Goldlink
Music Matters Kanya King on recognising the best of urban music
David Mungall Director, Development & Alumni Relations
For all that’s happened in 2012 the year will probably be remembered at universities as the time when fees of £27,000 for a three-year degree were introduced to replace lost taxpayer funding. It is fair to say there was a collective held-breath on campuses across the country in anticipation of what this would mean for the willingness to embark on a university education. I am glad to be able to report to alumni and friends of Goldsmiths that the College continued to experience very strong demand for our courses despite the new fees. In fact, unlike many other prestigious universities, Goldsmiths did not need to recruit any additional students through the ‘Clearing’ process this year. We know Goldsmiths offers a distinctive mix of high-quality courses and a learning environment that encourages questioning and socially engaged graduates. An article on page 4 also brings international recognition of the quality of our academic research – placing the College in the world’s top 100 for arts and humanities research. The challenge for 2013 and beyond is to maintain academic quality and do as much as possible to make Goldsmiths accessible to students from all backgrounds. This is why I want to highlight for you on pages 6 and 7 a remarkable student who is continuing his Goldsmiths degree with the odds against him. goldlink 38
Editor Genevieve Kantoch Design zoebather.co.uk Photography J Witfield for ArtMongers (page 4), Victoria Proffitt (page 6), Adam Peers (page 12), Paul Halliday (page 21). If you are interested in advertising in a future issue of Goldlink please contact us for a rate card, discounts are available to alumni.
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Director of Development David Mungall Senior Development Manager Annette Bullen Alumni Relations Manager Genevieve Kantoch Research & Database Manager Antoinette Carey Administration & Events Officer Angela Elderton
Update your details online at www.gold.ac.uk/alumni/update
Development & Alumni Office Goldsmiths, University of London New Cross, London SE14 6NW alumni@gold.ac.uk +44 (0)20 7078 5015
The opinions expressed in the magazine are those of the writers concerned and not necessarily of Goldsmiths.
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On the cover Kanya King, 2012 by Ivan Coleman — see page 8
in this issue
02 Supporting Local Students New scholarships announced 03 On Campus 05 Research News 06 Giving Back The inspiring student training to help the next generation 08 Interview Entrepreneur Kanya King reveals the secrets of her success 12 Unlocking Education The important project enabling education for ex-offenders 14 Showcase Cheryl Field 16 Lessons of the First World War How the study of the War is still relevant today 19 Books 20 3x3 21 Life After 22 First Person Tom Murtha on his career working with communities 23 People News 24 Thank you Recognising donors to Goldsmiths 28 Parting Shot
Winter 2012 No.38
02 News
SUPPORTING LOCAL STUDENTS Goldsmiths has committed £1.4million of financial support for undergraduate students
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he College has announced it will be introducing new bursaries and scholarships in one of the most generous packages of financial support of any London university. The aim of these awards is to attract the most promising academic talent from a wide range of backgrounds. Among those to benefit will be students from the borough of Lewisham who demonstrate academic potential. Ten students will receive free places covering their entire undergraduate degree, worth £27,000 each.
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An additional ten students from other local boroughs – Lambeth, Southwark, Greenwich, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Newham and Croydon – will receive a partial fee waiver. In total, the College will be offering around 150 scholarships to students that show great academic potential and either have a disability, are care leavers, are from low income households or come from a non-traditional academic background. The College is committed to ensuring that increased tuition fees do not deter the brightest and best
students from joining the College. This academic year, fee waivers formed part of an impressive access agreement. Ten exceptional students from Lewisham enrolled at Goldsmiths under the scheme. One of the students to benefit from the fee waiver was Victoria Summers (fourth from left) who is studying BA Drama & Theatre Arts. Victoria said: “To know that there is somebody who has belief in what I can achieve is really spurring me on at this ambitious time in my life. It has made all the difference.”
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HONORARY APPOINTMENTS
share your ‘GOLD STORIES’
MANAGING RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCE
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ampaigner Doreen Lawrence, politician Tony Benn, author Anne Enright and composer Nitin Sawhney were among a number of distinguished individuals to be honoured by Goldsmiths at the Presentation Ceremonies in September. Each year the College honours individuals who have achieved distinction in their chosen calling and whose achievements reflect values important to the Goldsmiths’ community. Speaking before the ceremony, Doreen Lawrence commented: “Education is the most precious gift we can give our children and it is also one of the greatest gifts we can receive. As a child growing up, I always dreamed of receiving an academic award. But I had to wait for that moment much later in life. That wait has been well worth it.”
oldsmiths has launched a new initiative to showcase how the College makes a difference, highlighting the work of some of our most talented alumni, students and staff. We know that Goldsmiths graduates have gone on to do great things and made significant contributions to the world around us; making an impact in areas as diverse as politics, business, the arts, education and the public sector. The College will be showcasing the best of these ‘Gold Stories’, celebrating these exceptional individuals and their achievements in order to inspire the next generation of Goldsmiths graduates. We know there are many stories to be told and so we would like to hear from you. If you know of any Goldsmiths alumni who could fit the bill please email alumni@ gold.ac.uk or find out more at www.gold.ac.uk/alumni/goldstories
he College is to train public sector employees in managing religious difference in the workplace, on behalf of the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Professor Adam Dinham, from Goldsmiths’ Religious Literacy Leadership Programme, is leading the project and said: “There is a lamentable quality of conversation about religion just when we need it most. Equality and human rights discourse, law and policy bring this into sharp relief, making religious literacy a pressing issue for our times.” The programme will run roundtable discussions and facilitate debate, discussion and role-play to encourage delegates to feel empathy through encounter. It is hoped the resulting reports and podcasts will enable engagement with a wider public audience and raise the level of debate.
