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Thoughts from the Executive Dean of Arts – Professor Richard Fotheringham
 One of the ways that The University of Queensland demonstrates its strong commitment to equity and diversity is its Diversity Week and UQ is the only University in Australia to have such an event.
Running from May 12-16, this year's events are themed around The Spirit of Diversity and members of the University community are invited to engage with the complex issues surrounding human spirituality.
This year, Diversity Week includes the Vice-Chancellor's Inaugural Alumni Equity and Diversity Award. This award is in recognition of UQ alumni whose efforts have championed the equitable and inclusive treatment of under-represented groups throughout Queensland, Australia or overseas.
Although I don’t know who will receive this award, it is timely for me to mention a very illustrious UQ Arts/law alumni who has in both her personal and professional life championed a number of under-represented groups. I am referring to Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce, Queensland Governor and soon to be Australia’s first female Governor-General. Ms Bryce has been Principal and Chief Executive Officer of The Women's College within the University of Sydney; founding Chair and Chief Executive Officer, National Childcare Accreditation Council; Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner; Queensland Director, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission; and inaugural Director, Women’s Information Service Queensland, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Whilst our colleagues in the BEL Faculty will be quite within their rights to also claim Ms Bryce as their own, she has been a good friend to UQ Arts for many years, hosting an event at Government House to promote the World Shakespeare Congress in 2006, and taken an active interest in our music teaching. She also repeatedly urges me to ensure that earlier high-achieving UQ women get recognition through named scholarships. Other female UQ Arts alumni who have received recognition for their community contribution and professional expertise include Dr Jackie Huggins AM, who has been championing reconciliation and indigenous issues for many years – her efforts being recognised not only when she was awarded UQ Alumnus of 2007, but Ms Huggins has also recently participated on the 2020 Summit Steering Committee.
The presentation of the UQ Diversity Awards will be preceded by a panel discussion with opportunity for audience involvement, facilitated by broadcaster, writer and social commentator Mr Phillip Adams AO. The topic for discussion is "Wired for warfare? Packaged for peace? Does spirituality divide more than it unites?" Contributing to the panel will be:
o Professor Hûrriyet Babaçan - Professor of Social and Cultural Development, Institute for Community, Ethnicity and Policy Alternatives, Victoria University.
o Ms Mary Graham - Community development/research consultant for the Kummara Association and consultant in Aboriginal community development.
o Dr Virginia F. Cawagas - Senior Fellow, University for Peace, Costa Rica and Project Coordinator, Multi-Faith Centre, Griffith University.
The VC’s Equity and Diversity Awards presentation and cocktail function will be the highlight event in Diversity Week 2008. This event is FREE OF CHARGE for staff and students of the University and their guests. You are encouraged to attend and to further extend the invitation to students and external stakeholders. Details are as follows:
Date: Wednesday 14 May 2008
Time: 4pm for a 4:30pm start
Venue: Exhibition Hall, UQ Centre, Union Road, St Lucia Campus
RSVP: By contacting Kristy Gan (k.gan@uq.edu.au)
Study Abroad Agreement Signed with Pusan University of Foreign Studies (Korea)
Professor Richard Fotheringham (centre) holding the agreement with Dr You Sun-gyo,President, Pusan University of Foreign Studies along with UQ and Pusan University of Foreign Studies representatives
 A letter of Agreement between the Faculty of Arts and Pusan University of Foreign Studies (PUFS) was signed in March 2008. As part of the agreement, PUFS students who complete 2 years in the PUFS Liberal Arts degree now have an opportunity to continue their studies in the BA at UQ for two more years and obtain a UQ degree.
In November 2007 Patricia Robinson and Olga Chaourova from the Faculty of Arts visited the Pusan University of Foreign Studies in Korea where they met with Professor Leonardo Mendoza from the Spanish Department who is also the International Exchange Coordinator at the University and other staff members of the Pusan University of Foreign Studies.
The agreement with PUFS will also enhance UQ’s Study Abroad, Program where Pusan University of Foreign Studies students can study as UQ Study Abroad students for one or two semesters with an opportunity to enhance their English language skills at ICTE-UQ prior to enrolling in Arts Faculty courses.
