Monthly Archives: May 2019

Students showcase their films in the Lupino cinema

Undergraduate and postgraduate students from the Department of Film will be showcasing their work in an afternoon screening at Lupino, the School of Arts student cinema, on Wednesday 29 May 2019. The event has been organised by Lawrence Jackson, Head of Film Practice, and will begin at 3pm.

The films to be screened include:

A Good Cigar by Sam Tornio, MA Film with Practice.
A Student in Sheep’s Clothing by Niall Hayes and Sam Murphy, Stage 1 students on the BA (Hons) in Film.
First Flower by Jessica Bongi, Jessica Brito-Silva, and Lina Witow, Stage 1 students on the BA (Hons) in Film.
Blue by Wassiq Ahmed, Marisol Bassino, and Massimiliano Folgheraiter, Stage 2 students on the BA (Hons) in Film.
Cleft by Tatiana Hristova and Ana Tapia, Stage 2 students on the BA (Hons) in Film.
Optimistic Station by Jake Andre, Elise Noakes and Adam Synyszyn, Stage 2 students on the BA (Hons) in Film.
If Memory Serves by Yu Ai, Rachel Dodds, Ke Fang, and Kawita Nunthakunatip, Stage 3 students on the BA (Hons) in Film.
How to Start a Cult by Natalia Abrol, Toby Barber, Rola Hafez, and Nimasu Namsaren, Stage 3 students on the BA (Hons) in Film.
Force of Change by Harry Nott, MA Film with Practice.

For full details, please see the page here:
www.kent.ac.uk/arts/newsandevents/calendar.html?eid=37852

International Symposium: Cities Against Nationalism?

The Cities against Nationalism? one-day international symposium, hosted by Kent Interdisciplinary Centre for Spatial Studies (KISS) and the School of Anthropology and Conservation, aims at investigating the relatively under-theorised research field of urban geopolitics and nationalism.

Given the recent resurgence of ethnic and territorial nationalism, the symposium will explore the rising tensions between national and urban regimes, with particular reference to the plight of minorities and immigrants. The discussion generated by the symposium aims to make a contribution to the theorisation of both nationalism and urban studies.

The event is free and open to all. You can find out more via this article on the SAC News and Event blog.

For the Public Keynote Lecture, please register on the Eventbrite page.

If interested in attending the symposium sessions, please contact Dr Jonathan Rock Rokem by email jr645@kent.ac.uk

First Reponders’ Training

First Responders’ Training sessions, delivered by EKRCC (East Kent Rape Crisis Centre), are taking place on the following dates:

Designed for Campus Security Staff, College Masters and Sexual Responders

Tuesday 12 June and Wednesday 13 June 9:30-12:30

Designed for Harassment Contacts, general frontline staff who come into contact with students

Wednesday 10 July and Thursday 11 July 9:30-12:30

Please book your place by logging onto Staff Connect.

LGBTQ+ interview participants wanted for a chat about queer life in 2019

The University of Kent’s LGBT+ Staff Network is looking to publish Gay as in Happy, a collection of interviews and personal stories that focus on LGBTQ+ members of staff, students, and the wider community.

We want to provide a positive outlook on coming out and on being queer in a predominantly straight world. Why? Because it is crucial to live in hope and to know that a fulfilled life as a queer person is possible (and, dare we say it, desirable). Sharing positive stories gives us hope and allows us to imagine happy endings for ourselves and for our loved ones. Thus, hope becomes a radical act. Because to imagine a better life is an important step towards creating a better life.

In order to make this happen, come and speak to us! We are looking for contributors who want to share their positive experiences about coming out and being out. Each interviewee will have an illustration done by Jadine Ingram and the interview recording and/or transcript will be archived at The Templeman Library. We will be doing interviews on campus on 5, 6 and 12 June. If you’re interested in getting involved please email lgbtqbook @kent.ac.uk, or drop us a line if you’d like to know more.

Summer Music Week: Friday 31 May – Saturday 8 June

The University Music department launches its annual Summer Music Week on Friday 31 May, a nine-day festival bidding a musical farewell to the end of the academic year at the University.

Showcasing many students and staff across the University, alumni and members of the local community, the celebrations kick off this Friday night as the University Chamber Choir and Consort performs in the historic and sonorous acoustics of the Crypt of Canterbury Cathedral. The festival also sees the University Big Band playing at the Deal Memorial Bandstand on Sunday 2 June; the University Rock Choir in action on Monday 3 June; a recital by University Music Scholars; the usual farewell performances from the Concert and Big Bands; the premiere of a new work exploring the meeting-point between music and science, ‘Between Worlds,’ by composer/violinst Anna Phoebe written for the Chamber Choir and String Sinfonia; all culminating with the Chorus, Orchestra and Chamber Choir in ‘Music for a Summer’s Day’ on Saturday 8 June, complete with cream tea on the Registry lawn.

