Life January 2013

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January 2013

Students smash World Record PAGE 3

Deputy Vice Chancellor collects OBE PAGE 5

Law Society Ball sparkles PAGE 12

You said... We did University acts on students’ feedback PAGES 6-7

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Josh scores again with Sports Personality of the Year Award A STUDENT has been named Bedford’s best sportsman 2012, beating a ‘ruck’ of talent.

Bedford Blues Rugby star Josh Bassett, in his third year studying Sport and Exercise Science , was awarded Adult Sports Personality of the Year at the star-studded Bedford Sports Awards.

The 20-year-old shone in the second tier of rugby union – the RFU Championship – and was selected in the division’s best 11 to face the New Zealand Maori All Blacks, in the tour which led to the 38-21 England defeat.

“It feels absolutely amazing to receive Bedford’s Sports Personality Award,” said Josh, who is also a member of the U20 England Squad.

“It came as such a surprise, especially up against such great competition. It is a true privilege and honour.”

The awards ceremony, organised by Bedford Borough Council and held at the Corn Exchange, was attended by some 350 guests including 2012 Olympic gold medal kayaker Etienne Stott, who had been given the Freedom of the Borough at a special ceremony on the day of the awards.

Other attendees included London 2012 Bronze Medallist rower Phelan Hill, 2012 Paralympic sitting volleyball team members Julie Rogers and Jessica Frezza, and 2004 Olympic Silver badminton Medallist, Gail Emms MBE.

Aspiring PE teacher nets award

Left to right: Dr Sally Bentley, Bob Henly, Michaela Wilkinson and Zahra Henly

A NETBALL coach will be able to fulfil her passion for bringing sport to children thanks to an award in memory of a student.

Michaela Wilkinson, 23, who studies Secondary Physical Education (QTS) at the Bedford campus, was awarded the Steven Henly Award for Outstanding Commitment, in memory of Steven Henly, a Physical Education (QTS) student who died of cancer in July 2008.

Michaela, from Market Harborough, Leicestershire, said: “I was very surprised to receive this award. It’s my dream to be a PE teacher and work with children.”

As a tribute to their son, Steven’s parents Zahra and Bob set up an annual prize for a

third year student who shows the same commitment to sport as Steven did.

Michaela received a certificate, £500 cheque and trophy at a special ceremony, also attended by the Dean of the Faculty of Education and Sport, Dr Sally Bentley.

Bob said: “Michaela put forward a very compelling application that spoke volumes of her dedication to sport and her determination to help to develop skills and enthusiasm in others.”

Dr Bentley added: “This award not only rewards outstanding commitment but also encourages others to aspire to the great role model of Michaela through the memory of Steven.”

Grant aids Student Stop COMMUNICATIONS TEAM CONTACTS Rose Taylor Head of Communications & Events rose.taylor@beds.ac.uk Kevin Cunningham Communications Officer kevin.cunningham@beds. ac.uk Simon Wesson Communications Assistant simon.wesson@beds.ac.uk Caroline Jacobi Communications Administrator caroline.jacobi@beds.ac.uk Darren Matthews Events Manager darren.matthews@beds. ac.uk.

CONTRIBUTORS John O’Brien, Cherrelle Emanuel and Natalija Al-Mutava Got a news story? Please contact the comms team.

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CONCEPT to create a website, which reviews local clubs, bars and restaurants for University of Bedfordshire students, saw an undergraduate society receive a £3,000 grant.

The Bedfordshire Entrepreneurs has been given the Enterprise Society Innovation Fund which rewards societies entrepreneurial ambition.

The group which formed last February and consists of first, second and third year members aged 18 to 24, received its award from the National Consortium of University Entrepreneurs (NACUE) after making a two-minute video presentation and 10 page business plan for its Student Stop website.

Around 50 societies are expected to be backed during 2012/13 for income generating projects.

The aim for Student Stop is to receive funds via advertising and a student registration scheme, costing £5, which will offer undergraduates bargain prices in shops around the area.

Ritesh Mistry, a member of the

02 Life – January 2013

society, said: “We had a problem with our submission; we misunderstood the deadline day and were only left with one day to do it all. So when it was sent off, we just hoped for the best.

“It was a very very special feeling, when we were successfully selected.”

Other concepts the team is working

The Bedfordshire Entrepreneurs

on include the Pit Stop website, which is designed for entrepreneurial students to advertise their service or product.

