Sport in Action article

Contents

Alumni Development Office news 3

University news snippets 4-5

Haiti – one year on 6-7

Alumni profile 8

Student profile 9

Business School news 10-11

Students’ Union news 12-13

Alumni profile 14

York St John Rowing Club 15

Alumni Business Success stories 16-17

YSJ Connect 17

Faculty of Arts news 18-19

YSJ welcomes its new VC 20-21

Faculty of Education & Theology news 22-23

Alum of the Year 24

Graduation 2009 & Life More Abundant 25

Graduation 2010 26-27

Alumni profile 28-29

International news 30-31

Student profile 32-33

Association news 34

Ripon news 35

Faculty of Health & Life Sciences news 36-37

Career Development 38

Facts and figures 39

2

Editorial Team

BrettArnall Editor,Alumni&DevelopmentManager

JohnMaw Editor,WhiteRose,HonoraryFellow

KateHutchings Editorialconsultant,Alumni&Development Officer

JudithCoates Editorialconsultant,MarketingOfficerAmyHey PR&CommunicationsOfficer CraigWalton GraphicDesigner

PhotographyMarketingDepartment

AssociationPublicityOfficer

AlumniDevelopmentOffice

TheEditorialteamwouldliketothankallthosewhohavecontributedtothispublication.TheopinionsexpressedinAluminationdonotnecessarilyreflecttheviewsoftheAlumniDevelopmentOfficeorYorkStJohnUniversity.

A warm welcome to issue 11 from the Chair of Governors

I’mdelightedtowelcomeyoutoissue11ofAlumination.After12years

ofhappyassociationwithYorkStJohnmytermofofficeontheBoardof

GovernorswilldrawtoacloseinAugust2011.Thisperiodhasmarked

somegreatchangesbutIwilllookbackon2010asatrulymemorable

timefortheUniversity.WesaidgoodbyetoProfessorDianneWillcocks

wholedYorkStJohntoUniversitystatusandwewelcomedProfessorDavid

FlemingasournewViceChancelloratthebeginningofJune.Ibelieve

Davidprovedtobeanexcellentchoiceasinthefewmonthshehasbeen

withushehasmadeanimpressiveimpactonbothYorkStJohnandalso

inthewayinwhichhehasbuiltpartnershipswithinthewiderregion.I

thoroughlyenjoyedtheceremonyheldinYorkMinsteron2Novemberfor

theViceChancellor’sinauguration,joinedbystaff,students,alumni,friends,

professionalpartnersalongsideourChancellor,theArchbishopofYork.

AfteradetailedandconsideredselectionprocessIamdelightedto

announcethatthenewChairofGovernorswillbeAnnGreenCBEFCMI

FRSA.Ann,wholivesinYork,hasextensiveexperienceinbusinessandthe

commercialworld,alongwithastronginterestinheritageandculture.

SheiscurrentlyChairmanofTheRoyalArmouriesBoardofTrustees,a

non-executivedirectoroftheDepartmentofCulture,Media&Sportand

ChairmanofHadrian’sWallHeritageLtd,thecompanyresponsiblefor

theWorldHeritageSite.SheisaformerdirectoroftheNorthernStock

ExchangeandtheNorthernIndustrialSociety.

IhaveenjoyedmyassociationwithYorkStJohnUniversityandwillbesad

toleave,however,Annwillbeanoutstandingreplacement.YorkStJohn

Universityhasbeenafantasticplacetobeinvolvedandassociatedwithand

Ihaveenjoyedthecompanyofgovernors,staff,studentsandvisitors.Ishall

alwaysbeproudofwhattheInstitutionhasachievedandtheoutstanding

graduateswehaveproduced.Ishalltakeaninterestinthefutureofthe

Universitybutonlyasasupporting

admirerofwhatcanbedonetohelp

thesocialandeducationalneedsof

studentsandstaff.Theeducation

sectorisfacingnewchallengesandYork

StJohnwillfacetransition.However,

ourproudhistory,strongcommunity

spiritandtheexceptionallearning

experienceprovidedbytheUniversity

willcontinuetoshinethrough.

RobinHall,ChairofGovernors

Soonwewillbehelpingtoorganise10-year-outreunions-startingin2013-tocommemorate

theformationoftheAlumniSocietyin2003.Wearehappytosupportanygroupreunionsthat

takeplacesopleasedogetintouchifyouthinkwecanassistinanyway.Wearenowsendingout

e-zinestoournewsandeventsgroup.E-zinesareaneasyandconvenientwayofkeepingup-to-

datewithopportunitiesandevents.IfyouwouldliketoreceivetheNews&Eventse-zineplease

E:[email protected].

ManycongratulationstoProfessorAndySmithwhowasawardedanMBEinthe2011NewYear’s

Honourslistforhisservicestosportandeducation.Andyisnowworkinginaprofessorialrole

withintheFacultyofHealth&LifeSciencesonanumberofspecialistsubjectprojects.Overthe

nextyearhewillalsobecarryingforwardanumberofexcitingfundraisinginitiativesonbehalfof

theViceChancellor.

Outstanding SPARK support OneofthefactorsthatmakesYorkStJohnsuchaspecialenvironmentisthecloseknit,

supportivecommunitythatexistswithalumni,students,staff,governorsandagrowingnumber

ofexternalfriends.ThisisevidentinthenumberofsupportersfundraisingforSPARK.Thefun

runraised£4,000lastyearbutwealsohadsomenewexcitingevents

onthecalendar!InMarch2010theStudentWardenTeamorganised

anoutstandingStudentWardenVarietyEntertainmentShowfeaturinga

diverserangeofacts,raising£800forSPARK.Thiswasfollowedbystaff

membersDonnaHarrisonandKirstinThompsonorganisingthefirstever

StaffBigBandIdol(featuringsongsperformedbytheBigBandandsung

bystaff).Thiseventraisedover£1,300forSPARKandthewinningactwas

KathrynHassell,FrankieSharpeandStephanieLeyfromtheStudentAdvice

teamwiththeirversionof‘BoogieWoogieBugleBoy’.

WehopeyoutakealookattheenclosedinauguralYorkStJohnUniversity

DonorNewsletter,showinghowtheSPARKfundhasgrownandsupported

somanystudentsatYorkStJohn.Weareparticularlyproudthatinboth

2009and2010aSPARKScholarshipstudentwonanAdultLearnerofthe

YearAward.

Wewillberunningatelephonecampagnlaterintheyear,ifyouwouldliketooptoutpleaseletusknowby29April2011.

E:[email protected]:01904876432

Events Acomprehensivelistof2011YorkStJohneventsisavailableontheYorkStJohnwebsite:www.yorksj.ac.uk/events.Wethoughtthefollowing

maybeofinteresttoyou:

11May 3.30pmFoundationDay FeaturingaChapelServiceandtheAssociationTown&Gownlecture:‘PastSuccesses,

FutureChallenges’byBaronessEstelleMorrisofYardley(thiseventstarts6.30pm)

21May DayattheRaces YSJ’sannualDayattheRaces(YorkRacecourse)–

CountyStandticketsareavailablefor£20(usually£34)

AsmallproportionofeachticketsalegoestoSPARK Moreinformationabouttheseeventsareavailableonthealumniwebpageswww.yorksj.ac.uk/alumni

3

Alumni Development Office news

Frankie,Stephanie&Kathryncelebrate

Funrun2010–featuringtheSmurfs!

Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ysjalumnisociety

4

University news

TimesHigherAwardsuccessforSchoolsLiaisonandAdmissionsTeam

InJune2010YorkStJohn’sSchoolsLiaisonandAdmissionsTeamwonthe

StudentAdmissionsTeamcategoryattheTimesHigherEducationLeadership

andManagementAwards.TheeventwasheldatGrosvenorHouseHotelin

London,YorkStJohnwasoneofsixuniversitiesthathadbeenshortlisted.

PriortotheteamreceivingthisprestigiousawardtheUniversityhad

experiencedagrowthofalmost40%initsapplicationsand30%initsopen

dayvisits.Manyprojectsmanagedbytheteamaresupportedbyavery

successfulstudentambassadorscheme.

OutstandingcontributionrecognisedforProfessorBillinghamInAugust2010YorkStJohnstaffsaidasadfarewelltoFormerProVice

Chancellor,ProfessorStuartBillingham.Stuartwaswidelyrespectedforhis

contributiontowideningparticipation.InJune2010hereceivedrecognition

forthisoutstandingcontributionattheannualYork&NorthYorkshire

AimhigherAwards.Aimhigherisanationalprogrammetoraiseaspirations

andattainmentofthosegroupswhichareunder-representedinHigher

Education.ProfessorBillinghampickedupanawardforhis‘Outstanding

IndividualContributiontoAimhigher’demonstratedbyhiscommitment

andenthusiasminrepresenting,andprovidingstrategicleadershipof,the

Aimhigherprogrammeandalsoforhisworkinthisfieldatnationallevel.

StuartworkedinFurtherandHigherEducationforover30years.

LifetimeachievementawardforformerViceChancellorInDecember2009ProfessorDianneWillcocksCBE,formerViceChancellorof

YorkStJohnUniversitywasgivenaLifetimeAchievementAwardbyYorkPress.

TheawardwasinrecognitionforherservicestobusinessesinYork.TheBusiness

AwardshavebeenrunbyThePressfor19yearsandDiannewasthefirstwomanto

receivethisaccolade.

ProfessorWillcocksCBE

OutstandingcontributionrecognisedforProfessorBillingham

Membersofthewinningteam

TimesHigherAwardsuccess

forSchoolsLiaison

andAdmissionsTeam

5

NewstudenthallsatGray’sWharfOn8September2010thenew232-roomstudenthallsatGray’sWharfwere

officiallyopened.Thiscarfreesiteissituatedonapreviouslyderelictsite

offNavigationRoad.TheneighbouringdevelopmentonPercy’sLanehas

beenpraisedforitscontributiontotheregenerationofthelocalarea.Gray’s

Wharfincorporatesmanysustainableenergysavingfeaturesincludingwaste

recycling,airsourceheatpumpsandaheatingsystemwhichrecognisesnon-

occupancyofaroom.

OlympicchampionvisitsYorkStJohnOlympicchampionJonathanEdwardsCBE,DeputyChairoftheNationsand

RegionsGroupoftheLondonOrganisingCommitteeoftheOlympicand

ParalympicGames,tookpartinaninspirationaldayon22September2010

topromoteandsupportsportandbusinessintheregion.Theeventwas

designedtochallengeattitudestodisabilityandexplorehowhavingadisability

canbeovercomeinbusiness,sportandculture.Jonathan,whohasheldthe

worldrecordforthetriplejumpsince1995,wasjoinedattheeventbythe

ChairmanofParalympicGB,TimReddishOBE.

ThethemeofdisabilityinbusinesswashighlightedinaconferenceatYorkSt

JohnBusinessSchool,withpresentationsfromDeloitte,JobCentrePlusand

AlanRayment,CoachandAmbassadorforTriathlonEnglandDisabledAthletes.

TheViceChancellor’sTeamatYorkStJohnYorkStJohnUniversitycompleteditstopteamwithtwonewkey

appointments.DavidChesserjoinedtheUniversityasProViceChancellor

(Resources)andSueReecebecamethenewProViceChancellor

(Development).DavidChesserwaspreviouslyDeputyViceChancellor

andFinanceDirectoratNorthumbriaUniversity.SueReecehaspreviously

spentseveralyearsattheUniversityofSunderlandwhereshewasDirector

ofStudentRecruitmentandBusinessPartnerships.

l-rSueReece,DavidFleming,DavidMaughanBrown&DavidChesser

SUPresident,LeighHankinsonandtheVCcuttheribbon

(l-r)AlanRayment,ProfessorDavidFleming,JonathanEdwards

&TimReddish

On12January2010anearthquakeregistering7.0hitthenationof

HaitiintheCaribbean.Iwatchedthenewsunfoldoverthefollowing

weeksindespairanddisbeliefasstoriesreportedlossoflives,homes

andshatteredcommunities.Thousandsofpeopleweresaidtohave

losttheirhomesandover3millionpeoplewereaffected.Ihad

knownsomethingaboutHaiti’salreadyimpoverishedstateandalmost

totallackofinfrastructureanddevelopment.Icouldnotbeginto

comprehendhowtheyweregoingtobeabletocopewithsucha

terribledisaster.

IfeltcompelledtofindwaysinwhichImightbeabletooffersome

helpintermsofopportunitiesforassistingindevisinganddeveloping

someculturallysensitivebereavementcounsellingorartstherapy

programmesbothintermsofimmediatedisasterresponseandlonger

termprojects.Ibegantoresearchwhatsupportwasbeingmade

available.Informationwasverysparse.Therewasoneprojectbeing

runbyTheQuisqueyaUniversityatPort-au-Prince.TheUniversity,

whichhadbeencompletelyflattenedbythequake,hadstartedto

developanArtsTherapyprogrammewithaskills-basedteamof

volunteers.EducationstudentsfromtheUniversityhadbeengivena

crashcourseinpsychosocialsupport.Theywererunningworkshops

attheweekendforchildrenwithnumbersasmanyas150atatime.

Theywereworkingfromtentsinthestreets,theirmottobeing‘the

streetsareyouruniversitynow’.Manyofthestaffandstudentshad

beenkilledinthequake.Whilsttheremayhavebeensomeother

supportprogrammesdeveloping,communicationwasverylimited.I

wantedtotrytofindanaidorganisationwithaviewtoflyingoutto

gathermoreinformation.

WithworkandfamilycommitmentsIwasonlyabletotravelinitially

foraperiodof3-4weeks.Ifeltthiswasanimportantconcernwhilst

consideringthenatureoftheworkwhichIcouldundertake.Any

kindoftherapeuticsupportwouldnot,Ifelt,beappropriateunless

alongertermcommitmentcouldbemadeontheproject.The

peoplewerealreadyphysicallyandemotionallyvulnerable.Building

relationshipswiththemforsuchashortspaceoftimecouldhavebeen

potentiallydamagingtotheiremotionalwellbeingintermsofforming

attachmentsthenhavetheirtraumaincreasedbyleavingandreturning

backhomeafteracoupleofweeks.

Withthisinmind,Ilookedfurtheratskills-basedvolunteering.There

wasastart-updevelopmentprojectwithaninternationalNGOwitha

‘visiontosupporttheworkoflocalcommunityorganisations’.They

werelookingtorecruitpeopleontheirinitialProgrammeDevelopment

TeamstartinginApril.Themissionwasdescribedasapsychosocial

projectandtheywereseekingoutprofessionalsworldwideto‘assistin

implementingandestablishingthebuildingsofasustainablevolunteer

programme,workingwiththeirpartnerorganisationsandpreparing

thewayforfutureteamstojointheprogramme’.Theprojectwas

tobebasedindisplacementcampsinJacmelinSouthernHaiti

wheremorethan3,000children,youthandwomenhadbeenmade

homelessafterthequake.

