Say's it all really! After an extended sabbatical, which somehow involved almost the whole of Poppleton New University moving to a new campus, and locking me out of the office for several years, I'm delighted to find that Prof. Graham Oogle (Edinburgh) has allowed me access to my account.
Of course, you'll understand I have lots to do after being away so long... if I could actually physically enter the building. Which I can't. Mmmm....
Showing posts with label Poppleton New University. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Poppleton New University. Show all posts
Thursday, 16 April 2020
Saturday, 24 March 2012
Hope springs eternal
It is most definitely spring, and with spring come signs of life and growth. The garden, after all, is full of them. Perhaps that explains why we've been getting many of the moderately established but unwanted trees at St Geoffrey's hacked back, before they can continue in their unwanted growth.
At Poppleton New there are also signs of life. Not just the increasingly frantic scurrying of students, some of whom have realised they actually have a degree to study for rather than simply a night-life and a low-paid job to support it, but that dissertations are due any week and with exams to follow, earlier this year than has been common. More surprisingly I have been delighted and surprised that my attempts to encourage and support the Christian Alliance have resulted not only in a chance to speak to a regular meeting but also to speak to the International meeting as part of their campus crusade (chainmail optional!). And, as an upshot of preparing for that meeting I received a phone call on what would otherwise have been my day off and would otherwise have gone to my answering machine. From the secretary of Bishop Nigel no less, the suffragan Bishop of Brambling, "Can the bishop see you at University tomorrow at x.45pm?"
I can't say the communication was a total surprise, but it was still a little off-putting. I'd better explain. A few weeks back a colleague of mine pointed out that a rather nice University Chaplaincy post was up for grabs. It was, in fact, a post I'd considered applying for a few months ago. The reason I hadn't applied in the end was that it came up at the same time as the exceedingly good Diocesan Conference at Goosewell, when I realised that I would really rather stay in this diocese and plucked up the courage to speak to Bishop Rex about whether there were any possibilities. I had, however, heard nothing, and so decided when the post was re-advertised (something which seems to be happening too much lately) that I should go for it, although not before emailing Bishop Rex to let him know and ask whether anything was happening about making Poppleton New a Full-Time post. Interestingly, or providentially it was timed quite well for a Diocesan Staff Meeting, but that might have nothing to do with it.
So there I was, put on the spot by Bishop Nigel's secretary. Twenty-four hours notice and trying desperately not to second-guess bishops, who after all can travel in four directions, and all of them oblique!
I'm most pleased to report that Bishop Nigel had providentially seen our beloved Vice-Chancellor the day before, and, over the course of a wide-ranging discussion had broached the prospects of Poppleton New actually putting come money into the work of the Chaplaincy in the light of all the work it was doing and had received an encouraging response. (This comment to be noted in the light of the current 0.5 provision of yours truly and the need for institutional "buy-in"). Hence my hope and now-made appointment with our dear leader... And also, of course, the reason for almost-optimism in the Vicarage...
You heard it hopefully here first, but, of course you don't know who I am, or who the Bishop described as a "natural chaplain", and as the Vicar of St Geoffrey's Argleton would say, "I couldn't possibly comment". (But maybe, just maybe, after 5 years of groundwork things might be pulling together).
At Poppleton New there are also signs of life. Not just the increasingly frantic scurrying of students, some of whom have realised they actually have a degree to study for rather than simply a night-life and a low-paid job to support it, but that dissertations are due any week and with exams to follow, earlier this year than has been common. More surprisingly I have been delighted and surprised that my attempts to encourage and support the Christian Alliance have resulted not only in a chance to speak to a regular meeting but also to speak to the International meeting as part of their campus crusade (chainmail optional!). And, as an upshot of preparing for that meeting I received a phone call on what would otherwise have been my day off and would otherwise have gone to my answering machine. From the secretary of Bishop Nigel no less, the suffragan Bishop of Brambling, "Can the bishop see you at University tomorrow at x.45pm?"