Appointment of New Head of School of Music
In June, Professor Margaret Barrett from the School of Music at the University of Tasmania will join the School of Music as Head of School. Professor Barrett’s appointment represents a further strengthening of the School’s national and international reputation in Music Education.
Student’s Surprise Honour in 2020 Summit
Having submitted her application 15 minutes before closing time, PhD student Eliza Matthews was surprised to be chosen to take part in April’s 2020 Summit.
“A few friends and colleagues suggested I nominate, so I put in an application 15 minutes before they closed, and then forgot all about it until I was called by a journalist from the ABC's PM program for an interview,” Ms Matthews said.
The 2020 Summit is a Federal Government initiative which took place at Parliament House, with the aim of helping to shape a long-term strategy for the nation's future.
Ms Matthews was one of 1000 delegates selected from around Australia who discussed solutions to some of the country's most pressing issues.
A PhD student at The University of Queensland, Ms Matthews is studying with the School of History, Philosophy, Religion and Classics on the topic “Bring the Bombs out of the Basement: The United States, the NPT, and the sui generis states of India, Pakistan and Israel, 1961-1973”.
The group she was part of at the 2020 Summit focused on “Australia's future security and prosperity in a rapidly changing region and world”.
According to Ms Matthews, Australia has a role to play in preventing the production and distribution of nuclear weapons around the world.
“My specific focus was how Australia can play a greater role in nuclear weapons non-proliferation around the globe and how we can increase the focus on nuclear studies here at home,” she said.
During the summit, Ms Matthews was involved in discussions and formulation of a document to advise the Federal Government on how to proceed with protecting Australia's security and planning to ensure the country plays a proactive role in world affairs.
In 2005, Ms Matthews won a prestigious Fulbright scholarship to research US foreign policy history and nuclear non-proliferation in Washington DC.
Japanese Language Prize Awarded by International Law Firm
 UQ Alumnus, Lloyd Parker, made a special trip back to UQ from Tokyo to interview the applicants of the Lovells Horitsu Jimusho Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo, Japanese language prize.The prize is expected to be awarded shortly and will be awarded to a Japanese language and law student with the best grades in both disciplines. The prize was initiated by Lloyd Parker in his current role as Managing Partner for Lovells Horitsu Jimusho Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo (Tokyo). Lovells is an international law firm with 27 offices in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the United States, employing over 3,000 staff worldwide.
Lloyd Parker is an alumnus with a long history as a student with UQ. He graduated with three degrees, including Bachelor of Commerce (1985), Bachelor of Laws (1988) and Bachelor of Arts (Japanese) (1992).
During his time with UQ as a student, Lloyd himself was a recipient of two scholarships to study in Japan, including an Australia Japan Foundation Scholarship at Doshisha University and a UQ Scholarship to study at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies. Having been a scholarship recipient, he can appreciate the value in receiving cash prizes.
Lovells is providing the prize as a gesture of goodwill and also as a way to discover and potentially recruit good Japanese/Law graduates.
Winner of the Denis Murphy Prize for 2007 Announced
Rachel Cureton, current BA undergraduate student, was awarded The Denis Murphy Prize for 2007 in February 2008. The award is given to a student enrolled in their first degree, with the highest mark in the first attempt at the course, Australian History: Current Issues in Historical Perspectives (HIST1201). The prize includes books from Queensland University Press to the value of $500.
UN International Year of Languages 2008
To celebrate the United Nations (UN) International Year of Languages and Diversity Week at UQ, and to showcase the languages taught by the UQ School of Languages and Comparative Cultural Studies, the Library is showing a range of foreign language movies in April and May. For more information go to http://www.library.uq.edu.au/hotnews/index.phtml?id=515 . A display on languages has been organised with the SS&H Library and will be available until May 13.
Prizes and Awards Prizes and Awards Ceremony - The School of Languages and Comparative Cultural Studies
 The Award Ceremony on April 4th was attended by Mrs Nancy Bonnin and her son, Geoffrey. The G M Bonnin Memorial Prize was established in 1975 in memory of her late husband, who was a Lecturer in German at UQ for many years.
The inaugral Lovell’s Prize (mentioned previously), for students of Japanese and Law, established in 2007, will be announced in May.