Winter 2012 No.38
04 News o n ca m p u s
NEW CROSS PERFORMANCE RELAY
GOLDSMITHS’ RANKINGS SUCCESS
TRAINING TEACHERS IN SCHOOLS
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ocal musicians, poets and artists came together to perform as part of a two-week event organised by public art collective Artmongers and Goldsmiths. The NEW-X-ING Performance Relay saw performances take place on a purpose-built stage outside the Library. The project’s aim was to help make New Cross a more creative and intriguing place to live, study and work. Patricio Forrester, alumnus and Director of Artmongers, said: “It has been a brave and rewarding experiment. For all those involved, it was an opportunity to focus attention on making art happen in the noisy streets of New Cross. We had five alumni involved this year and we would like to see more graduates that have stayed in the area come forward next year to get ‘new crossing’ with us.”
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he QS World University Rankings for 2012-13 have placed Goldsmiths in the UK’s top 20 and the world’s top 100 institutions for Arts and Humanities for the third year running. The QS World University Rankings are regarded as one of the most influential, and widely observed, international university rankings. The rankings are based on a combination of Goldsmiths’ reputation for research excellence within the global academic community, the frequency with which research is cited, staff to student ratio, reputation with employers, and the proportions of staff and students who come to the College from outside the UK. The College was also recently rated by consumer charity Which? as the second best creative university in the UK in a survey of almost 10,000 current students.
eacher training students enrolled on Goldsmiths’ PGCE Programme have been given the opportunity to join a pioneering project that will see them spend more time based in a school. The selected ten students will spend nearly 110 days, about two-thirds of their training, working in a partner school in Greenwich. “This project is a response to the government’s suggestion that schools become more involved with teacher training,” said Sue Dixon, Head of Initial Teacher Education. “By embedding students within the school they get an enhanced teaching experience, and the school has a trainee who understands their setting.” It is anticipated the project will grow further in subsequent years and become a model for teacher training across Goldsmiths’ wider partnership of schools.
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NUTRITION AND INTELLIGENCE
EVOLVING MUSIC FORMAT
SOCIOLOGY OF SUPER-RICH
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hildren given more fast food meals will grow up to have a lower IQ than those regularly given freshly-cooked meals, according to a study undertaken by Dr Sophie von Stumm from the Department of Psychology. The study also took into account the effects of socio-economic status on children’s intellectual development. Parents of higher socio-economic status (SES) reported to give their children meals prepared with fresh ingredients more often, which positively affected their IQ. Conversely, lower SES was linked to a higher frequency of children having fast food, which led to lower intelligence. Dr von Stumm commented: “This research will go some way to providing hard evidence to support the various campaigns aimed at reducing the amount of fast food consumed by children in the UK.”
r Mick Grierson and his team from the Department of Computing have created a revolutionary commercial music format. Their invention, entitled BRONZE, manipulates and transforms every aspect of a song to create a unique version on each listen. This enhances the listening experience by altering the musical components of a track every time it is played whilst ensuring the song is still identifiable to the listener. Aimed at producers and composers, this is the first commercial music format of its kind. Dr Grierson explains: “BRONZE is a brand new creative process, where the composition and production of a musical piece no longer requires the final work to exist in a static form. The track will be subtly different each time, whilst still retaining the quality and balance of the original mix.”
ondon’s super-rich communities will be the subject of a groundbreaking new research project. Professor Roger Burrows from the Department of Sociology is leading the project, and will be working with colleagues at Goldsmiths as well as academics from the University of York and LSE. The research – funded by the Economic and Social Research Council – will profile six carefully selected neighbourhoods in and around London to understand more about them, and to develop a clearer picture of how they mesh with the wider urban environment. The aim is to produce a unique series of datasets from which the public, policymakers and academic commentators can learn more about these neighbourhoods, the social networks within and beyond them, and their role within contemporary city life more broadly.
Winter 2012 No.38
06 Feature
Turning a difficult past into a positive future
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Meet an ambitious student who is determined to use his experience and his Goldsmiths education to help others
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ustapha Conteh is like many other second year students at Goldsmiths, busy with lectures and coursework. Enjoying the challenge of his course, BA Applied Social Science, Community Development and Youth Work, he has high praise for his tutors. Only half way through his degree, he is already clear about what he wants to do after graduation. “I want to work with young offenders or in a pastoral role,” he says. “I want to inspire and help young people who are vulnerable.” He goes on to explain that the reason he is so passionate about helping young people is a result of his own experiences. As a child he came to this country from war-torn Sierra Leone. Between 1991 and 2002 the civil war in Sierra Leone devastated the country leaving more than 50,000 people dead, much of the country’s infrastructure destroyed, and over two million people displaced. He explains that he lost both his parents in the war, “my dad and my mum were killed in front of me, which is really difficult.” When Mustapha came to the UK, he made a fresh start in Deptford. He did well at school, attaining A and B grades and, with help from social services and the Home Office, was given the support and stability he needed to make a new life. And although he has no family in this country, he says it’s the support of his
friends that keeps him going. “Since I came to this country everyone has helped me. Luckily for me I met the right people. There are a lot of young people out there suffering, but they don’t have the connections to the right people who can help them. So I want to go in search of these young people.” Despite his unwavering ambition, he has had some setbacks along the way and almost left when he found himself struggling to make ends meet financially. “When I came to uni I was really finding it hard and then I was kicked out of my flat because I had overdue rent,” recalls Mustapha. So he applied for support from the Annual Fund, which pools donations from alumni, staff and friends of Goldsmiths, and was awarded funding. When he found out he had been awarded support his first reaction was to sit down and take the news in. The £3,000 grant he received meant he could pay off his rent arrears and pay some months in advance too. “I had never seen that amount of money, and it helped pay for necessities – in terms of transportation and my rent. It got me my text books and I bought myself a little laptop, so it has really, really helped me in terms of my studying, and I really appreciate that. Without this money I would have dropped out. I just want to say a big thank you to all the people who have donated.” He remains determined about his future: “Sometimes my situation is difficult but that is life.