I can't say the communication was a total surprise, but it was still a little off-putting. I'd better explain. A few weeks back a colleague of mine pointed out that a rather nice University Chaplaincy post was up for grabs. It was, in fact, a post I'd considered applying for a few months ago. The reason I hadn't applied in the end was that it came up at the same time as the exceedingly good Diocesan Conference at Goosewell, when I realised that I would really rather stay in this diocese and plucked up the courage to speak to Bishop Rex about whether there were any possibilities. I had, however, heard nothing, and so decided when the post was re-advertised (something which seems to be happening too much lately) that I should go for it, although not before emailing Bishop Rex to let him know and ask whether anything was happening about making Poppleton New a Full-Time post. Interestingly, or providentially it was timed quite well for a Diocesan Staff Meeting, but that might have nothing to do with it.
So there I was, put on the spot by Bishop Nigel's secretary. Twenty-four hours notice and trying desperately not to second-guess bishops, who after all can travel in four directions, and all of them oblique!
I'm most pleased to report that Bishop Nigel had providentially seen our beloved Vice-Chancellor the day before, and, over the course of a wide-ranging discussion had broached the prospects of Poppleton New actually putting come money into the work of the Chaplaincy in the light of all the work it was doing and had received an encouraging response. (This comment to be noted in the light of the current 0.5 provision of yours truly and the need for institutional "buy-in"). Hence my hope and now-made appointment with our dear leader... And also, of course, the reason for almost-optimism in the Vicarage...
You heard it hopefully here first, but, of course you don't know who I am, or who the Bishop described as a "natural chaplain", and as the Vicar of St Geoffrey's Argleton would say, "I couldn't possibly comment". (But maybe, just maybe, after 5 years of groundwork things might be pulling together).
Thursday, 14 July 2011
The Future is Bright, the Future is..... Grey!
Preparations for both the Summer Graduations and the 2011-12 intake are continuing apace as betrayed by frenzied activity around the Poppleton New campus (and no, I'm not refrerring to the escapades of the newly-arrived Language School students, to whom we say cheerful "Bonjour!")
Upon artful "Utilitarian School" fixings new floodlights are appearing, allegedly to "allow the rugby field to be more efficiently used" - although there are dark mutterings about the creation of a "killing zone" in the same location, guarding the approaches to several key buildings. The colour of the lighting gantries? Grey.
The Senate Building, with its tasteful exterior-cantilevered design is receiving a thorough jet-wash before the annual drought declaration, and possibly accidentally washing any slothful staff who should be passing by. Its colour? Grey.
The venerable varnished wooden benches, the beloved hangouts of many students and staff languishing before the entrance to Reception, vigilantly guarded by the Security Cohort, have been replaced by new, hard-wearing, easy to maintain metallic benches, which surely by oversight, are both convex and backless. That this might accidentally discourage slumbering upon them and providentially drive others into the refuge of the Cafeteria can only be good news to Poppleton New's balance sheet! Their colour? Why, grey!
Even the trustworthy green, open, litter bins have been replaced by smart new, lidded ones, doubtless Autons from the School of Applied Cybernetics, combining tidiness with security, in swish and utilitarian.... grey.
(Rumours that the concrete foundation so recently laid in close proximity is to serve as the base for a watch tower, replete with searchlights, have been coolly disputed by the new Executive Dean for Corporate Promotion, Dr Gunnar Grey, as has speculation of corporate rebranding to the new and dynamic shades.... of two-tone grey.)
Upon artful "Utilitarian School" fixings new floodlights are appearing, allegedly to "allow the rugby field to be more efficiently used" - although there are dark mutterings about the creation of a "killing zone" in the same location, guarding the approaches to several key buildings. The colour of the lighting gantries? Grey.
The Senate Building, with its tasteful exterior-cantilevered design is receiving a thorough jet-wash before the annual drought declaration, and possibly accidentally washing any slothful staff who should be passing by. Its colour? Grey.
