Institutional Memory

[Guest]

Having read many of the arguments about the traditions of the House and Union, I\'ve been thinking what a shame it is that there is no proper history of the University for the last 50 years or so. I know that R. Cant\'s book goes up to the 60\'s, but he\'s not very good at all on anything post war.

We need an up to date history, or failing that, we need to preserve the memories of those on these boards who have been around a while (Cellar Bar, exnihilo etc). Could they be persuaded to write a short article on their time at the university?

[exnihilo]

The University has commissioned a number of postgraduate research projects for precisely this purpose, as part of the 600th Anniversary celebrations.

[exnihilo]

Which is not to suggest in any way that I would be unwilling to write such articles or, indeed, send the articles I already wrote to interested parties! 'Cause I'm shameless like that.

[Guest]

Quoting exnihilo from 06:48, 6th May 2005
The University has commissioned a number of postgraduate research projects for precisely this purpose, as part of the 600th Anniversary celebrations.

From what little I know of the that project, it seems it is to be a collection of writings on the university rather than a full narrative. Would i also be alone in not trusting something that is being written for the university in not being as brutal as others might?

[exnihilo]

Oh quite the contrary, I'd have thought. If it's to be a serious piece of academic enquiry in what m'colleague Mr Wilson would doubtless call a PhD-stylee then it will be soulless and pointless.

[Eliot Wilson]

Quite so, quite so. It is to be regretted that there is no comprehensive history of the University, but such a thing would be a major undertaking. I think the University hopes that the PhD studentships it is offering will go some way towards righting that by the time of the 600th anniversary. I don't suppose, however, we can hope for something as imposing as the brilliant multi-volume history of Oxford.

[hr]

Bill and Ted beat the Grim Reaper at Twister

Bill: "You played very well, Death, especially with your totally heavy Death robes."

Death: "Don't patronise me."

[RJ Covino]

Quoting Eliot Wilson from 11:49, 18th May 2005
I don't suppose, however, we can hope for something as imposing as the brilliant multi-volume history of Oxford.

Do you really think the source material would allow for such a work to be written? There are only so many times you can write "and then crass-bad management led to the closure of/destruction of/sale of..." and that's just the 16/1700's!

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http://www.ralphcovino.com