The group is now seeking £3,000 in match-funding. To help them, join the group, and to keep track of the society’s progress, visit www.facebook.com/ bedfordshireentrepreneurs

Image used by permission of Nigel Rudgard for Bedford Blues Rugby Club

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Contact the ions Communicat d n se – Team an email to k life@beds.ac.u2 8 5 01 e or phon 743373

Dodging their way into the world record books 62 hours, 36 seconds becomes the record as the Bulls raise thousands for charity

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HE University’s dodgeball team, the Bedfordshire Bulls, smashed the Guinness World Record for the longest dodgeball match.

The 20-strong team camped out in the Petit Gym at Bedford – throwing, catching and dodging the balls for three days to break the record, which stood at just over 41 hours.

The match began on the evening of Friday, 14 December, with two teams on court 24/7. Six members of each team were playing at any one time, while the other players rested on makeshift beds on the side of the court, ready for their stint.

After playing for three hours at a time, each player could rest for two, leaving the gym only for fiveminute breaks every hour. By 2pm on Monday, 17 December, the players had clocked up an impressive 62 hours, smashing the original record and the personal target of 51 hours they had set themselves.

Team captain Johnathan Rudland said: “Before we started the attempt, we all thought it was achievable, but after 10 hours, we really hit a wall and it was really tough. We weren’t

sure if we could do it.”

However, the Bulls were spurred on by their determination not only to beat the record but also to raise as much money as possible for Sports Traider, a local charity which aims to give youngsters the chance to take up a sport.

“We were doing it for such a great charity that changes people’s lives.

We were aiming for £4,000 but the donations are still coming in,” said Johnathan, who believes half of the target has been collected so far.

Even after they broke the record, the team continued to play for 11 more hours, pushing their bodies and minds to the limit.

“When we broke the record, it spurred us on to do more hours as no-one had ever done that before,” said Johnathan.

“We wanted to know how much we could take. We pushed ourselves to the maximum. Now I just want to sleep and eat something other than McDonald’s as that’s all we had all weekend.”

Emily Stephenson, a third year Sport and PE student who took up the game in her first year, said she loved every minute of the challenge because she found the game “addictive”.

You can donate to the Bulls’ cause at www.justgiving.com/BullsDodgeWR The challenge is still waiting on approval to become an official Guinness World Record.

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Professor returns to earthquake-hit city

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HE huge earthquake which ripped apart Christchurch, New Zealand may have been almost two years ago, but for the citizens it’s an ongoing nightmare – with large areas of the city cordoned off as the clear-up continues and seismic incidents recur.

It has, however, helped to bring people together and created a deepened community spirit, as Professor Ben Allen discovered during his two month sabbatical at the city’s University of Canterbury.

The trip was part of the two institutions collaboration on wireless communications studies.

Professor Allen, Head of Centre for Wireless Research, told Life that returning to a city – where he lived

in 2002 – in the aftermath of the earthquake was truly unforgettable.

“The road we lived in 10 years ago has simply gone,” he said.

“The city centre was wrecked and still remains so. Amazingly, the shops have been re-established in colourfully decorated shipping containers. There’s around a third of the city, roughly the size of Luton, which is closed off as it is simply too dangerous to access.

“A big problem was that the earthquake caused the land to sink, which forced gallons of water and silt to rise and flood the area. This flood has left its mark with a dark stain that taints a large area of the city.

“But there’s a real sense of community, which is quite striking, and this is bringing people together to try to improve things.”

During the two months (July and

August) that Professor Allen and his family were in Christchurch they experienced six earthquakes, including a fairly large one. The expert in energy harvesting also had to become familiar with emergency procedures for earthquakes during lectures.

The University was badly damaged by 2011’s large quake. Several buildings remain uninhabitable and one had to be demolished. In the aftermath, lectures took place in marquees set up in ‘safe zones’, and in safe local business premises. It was not just the structural damage, Professor Allen said, there was also the “emotional trauma for students and staff”.

He said: “I heard some harrowing stories. Despite this, a necessary sense of community again emerged, as well as a very slick business continuity plan.

“Now it is more or less business as usual and you wouldn’t notice the damage until you realise why some

buildings are shrouded in scaffolding and notice the continuing of the occasional aftershocks.”

The 6.3 magnitude quake on February 21, 2011, which killed 185 people was the country’s worst natural disaster in 80 years. The total cost of rebuilding has been estimated at NZ$15 billion (more than £7.8 billion).