The venerable varnished wooden benches, the beloved hangouts of many students and staff languishing before the entrance to Reception, vigilantly guarded by the Security Cohort, have been replaced by new, hard-wearing, easy to maintain metallic benches, which surely by oversight, are both convex and backless. That this might accidentally discourage slumbering upon them and providentially drive others into the refuge of the Cafeteria can only be good news to Poppleton New's balance sheet! Their colour? Why, grey!
Even the trustworthy green, open, litter bins have been replaced by smart new, lidded ones, doubtless Autons from the School of Applied Cybernetics, combining tidiness with security, in swish and utilitarian.... grey.
(Rumours that the concrete foundation so recently laid in close proximity is to serve as the base for a watch tower, replete with searchlights, have been coolly disputed by the new Executive Dean for Corporate Promotion, Dr Gunnar Grey, as has speculation of corporate rebranding to the new and dynamic shades.... of two-tone grey.)
Friday, 12 March 2010
Hints of Successful Time Travel Research!
Since when does a round-robin email from Information Services spark questions of time travel? Well, readers may be interested to seer the text for themselves:
Dr William Ho, Senior Lecturer of Temporal Physics at Poppleton New University, said "I can neither confirm nor deny that the department has cracked the problem we set ourselves," although he did confirm that the department enjoyed extremely close connections with Information Services, including frequent night-time intensive use of the computing reserves of PNeUNet.
Questions had been asked last month about the sudden appearance of a large quantity of funds in what had appeared to be a dormant Temporal Physics Coffee Fund. Dr Freeman-Guise, Lecturer in Practical Stock Market Manipulation, had speculated that the sum matched that which would be generated by "about 110 years" of compound interest upon an investment of 1 old penny. When questioned further on the matter Dr Ho merely smiled and offered this reporter a jelly baby.
Reminder ! On 2010-03-13 00:00:00 Exchange, staff email , will be unavailable due to scheduled maintenance until 1900-01-00 00:00:00
Dr William Ho, Senior Lecturer of Temporal Physics at Poppleton New University, said "I can neither confirm nor deny that the department has cracked the problem we set ourselves," although he did confirm that the department enjoyed extremely close connections with Information Services, including frequent night-time intensive use of the computing reserves of PNeUNet.
Questions had been asked last month about the sudden appearance of a large quantity of funds in what had appeared to be a dormant Temporal Physics Coffee Fund. Dr Freeman-Guise, Lecturer in Practical Stock Market Manipulation, had speculated that the sum matched that which would be generated by "about 110 years" of compound interest upon an investment of 1 old penny. When questioned further on the matter Dr Ho merely smiled and offered this reporter a jelly baby.
Thursday, 4 March 2010
Honesty Box
There was a programme on a little while ago, and I can't remember whether it was on the TV or Radio, which sought to address the question about whether art could ever be a substitute for faith. I didn't find out any more than that, and my gut reaction might be summed up as “Maybe, but...” in the sense that art might well engage with the senses of otherness and the unaswerables of life, but couldn't in my opinion replace faith, although I'm sure others would disagree (although there could be a very interesting dialogue upon whether art can bring salvation.... and just what this salvation thing is anyway.)
This, however, is no more than a preamble, a setting of the scene.
I was providing the weekly free tea and coffee at the more arty of Poppleton's two campuses (campi?) this afternoon when a group of folks came along into the foyer and constructed nothing less than a black plywood booth, looking for all the word like a Confessional, although I'm not sure how many of the students would have even understand the term (after all I understand the concept although it is alien to my experience). But the similarities didn't end there. It turned out that this was part of a piece for Poppleton's main theatre – the Republican and Bradway. Students were being invited individually into this miniature version of the 'Big Brother Diary Room' (as the staff handling the task called it) to recount their tales of student drunkeness and high jinks, captured as a 'talking head' responding to questions being given by either an interviewer behind the partition wall or a very clever computer program (I'm unsure which). The end results were to be edited into a sort of rolling video montage for a piece of art entitled “Honesty.”