I want to inspire and help other young people who are vulnerable I just have to push myself, make sure I complete my degree, get a good job, and take care of myself. If my mum and my dad were alive that is what they would want for me. I don’t want to let them down so I’m going to focus and finish my degree.” Judging by the spirit and determination Mustapha has shown so far, we can be sure that is exactly what he will do. Since it was set-up three years ago the Annual Fund has raised over £130,000 from alumni and friends to help students at Goldsmiths. In addition to supporting students experiencing severe financial hardship like Mustapha, donors to the Annual Fund have provided much needed improvements to the Library, funded new initiatives and student projects, and provided equipment and facilities for sport and other activities. If you would like to find out more about the Annual Fund visit www.gold.ac.uk/give Winter 2012 No.38
08 Interview
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King Maker
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Entrepreneur and music champion Kanya King on what it takes to make it against the odds
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eeting Kanya at an exclusive hotel in London’s West End, it’s clear to see she has come a long way from her humble beginnings living on a north London council estate. As the Founder and CEO of the MOBO Organisation, she has met some of the world’s top music stars and hosts a glamorous awards show. But underneath all this is a determined and hardworking businesswoman. “Part of my motivation in life was that my parents didn’t have the opportunities that I had been given,” explains Kanya. Born in Kilburn, north west London to an Irish mother and Ghanaian father, her big family was squeezed into a council flat with five children sharing a room. For Kanya, entrepreneurism came from necessity. If she wanted to wear the latest clothes, rather than jumble sale hand-me-downs, she had to buy them herself. Kanya soon hit upon a lucrative idea that gave her a taste for business. As a shy little nine-year-old girl she made her way around the local park asking the picnicking families if she could have their glass bottles so that she could earn a few pennies for returning them to a nearby café. “I plucked up the courage to nicely ask families if they had finished with their bottles,” she remembers. “I built the confidence and the courage, and in the end people started to come to me with bottles.” Winter 2012 No.38
10 Interview Previous page: Kanya King photographed for Goldlink in October 2012
Left: on stage at the MOBO Awards
Right: outside the gates of Buckingham Palace after receiving her MBE
Everything they tell you in business that you shouldn’t do, I did. She progressed to selling whistles at Notting Hill Carnival, buying them from a wholesaler for 35p and selling them to carnival goers for £1. Even then she had a business strategy. “There were always a lot of whistle sellers, so I had to differentiate myself,” she recalls. “I would stand out, I would look very colourful. It’s so funny, I used to think, ‘don’t annoy the police’. Everybody else would get moved on and would argue with the police, I would charm them.” She enjoyed saving the money from her efforts and contributing to bills at home when money was tight. A few years down the line with A-levels under her belt, a mortgage to pay and a young son to raise, she embarked on an English and Drama degree at Goldsmiths. She decided to return to education partly because it was highly valued by her parents. “My father passed away when I was thirteen, and he always used to say: ‘Education, education is very important.’ I think that I felt in some way that I’d let them down when I became a parent at a young age. I was trying to say, ‘Don’t write me off, don’t worry. Just because I have responsibilities doesn’t mean I can’t be successful.’” Impressed by what she describes as the College’s “formidable reputation” in the creative industries, she says she was very proud to be accepted and started her degree in 1989. However, juggling single parenting, working and studying was tough. Sometimes she got up at 4am just to fit everything in. Eventually keeping up with her studying Goldlink
became impossible and she left before she finished her course. But she took with her skills that stood her in good stead later, such as TV editing expertise. After Goldsmiths she worked in promotions and television, but her interest in music was as strong as ever. From a young age, Kanya had organised concerts to showcase the talents of reggae, R&B and hip-hop musicians she knew who got little mainstream media attention. She went on to organise events at the London Hippodrome and before she knew it, thousands of people were attending. This proved to her there was an audience for the music she loved and a gap in the marketplace to promote and celebrate it. Her idea for an awards show for urban music had been considered but not commissioned by a television company, so a few years later she decided she would do it herself. “In the end I thought ‘Kanya, you need to put your money where your mouth is, if you believe in it so much why can’t you do it?’” She used her own money to hire the Ministry of Sound nightclub for an awards night. It was such a success that Carlton Television offered her a slot for a televised version in 1996. There was no budget for the event so she remortgaged her house for the first ever MOBO Awards. She didn’t have any contacts in the industry, she was risking her home and even her mother had warned her against it. “So, everything they tell you in business that you shouldn’t do, I did,” she laughs.
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She lost money on that first awards ceremony – it is hard to sell enough tables at a new event to make a profit – but it still had a big impact and grew to become the cultural institution that it is today watched by 250 million people in 75 countries. As well as the awards ceremony, Kanya is passionate about championing undiscovered talent and investing in more grass-roots projects. One of the most recent initiatives is a talent contest, MOBO UnSung, and music master classes for upcoming musicians. “There’s always been a broader purpose to the MOBO Awards, to inspire young people to achieve their dream, not only their musical dream, but also their entrepreneurial one,” Kanya says. The musical landscape in British culture has changed enormously since the awards were launched 17 years ago. “I was told in the beginning that these artists wouldn’t sell records, and now music influences everything,” she says, citing the performances of MOBO Award winners Dizzee Rascal and Emeli Sandé at the 2012 Olympic opening ceremony. Performing at MOBO events has also given a boost to many artists at an early stage in the career who have gone on to become big names, including N Dubz and Amy Winehouse. Kanya’s impact on the British music scene has been recognised with numerous honorary awards. Foremost amongst them is the MBE she received in 1999 for services to music. “When I got my MBE, I
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didn’t know anyone like me who had received that honour. To be honest I thought that it was a joke that was being played on me,” she laughs. She sees the award as recognition of the “huge contribution [made by the urban music industry], not only economically to this country, but socially and culturally as well.” And in 2004 Goldsmiths marked her exceptional achievements with an honorary fellowship. When the College called her with the news, she asked if they were aware she hadn’t completed the course – “just in case” – but was very flattered to get the award. It would also give her the graduation ceremony she missed out on. “I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, I get to wear the robe’,” she says. “I’d never had that opportunity to give my mother that photograph.” Her proud mother came along to watch. “That was a very moving moment to me,” she says. The years of hard work that took her from being that nine-year-old gathering bottles for cash to chief executive of a major music organisation have bought some hard-won knowledge. So what is her tip to those striving for success? “I think if you have the right, positive mind-set, and can be focused, and you have a vision and a goal, you can achieve anything.” Photographed at The Sanderson Hotel Make up by Lina Cameron Interview by Genevieve Kantoch Words by Chloe Stothart Winter 2012 No.38
12 Feature
unl c ed c It’s amazing visiting the women in Holloway prison, it’s so inspiring” says Sue Hallisey, one of the tutors on the Open Book project at Goldsmiths, an initiative to encourage individuals with a background of offending, mental health issues or addiction to take up education. A call from the education team at Holloway, a women’s prison in north London, inviting Open Book staff to visit was the start of a new collaboration. Through regular sessions, the team is working with the female prisoners to encourage them to consider a university education when they leave. Fiona Taylor, another of the project’s tutors explains: “They have a fast turnover of inmates at Holloway, people can be in and out the door quite quickly. In order to do a degree in prison they have to be serving a long sentence, so that limits what education is available to them inside. Many of the women thought because they had a criminal record there were no opportunities for them. We’re trying to build a bridge and build up a relationship with the inmates, and hopefully when they are released some of them will come to the project.”