A new Prize has been donated by the Spanish Embassy for the best student undertaking Honours in the field of Spanish Studies will be awarded in 2009.
G M Bonnin Memorial Prize 2007
Sikwasa Davis
Christian Romuss
G M Grassie Memorial Prize 2008
Carl Ord
IML Prize for 2007
Sheryl Tai (Korean)
Liz Maggs (Chinese)
Kristie Gillman (Indonesian)
Stephanie Bates (Spanish)
Keith Leopold Prize 2007
Kathleen Ivison
Karl and Frieda Reber Memorial Scholarship for 2008
Clare McEniery
Mabel Pingel Scholarship 2008
Claire Jasudasen
First Year BA Students Receive Assistance
A student information session was held in April for first year Bachelor of Arts and dual program students. The session was held to remind students of the great resources available at UQ including:
· Student Services
· UQ Union
· Social Sciences and Humanities Library
· UQ Sport
· UQ Alumni
The students who attended won some generous lucky door prizes including a 3 month pass to activities at UQ Sport, vouchers that can be used at UQ Union outlets, a double pass to a musical titled Into the Woods, a USB stick and a Faculty of Arts chameleon t-shirt.
Breakfast Highlights the Importance of Classics and Ancient History
Professor Paul Greenfield, AO, Vice-Chancellor of The University of Queensland, joined invited guests and staff at the Greek Club to hear about the importance of teaching and researching ancient Greek. Professor Bob Milns spoke about the role of the Classics and its application in our modern society and of the importance of teaching and researching the ancient Greek heritage and the need to ensure Classics is retained at The University of Queensland.
The breakfast encouraged the Greek business community to become active participants with Classics and be involved in the Milns Fund and the Friends of Antiquity.
The breakfast was funded by the R D Milns Classics and Ancient History Perpetual Endowment Fund. The Fund was named in recognition of the lifetime of service which Emeritus Professor Bob Milns, AM, has given to the teaching of Classics (i.e. Classical Greek, Latin and Ancient History) at UQ.
Currently, The University of Queensland is the only tertiary institution in Queensland which offers the study of Classical History, from undergraduate to doctoral level.
A morning tea will be held to thank the donors to the R D Milns Fund for their generosity. The morning tea will be held at 10.30am on Saturday 24 May in the tea room on the third level of Michie Building, St Lucia campus.
Winner of Facebook Prize Announced
First year BA dual degree student, Roxy Niveri is now the proud owner of an iPOD nano. To enter the competition, BA and BA dual degree students had to post an item onto any of the BA @ UQ Facebook Groups via facebook.com. The winner of the competition was selected via a random draw.
Roxy Niveri is currently studying a dual degree, Tourism Management/Bachelor of Arts majoring in Japanese.
University Professor Gets Back to Grass Roots
UQ Professor of Museum Studies Dr Amareswar Galla, led a workshop organised by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) on “Traditional Knowledge Systems Museums &
Intangible ‘Natural’ Heritage in South Asia” in Hyderabad and Araku Valley, India, from February 2-8. Professor Galla is Chairperson, ICOM Cross Cultural Task Force; and the Convener, Pacific Asia Observatory for Cultural Diversity in Human Development.
Faculty of Arts University Medallists
The Faculty of Arts is proud to congratulate nine graduates from the Bachelor of Arts and two graduates from the Bachelor of Music on being awarded the University Medal for 2007.
Course Recalls Icons Of The 1950s
“Australia in the 1950s”, a one-day MindVentures course was held in April and coordinated by UQ academic Dr Toni Johnson-Woods. It featured guest presenter Hugh Lunn, whose recent book Lost for Words looks at language in the post-war decades.
Attendees had the opportunity to take a step back to another age – an age when crime fiction came over the airwaves, Greek cafes were a mainstay on every street corner and children filled their pockets with lollies.
The course comprised presentations and discussions about icons of Australian life in the 1950s, including Carter Brown mystery novels, radio serials (such as Larry Kent's “I Hate Crime”) and the role of the corner shop in teaching children money management and arithmetic.
Dr Johnson-Woods's research into the mystery novels and radio serials is funded by an Australian Research Council grant to examine the pulp industry of the decade. The course also featured Toni Risson, who spoke about Greek cafes and their contribution to Australian food culture.