Iwasofferedaplaceonthisprogrammeandwasselectedasoneof

thefirstteamofvolunteerstoflyouttoHaitiinApril.Ihadreceived

someverygenerousdonationsfromYorkStJohnUniversity,local

schoolsand

businesses,

and

contributions

fromfriends

andcolleagues

tohelptofund

this.Theteam

consistedof

30people

internationally

fromdifferent

professions

andskills

background.

Thegroupwas

splitintotwo

projectsand

only10were

senttotheJacmelprogramme,includingmyself.

Arrivingattheairportwewereimmediatelyconfrontedwithchaos,

fightingourwaythroughtheterminalwithhundredsoffacesatthe

gatesbeggingforwater,foodandmoney.

AnnSteel|Postgraduate,CounsellingSupervision

6

Rubble everywhere

Haiti – One year on

E: [email protected]: www.annsteel.co.uk

7

Thedestructionwasindescribable.Therealitythattherewerestill

deadbodiesunderneaththerubble,andfeelingsofgriefandtotal

despairoverwhelmedme.Aswedroveoverthemountainstherains

startedanditfeltextremelydangerousdrivingoveralreadyseverely

damagedroads.ThemassdeforestationanddestructionofHaiti’s

naturalforestsresultedinasignificantriskoflandslides.Afterabout

fourandahalfhourswearrivedatJacmel,therainswereveryheavy;

waterwaspouringdownthestreets,rawsewagefloatedpast,the

stenchwasterrible.Acrosstheroadweretwosmallcamps,onlyone

havingnewlydonatedsmalltents.Throughatranslatorwevisited

andtalkedtomanyofthefamiliesonthecampstotrytoassesstheir

immediateneeds.Wevisitedalocalorphanage;asmallboysaton

theflooreatingaminisculeportionofricefromabowlcoveredwith

flieswhilstsatinhisownurine.Asmallbabylayinacornerofafilthy

floorcoveredbyinsects.Itwascramped,hot,andhumid,thesmellof

excrementandurinewasoverwhelming,ababyblindedbydiseasesat

helplessly(welearntlaterthathehaddiedsoonafterourvisit).

Wevisitedsomeofthedisplacementcampswherewefoundthe

peoplelivinginthemostappallinginhumaneconditionssurroundedby

humanwasteandexcrement.AtnightIcouldnotsleep,asIlistened

totherainthinkingaboutthefamiliessleepinginmudandsqualor.

TheharrowingconditionscontinuedtodisturbmeandIwondered

howthiscouldbehappeninginthe21stcentury.Iwasconsumedwith

angstanddespair,feelingswhichevolvedthroughoutmyexperience

andhavecontinuedtostaywithmesincemyreturn.

Ouraimandobjectivewastofocusontheimmediateneedsofthe

localpeople.Somepartnershipswereformedwithlocalprojects,

someofwhichwehopedwouldbesustainablelongerterm.Initial

contactwasmadewithaCounsellingServicewhichwasduetoopen

inMay2010whichwasdesignedtohelpsupportbothadultsand

childrenaffectedbythequake.Despitehavingtakeneveryprecaution

toprotectmyselffromdisease,Ibecamesickandneededtovisita

makeshifttenthospitalwheretheconditionswereextremelygrim.

Thelackofmedicines,necessitatingadriveofoverthreehourstofive

pharmacies,leftmewithfeelingsofoverwhelmingguiltfortaking

vitalresourcesawayfromthelocalpeople.Therewastheadditional

concernovergettinganyfurthersuppliesintothecountry,fuel

shortagescausingaseriousthreattogettingbacktotheairportand

thevolcanicdustcloudwhichhaddisruptedsomanyflights.Ididnot

knowifIcouldorwouldevergetbacktotheUKandtomyhomeand

family.

Therecentoutbreakofcholeraandthefloodshaspromptedafurther

frenzyofmediaattention.Storiesareonceagainfocusedontheplight

ofthechildrenandthefamilies.Themediareportssensationalising

storiesofhorroranddeathcausemegreatdistress.Whilstthereis

aneedtoknowaboutthesedisastersinordertohelpreceivemuch

neededaidmoneyandsupport;dowereallyneedtoseepicturesof

deathandextremesufferingtounderstandthisconcept?Couldthis

notbeseenasaviolationandinvasionoftheirhumanrights,their

dignityandprivacy?Haveallthesepeoplegivenpermissionfortheir

imagesorimagesoftheirchildrentobeusedinthisway?Thereisa

balancebetweenneedingtoreportsuchtragedyandrespectforthe

individualsinvolved.

SincereturninghomeIhavebeguntothinkmoreaboutthewhole

conceptofbestethicalpracticeinInternationalVolunteeringin

particularinrelationtodisasterresponse.Thereisclearlyanidentified

needforsomeprofessionalswithcertainskills,whocanoffertheir

timetoassistinworkingwiththelocalpeopletodesignprogrammes

tohelprebuildcommunities.Volunteershowevershouldenterinto

theseprojectswithsomedegreeofcautionandgivethoughtand

considerationtothepotentialethicaldilemmas.

Therearemanyorganisationsofferingprogrammeswhichfallinto

thecategoryofwhathasbeencoined‘voluntourism’oraid‘tourist’

projects,aimedmorespecificallyatyoungunskilledvolunteers

particularlyongapyearexperiences.Mostoftheseprogrammeshave

beendesignedfornon-emergencyresponseandforaidingdeveloping

thirdworldcountrieswheretheirpresencecanhaveapositiveeffect

uponthecommunity.Disasterresponsehowever,inanalready

impecuniouscountryIfeelnecessitatesfurthermoralconsiderations.

Thereareobvioussignificantproblemscreatedbygoingintoacountry

sobadlyinneedofbasicvitalresourcesandforthevolunteerstobe

utilisingtheirpaucityofsupplies.

Iwouldthereforeencourageanybodyconsideringsigninguptoa

projecttothinkverycarefullyaboutthepotentialconsequencesof

theirinvolvementinsuchprogrammesandconsiderjusthowmuch

helptheyaregoingtobetothecommunityandthepeopletheyare

aimingtohelp,andvolunteerethicallyandresponsibly.

Tents behind collapsed buildings

Jamcel College University badly damaged

8

Alumni profile CatherineScriven|BA(Hons)Art&Design,2008

AlumniwhohaverecentlyventuredthroughtheQuadentrancefromLordMayor’s

Walkwillnodoubthaveseenthestunningartworkdisplayedonsixonemetrewide

aluminiumpanels.TheartworkentitledAlumniAbundantes1841-2010,meaning

alumniinabundance,wasspeciallycreatedbyYorkStJohnalumnaCatherineScriven

anddepictsanartisticcollectionofthemanyYorkStJohn&Riponalumniandstaff.

Thisworkwasherfirstpubliccommissionofartworkandwasofficiallyunveiledon

Friday26March2010.TheworkmarksthebeginningoftheYorkStJohnHeritage

Trailwhichmapsthemanyhistoricartefactsandsymbolsaroundcampusthatdefine

theUniversityandthevaluesitstandsfor.

CatherinestudiedinBelgiumuptoALevelbutatthetimedidn’tseethelong-term

careerbenefitofchoosingart.InsteadsheoptedtostudyLanguagesandBusiness

StudiesinBrussels.Shebeganherpart-timestudiesin2002,choosingYorkStJohn

becauseoftheflexibilityandwelcomingenvironmentsheexperienced.In2008

CatherinegraduatedfromYorkStJohnwithafirstclassdegreeinArt&Design.

Aftergraduating,CatherinewasapproachedbyamemberofstaffastheUniversity

wantedartworktobedisplayedintheQuadentrancebasedonourarchives.She

sourcedalotofmaterialattheArchiveRoadshowinJune2009.Attheeventshe

interviewedalumnifrombothYorkStJohnandRiponandtookadvantageofthe

numerouspicturesandartefactsthatwereavailable,goingbackwellover100years.

FollowingthisinspirationittookCatherineoversixmonthstocompleteAlumni

Abundantes1841-2010,sheisdelightedbythepositiveresponsetoherwork.

DuringhertimeatYorkStJohnshewasalsoawardedtheUniversity’sStart4Artprize

foroutstandingachievementthroughoutthedurationofherdegreeandtohelp

Catherineestablishherselfasanindependentartist.Sincegraduatingshehasalso

securedaresidencywithHAFNEY(HospitalArtsforNorthEastYorkshire)toproduce

publicworkforWhitbyHospitalhasalsodisplayedworkinNorthYorkshireOpen

Studios.Catherineusesacombinationofdigitalphotography,drawing,printingand

handmadepapers.Inherpracticeshefocusesonrepetitiveprocesses,andeveryday

routinesystemsandnarratives.

Catherineiscurrentlyagraduate

internatBarLaneStudios

(Micklegate)withfiveother

YorkStJohngraduates,who

aresharingacommunalstudio

foroneyear.Thisinternship

programmehasbeenfacilitated

throughapartnershipbetween

CreativeBusinessatYorkSt

JohnandBarLaneStudios.In

December2010artworkbythegraduateswasshownataprivateviewingatBar

Lane,heldtocelebratethesuccessofaprestigiousexhibitionoriginallyheldatthe

openingofanewHugoBossstoreinManchester.

To find out more about Catherine:

www.catherinescriven.co.uk | [email protected]

First class degree for Catherine

‘Red Riding Hood’

Delighted by the positive response

9

Student profileGraemeLaw|BA(Hons)PhysicalEducation&SportsCoaching

GraemeLawjoinedYorkStJohnUniversityinSeptember2009tostudy

foradegreeinPE&SportsCoaching.AtthattimefewatYorkSt

JohnUniversitywouldbeawarethathehadalreadymadehismarkas

aprofessionalfootballer.Hisexperiencestodateinfootballillustrate

quiteclearlythetremendouseffortthatyoungplayershavetoputinto

besuccessfulinthegame.

GraemewasborninScotlandbutmovedtoYorkwhen

hewasveryyoung.Withexcellentskillsandafirstclass

attitudetothegameitwasnotsurprisingthatthe

coachingstaffatYorkCityFCrecognisedhisprecocious

talentandfromtheageof10hejoinedtheirSchool

ofExcellence.Attheageof11hewenttoTadcaster

GrammarSchoolanditwasfromthistimethathe

reallybegantomakehismarkasafootballer.

Furthersuccesscamehiswaywhenhewasselectedto

playfortheYorkCityBoysteamsatUnder11through

toUnder15andtohiscredithecaptainedallofthese

teams.HealsocaptainedtheNorthYorkshireand

NorthofEnglandteams.

Aftersuccessfullyworkinghiswaythroughthejunior

levelsoffootball,Graemesignedprofessionalforms

forYorkCityFCattheageof16.Inthe2004-05

seasonheturnedoutforCityon24occasionsand

wasselectedassubstituteforafurthersevengames.

Graeme’stimeasaprofessionalwithYorkwastobe

arelativelyshortoneaschangestopersonnelatthe

ClubmeanthemovedbacktohisnativeScotlandto

playwithDundee.Itwastherethatheenjoyedthe

outstandingfootballoccasionofhislifewhenheplayed

intheScottishCupFinalagainstGretnaatHampden

Park,onlytofacethedisappointmentofathreegoals

toonedefeat.

Graememadeanothermovein2006whenhejoined

forceswithTamworthtoplayintheConferenceNorth

league.TamworthcametopoftheleagueinGraeme’s

thirdseasonwiththeclub.Currentlyheisplayingfor

StalybridgeCelticinBlueSquareNorthandheismost

sensiblylookingathisfutureinthegame.Forthepastthreesummers

hehastakenoncoachingresponsibilitiesatLaMangainSpain,the

biggestsportscomplexinEurope.HeisnowaUEFA‘B’Qualified

Coach.Furtherinternationalexperiencerecentlycamehiswayas

amemberoftheBritishteamthatcompetedintheWorldStudent

GamesinBeijing.

Askedwhichplayershadbeenthebiggestinfluenceonhiscareerhe

nominatedGordonStrachan,PauloMaldiniandPatriceEvra.Allthree

arefirstclassrolemodelsforapersonwhoseekstobecomeacoach

inprofessionalfootballoraschoolteacherinphysicaleducationand

sport.

Graeme Law playing for England universities

Graemesignedprofessional

formsforYorkCity

attheageof16

10

Alumnilookingtoenhancetheirmanagementskillsandadvancetheir

careersneedlooknofurther,asYorkStJohnBusinessSchooloffers

opportunitiesintheheartofYorkandonline.

ThefirstMastersinBusinessAdministration(MBA)programmeinYork

waslaunchedinSeptember2010.TheMBAaimstodevelopabroad

understandingofarangeofbusinessfunctionsandhowtheyperform

atoperationalandstrategiclevels.Thereisastrongemphasisonthe

applicationoftheoreticalknowledgeintheworkplacewithstudents

developing,managingandimplementingprojectswithlocalbusinesses.

Theprogrammeisidealforpeopleworkinginsmallandmediumsized

businessesaswellaslargerandinternationalorganisations.

TheMBAcanbetakeneitherfull-timeonanintensive12-month

programmeorpart-time(overtwotofiveyears).Therewillbeone

intakeeachyearinSeptember.

ModulesincludeEnvironmentallySustainableBusiness,International

Finance,HumanResourceManagement,LeadershipandManagement

Skills,InternationalBusinessStrategy,InternationalTradeand

Globalization,ManagingCorporateReputation,andDesigninBusiness.

ChristineMortimer,HeadoftheMBAprogrammeexplains,‘The

internationalelementsoftheprogrammeenablestudentstodevelop

anddeepentheirunderstandingoftheopportunitiesandchallenges

presentedbyglobalization–anincreasinglyimportantaspectof

today’sbusinessworld.Innovation,creativityanddesignarealsokeyto

businesssuccess.That’swhywe’veintroducedoptionalmodulesthat

aimtodevelopanunderstandingofthemanagementofinnovation

andcreativityinacommercialcontext,andthenotionofhowconcepts

anddesignareessentialbutoftenmisunderstoodelementsof

successfulbusinesses.’

Alongsidethenewprogrammes,theBusinessSchoolhasextendedits

teachingteamwiththeappointmentoffivenewlecturersteaching

undergraduateandpostgraduatestudents.

JackieMathers,DeanofYorkStJohnBusinessSchoolsaid,‘Iam

delightedtoappointsuchhighcalibrelecturers.Theirblendof

academicresearch,teachingandmeaningfulbusinessexperiencewill

bearealassettoourstudents.’

Inadditiontotheacademicprogrammes,theBusinessSchoolhas

becomeacentreoftheInstituteofLeadership&Management

(ILM).FromSeptember2011,theywillbeofferingtheILMLevel5

QualificationsinManagement.TheILMLevel5Award,Certificateand

DiplomainManagementarequalificationsthathavebeenspecially

designedtogivepractisingoraspiringmanagersasolidfoundationin

theirformaldevelopmentinthisrole.

