Issuu

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ustinovian The S p r i ng 2020 I ssue

Black History Month 2019 Recognising the outstanding contributions of black British society

Greening Sheraton Park Passion and enthusiasm for climate change

A Short History of Durham’s Crowning Jewel Durham Cathedral’s importance in the Northeast’s history

The Ustinovian

Contributors Photographers Brian Davison, Fenyi Shi, Kimberley Liu, Mason Zhang, Chelsea Peer. Writers Chelsea Peer, Cormac Healy, Deshon Griffith, Diana Martinez-Trejo, Hannah Wang, Iqbal Ahmed, Katie Stobbs, Kimberley Liu, Matthew Roberts, Prakasit Thavornsiri, Sarah Prescott, Yilin Wang, Yurie Watanabe, Martin Brader. Editors Adam Burge, Chelsea Peer, Deshon Griffith, Elise Gueilan Wolff, Julie Garg, Tom Toward. Design curious12.com

The Ustinovian magazine and blog is written by Ustinovians, for Ustinovians. The views, opinions and positions expressed by the authors and those providing comments in the articles do not necessarily reflect the views of Ustinov College or Durham University. CUR/05/20/150

If you like our showcase piece, please visit our blog for more articles and regular updates community.dur.ac.uk/the.ustinovian

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Welcome to The Ustinovian

Editors’ Letter Welcome to your magazine. It has been a great privilege for us as the GCP Media and Publications team to take the reins of The Ustinovian this year. First and foremost, this magazine could not have functioned without our dedicated volunteer editors Julie Garg, Tom Toward and Elise Gueilan Wolff, who have taken time out of their busy schedules to help ensure quality in our articles. We would also like to thank Katie Stobbs for her advice and guidance.

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ustinovian

contents The Spring 2020 issue

Principal’s Letter

Meet The Ustinovian Editors

Black History Month 2019

Remembrance Day Attending the Durham Remembrance Day Parade & Reflections of an American Usitinovian

10 Two Masters and Three Years at Ustinov Go visit Crook Hall

16 Beamish and the Cooperative Movement 18 SUCCESS Shaping Ustinov College Careers and Employability Success for Students 20 A Live Asian Costume Museum 24 A Short History of Durham’s Crowning Jewel 29 Introducing The Pantomath 30 Alumni Update

13 Ustinov Visits Durham Town Hall 14 Greening Sheraton Park

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38 Ustinov Poetry

This issue of The Ustinovian pays special tribute to our alumni. In the final pages of the magazine you will find their faces, their accomplishments, their memories and how Ustinov helped them to grow into the people they have come to be. Hopefully, you will find inspiration and encouragement in their journeys; and see in the places they have come from and the places they have gone to that we here at Ustinov are all, truly, global citizens. The most important element of The Ustinovian magazine is the Ustinovians. We are thankful to all the writers who sent in submissions, giving us all a window into life in our college, Durham and the Northeast. Within these pages, the past is brought to life at Beamish by Yurie Watanbe, we look forward to the future through Greening Sheraton Park by Cormac Healy, alongside many other interesting pieces written by Ustinovians. We hope the magazine and its following continue to grow each year. This is only the first issue of 2020, and we hope that you will consider submitting to the next. This magazine depends on you—your contributions, your stories and your experiences—to grow and to thrive. Together we can make this magazine become a pillar of our community. Chelsea Peer Editor-In-Chief Adam S. Burge Deputy Editor Deshon J. Griffith Managing Editor

Principal’s Letter

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ustinovian Principal’s Letter Dear Ustinovians, As Epiphany Term draws to a close, so the time arrives for my termly ‘Principal’s letter’. It would be difficult to write this message reflecting on the last few weeks and months without mentioning Covid-19. As you will all be aware, the global response to the current health situation is fast paced and constantly evolving. I realise that this is a stressful and potentially worrying time for many of us. We will continue to work together to support our College community in every way we can. Please do continue to follow all Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) travel advice and Public Health England guidance. Be assured that the University will continue to keep you updated as regularly as possible and the most up to date information can be found at durham.ac.uk/notices/coronavirus While things are currently extremely challenging and uncertain on many levels, I do want to reflect on the positives from our Epiphany Term. Starting the term with our signature Burns Night Formal in January, with the all-important haggis, bagpipes and ceilidh, we have hosted a range of events

and activities. We have run a number of careers and development activities, from mock assessment centre training to CV clinics to a session on time and project management, all delivered by colleagues from Durham Centre for Academic Development (DCAD) and/or the Careers and Enterprise Centre. The Pro Vice Chancellor for Colleges & Student Experience, Jeremy Cook OBE delivered a successful leadership lecture in March and our SUCCESS team have provided a range of careers related opportunities via the GCP. In addition, our team of GCP scholars have been hard at work delivering a wide range of seminars and activities on and off-site, including the Chinese Schools Volunteering Project, a hands-on classical Hindustani music workshop, and a Panel Discussion on Peace, Conflict and the Arts. The GCR, as always, has provided a brilliant range of social activities across the Epiphany Term, including the ever popular quiz nights, live mic nights and parties, with their welfare team also providing regular drop-in support in addition to their broader campaign work. They continue to represent your views on the wider University stage so please do let them know your thoughts and suggestions and get involved with their campaigns.

I do understand that many of you (particularly those of you on one year courses) will be disappointed that the final stretch of your time in Durham has unavoidably been impacted by this global crisis. Health is, of course, paramount and that is our primary concern but it is important to also note that many of you have emailed to express your personal sadness that the final term will not provide the student experience we as a College pride ourselves on. We share that sentiment as a staff team and I know that all staff would like me to extend our best wishes to all of you no longer residing in Durham, and to wish you well with your assessments, exams and dissertations in the coming weeks and months. We trust that success is forthcoming and offer every good wish for your future – you remain, of course, following graduation, lifelong Ustinovians and we will be in touch with further details of how to connect with our wider Ustinov alumni community at that point!

Sarah Prescott Acting Principal

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Meet the Ustinovian Editors

Meet The Ustinovian Editors

My name is Chelsea Peer

My name is Deshon Griffith

Hi, I’m Tom Toward,

and I am from the United States (though my heart definitely lives in England). If you ask me where in the US I’m from, I’ll cringe. I moved from state to state as a kid and I’ve never really felt at home in one place. I guess that’s why I love exploring new places. Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve loved writing and telling stories. When I was in high school, I discovered a love for editing and telling stories through film, and as a university student I discovered a love of research and telling stories from the past-through the written word and through museums. Now I’m here at Durham to earn an MA in Archaeology and to help tell the story of Ustinov as the GCP Media and Publications Team Lead and Editor for The Ustinovian.

and I’m from Barbados where we spend our warm tropical days sipping rum cocktails on the beach (well... maybe not every day but a boy can dream). I’m a naval officer and maritime lawyer by profession i.e. a Naval Judge Advocate (think Tom Cruise in ‘A Few Good Men’). I’ve completed my first Masters in International Maritime Law and I’m currently finishing up my second in Defence, Development and Diplomacy. My research covers collective maritime security in the Caribbean and I have a professional interest in humanitarian mediation and sustainable development. After hours, I’m usually either writing a creative piece, doing something out in nature or I’m at “The Library” ;).

editor for the Ustinovian while reading a MSc in Defence, Development and Diplomacy. When I get a spare minute I enjoy rowing, reading and spending excessive amounts of time involved in films and games (so if you write an article on a text-based rowing game with cutscenes, you know where to send it).

My name is Adam Burge

Hi! I’m Elise Gueilan Wolff,

Hi I’m Julie Garg

and I was born in the rural areas of Kentucky, USA (think KFC). I’m currently pursuing an MA in Greece, Rome and the Near East and tend to pass my time attempting to make sense of obscure ancient texts. While also being an editor for the Ustinovian, I also build the backend platforms that allow the editors to collaborate with Ustinovian writers. For fun, I like to learn languages (Egyptian Hieroglyphics and Akkadian are my newest projects), cook, and take long walks and meditate to the sweet sounds of Giovanni Sollima and Ólafur Arnalds.

currently completing my MA in Translation Studies. I’m also part of the Ustinov women and mixed badminton teams and enjoy crisp and sunny walks, a good book, indie movies, Effective Altruism discussions and Guinness.

and I am currently completing an MA in English Literary Studies at Durham. I hail from the United States where I attended Penn State University. When I am not reading for seminars or falling into a research rabbit hole (courtesy of Durham University Library of course) I enjoy cooking, visiting museums, good conversations and running.

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Professor David Olusoga OBE British-Nigerian historian, writer, broadcaster, presenter and film-maker speaking at Durham Minersâ€™ Hall

Dr. Faith Uwadiae Postdoctoral Researcher at The Francis Crick Institute

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Black History Month 2019

Black History Month 2019 By

Katie Stobbs

October marks Black History Month in the UK. This national celebration of African and Caribbean cultures originated in the US and aims to promote and celebrate the contributions of the black community to British society, and to foster an understanding of Black history in general. It was first launched in the UK in London in 1987 and was largely the result of local community activism challenging racism in British society and the Eurocentric version of history that dominates the state school system. Black History Month means different things to everyone and is expressed in many different ways. Over the years, the focus of Black History Month has expanded its coverage to include the history of African, Asian and Caribbean peoples and their contribution to Britain’s ‘island story’. This shift has been under fire for promoting multiculturalism rather than awareness and a better understanding of the history of the African Diaspora. Black History Month itself has also regularly attracted critical comments accusing it of being condescending, an excuse to ignore Black history for the rest of the year and a mechanism for separating Black history from British history, advocating for the integration of Black history into the mainstream education system instead. Whatever the strengths and weaknesses of these debates, they all point to the continuing importance of engaging with history as a way to understand the present and possible future. Black History Month enables us to see the history of black Britons as a lens to help us understand what it means to be British. After all, the black community has shaped and informed aspects of identity that touch each and every one of us. Throughout October 2019, Ustinov College partnered with the University’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Unit to collaborate on a series of Black History Month talks, workshops and activities taking place across several venues both on campus and in Durham City. We kicked off the month in style with an African drumming workshop, a fully immersive experience where twenty-five

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Ustinovians tried their hand at creating sounds and music from the African continent! Our next event was held at the brandnew Teaching and Learning Centre with Dr Faith Uwadiae, of The Francis Crick Institute. Her work predominantly focuses on understanding the immunological link between malaria and a type of cancer called Burkitt’s Lymphoma. While scientists have known for more than fifty years that the two diseases are connected, the reasons thereof remain a mystery to this day. (If you eliminate malaria from an area, you also eradicate cases of Burkitt’s, but the

Olusoga began by sharing his own personal experience, describing himself as ‘as much White working class as Black British’, born in Nigeria connection is understudied.) Dr Uwadiae talked about her research and shared her experiences as a black female scientist before stressing the key role we as staff and students play in making higher education a more diverse and accessible place. She encouraged us to be allies and enabled us to reflect on what we all can do to really build upon the strength in our diversity.