“Australia in the 1950s” is part of a series of courses run by MindVentures for mature-age people on a variety of topics, including history, religion, economics, music and politics, presented by staff, postgraduate students and associates of The University of Queensland.
From Russia With Love
 Two representatives of the Faculty of Arts recently visited various institutions in Russia, Kazakhstan and the Czech Republic. The objective of the trip was to further develop relationships between UQ, the Faculty and education institutions in these three countries.
Faculty Executive Officer, Patricia Robinson and International Officer, Olga Chaourova also had the opportunity to meet with a group of students at the Moscow State University who have formed an Australian Club. Interestingly, the Australian Club has about 40 members. The members expressed an interest in learning more about Australian studies at UQ.
The visit also included meeting with the Moscow City Government, where they discussed developing further relationships between UQ and Moscow education institutions.
Settling the Score
UQ Musicians have paid tribute to two very different composers at the annual Autumn Music Festival in Maleny.
Brahms and Colin Brumby may be worlds apart in the music they’ve produced but the two composers shared centre stage at the Autumn Music Festival earlier this month. Taking place from April 11-13 in Maleny, the event included five different concerts featuring students and staff from The University of Queensland’s School of Music.
Festival director Robert Harris said the 2008 program was designed to mark both 175 years since Brahms’ birth and Brumby’s 75th birthday.
 Dr Brumby was a Reader in Music at UQ for many years and is renowned as one of Australia’s most prolific and versatile composers, creating pieces for choirs, strings and brass.
“Colin has such a concept of beautiful sound, balance and shape that I think people enjoyed his works very much, perhaps to their surprise,” Mr Harris said.
“It was an attempt to use his 75th year to look afresh at his repertoire.”
Features of the festival included Brahms’ String Sextet No.2 in G Major and a performance of Brumby’s Five English Lyrics by the So-la Voce chamber choir.
“We try on the one hand to provide repertoire that audiences already enjoy, so in the course of the weekend they heard certain things like Pachabel’s Canon and Johann Sebastian Bach’s Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” Mr Harris said.
“Such popular fare contrasted with works that perhaps none of the audience had heard before but we think is good music that provokes the imagination.”
Mr Harris, a long-time guest teacher of viola at UQ, said the event was a showcase for soloists including Spiros Rantos and Gwyn Roberts.
Women In Asia Conference-Emerging Researchers Showcase Nominations
The School of Languages and Comparative Cultural Studies will be hosting the Ninth International Women in Asia Conference from 29 September to 1 October.
Major Asian filmmakers will be attending as keynotes and the conference will also feature an Emerging Researchers Showcase at which some of the best early career researchers working on women and gender in Asia will present their work. The Emerging Researchers Showcase has been made possible with funding from the ARC-Asia Pacific Futures Research Network.
Nominations for the Emerging Researchers Showcase are invited from those who have been awarded their PhD degree in the last five years. Closing date for nominations is 20 May 2008.
Ancient Mystery Unlocked at UQ
 A 2000-year-old mystery has arrived at UQ in the form of a large golden earring, now on public display in the R D Milns Antiquities Museum.
Thought to be from the Hellenistic Period (4th – 1st century BC), the earring is among the collection's newest objects, which include a terracotta figure of the fertility goddess Astarte, a silver Greco-Roman ring and two bronze military medallions (phalarae).
Museum curator and UQ lecturer in Ancient History Dr Sonia Puttock said rough dates were known about the items but the rest remained elusive.
“We have to do the research on them to find out just exactly what they are. When you buy an object you'll often get a broad date but often you don't get a provenance (origin),” Dr Puttock said.
Members of the public are welcome to visit between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday (no bookings required), with school and interest groups able to organise guided tours in advance.
Get English Language Support at UQ
Staff are reminded that The Institute of Continuing and TESOL Education continues to offer free English language support classes for all UQ international and Australian non-English speakers, through its English for Academic Communication support classes. Support is available for undergraduate, postgraduate and research students, including Study Abroad and exchange students. Classes are at UQ St Lucia, and if there is sufficient demand, at Ipswich and Gatton campuses. Details and registration are online, or phone ext. 56565 or email enquiries@icte.uq.edu.au.