Learning opportunities through the Business School

News from the Business School

York St John launches new programmes

Languages Success

BritishSignLanguage(BSL)

studentscelebrateda

100%passrateinthelatest

Signatureexaminationresults,

puttingitmorethan20

percentagepointsabovethe

UKaverage.Programme

leaderAmandaSmith,whose

firstlanguageisBSLrather

thanEnglishhavingbeenborn

deaf,deliversthecoursein

ahighlyengagingwayusing

numerousvisualpropswhich

encouragesstudentstolearn

fromeachotheraswellasqualifiedtutors,includingaweekly‘Sign

Café’wherestudentscangettogethertogainadditionalpractice.

StudentsareparticularlyinterestedinBSLbecausetheyseeitasan

importantskilltohaveinanyfuturecareerinteachingorspeechand

languagetherapy.Equally,publichealthprovidersandlocalbusinesses

recognisetheneedforcommunicatingwithclientsandcustomers

fromtheDeafcommunity.

Further information about the BSL courses available or the

weekly ‘Sign Café’ at York St John Business School is available on

E: [email protected] T: 01904 876915.

Amanda Smith, BSL programme leader

11

Events for all

Professor Roger Steare

Networkingeventsheldthroughouttheyearwillhelpyou

shareknowledge,ideasandgainaccesstobusinesscolleagues,

otheralumni,currentstudentsandleadersoforganisationsin

theYorkshireandHumberregion.Theseeventsattracthigh

qualityspeakersfromtheUKandinternationally.Hereisa

selectionoftheupcomingeventsin2011.

English Language & Linguistics

Colloquium Series

Aforuminwhichguestlecturers,studentsandstaffpresent

theirwork,followedbyaninformaldiscussionoverdinner.A

widevarietyoftopicsarecoveredfromLanguageandtheLaw

toSecondLanguageTeaching.

Contact Andrew Merrison E: [email protected]

or Chris Hall E: [email protected] or T: 01904 876639.

Foreign Language Lecture Series

DoyouenjoylisteningtoalanguageotherthanEnglish?

Perhapsyouwanttopractiseyourlanguageskills,learn

somethingnewormaybeyouarefarawayfromhomeand

wouldliketoshareyourfirstlanguagewithotherlearners?Why

notjoinusattheForeignLanguageLectures?

Over80peoplehaveenjoyedlecturesinItalian,Polish,Greek

andSpanish,alongwithaglassofwineandlightrefreshments.

Sign up to the upcoming lectures

E: [email protected] or T: 01904 876507.

Leadership events

• The Annual Business School LectureonWednesday11

May2011welcomesProfessorRogerSteare,Corporate

Philosopher,whocreatedtheethicability®MoralDNAtest

andKerstenEngland,CEOofCityYorkCouncil.

Theeventisfree.

• Going Global takesplaceon17June2011sponsoredbyYorkshire

BankandKPMG.TheBusinessSchoolwelcomeskeynotespeakerTom

Vosa,ChiefEconomistandHeadofMarketEconomicsEuropeatthe

YorkshireBank.Theeventwillbefollowedbyworkshopstodiscussthe

challengesofchangeinorganisations.

• Creativity & Innovationisaneventtogivebusinessleadersand

entrepreneurstherightbalanceofacademicandcorporatesupport

tohelpthemincorporatecreativeideasandtransformtheminto

tangiblebusinesssuccess.DatetobeconfirmedinSeptember2011.

• Thefifthintheseries,theAnnual Tourism Conferencetakesplacein

November2011duringYorkBusinessWeek.Speakersandactivitiesfor

thedaywillbeannouncedsoon.

Yorkisalovelyplacetovisit,todobusinessandtostudy,andYorkStJohn

BusinessSchoolprovidespeoplewithyetanotherreasontochoosethecity.

For further information on programmes, courses or events, contact

York St John Business School, E: [email protected]

T: 01904 876915, or visit www.yorksj.ac.uk/businessschool.

Speakers at the Tourism Conference 2010

12

Students’ Union news

Campaigning!

Thisyearpromisestobeanotherpositivecampaignyearforthe

Students’Union.It’sthefirstyearofournewstrategicplan.Having

theplanhasmeantthatwecangearourcampaignsaroundthe

worriesthatstudentsidentifiedinourresearch.Thismeansthatweare

moreintouchwiththeneedsandwantsofstudentsthaneverbefore.

ThisyearwiththeintroductionofournewAcademicDevelopment

Co-ordinator,wearepushingProgrammeRepslikeneverbeforeaswell

asre-runningoursuccessfulSafetyofStudents’campaign.

Newtothisyear’sagendaarecampaignssuchasthe‘FirstYear

Counts’,whichencouragesfirstyearstogetinvolvedinvolunteering

andengagingfullywiththeirprogramme–givingthemextrastrings

totheirbowtomakethemmoreemployableupongraduation.The

welfareofourstudentsremainsthepriorityoftheSUandweare

continuingourworkonmakingsureourstudentsaremakinggood

choicesaroundhousingandtheirfinancesespeciallyintheseincreasing

difficulttimes.

President Leigh Hankinson

BA (Hons) Sports Studies, 2010

VP Education & Welfare Katie Knowles

BSc (Hons) Sport & Exercise Science, 2009

VP Student Activities Jason Chappelhow

BA (Hons) Sports Studies, 2010

National Debt Day March

Varsity 2010 versus Teesside University (Teesside, Wednesday 13 October 2010)

Itwasthattimeoftheyearagainwhenthenewstudentshadjust

settledinandoursportsteamswereinfullpreparationfortheBUCS

(BritishUniversities&CollegesSports)seasonaheadformallyknownas

BUSA.ThisyearourannualVarsitywascontestedbetweenourselves

andTeessideUniversity.WithYorkStJohnthevictoriousinstitution

forthelastthreeyearswehadeveryreasontogotoTeessidefull

ofconfidenceinretainingthetrophy.However,thedayprovided

somethingofashockfortheYSJstudents.Teessidehadclearly

steppeduptheirgameandYorkStJohnsurrenderedtothis–with

Teessidewinning15-5infixtures!

Althoughthedaydidn’tprovidetheresultourstudentscravedfor,the

dayandeveningeventsinTeessidewereahugesuccesswithmany

newfriendshipsformedandbondswithTeessideUniversityfurther

enhanced.Withahugelossofmembershiplastyearitwasnever

goingtobeeasy;lookingtothefutureourstudentsareprovingtobe

strongerinBUCS(universityleagues)astheseasondevelops;withour

firstyearsprovingthereissomerealhighqualitytalentoutthere.If

thistrendcontinuesthenwecouldwellbepunchingaboveourweight

againamongsttheothermuchlargeruniversities,asYSJalwaysdoes

–wemaybesmallinnumbersbutwecertainlymakeitupforitin

character!

Over75YorkStJohnstudentstookpartintheNationalDebtDay

marchorganisedbytheNationalUnionofStudentsinNovember2010

inLondon.Theytravelleddowntothecapitalwithrepresentatives

fromtheUniversityofYork.ForPresidentLeighHankinsonitwasthe

firsttimehe’dtakenpartinapeacefulprotest.Hefeltthatthemarch

wasanimportantopportunityfortheUniontogetstudentviewsacross

astheeventattractedalotofmediacoverage–unfortunately,notall

ofitfortherightreasons.Noneofourstudentswereinvolvedinanyof

thedifficultiesonthatday.

Leighhasbeenengagingstudentsindiscussionsaboutwhatthe

governmentcutscouldmeanforthem,theUnionandtheUniversity.

TheUnionhavebeenusingdifferentmethodsofengagement,

includingtheweeklySoapBoxeventstomakepeopleawarethat

fundingcutscanaffectall

aspectsofstudentlife.It’s

sparkedalotofpeople’s

emotions.TheUnionis

workingalongsidethe

Universitytoplanaheadand

thisisobviouslygoingtobe

animportantfeatureofthe

Union’sworkthisyear.

13

Alumni profile Andy Winter

BA (Hons) English Studies, 2000

YSJStudents’UnionPositions: VPEducation&Welfare

ExecutiveOfficer(Ripon)

NewspaperEditor

Career History

2009-onwards

GeneralManager,YorkStJohnStudents’Union

2004-2009

StudentActivitiesManager,LeedsUniversityUnion

2002-2004

Training&DevelopmentOfficer,LoughboroughStudents’Union

2001-2002

StudentCommunityActionManager,DurhamUniversity

2000-2001

VPEducation&Welfare,YorkStJohnStudents’Union

MyexperiencesasaUnionCouncillorandthenaSabbaticalOfficer

havehadamassiveimpactonmylife.WhenIwasatschoolIdidn’t

knowsucharoleasGeneralManagerofaStudents’Unionexisted,

nevermindplanningtobecomeone.Theopportunitiesofbeing

involvedintheUnionopenedmyeyestoawholedifferentworldof

workandallowedmetoexperiencetrainingproductionanddelivery,

budgetingandstrategicplanningandformalinstitutionalmeetings

thatIwouldn’thavegotelsewhereinmylateteens/earlytwenties.

Mysabbaticalyearwasparticularlyimportantinshapingmycareer.If

ithadn’tbeenformyinvolvementinvolunteeringprojectsIwouldn’t

havedevelopedtheinterestinvolunteeringwhichledmetomynext

jobatDurhamUniversity.Everystepforwardwasbasedonutilisingthe

skillsIhadacquiredineachrole,lookingatfurtherdevelopingmyself

andallowingmetofocusonfutureambitions.

How has your involvement with the Students’ Union affected your career?

We would be very interested to hear from other alumni who volunteered or who were involved with extra-curricular activities with the Students’ Union. We would be interested in finding out what you have done since completing your programme at York St John and what impact being involved with the Union has had on your career. Please email: [email protected]

Clubs & Societies

Duringthelastfiveyearsourclubsandsocietieshaveraised£19,681forcharitiesand£28,115forRAG.

DuringthelastyearYorkStJohnstudentshavededicated19,530hourstovolunteering.

MPS Society 2010-11

14

PeterMorrey|TeacherTraining,1964

IchosetocometoYorkStJohnin1961asamaturestudentof27to

traintobecomeateacherbecauseitwasoneofthetopthreeteacher

trainingcollegesinthecountry.

MyinitialmemoriesthatspringtomindareofaninterviewwithCanon

PhilipLamb‘Prinny’;VicePrincipalChrisChapmanwithhisgownflying

behindhimandmygarretroomonNottinghamCorridor.Ialsofondly

rememberPercyWhenham’sfamousannuallecture,whenweallstood

intheQuadandsanghimintothetuneof‘SweetLassofRichmond

Hill’.

Iseemedtobeabsorbedeasilyintostudentlife,workedhardand

quicklymademanyfriends.Inmysecondyear,Imovedintodigsin

MonkgateandbecamePresidentoftheSocietyofExternalStudents.I

alsojoinedtheBoatClub,eventuallybeingawardedmycolours.

Asystemofstaff/studentrelationshipsoperatedlooselybetweenthe

SeniorCommonRoom(SCR)andtheJuniorCommonRoombutit

wastotallyunsatisfactoryanditwasfeltbybothsidesthataproper

Students’Unionshouldbeformed.Nominationsweresoughtforthe

majorofficers,aballotwastakenbythestudentsandIbecameits

firstPresident.Followingthis,anExecutiveCommitteewasformed

andmanylongandsearchinghoursweredevotedtoformulatinga

constitution.Inpointsoflaw,wewereablyhelpedbythemembers

oftheSCRandwhenitwascompletedwehaditdrawnupona

magnificentscrollwhichwasthenpresentedtotheSCRtobeplaced

intheCollegearchives,inanoutstandingceremonyintheQuadrangle.

TheStudents’Unionthenbecamesolelyresponsibleforthe

administrationofitsfundstowhomallclubsand

societiesmadeapplicationsandweretreatedfairly

andonmeritsotherewerenoargumentsfromany

ofthestudentbodies.

Justbeforefinals,thePrincipalaskedmeto

approachthePresidentsofalltheStudentHalls

ofResidenceandaskiftheirmemberswouldbe

willingtodonateasumofmoneyannuallytowards

thecostofdevelopingnewbuildings.They

unanimouslyagreedsothatsomeofthebuildings

thathavebenefitedstudentsovertheyearswere

assistedbythosewhohadgonebefore,andIthink

of,inparticular,theswimmingpool.

Wewerethelastoftheall-maleyearandadeep

specialbondexistedbetweenallJohnsmen.The

ethosoftheCollegeenteredandstayedinourheartsforwewereto

gooutin

theland(the

‘vineyard’

asChris

Chapman

calledit)and

becomethe

bestteachers

wecouldbe.

Itaughtat

homeand,

foratimein

Zambiaand

sawmany

changesin

education,

notallof

themforthe

goodbutmyabidingmemoryisthatofupholdingtheprinciplewhich

Ilearnedatmyalmamaterandbeingrememberedwithaffectionby

thosewhomItaught.SoentrenchedwasIwithallthefinesttraditions

thatIhadabsorbedthatmysecondson,bornin1968,waschristened

St.JohnMorrey!‘Prinny’approved.

Alumni profile – the first Students’ Union President!

SU Executive 1964 (Peter, bottom row fifth from left)

15

Aspresidentoftheclubmyprimaryroleistooverseeandadvise

ontheclub’sactivities.Ialsoprovidesupporttomycommitteeand

memberstoensuretheyachievetheirgoals.Thisyearwehavealready

hadsuccessesinenteringcrewsatBUCSSmallBoatsHeadandBUCS

IndoorRowingChampionships.

SimilarlyattheYorkSmallBoatsHead.In2011wehopetoentera

men’sandwomen’screwatLondon’sHeadoftheRiverinthespring

andmakeourdebutatBUCSRegatta,withfresherandsenior8’s,along

withmanylocalregattasintheearlysummer.Lastyearbothlandand

waterbasedtrainingdeveloped,improvingtheclub’soverallfitness

andconsistency.WeaimtoholdagruellingEastertrainingcampto

improvethewholeclub’stechniqueonthewater,readytomakean

impressionatthesummerregattas.

Ourprimaryaimthisyearistodevelopconsistentcrewsinboththe

men’sandwomen’ssquadsrangingfromseniortofresherabilities.As

acommitteeweshareamutualloveandpassionforthesportwhich

isdrivingustoachievetothebestofourabilitiesandsupportour

members.Everyoneiswelcome,withtherightattitudeanyonecan

succeed.

WritingtheRowingClubHistoryCurrentLevel2studentandRowingClubmemberLloydFrithisworking

onwritingthehistoryoftheRowingClub.TheAlumniDevelopment

Officehaspassedoninformationthathaspreviouslybeenkindlysent

byformerRowingClubmembers.Shouldanyoneelsehaveinformation

[email protected]

alternativelyyoucanpostanyinformationtotheAlumniDevelopment

OfficewhowillpassitontoLloyd.

MakingadifferenceLikesomanyotherclubsandsocietiestheRowingClubdoes

outstandingworkforcharity.Lastyeartheydonated£900tocharity,

thismoneywasraisedfromtheirannualbonfirenightcelebration,

attendedby300people.£600ofthismoneyhasgonetoSOSAfrica,

enablingDimpho,agirlfromatownshipinMafeking,tohavefull-time

education.TheRowingClubaresupportinghereducationcosts,

uniform,booksandafterschoolcare.TheRowingClub’sCharitiesand

FundraisingOfficer,AndrewHallsays‘wewillcontinuetodonatethis

amounteveryyearsheisatschooltosecureherfuture’.