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“We know that people from all types of backgrounds have got to university through Open Book and done really well and that’s what the women at Holloway found hard to believe,” reveals Sue. “I spoke to a woman who speaks five different languages but didn’t believe she could do a degree.” The Open Book project was started by Goldsmiths graduate Joe Baden. Himself an ex-offender, Joe completed a degree in History at Goldsmiths and wanted to use his experience to enable others from so-called non-traditional academic backgrounds to access a university education and fulfil their academic potential. The project runs short courses in subjects from creative writing and art, to philosophy and history. In tandem, they offer skills workshops to prepare students for study at degree level and provide ongoing emotional support through mentoring sessions and a 24 hour helpline. The initiative has proved its success with over 400 participants and 80 graduates coming through the scheme and Open Book alumni going on to have diverse careers such as artists, journalists and youth workers.
Above: Open Book tutors Sue Hallisey (left) and Fiona Taylor (right)
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cking cation Fiona and Sue are keen for their work to encourage more women, currently underrepresented in the project, to join Open Book. They launched a women’s drop in centre earlier this year which runs weekly sessions, providing a safe space for women to meet and share their experiences. They are now planning to run
regular classes at Holloway and will also provide practical support to the women there, such as advice with completing the university application form and personal statement. But more than that, it is their honesty, support and warm encouragement that will help break down the barriers. There could be no one better to inspire these women than Fiona and Sue who themselves are success stories of the project. Fiona came to Open Book while she was studying for her degree: “As soon as I got to Goldsmiths, I really felt isolated very, very quickly. I’ve got a background of mental health and addiction problems and my frame of reference was not the same as the other students. I couldn’t find people I identified with so I went along to project for help.” She ended up volunteering for Open Book and, after completing her degree, took further training to become a dyslexia tutor with the project. Sue had a different route into studying. “I had a background of alcoholism, I’d been sober for a number of years and tried lots of things but I always felt like the square peg in the round hole. At Open Book I felt like I fitted in.
Creative writing was something I loved at school. I did a taster class with Open Book and within a short while I was asked if I wanted to do a degree. I thought then ‘this is going to change my life’ and it absolutely did.” She now works as one of the coordinators on the scheme. “I love what Open Book does for the students and watching people change and grow. The support I got here is what kept me coming back. I never thought university was for me, I don’t come from that background, and it’s absolutely for everyone.” The success of the project speaks for itself. Of all the previous participants, not one person has re-offended. Fiona explains: “It’s about taking the focus off addiction or criminality and replacing that with something positive so you’re using your brain in a different way. Lots of our students have really low self-esteem and the project gives them the opportunity to try things out, in a safe space where they’re not going to be criticised. No wonder that people don’t go back to offending because they’re doing something they should have been doing in the first place and leading the life they want to lead.”
Winter 2012 No.38
14 Showcase Cheryl Field MFA Fine Art, 2012 Fellows of the Royal Society: John Maynard Smith, Richard Feynman & Alan Turing
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“The work I make scrutinises the role that popular science plays in creating a secular mythology for contemporary culture. A pseudodigital, secular triptych for a society saturated in advertising hoardings and talent shows. This unlikely Father (Feynman; Nobel laureate and theoretical
physicist), Son (Maynard Smith; evolutionary biologist) and Unholy Ghost (Turing; doyen of artificial intelligence) are wrought from tens of thousands of hand-mounted and tinted, scintillating metallic discs, shimmering in a breeze generated by a host of computer cooling fans.” www.cherylfield.com
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Winter 2012 No.38
16 Academic Viewpoint
Lessons of the First World War As the centenary of the start of the First World War draws nearer, the UK government has announced plans for a large-scale national commemoration. For Professor Richard Grayson, Head of the Department of History and Professor of Twentieth Century History, the study of the War is as relevant today as it ever was
What drew you to research the First World War? As for many people, it began with an interest in members of my own family who served. In particular, these were my grandfather (pictured), who was a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps and later the Royal Air Force in 1917-18, and a great-uncle, who was killed in September 1915 serving in the 2nd Royal Irish Rifles. Both were from Lurgan, Co Armagh, so I was especially drawn to the story of Irish service in the war. I began my academic life as a political historian, and it was only when working outside academia in politics, between 1998 and 2004, that I began serious family and military history research, as a hobby as much as anything else. When I came back to being an academic, I shifted my professional research interests to the First World War, realising that I could do something which had been a hobby as part of my job. After a conversation with a publisher, I began work in 2005 on my study of West Belfast and my book, Belfast Boys: How Unionists and Nationalists Fought and Died Together in the First World War, was published in 2009. I’ve focused on World War I ever since. Goldlink
Is the study of the First World War relevant in understanding our contemporary society? Definitely. Causes of war and experiences of them remain the same today as in 1914-18. However, it’s a particular help in understanding society in Ireland, north and south of the border, as the war remains a deeply controversial subject. Fortunately, it’s a subject on which attitudes are changing, and understanding the war now plays a significant part in cross-community reconciliation in Northern Ireland. More widely, I think that the vast range of material there is to research on the First World War can really help people develop research skills which they can apply in other areas of their lives. There is just so much material out there, especially online, and giving people a sense of great stories in their families can often inspire them. I’m going to be working with the Imperial War Museum in London on a big project called Lives of the First World War which will blend the findings of people researching their own genealogy with academic research. That’s an exciting opportunity to involve the general public in academic work.