Our final event was a very special keynote lecture given by renowned British-Nigerian popular historian, writer, broadcaster, presenter and filmmaker Professor David Olusoga OBE. Ustinov College hosted this event at the stunning Durham Miners’ Hall at Redhills, collaborating with our colleagues from the Durham Miners’ Association and the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Unit. Two hundred students and members of the local community filled the Pitman’s Parliament to listen to Professor Olusoga’s perspective on the Windrush scandal. Olusoga began by sharing his own personal experience, describing himself as ‘as much White working class as Black British’, born in Nigeria but brought up in nearby Gateshead before leaving the North East to forge a career as a broadcaster and filmmaker. He then moved onto the main topic of the evening, which he went on to perceptively unpack, describing its history as “full of echoes, patterns, and reverberations”. Olusoga’s background in film and TV and experience lecturing at Manchester University were evident as he moved between historical recount and witty interjections, seamlessly transporting the audience from wry laughter to shock and indignation as he brought to life the realities the Windrush generation faced. Olusoga highlighted at length the extreme ironies demonstrated by the British government from 1948 onwards, taking his listeners through the British Nationality Act which allowed and even encouraged inhabitants of British colonies to move to the UK in order to rectify the labour shortage which followed the Second World War, emphasising that “Britain had no business being anything other than grateful for the arrival of these people”, and not shying away from his conclusion: “What made it a problem was one thing – race.” Continually moving between past and present, he clearly outlined the view shared by so many that both the scandal and the wider struggle it represents, are ongoing. Alongside the concluding Q&A session, the evening was enlightening, thought-provoking and a fantastic catalyst for action in 2020.

Reflections of an American Ustinovian

Attending the Durham Remembrance Day Parade and Church Service By

Deshon J. Griffith

Remembrance Day is always a very solemn time for me. In Barbados, it has become custom for me to take part in the National Remembrance Day Parade and reflect on the contributions of servicepersons before me, as well as those who are currently serving on the front line. That is why it was so important for me to attend the Durham Remembrance Day Parade and Church Service as a Military Officer. I have been a member of the armed forces of Barbados since age 18 and before that I was a member of the Barbados Cadet Corps where I learned about the contributions of our service personnel.

When I was the Sergeant Major of the Harrison College Cadet Company I learned the intimate history my school had with military service. The Father of Barbados’ Independence and alum of Harrison College, the Right Honourable Errol Walton Barrow, served in World War II as a pilot alongside many other Harrisonians and Barbadians at large. Although he returned and eventually went on to contribute even further to the freedom of Barbados and the Commonwealth, many of his contemporaries did not have the opportunity to share the same fate. They laid down their lives in defence of our safety and our future. They fought for a higher cause so that 100 years later, Barbados and other Commonwealth nations could call themselves free. All of the above played on my mind as I stood in the majestic Durham Cathedral on that day. Dressed in my white ceremonial uniform, I bowed my head in silence to pay respect to the fallen and the brave. I was moved by the beautiful singing of the Durham choir and the thoughtful sermon. The ambience of the Cathedral alone was something out of this world. As each note bellowed from the lungs of those choir members I felt my soul elevating to the heavens and connecting with the spirits of my lost brothers and sisters in arms. To say the service was well attended was an understatement, as there was hardly space to stand in this gigantic, historic Cathedral.

After the service, we retired to Palace Green for the parade which was also well attended by the local community. There were a multitude of detachments on parade and several high-ranking officers. I found myself paying compliments to my seniors all morning by naval salute. In a similar vein (but not quite the same), I received several compliments on my uniform; which was understandable as I was the only officer in white. I received a professional photograph at one of the famous Durham bridges after the parade, which I have now framed, and I was even featured in the local papers. Although those moments were flattering, I remained solemn as I reflected on all I had experienced. I remained inspired to serve in this new era, not necessarily with arms but with my knowledge in international law as well as conflict prevention and resolution. I renewed my desire to work towards a world where widespread loss of life is not the norm, but where happiness, peace and prosperity are commonplace.

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Reflections of an American Ustinovian

Reflections of an American Ustinovian on Remembrance Sunday By Chelsea

Peer

My feet were getting sore. The pair of boots I had picked out that morning were not much protection from the solid 12th century stone floors. I had stood in a queue outside on this especially clear brisk morning for quite some time, staring up in awe at how the light struck the two towers of Durham Cathedral, creating sharp contrast and causing their airy gothic details to stand out in high definition on my phone camera. Now I danced in and out of the way of assiduous attendants in red vestments who herded the crowd out of the way of their (their) procession. The morning sun shone sharp through stained glass. I was surrounded by red poppies and English accents. The procession in question was made up of sharply dressed men and women in military uniform, some young, some old; some sauntered about with canes clicking on the stone floor, the epitome of class. I couldn’t help but notice the elderly woman, pushed about in a wheelchair, red poppy scarf, military pins—of which I have little doubt came from WWII—worn proudly to her pastel blue coat. A marvel as great as the cathedral I stood in. With the hum of the

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organ, the Remembrance Sunday service commenced. The reverence of Remembrance Sunday and the following Armistice Day feel foreign and special to me. I come from an especially loud culture. Of course, modern culture in general is loud, but American culture especially so. I also come from a culture that loves to celebrate its veterans. We have several days throughout the year in which we give thanks for our military service members. We celebrate with banging rocketing fireworks, hot dogs and hamburgers sizzling on the grill, friends laughing, kids screaming, parades marching through the streets, snare drums that reverberate in your chest, great shouting speeches, and crowds clambering over one another to get to the Memorial Day or Veterans’ Day or Fourth of July sales, horns honking in mall parking lots (excuse me, car parks). I say this not to belittle my culture and its desire to celebrate military service men and women, but I can’t help but feel that in all the noise the service—the sacrifice—of the service member gets inevitably drowned out. That’s why Remembrance Sunday struck a chord with me—its emphasis on the sacrifices that allowed our present as we know it to exist. The heavy two-minute silence recalled images to my mind of visiting Notre-Dame de Lorette’s Ring

of Remembrance in France. Set up on a high hill looking over the green French landscape, the dwarfing circular monument features row after row of German, French, and British war dead. It invites you to keep following its curve as your eyes run past name, after name, after name. It feels eternal, it feels like the names just won’t stop coming. It imposes speechlessness. In the sermon, the Reverend Canon Charlie Allen recounted the story of one of the men instrumental in the establishment of the two-minute silence. Sir James Percy Fitzpatrick had lost his son in France in 1917, and struggled to find a suitable way to mark the anniversary of his death. Inspired by a two-minute pause held at a Cape Town church, he took the idea to King George V. He suggested, according to the Reverend, observing the silence like this: “One minute in ‘Remembrance for those who died for their cause’, one minute in ‘gratitude’ for survivors.” Reverend Allen proposed a third reflection to be added to the silence, one that I feel our current world of conflict, indifference, and prejudice needs more than anything else; and one that, more than anything else, honours those who gave their lives in the Great Wars. Reverend Allen proposed, in those two minutes of silent reflection, for us to hope for the future of our world.

Two Masters and Three Years at Ustinov By Matthew

Roberts

Go visit Crook Hall. Walk through the gardens. Warm yourself by the fireplace. Pet the cat. Crook Hall is a part of Durham that can be easily overlooked when compared to, say, the Cathedral and Castle. The latter two are large and imposing monumentsÂ dominating the landscape (asÂ if that was their original intended function). They will serve as the backdrop to your time here, something you will always be aware of. Just like your degree.

River Wear and Finchale Priory

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Two Masters and Three Years at Ustinov

But that shouldn’t be the totality of your experience in Durham. For those who arrive here pursuing a Master’s, the year can often seem like a rush against a ticking countdown of deadlines. There’s always more to do, and it feels like not quite enough time to do so. However, consider what it is you will remember in the years to come, when you will reflect upon your time at Ustinov. The hours spent in Bill Bryson library will bleed together, as will the various assignments you wrote. Those are the bricks and mortar of your degree programme - important to have, but individually nondescript. My advice is: make sure you go out of your way to craft memories

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that stand out, unique and all of your own. So, go to Crook Hall. It’s not far from the city centre, but somewhat hidden away and often overlooked. Strike out for the Low Burnhall Woodland Trust, go to the Wicker Miner: you’ll find some amazing views of the area surrounding Durham, resemblant of scenic landscapes taken out of an oil painting. Head along the walking paths north of the city to peer at Finchale Priory, a set of ruins free to visit and some of the most impressive I’ve seen in my life. Or skirt along the eastern bank of the River Wear and spot the massive abandoned Belmont Railway Viaduct holed up less

than a mile outside of town. There are countless places to explore in Durham, all located just beyond your daily stroll to University, but close enough to fit into the schedule of a busy postgraduate. In many ways, that is the advantage of Ustinov: you are surrounded by others in the same situation as yourself, postgraduates concerned about their degrees who are also wanting to make the most of their time in Durham. The formals, parties, events and trips organized throughout the year are one way to help facilitate the changes that come with moving into a new home. Settle in, find your balance, discover the people you get along with, and then

Two Masters and Three Years at Ustinov

Grainger Market

create your own collegiate experiences. Summer is coming, when the days will last until 11pm, the undergraduates will depart, and the only schedule you’ll be on will be dependent on how you choose to manage your time. And yet, even in summer the number of clear, sunny days will be limited. Take advantage of those days when you can. Newcastle is just fifteen minutes away: Grainger Market, the Laing Art Gallery, the Great Museum of the North and Jesmond Dene park are all within walking distance of the train station. The beach at South Shields is a short ride away on the metro, as is the Tynemouth weekend market and Priory/ Castle. Edinburgh, York, Hexham, and Carlisle are all less than a two-hour train ride away. Discover the places outside of the halls and buildings that the university assigned you to and make this year one you will never forget. I’ve myself been here longer than expected. I came for a Taught Masters,

Jesmond Dene

but quickly realized it wasn’t all I wanted. My decision was partly academic, but a central aspect that strengthened my decision to remain was the community that I had joined at Ustinov, the place I wasn’t ready to say

Discover the places outside of the halls and buildings that the university assigned you to and make this year one you will never forget. goodbye to just yet. Every year, Ustinov changes; during my time, that included also physically moving to a new site, with all the attendant issues

thereof. However, what makes Ustinov a home are the individuals who populate the college each year. Ustinov has no set face; for those who remain, it is always difficult to meet and grow close to an amazing array of people from across the world, only to have to once again say goodbye to many of them in September. So, even for those who are just starting a longer stay in this community, be sure to appreciate the people around you while they are here, and even when you think you’ve seen everything there is to see, know that there are always more places to explore. It is ultimately Ustinov’s strength and weakness: every year is unique and not quite like the one before. Embrace that, and enjoy this place for what it is. Note: this article was submitted prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. We advise you to follow all current government guidance regarding travel and movement.