Mostrecently

theclubhave

donated£200

totheArcLight

Centre.Arc

Lightisacharity

thatprovides

accommodation

andsupportto

homelessmen

andwomenin

York.Thismoney

wasspenton

presentsfromthe

homelesspeoples’

Christmaswish

list,andisa

charityveryclose

totheUniversity.

ATributefromtheRowingClubtoDaveEvans

SadlyinNovember2010,welostourvolunteerHeadCoachDavid

Evans.Davehadextensiverowingexperience;rowingwiththeRAF,

puttingthroughwinningcrewsinHenley,rowingatMarlow–these

arejustaselectionofhisrowingachievements.Wewereincredibly

luckyandhonouredtohavehisinvolvementintheclub.Hisconstant

support,reliability,knowledgeandexperienceenabledustogainsome

ofourfirstwinsfortheclub,andenterraces,suchasHeadoftheRiver

inLondonandtheRutherfordHead.Atleastonceaweekwewould

hearhisshoutsandcatchglimpsesofhimcyclingalongtheriverbank

withus–allat6o’clockinthe

morning!(Bearinginmindhe

lived40minutesawayfromthe

boathouse).Wenevertiredofhis

storytelling,enthusiasmandbelief

inourabilities.Aninspirational

coachandlovingman;David

Evanswillbesorelymissed.We

areallgladtohaveknownhim.

TheRowingClubalsodonated

£100toTheHenleyStewards

CharitableTrustindedication

toDaveEvans,thecharityofhis

choosing.The Boat Club proudly supporting SOS Africa

Dimpho’s education supported by The Rowing Club

York St John Rowing Club 2010-11

Message from the Rowing Club President, Kathryn Honey

Dave’s constant support will be missed

16

Alumni Business success stories

Tom, Oliver and Simon

Nationalrecognitionforgraduatecompany

InNovemberlastyearWestParkMediaLimited,acompanyformed

byYorkStJohnUniversitygraduates,wasfeaturedintheGuardian

newspaper.SimonHorniblow,OliverHarrisonandTomWhiteall

studiedTheatre,Film&Television,graduatingin2006.Duringtheir

timeatYorkStJohntheywereheavilyinvolvedwithfilmmaking

activitiesassociatedwiththeirprogramme.

WestParkMediaisaleadingvideoproductioncompany,specialisingin

producinghighquality,innovativeandinformativevideocontent.Since

itsinceptioninJanuary2008,ithasevolvedintoawell-knownand

highlyrespectedmediacompany.

TheirRoyalTelevisionSocietyawardwinningflagshipproject,

studentcooking.tvwasdesignedtoenhancetheculinaryexperience

andunderstandingofstudentsintheUK.

ItbeganatLoughboroughUniversityandhasbeenrapidlytaken

onboardby20oftheUK’sleadinguniversities.Thesuccessand

foresightoftheprojecthaswontheenterpriseconsiderablepraisein

nationalandlocalpublications,mostrecentlybeingthesubjectofan

articleintheGuardian’seducationsupplement.

Pioneeringthedisseminationoffoodrelatedknowledgetoyoung

peopleinBritain,WestParkMediahasbuiltateamcommittedtothe

advancementofkitchen-basedknowledgeintheUK.Thispassion

forfood,combinedwithanimpressiveportfolioofvideo,hasbeen

recognisedbysomeoftheUK’sleadingculinaryconcerns,most

notablyMars,Dolmiosauces,BritishPorkExecutive(BPEX),English

BeefandLambExecutive(EBLEX)andStarLogic.WestParkMediahas

acquiredaformidablereputationwithintheculinaryandeducation

spheresasacompanywithapassionforhighqualityvideoproduction

andcontent.

WestParkMediahastakenauniqueandprogressiveapproachtothe

poweroftheInternetinthediffusionofinformation,contentand

video.Theironlinecontentisnowaccessibleto,andviewedby,over

250,000studentsintheUK.Unitingprofessional,entertainingand

enlighteningvideowithexpertlydesignedandmaintainedwebsites,

WestParkMediaisattheforefrontofinnovative,dynamicandinspiring

onlinemedia.

FormoreinformationaboutWestParkMediavisit:www.westparkmedia.co.uk

All studied Theatre, Film & Television

HeatherAlstead|BAHonsDesignPractice,2010

17

YSJ Connect launched YSJConnectisaboutproviding

opportunities,supportand

guidancetohelpstudentsenhance

theirCVs,exploretheircareer

prospectsandgetvitalexperience

topreparethemforlifeafter

university.It’stheplaceforthem

toconnectwithothers(withother

students,staff,employersandalumni)tomakeopportunitieshappen.

Throughthesitestudentscanshareanidea,projectorvisionwith

otherstohelpmakeithappen,orsetupaplacementwithan

employer.YSJConnectsharestheexperiencesofcurrentstudentsand

graduates.Wewelcomeyoutogetinvolvedandshareyourstoriesafter

graduation,toencourageandinspire.

Heather receives her award from Acorns 4 representatives

In2010HeatherAlsteadwasawarded

a£1,500SPARKScholarshipsponsored

byAcorns4(agroupoflocal

fledgingentrepreneursontheAcorns

ProgrammeatYorkStJohn).Heather,

aDesignPracticegraduate,was

awardedthescholarshipduringher

finalyearforherdesignofunique

drinkscoasterwhichremindselderly

peopletodrinktherecommended

dailyallowanceofwater.

Inspirationforthedesigncamewhen

shewascaringforhergrandmother

andrealisedthatshewasnotdrinking

enoughwater.

Heatheriscurrentlyworkingontesting

outtheproductfurtherinnursinghomesandhospitals.

Heatherusedthefundsfromthescholarshiptoapplyforthepatent

andmakeworkingprototypesforthedrinkreminderaswellasaniron

guard(designedtostopchildrenandadultsfromburningthemselves).

Heather’scareerplanspriortostartingUniversityweretobecomea

JuniorDesigner,butnowshehasstartedherownbusinesshermain

goalistomakelifeeasierforpeople.

Sheisthoroughlyenjoyingworkingforherselfandhopesthatinthe

futureshewillbeinapositiontotakeonaYorkStJohnUniversity

studenttohelpthemdeveloptheirideas.

FurtherinformationaboutHeatherandherproductscanbefoundon

theYSJConnectwebsite(detailsbelow).

Acorns4raisednearly£5,000forSPARKin2009,thesecond£1,500

SPARKEnterpriseScholarshipwillsoonbepromotedto2010-11final

yearstudents.

DuringthisacademicyearfundsraisedbytheAcorns5cohorthave

supportedsixOccupationalTherapystudentstogoonthreemonth

placementsindevelopingcountriestoworkwithdisadvantaged

people.

InauguralSPARKEnterpriseScholarshipwinnersetsupherownbusiness

Funding opportunity for 2010 graduatesThe‘YSJConnectFund’hasbeenlaunchedtowhichcurrent

studentsand2010graduatescanbidforupto£500.

Furtherdetailscanbefoundat:http://connect.yorksj.ac.uk/

Wehopetohearfromyouinthefuture!Formoreinformation

[email protected]

18

Business incubation and growth is the name of the

game for Creative Business

InthepastfewyearstheFacultyofArtshasestablishedaCreative

BusinessTeamresponsibleforgraduateincubationandbusinessfacing

supportservices.Itsfour-strongteamprovidearangeofservices

forbusinessesinthecreativeindustries.However,themostnotable

successesthispastyearhavebeenintheareaofbusinessincubation.

TheFacultywasprivilegedtowin£105,000fromtheBusinessLink

ReserveFundtosupportBarLaneStudiosintheheartofthecity.Bar

LaneStudiosisasocialenterprisesetuptosupportlocalpractising

artistsgainsuitablestudiospaceandtheopportunitytoexhibit.This

hasbeenagreatsuccesswhichsixYorkStJohngraduatebusinesses

havebeenabletoshare.

Thesixgraduatebusinesses,includingfivefineartistsandonetheatre

productioncompany,tookupresidenceinthesummerof2010.The

fivefineartistswerefortunatetoexhibittheirworkatagalleryevent

curatedbyBenClowes,CreativeDirectorofBarLaneattheprestigious

launchofthenewHugoBossstoreinManchester.Theeventin

NovemberwasattendedbystarssuchasShayGiven,BenThompson

andMichelleKeegan.Thegraduateinterns’artwasshownalongside

theworkofBobDylan,DerrenBrownandGoldie.Graduateinterns

JadeBloodandMattDurrantweresuccessfulinsellingpieces.Susanne

Davies’sensationalinstallationgainedconsiderableinterestfrombotha

leadingcarmanufacturerandaLondongallery.

GraduatesfromthisprogrammejointheircounterpartsatYorkStJohn’s

productdesigngraduateincubator‘DesignWorks’andthePhoenix

Centre,ScienceCityYork’sCreativeDigitalIncubatorinabusiness

developmentprogrammeentitled‘RaisingTheBar’.Thisprogramme

hasbeendevelopedandhonedovermanyyearsbytheCIDAInnovation

(CreativeIndustriesDevelopmentAgency)andhasprovidedthe

businesseswithfantasticpropulsionforward,supportedbymentorsin

theCreativeBusinessteamwithintheFaculty.

Elsewhereoncampus,theDesignWorksbusinessincubatorhasfor

threeyearsnowprovidedsupportforupandcomingbusinessessuch

asJohnGreenDesignswww.johngreendesigns.co.uk.Thenewintake

includesfourengagingbusinesseswhoareshowingfantasticpromise

withnewandinnovativeproductssuchasHeatherAlsteadDesign’s

assistivetechnologyandJollySmithDesign’sbarandkitchenproducts.

Thefutureisbrightaswelookforwardtothedesignshowsthisyear.

ThefutureofbusinessincubationisexcitingwithintheFacultyofArtsas

wehelpmoreandmoregraduatesachievetheirambitionsincreative

practice.Withastrongfocusonbusinessethicsandcommerciality,

theCreativeBusinessTeamsupportawiderangeofenterprisesin

thecreativesectorthroughproofofconceptandregularmentoring.

ComeandmeetsomeofthesebusinessesatourbrandnewEnterprise

Tuesdaysnetworkingevents.Formoreinformationpleasecontact

CreativeBusinesson01904876315orvisit

www.yorksj.ac.uk/creativebusiness.

Intern success at Bar Lane for Matt Durrant

Faculty of Arts news

Deputy Dean Professor Susan Orr celebrates National

Teaching Fellowship

InSeptember2010ProfessorSusanOrrattendedaneventinLondontocelebrate

thosewhohadbeenawardedNationalTeachingFellowshipsfromtheHigherEducation

Academy.SusanwasawardedaNationalTeachingFellowshipinJuneforhercontribution

tothedevelopmentofteachingandlearningincreativepractice. Susan at the celebration event

19

Royal Television Society Awards

Film&TelevisionstudentsfromYorkStJohnscoopedtwoawardsattheYorkshire

RoyalTelevisionSociety(RTS)StudentAwards,takingthetopspotintwomajor

categoriesataceremonyheldatYork’sReelCinemaon9November2010.

KCSuri,ChairmanofReelCinemasUK,presentedthefictionawardtoateamof

Level3studentsledbyEdwardCooperandRheyaBrigdenfortheirfilmentitled

TheSword,adramaticfilmaboutthwartedambition.Acclaimeddocumentary

makerPaulBerriffpresentedthebestfactualfilmawardtoateamofLevel2

studentsledbyThomasHewettandJoeBurrowsforThroughthePeephole,a

documentaryabouttheworldofburlesque.

ThetwowinningfilmswillnowbeenteredintotheNationalRTSStudentAwards

heldinLondoninMay2011. The VC celebrates RTS Awards with staff and students

Students and staff community engagement

Studentsandstaffhavebeenparticularlyactiveinthecommunity,

showcasinganumberofexceptionalprojects.Theseinclude:

Shining a light–inOctober2009YSJDesignstudentstookpartin

theIlluminatingYorkFestival,workingalongsideGaiaNovaandOMA

International(OfficeforMediaArts),twocompaniesresponsiblefor

lightinguptheCityCentrebetweenOctoberandNovember.Well

knownlandmarksweretransformedinminutesasstudentsbuiltuprich

patternsandpicturesusingvarioustechnologies.Thisprojectinvolved

workingwithchildrenfromHemplandSchool.

Celebrating Diwali –inOctober2009agroupofFineArtand

Performancestudentscreatedastunningdisplayoflightthroughan

upliftinglanternprocessiontocelebrateDiwali,theHinduandSikh

festivaloflight.Theeventinvolvedachoreographed20minute

processionoflightonthecitywallsadjacenttoLordMayor’sWalk.

Celebrating York’s city walls –inMarch201040metresofspecially

designedsilkdecoratedthehistoriccitywallsmarkingtheculmination

ofanartprojectbetweenYorkStJohnandlocalschoolchildren.This

projectwassupportedbyArtsCouncilEngland,YorkStJohnand

Aimhigher.

Challenging Stereotypes –inautumn201050studentsfromNorton

Collegetookpartinasummerschooltodesignposterschallenging

commonlyheldmisconceptionsofyoungpeople.Thevisitingstudents

wereabletoworkwithFacultyofArtsstaff,YSJGraphicDesignerand

otherprofessionalgraphicdesigners.

Students illuminate York

20

On1June2010ProfessorDavidFlemingtookuphisroleasVice

ChancellorofYorkStJohnUniversity.DavidcomestoYorkStJohnwith

anoutstandingtrackrecordinHigherEducation.

Hehasalsoworkedforanumberofyearsinprofessionalpracticeinthe

commercialsectorbeforeenteringeducation.

ProfessorFlemingwaspreviouslyDeputyViceChancelloratthe

UniversityofSunderland,wherehewasresponsibleforacademic

quality,taughtandresearchprogrammes,research,technology

transferandoutreachaswellasrecruitment,collegepartnershipsand

internationaldevelopment.PriortoSunderlandDavidheldtheposition

ofDeanofaSchoolatNorthumbriaUniversityandPrincipalLecturer

atNottinghamTrentUniversity.HehasafirstclassdegreeinUrban

LandEconomics,aPostgraduateDiploma,anMBAandaDoctorateof

BusinessAdministration.HeisalsoafellowoftheRoyalInstitutionof

CharteredSurveyors.

Duringthe

summerDavid

spenttime

gettingtoknow

staffacrossthe

campusand

meetingkey

partnersinYork

andthewider

region.He

listenedtoviews

fromawide

varietyofstaffto

establishhowthe

Universitycould

continuetomove

forwardandgainfurthersuccesses.