EVENTS
TUESDAY 13 MAY
1.00pm – 5.00pm
`Are We Entitled to be Optimistic about Language Education in Australia?`
Half Day Symposium to Celebrate the Linguistic Diversity of UQ
Professor Joseph Lo Bianco will present, “Are we entitled to be optimistic about language education in Australia?” Professor Roland Sussex will moderate a discussion on “The present and the future of languages and language education in Australia.”
RSVP essential for catering purposes joanne.hopper@uq.edu.au
LCCS Conference Room, Room E217, Forgan Smith Building
FRIDAY 16 MAY
8:00pm - 10:00pm “Mereruka and King Teti: The Power Behind the Throne”
Professor Naguib Kanawati (Director, Australian Centre for Egyptology, Macquarie University) will present a free, illustrated, public lecture on his archaeological research in Egypt. Room: 206, Steele Building.
SATURDAY 17 MAY
“The Many Faces of Egypt” (14th Annual Ancient History Conference)
This year`s Ancient History Day will feature seven speakers who will present illustrated lectures on different aspects of Egyptian history and art. For more details please contact the School of History, Philosophy, Religion & Classics at the University of Queensland using the contact details below. Room: 206, Steele Building.
THURSDAY 15 MAY
Free Lunchtime Concert, 12.30pm
Nickson Room, School of Music
World renowned violinist Charles Castleman performs a virtuosic program to include Ysaÿe's Solo Sonata No. 6 ‘Quiroga’, the Bach Solo Sonata in G minor BWV1001, Dvořák’s Sonatina for violin & piano, Op. 100 and Quiroga’s Canto y Danza Andaluza.
THURSDAY 22 MAY
The Annual Henry Mayer Lecture 2008
The Spin We're In: Media and Democracy in Post-Howard Australia
The Mayne Art Museum, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
THURSDAY 22 MAY
Free Lunchtime Concert, 12.30pm
Nickson Room, School of Music
Postgraduate cellist Nathanael Primrose-Heaney features Haydn’s Cello Concerto in D Major as part of his marvellous program.
SUNDAY 25 MAY
UQ Symphony Orchestra
Beethoven & Bartók
Concert Hall, QPAC, 2pm
Tickets $21.50 adults, $16.50 concession
A Day of Classics at QPAC 3 Concert Pass $79.50 adults, $64.50 concession
Available NOW from Qtix 136 246
Presented in association with QPAC
As part of the 4MBS Festival of Classics
The UQ Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Gwyn Roberts, will play the great Beethoven Fifth Symphony as part of the 4MBS Festival of Classics day at QPAC. Prominent violist Patricia Pollett features as soloist with UQSO, performing the lively Bartók Viola Concerto.
The University Chorale will be singing Ode to Joy as part of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the 4MBS Festival Orchestra at 6pm in the Concert Hall, QPAC.
THURSDAY 29 MAY
Free Lunchtime Concert, 12.30pm
Nickson Room, School of Music
International artist Tanya Prochazka, cello & close associate Brachi Tilles, piano, present a charming program to include Schumann’s Fantasy Pieces Op. 73, Faure’s Papillon Op. 77 and Elégie Op. 24 and an arrangement of Brahms’ Sonata in Eb Op. 117, No. 2.
THURSDAY 5 JUNE
Free Lunchtime Concert, 12.30pm
Nickson Room, School of Music
Phoebe Green performs her Masters viola recital featuring the Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in Bb Major BWV1051, the Walton Viola Concerto and Ross Edwards' Enyato II.
SUNDAY 8 JUNE
Sundays at Customs House, 11.30am (free)
The Long Room, Customs House
The School of Music’s Trio Ispirato (violin, cello, piano), winners of the 2007 4MBS Musica Viva chamber prize, play Mendelssohn and Piazzolla.
FRIDAY 25 JULY
Arts Graduates from the 80’s and Beyond
You will be able to re-experience the gothic hairstyles, fashion and art from a glorious decade. An Alumni function will be held in conjunction with the exhibition at the UQ Art Museum, titled neo goth: back in black. For more details please contact Tara Young tara.young@uq.edu.au or phone (07) 3365 3072.
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