Freelance classical singer and School of Music & Fine Art Lecturer in Music Performance, Sarah Dacey, is starring in a new production of Richard Thomas’ and Stewart Lee’s award-winning Jerry Springer the Opera at the Lost Theatre in South London from 16 – 19 March.

Sarah plays Irene, the strict catholic mother of a wannabe pole dancer, a dead Nurse that escorts Jerry Springer into ‘Purgatory’ and the Virgin ‘Mary’.

‘Witness America’s favourite talk show host suffer the worst day of his career as high art meets low culture in the funniest, most groundbreaking and talked about musical EVER!’

From website of The LOST Theatre, London SW8
A member of the critically acclaimed Juice Vocal Ensemble, a female a cappella trio specialising in contemporary music, Sarah Dacey works in oratorio, opera, recitals, session recordings for TV/Film, electro-acoustic music, early music ensembles, physical theatre and also arranges/composes vocal music.

She performs with the BBC Singers, Philharmonia Voices, The Octandre Ensemble, Okeanos Ensemble and the Oriel Quartett. An advocate of new music, Sarah has worked with many of today’s finest composers including Anna Meredith, Paul Mealor, Gavin Bryars, Errollyn Wallen, Duncan MacLeod, Mica Levi and Dai Fujikura.

For info about the production of Jerry Springer the Opera go to http://losttheatre.co.uk/index.php/whats-on/calendar/11-current-shows/389-jerry-sp
For more info about Sarah go to http://www.kent.ac.uk/smfa/staff/staff-profiles/musicandaudio/Dacey.html

We are pleased to announce that your Exam Timetable is now available to view on the Student Data System.

Your exam timetable can be found by clicking on Details and Study from the menu on the left hand side, and then select ‘My Exams’.

This is your exam timetable based on your module registration. If you have any doubts about the modules on your timetable then please contact the Humanities and Social Sciences Undergraduate Office or your School (for Sciences students) as soon as possible.

For more information about examinations please visit the exams webpages.

Students with Adapted Exam Arrangements: The venue that you have been allocated will be displayed on your exam timetable – specific room allocations will be advised when you arrive at the venue for your examination.

PLEASE BE REMINDED THAT MOBILE PHONES AND SMART WATCHES ARE NOT PERMITTED IN EXAMINATION VENUES AND ANY BREACH OF THIS RULE WILL BE TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY.

The Eastern ARC Quantitative Social Science Section at the University of Kent is inviting academic staff and postgraduate research students to participate in a ‘Changing gender roles in work and family life’ workshop.

The workshop being held at Kent on 31 March – 1 April will bring together Eastern ARC researchers across the social sciences and other relevant disciplines, who are interested in the how gender roles and nature of work have changed in labour markets and within families globally.

The programme includes a wide range of speakers and topics from looking at the division of labour and housework to employment patterns and parenthood as well as introducing analysis of ‘benchmark man’.

Aimed at Eastern ARC researchers, the workshop is open to all staff and postgraduate research students with an interest in the subject area.

For full programme details and registration details, please visit the event pages https://www.kent.ac.uk/sspssr/news-events/changing-gender-roles.html

Following on from our ‘Working in Publishing’ Humanities for Hire event, we have a copy of Amanda Thomas’ recent book Cholera: The Victorian Plague (Pen and Sword Books, 2015) to give away.

Amanda Thomas is a SECL alumna, graduating in Italian. Her diverse career has seen her work in journalism, and public relations for television companies including The Walt Disney Company and Television New Zealand. She is currently an author, historian and linguist.

Cholera: The Victorian Plague tells the story of the disease that devastated the Victorian population, and brought about major changes in sanitation. Drawing on the latest scientific research and a wealth of archival material, Amanda uses first-hand accounts, blending personal stories with an overview of the history of the disease and its devastating after-effects on British society. The book reveals that Victorian theories about the disease were often closer to the truth than we might assume.

To win a copy of the book, signed by Amanda, you will need to answer the following question: in what country is cholera thought to have originated?