Gateshead Millennium Bridge and Newcastle Quayside

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Durham Town Hall

Ustinovians with the Mayor of Durham Katie Corrigan and the Mayoral Bodyguard

Ustinov Visits Durham Town Hall By

Diana Martinez-Trejo

On Monday 16 December 2019, a group of Ustinovians visited Durham Town Hall. Our tour started with a warm welcome from the Mayor of Durham, Katie Corrigan, accompanied by her ceremonial bodyguard, which was incredibly surprising! We then had the opportunity to hear from the guards about their history and their function. After that, the official tour started in the Main Hall. Here there are twelve angels carved from dark oak looking down from the ends of the hammer beams, each one holding a brightly coloured shield to its breast. Other shields can be seen in the upper spandrels; each painted with the arms of one of the city’s sixteen incorporated companies or guilds. Around the walls, in the spaces between the civic portraits, are the coats of arms of notable local families painted on wooden panels. The most astonishing part was the West window, which has large corner panels representing different parts of Durham’s history. As we continued our tour, we moved to the Guildhall. Here you will find many interesting objects from copper measures to the mace used by the Mayor in processions to the old Civic Sword and (of course) a photo of Queen Elizabeth II. Our visit finished at

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the Mayor’s Chamber which contained several hand painted portraits. As we looked around, we imagined that this impressive room would be great for holding assemblies. As the Town Hall is a working building we couldn’t visit some areas which were closed to the public but we still were very impressed by what we were able to see. If you haven’t been to the Town Hall, it is open every Saturday (1 Jan 2019 - 31 Dec 2020) from 10:00 - 15:00 hrs. It is a very beautiful hidden gem in the heart of Durham City. Please check their website for updated opening times as a result of Covid-19.

The Mayor of Durham gave us a very warm welcome as did her ceremonial bodyguard, which was incredibly surprising!

Special Feature Ustinov College, Sheraton Park

Greening Sheraton Park? By

Cormac Healy

Few issues excite more passion and enthusiasm for action than climate change, and so it should come as no surprise that it is a topic that has united both students of Ustinov and members of the local community. Several engaged residents from the Sheraton Park area, spear-headed by Alyson Learmouth, decided last year to create a group of likeminded individuals to meet regularly to discuss issues relating to the environment and actions that could be taken, calling themselves “Greening Sheraton Park.” The group wanted the local community and College to join forces and Fiona Brewis, the GCR Eco Rep and myself, the GCP Volunteering Team Lead, jumped at the chance to be involved. Initial meetings touched upon what we wanted the group to achieve, how frequently we should meet, steps and action-points; the usual melange of organisational issues to sort. One of the steps decided upon at an early stage was the creation of a mission statement

for the group, defining what we were doing and the impact we wanted to stimulate. Although changes are still possible, we have currently settled on: “To encourage action throughout Ustinov College and Sheraton Park that transforms our relationship to the earth.” Although it is still early days, some exciting progress has been made. Last month the group hosted our first event, a panel focusing on local recycling initiatives, an issue that I am sure is extremely pertinent to a lot of Ustinovians, especially considering the disappointment with the lack of success in increasing our percentage of recycled waste so far this year. Speakers included a member of the local parish council, the county council waste recycling team, and our very own Ian Macdonald, Ustinov’s Community Operations Manager. There was a stimulating and passionate discussion about what we can and should be doing with regards to recycling. There have also been regular posts on social media covering various topics related to environmental issues, and the recent opening of the allotment has got the Ustinov GCR excited about increasing community involvement in an activity directly linked to the environment. This group represents a great example of students and members of the local community getting together to discuss and take action on issues that impact us all. Clearly, we are just getting started, but there is a great deal of optimism about what sort of events and changes we can implement as time goes on, and the group certainly could not be accused of a lack of ambition regarding our vision of Sheraton Park in 10 years. Indeed, as Margaret Mead once said, “never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

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Greening Sheraton Park

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Field trip to Beamish

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Field trip to Beamish

My field trip to Beamish and exploring the Cooperative Movement Yurie Watanabe

If you’ve visited the Beamish Museum, you’ve probably been to the high street and taken a look in the shops. Perhaps if you are attentive, you would have noticed signs and labels saying ‘Cooperative’, ‘Rochdale 1844’, ‘CWS’, and heard the museum staff talk about ‘divi numbers’. My first visit to Beamish was a year ago, but I didn’t understand the significance of these references until last month. My thesis looks at Victorian novels of the 19th century, and recently my research took me to explore the history of the Co-operative Movement in the 1840s. Industrialisation made the British Empire wealthy but distributed the wealth unfairly from the poor to the rich. Various social groups, such as the Chartists, worked to ameliorate the situation by raising awareness and drafting bills, but it often resulted in working-class riots and the middle-class becoming more fearful, tense, and distanced. The situation was

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dire: a surgeon investigating an epidemic in a hamlet near Rochdale reported women having to give birth standing up, because they had no change of bed clothing. How ironic it was that in Lancashire, the centre of the weaving and cotton industry, ‘the very people who had spent their lives weaving clothes and blankets for the world had come down to this, rags on their backs and no blankets on their beds’ (For more read, Birchall’s Co-op: The People’s Business). In Rochdale, a town located ten miles northeast of Manchester, the working class suffered heavily from the industrial system. Wages were low, strikes frequent, and unemployment high. To make matters worse, the rich mill owners dominated the market and sold daily necessities at extremely high prices. It was in Rochdale that a handful of working-class men established their own community shop, selling good quality products at affordable prices to its members, and then distributing the profits to purchasers, the amount depending on how much they had spent. Hence customers all had a dividend number, ‘divi’ for short. Unlike strikes and riots which destroyed property, this was a peaceful, practical way of protesting the prevailing system, and it began with a simple, daily thing: shopping. From the shop in Rochdale, the movement expanded to helping people in all aspects of life, and it spread throughout the country. In 1872 it became known

as the ‘Co-operative Wholesale Society’ (CWS). Do you know the Co-op Bank in city centre? It, too, was born out of the Co-operative Movement. The book I found in the Bill Bryson Library, Birchall’s Co-op: The People’s Business (with lots of photos and pictures) stated under ‘Illustration sources’: ‘Beamish – The North of England Open Air Museum’. So the next day, I hopped on my bicycle and cycled to Beamish. You can also easily take the Go North East bus, and change at Chester-le-Street, but the cycling route recommended by Google Maps was excellent, because it avoided busy streets (except for one place where I had to cross a roundabout on a main road), and it included going through a ‘forest’ where I had to get off my bike due to the copious mud. I made it to Beamish in just under 2 hours (although once familiar with the route, I reckon it would take me less). At Beamish, everything I had read about the previous day I saw with my very eyes. The history came alive as I entered the co-op shop and chatted with the museum staff. I also discovered how essential the Co-op had been to British homes until quite recently - some people still remember their parents’ divi number. My field trip ended with having a late lunch in the pit village. Made the traditional way, the fish and chips there are, in my opinion, the best you can find anywhere.

Tips for International Students

SUCCESS Shaping Ustinov College Careers and Employability Success for Students By Prakasit

Thavornsiri and Martin Brader

The GCP SUCCESS team has hosted a range of careers and employability events throughout the academic year, including skills sessions, experience sharing panels and guest lectures. 18

In October 2019, the SUCCESS team, comprised of the two team leads and twelve volunteers, designed and implemented a survey to gauge the type of skills and events Ustinovians wanted from the SUCCESS programme. The responses were used to shape the programme for the year. In November 2019, SUCCESS hosted a Career Experience Panel, which was a great opportunity for international students to learn about careers in the UK, as an international graduate. The panel was made up of three recent graduates from the finance sector, who provided insights into their own experiences. They discussed the key skills that they saw as important, including communication skills, teamwork, analytical skills, project management skills, problem solving, and the growth mindset. In addition, they shared their personal experiences of interviews with those in attendance. In Epiphany Term, the SUCCESS team developed a number of new collaborations with partners from across the institution, including the Durham Centre for Academic Development (DCAD), the Careers, Enterprise and Employability Centre (CEEC) and the Durham University Business School (DUBS). These new partnerships have led to the delivery of a series of key skills sessions for Ustinovians at Sheraton Park.

Colleagues from DCAD recently presented an interactive seminar on ‘Time and Project Management’ which was attended by a large number of taught and research postgraduates. Within the session, participants practiced skills applicable to a range of projects, including their academic work, which would also be applicable within a range of career settings. CEEC delivered a ‘Mock Assessment Centre’ for sixteen participants,

experiences as a senior leader within the British Army and at Durham University to demonstrate a range of key characteristics in leadership. Jeremy provided an overview of leadership theory, following by his own thoughts on leadership, including leadership styles, key leadership attributes, communication and emotional awareness. Following the talk, Jeremy welcomed questions from many of the sixty audience members in attendance.

Jeremy Cook OBE shared his experiences as a senior leader within the British Army and at Durham University to demonstrate a range of key characteristics in leadership which developed communication and teamwork skills through interactive small-group exercises. Colleagues from CEEC have also delivered one-to-one CV checking clinics, where students are able to receive support on the development of their CV. These sessions are greatly appreciated by all of the participants and we hope to be able to deliver additional sessions with CEEC at Sheraton Park in the future.