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18 Academic Viewpoint Previous page: Edward Grayson, pilot in Royal Air Force
Below: History students visit a cemetry in Passchendaele
You have recently published a new book of the letters of an officer called JHM Staniforth. How do these letters add to our knowledge of World War I? The letters are about an Englishman with Irish ancestry who served in two different Irish regiments. They shed light on Irish aspects of the war which have not been that well documented. But more than anything, I think they give an unusual insight into the daily life of soldiers. The letters explain that for much of the time, the soldiers faced not the well-documented horrors of the trenches, but inaction and tedium, plus having to engage in menial work like digging latrines. That was the case in the 7 th Leinsters in which Staniforth served, even though the battalion was considered a very effective raiding unit, and might have been expected to have been focused on frontline fighting. The government recently announced more than £50m has been allocated for a commemoration of the centenary of the start of World War I in 2014 . What are your thoughts on this? I think this is very welcome, but a lot of thought needs to be given to how far schools (to whom most money has been allocated) will actually be able to use this money. Some of the grants are to be between £3,000 Goldlink
and £10,000, and that is a lot of money for a school to use. Smaller amounts might be better, because to use that amount of money you would need a lot of staff time. I know from my work on a local project just how burdened teachers are with the work they already have to do. Meanwhile, the money available is not going to be enough to hire extra staff in any significant way, so some thought might need to be given as to how the money could be better divided up. As part of the plans, schools will be encouraged to make trips to the battlefields. You recently visited the Western Front with current Goldsmiths’ history students, why are these visits important? There’s nothing like visiting the actual battlegrounds to get a sense of how battles were fought, and what the soldiers might have gone through. Visiting the cemeteries can communicate a sense of the scale of sacrifice, and can also help link to individual stories if the grave of somebody local can be found. I know that the Goldsmiths students we take on trips to the Western Front are deeply moved by what they see. At War with the 16th Irish Division 1914-1918: The Letters of J. H. M. Staniforth is published by Pen and Sword Military
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A MEETING OF A DIFFERENT KIND Linda Macdonald Set in Devon and Kent, this is the stand-alone sequel to Meeting Lydia, the first novel by Linda Macdonald (BA Psychology, 1978 and PGCE, 1979). Following on from the first story which sees two school classmates getting back in touch, the novel further explores the psychology of relationships. From the perspectives of two very different characters questions of friendship, loyalty and betrayal are played out.
EXIT DARKNESS, ENTER LIGHT Kion Ahadi This is the first science fiction novel of a planned trilogy by Kion Ahadi (PhD Sociology, 2006). The story follows the main character Cyrus Zade on his voyage of self-discovery, during which he uncovers a terrible past and gains an understanding of the true reality of life on earth. The narrative draws on modern day conspiracy theories, such as the existence of an evil alien species and impending apocalypse, to create a rich mythology.
BEFORE THE SWALLOW DARES Tony Whelpton Having published many academic titles, Tony Whelpton (BA Education, 1957) has turned his hand to fiction at the age of 79. His first novel, Before The Swallow Dares, is a story of young and of old love. Taking its title from a line from Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale, the plot follows the reunion of two school friends after forty years which leads to dramatic repercussions they could not have forseen.
BLACK BREAD WHITE BEER Niven Govinden In this latest book, Niven Govinden (BA Communication Studies, 1994) offers a portrait of a troubled marriage. Amal is driving his wife Claud from London to her parents’ country house. It is a journey that will push their relationship – once almost perfect – towards possible collapse. Over the course of twentyfour hours the novel portrays the inner lives of a couple as they deal with social challenges they face from mixed-race marriages to parental pressures.
JOHN MALTBY Andy Christian Published by the Devon Guild of Craftsmen to accompany a recent exhibition, this catalogue features work by Goldsmiths alumnus and ceramist John Maltby. Andy Christian (BA Education with Art, 1976) provides an insight into the collection of pottery produced in Maltby’s Devon workshop where he has lived for almost 50 years. He reveals some of the key influences on Maltby’s work and explores the change in his practice following a heart operation a decade ago.
SOUL JOURNEY Lisa Cherry Soul Journey is a unique collection of real-life stories featuring extraordinary everyday women. Lisa Cherry (BA Sociology, 1994) weaves in her own personal insight gained through her experiences of being in care, being homeless and recovering from alcoholism, and through her work as a social worker, an educator and holistic therapist. Through these stories, the book aims to explore how to find your own inner strength to conquer life’s battles. Winter 2012 No.38
20 Retrospectives
3x3 GARETH KNIGHT (BA Communication Studies and Sociology, 1995) Gareth’s career in foreign policy, diplomacy and international affairs has taken him to Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, France and Poland
LAURA WOLPERT (MA Transnational Communications and Global Media, 2005) Based in Connecticut in the US, Laura works as a Territory Sales Manager for a natural and organic foods company
PATRICIO FORRESTER (MA Visual Arts, 1996) Originally from Buenos Aires, Patricio co-founded Artmongers which delivers public and participatory art projects in south-east London
My abiding memory from my time at Goldsmiths is...
One person at the College who truly inspired me was...
If there is one thing that Goldsmiths taught me...
GK: standing with my suitcases on a street corner in Deptford, blinking and bewildered. Sunshine twinkling on broken glass at Creek Road car-wreckers, masts of the Cutty Sark in the background. Black and white floor tiles and ivy. Living on twenty quid a week and fare dodging.
GK: Professor Josep Llobera, who introduced me to some key themes which I revisit periodically. The seismic global events of the last 20 years have provided an interesting backdrop for his anthropology. I was saddened to hear of his death recently.
