Monthly Archives: March 2015

Student publishes on poetry in the Third Reich

Stefanie Hundehege, a PhD student in the Department of German, has just published a chapter in an anthology about writers in the Third Reich.

The chapter is published as part of the volume Dichter für das Dritte Reich Band 3 [Poets Writing for the Third Reich Volume 3](Aisthesis, 2015).

The article, entitled ‘Baldur von Schirach der “Sänger der Bewegung”‘ [‘Baldur von Schirach The “Singer of the Movement”‘], highlights Baldur von Schirach’s impact as head of the Hitler Youth, the Reich’s Governor of Vienna and as a self-proclaimed poetic authority on literature and culture during and before the Third Reich.

Schirach, who was an early follower of the National Socialist movement and later a high-ranking party member, first became active as a writer as a student in Munich in the late 1920s. He produced a great number of poems, which he devoted to the service of the National Socialist party and its leader. Previous studies on Schirach focused almost exclusively on his political role in the Third Reich.

By focusing on a literary and ideological analysis of his main poetry anthology, Die Fahne der Verfolgten [The Flag of the Persecuted] (1931), Stefanie’s chapter is an attempt to place him as writer in the National Socialist movement and focus on his cultural and ideological contribution to the establishment and stabilisation of the Nazi dictatorship.

 

PhD student to give Sylvia Naish lecture

Melanie Dilly, a PhD student in German and Comparative Literature, has won the 2015 Sylvia Naish Lecture Competition and will deliver her lecture entitled ‘One Eye is not Enough: Stereoscopic Writing after WWII’ on 19 March 2015 at the Institute of Modern Languages Research.

The Sylvia Naish Lectures were launched in memory of Sylvia Naish, an accomplished linguist, translator, Friend of Germanic Studies, and benefactor of the former Institute of Germanic Studies.

Research students in the field of Germanic studies at universities across the UK are invited to submit proposals for this annual lecture. The winning entry carries a prize of £100.

The lecture is also published in abridged form in the next issue of the newsletter of the Friends of Germanic Studies.

In her lecture Melanie will argue that, owing to the rapidly increasing lack of first-hand witnesses, alternative paths for accessing memories of the Holocaust have to be found. These new paths are primarily defined by distance, understood in temporal, spatial and cultural terms. Read full details of Melanie’s lecture.

Coffee event for Ovarian Cancer awareness month

There will be a coffee and cake event in Keynes Senior Common Room at 10.30-11.30 am on 6 March 2015 in aid of ‘Target Ovarian Cancer’.

Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer in women; the good news about ovarian cancer is that if diagnosed at an early stage, the outcome is good. Ovarian Cancer can affect any woman but is most common in woman who have gone through the menopause

Ovarian Cancer is sometimes called ‘the silent killer’ because the early symptoms are often dismissed as being part of growing older or diagnosed as something else, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Most women are not diagnosed until the disease has spread, which is why it is important that women know about the symptoms, so that they can seek advice as early as possible.

The most common symptoms of ovarian cancer are:

  • Bloating that is persistent and does not come and go
  • Difficulty eating and feeling full more quickly
  • Abdominal or pelvic pain that is experienced most days
  • Needing to wee more

Other symptoms such as urinary symptoms, changes in bowel habit, extreme fatigue or back pain may also be experienced.

If you regularly experience any of these symptoms, which are not normal for you, it is important that you see your GP. It is unlikely that your symptoms are caused by a serious problem, but it is important to be checked out. You should also mention if there are two or more cases of ovarian or breast cancer in either side of your close family, as ovarian cancer can sometimes run in families.

Professor Peer Zumbansen to deliver CeCIL lecture

Professor Peer Zumbansen, founding director of the Dickson Poon Transnational Law Institute at King’s College London, will deliver the annual lecture for the Centre for Critical International Law (CeCIL) on Friday 13 March.

Entitled ‘International Law’s Local Blindside: Reflecting on the Public and Private in Global Governance’, Professor Zumbansen’s lecture will explore the nature of international legal sovereignty.

The lecture, to be preceded by a drinks reception at 5pm in Keynes Teaching Foyer, will begin at 6pm in Keynes Lecture Theatre 3. All staff and students are welcome.

On the same day, Professor Zumbansen will also attend a CeCIL workshop entitled ‘The Victims of International Law‘ beginning at 1.30pm in Keynes S17, during which members of CeCIL will present their work in progress.

CeCIL is an innovative research centre, based at Kent Law School, which aims to foster critical approaches to the field of international law, and other areas of law that touch upon global legal problems.

Fitness Fest, Tue 17 March

Feel the burn at this year’s Kent Sport Fitness Fest on Tuesday 17 March, featuring special guest master instructors Chris Roberts and Richard Callender.

With a variety of classes, it’s a killer way to try something new and feel great too!

In the University of Kent’s 50th anniversary year and in partnership with Worldfest celebrations, join Kent Sport and the fitness team in sampling a unique evening of group exercise at the fifth annual Fitness Fest party.

Tickets are free for Kent Sport Gold and Silver members and just £5 for Bronze and non-members.

Enquire at the Sports Centre or Pavilion receptions or call 01227 823623 or 01227 827430.

Then come to the Sports Centre on Tuesday 17 March from 6.15pm to 8pm in the Main Hall for an amazing evening.

Immediately preceding Fitness Fest, there will also be a unique ‘Switchback to the Future’ Spinning session before the main event ’50 bikes, 50 minutes, 50 years’. Join the fitness team with an epic musical journey from 1965 to present day. Places are limited for this element and should be booked separately as a normal class, either online or at reception.