The SUCCESS Team continues to work hard to deliver a range of sessions for Ustinovians – if you have any ideas about future careers and skills support, please contact ustinov.success@durham.ac.uk. If you are an alumnus/alumna and would like to support our careers activities, please contact the Acting Vice-Principal, Dr Martin Brader, at ustinov.alumni@durham.ac.uk.

Furthermore, through collaboration with DUBS, the SUCCESS Team have secured one-to-one sessions with a careers advisor for students from the Business School, delivered at Ustinov College (now virtually). These sessions occur on a weekly basis, and students can discuss a range of career-related queries with an expert advisor. In addition to these key skills sessions, the SUCCESS Team organised a guest lecture from Jeremy Cook OBE, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Colleges and Student Experience), on ‘Leadership’ in March 2020. Jeremy shared his

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Tips for International Students

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A live Asian costume museum

A live Asian Costume Museum By

Kimberley Liu, Hannah Wang and Yilin Wang

Ustinovâ€™s Hairstyles and Lifestyles Society 20

Photo credits: Kimberley Liu, Mason Zhang and Fenyi Shi

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This year we have organised a range of different culture tours. The Botanic Garden Costume Tour and the Explore Northeast National Trust Gibside Costume Tour were both successful trips that our members really enjoyed. Local people loved having us, asking us to take pictures with them, chatting with us about China and what a long journey it is to travel between there and the UK, as well as thanking us for bringing some Asian culture into their lives. They joked about how seeing us was almost “like visiting a live museum!” We are so proud, not only as Asian students, but also as members of Ustinov College, to share our culture with the people of the UK. Our society is a source of support to students. To prevent homesickness during the annual Spring Festival, we organised events throughout the city of

Durham involving traditional costumes such as: the Durham Castle Qipao Tour, the Durham Town Hall Chinese New Year Traditional Costume Show and the Lunar New Year Lantern Festival at the Oriental Museum. Special thanks to Durham County Council, Durham University staff and Castle MCR President who provided a platform for our members to explore and interact with Durham and its people.

The Hairstyles and Lifestyles Society also aims to build a bridge between Chinese students and students from other nationalities Another way the Hairstyles & Lifestyles Society has supported our fellow students is through our work with Durham University’s pre-sessional programmes! Society members act as mentors to support more than 700 incoming international students who participated in both five and ten-week pre-sessional courses. It was our priority

not only to represent Ustinov College and to meet future Ustinovians, but to let them know what an amazing city they were going to experience! We were so proud to use our bilingual skills to help them successfully practice for the language course and achieve an unconditional offer from Durham University.

A live Asian costume museum

Ustinov’s Hairstyles and Lifestyles Society has been running in Durham for over two years now, promoting classic Asian hairstyles and visual culture.

The Hairstyles and Lifestyles Society also aims to build a bridge between Chinese students and students from other nationalities – to encourage communication between local and international students and foster cultural exchange. Special thanks to Ustinov College for providing us with a diverse environment which enables us, the H&L Society, to organise numerous social events such as the Halloween Hotpot, the Chinese New Year Eve Celebration, the Beamish Museum Tour and so on. After a year of partaking in social events with them, the members of our society became more than a warm and welcoming community—they became friends and family.

Photo credits: Kimberley Liu, Mason Zhang and Fenyi Shi

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Encountering isolation and alienation experiences

Finding your way as an international postgraduate student at Durham University By

Iqbal Ahmed

Millicent Machell’s brave and forthright account of Durham University’s privileged student culture in The Palatinate serves as inspiration for this article. In this narrative, my hope is to expand upon Machell’s experience and demonstrate the issues that some international postgraduate students, particularly those from Eastern cultures, may encounter, including the anxiety of isolation and alienation of being a student in a city far from their own. In Machell’s view, the anxieties of deconstructing identities emerge from the necessity of reaching beyond her own culture of privilege. Similarly, fitting in with others remains an everyday struggle for many international students, as they try to adapt to the unfamiliarity of Durham’s homogeneous heritage and find a place within their own communities at the same time. ‘There was a time when I did not talk to anyone from Friday to Monday because I did not know any one’, said an international postgraduate research (PGR) student who wishes to remain anonymous. ‘It was extremely emotionally challenging for me’. ‘How did you deal with it?’ I asked. ‘I took charge of my emotional state of loneliness by being persistently trying to meet people within my department and outside of it’, the student replied. ‘I went around and asked people if they wanted to be my friend’. ‘Were you successful?’

I pressed on. ‘No, but I remained hopeful although I did not have any expectation’, he replied matter-of-factly. Promoting cultural integration and assimilation, especially if you are only in Durham for one year as many taught postgraduate students are, can be difficult for both students and the University alike. Muzzammil from Malaysia suggests that students who require extra support with their English language skills can benefit from the tutorial sessions that are geared towards learning colloquial English. He also added that a ‘match-making’ family hosting scheme for the duration of one’s postgraduate studies could be beneficial for postgrads and enable them to have a chance to ‘mingle closely with the locals’. Mentor schemes in College are also a good way of getting to know local people and mentors’ insights can be very helpful.

The isolation and alienation that some international students confront while at Durham are not entirely unexpected given their conscious decision to come study in a foreign country. However, combatting this reality is an enormous task. As much as it is the responsibility of this institution to offer international students a space of comfort and support, international students also need to do their best to assimilate. This at times means not only interacting with other students on campus but venturing into community spaces where locals frequent. One of Machell’s arguments that strikes a chord with the international students in Durham is that at time a of isolation and physical separation from families and friends back in their respective countries, they need to find and ‘create a community’ that enables them to cope with the difficult circumstances of being international students in a foreign culture. To tackle isolation and alienation, students must actively seek to socialise with other people, as the anonymous PGR student advised. ‘Go to the pubs – they are the best places to meet people’. Iqbal Ahmed is a PhD student in human geography at Durham University, UK.

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Experiencing the Seasons in Durham

Experiencing the Seasons in Durham as a Tropical Islander By Deshon

J. Griffith

Being from the Caribbean, it’s quite easy to take warm weather for granted and even detest it sometimes on those really hot days. I’ve spent nearly all my life in a tropical climate, residing in Barbados until I was 21, never venturing out of the country for more than 2 weeks at a time. That’s why, believe it or not, when I spent a year abroad in Malta for my first Master’s degree, I found it quite cold during the winter months. Sure, there wasn’t any snow to speak of, but those winds really took a toll on a poor island boy. Eventually, I mastered the art of layering and this enabled me to fully adjust to the chillier weather (although to be fair, the average temperature for the entire year was a perfect 17 degrees so not too hot, not too cold). The lowest temperature I saw in Malta was about 5 degrees and I was freezing. Well, that said, it really was quite the experience moving to Durham for my second Master’s this year. First of all, I came to Durham having just graduated from law school in Trinidad & Tobago, which, I think, is hotter than Barbados (although some might say that’s up for debate). So, when I finally got off the plane at Newcastle Airport

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and made my way to Durham by train, I truly had some adjusting to do. Little did I know that when I experienced teeth-shuddering “cold” in October I had only seen the tip of the proverbial ‘iceberg’. Even as I write, I am laughing to myself. Anyhow, I quickly bought what I thought was an appropriate coat and it worked for a few weeks. However, as the leaves began to turn from lush green to beautiful auburn, orange, and burgundy I came to the chilling realisation (pun intended) that I was wrong. When the leaves eventually withered and fell to the ground and the winds intensified, I realised I needed to take urgent action. Let’s just say I got myself a thicker coat ASAP! Fast forward to February 2020 and I became a champ at managing the cold -- in fact, I had perhaps gotten a bit too good at it. Some days when I went outdoors I saw locals heavily layered up, appearing to be rather cold, while I was sweating like I was still in Barbados, taking layers off and craving ice cream. It’s actually quite incredible when I think about it: a born and bred island boy adjusting to the cold in the span of a few short months – a global citizen. Needless

to say, I was quite proud of myself. That pride turned to overwhelming joy the day I first saw snow. There I was, minding my own business during my lecture. Some white “dust” whirling around outside the classroom window suddenly caught my attention. I was completely startled, curious and, admittedly, a little concerned… “What on earth is going on?”, I asked myself. I looked around the class for solidarity and, to my surprise, everyone remained totally unfazed – not a soul batted an eye. I turned to my mate and asked, “Dude… is that snow?” He nonchalantly says “yes” and continued listening to the lecture. Meanwhile, I was over the moon, ecstatic, jovial and every other similar expression. Unfortunately, that excitement was short lived as the snowfall ended briefly; but sure enough, on a random day at the end of the month, I found myself in a winter wonderland. I felt like a child. I was so happy to see Ustinov and wider Durham covered in snow. To be honest, I would prefer if winter could last forever now (sorry guys).

Durham Cathedral

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Durham Cathedral

A Short History of Durhamâ€™s Crowning Jewel By Chelsea

Peer

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Durham Cathedral

A Short History of Durham’s Crowning Jewel By Chelsea

Peer

Most of us here at Durham are more than familiar with the cathedral that adorns the highest point on the shining hill at our city’s centre; either as a place of worship, our place of matriculation, or as the towers that loom over us as we climb the steep hill that rises out of the banks of the River Wear, our quads and calves burning. But how many of us are really aware of Durham Cathedral’s importance in the Northeast’s history, and nay, Europe’s, and the treasures that lie within? Beyond its magnificent and well-known sanctuary door knocker, this dazzling cathedral has a long and exciting history, and its uniqueness impacted architecture in Britain and on the continent for centuries.

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A Cathedral Built on Bones The Shrine of St. Cuthbert St. Cuthbert was an influential saint of northern England and was buried at Lindisfarne in 687 and he did quite a bit of travelling after his death. When the Viking raids began, Lindisfarne their first victim, monks moved his body and relics to a church in Chester-le-Street. Later, he was moved to Ripon, and again, in the 10th century, he was being returned to Chester-le-Street when the monks were suddenly unable to move his coffin. Try as they might, the prized remains of the saint would not budge from the spot. The Bishop Aldhun had a vision of St. Cuthbert demanding to be taken to a place called ‘Dunholme’, a place unknown to the monks. Fortunately, they overheard a young woman in search of her lost brown cow (dun) and decided to follow her. The coffin moved, and this was taken as a sign the saint wished to be interred at this site, Dunholme, the future Durham. Building began on the cathedral in 1093.