So why this little reflection? Well, on the one level I was struck by the similarities of an individual ensconsed within a plain box recounting their “sins” to a invisible listener, hidden behind a screen. Art, perhaps, imitating church, if not faith.
But then, maybe not so similar, perhaps? After all, here were willing volunteers (or at least compliant passers-by) recounting events or the sake of art. Events that, I strongly suspect, they would regard not as sinful, shameful or in any real way as wrong.
Initially I was a little worried that my presence there in the foyer might hinder the art work, but then I realised I was not even a part of the equation. If anything the presence of the project brought me, and by extension the Chaplaincy, to greater prominence, if only as a purveyor of warm beverages.
So the “Honesty Box” provided just that. Not, maybe, an awareness of sinful humanity's need for a gracious God, but a reminder of both the willingness of people to open up with true (or, from their conversations, not so true) stories, but also of the gulf between the givens of the oft-called Pre-modern mindset of faith and the Postmodern mindset in which we find ourselves.
Monday, 16 November 2009
Information Services News
Following successful trials we are pleased to announce the formal adoption of the new self-service lending system across all libraries. "This new system will streamline book management and allow students and staff to borrow books beyond normal opening times, as well as cutting down queues in regular hours," said Sylvia Lence, Deputy Head of Library Services.
The new system has drawn criticism for failing to indicate due return dates upon books themselves, instead issuing ATM style receipts. One recommendation arising from last term's pilot scheme was that emails should be sent to borrowers reminding them of return dates. Questioned as to why this recommendation was not being adopted, Ms Lence cited rising costs, adding that the receipts make very handy bookmarks, and thus constituted an improvement in service to borrowers.
Another member of staff, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed this. "Of course we can't afford to send reminders. Where else do you think we get the money for new books?"
The new system has drawn criticism for failing to indicate due return dates upon books themselves, instead issuing ATM style receipts. One recommendation arising from last term's pilot scheme was that emails should be sent to borrowers reminding them of return dates. Questioned as to why this recommendation was not being adopted, Ms Lence cited rising costs, adding that the receipts make very handy bookmarks, and thus constituted an improvement in service to borrowers.
Another member of staff, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed this. "Of course we can't afford to send reminders. Where else do you think we get the money for new books?"
Sunday, 15 November 2009
New Chaplaincy Services, courtesy of the EuroLottery, sort of...
Pleasantly shocking news broke this week as the Chaplaincy of Poppleton New University unveiled plans to buy and convert existing facilities, including the Sports Bar, Dance Studio and Great Hall on campus until "plans for the new custom-build Crystal Chaplaincy facility are completed".
Speaking on behalf of the Multi-Faith Chaplaincy Team, whose EuroMillions-winning syndicate last week netted them a cool £85M, Rev Dr Alcine said, "Well, given the current needs of the Chaplaincy and the encouragements of the Directorate to find bold and innovative funding streams we thought that £1 a week from the collections was a small price to pay for the chance of being freed from University-funding committees." Asked what the team most looked forward to in the years ahead their response was unanimous - the staff sauna meeting suite.
When questioned as to whether Dr Freeman-Guise, Lecturer in Gambling Theory at the New Poppleton Business School, would shortly be joining the Team, this reporter received a very pleasant smile and a new car.
Speaking on behalf of the Multi-Faith Chaplaincy Team, whose EuroMillions-winning syndicate last week netted them a cool £85M, Rev Dr Alcine said, "Well, given the current needs of the Chaplaincy and the encouragements of the Directorate to find bold and innovative funding streams we thought that £1 a week from the collections was a small price to pay for the chance of being freed from University-funding committees." Asked what the team most looked forward to in the years ahead their response was unanimous - the staff sauna meeting suite.
When questioned as to whether Dr Freeman-Guise, Lecturer in Gambling Theory at the New Poppleton Business School, would shortly be joining the Team, this reporter received a very pleasant smile and a new car.
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