GK: say what you mean and mean what you say. And be very careful who you sit next to in Subjectivity & Cultural Production lectures.
LW: the diverse and eclectic group of dear friends I was able to cultivate. While I thoroughly enjoyed my academic programme and learned so much, the greatest education I received was from my peers. PF: jumping on exam tables in the Great Hall. I was shooting a film and running and jumping across the tables. A friendly security man walked in and stood by the door in disbelief. I explained: “Sir, I’m not a hooligan, I’m making art here!”
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LW: I cannot say that there was a single person. I was constantly amazed at the diversity of backgrounds from which my peers came, the things they had overcome, and the dedication with which they applied themselves to the new challenge of our academic programmes. PF: Simon Linke who taught in the Department of Art. He came up with an extraordinary tutorial that completely changed the way I thought about art making.
LW: no matter where you come from, no matter what your background, we are so fundamentally similar. We are all alike in our humanity and we, as individuals, do not fill the stereotype of our national identities. Always take the time to know the individual, do not make assumptions based on what the media or any other outside source has portrayed. Had I not gone into this experience with a completely open mind, I would have missed out on some very dear friendships. PF: it’s bending rules, rather than breaking them, that helps change the status quo.
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life after goldsmiths John McKiernan & Lenka Horakova www.platform-7.com
JOHN: Live performance has always been in my heart and I was facilitating small live events for more than 15 years before I came to Goldsmiths. I studied an MA in Culture Industry and was aware of the sheer buzz from the very first week, which you don’t really find in normal work environments, or many places to be frank. I came to Goldsmiths to challenge my thinking on whether conceptual arts have any relevance on the day-to-day discourses found within society. I went on to set up Platform 7, which creates performance art in public spaces. Lenka and I are currently working on a live performance project called No Mans Land that will take place across twelve London Underground tube stations simultaneously, exploring how society enters conflict and war. We were surprised London Underground agreed to such a complex and creatively risky project but we are really pleased they stayed with it. LENKA: As a BA Art Practice student I enjoyed the complete freedom of expression and the constant rediscovering of myself. It was a privilege to study in such a stimulating and friendly environment full of buzz with so many unique and inspirational individuals. When I met John there was a mutual interest in collaboration. Among other things, we shared a passion in trying to create some sort of collective network. We are creating a sculpture together for the current project using a piece of work that I made while still at Goldsmiths, which has never been exhibited before. It is a hand-made carpet which will be exhibited at Embankment tube station. John is rather sceptical of his artistic contribution but enjoying the challenge of something he has never tried before.
Winter 2012 No.38
22 People
First Person: Tom Murtha (History, 1975 & PGCE, 1976) Chair of national housing charity, HACT
It is a cliché I know but my time at Goldsmiths was a life-changing experience. It is now forty years since I arrived at Raymont Hall on a sunny Sunday afternoon. I studied history, played football, dabbled in politics, drank a lot, made many good friends, and got married before I left Goldsmiths in 1976. I would not have missed it for the world. I was the first of my family to go to university and had no idea what to expect. I left school at 16 and worked in a factory for two years so I was older than most freshers. I worked hard and played hard, and sometimes got the balance wrong, which was the difference between a 2:1 and a 2:2. But I still remember the look of pride on my parents’ faces when I graduated at the Albert Hall in front of the Queen Mother, who was then the Chancellor of the University of London. I was raised in social housing and my family experienced homelessness. I believe that a decent home and a good education are essential to increase the life chances and opportunities of those in need. My initial ambition Goldlink
had been to teach but I became a community worker in the innercity of Leicester working with marginalised communities. I was extremely lucky to find a job that enabled me to work in an area that was important to me and to give something back to those in need. To put it simply, to help others help themselves. One of the things I learnt during my degree was to believe in myself, but not at the expense of others. At Goldsmiths I began to develop a set of values that inspired my career and my life in general. What I enjoy most about my work
is the opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of people and communities, and to give people back their dignity. We spend a lot of time at work and it is important to find a job that you can enjoy and is rewarding. I became the chief executive of one of the largest housing and care organisations in the UK. I am proud of leading an organisation which mixed a strong sense of business acumen with social values to deliver a social purpose which helped some of the most marginalised and excluded groups in our society. It was a real privilege to do that job.
23 p e opl e n e w s
AMANDA HONE MSc Occupational Psychology, 2008 What began as a hobby, visiting tourist attractions during her time at Goldsmiths, has now become a full-time occupation for Amanda, who has founded the website www.followthebrownsigns.com. She has launched a campaign to inspire people to notice the often-overlooked brown tourist sign. The website provides information on attractions across the UK to enable people to discover some of the unique places all around them.
CARA NAHAUL BA Fine Art and History of Art, 2009 Cara has been awarded a postgraduate scholarship from Fulbright, one of the world’s most selective scholarship programmes, to enable her to study in the US. Since graduating from Goldsmiths, she has been selected for the prestigious John Moores Painting Prize and the inaugural Jerwood Painting Fellowship. Cara has now started her MFA in Fine Art at Parsons the New School for Design in New York.
al u m n i s e r v i c e s
The Development and Alumni Office helps alumni to stay in touch with the College and each other. As your ongoing link to the College, we keep you updated with the latest news through the biannual magazine Goldlink and quarterly e-newsletter. Just remember to let us know if you change your postal or email address so that we can keep in touch. You can update your details online at: www.gold.ac.uk/alumni/update Share news and connect with the wider alumni community on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/GoldsmithsAlumni We also have Goldsmiths alumni groups on Linkedin and Friends Reunited. Links are available at: www.gold.ac.uk/alumni benefits
As a former student of Goldsmiths you also have access to:
DHEERAJ AKOLKAR MA Feature Film, 2007 A new film by Dheeraj Akolkar, entitled ‘Liv & Igmar’, has been shown at 18 international film events including the New York and Mumbai film festivals. The feature documentary charts the love story between the actress and film director who met in 1965 and in total made 12 films together. The inspiration for the film came from a book by Liv Ullmann that Dheeraj read whilst studying at Goldsmiths. Dheeraj is currently on location in Oslo and the USA filming for his next project on the life story of Norwegian artist Edvard Munch.