The Venerable Bede Bede. Bede Bede Bede Bede Bede. Bede. If you have ever had the good pleasure of taking a course on medieval history or archaeology, you know that this is essentially what a lecture sounds like. Bede, Bede, Bede. The Great and Venerable Bede. For those readers who have never sat in on a course

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covering medieval or English history, the Venerable Bede was a saint most known for writing the Ecclesiastical History of the English People in AD 731, which, for all its faults and biases, is easily the most influential source for understanding Anglo-Saxon England. This influential saint lies within our Durham Cathedral, in the Galilee Chapel, and despite all the tiresome nights I spent forced to pore over his work, it is a real sense of celebrity to be in his presence. Known as the ‘Father of English History’ Bede’s body was brought to Durham from his home monastery at Jarrow in 1022 and laid alongside St. Cuthbert for several centuries until he was moved to his own shrine in the Galilee Chapel in 1370. The beautiful black stone tomb we still see today was constructed after his shrine was destroyed during the Reformation.

The Prince Bishops One of the many highlights of history that makes Durham and its cathedral unique was its place as the seat of the Prince Bishops. These bishops held both religious and secular power in Durham and ruled autonomously for five centuries.

Durham Cathedral

Durham was a stronghold for the monks for many years, impenetrable to the attacks of Vikings and Scots. However, the Normans were different. After William the Conqueror’s invasion in 1066, Durham fell under Norman control—but not firmly under control. William lost two earls, slaughtered in Durham, in his early attempts to control the north of England. He responded with the vengeful “Harrying of the North” to bring the region under control, resulting in the starvation of more than 100,000 people. Considering the previous bishop at Durham had sided with the Northumbrians and perished in prison, in 1071 William appointed a Norman bishop loyal to himself. Following the death of the Earl of Northumberland, the bishop acquired the powers of both positions. The Prince Bishops of Durham were free to build their personal fortunes in Durham, so long as they protected England’s northern frontier—a buffer state between England and Scotland. The Prince Bishops, often more impious than what is expected of a bishop, were more than happy to display their wealth and power. Durham Castle, in addition to its defensive purpose, became a princely palace for the bishops, as did the luxurious Auckland Castle in BishopAuckland where the bishops would escape to entertain and hunt. The Prince Bishops’ position made them second only to the English monarch and allowed them to set their own laws and mint their own coins.

Destruction in the Reformation The English Reformation began in 1534 under King Henry VIII. In Reformation England, monasteries were dissolved and their wealth taken into the possession of the Crown. In Durham, the gold and precious ornaments adorning the Shrine of St. Cuthbert were stripped, and if you wander the cathedral today, you can still see the figures with their faces smashed away by iconoclasts. The infamous Oliver Cromwell also made his mark on the cathedral. After the 1650 Battle of Dunbar in the Third English Civil War, Scottish prisoners were interned in Durham Cathedral and forced to rip up medieval wood carvings to stay warm in the cold winter. These soldiers were quite likely the same Scottish soldiers excavated by Durham University’s Archaeological Services and studied in the Archaeology Department’s Scottish Soldiers Project www.durham.ac.uk/archaeology/ research/projects/europe/pg-skeletons), if you can forgive the plug from a Durham archaeology MA.

Durham Cathedral

St. Peter’s Inspiration It is believed inspiration was taken from the original St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which was demolished in the year 1505. One visually interesting example of this is the spiral columns found near the Shrine of St. Cuthbert. These recall the twisting spiral Solomonic columns that once stood in the former basilica.

Architecture If you’re anything like me you’ve spent much of your time as a foreigner on the European continent gawking at the magnificent medieval churches that line the horizon, and you’ve noticed that there is something unique about the look of our Romanesque cathedral.

Vaulted Ceilings

Durham Cathedral is the earliest known successful example of stone vaulted ceilings with a pointed arch. This architectural feature allowed for vaulted ceilings that reached higher than their semi-circular predecessors. This vaulted ceiling style supported by stone ribs influenced European religious architecture for the next four centuries. With the rise of the Gothic style, ribs like the ones in Durham Cathedral’s vaulted ceilings, rather than walls, became the primary means of support in medieval cathedrals’ structure. This allowed builders to create the light, airy, fragile appearance of many later Gothic churches while keeping the construction solid, creating walls almost entirely composed of stain glass.

Andalusian Architecture The Galilee Chapel in which the remains of St. Bede are found is a fascinating feast for the eyes. A later construction than the nave, the area has more of the Gothic style’s airy qualities. But does the chapel’s uniqueness suggest an even more fascinating inspiration? The Great Mosque of Cordoba was built between the 8th and 10th century in the Spainish city of Cordoba, quite possibly the largest city in western Europe at the time with a population of around 500,000. The Great Mosque and the Galilee Chapel make use of columns in much the same way. In the nave, panels of intersecting columns resemble those

found in the mosque. The traces of paint that remain in our whitewashed cathedral suggest further similarities between the crown jewel of Durham and the warm colour scheme of this magnificent example of ornate Arabic architecture in Cordoba. Durham Cathedral is a jewel that sits on the hilltop of our city. Like many buildings in this part of the world it is steeped in history, but Durham Cathedral is unique. Its history connects with saints from the first millennium of the Common Era and with many of the biggest events in England’s religious history, and its architecture connects to far away medieval Spain and the architecture of the Middle East. Durham Cathedral sits atop a hill on the River Wear, yet reaches out far beyond the boundaries of this city and this century. It is impossible to cover all the cathedral’s stories and treasures here, but it requires only a small glimpse into this glorious church’s heritage to see why it is the pride of Durham.

Sources Auckland Castle | Home of the Prince Bishops of Durham The Auckland Project. aucklandproject.org/venues/auckland-castle Department of Archaeology : Scottish Soldiers Project - Durham University durham.ac.uk/archaeology/research/projects/europe/pg-skeletons Durham Cathedral history englandsnortheast.co.uk/durham-cathedral Durham of the Prince Bishops British Heritage. britishheritage.com/durham-of-the-prince-bishops Durham World Heritage Site durhamworldheritagesite.com Heritage | Durham Cathedral durhamcathedral.co.uk/heritage The Venerable Bede durhamcathedral.co.uk/visit-us/inside-durham-cathedral/venerable-bede-tomb

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The Pantomath

Introducing The Pantomath

Introducing

Ustinov College’s Scholarly Journal For All Disciplines Origins Ustinov College occupies a unique position as Durham University’s sole postgraduate-only College with a wide range of research projects and experiences associated with its student and staff communities. As such, the GCP Media and Publications Team has undertaken the founding of a new journal to display this diverse range of scholarship and is delighted to announce the launch of Ustinov College’s new scholarly journal - The Pantomath. The name ‘Pantomath’ is derived from the Ancient Greek πάντα μαθήματα (pánta mathḗmata) which roughly translates to ‘all the subjects’. As such, The Pantomath aims to demonstrate the high quality and diversity of research undertaken by our postgraduate researchers, staff and supporters to the wider local and University communities, while also providing opportunities for personal and professional development to Ustinov College students.

The Pantomath Team In addition to celebrating our postgraduate research, there are a number of opportunities for student, staff and alumni involvement, including contributions as editors, reviewers and authors. This year’s Pantomath publication is managed by three Ustinov College Global Citizenship Programme (‘GCP’) Scholars assigned to Media and Publications. They are Adam Burge (Editor-in-Chief), Chelsea Peer (Deputy Editor) and Deshon J. Griffith (Managing Editor). The Pantomath also has four

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Subject Editor positions for Science, Social Science, Arts and Humanities and Business, as well as several reviewer positions which provide volunteers with useful editorial and reviewing experience.

Content The Pantomath will feature articles from Ustinov Scholars, Alumni, College Staff, Visiting Fellows and reports from Ustinov Travel Award recipients, GCP Scholars and organisers of the Ustinov Annual Conference. This selection of articles is intended to display the breadth and depth of research undertaken by postgraduate students and staff at Ustinov College. Ustinov Scholars’ articles should give an overview of the scholars’ research project, explain how their research contributes to their field and should be no longer than 500 words. Alumni articles should be reflective; focussing on where the alum is now, what they do, and/or how Ustinov played

a role in their academic/professional journey. Alumni articles should be approximately 250 words. Submitters should keep in mind that while The Pantomath is a scholarly journal, with the aim of demonstrating the research coming out of Ustinov College, it is not the intention of The Pantomath to publish the latest research findings or outputs on a topic. As such, any papers containing new research data and findings should be submitted to peer-reviewed subject-specific journals. For more information on how to submit, check out The Pantomath by following the Publications link on the Global Citizenship Programme website.

Special Feature

Alumni Update Where are they now?! Catch up with some of the Ustinov College and Graduate Society alumni who make up our truly global community. Graham Okwuanalu

Africa Ololade Bolanle Akinwale Year of graduation: 2012 Degree studied: Msc Finance City and country of origin: Lagos, Nigeria Current job: Director Finance and Operations PBSL LOANS City and country you currently live in: Lagos, Nigeria

Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: It was a nice, clean and serene environment. I had very nice flat mates from different parts of the world and we all got along very well. The café had excellent breakfast meals. It was easy to access the town and lecture halls from the college. I enjoyed watching the royal wedding on the big screen as well as Halloween!

Lucius Na’andem Kungmi Year of graduation: 2017 Degree studied: MSc Human Resource Management City and country of origin: Jos, Nigeria Current job: Human Resource Consultant City and country you currently live in: Abuja, Nigeria Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: Ustinov College made Durham University exciting. Although I resided off campus, I was always going there to partake in the fun-filled activities. And there were many. Parties, scholarly lectures, sports, trips to neighbouring cities and great people. Every form of student activity was catered for. Additionally, diversity was encouraged and celebrated. The Ustinov experience is memorable.

Kristine Kivle

Year of graduation: 2012

Year of graduation: 2020

Degree studied: MSc Internet and Distributed systems

Degree studied: MSc Defence, Development and Diplomacy

City and country of origin: Lagos, Nigeria

City and country of origin: Notodden, Norway

Current job: IT Consultant and Serial Entrepreneur City and country you currently live in: Lagos, Nigeria Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: My experience at Ustinov College during my stay at Durham University for my Master’s Degree was warm and exhilarating. The guidance and assistance offered by the staff and the measures put in place to make sure you succeed in your academics and day to day life is second to none.