ProfessorFleminghasalsojoinedtheBoardofDirectorsatScience

CityYork.Themoveformalisesthecloselinksbuiltovermanyyears

betweenYorkStJohnUniversityandScienceCityYork.Itreinforces

thecommitmentbetweenScienceCityYorkshareholders,CityofYork

CouncilandtheUniversityofYork,tounitetheCityinitsbidtodevelop

athrivingknowledgeeconomyforYork.

ScienceCityYorkChiefExecutive,ProfessorNicolaSpenceadded,

‘David’sextendedinvolvementinScienceCityYorkbringsadditional

skills,visionandleadershiptoanalreadyexceptionaltop-levelteamand

helpsensureamoreinclusiveapproachtosupportingandgrowingthe

city’seconomic,socialandculturalambitions.Welookforwardtoa

strong,innovativeandproductiverelationship.’

FirstInitiativetoboostYSJClubsandSocietiesProfessorFleminghasrecognisedtheimportantrolethatStudentclubs

andsocietiesplayattheUniversitybyestablishinga£50,000Vice

ChancellorInitiativetohelpfundtheiractivities.Davidwasinstantly

awareoftheproudtraditionwithintheclubsandsocietiesandtherole

theyplaynotjustatYSJ,butinthecommunity.Inthelastfiveyears

fundraisingbyclubsandsocietieshasreachednearly£50,000andin

thelastyearstudentshavevolunteered19,530hourstosupportawide

rangeofprojects.

Clubsandsocietieswillbenefitfromdedicatedspaceforhonour

boardsandtrophycabinetstocelebrateoutstandingachievements;

equipmentforcheerleaders;lightingandstagingrigs;refurbishment

andequipmentfortherowingclubanda£5,000coachingfund.

InDecemberYorkStJohnStudents’Unionhostedaspecialcelebration

tothankDavidforhissupport.AttheeventProfessorFlemingreceived

aYorkStJohnsportsshirtsignedbyrepresentativesfromeachclub

andsocietyinrecognitionofhiscommitmenttotheircontinued

development.

York St John welcomes its new Vice Chancellor

Professor Fleming, new Vice Chancellor

Professor Fleming with Professor Spence, Science City York

Vice Chancellor receives a signed top from clubs and societies

21

ProfessorDavidFlemingwasinauguratedataformalceremonyheldin

YorkMinsteronTuesday2November,infrontofanaudienceofstaff,

students,alumni,guestsandprofessionalpartnersoftheUniversity.

AprocessionmadeupofstaffandstudentsfromtheUniversity,

membersofYork’scivicpartyandtheChancellorofYorkStJohn

University,TheMostReverendandRightHonourableDrJohnSentamu

walkeddownhistoricStonegatefromtheMansionHousetoYork

Minster.Theinaugurationceremonyincludedmusicalperformances,

symbolicgiftgivingandconcludedwithdramaticAfricandrumming

accompanyingtheprocessionleavingYorkMinster.

InhisinauguralspeechProfessorFlemingsaid:

‘ThishasbeenafantasticeventforYorkStJohnUniversitystudents,

staffandfriends.WeallhavealotofprideinYorkStJohnandI

feelenormouslyprivilegedtobeapartofit.Ibelievethatthisisa

remarkableUniversityintheheartofaremarkablecity.Theevent

marksthestartofanambitiousperiodwhichwillestablishYorkStJohn

asaleading,internationallyrecognised,teachingledUniversity.’

WelcomingProfessorFlemingtotheUniversity,TheMostReverendand

RightHonourableDrJohnSentamusaid:

‘IwarmlywelcomeProfessorDavidFlemingtohisnewroleastheVice

ChancellorofYorkStJohnUniversity.Hebringsawealthofexperience

totheUniversityandhisenthusiasmisagreatassettotheYorkStJohn

community.Iamdelightedthatheisjoiningus.’

Professor Fleming Inauguration Ceremony

The Procession walks through York

The Procession arrives at the Minster

Professor Fleming addresses the audience

Dr Sentamu and Professor Fleming join the drummers!

22

3rd International Conference on Peace and Reconciliation in Seoul

InNovember2010theTheology&ReligiousStudiessectionatYorkSt

JohnUniversityandYoungnakPresbyterianChurchco-organisedthe3rd

InternationalConferenceonPeaceandReconciliationinSeoulonthe

themeof‘BuildingCommunitiesofReconciliation’.Twohundredand

thirtypeoplefrommorethan60countriestookpartintheconference:

halfofthemchurchleaders.

LeadingacademicsandtheologianswhotookpartincludedRevd

MichaelLapsley,DirectoroftheInstituteforHealingofMemories,

SouthAfrica;RevdDrSetriNyomi,GeneralSecretaryoftheWorld

CommunionofReformedChurches;ProfessorEstherMombo,Deputy

Vice-ChancellorofStPaul’sUniversity,Kenya;VeryRevdProfessorIain

Torrance,PresidentofPrincetonSeminary;andProfessorMiroslav

Volf,ProfessorofTheologyatYaleDivinitySchool.Thecasestudies

ofreconciliationexaminedincludedSouthAfrica,Uganda,Northern

IrelandandIndia.

Thepublicmeetingsintheeveningattractedafurther2,000people.

Theywereacombinedserviceofworship,praise,prayers,sermonsand

lectures,andthemorningplenarysessionsweremoreacademicin

naturewithquestionsandanswers.Theafternoonpanelsessionswere

dividedintothreeareas:

• In-depthreflectionsonthelifeandteachingofRevKyung-ChikHan

•PerspectivesontherelationshipofNorthandSouthKorea

•Christiantheologiesofpeaceandreconciliation.

Therewerenearly60panelpresentationsduringtheconference–and

thepresenterswereallprominentscholarsintheirownfields.The

proceedingsarebeingpublishedinthreevolumes.

TheserieshashadaparticularconcernforpeaceontheKorean

Peninsula–thesubjectofmorethanusualattentionthisyeardueto

severaloutbreaksofviolencebetweenNorthandSouth.Thistimethe

eventwashostedbythechurchinSeoulandincludedavisittothe

DemilitarisedZone(DMZ).Itwasalsoanopportunitytorememberthe

workofRevHanKyung-Chik,founderofYoungnakChurchandhimself

arefugeefromtheNorth,onthe10thanniversaryofhispassing.

RevHanwasaleadingchurchmanwhowasawardedtheTempleton

PrizeforReligionin1992.Amongthereasonsforthisdistinction

washisfoundingofthenationwideSharingRiceMovementinwhich

housewivessetasideanextracupofriceeverytimetheycookandthe

collectionisthensenttohelpthosesufferingfoodshortagesinthe

North.

Intermsoforganisation,theuniquefeatureoftheconferencewasthe

partnershipbetweenacademyandchurch.Manyparticipantshave

saidthatthemutualinteractionhasbeenverybeneficial.Organising

thisconferencehasbeenarewardingexperience.Notonlydothe

twopartieshavedifferentprioritiesandexpectationsasorganisations,

butalsotheteammembersofthetwoorganisationsarefromvery

differentcultures,whichmadeitdoublychallenging.

TheInternationalConferenceonPeaceandReconciliationwas

establishedin2006toprovideaplatformforbothscholarsand

practitionersinthefieldsofpeaceandreconciliation.Thenatureof

theconferenceisinterdisciplinarybutperspectivesfromtheologyand

religiousstudiesareparticularlytothefore.Previousthemeswere:‘In

SearchofSharedIdentity:TheKoreanPeninsulaandOtherContexts’

(2006;atYSJU)and‘EmbracingtheDisplaced:ShapingTheoriesand

PracticesforaSustainablePeace’(2009;atUCLA,USA).

Student exchange trip to PCTS (Presbyterian College and Theological Seminary) Seoul, Korea September 2010InSeptember2010SusanYoretookagroupofeightLevel3Theology

&ReligiousStudiesstudentsonanexchangetriptoSeoul,SouthKorea,

wheretheywerehostedbystaffandstudentsofthePCTS(Presbyterian

CollegeandTheologicalSeminary).PCTShasabeautifulcampusatthe

faredgesofthecityatthefootofA-ChaMountainwithspectacular

viewsoftheHanRiver.Thestudents,RachelSouthwell,HannahClark,

MelissaPowell,JoyWong,SarahJackson,NicoleVeitch,KirstyWilson,

JessicaRutter,andSusanspentfourbusyweeksexperiencingthe

Koreancultureandlearningaboutthehistoryanddevelopmentof

ChristianityinKorea.

LearningexperiencesincludedweeklyvisitstodifferentPresbyterian

churches,featuringadiverserangeofworshipstyles.Contrastinga

megachurchwhereacharismaticpastorledagatheringofthousands

ofexuberantyoungKoreansinanemotionallychargedworshipservice

weremoresedateservicesusingtraditionalmusicalinstrumentsin

smallercommunalchurches.

Faculty of Education & Theology news

A packed conference in Seoul

23

InSeoulthegroupvisitedtheregulartouristsitesofTheDemilitarized

ZoneandtheSeoulToweraswellasRoyalPalaces,Shrinesandthe

NationalMuseum,learningabouttherolethatConfucianism,Buddhism

andindigenousreligionshaveplayedinthespiritualityofKorea.They

heardaboutthegreatsadnessthatmanyKoreansfeelaboutthedivide

andcontinuedhostilitiesbetweenNorthandSouthKorea,prayingfor

reunification.

On-campusspecialisedlectureshelpedtheparticipantstounderstand

thevariousstagesofhowChristianityfirstcametoKoreaand

acculturatedintothearea.TheyalsotookpartinenjoyableEnglish

classesinPCTS,wheremanynewfriendshipsweremade.Students

describedthevisitas‘achanceofalifetime’and‘aninvaluable

experiencethathelpedthemlearnacompletelydifferentcultureto

theirown’.

York St John student celebrations in Nairobi

On5October2010,28YorkStJohnpostgraduatestudentsfrom

fiveNairobiuniversitiesreceivedtheircertificatesfromDeputyVice

Chancellor,ProfessorDavidMaughanBrown.Theeventwasheldat

StrathmoreUniversity,thehostKenyanuniversity,andwasfollowedby

areception.TheprogrammefortheKenyanlecturerswasrunbyYork

StJohn,fundedbyDfID(DepartmentforInternationalDevelopment)

andmanagedbytheBritishCouncil.Theprojectaimedtobringabout

changeandimprovementinteachingandlearninginHigherEducation

inKenya.Toputtheicingonthecake,thelecturersalsoreceiveda

certificatefromtheHEAandhaveearnedtherighttocallthemselves

FellowsoftheHEA.

New training scheme for York governors

YorkStJohnUniversityhasjoinedforceswithCityofYorkCouncil

togiveYork’sschoolgovernorsaccesstoabrandnewtrainingand

developmentscheme.

FromSeptember2010,allgovernorsandgoverningbodieshavebeen

abletochoosefromarangeoftraining,includingface-to-faceand

onlineoptions.WorkinginpartnershipwithCityofYorkCouncil,the

traininggivesgovernorstheopportunitytoapplyfortheirlearning

tobeaccreditedbyYorkStJohnandworktowardsaFoundation

CertificateinSchoolGovernance.

Keyareasoftraininginclude:TheroleoftheSchoolGovernors;The

roleoftheClerktotheGovernors;LeadingtheGoverningBody;and

SchoolImprovement.Thetraininghasbeendevelopedinresponseto

theincreasinglydemandingroleofgovernorsandtheEducationWhite

PaperYourchild,yourschools,ourfuture:buildinga21stcentury

schoolssystem.

ThepartnershipactivityhasbeensupportedbyHigherYork;anexisting

andinnovativepartnershipbetweenAskhamBryanCollege,the

UniversityofYork,YorkCollege,YorkStJohnUniversity,CravenCollege

andCityofYorkCouncil.

Governorswhochoosefortheirlearningtobeaccreditedbythe

UniversitywillbecomestudentsoftheUniversity.

For further information on this scheme please contact

Katie Simpson:

E: [email protected]

T: 01904 876255

YSJ students experience the chance of a lifetime

Celebrations at Strathmore University

Professor Maughan Brown signs MOU

24

BellaHardywasnamedastheinauguralwinneroftheYorkStJohn

‘AlumoftheYear’in2009.SincegraduatingBellahasbecomeone

oftheUK’sforemostyoungfolkperformers,highlypraisedforher

performancesanddebutrecordings.Bella,whostudiedEnglish

Literature(2002-5),isanacclaimedfolksinger,twicenominatedin

theBBCFolkAwards2008.ShelaunchedherdebutsoloalbumNight

Visitingin2007togreatcriticalpraise.Bellahasnowestablished

herselfasoneofthefinestyoungfolkacts,singingunaccompanied

ballads,oraccompanyingherhighlydistinctivevoicewithherown

fiddleaccompaniment.InJuly2008BellaopenedtheBBCProms

concertattheRoyalAlbertHall.Bella’ssecondalbumInTheShadow

ofMountainswasreleasedin2009.

ApanelatYorkStJohnchoseBellaforhercontributiontomusicat

anationallevel,raisingtheprofileoffolkmusicandherpersonal

accomplishmentinmusic.Shereceivedachequefor£250aswell

asherAlumoftheYearawardattheSPARKCelebrationinMarch

2010.BellawasnominatedbyYorkStJohnUniversitylecturersGweno

WilliamsandRogerClark.

Bella’sthirdalbumSongsLostandStolenisduetobereleasedon18

April2011andfeatures12newsongsshehaswrittenandperformed

andalsofeaturesotherartists.

For more information about Bella please visit

her website www.bellahardy.com

Alum of the year

Could this be you for 2010?

If you would like to nominate yourself or a fellow alum for the 2010 Alum of the Year please e-mail [email protected] or post your application to the Alumni Development Office at the University. All you need to do is send a written testimonial stating why you believe you/fellow alum deserves to be named for this award based on their achievements during 2010.

This could be for:

• Entrepreneurial activities

• Voluntary work undertaken

• Sporting excellence

• Outstanding career achievement

• Publishing or performing acclaim

The closing date for applications is 31 May

2011. The application should be no more

than 500 words.

AlumnifromYorkStJohnorRiponcannownominatethemselvesorafellowalumfortheaccoladeoftheAlumoftheYear2010.