PAUL ENGLISHBY BMus Music, 1991 Composer Paul has won an Emmy Award at this year’s ceremony in Los Angeles. His music for David Hare’s television film ‘Page Eight’, starring Rachel Weisz and Michael Gambon, clinched the prize in the Outstanding Main Title Theme category. The score has also received a nomination for the prestigious Ivor Novello award for Best TV Soundtrack. Paul works extensively in film and theatre and his music ranges from dramatic orchestral scores and big band jazz to choral works and rhythmic scores for dance.
Alumni reunions and events Events are organised throughout the year in the UK and overseas, an opportunity for you to get together with your Goldsmiths friends and meet other alumni. Library access Alumni have free access to Goldsmiths Library as a reference user, charges apply if you would like to borrow books. Careers advice Tailored careers advice and support are available through membership of The Careers Group, part of the University of London careers service. Awards and Transcripts We can provide you with confirmation of your qualifications or a transcript of results. Winter 2012 No.38
24 Thank you
Our community of support
Goldsmiths gratefully acknowledges the gifts we received last year from many individuals, foundations, companies and other organisations. Recognising donors is important not only to record our gratitude but also to raise the profile of the significant impact that giving has on the lives of current students and the academic quality of the College. This year we particularly wanted to recognise individuals who have supported the College in each of the last three years by highlighting their names in bold. Longevity of support is incredibly encouraging to our fundraising efforts and helps us plan for the future. Donors to the College in the previous year are also now publicly listed on our new donor board which is located close to the main entrance of the Richard Hoggart Building. Thank you — Patrick Loughrey, Warden, Goldsmiths, University of London To join our community and make a gift, please complete the enclosed donation form or go to www.gold.ac.uk/give
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25
Donors to Goldsmiths 1 August 2011 to 31 July 2012
Alumni and honorary Fellows Donors giving £1,000 to £9,999 Stewart Till CBE and one anonymous donor Donors giving up to £1,000 Decade of Graduation 1940 to 1949 Fred Baker Margaret J Grindrod John B Hobden Joy Joslin Barbara M Karlberg Joan Kerridge and one anonymous donor Decade of Graduation 1950 to 1959 Valerie J Adams* Winifred Blackburn OBE Margaret Bradley* Dr Aileen M Carpenter* Patricia M Cavill Geoffrey R Chapman
Jean J Chapman Patricia Chandler William D Chatterton Leonard D Clark MBE* Jean Davey* Maurice E Dawson Anthony B Ellison Alan E Fox* Arthur Hallam Ian G King Mary Inkpen Arthur R Minson Marion Panzetta* Barbara B Price Ethel M Roberts Edgar A Sparkes Derek G Sykes Dorothy C Thompson* Eve R Turner* John F Turner* Josephine Vernon Susan A Wheeler Pamela Wilson Patricia Wolley and four anonymous donors Decade of Graduation 1960 to 1969 Herbert S Anderson* Carol Appleby Roy S Axell* Jennifer Barnett* Peter Baseley* Harold Beldon Susan Brady Peter V Brown* Gregory M Conway* Kathleen Dunstan* Dr Graham Eldridge* Margaret A Emery Richard Feakin* Suzanne Fernando Reverend Dr Peter Galloway OBE Peter W Griffiths* Tim Hall* Roger W Hardaker Janet Hatcher Jacqueline A Hunt James W Hunt Jennifer E Lane Richard H Lewis* Patience E Light* Frank J Luce Janet E Martin Anna Mason* Paul J McKeever Carole Myers*
Joyce R Newton* Susan H Poole Diana F Pordham* Christopher J Redman* Rosemary Ross* Christine Starkey Edmond J Starkey Peter G Starling* Mary Wallace* Jeanette Woodward John R Woodward Christopher J Young* and two anonymous donors Decade of Graduation 1970 to 1979 Joyce Adams Mervyn J Ainsworth OBE* Kay Albrecht* Robert Appleby* Geoffrey Buck* Colin Bland* Diana M Case* Alison Chew* Kath Cox* Reverend Kenneth Dunstan* Jennifer A Fletcher* John Glockler* Malcolm Henson Beverley Howard* Mary C Lockett* Gerald Lidstone* Susan Macartney * Mick Martin* Andrew F Mathieson* Clare McConkey* Ashley Meyer* Janet R Parker John A Richardson Audrey Ringrose Stephen Roberts Sian Roffe Judy Smith Neil Twedell* Patricia J Vokes Professor Diane Waller* Nicholas Woollcombe and two anonymous donors Decade of Graduation 1980 to 1989 Vicky Annand* Lesley Bricknell Madeleine Carrington* Angela S Chillingworth Nicola Christie* Carol Crowdy Michael I Davies* Winter 2012 No.38
26 Thank you Patricia A Hutchinson Catherine Doherty Jeffrey Edwards MBE* Althea Efunshile* Diane Emery* Glyn R Evans Stephen Eyre Colin T Follett Piers E Ford* Derek L Gooch* Simon B Hale* Annette Holder Linda E Impey Julia A James Ian M LaRiviere David R Lock Catherine J Mann* Jill M Marshall* Paul C Martin* Mark J Mitchell* Dr Nici Nelson-Mattingly Nicholas G Parkes* Anthony C Powell Andrew P Robinson* Christopher E Spear Caroline L Speller* Andrew C Taylor* Rebecca N Turner Mirjana Zivanovic and two anonymous donors Decade of Graduation 1990 to 1999 Claire Barnes* Zonia M Bateman Elizabeth C Bennett* Josephine M Bensted Stephen D Bishop* Joan M Blake* Rebecca M Boyle* David A Brenton* James R Brian Alison B Browning* Victoria E Camalich* Catherine S Clarke Pete Cole* Michael J Connolly* Simon P Costar* Spencer J Cozens* Ann Dace* Barry Daly Paul R Dart* Mark J Derkacz* Valerie A Docksey* Conor Doherty* Derek F Duchemin* Chloe T Edwards* Goldlink