As part of the connection between the two universities, Professor Fred Samandari visted the Luton Campus, on 20 December, to give an IRAC seminar talk on wireless and spatial engineering research at Canterbury.

The presentation highlighted research done for industry and government partners, as well as the successes and challenges in securing projects and funding.

Coach to lead England team

Travel survey pays off as student lands an iPad AN iPAD has been presented to a student who took part in the University’s Travel Survey 2012.

Kirsty Turner, who is studying for an MSc in Physical Activity, Nutrition and Health Promotion at the Bedford campus, was randomly chosen from the 1,700 students and staff who took part in the online survey last autumn.

‘Thrilled’ Northampton resident Kirsty, 27, who was presented the award by Vice Chancellor Bill Rammell, said: “Winning was an unexpected surprise.”

The questionnaire asks partakers about their current travel arrangements to the University. The results will inform future campus developments to further reduce the University’s carbon emissions as part of its Carbon Management Plan 2012-17.

04 Life – January 2013

TRACK and field coach Ian Roberts is celebrating a decade of nationallevel youth and senior coaching with his 15th call-up to lead the country.

Ian was a lecturer at the University from 2003 to 2009.

He left to become the county’s PE adviser before rejoining last year and taking on the role of professional development manager at the Knowledge Hub, which helps businesses to develop.

Ian, who said he was “honoured” to be chosen, added: “It is a really good way to celebrate my decade of coaching the national team, one which has been very exciting at times.”

Under Ian’s tenure as coach for both the GB and England school’s team he will work with future stars including Jessica Ennis, Dwain Chambers and Robbie Grabarz.

The 44 year old has also worked with many rising stars in their youth such as Greg Rutherford and Philip Idowu.

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Honour for Deputy VC Professor Ashraf Jawaid received an OBE for his contribution to education, which was presented to him by Prince Charles at an investiture in Buckingham Palace

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HIS is a moment that Professor Ashraf Jawaid could not have foreseen when he arrived at the University of Birmingham as an international student 34 years ago.

Now Deputy Vice Chancellor (External Affairs) at the University of Bedfordshire, it was the Pakistanborn academic’s ‘contribution to education’ that led him to Buckingham Palace where Prince Charles presented him with his OBE – announced in the Queen’s Birthday Honours last July.

“It was very exciting, and very humbling,” said Professor Jawaid.

“Of course, you need to remember there is a team behind anyone’s success and this is very true in my case, too.

“Prince Charles asked about the University of Bedfordshire, which put me at ease. Meeting the Queen last year – the University received

the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade 2011 – was more nerve-racking.”

Professor Jawaid, who described the investiture as “brilliantly well organised”, said the Prince spoke to each of the recipients for a couple of minutes before presenting the medal.

“It was a memorable day and momentous,” he said. “I am very grateful to the University for nominating me for this honour and would like to thank my team for their support.”

Professor Jawaid, who believes providing opportunities for education to people from around the globe helps to foster understanding and build bridges, is credited with boosting the overseas business at the University of Bedfordshire.

Professor Jawaid was accompanied by his wife Dr Naila and daughters Dr Ayesha and Dr Fatimah at the investiture.

Student shows he is the real thing with Coca Cola contract IT’S NOT every day an undergraduate gets asked to help create a TV advert for one of the biggest companies in the world – something which will potentially be seen by around a billion people.

But Pierre Imarni, pictured below, can boast just such an achievement.

The third-year Broadcast Journalism student built the motion graphics and helped create the concept for Coca-Cola’s Chinese Christmas commercial which was aired throughout December.

The Hemel Hempstead resident said: “The advert, which went live on 1 December at 2:15am GMT (10:15am Chinese time), is completely different from the Coke Christmas advert that we see here in the West. The focus is on unity, family and coming together for Christmas – and there’s no Santa Claus!

“To see it on screen was amazing.

It’s always nice when your work gets showcased. This is something that 12 months ago I wouldn’t have thought about, let alone aspired to.”

So just how did 21-year-old Pierre go

from working on student production UOB Today to receiving a freelance contract with Coca-Cola in China? It happened almost by chance.

A keen DJer, Pierre was doing a set in Japan when he met Chinese filmmaker Francis Ko. When Mr Ko was shown Pierre’s website www.thecandleboyproject. com, he was clearly impressed.