The deadline for entry is Friday 8 April 2016. Please email your answer to secl@kent.ac.uk with ‘SECL Publishing Competition’ as the title of the email or via Facebook or Twitter using #humsforhire.

A new Code of Practice on Freedom of Speech has been published.

This Code replaces a previous version that was put in place to meet the requirements of the Education Act 1986.

The new Code was created in consultation with a range of groups on campus including Kent Union and the University College Union (UCU), and approved by Senate and Council.

The Code aims to:

• provide guidance on freedom of speech within the law
• ensure restrictions are kept to a minimum
• outline measures that might be put in place to support freedom of speech in circumstances where there are concerns about the maintenance of order or health and safety.

Read annex A for updated procedures for student and Kent Union bookings.

Another milestone has been reached in the life of the Colyer-Fergusson building, with the arrival of the first CD to be recorded in the Hall.

In August 2014, the internationally-renowned harpsichordist and conductor and Honorary Graduate of the University, Trevor Pinnock spent two days recording works by Cabazon, Byrd, John Bull, Sweelinck, JS Bach, Frescobaldi, Handel and Scarlatti.

It was wonderful to hear such amazing music drifting over the Hall relay into our offices and we were even invited to sit in on some of the takes. The extraordinary acoustics of the Hall proved so sympathetic that Trevor and the recording team actually finished a day early.

Trevor has very kindly acknowledged the Colyer-Fergusson Hall and the University Music department team in the CD leaflet; the disc, Trevor Pinnock – Journey; Two Hundred Years of Harpsichord Music is available on the Linn label here: http://www.linnrecords.com/recording-journey.aspx

As part of the University’s Worldfest celebrations in March, Kent Sport invites you once again to join the fitness team and special guest master instructor Chris Roberts to sample a unique evening of group exercise at the sixth annual Fitness Fest medley.

Fitness Fest 2016 will offer a range of masterclasses from around the world including Veraflow with Jeni Dexter, Piyo with Sarah Black, Boxercise with Darius Ashtari and Insanity with Oli Prior. Followed by a massive dance finale with Chris Roberts. Join the fun at the Sports Centre on Tuesday 22 March from 19.00 – 21.00 in the Main Hall.

Tickets are free for Kent Sport gold and silver members and normal class rates for bronze and non-members. Enquire at the Sports Centre or Pavilion receptions or call 01227 823623/827430.

There will also be an ‘Around the world in 50 Minutes’ Spinning session before the main event join Liz, Laetitia, Sarah, Ben and Oli on an epic world music spinning journey. Places are limited for this element and should be booked separately as a normal class, either online or at reception.

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

The University was delighted to welcome Professor Jaime Arturo Ramirez, Rector of Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG) during his recent visit to the UK.

UFMG is the largest federal University in Brazil. It is ranked amongst the top 11 Latin American universities and amongst the top 6 Brazilian universities by QS world rankings. Professor Ramirez was in the UK to speak at Universities UK Higher Education Forum in London on 1st March 2016, and to visit key institutional partners.

During his visit to Kent, Professor Ramirez met with the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dame Julia Goodfellow along with Dean for Internationalisation, Dr. Anthony Manning and Hannah McNorton, Interim Director of International Partnerships to discuss extending existing collaboration formalised through an Academic Cooperation Agreement signed in November 2015.

The Academic Cooperation Agreement was signed to formalise close links formed between Kent Law School and UFMG’s School of Law, one of Brazil’s most eminent law schools. The agreement promotes research collaboration and student and staff mobility. Five undergraduate law students from Kent have already benefitted from the partnership through participation in an inaugural five-week Winter School in August 2015. With the success of the existing collaboration, both institutions are keen to develop further links. A number of Kent Schools are looking to explore the opportunities to enhance their international reach and activity.

Following lunch at the Canterbury campus, Professor Ramirez visited the Medway campus, specifically the School of Sport and Exercise Science (SSES) where he met with Prof Louis Passfield, Head of School who gave a tour of the facilities and discussed possible research collaboration areas. UFMG will be the base training camp for the UK Olympic and Paralympic teams later in 2016.