Monthly Archives: January 2015

Marijuana

Producer to introduce screening of ‘Culture High’

We are delighted to announce a special screening of the documentary ‘Culture High’ on 27 January from 6pm.

The screening will be preceded by an introduction by Jason Reed, one of the producers and followed by the opportunity for audience discussion and reaction to the documentary.

Book now.

Journeying across the North American landscape, ‘The Culture High’ is a riveting documentary that tears into the very fibre of modern day marijuana prohibition to reveal the truth behind the arguments and motives governing both those who support and oppose the existing cannabis legislation.

Utilising the quirky yet profound nature of its predecessor, ‘The Union: The Business Behind Getting High’, ‘The Culture High’ raises the stakes with some of today’s biggest names, unprecedented access to footage previously unobtainable, and incredibly moving testimonials from both sides of the spectrum.

Featuring Richard Branson, Snoop Lion and Wiz Khalifa as well as former undercover agents, university professor, a slew of unforgettable characters from all points of view come together for an amusing yet insightful portrait of cannabis prohibition and the grasp it has on society as a whole.

Dir: Brett Harvey | UK / USA / Canada / Spain | 2014 | 120 mins | Richard Branson, Snoop Lion, Wiz Khalifa

Image credits
Title: LEGAL Colorado Marijuana Grow
Author: Brett Levin
Source: Flickr
Link: https://flic.kr/p/jwBhd1
License: CC BY 2.0

 

History of Philanthropy at Kent blog

We are delighted to announce a new blog by Dr Triona Fitton – ‘The history of philanthropy at Kent’.

The blog aims to document the illustrious history of philanthropy and giving at the University of Kent, as part of a Beacon-funded project that will be published as a book in June 2015.

It will contain fascinating snippets of Dr Fitton’s research in the University archives, newspaper articles, photographs, case studies and interviews about the remarkable 50 year legacy of donations and community engagement.

Do you have a story about philanthropy at Kent that you think deserves telling?

Contact Dr Triona Fitton with your examples.

For more information email hva@kent.ac.uk

LGBT History Month

LGBT History Month at Kent is set to one of the largest History Months in the country, ever!

We have a huge range of events from comedy nights, drag make-up workshops, Art exhibition, panel discussions on sports, journalism and business, academic lectures and interactive seminars plus a whole host of other events which you can attend. We’ll also be raising money for The Albert Kennedy Trust and Schools Out in the process.

LGBT History Month at Kent is looking to celebrate a modern LGBT community and whether you are LGBT or not, there will be at least one event in there for you.

So come along to one of our 26+ events across February 2015 to be a part of something unique.

Leadership Elections 2015

Every year you select five full-time officers to represent you to the Union, University and wider community.

They challenge everything on your behalf; helping you to get your voice heard and make the changes that you want to see.

Have you got what it takes to lead your Union? Be the voice of over 20,000 students and become a full-time officer. Nominate yourself now.

Teaching Awards nominations open

The Teaching Awards 2015 are now open. If you would like to say thank you to that special teacher, the support member of staff who helped you through a hard time or that amazing Course Rep, nominate them for a Teaching Award.

If the person that you nominate is shortlisted, you may even be invited to come and join the celebrations at the Kent Union Teaching Awards. So nominate away and make someone’s day!

Varsity 2015

The highly anticipated annual Varsity competition between our Universities at Medway and the University of Greenwich will take place on Wednesday 25 March 2015.

Varsity is the biggest sporting event on this year’s GK Unions’ calendar. Sports teams from the Universities at Medway and the University of Greenwich represent their institutions and battle to claim the trophy.

Both institutions compete throughout the year in various BUCS fixtures, but the Varsity title is the most coveted title across both campuses!

Over 11 fixtures will be played across multiple sports, with teams gaining one point for their university for each win, a half for a draw and nothing for a loss. Or the first time ever, this year some societies will also compete in the games, making the event more interesting for everyone.

