UEA Library opened in 1968, so this year is its 50th anniversary.
The architect was Denys Lasdun and the first librarian was Willi Guttsman. Tag, the UEA Library blog, has appreciations of both men.
An appreciation is an assessment (usually positive) of a person and their work.
Photo © N Chadwick (cc-by-sa/2.0)
From The Associated Press, February 13, 1988
Ken The Gerbil Wins Student Election At University
DATELINE: NORWICH, England
A gerbil named Ken, campaigning on a platform of free beer and soft toilet paper, beat five other candidates to become president of the Student Union at the University of East Anglia. Ken’s owner, chemistry student Julian Campbell, 21, said he entered his pet as a joke and was amazed that the mouselike rodent won the job, which pays $94.50 a week.
The university is in Norwich in northeast England. Ken polled well over a third of the 1,500 votes, beating his nearest competitor by 194 votes. He celebrated his victory Friday night with sunflower seeds and a sip of vodka from a water bottle.
“I think he’ll make a great president. And he definitely won’t be making any boring speeches,” Campbell was quoted as telling The Star.
But outgoing Student Union president Rob Davies, 23, was not amused.
“The students have not taken the vote seriously,” Davies was quoted as telling the Daily Mirror. “I don’t think many know how much hard work goes into the job.”
Ken was named after Education Secretary Kenneth Baker, whose education reform bill is currently being considered by Parliament. But it turns out the name is somewhat of a misnomer.
Campbell found out during the campaign that Ken is actually a female and is pregnant.
Source: Nexis
The election was overturned and a fresh election held, in which Ken’s owner, Julian Campbell, was elected.
Letter to The Times, 7th December 1968:
From the Times Digital Archive.
Roy Jenkins was at that time a Labour Party MP and the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Unkempt means untidy in appearance (clothes or hair), or scruffy.
From The Times, 20th May 1961:
From the Times Digital Archive.
For more on Earlham Park Golf Club, see this page.
If there is something strange with your wifi, internet access, email, Office, UEA website, Blackboard, etc. etc., check the UEA IT Service Status web page.
Photograph by Leo Reynolds
A big welcome to everyone on the presessional course.
Have a wonderful time.
Don’t work too hard!
