamine and endorphins. What’s more, group singing has been shown to lower levels of cortisol (the ‘stress hormone’). The evidence is all there: singing in a group is good for the body and mind, plus, it’s great fun, as any member of the staff choir can surely attest to. If that all seems too good to be true, why not come and see for yourself? We are always eager to welcome new members! We rehearse every Friday from 12.30pm-1.30pm, currently in the Geography Department, and sing a range of music from Disney to Mozart. There is no need to come to every rehearsal; members are free to come and go as their commitments allow. For more information, please get in touch at music.coordinator@durham.ac.uk.
Dialogue
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NAME: Clarissa Humphreys
What’s your favourite place in the world? The beach. I’ve never met a beach I didn’t like.
Staff and students can contact me via email at clarissa.j.humphreys@ durham.ac.uk. More information about this work can be found at durham.ac.uk/sexualviolence.
Have you got any pets? Two gorgeous German Shepherd Dogs: Rock, a Texan, is the oldest and Nymeria ‘Nym’ is a rescue from Darlington.
What skill or talent would you most like to acquire? I would love to speak multiple languages. There’s nothing worse than meeting someone and not being able to communicate.
What are you reading at the moment? I just started reading The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.
Give me a picture of your ideal day: An early morning walk on the beach, followed by a swim in the sea, an afternoon of reading in the sun, and a night dive in the ocean.
What would you like your epitaph to be? She helped make a difference. Now it’s your turn. What was the first record you bought? I can’t remember what I bought, but my house was always full of music.
When was the last time you laughed and why? I laugh a lot, usually at my own jokes. If you’ve been on my training, you know.
I am the Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response Manager [formerly known as the Student Support and Training Officer (Sexual Violence & Misconduct)] in the Student Conduct Office. I focus on prevention and response efforts to address sexual misconduct and violence including rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking and domestic abuse. My responsibilities include case management of cases that are formally reported to the University and/ or Police; institution-wide student support; education and training for students and staff covering prevention and response courses; and policy development.
An insight into
What achievement are you most proud of? I was awarded ‘Instructor and Employee of the Year’ when I worked as a dance instructor at Texas A&M University. I didn’t know it was something that could be won, and I was so unaware, I didn’t even attend the awards ceremony. That award represented me doing my very best teaching salsa, merengue, bachata and country western dance classes. To this day, it makes me smile.
JOB TITLE: Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response Manager
What’s your greatest vice? Coffee. Fully dependent. What’s your favourite film? None really, but I’m a fan of Pixar shorts. What did you want to be when you were a child? A doctor. One year at summer music camp, I told the Director that when I became a doctor, I would come back as the camp nurse. There wasn’t a camp doctor position to fill, after all. Where will you be going for your next holiday? I am headed to New York to volunteer on a dig with the charity American Veterans Archaeological Recovery.
Any nicknames? So many! In fact, this might be the first place I’ve worked where people use my real name. Adulting! What’s the worst job you’ve ever done? Nurse aid in a nursing home. I’m glad I did it, but I don’t want to do it again. What luxury item would you take to a desert island? My scuba gear. What’s your greatest indulgence? American-style chocolate-chip cookies
What’s on at the University
@/durhamuniversity
May
June
Joyful Jars
Beekeeping Experience Days
Venue: Oriental Museum, Elvet Hill, DH1 3TH
Venue: St Mary’s College
Date: 31 May Time: 1pm-3pm To help celebrate Durham Pride come and learn about Pharaoh Hatshepsut. As the ruler of Ancient Egypt, she wore her own beard. Come along and look at her perfume jar on display. Activities are included in normal admission prices and are generally suitable for children 5-11 years. Contact oriental.museum@durham.ac.uk for more information about this event.
@Durham_Uni
Date: 1 – 2 June Time: 10am-5pm Come and join the beekeeping team to learn about bees, make beeswax lip balm and hand lotion bars and build your own wild bee home. The cost is £30 and includes a complimentary lunch and refreshments. All activity materials and protective clothing are provided. To reserve your place or for more information, please email stmarysbees@gmail.com
@DurhamUniversity
@DurhamUniversity
ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 - City Celebrations Venue: Durham Millennium Square/ Market Place Date: 28 – 30 June The City Celebrations will provide an opportunity for members of the public across England and Wales and around the world to engage with the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019. The free-toenter fan zones will be the ultimate hub as tournament fixtures are shown live. A range of multi-cultural food, music and entertainment will be on offer.
Music Durham ‘Stage and Screen concerts Act 1 – Durham Cathedral, 8 June, 7.30pm-9.30pm Act 2 – Gala Theatre, 10 June, 7.30pm-9.30pm Tickets for Music Durham’s Cathedral Concert are likely to sell out quickly, with a fantastic array of Durham musical talent on display, as well as special guest Chancellor Sir Thomas Allen. Tickets start from £10 and are available at musicdurham.org
For more information on University events go to durham.ac.uk/whatson