By October, Pierre, who specialises in website and graphic design and runs his own multimedia company (The Candle Boy Project), was given a contract.

“When I found out it was unbelievable, in fact I thought it was a joke at first,” said Pierre. “But when I realised

it was real, I thought ‘this is a great opportunity to prove my ability, and it’s really going to help me get a job when I graduate’.”

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EMILY STEPHENSON, 21, Third Year Sport And PE It’s a good idea as students don’t really work during the day and pulling all-nighters to finish work and leaving things to the last minute is all part of being a student. It’s good to have our opinions heard.

SAM HOLDEN, 26, MA in International Journalism It’s a really good thing, especially during assignment time. It means there’s equal access for everyone as some students don’t live nearby or work during the week. It will encourage students to voice their opinions on what they want.

MICHAEL HOLDFORD, 20, second year, Journalism I commute to University but if I lived here, I would use the library most nights as I work better in the evening. I think it’s good that the opinion of the students has been listened to.

SOFIA MUTAFCHIEVA, 19, first year, Magazine Journalism I think it’s awesome as I get distracted during the day and study better at night. To have our opinion listened to is everything we wish for.

JOHN PRESLAND, 65, MA by Research The more the library is open, the better, so students can find a time that suits them. It also won’t be as busy as people know they can come whenever they want. It is a legitimate response to what students want.

06 Life – January 2013

You Said…W Libraries open all hours, a new student bar and social hub, more lecturers and professors and much more: You said it and we did it

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EVEN days a week, 24 hours a day: those are the new opening times for the libraries at two of the University’s campuses.

Starting today (7 January) the libraries in Luton and Bedford will be open round the clock. It means students can use computers and photocopiers, pick up or return books or use the quiet space to study any time of the day or night – an extra 2,940 hours per year at Luton and 4,717 hours at Bedford.

To ensure student safety, security staff will patrol the premises from 10pm to 8.30am. The round-the-clock opening will be reassessed in July and will continue if students are using the library.

Vice Chancellor Bill Rammell said: “Being able to use the library as and when they need it was what our students asked for. It came up in the National Student Survey (NSS) as well as at the Students’ Union Conference.

“It is no secret that my mission is to ensure our students get every help that we can realistically provide to improve their experience of university life.”

Other actions that have been taken because students asked, mainly through NSS, include the opening of a new bar at the Bedford campus.

(Look out for a story and pictures from the opening in next month’s Life.)

Mr Rammell said: “Our students had to travel into the town if they wanted to socialise. They wanted a bar on the premises, like we have in Luton. So we’ve opened one.

“Most of what our students asked for in last year’s NSS we either have already provided or are in the process of providing. So you can see how important it is that all our third years sign up to the NSS so we can improve the student experience.”

Nursing and Midwifery students wanted their study sessions to be more interactive. In Aylesbury and Butterfield more small working groups have now been introduced to allow everyone to contribute and be involved.

Extra members of staff have also been recruited to give undergraduates opportunities for one-toone contact with academics more often.

Have Your Say – you could win an iPAD or £100 in cash Are you a third year student? All you have to do for your chance to win one of 10 iPADs or one of 30 x £100 cash prizes is to spare 10 minutes of your time to take part in the National Student Survey (NSS). All higher education colleges and universities are obliged to take part in the annual NSS. It is your opportunity to give your opinions on what you like about your university and your, course as well as anything you want to see improved.

To have your say log on to www.thestudent survey.com

We did

“It is no secret that my mission is to ensure our students get every help that we can provide to improve their experience of university life.”

To have your say log on to www.thestudentsurvey.com

A host of new initiatives have been introduced as a result of students highlighting issues in the NSS: YOU SAID: Can we have longer LRC/library opening times at the main campuses?

WE DID: From 7 January 2013 the libraries at Luton and Bedford will be open 24/7.

YOU SAID: We would really like a bar at Bedford.

WE DID: A new bar and social hub in the Bedford’s Students’ Union will open 10 January.

YOU SAID: We need more books in the library and access to more science journals.

WE DID: £100,000 allocated - £62,000 already spent on buying multiple copies of books –more to be spent on books and access to science e-journals.

YOU SAID: Can you please communicate changes to the timetable better?

WE DID: A new text alert system, where changes will be relayed to students from Faculty offices, has been purchased and will be rolled out.

YOU SAID: How can we get access to more and faster computers?