Find out about all that’s coming up, including many free events, online here and download the brochure. Come and be part of a final, musical farewell!

Would you like more holiday time?

The University is offering a one-off opportunity for staff to purchase one week (pro rata for part-time staff) of additional leave which can be taken between July 2019 and June 2020.

The cost of buying the leave is the same as the reduction in salary would be for taking unpaid leave, but the advantage is that the cost is deducted from salary over 12 months, thereby spreading the cost throughout the year. Pension contributions are not affected.

The facility is available to professional service staff in grades 1 to 10 and professional and senior management staff, holding full-time or part-time contracts of employment either on an open-ended or fixed-term basis. Unfortunately, due to either contractual or operational constraints, some groups of staff are excluded from applying for this facility.

Full details of the facility can be found on the HR webpages.

This facility is mutually beneficial to both staff and the University by providing additional flexibility for employees whilst generating savings for the University through the deduction of salary.

Applications to purchase the additional leave, and requests to book the leave, are made through Staff Connect. Guidance on how to do this is available via Staff Connect. Scroll down to Additional Leave (purchased).

Pre-Retirement workshop – new date added

We have added another Pre-Retirement workshop on 25 June, from 09.00 to 16.30. The course is open to members of staff planning ahead for retirement; aimed at age 50+. The workshop aims to give participants knowledgeable advice in regards to all aspects of planning for retirement, looking at areas such as finance, health and lifestyle, through a full day’s agenda.

Booking is now open via Staff Connect.

Cambridge Day Trip Sat 1 June

There are a few places left on a day trip by coach to Cambridge, the historic university town. The coach departs from the Canterbury campus at 8.30am on Sat 1 June, and seats are £18. Free time in Cambridge to explore college and university buildings, river walks, world famous museums and shopping streets. Tickets and details from Kent’s Online Store

If the trip, which is organised by the University Chaplaincy, is marked as ‘Sold Out’ please contact the Anglican Chaplain in case places have become available s.c.e.laird@kent.ac.uk

LGBT+ Staff Network statement on the Lambeth Conference

The LGBT+ Staff Network has issued a statement in response to the University’s decision to host the Lambeth Bishop’s Conference 2020.

‘Network members are deeply disappointed and hurt by the University’s decision to host the Lambeth Bishop’s Conference 2020 despite the Church’s decision to exclude same-sex spouses (see statement from 25 April 2019). The University should have cancelled hosting the Conference, because specifically excluding same-sex spouses is homophobic from the side of the church, and hosting the event on University premises facilitates this act of institutional homophobia. The Staff Network calls on the University to reconsider its decision to host Lambeth 2020 and to prioritise its commitment to LGBT+ students and staff alike on issues of equality, diversity, and inclusivity.

‘Should the University of Kent maintain its decision to host, the Staff Network calls on the University to withdraw its facilities and support for the discriminatory “spouses programme”. Those events should take place off campus. The University cannot uphold its commitment to values of equality, diversity, and inclusivity while allowing the discriminatory stream of the Lambeth Conference to go ahead.

The University’s statement from 25 April acknowledges “the hurt experienced by many people because of the decision to exclude same-sex spouses”. Cancelling support for the exclusionary and homophobic spouses programme would not only recognise that hurt, but actively mitigate it. It would be one very important and material step that the University of Kent can take to support its LGBT+ staff and students and to uphold its commitment to the values of equality, diversity, and inclusivity that the University says it stands for.’

Bin Amnesty

From Monday 10 June to Friday 6 July 2019, a Bin Amnesty will begin in Canterbury, which will allow students moving out of properties in specific locations to place bin bags next to their household waste and recycling bins, and the waste contractor will collect during this four-week period. The Bin Amnesty will be in operation for the following roads:

See Bin Amnesty list of roads (PDF document)

Check your bin collection dates on Canterbury city council website

Household waste recycling in other areas

If you live outside of the Bin Amnesty area, purple sacks will be available from each College Reception, to allow you to dispose of extra waste during this time. Larger, bulky items will need to be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centre on Vauxhall Road (postcode CT1 1HD).

Household Waste Recycling Centre opening times:

Monday – Saturday 8.00 – 16.30

Sunday – 9.00 – 16.00