So with such a great line up don’t miss out, be sure to ask for Fitness Fest tickets at the Sports Centre or Pavilion receptions or call 01227 823 623.

For Kent Sport news, events and special offers, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @UniKentSports.

Staff celebrate success at Learning and Development Awards

Around 95 staff across the University celebrated their learning and development achievements at an awards ceremony on Thursday 26 February.

The award-winners were congratulated on their hard work over the last year by Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Julia Goodfellow.

She said: ‘In our 50th year, we can be proud of how successful the University is – and that’s because of you and your efforts. In a recent THE (Times Higher Education) survey of good places to work, Kent was in the top five in four out of five categories and that’s very reassuring.’

She said that the University had also done well in NSS (National Student Survey) – which measures what students think of us – and the Research Excellence Framework (REF), a national assessment of research quality. ‘When you combine how well we do in terms of students and research, Kent comes 6th in the country. That’s great because they’re the two drivers of the University’s success – and that’s thanks to you all.’

Awards this year included a Learning and Development Special 50th Anniversary Award (“sustained contribution to Learning & Development”), presented to Helena Torres, School Administration Manager, School of English, for ‘going above and beyond on her own development and that of others’. Helena completed an MBA last year and, as part of that, elected to design and co-lead a new DMS (Developing Management Skills) programme at Kent.

Other awards at the Learning and Development ceremony were presented across categories including:

  • Continuing Professional Development (CPD), including a presentation to Carole Barron for her Leadership Foundation Fellowship
  • Staff volunteering – including Wendy Miller, Estates Department, who has volunteered over 300 hours for the Scouts
  • University leadership programmes
  • AUA (Association of University Administrators) awards, including presentations to Chloé Gallien and Linda Lough for their AUA Fellowships
  • AURORA leadership training for women
  • EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity) Valuing Everyone Pilot Programme
  • Kent Hospitality Consistent Excellence in Customer Service award, presented to Geoff Wilcox, Mungo’s
  • Health & Safety awards, including a presentation to Ray Allard for becoming a Fellow Member of the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM)
  • Erasmus staff placements
  • IT achievements and IS Learners of the Year – Danika Jarrett, Maria Centrone and Matthew Bull.

The awards, in the Darwin Conference Suite on Canterbury campus, were followed by a buffet lunch, sponsored by Kent Hospitality.

Further details, including a full list of award-winners and photographs, are available on the HR webpages.

Looking to enhance your career prospects?

The postgraduate Professional Practice programme taught by the Centre for Professional Practice offers you the opportunity to attain academic recognition for the skills, knowledge and experience that you have developed in the workplace.

This part-time programme understands the needs of working professionals who also aspire to undertake study by offering taught sessions over a series of extended weekends. Assignments are purposefully designed to be work-related to enhance skills for career progression.

Applicants can apply for the Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma or the MSc in Professional Practice.

University of Kent staff who apply for the programme may also be able to take advantage of support with funding which may be available to you from Kent in the form of:

  • Fee remission,
  • Staff Development Funding
  • and departmental funding.

For full details regarding funding opportunities please go to the Learning and Development webpages.

For further information please contact the Centre for Professional Practice:

Kent Law School student to run the Reading Half Marathon

Billy Ng, Vice-Chair of the Kent Law Campaign Student Group, took to the sky on Saturday 29 November 2014 to participate in a charity skydive to raise money for the Kent Law Campaign.

Not content with just one challenge, Billy is now taking on the grueling task of training for the Vitality Reading Half Marathon.

On Sunday 22 March Billy will join thousands of runners and take to the streets of Reading all in aid of the Kent Law Campaign.

We would like to thank Billy for his enthusiasm and commitment and wish him luck during training as well as on the day.

If you would like to show your support please sponsor Billy online.

All money raised will go towards building a new home for the Kent Law Clinic and will be matched pound for pound by the University of Kent.

If you would like to raise money for the Kent Law Campaign by taking part in a sponsored event, please contact Felicity Clifford to find out the support available to you.

Find out more and donate at Billy’s JustGiving page.

Anne Frank Trust Tour Bookings open

Reserve a place on a tour of the ‘Anne Frank: A History for Today’ exhibition!

Tours are running from 9-11 March in Eliot Hall.

The exhibition, from the Anne Frank Trust, tells the story of Anne’s short life through images and text and sets it against the backdrop of the rise of the Nazi party, WWII and the consequences of the Holocaust.

It raises questions about prejudice and discrimination, and how the lessons learnt from the Holocaust are still very relevant today.

Image credits
Title: Anne Frank Diary at Anne Frank Museum in Berlin
Author: Heather Cowper
Licence: CC BY 2.0
Link: https://flic.kr/p/6exjSD
Source: Flickr

Professor Julia Twigg to give VC Esteem Lecture

Professor Twigg will discuss fashion and age at the Vice Chancellor’s Esteem Lecture on Wednesday 4 March at 6pm in Grimond Lecture Theatre 1.

Dress ‘particularly under the guise of fashion’ can seem a lightweight sort of topic, not deserving serious academic analysis, especially in the context of old age where frailty and decline may seem to present both society and individuals with more pressing concerns.

But the lecture will suggest that clothing and dress are highly relevant to the analysis of age, and that they intersect with some central issues in relation to later life and its cultural formation, opening up the complex ways in which ageing is both a bodily and a cultural phenomenon.

Throughout history certain forms and styles of dress have been deemed appropriate ‘or rather inappropriate’ for people as they age. Older women in particular have long been subject to pressures to tone down, to adopt self-effacing, covered up styles. More recently there have been signs of change. The lecture will explore the extent and significance of these.

For more details email hva@kent.ac.uk