WE DID: Tendering for 450 PCs (worth £300,000) has started and a programme to start replacing old ones in Bedford, Putteridge Bury and Luton is scheduled.

Changes have been made in every Faculty. Find out about more ‘You Said.. We Did’ in next month’s Life or log on to www.beds.ac.uk/nss

LEHANNA RYCE, 25, third year, Criminology Having the library open later will help everyone as when you really want to get work done, the library will be quieter in the evening. There’s no point in doing surveys if nothing changes so the fact that the opening times have changed is great.

KATHERINE COULSON, 18, first year, Law I go to the library during most of my free time and it will be good to have it open late, especially when assignment deadlines are coming up.

RACKEAMA REID-AKBAR, 21, third year, Psychology It’s something that should been done a long time ago – libraries at other universities are open later.

I will use it more often because it will be quieter.

It’s good the student voice was listened to.

JORDON MARSHALL, 18, first year, PE Secondary QTS It’s good that it will be available when everyone needs it.

It will also give students the chance to finish any last minute work. As we’re paying to be here, it’s good that the resources are more available.

ED PICKERIN, 21, third year PE QTS It’s helpful for my course in particular as we have assignments throughout the year.

It will allow us to have more time to catch up with work as we may not have time during the week. It’s good that the University is willing to listen to students and act on it.

Life – January 2013 07

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Print steps into the digital age Making stories jump off the page is all in a days work for many writers. That saying is becoming a reality (or Augmented Reality!), Simon Wesson reports

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MAGINE using your smartphone or tablet to determine the next stage of the book you are reading.

Well you need imagine no longer, for Post Doctoral Research Fellow David Miller , pictured right, is poised to let readers to do exactly that, by using ‘Augmented Reality’ (AR), for a project setup by the University’s Research Institute for Media Art and Design ( RIMAD), called ‘Sherwood Rise’.

When you wave your phone above an image of the fictional newspaper ‘The Truth’, you’re led into a new digital world; a cartoon flashes up on your screen and rises three dimensionally above the article. You can interact with the augmented material, and in doing so affect the next issue of the newspaper, which is emailed for you to print out. The story takes place over four days.

Mr Miller, who has a BSc in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, said his ambition when starting the project last year, was to use AR to “explore new forms of storytelling, to expand the traditional printed story and possible futures of the book”.

He said: “Sherwood Rise is a kind of game, with a modern take on the Robin Hood story – centred around a ‘terrorist group’ who are trying to hack into newspapers to contest the content and replace the official news with their own version.

“We wanted a story that would work across cultures, and

were keen to engage with the subject of the financial crisis.

But in terms of AR in general I believe it is poised to take digital media by storm, and will have far-reaching effects on our lives. The technology is now there: you can hover your mobile over a news page and up will appear a vast array of ‘transmedia’ opportunities from text, graphics, animations, video, sound, live internet data, etc.”

Sherwood Rise is part of the International UNESCO project ‘Crossing Media Boundaries: Adaptations and New Media Forms of the Book’.

Dave Moorhead is scriptwirter with Music Technology students Jan Sedlacek, Rihards Ozols, Pavel Lyskovec and Aleksandrs Nikitins composing the sound and music.

Visit augmentedwonder.blogspot.co.uk for more information or follow @augmentedbook on Twitter.

Graduate persuades family to help students

Abiye Tob Ogu

08 Life – January 2013

THE parents of a Bedfordshire graduate have set up a student scholarship of £1,000 – to be matched by the University, taking the total to £2,000. The Elemele and Israel O Tobiah Ogu Scholarship is the latest addition to the University’s £3million fund for supporting new students who may need a little extra help.

Abiye Tob Ogu graduated in Business and Law in 2010 and is poised to start a PhD on how to improve logistics in his native Nigeria, at the University of Sheffield. While at Bedfordshire, Abiye was helped by financial support from his family and the University, and wanted others to benefit from the same generosity.

His grandfather studied in Watford and his uncle in Scotland, but because of Abiye’s strong links with Luton his family agreed to create the £1,000-a-year scholarship, which any of the University’s students can apply for.

“I enjoyed the teaching style here,” said Abiye, “and when I was working on my PhD proposal I came back to talk to my tutor and lecturers and they were very encouraging, giving me the boost I needed to get my ideas together.”

To find out more about the scholarship and request an application form, email greg. white@beds.ac.uk

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Graduate appointed Luton’s Poet Laureate BEDFORDSHIRE graduate and poet Mary Emeji has been appointed Poet Laureate of Luton.