Bella celebrates with her nominees, Gweno and Roger

Bella’s latest album – out in April Bella’s latest album – out in April

25

MembersoftheGraduationCircle2009Thefollowingstudentskindlymadeagiftorwerehonouredbyagiftintheirnameduringthe2009graduationceremonies:

Graduation 2010

BerylAdamson

JoeAkrigg

ShereneAlmond

JenniferAnderton

PamelaArmstrong

SusanAtkinson

VictoriaAtkinson

AnisahBari

DanielBarry

JayneBickerton

MatthewBrear

RichardBrien

MargaretBrocklehurst

PatriciaBrook

SallyBuck

HelenBurke

KatieCarr

PeterClancy

RachelCook

NicolaCoope

MichaelCowling

ScottDavis

CharlotteDownes

ElizabethDowning

JohnEdwards

SusanEverard

CarolineFahy

CeriFrank

AmyFrench

CatherineGill

KirstyGoodwin

SarahGriffiths

EmmaHall

ScottHall

ElizabethHarmer

HaroldHeller

AshlieHorsman

LisaHughes

SarahJackson

AnnemarieJarrett

SimonJohnson

JoLightowler

ClaireLindley

DeborahManton

LynneMason

TheresaMason

LucyMerritt

GaryMilner

SarahMorgan

FrancesMurray

CarolynNattrass

JamesNunns

CatherineO’Donnell

ChristineOldfield

ElizabethPacey

SamParker

JohnPeacock

JanePerkins

TanyaPizl

WendyPopple

DonnaPotts

DavidPynn

VickiRender

SusanReynard

JeanetteRoddy

ClareRogers

EleanorRowling

MichelleRundle

SallyScales

HelenSchofield

ClaireSellers

BarbaraSim

JaneSmith

SophieSowerby

PhilStead

SeanTaylor

LauraTurton

BethanyWilliams

JonathanWills

JordanWoodcock

DanielWoods

JonathanWylie

NicolaWynn

Wewouldliketothankallalumniandfamilywhohavemadea

donationtocommemoratestudentsgraduatingoverthelastfew

years.Yourdonationshavegonetowardshelpingfuturegenerations

ofstudentsattendYorkStJohnandhaveopportunitiesthatwould

otherwisenothavebeenpossible.Wearestillreceivinggiftsfromthe

2010graduationceremonies;therefore,wewillberunningafeatureon

thosewhohavegivengraduationgiftsinthenextdonornewsletter.

Life More AbundantThis updated and extensively revised history book on the Institution written by former Principal, Professor Gordon McGregor, is the definitive history of the Institution at which you studied. The new book includes all the original chapters along with new chapters, new photographs and a new foreword from the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu. The book is a detailed history of both Ripon and York St John

and puts the Institution’s achievement of University title in the broader context of both the history of the Colleges, its people and government educational policy.

York St John alumnus Bob Russell (1953-6) says, ‘This is a book which provides former students with the assurance that York St John in still very much a place of “life abundant”, and future students with encouragement that here is the place to be – a place of wisdom, humanity and good humour.’

The book is priced £20 (hardback) or £10 (paperback), if you would like to order a copy please forward a cheque made payable to ‘York St John University’ to the Alumni Development Office and we will send you a copy (free p&p).

YSJ Graduation Circle 2009

Professor McGregor signing copies of his book

26

James Caan receives Honorary Doctorate from York St John

JamesCaan,oneoftheinvestorsinthesuccessfulBBCseries‘Dragons’

Den’,wasawardedanHonoraryDoctorofBusinessAdministrationby

ourChancellorattheceremonyheldonThursday18November2010.

JamesreceivedhisHonoraryDegreeinrecognitionofhissuccessasan

entrepreneurandbusinessleader,andforhisgenerosityinusinghis

experiencetoadviseotherbusinessesandentrepreneurs,especially

thosefromethnicminoritybackgrounds.Jameswassponsoredby

DianaWetherellTerry,DeputyDeanoftheBusinessSchool.

JamesspenthischildhoodinLondon’sBrickLane,afterenteringthe

UKasaPakistaniimmigrantwhenhewastwoyearsold.Inhisyouth,

Jamesworkedforhisfather,whoranabusinessmakingleatherjackets.

Heleftschoolat16withnoformalqualificationsandleftthefamily

homeshortlyafterwardstopursuehisambitionoffoundingabusiness.

Jamesworkedintherecruitmentindustryforanumberofyearsbefore

decidingtogoitaloneandsetuphisownrecruitmentcompany.In

1985hefoundedtheexecutivehead-huntingfirmAlexanderMann

whichstartedlifeasaspecialistfinancialservicesrecruitmentcompany,

tradingfromatinybroomcupboardintheWestEndofLondon.The

financeforthisambitiousventurecamefromJames’drawdownfacility

onhisnewlyacquiredGoldBarclaycard.

Jamesspentsevenyearsattheforefrontofthebusiness,takingitfrom

strengthtostrengthwhilstcompetitorsstruggledintherecessionof

thelate1980sandearly1990s.In1992andwithasuccessfulbusiness

modelinoperation,Jamestookabackseattoconcentrateonother

businessinterests.By2002AlexanderMannwasoperatingacross

Europe,AustraliaandAsiawithanannualturnoverof£130million.It

wasatthispointthatJamesdecidedtosellhismajorityshareinthe

business.In2005,JamesestablishedHamiltonBradshaw,aLondon-

basedprivateequitycompanywhichspecialisesinbuy-outs,venture

capital,turnaroundsandrealestateinvestmentsintheUK.Itcurrently

manages41companies.James’shrewdbusinessacumenhasenabled

himtoseizeopportunitiessuchascompanybuy-outsandlaunch

furtherspecialistcompaniesundertheHamiltonBradshawbrand.

Inadditiontohisfinancialventures,Jamesdevotesconsiderabletimeto

governmentandadvisoryroles.AsChairoftheEthnicMinorityBusiness

TaskForce,JameshelpsstimulategrowthamongsttheBlack,Asian

andMinorityEthnicbusinessbasedintheUK.TheTaskForcecurrently

supportsover280,000businesses,whichcumulativelycontributein

excessof£20billionayeartotheUKeconomy.

Jamesiscommittedtothedevelopmentoftalentand,despitehaving

receivednoformalbusinesstraininginhisearlylife,hehasbeen

recognisedforhisentrepreneurialflairandbusinessacumen.IIn2003

healsograduatedfromtheAdvancedManagementProgrammeat

HarvardBusinessSchool,aprestigiousprogrammewhichdevelopsthe

talentoftheverybestinbusiness.

Awayfromthelimelight,Jamesholdsmanyambassadorialcharityroles.

In2006,theJamesCaanFoundation(JCF)wassetuptofundamentally

assisteducatingsomeofthesixmillionchildreninPakistancurrently

notenrolledinschools.Furthermore,theJamesCaanFoundation

supportscharitiesintheUK,withinitiativesrangingfromcancercare

toprovidingequalopportunitiesforyouth.Italsoseekstopromote

greaterawarenessforthedevelopingworld.

Jamesispassionateabouthelpingthemillionsaffectedbytherecent

devastatingfloodsinPakistan.Withnearly20millionpeopleaffected,

thousandsofliveslostanddiseasesspreadingrapidlythroughanarea

thesizeofBritain,thisdisasterhavebecomethepriorityoftheJames

CaanFoundation.Assomeonewithahumanitarianconscience,James

flewouttoPakistantodeliverhisownaidandtomeetwithvarious

aidagenciesontheground,tounderstandthechallengesfacingthem

andtheremarkableworkthattheydo.Jamesiscommittedtogetting

people’slivesbackontrackassoonaspossible.Assuch,theJames

CaanFoundationisleadingaprogrammetorebuildcommunities,from

selectingavillage,tobuildinghouses,schoolsandhospitals.

DianaWetherellTerry,whonominatedJames,said‘mycolleaguesfrom

YorkStJohnBusinessSchoolandIaredelightedthatJameshasagreed

toacceptthishonour,beassociatedwiththeBusinessSchool,andto

promoteandbeanambassadorforourentrepreneurialactivity.Itwas

anhonourtopresentanindividualwhohasachievedincrediblesuccess

asanentrepreneurandbusinessleader,andtorecognisehisgenerosity

inusinghisexperiencetoadviseotherbusinessesandentrepreneurs,

especiallythosefromethnicminoritybackgrounds.’

Graduation 2010

James Caan with Diana Wetherell Terry

27

Eachyearanumberofprizesareawarded

duringgraduationtooutstandingstudents.

TheC&BRousePrizerecognisesoutstanding

contributionstotheUniversityandcommunity

life.In2010thisprizewaswonbySimon

Kumarfollowinganumberofendorsementsby

YorkStJohnstaff.

SimonservedintheRoyalAirForceRegiment

foranumberofyearsbeforecomingtoYork

StJohn.Havingnotstudiedfull-timeforover

10yearshechoseYorkStJohnasitnotonly

offeredthedegreehewantedbutithasa

reputationforsupportingmaturestudents.His

youngerbrotherhadgraduatedfromthesame

coursesomethreeyearsbefore,andiscurrently

aPhysicalEducationteacher.

DuringhistimeatYorkStJohnhewasthe

StudentFacultyRepresentativeforHealth&Life

Sciencesandthenwentontoformadisability

sportsclub–YorkStJohnInclusiveActivity

Club.Theclubbegantoevolvefollowingamomentofinspiration

afterSimonattendedaSpecialOlympicsopendayinYorkin2008.

AsaSportsStudiesstudenthesawtheneedformorelocaldisability

sportingopportunities.

‘Usingtheknowledgegainedfrommydegreeandmygrowingnetwork

ofcontacts,Ibegantoexploretheconceptofestablishinganew

disabilitysportsclubwithinYorkforitsresidents.Withthehelpofthe

UniversityandtheCityofYorkCouncil,

thisideabecamearealityandisgrowing

intoasolidclubstructure,runonasolely

voluntarybasis.In2010,30volunteers

wererecruitedrangingfromfellow

SportsstudentstoYorkCollegestudents.

Incorporatedwithinthisgrowthhasbeen

theestablishmentofaGoalballbranchof

theclub.Goalballisavisuallyimpaired

Paralympicsport.

SinceleavingYorkStJohn,Simonhasbeen

workingfortheCityofYorkCouncilas

theirDisabilitySportandPhysicalActivity

OfficerforAdults.Simonsays,‘Ifindthis

jobimmenselyrewardingonmanylevels.

Sincemyappointment,Ihavehelpedset

upandnowmanageaYork

VikingsWheelchairBasketballteam,whichpracticeswithinYorkSt

JohnUniversity’ssportshall.This,alongwiththeYorkStJohnInclusive

ActivityClub,hasallowedforon-goinglinkswiththeUniversitytobe

maintained.

IwouldliketotakethisopportunitytothankYorkStJohnforits

continuedsupport,Icouldnothavewishedforabetterdegree

experience.’

Prize winner Simon Kumar

C&B Rouse Prize winner Simon Kumar | BA (Hons) Sports Studies, 2010

YSJ Inclusive Activity Team

28

Adam Seymour | BA (Hons) History, 2005

In2007ItravelledtoLusaka,ZambiatoworkwithSportin

Action(SIA)forfourandahalfmonths.SIAisanon-government

organisationwhichfocusesonhelpingtoeducateandbreak

downbarriersinregardstoHIV/AIDS.Myrolewastoorganiseand

co-ordinatevarioussportsleaderstoensurechildrenandadults

areactiveandtogiveeducationworkshops.Ineffect,sportwas

amediatorformoreimportantandusefulmessages.Sportin

Action’saimistoimprovepeople’squalityoflifethroughsportand

recreationalactivities.Formedin1999,SportinActionhasbeen

workingtowardsanactive,healthyandbetterqualityofliving

forall.

SIAtargetgroupswhichincludeorphansandvulnerablechildren,

disabledyouths,menandwomen.Someoftheprojectsincludeyouth

empowermentthroughsport(schoolsport,andHIVandAIDS),the

empowermentofwomenthroughsportandsupportnetworksfor

thoselivingwithHIV.

EstimatessuggestthatinZambiaalone,16%ofthepopulationis

HIVpositive.KalingalingaClinicispartoftheZambianNationalAnti-

RetroViraltreatmentSupportProgramme(ZNARVS),whichSIAisproud

tohelpandsupport.

For12monthspriortomyinvolvement,SIAPeerLeaderAndison

NkhomahadbeenconductingsportsessionsinKalingalingaforthose

livingwithHIV.Fortwomonths,Iassistedandhelpedfacilitatesport

lessonswithAndisonattheKalingalingaSupportGroup.Oursessions

includedgroupdiscussions,whichoccuraftereachsportsession.

Weplayedavarietyofsportsincludingfootball,netball,volleyball

andcricket-thesehelpprovideahealthierandactivelifestyle.The

equipmentwasprovidedbySportinAction.

FindingoutthatyouhaveHIVcanbescaryandoverwhelming

(especiallyifyouareyoung).InKalingalingathereishelp;Sportin

Actionhelpsthoselivingwiththevirustomanagethementaland

physicalimplicationsoftheirsituation.

ThemainaimwastoprovidethoseaffectedbyHIVwithahealthier

lifestyleandphysiologicalsupportthroughthemediumofsport.

TheSupportGroupalsoprovidedasenseofbelongingwithinthe

community,assportprovidesanopportunityforthoseaffectedbyHIV

tocometogether.

AlltheparticipantsinvolvedatKalingalingahavetheHIVvirus,but

thankstoARVs(antiretroviraldrugs)manyofthemhaveveryfitand

activelifestyles.Theintroductionofantiretroviraldrugshasmade

AIDSamoremanageableillness.Itisvitalthatthoseinfectedwith

HIVreceivenotonlythemedication,butalsoemotionalsupport.

EmotionalandphysicalissuesconcerningtheARVsarediscussedwithin

theKalingalingaSupportGroup.

ARVsareveryeffectiveandhelpprolonglifeastheyfreezethevirus.

Nevertheless,itisequallyimportantforthoseinfectedwithHIVto

haveabalanceddietandparticipateinphysicalrecreation.Sportcan

increaselifeexpectancybut,moreimportantly,itprovidesaboost,as

thoseinfectedareabletotalkopenlyaboutHIVandAIDSandsupport

one-anotherindealingwiththeirconcernsorworries.

Alumni Profile

29

PeoplelivinginZambiawithHIVfacemanyeverydaychallenges,

physicallyandmentally.Oneofthemanyproblemsisthatpeoplein

thecommunityfailtofullyunderstandwhatHIVisandaretherefore

scaredofthosewiththevirus.Stigmaandprejudicefromothersin

thecommunityissadly,ifpredictably,common.Nevertheless,through

SportinAction,barriersarebeginningtofallandpeoplearestartingto

understandthiscondition.

TheSupportGroupprovidesasecondnetworktothosewhoremainin

contactwiththeirfamilyandfriends,butforothersthegroupistheir

onlysourceofsupport.InApril2007,theKalingalingaSupportGroup

participatedina12kmrundesignedtoraiseawarenessofARVsand

VCTs(VoluntaryCounsellingTesting).PeerLeaderAndisonandItook

partrepresentingSportinAction.Aftertherun,wediscussedissues

concerningthefightagainstHIVandwaysofeducatingthepublicwith

theformerMinisterofHealthforZambia,MrsAngelaCifire.

Moreimportantly,itwasfantastictoseetheinvolvementofmost

ofthemembersfromKalingalingaSupportGroup.Bytakingpart,

thegrouppubliclyproclaimedtheirstatustothewholeofLusaka.

Arguably,itisonlythroughsportthatthiscouldbeachieved.Thiswas

anenormousstepforthoseaffectedinacceptingtheirHIVstatus,and

demonstratingthatalthoughtheyhaveHIV,theycanstillhaveanormal

andhealthylifelikeanyotherperson.