Andrea J Fairweather* Nicholas J Forde Geoffrey S Griffiths Lindsay Haverson* Edward R Heaton* Joy Holmes* Jeremy Hill Katherine A Hunter* Jenny Jenks* Paul S Kemp Robertson* Katharine Knight Reena Lal* Virginia K Litton* Jason D Martin* Tim J Matthews* Jacqueline A Mawer* Linda E Muir* Katherine H Muller Yutaka R Nagano Idell Nugent* Edward O Petrie Hilary P Phelps* Isabelle J Phillips* Tina L Price-Johnson* Carmine De Rosa Alison J Richards* Ewa Sidorenko Bartholomew J Smith Nigel Spencer* Emma Taverner* Joan Thomas Rosalind M Tucker* Jessica Wanamaker Ursula M Walker Pamela J Westall Dorothee Williams* Moya Wright and two anonymous donors Decade of Graduation 2000 to 2009 Nikky Aderanti* Teresa Amprako Appiah* Matthew J Bailey Helena Ball* Hani Baluch* Dr Gillian Barber Gillian R Bentley Alisdair Bevan* John Box* Lucinda Boylan Janet S Brown* Adriano Bulla* Serafina Culhane Munazzah Choudhary Anne S Cox*
Angela Cutts Elizabeth A Davey* Edward T Davie* Heather Davis* Carla Diego-Franceskides Olivia Drake* Albert W Fielder* Helen Finch Sachin Fing Elizabeth S Francis Josephine Gallagher* Miles Garratt Carol Gigg* Andrea Gillie Anna M Giuffria* Genevieve Grant Mike Griffiths Daniel Grint* Jan Harpley* Sylvia A Hejda-Forde* Norman R Holmes Tabitha Holness* Sheila Hoover* Dr Robert A Howard* Randolph H Hoyte Nechamah Inbar-Bonanos* Dr Elizabeth Jackson Richard S Kemp* William Kiang* Owena C Lewis* Kwok H Li* Megan Mackintosh* Daniela Maestri Edith Macgill* Karen Males* Cecelia D Marshall* Tom McLoughlin* Bindy Mellor* David M Neat* Jaimes Nel* Matthew Okyere* Fiona M O’Neill* Rowan O’Neill Ruth Ortiz* Arianna L Palin* Donna Palumbi* Christopher W Peacock* Annabel Pearcey Dr Andrew G Pink* Patricia Poulton* Maureen Prince* Ruth G Pringle* Saul N Reid* Janet Rennie* Dr Anthony F Riddle* Kristyan Robinson
27 Neil Rogers* Claire L Rowley* Philip Scott* June Bong Shin Karen Simmons* Virendra Singh* Richard P Stevens-Katona* Katie Stone* Helen K Suggitt* Renee S Teloka Dorothy E Thomas* Natasha M Thomas* Liam J Thompson* Philip A Thompson* Vanessa Wallace* Michael Waddilove Bernard Watts Lana E Webb* Kate Welsh* Michael E Wendling* Ann J Westaway Benjamin J Whitehouse Andrew Wills* Angela Wolfson* Gillian L Woods* Stephanie Wright* and eleven anonymous donors Decade of Graduation 2010 to 2011 One anonymous donor Goldsmiths Staff Current Staff Donors giving £1,000 to £9,999 Patrick Loughrey* Donors giving up to £1,000 Dr Jorella Andrews* Vicky Annand* Annette Bullen* Antoinette Carey* Catriona Forrest* Genevieve Kantoch* Gerald Lidstone* James MacGregor* Professor Simon McVeigh* David Mungall* Dr Nici Nelson-Mattingly Dr Barley Norton* Professor Jane Powell* Neil Rogers*
Former Staff Donors giving £1,000 to £9,999 Hugh B Jones* Donors giving up to £1,000 Colin Aggett* Dr Andrew Barry* Dr Colin Boswell Sue Boswell Dr Robert F Colquhoun* Professor Geoffrey Crossick* Harold Marchant Michael Metelits* Mary C Nixon* Christopher J Pearson* Friends of Goldsmiths Donors giving £100,000 or more Santander UK Plc Donors giving £10,000 to £99,999 The Corinne Burton Memorial Trust Huntercombe Group The London Borough of Lewisham Outset Contemporary Art Fund Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts Serge Prokofiev Foundation The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths
Pledged Legacies The College would like to thank all those who have informed us that they have decided to make the exceptional commitment of remembering the College in their Will. We gratefully acknowledge the support of Patricia Hutchinson, Brian Lymbery OBE, Anthony C Powell, Karina M Tomkins and six people who wish to remain anonymous. Notes: *Donor has given more than once within the year Individuals in bold have given a gift in each of the last three years Decade of graduation refers to the decade in which the last course of study was completed. We have done our utmost to ensure the information listed here is accurate. If there is anything you would like us to update, please email development@gold.ac.uk or call 020 7919 7612
Donors giving £1,000 to £9,999 AKT Productions Ltd Marlene Burston Chelsea Arts Club Trust London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Commercial Education Trust and one anonymous donor Donors giving up to £1,000 Lynn Bowers* Rupert Evenett* Sally Fairhurst* Music for Alice
Winter 2012 No.38
28 Parting Shot
Surrey House 1976 Goldlink
“As an American studying abroad, Surrey House was like a mansion to me as I had my own room with a sink in it – pure luxury compared to my US college where I shared a suite with three others. Some of my best friendships for life were forged at Goldsmiths and we continue to visit each other abroad on a regular basis. This photo was from my first end-of-year ball and, due to a shortage of men, we had to share some of them for dancing, even if they did wear velvet jackets.” — Eileen Weiss
Finishing your course this year?
Looking for a graduate job?
Join the Club.
Your free use of the Careers Service ends after you complete your degree. If you’re an eligible University of London graduate, joining GradClub allows you continued access to careers advice and information for up to two further years. To find out more and join online go to www.gradclub.co.uk