Mary is a double law graduate with LLB (Hons) and LLM Commercial Law. As Poet Laureate she hosts monthly Poetry Society events in the town and has been visiting libraries and local schools to promote and encourage poetry.

Mary spoke at the annual Women’s Day event held at Luton Town Hall and has appeared on BBC Three Counties Radio to discuss poetry, taking phone calls from local aspiring poets.

She returned to the University last October to meet with literary students, offering a forum to perform their poems and writings.

The Mayor of Luton, Councillor Syd Knight said: “I am very impressed with Mary’s work in a short time to promote poetry in Luton. We do need to raise the profile of our poets in Luton, and she has done much to make that happen.”

Mary said she is “thrilled” by her new appointment, adding: “I’ve always found joy in writing and reading poetry, which led to my creating a forum whereby Luton poets can come together and share their poems. “ Mary has a busy schedule of public events lined up in 2013, which can be found on her website at: www.luton poetry society. com She is also making time to launch her latest book Timeless Date on Saturday, 19 January at Luton Central Library at 2pm. The event is free and everyone is invited to attend.

Mary Emeji

‘I’m not going to pretend to be something I’m not’ Daniel Login looks back on a year of personal and professional achievements, and says he is ready for whatever the future may bring.

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012 was a crazy year for me – turning 21 in February, being elected President of the Students’ Union in March and then graduating and starting a new job in July. I faced a lot of different challenges over the year, and have done in my life in general, but probably the biggest one has been coming out about my sexuality.

People can be very narrow-minded, although society is beginning to change. I remember as a child at school, no older than 10 or 11, being bullied and called words like ‘gay’.

When your mind is programmed from that age that being gay is a ‘bad thing’, it makes it very hard to accept it yourself, let alone feel comfortable enough to tell other people.

I am not a bad person and being gay certainly doesn’t make me one. It says a lot that it’s taken me until the age of 21 to reach a position where I can say this, although I by no means regret not saying anything earlier.

I am very happy now, and in general have had a very happy life. I wouldn’t necessarily change anything.

I am not saying it’s been easy, because it definitely hasn’t and I know there are many other people who are in the same difficult position that I was. The hardest thing is carrying it around with you wherever you go and in whatever you do.

In my experience, the thought of telling people was definitely worse

than the reality. But you have to accept it and feel comfortable enough with yourself before you’re in any position to face other people. And what other people need to realise is that you don’t make the decision about your sexuality: you’re born with it. I am proud of who I am and you should be to.

I told a few people back in September and that was crucial to my reaching this point of self acceptance.

Without their comfort, reassurance and backing at that stage, who knows whether I would be writing this now.

I believe everyone has a ‘trigger’ for getting to the stage where they feel comfortable enough to talk about their sexuality – I grew enormously over the year and being President of the Students’ Union has given me much more confidence and strength.

I am lucky to be in a position to share this and hope my story can help other people.

Probably one of my biggest worries was telling my parents and family, but they have been great. I was totally honest with them: I said “This is me, you either support me or you don’t.” I had reached the stage where I would quite happily have moved on without them if that had to be the case. I was not, and am not, prepared to change or pretend to be something I’m not, for anyone.

I am as happy as I have ever been now. It has certainly been a bumpy ride and I am well aware there are more challenges to face, and there will be for the rest of my life but I’m ready for it.

Calling all university students!

GET INVOLVED! BECOME A VOLUNTEER! Explore exciting volunteering opportunities in the local community by registering as a volunteer with Beds SU. Enhance your employability through an extensive portfolio of volunteering. Support your local community by getting involved in community projects.

WHAT KIND OF VOLUNTEERING? Many of the opportunities start from just one hour a week and can fit in around study and work.

Commitment varies from one off events to more regular volunteering so there should be something to fit around the busiest of schedules.

We have a variety of roles available including: environmental, fundraising, coaching, mentoring and more. You name it we probably have it and if we don’t, talk to us and we will see what we can do!

DON’T BELIEVE US? HEAR FROM YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS! Frank (Early Years Education, Bedford) from his experience of volunteering said: “You create for yourself a perfect opportunity to meet new people, learn new things and gain confidence in your own abilities”.

