University appoints new boss guy thing
Victoria University of Wellington has appointed Andrew Simpson to the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer.
Simpson, who has been involved with the management of universities both domestically and overseas since 1990, is excited by the opportunity to oversee the university’s strategic policy.
“I am thrilled to be joining the leadership team at Victoria University and contributing to the ongoing success of this great institution,” Simpson said.
Mr Simpson will be a member of the University’s Senior Management Team and be responsible for Information Technology Services, Central Student Administration, Facilities Management, Communications, Marketing, Online Services and Student Recruitment.
When the jaaazzzmaaan’s testifyin’, a faithless man believes
Scottish-born jazz musician and composer John Rae has been named as the Creative New Zealand/Jack C Richards Composer-in-Residence at the New Zealand School of Music for 2009-10.
Rae, who has performed and composed music with some of the world’s most inventive and creative contemporary jazz musicians, says he is also looking forward to the challenge of working and producing music in Wellington.
“I’m looking forward to moving to a larger city that has such a strong music culture. The last couple of years I have had to do a lot of travelling and teaching in order to continue to write and play full time the music I love,” he said.
Since 2006, Victoria University and Massey University have been operating a joint New Zealand School of Music (NZSM), a centre of musical excellence.
Job initiatives proposed for students, remove need to sell entire bedroom’s worth of shit on TradeMe
The New Zealand University Student’s Association (NZUSA) has applauded moves by both Auckland University and Canterbury University to bring out possible summer job initiatives for students.
The vice chancellors of both universities met with senior government ministers to suggest initiatives that will aim to keep students in jobs over summer.
“Currently only one-third of students are eligible for the Unemployment Benefit (Student Hardship) over summer. With the threat of increasing unemployment, students may find it hard to support themselves over summer with jobs and may find it difficult to return to study once the semester begins,” said NZUSA Co-President Sophia Blair.
“Given the government’s appetite for innovative and creative work opportunities, these schemes fit nicely with other government programmes that are underway and it would be timely to include these in the upcoming budget.”
I t’s 4:20 somewhere…
May the 4th marked the annual celebration of J Day, an event to promote the legalisation and safe use of Marijuana.
This year the event was held at Frank Kitts Park with 250 people in attendance. The National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) organised the day and the communications officer Danyl Strype was pleased with the turnout and atmosphere.
At one point there was a suspected police presence which Strype dispelled by saying that “the whole purpose [of J Day is to] change the law.”