- As every child knows, while one ice cream might be delicious, two can leave you feeling sick. It is possible that academic and poet Jonathan Hart is reflecting on similar metaphors after finding himself without either of the two full-time professorships he apparently held simultaneously in 2011 and 2012. As 探花视频 previously reported (鈥淗umanities scholar鈥檚 quantum state鈥, 28 March 2013), Professor Hart was appointed professor of English and comparative literature at the University of Alberta in 2004. In 2011, he was also appointed professor of English studies at Durham University, while still employed by Alberta. Neither university appears to have known about his dual roles and, in March 2013, a Durham spokeswoman confirmed that it no longer employed him. THE has now confirmed with Alberta that he has also vacated his chair there. However, the university refused to give any further details.
- Someone who arguably did fill the shoes of two people was University of Leicester vice-chancellor Sir Bob Burgess, and the institution鈥檚 thrusting press office, fresh from the global triumph of its heroic Richard III campaign, was never going to let him retire at the end of last month without a fanfare. However, more churlish observers than Week in HE might have raised an eyebrow at a rather giddy press release trumpeting all the praise 鈥渉eaped鈥 on him by the Lord Bishop of Leicester, Tim Stevens, and by GuildHE chief executive Andy Westwood (鈥淭he sector will miss Sir Bob and his style鈥). Sir Bob is quoted as telling a farewell reception that being Leicester head honcho was the best job he had ever had in higher education: 鈥淚t鈥檚 a really great job and it鈥檚 a great job because all of you have made it great.鈥 A great quote indeed, although it arguably falls towards the slightly less great end of great.
- Nor was it all hugs and kisses elsewhere in Leicester. The Leicester Mercury reported on 28 September that Obas Ebohon, reader in energy and sustainable development at De Montfort University, pleaded guilty at Leicester Magistrates鈥 Court to four offences related to a house he rented to seven students. These included failing to apply for a multiple occupation licence and failing to ensure that the boundary walls of the house were safely maintained. The court was told that inspectors found 鈥渇aulty fixtures and fittings, a fire door which didn鈥檛 close or provide a safe means of escape, cracked plaster on the ceiling, a faulty lock on the front door鈥. In addition, 鈥渙ne shower wasn鈥檛 working and another shower was blocked鈥. The residents 鈥 who apparently have no idea what the 鈥渟tudent experience鈥 is all about 鈥 were not amused and complained to the council. Dr Ebohon was given a conditional discharge and fined a total of 拢2,000, plus more than 拢1,000 in costs.
- Five jolly japesters from Sweden have revealed that they have spent the past 17 years competing to insert the most Bob Dylan lyrics into the titles of their scientific papers. The Guardian reported on 29 September that the man (yes, they are all men) who has racked up the most quotations by the time he retires will win a free lunch. It all began with a 1997 Nature paper called 鈥淣itric Oxide and Inflammation: The Answer Is Blowing in the Wind鈥. Subsequent examples published by the crazy quintet from Stockholm鈥檚 Karolinska Institute include 鈥淭angled up in Blue: Molecular Cardiology in the Postmolecular Era鈥 and 鈥淭he Biological Role of Nitrate and Nitrite: The Times They Are a-Changin鈥欌. Although the titles have all the subtlety of a Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat (see what we did there?), THE will buy dessert if any of them manages to incorporate 鈥淢otorpsycho Nitemare鈥.
- There was bad news for Nigel Farage鈥檚 long-term electoral prospects last week as the European Commission revealed that per cent of the 3 million students who have taken part in its Erasmus exchange programme since it began in 1987 met their long-term partner while studying abroad, potentially resulting in about a million bilingual babies. But at least there need be no worries about shifty, work-shy foreigners sponging off the state: The Erasmus Impact Study also suggests that unemployment rates for Erasmus alumni are 23 per cent lower than for other graduates five years after leaving university.
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