Teri (BSC; Human Resource Management, Luton) said: “Community volunteering has allowed me to

VOLUNTEERING give something back and make a change to Luton. I enjoy the volunteering I am doing and I am glad that others benefit from my actions.”

TO GET INVOLVED: Visit www.bedssu.co.uk/volunteer for more details and to register! Or for Luton call Mary Jurance 01582 489173 or email Mary.Jurance@beds.ac.uk; for Bedford call Danita Goodwin on 01234 793044 or email Danita.Goodwin@beds.ac.uk

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Exhibition of portraits confronts question of colour

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HE setting was a slum on the Caribbean island of Haiti, the costume designer a Haitian tailor, and the models modern-day Haitians. The result is a selection of portraits which fuse modern and colonialist ideas on Haitians and ethnicity.

The nine images, taken by Senior Lecturer in Photography Leah Gordon, make up the Caste exhibition, now on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, Australia, as part of the Taboo exhibition.

“It is exciting and challenging for me to show this work in the context of a show about taboo, and it is especially challenging – and hopefully enlightening – for me as a non-indigenous artist within a majority of indigenous artists,” says Leah Having spent more than 20 years immersing herself in Haiti’s rich art culture, Leah came across a measuring system created by the 18th-century French colonialist Moreau de Saint-Méry which classified peoples skin colours.

“Using names borrowed from mythology, natural history and bestial miscegenation, Saint-Méry classified nine degrees of shading,” says Leah. “White, or ‘Blanche’ was inevitably socially superior to black, or ‘Noir’.”

Leah’s models were plucked from the Grand Rue neighbourhood of Port-au-Prince on the Western coast of the island, chosen for the various shades of their skin. Leah placed

herself at one end of the scale, as the ‘Blanche’ model, and her partner, Haitian sculptor Andre Eugene, posed as the ‘Noir’ model.

“The mixing of races played a conflicted and contradictory role in the Haitian Revolution, at once being used as a tool against the black population while at the same time collapsing certain colonialist racist ideologies,” says Leah.

“I think there are also many contemporary, often unspoken and unacknowledged, taboos surrounding mixed-race relationships at play in society too. Placing myself in the project and my partner at the other end was a confrontation on a personal level, and a question in the public arena, around these issues.”

Leah is fascinated with Haiti because it is reluctant to hide from its colonial roots, unlike other islands in the Caribbean.

“Haiti reveals its history,” says Leah. “I have visited other Caribbean islands where it feels that history has been mopped up and then re-presented as idyllic views on restaurant place mats or murals on hotel walls. Businesses are utterly fearful of any brutal historical connotations, especially remembering slavery and slaves’ revolts.

“School fees are excessive for the majority of the Haitian people, and education standards poor, but you will be hard pushed to find a Haitian who doesn’t know the vast and intimate details of their own history.”

Lecturer questions value of everything CAN you measure the value of something using glasses of milk?

Lecturer in Theatre Dr Daniel Bye will answer this question and others like it at his stand-up storytelling show, The Price of Everything, at the University of Bedfordshire Theatre at the Bedford campus.

“I wanted to play on the fact that

10 Life – January 2013

everything seems to have a value these days and that value is usually measured in money,” said Daniel.

“I learned that each person in this country contributes 17p of their income to the Arts Council, which worked out as a third of a pint of milk. I thought it was a really odd way of measuring value.”

Daniel took The Price of Everthing

Help write your student magazine

on the road for much of last year, most notably to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in the summer of 2012. “It went incredibly well. I had some lovely reviews, which was very encouraging,” he said.

The Price of Everything will be showing at the Theatre on Wednesday, 23 January – tickets cost £10 and £5 for concessions.

THE Students’ Union is planning to launch a new student magazine – online and in print. But the SU needs YOUR help to make sure your voice is heard.

Two meetings will be held to recruit an editorial team who can help write and edit the magazine. The meetings will be at the Mez Bar in Luton at 11am on 22 January and The Hub in Bedford at 11am on 23 January.

If you are keen to learn all about writing and editing or taking pictures, get involved.

For more information about the plans and how you can help, email sian.davies@ beds.ac.uk

Online

Just desserts The last in our series of reasonably-priced dishes, devised by Jean-Christophe Novelli exclusively for Life, is a recipe for a delicious dessert.

T

V chef Jean Christophe started his career aged just 14, in a bakery in Arras, northern France.