We hope you can all come along and support the teams playing. Let’s get behind our campus clubs and societies and cheer for a Medway win!

Sports and fixtures will be released at a later date! For more information like Team Medway on Facebook.

Apply for Summer School in Critical Theory

Applications are now open for the Kent Summer School in Critical Theory to be held at the University of Kent’s centre in Paris.

The Summer School, supported by Kent Law School and its interdisciplinary Centre for Critical Thought, has been created to offer a unique intellectual experience to early career academics and research students and has been jointly organised by Reader in Law Maria Drakopoulou and Law Lecturer Connal Parsley.

It will run at Reid Hall from 29 June to 10 July 2015.

Seminar teachers will be:

  • Professor Peter Goodrich, Professor of Law at Cardozo Law School in the USA
  • Professor Davide Tarizzo, an Italian philosopher, who teaches at the University of Salerno

Additional lectures will be given by Professor Geoffrey Bennington, Professor Davina Cooper, and Professor Roberto Esposito.

Successful applicants will work with one of the seminar teachers but will have the opportunity to hear lectures by all participating academics.

The cost for the school, exclusive of travel, accommodation and subsistence fees, is £850.

Applicants are required to submit a letter outlining their research and intellectual interests, together with a CV, no later than Monday 9 February 2015. 

Further details, including information about accommodation and access to limited financial assistance, is available on the Kent Summer School in Critical Theory webpage or by emailing kssct2015@kent.ac.uk.

Jessica Frazier on Radio 4

Dr Jessica Frazier from the Department of Religious Studies is speaking on BBC Radio 4 as part of a series of programmes entitled ‘A History of Ideas’ with Melvyn Bragg. Each week, Melvyn Bragg is joined by four guests with different backgrounds to discuss a really big question.

On Monday 12 January at 12.04, Jessica is joining Melvyn to discuss How did Everything Begin? This will be followed by a second programme entitled ‘Jessica Frazier on Creation Myths’ on Tuesday 13 January at 12.04; in which Jessica looks at how different cultures deal with the most fundamental questions. With the help of Ram Aithal from Birmingham’s Shri Venkateswara Hindu Temple and the renowned science fiction writer Ursula K Le Guin, Jessica asks if the wonder of the great Creation myths can increase our understanding. Can they help us make sense of the data that modern science is gathering from the beginning of time?

Jessica can also be heard with Melvyn Bragg on In Our Time on 5 February talking about the Buddhist Emperor Ashoka the Great. Jessica has been a frequent contributor on In Our Time and previous discussions on the Bhagavad Gita, the Kama Sutra, and Hindu concepts of creation can be heard online at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qykl/episodes/player

Further information about the History of Ideas programmes can be found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04xp4w8

Reflect, Plan, Develop – New RPD training sessions from March

RPD training sessions are now available to book for 2015.

As a result of the feedback from the RPD review recently been undertaken by HR, the training sessions will now be offered on a number of dates throughout the year, so that you can choose a date and location appropriate for you and your school/department.

Each session is open to any member of staff who feels that training could help them make the most effective use of RPD, and is especially recommended for:

  • New members of staff
  • Members of staff who have not yet received RPD training
  • Members of staff who will be taking on the role of reviewer for the first time
  • Members of staff who had training on the old University appraisal system before 2010

For more information on the content of these sessions, please go to the RPD section of the Learning and Development website and book on to a session using the dedicated booking form.

Sessions will begin in March 2015 and will be available at both Canterbury and Medway campuses.

Further updates about the launch of the refreshed RPD framework will follow shortly.

Student on computer

Protect against phishing scams

There have been a large number of phishing emails and text messages going to students from fake Student Finance Services and some look very authentic.

Phishing scams are very common around this time of year, so students need to be extra cautious. Read more about phishing.

There is also a useful film about phishing that you can watch.

There are a number of steps students can take to stay safe online.