North America Kevin Spreitz Year of graduation: 2004 (Jan was the grad, but the program was Sept 2002 Sept 2003) Degree studied: MBA City and country of origin: Toronto, Canada Current job: Art Photographer and Gallerist www.spreitz.ca City and country you currently live in: Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: Grad Soc/Ustinov was a wonderful combination of students from many countries and a wide age range. This resulted in a social, dynamic group that enjoyed the exchange aspect of our time in Durham. Whether it was studying in class, rowing on the Wear, or socialising in the bars, many of my friends and acquaintances were proud of the varying ages, nationalities and programmes of study.

Current job: Political Affaires Trainee at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Washington DC City and country you currently live in: Washington DC, USA Thoughts on your Ustinov experience: My time at Ustinov College and the opportunities I was given was without a doubt the greatest aspect of my studies at Durham University. Supportive and encouraging staff made me feel right at home from day one, and the sense of community was unique. The Ustinov family has had a great impact in terms of where I am today.

Victoria Battell Year of graduation: 2001 Degree studied: MA in Criminal Justice City and country of origin: Sunderland, UK Current job: I am currently Senior Vice President, Chief Mission and Planning Officer, and Dean at Maria College in Albany, New York City and country you currently live in: Albany, New York, USA Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: My time at Graduate Society was a time of friendship, learning, and growth as a person. I am immensely grateful for the time I spent there and the dynamic and diverse place where I was able to study and socialise.

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Sihe Gong

Year of graduation: 1985

Year of graduation: 2001

Year of graduation: 2015

Degree studied: PhD

Degree studied: MA in Medieval History

Degree studied: MA in Translation Studies

City and country of origin: Wilbraham, Massachusetts, USA

City and country of origin: China

City and country of origin: Tabriz, Iran Current job: Emeritus Professor City and country you currently live in: Vienna, USA Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: When I came to Durham University back in 1979 I thought everything was about its history, but after graduation I understood that everything was about its “geography”! The sense of joy and pride of studying geography at Durham has been with me ever since something I have tried to include in my teachings and research during my academic years and after.

Chris Boyd Year of graduation: 2010 Degree studied: MA in Roman Archaeology City and country of origin: San Diego, California, USA Current job: Screenwriter and documentary film producer City and country you currently live in: San Diego, California, USA Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: Ustinov expanded my world view, as it was the first time I lived in another country, and gave me a chance to make friends from all over. It complemented my studies at Durham, where I was encouraged to build on my background in film with a degree in the Humanities.

David Leverentz Year of graduation: 2014 Degree studied: MSc Management City and country of origin: Chicago, USA Current job: Senior Project Manager at FCB City and country you currently live in: Chicago, USA Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: Ustinov was truly an unforgettable experience. I was fortunate enough to meet some of my best friends between studying and playing football for Ustinov College. Some of my favorite memories included watching the Superbowl at the college at 2:00 AM because of the time difference. To any future students, make sure to enjoy every minute, cheers!

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Craig M Nakashian

Current job: Associate Professor and Department Chair of History; Director of the Academic Honors Program at Texas A&M UniversityTexarkana City and country you currently live in: Texarkana, Texas (USA) Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: GradSoc was a welcoming, multicultural community that was more than just a place to live, it was a place where I met lifelong friends. In fact, I introduced the guy who lived across from me to a friend of mine from my hometown and they ended up getting married and are currently living in England!

Naomi S. S. Jacobs Year of graduation: 2007 Degree studied: Theology and Religion City and country of origin: Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, but grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA Current job: Novelist — writing a queer Jewish speculative story City and country you currently live in: San Juan Capistrano, CA, USA Thoughts on your Ustinov experience: Ustinov College evokes memories of friends from Syria, China, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Japan, India, the Philippines, Jordan, Palestine, Indonesia, South Africa, Austria, Iceland, Germany, Italy, and from the UK and Ireland. Ustinov honoured my bipolar needs (thanks Theresa McKinven!) and gave me a scholarship to present a paper in Hungary. Ustinov, you made me a better person! Many thanks!

Shane Hendry Year of graduation: 2015 Degree studied: MSc Management City and country of origin: Troy, New York, USA Current job: Senior Project Manager, Averill Fundraising Solutions, LLC City and country you currently live in: Boston, Massachusetts, USA Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: Durham provided an experience that I don’t believe I could have gotten in the US. I’m grateful for my year there, relationships built, and academic and athletic challenges. I hope to be back someday soon.

Current job: Currently pursing further study in Project Management

Meet some of our Alumni Ustinovians

Firooz Jamali

Country you currently live in: United States Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: Durham is like my second home. Living in Ustinov College has been one of my best experiences ever. I still remember all those interesting events held by the college such as formal dinners, and all those amazing friends and staff I got to know during that whole year. The life in Ustinov College will always be a piece of memory which I cherish forever.

Erika Melhoranse Gouveia Year of graduation: 2017 Degree studied: MBA City and country of origin: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Current job: Energy and Sustainability Consultant City and country you currently live in: Houston, USA Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: I loved to meet people from everywhere and to learn about their culture. Great exchange of knowledge and experience.

Tashfeen Ahmad Year of graduation: 2012 Degree studied: Masters in Management City and country of origin: Kingston, Jamaica Current job: Planning Officer - University of the West Indies City and country you currently live in: Kingston, Jamaica Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: Durham/Ustinov experience was nothing less than terrific! I want to use this space to thank Ustinov College and Durham for making my stay wonderful. Cheers!

Special Feature

South America Karol Hermoza Year of graduation: 2017 Degree studied: MA International Cultural Heritage Management City and country of origin: Lima, Peru Current job: Peru’s Program Manager for Global Vision International (GVI) www.gvi.co.uk/ City and country you currently live in: Cusco, Peru Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: My year at Durham University and Ustinov College was one of the most fulfilling experiences I have had in my professional and personal life. As an international student, the UK college experience at Ustinov was incredible. I felt part of a society and I always knew I could count on my college to support me throughout my time in Durham.

Dr. Elias T. Ghantous Year of Graduation: 13 December 1980 Degree studied: Ph.D. in Social Sciences (Economics) City and country of origin: Beirut, Lebanon

Asia Riddhi Thakkar Year of graduation: 2014

activities which I enjoyed. I had a chance to build my résumé because I knew when I graduated and ventured into the job market, they would want to know about my life experience as well as my degree. Ustinov College enabled me to grow, and to learn more about myself every day, which opened the door for me to obtain a scholarship to study leadership and management in Germany as well as complete a teacher training course in the USA. The skills I gained at Ustinov College equipped me to conduct many training courses and workshops for undergraduate and graduate students about life skills and become the Director of the Cultural and Social Centre of the University of Salahaddin in Erbil. I also teach at the University and will soon commence PhD study.

Degree studied: Post Graduate Diploma in Management City and country of origin: Mumbai, India Current job: Editor (a&s Magazine, ABEC - ITE Group) City and country you currently live in: Mumbai, India Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: Ustinov felt like a home away from home. In the evening I would come back to my room, sip on some hot chocolate, watching it snow right outside my window. The kindness and random conversations with strangers turned into friendship. It was like a touch of magic and a little bit of madness.

Current job: Retired as Secretary General of The Union of Arab Chambers. Currently a freelancer in economic development and regional integration City and country you currently live in: Beirut, Lebanon Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: My experience at the Graduate Society-Durham University showed me that doing doctoral research in a free atmosphere with proper departmental supervision (and suitable accommodation) leads to an independent education and leadership. My experience was enriched by research visits to London, Oxford and Sussex Universities by funding from the British Council. It culminated in publishing my doctoral dissertation in a book entitled Arab Industrial Integration (London: Croom Helm, Ltd 1982).

Mizah Kholil Year of graduation: 2015

Jalal A. Mohammed Ameen Year of graduation: 2012 Degree studied: MA Arabic/English Translation and interpreting City and country of origin: Erbil - Iraq Current job: Director of Culture and Social Center City and country you currently live in: Erbil - Iraq Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: At Ustinov College I had the chance to taste-test different programs, learn from experts in diverse fields and explore my passions. I was able to tailor my academic and career paths. I was involved in many extra curricular

Degree studied: MA English Literary Studies City and country of origin: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Current job: Assistant Manager, Marketing & Communications at Tarsus Southeast Asia City and country you currently live in: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: Life in Ustinov was full of activities, from farming in the backyard of Howlands Farm to organising a murder mystery for charity in the nearby Botanical Gardens. In less busier times, I would just chill with fellow Ustinovians in Fisher House or hang out in the kitchen with my flatmates. Good times, indeed.

Muhammad Faisal Sharif Year of graduation: 2017 Degree studied: MSc New and Renewable Energy City and country of origin: Islamabad, Pakistan Current job: Senior Manager (Projects Appraisal), Private Power & Infrastructure Board, Ministry of Energy (Power Division), Govt. of Pakistan City and country you currently live in: Islamabad, Pakistan Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: As an international student, I will always love and feel proud to be associated with Ustinov College. It was an amazing experience to socialise and collaborate with a vibrant international scholarly community with students from diverse cultural backgrounds. Ustinov was my home in Durham and its compassionate people were like a caring family, who were always there to help and support.

Hussein Ahmad Year of graduation: 1989 Degree studied: Ph.D. Geography City and country of origin: Nablus, West Bank, Palestine Current job: Associated Professor, AnNajah National University, Nablus City and country you currently live in: Nablus, West Bank, Palestine Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: I was graduated in 1989 after 3 years as a Ph.D. research student at the Geography Department. I was a member in Graduate Society, where I met many good colleagues and had a very good experience. The Graduate Society provided me a good environment in terms of Study and Social life. It was the result of the understanding and cooperation of the administration of the Graduate Society.

Faisal Rauf Year of graduation: 2005 Degree studied: MA Financial Management City and country of origin: UK Current job: Head of Digital Corporate & SMME, Bank Alfalah Limited City and country you currently live in: Lahore, Pakistan Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: The experience at Ustinov was one of the most thrilling and educational. The time spent adequately prepared me for practical life be it being mentally prepared for the work place or the ability to handle pressure, deadlines, critical thinking, working in a group

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Ahmed AlKoofi Year of graduation: 2017 Degree studied: PhD City and country of origin: Bahrain Current job: Founder and CEO of Quality House Consultancy City and country you currently live in: Bahrain Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: I enjoyed very much my stay and the learning experience I gained throughout my learning journey

Abdurahman Alzahrani Year of graduation: 2007 Degree studied: MA in Psychology City and country of origin: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Current job: Professor of Clinical Psychology City and country you currently live in: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: Dreams come true. Durham is the beautiful town that I still love. I lived in Ustinov College and I enjoyed meeting friends from different countries.