By the age of 19 he had already become the private chef for French banker Elie de Rothschild. A bold move in 1983 to the UK saw him became head chef at Keith Floyd’s Maltsters. Then with just £500 in his bank account he astonishingly

set up his own restaurant – the rest is history.

In 2007 the University, which is situated a few miles from the Novelli Academy, his cookery school, in Tea Green, Hertfordshire, awarded Jean-Christophe an honorary Doctor of Arts for his craft and outstanding achievements in cooking.

Crème Legere Normandie

INGREDIENTS 8 large oranges 1 (1¼pt) litre milk 1 vanilla pod, seeds removed Sprinkle cinnamon

METHOD 1. Preheat oven to 120ºC, Fan 100ºC, Gas 1 2. Wash the oranges in hot water to remove the wax and then cut them in half and carefully squeeze out the juice without breaking the skins.

3. Scrape out the flesh from the oranges and slice the base of the oranges and put in bowl.

4. Put into a pan with half a vanilla pod and little cardamom and over a low heat slowly condense the mixture until it becomes like syrup. Sieve.

5. Meanwhile whisk the eggs and sugar together. Bring milk to the boil slowly, add vanilla seeds, cinnamon and cardamom and pour into the whisked egg mixture, stir well, add the condensed orange

Jean-Christophe Novelli

www.beds.ac.uk

Sprinkle cardamom 250g (10oz) soft brown sugar 4 medium egg yolks 9 medium whole eggs

juice mix and sieve 6. In a large bain marie, add a sheet of newspaper on base, add water put the orange shells into the bain marie.

7. Put the bain marie on the hob, to boil water.

8. Pour the mixture into the oranges and bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until just set. You will achieve the right texture if you take them out of the oven when they are still wobbly like jelly in the centre.

9. Remove from the oven, and when cold chill in the fridge to set.

10.Serve chilled, decorate with passion fruit and a dusting of icing sugar.

International summer school creates global citizens AN international programme aimed at improving the skills of Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy postgraduates has been extended.

PhD students learn about information sharing, giving presentations, cultures, and forming international networks at the annual Sports Science Graduate Research Seminar – a joint scheme by the universities of Bedfordshire, Ohio State, Queensland and Tsukuba, in Japan.

Professor David Kirk, the University’s Alexander Chair in Physical Education and Professor Jackie Goodway of Ohio State University have been co-directing the seminars at Tsukuba’s Summer Institute since 2009.

Last month they signed an agreement with Dr Hiromi Miki at the University of Tsukuba to continue the programme for another three years.

Professor Kirk said: “I’m thrilled that Bedfordshire will continue to be part of this international Seminar for the next

three years. The number of student delegates applying from around the world continues to increase year-on-year and to date nine Bedfordshire students have attended.

“Students gain an invaluable introduction to Japanese culture and about intercultural teamwork with fellow students. “ In 2012 four of the University’s Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy postgraduates joined their counterparts from Brazil, USA, Australia, India, Belgium, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and Canada for the seminar, which focused on global research tied to physical education, sport and physical activity.

Victoria Goodyear, 26, who attended the Seminar in 2011 and 2012, said: “In 2011 I learnt about new cultures and improved my presentation skills. The 2012 Seminar gave me a better framework to help inform my

own research. “ Victoria is due to start as a lecturer at the University of Gloucester in June 2013.

Helen Ives, 41, who attended the 2012 Seminar said: “The ability to network with professional colleagues really

strengthened my understanding of the research process. You also learn so much about different cultures.”

Helen is now a lecturer in Physical Education at Liverpool John Moores University.

Student delegates at University of Tsukuba Summer Institute 2012 (photo courtesy of Victoria Goodyear)

Life – January 2013 11

Future legal eagles sparkle I

T WAS a night of glitz and glamour at the Auction House in Luton when the Student Law Society hosted its annual ball.

More than 70 guests donned their finest gowns, suits and masks for a night of dinner and entertainment. Guests included Chief Executive of BPP University College Carl Lygo, a barrister and professor of laws, as well as staff from legal firm Noble Solicitors, which has offices around the country including Luton.

Awards were given to the students who got top marks in their exams over the summer: Attis Khan, Kenroy Justin and Rebecca Corbett, all now in their third year, and second-year student Paul Gastardo.

The best-dressed-guest award went to third-year student Jake Mowatt.

The University’s Student Law Society, founded in 2006, is run entirely by students who organise moots, guest lectures, discussions, field trips and social events.

Life – January 2013 12