TheSupportGroupatKalingalingaHealthClinicisahappy,vibrant

andhealthygroupofpeople.TheSupportGrouphasdevelopedin

confidenceandfitnessthroughthemediumofsportandtheadoption

ofhealthierlifestyles.

Thegroupispassingontotheirrespectivecommunitiestheknowledge

theyhavegainedaboutthedangersofHIV.ThetwomonthsIspentin

Lusakawereanunbelievableexperience.Itwastrulyinspirationalfor

metoworkwiththepeopleofKalingalingaSupportGroup.Theyare

themostcourageouspeopleIhaveevermet;theyopenlydeclaretheir

HIVstatusforthewholecommunitytoknow.Bydeclaringtheirstatus

theyencourageotherstotakeaVCT,theyalsoshowthatevenifyou

havecontractedthevirusyoucanstillliveahealthyandlonglife.

ThankyoutothemembersfromKalingalingaSupportGroupwho

participatedinthemakingofthisarticle,youareacredittoyourselves.

Inaddition,IwouldliketothankmycolleaguesatSportinAction,who

madeitpossibleformetoconductthiswork.

IfyouwouldlikemoreinformationabouttheKalingalingaSupport

GroupandtheworkSportinActionisconducting,pleasecontactusat

thefollowingaddress:[email protected]

Graduation 2010

To find out more about Sport in Action visit

www.sportinaction.org.zm/index.htm

Adam with former Zambia Health Minister, Africa

Adam taking part in the 12km run

MarionYateshastakenoverfromDrDavidMouldswhoretiredinJuly2010,after

workingatYorkStJohnfor30years!MarionstartedasHeadoftheInternational

LanguageandShortCourseUnit14yearsago.TheUnitcomprisedasmallattic

room,wheresheworkedwithoneadministratorandashelfofabout15books.Over

theyears,theteamgrewandtheEnglishLanguageactivityattheUniversitynow

bringsinaround600internationalstudentsperyearonavarietyofcoursesfrom43

differentcountries.Therolehasinvolvedfrequentinternationaltravel,andaspecial

responsibilityforrecruitmentandpartnerdevelopmentinChinaandPakistan,where

Marionfeelsprivilegedtohavemanyprofessionalcontactsandfriends.

TakingontheroleofDirectorpresentsnewchallenges,notleastthechallenge

ofdelivering1,000fulltimeinternationalstudentsoncampusinthenextthree

years.However,Marionisconfidentthatherextremelydedicatedteamwillfulfilthe

University’sambition.Marionisdelightedtoseethedevelopmentofouralumni

networkacrosstheglobeandespeciallythefoundingofnewalumnibranchesand

associations.

International news

30

New Director of YSJ International, Marion Yates

NewDirectorofYSJInternational

TheEnglishLanguageprovisionwithinYorkStJohnInternationalhas

beencitedasa‘CentreofExcellence’alongsidesomeofBritain’s

leadinglanguageschools,accordingtothesector’smostwidelyread

publication,theELGazette(EnglishLanguageGazette).TheELGazette

carriedouttheresearchonthepublishablestatementsofallschools

accreditedbytheBritishCouncil.FindingsarebasedonBritishCouncil

inspectors’pointsofexcellencereportsandrateawidespectrumof

Englishlanguageteachingprovision.YorkStJohnInternationalreceived

specialpraiseforitspremises,teachers’qualificationsandaspectsof

generalmanagement,teachingandwelfare.

TheEnglishLanguagedepartmentwithinYorkStJohnInternational

employs21teachingstaffandseesmorethan550studentsenrolon

avarietyoflanguageprogrammeseachyear.Thesestudentsstudyat

YorkStJohnforperiodsrangingfromtwoweekstoover12months

andmanygoontostudyatdegreelevelorontofurthertrainingin

theirchosenprofession.

Successful globalisation conference hosted at YSJ

YorkStJohnInternational–aCentreofExcellence

InternationalFoundationstudentsfromYorkStJohn,Leeds

MetropolitanandTeessideuniversitiesmetforaconferenceat

YorkStJohninJanuary2011,onthethemeof‘Globalisation’.

Thishighlysuccessfuleventinvolvedplenarysessionsandgroup

presentationsbystudents.

InternationalFoundationstudentconference

31

Very entertaining first meeting for Kenya branch

On5October2010,afterstudentsfromKenyawereawardedtheirpostgraduatecertificatesat

StrathmoreUniversity,theKenyanAlumniSocietywaslaunchedinthepresenceofProfessorDavid

MaughanBrownandDrMikeCalvert.Thisinitiativewasdesignedtomaintainstronglinkswiththe

studentsandtoprovideameansbywhichtheycanmeet,shareandsupporteachotherintheir

workinKenya.TherearealreadyalargenumberofstudentsandpaststudentsinKenyatoaddto

thosewhoarestudyingintheUK.

InJanuary2011DrMikeCalverttravelledtoKenyatoattendthefirstopportunityformembers

oftheKenyanbranchtomeetsocially.ThevenuewastheSafariParkHotel,anupmarkethotel

ontheoutskirtsofNairobi.Thesocietymembersweretreatedtoabarbecuedinnerandfloor

show.Thebarbecuewasnoordinaryaffair:chicken,beef,pork,lambandgoatwerefollowed

bycamel,ostrichand...crocodileallwiththeirownsaucestoease

digestion!

TheentertainmentwasprovidedbytheSafariCats,afamoustroupe

ofdancersandacrobatswhoproducedadazzlingdisplayoflocal

dancesandthemostamazingroutines.Itisaccuratelydescribedas

akaleidoscopeofcolour,acrobaticsandrawexcitement.Theevent

wasorganisedbyKenyaBranchlocalsecretaryVitalisRugie,aformer

MALeadership&ManagementstudentwiththehelpofDrAbelKinoti

ofCatholicUniversityofEasternAfrica,aregularattheSafariPark.

Thegroupexpressedtheirthankstotheorganisersofthiseventand

eagerlylookforwardtothenexteventinApril2011.

KenyaBranch

New international alumni groups formed

TheSriLankaAssociationwasformedinApril2010withastrong

emphasisonsupportingotherstudentsandprovidingopportunities

andnetworkingpost-graduation.Asinternationallydispersed

professionals,thegroupislookingtosupportvariouscommunities

throughouttheworldintermsofeducation,trainingandknowledge

sharing.

Theirobjectivesareto:

• PromoteSriLankancultureandnewculturalopportunities

• SharetheirlearningexperiencesofYorkStJohnwithprospective

studentsfromSriLanka

• Welcomenewinternationalstudentsandprovidesupportand

advicenetworksintermsofaccommodation,jobopportunities,and

adaptingtoanewculture

• Knowledgesharingandprofessionalnetworkingbetweengroup

members,otherinstitutionsandlinksinSriLanka

Thegroupcurrentlyhasaninformalset-upandnewmembersfrom

anynationalityarealwayswelcome.During2010theassociationheld

anumberofeventsincludingSriLankanNewYearCelebrations(April),

aFriendshipCricketmatchvYSJPakistanistudents(May),Careersand

informationsharingseminar(September)andaChristmasPartyin

DecemberatYorkStJohn.SriLankanAssociationmemberswillbe

givingaseminarduringInternationalWeekonFriday25March.

YorkStJohnalsohasinternationalbranchesinTokyoandOsaka.IfyouwouldliketojoinanyofouralumnibranchesorforfurtherinformationpleaseE:[email protected].

SriLankaAssociation

Sri Lanka Association celebrate Christmas at YSJ

32

‘Curse you, Toots, all my life I wanted to be a

famous author, what have I got – a famous dog!’

(Eric Knight)

GregChristiewhohasbeenstudyingpart-timeatYorkStJohnsince

2002,isoftenreferredtoas‘Lassieman’bystaffandstudentsfor

hisloveofthelifeandworkofEricKnight–theauthoroftheLassie

novels.ItwasGreg’sinterestinEricKnight’sworkthatpavedtheway

forhisjourneytoYorkStJohn.Hisresearchbeganin1997,justafter

hisneurosurgeongothimbackonhisfeetafterbeingbedboundfor

18months.HerecallshislatewifeElaineboughthim‘SamSmallthe

FlyingYorkshireman’whenhewaslaidup.Thecomicprosenovella

inYorkshiredialectwaswrittenin1937.Onthecoveritsaid‘thisbook

writtenbyLassieauthorEricKnightwasproducedwhentheauthor

wasfarawayfromhomeandfeelingverylonely’.AtthetimeGreg

believedLassiewasAmericanbutafterfurtherresearchhelearntthat

aYorkshiremancreatedwhathereferstoas‘themostenduringliterary

heroine’.

Afterfouryearsofresearchingwhatwasanunexploredfieldandthat

decidingthathewantedtowriteEric’slifestoryitdawnedonhimthat

hehadnoqualifications.SoGregenrolledatYorkStJohntodevelop

hisskillsfurther.

WhenGregstartedhisstudies,heremembersfeelingboththrilled

andterrified,anxiousabouthowhewouldcopewiththework,his

disabilityandbeingamaturestudent.Afterthinkinghewouldn’tlast

sixmonthshesoonrealisedhowencouragingandsupportivestaff

andfellowstudentswere.Greg’ssuggestionsonhowtheinstitution

couldsupportthetransitionmaturestudentsmakecomingbackinto

educationaftermanyyearsout,weresoontakenonboardbythe

University.Gregwouldoftenspeaktoprospectivestudents,enthusing

themwithwhattheycouldaccomplishhereatYorkStJohnUniversity.

In2005GregwasthewinneroftheWinstonChurchillMemorialTrust

LiteratureFellowshiptoYaleUniversity.Then,inOctober2010Greg

wasinvitedtoNewMexicotogiveatalkonEricKnightattheHurd

Ranch&Gallery,ownedbytheHurddynastyofartists(theirfatherPeter

HurdwasaveryclosefriendofEric).AsErichadwrittenpartsofthree

ofhisbestsellersattheHurdRanch,Peter’ssonMichaelthoughtit

wouldbeagreatwaytohonourbothhisfatherandEric.Innovatively

GregcontactedhisassociatesinotherpartsoftheUSandofferedto

givelecturestostudentsandacademicstogivethetripevenmore

meaning.

TobeabletohonouragrowingnumberofcommitmentsGreghadto

raisefundsfromavarietyofsources.TheseincludedtheKnightfamily

intheUS,LeedsPhilosophical&HistoricalSocietyandalsoformer

YorkStJohn’sProViceChancellorProfessorStuartBillingham.Greg’s

Americandreamwasabouttocommence!

Greg follows his hero’s footsteps

GregChristie|BA(Hons)EnglishLiterature

Former Pro Vice Chancellor, Stuart Billingham supported Greg’s American dream

33

Graduation 2010 Student profile

Thetourwasconstructedtofeaturealltheplacesofgreatest

significancetoEric.Beingdisabled,Gregwasfullyaided,assisted

andsupportedinhistripbyhisbrother-in-lawPhilCarter,apracticed

overseasexcursionspecialistwhowasresponsibleforalltravel

arrangementsandsettingupthepresentationsatthevariousvenues.

Heensured,asGregsays,‘IgetwhereI’mgoing,whenI’mgoingthere,

himcarryingmybags,makingsureIgetmymedicationandorganising

everythingfromflightstohandingoutprogrammes,stickingupposters

andmakingthetea–andallathisownexpense.There’snowaythis

tripwouldhavehappenedwithouthim.’

Greg’slectureswereadvertisedas‘TheCurseofLassie’,oftenshocking

hostsintotherealitythatLassieisnotanAmericanbutanentirely

Yorkshirecollie!Hehadagreatresponseandsoonapackedschedule.

Fourteen States and thirteen cities in four weeks, by train – could it be done? Of course!

Greg,alwaysanoutstandingambassadorforYorkStJohn,wouldstart

histalksbythankingthehostsandYorkStJohnandthenshowimages

ofYorkshire’sbeauty.Hewouldthentreathisaudiencetosomebroad

Yorkshireaccent,engagingintotraditionaldialoguewithPhil,much

totheamusementofhisaudience.Greg’slecturesfocusedonEric’s

departurefortheStates,hiseducation,hisGreatWarservice,hisone-

mannewspaperdays,hisfilmcriticdays,andhishatedHollywood

sojourn.Healsoshowedpicturesofhisbeautifulwife,displayedthe

books,bookcovers,publicitytrailersandtitlesofhisninenovels,his

sevendocumentaryfilms,histwoHollywoodmoviesandhisradio

broadcasts.Alsoondisplaywerephotosofhisfriends,Hemingway,

Cummings,Frost,Disney,TracyandHepburn,MaryPickford,Frank

Capraandadozenothers.

During Greg’s journey he followed in Eric’s footsteps by:

• SpeakingatthefamedBoulderWritersConference(whereEricwas

thefirstwriterinresidence)

• GoingtoNiagaraFallsandcrossingintoCanada(asEricdidin1917

tojointheArmy)

• SpeakingatYaleUniversity(whichhousesEric’sarchives)

• GoingtothetopoftheEmpireStatesBuilding(standingonthevery

spotwhereEricandLassiewerephotographed)

• GivingatalkattheQuakertownLibrary(whereEriclivedandtwoof

theaudienceactuallyknewEric!)

• VisitingEric’sfarmhouseinPleasantValley,sittinginhischairand

cradlingthebronzestatueEricmadeofLassie

WhentheaudiencesaskedGregwhyhenamedhistour‘TheCurseof

Lassie’hetoldthemthatEriconcejokinglysaid‘curseyou,toots,allmy

lifeIwantedtobeafamousauthor,whathaveIgot,afamousdog!’

GregisapproachingcompletionofhissecondprogrammeatYSJ,MA

inContemporaryArtsPractice.Histheleadingacademicauthorityon

thelifeandworkofEricKnight,ithastakenoverhislifeandhehas

hundredsofarticlesthathavebeenpublishedallovertheworld.In

thefutureGreghopestogetEric’sautobiographypublishedandis

planningaPhDonaliterarybiographyofEric’sworksdemonstratingits

YorkshireandAmericaninfluences.

Greg at Yale University

34

TheAssociationcomprisesformerstudentsofYorkStJohnandRipon

CollegeswhosememberssupportYorkStJohnUniversityinanumber

ofways.TheAssociationpre-datestheYorkStJohnAlumniSociety

whichwasformedin2003,thoughthemajorityoftheAssociation

membersarealsomembersoftheAlumniSociety.

In the 2009-10 academic year the Association provided

support to York St John University in the following ways:

TheAssociationProjectFund£45,000hasbeendonatedtostaffandstudentprojectssince1993.

Thecurrentannualdonationis£2,500whichismatchfundedbythe

Government(2009-11).

SPARKAnannualdonationof£2,250ismadetotheSPARK(SecuringPotential

andReleasingKnowledge)fund.ManymembersoftheAssociation

alsomakeindividualcontributionstoSPARK.

AlumniAbundantes£1,000wasdonatedtowardsthecostoftherefurbishmentofHeritage

Passage(formerlyWindyPassage)andtheassociatedartworkproduced

byYSJgraduateCatherineScriven.