Malek Ahmad Refai Alsharairi Year of graduation: 2012 Degree studied: PhD in Accounting and Finance City and country of origin: Irbid, Jordan Current job: Dean of School of Management and Logistic Sciences at the German Jordanian University. City and country you currently live in: Amman, Jordan Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: Ustinov College for me was a very inspiring and vibrant multicultural community, full of wonderful cultural events such as the Summer BBQ, Ball Party, Formal Dinners and Quiz Nights. I felt privileged to be the founding President of Ustinov College Jordanian Society.

Saleem Zamindar Year of graduation: 2002 Degree studied: Full time MBA City and country of origin: Karachi, Pakistan Current job: Company Director City and country you currently live in: Karachi, Pakistan Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: I had a great and most memorable time during my one year stay at Graduate Society / Ustinov. We use to play soccer in the back yard, and had many barbecue events in the outside area. The crowd was very congenial with parties and get togethers at the various houses. The Barn was the central place with its bar area, laundry, computer centre and sitting area. We use to have movie night every week on a large projector screen. The subsidised beer and other drinks were a treat. If I remember correctly it was a pound and twenty five pence for a pint of beer. The Bar manager (Greek guy named Mathias) would always let us buy drinks even after the official closing time. Miss my buddies Marwan, Andi, Nikko, Oliver and many others. The memories live on.

Sharif Khan Year of graduation: 2014 Degree studied: MBA City and country of origin: Peshawar, Pakistan Current job: Owner of vehicle detailing services business. City and country currently lived in: Islamabad, Pakistan

Degree studied: MBA

Thoughts on Graduate Society/Ustinov experience: For me my time at Ustinov was one of the best memories and will always be a part of my personality build up. I had the opportunity to experience living in a multicultural environment where I made countless friends but also was able to remould my personality on how to adapt as well as improve my interpersonal skills. Ustinov will always be considered as my second home and if ever possible I will definitely visit Ustinov and Durham again to refresh those priceless memories.

City and country of origin: Cairo, Egypt

Ali Shehadeh

Sherif Selim Year of graduation: 2009

Current job: External Affairs Manager and Group Subject Matter Expert, BP City and country you currently live in: Cairo, Egypt Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: Ustinov College provided a wonderful multi-cultural, multinational environment in which to meet students from a variety of disciplines and all walks of life. I returned home with far more than the MBA I set out to attain. A first class college with a rich history; I’m always proud to act as an ambassador for Ustinov whenever the occasion arises!

Gad Elbeheri Year of graduation: 2004 Degree studied: PhD from the Department of Linguistics where I studied dyslexia and its manifestations in Arabic. City and country of origin: Alexandria, Egypt Current job: Managing Director, Global Educational Consultants. City and country you currently live in: Cairo, Egypt

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Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: I had an excellent time in Durham. I was mostly impressed by my supervisors who were really amazing and how went out of their way to support me and teach me and ensure that I have an excellent learning experience whilst at Durham. I am still very proudly in contact with them until now. I was also extremely happy the day I had my viva and the day I obtained my degree certificate at Durham Cathedral! Lovely memories.

Meet some of our Alumni Ustinovians

and conflict management. Ustinov was a melting pot of different nationalities and cultures which helped me to learn, respect and adapt to different thought processes which later helped me a lot as an individual.

Year of graduation: 1991 Degree studied: PhD in Applied Linguistics and English Language Teaching City and country of origin: Aleppo, Syria Current job: Professor of Applied Linguistics and TESOL; Coordinator, Master of Education Program, College of Education, UAE University City and country you currently live in: Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE) Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: I graduated in 1991 when it was still called the Graduate Society. I lived in Old Elvet accommodation and later on in Parsons Field House for over 4 years. Those were among the best days and times of my life. Times that were great in a wonderful community of international students from all over the world in the Graduate Society. Durham memories are indeed a continuing treasure in my life.

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Hussein Zeine Year of graduation: 2012

Year of graduation: 2009

Degree studied: MA Financial Management

Degree studied: MA in International Trade and Commercial Law

City and country of origin: Beirut, Lebanon Current job: Regional Internal Audit Specialist City and country you currently live in: Beirut, Lebanon Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: An amazing experience where you get to meet different nationalities and enjoy many activities. In a nutshell, Durham is a great place to study and live.

Yusif Yusifov Year of graduation: 2016 Degree studied: MSc Finance (Economics and Finance)

City and country of origin: Canton, Guangdong Province, China

City and country of origin: Ramtha, Jordan

Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: I miss the buildings, the small “mountain”, the people, Fisher House and everything at Ustinov, especially the basketball court. It’s quite funny that we often had 15-20 people playing basketball on only half a court! It’s the best memory in my life so far.

Current job: Director of Development. The University of Sydney

Kangchao Shen

City and country of origin: Beijing, China

Degree studied: MSc in Computer Science

Current job: Deputy GM, Corporate Business Group, MinSheng Bank City and country you currently live in: Beijing, China Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: I had a good year at Ustinov College and Durham University. It’s been almost fifteen years, but I still miss my time in Durham.

Australasia John Scahill Year of graduation: 1979

Year of graduation: 2003

Degree studied: MA In Early English Language and Literature

Degree studied: MA in Management

City and country of origin: Sydney, Australia

City and country of origin: Guangzhou, China Current job: Director, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Guangzhou Committee City and country you currently live in: Guangzhou, China Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: I remember it was like a big family and everyone’s brothers and sisters. Students of different origins, from different places, of different departments, blend perfectly together in harmony. It is a unique experience of my lifetime.

Year of graduation: 2008

City and country you currently live in: Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China

Current job: Financial Analyst at Kapitalbank and Adjunct Instructor (teaching Econometrics) at Azerbaijan State University of Economics

Zhijun “Mack” Cao

Professor Zu’bi M. F. Al-Zu’bi, FHEA

Current job: Director of Legal and Compliance at CMS Capital

Year of graduation: 2007

Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: The collegiate system in general was new to me but I had really good memories at Ustinov College. Although I was lived out of College, I frequently got together with friends who lived in to have a drink, make discussions and share memories. The mixture of cultures was amazing and I learnt a lot at Ustinov College. My little advice to Ustinovians would be enjoy your time at the college to the fullest and make sure to discover every corner of Durham!

It was in the Society’s headquarters on Elvet Waterside that I received the one phone call from home in my time away, on Christmas Day 1978.

Degree studied: PhD in Operations and Supply Chain Management

City and country of origin: Baku, Azerbaijan

City and country you currently live in: Baku, Azerbaijan

Yudong “Peter” Zhai

Current job: After leaving Durham, I taught English at a secondary school in Sydney and at the University of Sydney, then spent 20 years in Japan, teaching at Seikei and Keio universities. Now back in Australia, I’m working as an instructor in English at the University of Technology Sydney, in a section that prepares overseas students for university study in Australia.

City and country you currently live in: Sydney, Australia Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: Ustinov will always be my inspiration, the best memories of my life, and the golden age that I will always keep looking back to with fondness and admiration. It is where I met my love, and where I set my goals for life. It is the place that is no longer confined to physical boundaries and is truly timeless.

Europe Emilios Galariotis Year of graduation: 2003 Degree studied: PhD Financial Economics City and country of origin: Patras, Greece Current job: Assistant Dean for Research and Professor of Finance at Audencia Business School (EQUIS, AMBA, AACSB). President of the French Finance association and member of the Board of Directors of HAEE and FEBS. City and country you currently live in: Nantes, France Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: Excellent experience. Received warm support and made friends for life. Will forever remember the long intellectual debates with other fellow students from different scientific areas (such as physics, finance, religion, politics), as well as from different walks of life and cultures. Will also remember the lovely events organised by the college but also the Hellenic Society and other active societies.

City and country you currently live in: Sydney, Australia Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: Having the Graduate Society as my base and living in Parson’s Field House were a crucial part of a rewarding and memorable year. Coming from the other side of the world to a wonderful city where I knew nobody, the support and human contacts that the Society provided made huge difference.

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Year of graduation: 2017 Degree studied: MSc. Developmental Psychopathology City and country of origin: Mexico City

City and country you currently live in: Moscow, Russian Federation

City and country you currently live in: The Hague, The Netherlands

Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: It was great!

Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: I remember the many nightly discussions that we had in our kitchen where some would cook dinner while others started with breakfast. I became so engrossed in my studies, that Durham definitely planted the seed for my professional career in academia. As the academic climate was so diverse and inclusive, I really lived in the moment. In one word: priceless.

Belma Haznedar Year of graduation: MA 1992, PhD 1997

Current job: PhD in Child Welfare, Groningen, The Netherlands

Degree studied: MA Applied Linguistics and Ph.D Linguistics

City and country you currently live in: Groningen, The Netherlands

City and country of origin: Istanbul, Turkey

Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: Ustinov was a home and a family for me. A place in which I made true friends, lived an international experience and exploit hidden talents throughout its societies and extra activities.

Markus Engelmann Year of graduation: 2017 Degree studied: MBA City and country of origin: Osnabrück, Germany Current job: Independent Financial Advisor City and country you currently live in: Osnabrück, Germany Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: It was great to meet so many people from different cultures and countries. So go out and enjoy your study life!

Hamit Ersoy Year of graduation: 1994

Thoughts on Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: Nice memories and becoming aware of my own personal growth in my mid-20s, being part of an international group and making great friends from various parts of the world, being among the very first residents of Fisher House, constant support from my former professors at the Linguistics Department. I have still close ties with them, collaborating and conducting joint research and writing academic papers with them. Above all, meeting with my husband Mehmet Keskin during my graduate studies at Durham University. He is currently a full time Professor at Istanbul Technical University. We were both affiliated with the Graduate Society.

City and country of origin: Alessandria, Italy

Dr Jacques van Loevezijn MA Year of graduation: 1989

City and country of origin: Diyarbakir, Turkey

City and country of origin: Almelo, the Netherlands

Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: I loved Durham. I loved the university. I still vividly remember every minute I spent there. I came to Durham once again in July 2019 to remember good old days and re-live Durham just before I was retired from a high level bureaucratic position and moved back to academia! My thanks go to everyone, John D. Norton in particular, who contributed to the success and happiness I have had throughout my life.