ViceChancellor’sInitiative£1,000wasdonatedtowardstheshowcasingofClubandSociety

successesandawardwinners.

GovernorRepresentationJudithHewittservesonseveralCommitteesattheUniversityasa

Governor.

Town&GownAssociationLectureTheAssociationprovidesannualsponsorshipinpartnershipwiththe

UniversityofanAnnualLecturewithregardtothepaymentofthe

speaker’sfeeandtravelexpenses.Theyalsosourcethespeaker.

RevenuefromreunionsTheAnnualReunionoftheAssociationandYearGroupReunions

generaterevenuethroughroombookingsandcatering.

VolunteeringJohnMawactsasavolunteerintheAlumniDevelopmentOfficeone

dayaweekworkingwiththeAlumniDevelopmentOfficeteam.He

regularlyattendssportsfixturesandsocietyeventstosupportYorkSt

Johnstudentsaswellasencouragingclubs,societiesandstudentsto

archivetheirachievements.OnaWednesdayJohncanoftenbefound

showinggroupsaroundtheHeritageTrail.

AssociationReunion2011Thedateofthe2011reunionforAssociationmembersis8-10July.This

eventwillalsofeatureanarchivedisplayandaperformancefromthe

BigBand.

For further information please contact Sylvia Shepherd

E: [email protected]

or T: 01429 268077.

The Project Fund has supported the Big Band

1965 leavers year group reunion

John leading a group around the Heritage Trail

The Association of the Colleges of Ripon and York St John news

35

Archives of Ripon

Aseachreunionhasended,therehavealwaysbeenexclamationsof‘it’s

beenthebestever’–thisyearwasnoexception.Thiswasthankstothe

weather,tothelovelyreunionserviceattheCathedralandtothestroll

throughthecitytoenjoythescrumptiousYorkshirefareattheRipon

SpaHotel,butmostofalltothemanyformerstudentswhoflocked

theretoshareacheerful‘catch-up’withfriends.

ThegardensattheSpamakeabeautiful,colourfulsettingforafter

lunchchatter.Thereisneverenoughtimetosayitall–butmostofus

haveagoodtry!Wealwaysrelyheavilyonthetalentfororganising–

andstamina–ofSylviaandKenShepherdwhoalwaysdoagreatjob.

Everyreunion,ofcourse,isessentiallythesame,buteachhasenough

surprisestomakeitdifferentandexciting.Whiletheyearsstillrollback

andmemoriesbecomeamazinglyclear,thereisstillsomuchtolook

forwardto,especiallythenextreunionwhichwilltakeplace

6-8July2012!

AllformerRiponstudentsarewelcome.PleaseapplytoSylviaShepherd

E:[email protected]:01429268677

Eileen Gibbon

Another memorable Ripon reunion

Ripon newsReunion update

Judith Hewitt and organiser Sylvia Shepherd

JohnMawhasrecentlycomeacrossseveraloldRiponnegativesthat

ourmediadepartmentmanagedtoconverttoimages.Wewouldvery

muchliketobeabletoidentifytheimageswehavefoundasthereare

nodatesordescriptionswiththeimages.Ifyourecognisetheimageor

wouldbeinterestedinassistinguswithotherimages,please

E:[email protected]:01904876432.

AswellashisworkontheYorkStJohnHeritageTrail,JohnMawhas

alsoputtogetheracolourfulinformationbookletonthehistoryof

Ripon,featuringRiponTrainingCollege1862-1975andTheCollegeof

Ripon&YorkStJohn1975-2002.This16pagebookletwasproduced

inassociationwithourArchiveDayinJune2009andfeaturesmany

imagesandeventsinRipon’shistory.

Wehaveanumberofthebookletsavailabletosend

free-of-chargetoanyalumniwhowouldlikeacopy.

Do you recognise this image?

History of Ripon College booklets available for members

36

New Dean ProfessorPamDawsonhasjoinedYorkStJohn

UniversityasthenewDeanoftheFacultyof

Health&LifeSciences,followingtheretirement

ofPaulineGacal.PamjoinsYorkStJohn

fromNorthumbriaUniversitywheresheheld

thepostofAssociateDeanintheFacultyof

Health,Community&EducationStudies.She

hasanimpressivetrackrecordinhighquality

teachingdeliveryandalsoinclinicalresearchin

physiotherapyandoccupationaltherapy.Pam

alsohasextensiveexperienceofcollaborating

withawiderangeofpartners,includingNHS

Trusts,theDepartmentofHealth,andother

public,privateandvoluntarysectororganisations.

Shehasalsoestablishedandbuiltupaportfolio

ofprofessionaldevelopmentprogrammes

internationally,aswellaswithintheUK.

Faculty of Health & Life Sciences news

Occupational Therapy Thesuccessofouroccupationaltherapygraduateshasearnedusa

nationalreputationforexcellence.Weareoneofthelargestproviders

ofoccupationaltherapyeducationinthecountryandarecommitted

toprovidingahighqualityeducationalexperienceforourstudentsthat

recognisestheimportanceofindividuality.Ouroccupationaltherapy

studentsarepeopleofdifferentages,experience,andsocialand

educationalbackgroundsbecausewebelievethatouroccupational

therapyprogrammesareenhancedbytherichnessofthestudents.

Wehavearangeofexperiencedandcommittedacademicstaff,each

personhavingspecialistareasofpracticeinterests.Theseinclude

mentalhealth,paediatrics,olderpeople,longtermconditionsand

housingtonamebutafew.

ExcitingdevelopmentsincludetheResearchCentreforOccupation

andMentalHealth(RCOMH)whichwassetupindirectresponseto

thechallengestoresearchersin‘RecoveringOrdinaryLives’(Collegeof

OccupationalTherapists,2006).Ourmissionistodevelopworldclass

researchinoccupationandmentalhealthtoinfluencebestpractice.

AdditionallythereistheCentreforEnablingEnvironmentsandAssistive

Technology(CEEAT),establishedinresponsetothecriticalneedto

enableindependentlivingofolderanddisabledpeoplethroughan

inclusiveapproachtoenvironmentdesignandassistivetechnologies.

Professor Dawson, arrived in September 2010

York St John University and City of York Council launch new partnership

YorkStJohnUniversityhaslaunchedanewpartnershipwiththe

CityofYorkCounciltoacceleratethedevelopmentofacitywide

re-ablementservice.ItisthefirstKnowledgeTransferPartnershipfor

bothorganisationsandwilluseexpertisefromYorkStJohn’sFacultyof

Health&LifeSciencestofacilitatethedevelopmentofare-ablement

servicewithintheHousingandAdultSocialServicesdepartmentat

CityofYorkCouncil.Re-ablementservicessupportpeoplewithpoor

physicalormentalhealthtohelpthemmanagetheirillnessbylearning

orre-learningtheskillsnecessaryfordailyliving.Itisproventoget

peoplebackontheirfeetmorequicklythantraditionalhomecare

services.

Partnership-building with St John’s University, Tanzania

Untillastyear,StJohn’sUniversity,Tanzania(SJUT)gratefullyreceived

andreconditionedmanyPCsdonatedbyYorkStJohnUniversity

(YSJU).Asanewuniversity(constitutedin2005/6),inaveryresource-

constrainedenvironment,ourcolleaguesatSJUTwonderedhow

theymightcontributetothedevelopingpartnershipwithus.In

February2010,adelegationfromSJUTwerethereforeverypleased

tobeabletooffertoaccommodateandhosteightLevel2students

andDrJacquiAkhurst,fromPsychology,forthestudents’three-week

community-basedworkplacement.

37

Immeasurable value for placement students

InMay-June,ourstudentsfundedthemselvestovisit

Dodoma,thecapitalcityofTanzania,workingina

nearbyschoolasteacherassistants,undertakingavariety

ofactivitiestosupportindividualandsmallgroupsof

learners.OurstudentsalsoworkedontheSJUTcampus,

markingstandardisedtestsandhelpinginthelibrary.

TheymetgroupsofSJUTstudentstobuildcross-cultural

relationships,andthelocalStudents’Unionarranged

outingstoprojectsconcernedwiththoseaffectedbyHIV/

Aidsandapsychiatricunit.Theimpactofthevisitforour

studentswas,intheirwords,ofimmeasurablevalue.

Honorary doctorate awarded to Valerie Taylor

ValerieTaylorOBEreceivedanHonorary

DoctorateinHealthSciences(DHSc)in

recognitionofherlonganddistinguished

careerandservicetothepooranddisabled

peopleofBangladesh.ShesetuptheCentre

fortheRehabilitationoftheParalysedinDhaka

in1979.Today,thecentreisaninternationally

renownedtraininghospitalandrehabilitation

centrewhichregularlywelcomesvolunteers

fromoverseas,includingoccupationaltherapy

studentsfromYorkStJohn.Valerie established internationally

renowned training hospital

Ex-pro footballer graduates as a physiotherapist from

PFA funded programme

TomWilkinson,anex-professional

footballerwithLincolnwhosecareerwas

cutshortbyinjuryisthefirstProfessional

Footballers’Association(PFA)funded

studenttocompleteaPhysiotherapy

degreeatYorkStJohnUniversity.Tom

graduatedin2010aged25,wasthe

firstYorkStJohnstudenttoreceivefull

fundingfromthePFAaftertheUniversity

successfullyrolledoutthescheme

withthePFAthreeyearsago.YorkSt

JohnUniversityisoneofonlyahandful

ofuniversitieswhichreceivesfunding

fromthePFA.ThePFAnowfundfive

ex-professionaloracademyplayersevery

yearthroughtheirstudiesatYorkStJohn

inabidtohelpthemaccomplishan

alternatecareerasphysiotherapists.

PFA funded graduate, Tom Wilkinson

LocatedintheFossbuilding,YSJActiveprovidean

excitingrangeofopportunitiesforsport,exerciseand

recreation.YSJActiveofferafullyequippedfitness

andconditioningsuite,anall-weatherpitchandthree

grassfootballpitchesallofwhichcanbeusedby

alumniandmembersofthepublicatveryreasonableprices.EachyearYSJActiveofferarange

ofExerciseIndustryqualificationsatLevel2andLevel3,whichcanleadtoregistrationonthe

RegisterofExerciseProfessionals.

ExerciseIndustryqualificationsrunningin2011are:

*thesecoursesrequirethestudenttoholdarecognisedLevel2fitness,gymorsimilar

instructorqualificationbeforeregistration.

Thesequalificationsformanessentialentryroutetotheexerciseindustry,soifyouarelooking

toaddtoyourCVorchangeyourcareercontactYSJActiveonE:[email protected]

T:01904876300.

Qualification

Level2CertificateinFitness

Instructing(Gym)

*Level3Certificatein

AdvancedGymInstruction

Duration

2weeks

6weekends

Dates

6-17June

18June-

24July

Registration closing date27May

10June

Cost

£390£280YSJalumni

£390£280YSJalumni

38

HelpandadvicefromtheCareerDevelopmentteamisalwaysavailable

toallmembersoftheAlumniSociety.LizWhitakerandGlynisRushby,

CareerDevelopmentAdvisers,canprovideinformation,adviceand

guidanceon,forexample,careerplanning,careerchange,further

studyoptions,jobsearch,completingapplicationsandinterview

technique.IfyouliveinYorkorplantovisityoucanarrangeacareers

appointment,orwecanarrangetospeakonthephoneorprovide

emailadviceandinformation.ContactusE:[email protected]

T:01904876711/876710.

Calling all 2010 graduates!

Thankstoallthoseofyouwhohavealreadycompletedandreturned

theDestinationsofLeaversfromHigherEducationquestionnairewe

senttoyouinNovember.Thequestionnaireispartofanationalsurvey,

whichwecoordinateonbehalfofYorkStJohn,tofindoutwhatpeople

aredoingoncetheyhavecompleteddegree,certificateordiploma

programmes.Wewouldbegratefulifthoseofyouwhohavenotyet

returnedthequestionnairewoulddosoassoonaspossible;itshould

onlytakeafewminutesofyourtime.Mostofthequestionsjust

requireyoutotickabox;there’snopostagetopayasyoucansendit

backtousintheprepaidenvelopeprovided.

Anyinformationyouprovidewillbeanonymisedandwillhelpto

informpresentandprospectivestudentsandHigherEducationpolicy.

StatisticaldatafromthesurveyalsocontributestoYorkStJohns’league

tableratings.Wearerequiredtomeetan80%targetforparticipation

soarefacedwithtryingtocontactalargenumberofnon-respondents

byphonetoaskforinformation,sopleasedotakethetimetofillinthe

postalquestionnaire.

Don’tforgetthateventhoughyouhavecompletedyourstudiesat

YorkStJohn,youarestillwelcometocontactCareerDevelopmentfor

information,adviceandguidance.

Graduate Internships Success

OverthelastyeartheCareerDevelopmentTeamhassourcedanumber

ofinternshipsforrecentgraduates.FundingfromtheEconomic

ChallengeInvestmentFundhasenabledustopartfundthese,which

hasprovedanattractivepropositiontothoselocalemployerswho

havegivenoneofourgraduatestheopportunitytodeveloptheirskills

andgainexperienceintheworkplace.Ourinternshipemployershave

includedYorkMuseumsTrust,theYorkshireFilmArchive,CityofYork

Council,NYBEP,HigherYork,EllisPatents,AestheticaMagazine,York

StJohnUniversityStudents’Union,LDTDesignandUnitedbyDesign.

Anumberofthegraduateinternshaveeitherhadtheircontracts

extendedorhavesuccessfullyusedtheinternshipasaspringboardto

otheremployment.

TwoofYorkStJohnUniversity’sgraduateinterns,bothFilm&Television

graduates,arepicturedhere:

Career Development at York St John

Tom Dunne Tom has worked on a film for York-based

film production company, Parashoots

Luke TaylorLuke has undertaken internships with

the Yorkshire Film Archive and the City of York Learning and Work Partnership

39

Student population 5,662

GenderFemale 70%Male 30%

Ageonentry20andunder 55%21andover 45%

FacultyEducation&Theology 30%Health&LifeSciences 28%Arts 20%BusinessSchool 11%JointHonours 9%Other(mainlyexchange) 2%

ModeofstudyFull-time 72%Part-time 28%

LevelofstudyUndergraduatedegree 65%Undergraduateother 18%Postgraduate 17%

DomicileHome/EU 93%International 7%

Facts and figures (basedonJuly2010)

5,662 students on our beautiful campus

Study a Postgraduate Course at York St John UniversityWe offer a wide range of full-time or part-time courses so whatever your future may hold we’ll help you to unlock your potentialOur fresh thinking is at the heart of your success

Want to find out more? Visit www.yorksj.ac.uk/postgrad

AluminationThe magazine of the York St John Alumni Society

Alumni Development OfficeT:01904876432|F:01904876971|E:[email protected]|www.yorksj.ac.uk/alumni

YSJ ReceptionT:01904624624|F:01904612512

Careers ServiceT:01904876711|F:01904876586|E:[email protected]

Students’ UnionT:01904876891|E:[email protected]

Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ysjalumnisociety

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