Timur Safiullin Year of graduation: 2012 Degree studied: MSc Economics and Finance City and country of origin: Kazan, Russian Federation Current job: Manager of Transformation, Leroy Merlin

Year of graduation: 2013 Degree studied: PhD Social Anthropology

Degree studied: MA Politics

City and country you currently live in: Istanbul. Turkey

Michele F. Fontefrancesco

City and country you currently live in: Istanbul/ Turkey

Degree studied: PhD

Current job: Professor at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University

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Current job: Full time Professor at Bogazici University, Istanbul,Turkey

Current job: Alderman Municipality of Raalte (Best College Mayor and Aldermen of the Netherlands 2019), Board Member Dutch Aldermen Association City and country you currently live in: Raalte, the Netherlands Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: My year in Durham (1988/1989) has been one of the finest periods in my life so far. I’m still in contact with some study friends. Graduate Society offered me a warm environment during that year. Being a rower I therefore fairly quickly joined the G.S. Boat Club. My advice; get a taste of Durham!

Jean-Pierre van der Rest Year of graduation: 1998 Degree studied: MA Managerial Economics City and country of origin: Zevenaar, The Netherlands Current job: Professor, Head of Department, Deputy Academic Director, Dean of PhD Program

Meet some of our Alumni Ustinovians

Magdalena Garzón Fonseca

Current job: Assistant Professor of Anthropology, University of Gastronomic Sciences, Italy City and country you currently live in: Lu e Cuccaro Monferrato, Italy Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: I was at Ustinov college from 2008 to 2012. UC was key for my professional and cultural growth. There I met my wife and many of my dearest friends. In the face of Brexit, Ustinov College is a beautiful example of what England can be: a welcoming place for diversity able to turn individual peculiarities into collective value.

George (or Georgios) Tsifoutidis Year of graduation: 1986 Degree studied: MSc Engineering Geology City and country of origin: Kastoria, Greece Current job: Ministry of Environment and Energy City and country you currently live in: Athens, Greece Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: I have first joined GradSoc in 1986 for my MSc, and later I split my PhD time (at School of Engineering) between GradSoc and Cuths. I was finally called a Dr as a Cuths member in July 1993. I was elected President of the Common Room and served as Ents Secretary around 19901. GradSoc was then the only melting pot of cultures, ages and statuses in the University. The experience gained was important as were deeply educational the issues faced in cross culture communication and coexistence. It did paid off, as everything I learned helped me in my professional life home and abroad. I am looking forward to a visit to lovely Durham soon.

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UK Richard C.A. Hindmarsh Year of graduation: 1985 Degree studied: MPhD Geography Department City and country of origin: Born in Kampala, Uganda

Current job: Retired Scientist, Emeritus Fellow at British Antarctic Survey, Honorary Professor of Geography, University of Durham City and country you currently live in: Cambridge, United Kingdom Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: I lived at Parson’s Field House (PFH, now demolished), where I was bar manager, and studied ice-flow modelling in the Geography Department. Graduate Society was a positive experience; staff at 34 Old Elvet were very accommodating. I made lots of friends in the Department, the bar and PFH. Graduate Society was very much more informal than other colleges.

John Archer-Thomson

my subsequent success in getting two full-time posts until I went freelance. My most recent book, co-written with my ex-colleague and friend Julian Cremona, is “Rocky Shores” Volume 7, British Wildlife Collection, Bloomsbury.

Tahani Abu Shaban Year of graduation: 2015 Degree studied: MA Arabic/English Translation and Interpretation City and country of origin: Palestine- Gaza Current job: Translation Specialist at the British Library City and country you currently live in: London, UK Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: Ustinov was simply my second home. My friends and flatmates, the caring and supportive staff and the non-stop fun were all I needed while I was away from home and family. If I have the chance, I will do it again. Study hard but do not forget to enjoy every moment. You will miss every bit of it.

Shi “Ann” Qian

Year of graduation: 1979

Year of Graduation: 2004

Degree: MSc Ecology

Degree Studied: Master’s in International Trade and Commercial Law

City and country of origin: England, UK Current job: I am at present a freelance coastal ecologist, photographer, associate tutor for the Field Studies Council and writer. City and country you currently live in: Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: Enjoyed my MSc course tremendously, for the first time I had found a subject that I was really interested in. The mix of half-taught, half dissertation suited me very well. That MSc qualification was instrumental in

City and Country of Origin: Shanghai, China Current Job: Researcher (University) City and Country Currently Live in: Chester, UK Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: Studying at Durham was my first ever experience abroad. It gave me a brand new start and a sense of belonging to the University community. From there I blended into local society and started contributing, which inevitably led to me settling in this country even without me realising it at that time.

Suzan Kirvar Year of graduation: 1999 Degree studied: MA Applied Linguistics (Distinction) Current job: Senior Programme Manager City and country you currently live in: London, United Kingdom Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: I was born in County Durham. I lived on three continents (USA, Europe and Asia), returning to Durham for my studies. It is a unique university city and it was a privilege to study there. Not just because of all the brilliant things our tutors taught us, but also because of all of the talented people with whom I studied.

Julie Woods Year of graduation: 2006 Degree studied: MA – Theological Research, PhD – ‘Jeremiah 48 as Christian Scripture’ City and country of origin: Aldershot, England Current job: Freelance Old Testament Lecturer City and country you currently live in: I am based in London but work abroad a lot, e.g. Rwanda Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: The housekeepers were very helpful when I arrived disabled from a double foot operation. I went to St John’s College after my MA because they had a theological library.

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Dan Brunsdon

Alan O’Cain

Year of graduation: 2015

Year of graduation: 2018

Year of graduation: 1986

Degree studied: PhD Computer Science

Degree studied: MSc Medical Anthropology

Degree studied: PGCE

City and country of origin: Durham, UK

City and country of origin: Cirencester, UK

Current job: Head of Data at SaleCycle, where we utilise the latest data science techniques to improve the online conversion rates for over 500 of the world’s leading brands. City and country you currently live in: Durham, UK Thoughts on your Ustinov experience: The Ustinov experience is completely different from the other colleges in Durham. You aren’t just joining a college you’re joining an international community of diverse and talented individuals. My experiences at Ustinov, along with the friendships I made, have stood me well in both my private and professional life many years after graduating.

Current job: Research Fellow with UK-PHRST City and country you currently live in: London, UK

City and country of origin: Sunderland, UK Current job: Freelance artist and poet City and country you currently live in: Durham, UK

Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: I had a fantastic time whilst at Ustinov. From the amazing people to the wholesome and inclusive community, staying in Ustinov was a complete joy and my Durham experience would have been lesser without it. I met some of the best people I know whilst doing my postgrad, and I have Ustinov to thank for that.

Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: In 85-86 I created the “Dance in Education Society” funded by DSU, we had huge fun learning to teach dance from a wide variety of guest tutors. Lovely to return to Ustinov in 2012-13 as “Artist-in-Residence” creating art and events with students and staff. Advice for current Ustinovians: have self-belief, grab all opportunities and network, network, network!

Wilfred Foxe

Nial Tanvir

Year of graduation: 1991

Year of graduation: 1992

Degree Studied: PhD Musicology

Degree studied: PhD in Cosmology

Degree studied: MSc Management Studies

City and Country of Origin: Manchester, England

City and country of origin: Derby, UK

City and country of origin: Chichester, UK

Current Job: Director of Education (retired)

John Eady Year of graduation: 1986

Current job: Founder, owner and CEO - Knight, Kavanagh & Page City and country currently lived in: Manchester – England and Talmont St Hilaire – South Vendee, France Thoughts on Graduate Society/Ustinov experience: In the mid-1980s GradSoc was a friendly and welcoming but slightly ‘below stairs’ college with relatively poor shared kitchen based student accommodation to which overseas students and those of us not over-keen on the demographics of certain other colleges tended to gravitate. It is good to see its renaissance and raised status. This may well, in part, be due to its rebranding…”that which we (now) call the Ustinov Society…by any other (previous) name would (perhaps not) smell as sweet.”

City and country I live in: Brandon, County Durham, England Thoughts on my Graduate Society / Ustinov experience: In 1987 I joined The Graduate Society, which then comprised relatively few students. Following retirement, I returned to Durham to find greatly increased student numbers of many nationalities; I am delighted that Ustinov College has expanded these fine traditions of The Graduate Society. Studying at Durham was amongst the smartest moves I ever made and it was such fun too!

Current job: Professor of Astrophysics City and country you currently live in: South Cambridgeshire and Leicester, UK Thoughts on your Graduate Society/ Ustinov experience: My main memories of Graduate Society revolve around meeting my future wife, who was a fellow newbie in 1987. We first met at a “start of term” party, and numerous walks along the riverbank, trips around the county and yet more PFC/PFH parties featured prominently for that year, before she had to head off down south to her first teaching job.

We love to hear from our alumni and want to know how you are getting on and where you are in the world! Please stay in touch by emailing ustinov.alumni@durham.ac.uk theUstinovian

Meet some of our Alumni Ustinovians

Chris Watson

Artistic Corner

Ustinov Poetry

Transfigured in a Moment By Deshon J. Griffith I don’t know much about astronomy, The galaxies and space. All I know is you are a star; The one light I gravitate to. I am drawn to you like the oceans to the moon, A phenomenon beyond human explanation. From whence have you come? Like glimpsing a shooting star ‘Twas only by chance that I feasted my eyes upon your remarkable visage: A beauty hitherto known only by the heavens... A frame made in the image of Aphrodite Intricate, exquisite... alluring. Flabbergasted, You have left me mute. Disoriented - weak. Your beauty alone overwhelms me And then, you speak... Smitten is an understatement. Like the chords of Gabriel’s harp Your sweet words hypnotise me. I savour each syllable slipping through. Stay with me a split second longer So I may die in the ecstasy of your passing gaze. Let me bask in the warmth of these mismatched hearts beating in unison For what seems to be an eternity compressed into a second. As you disappear from my sight, you return a smile ever so slight. Perfection is what I behold. My soul suffers at the thought of being deprived of your essence, Your presence, effervescence... This slowed second regains momentum, The silence of the room drowns in noise, My warm world grows cold as you fade into the darkness, And yet, My heart beats on; Keeping time with your love’s melody Until next I am greeted by thee, My star.

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Transfigured in a Moment

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