ON THE MOVE
In a recent article on words that the
Covid-19 crisis is adding to English (and
other languages), columnist David Astle
mentions magpie as a verb, meaning
to swoop on supermarket shelves and
clear them (Sydney Morning Herald,
3.4.20). The aggressiveness implied in this
action seems rather truer to life than the
cuteness of the new German formation
hamsterkauf (‘hamster-purchase’). It’s
based on the verb hamstern, ‘to hoard’
(also in Dutch as hamsteren), after that
creature’s habit of storing food in its
cheeks. In English we use a different
rodent for the same purpose, where we
squirrel things away – for hibernation or
isolation. The thriftiness of the squirrel has
often been related to the saving of money,
but is also being applied to the current
context, as in the nicely ironic ‘How
some of us love to get all hatchet-facedly
judgmental about … those dynamic
shoppers harmlessly obeying their inner-
squirrel by buying and hoarding toilet
paper’ (Canberra Times, 5.4.20). It seems
appropriate that animal imagery should
be invoked internationally in these times
when the primal instinct for survival has
given rise to some behaviour that, as a
species, we like to consider ourselves
above – alongside all the innovative,
cooperative, humane activities that people
are involved in, of course.
Written by Dr Adam Smith, convenor of
the Editing and Electronic Publishing
Program at Macquarie University.
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campusreview.com.au
CURTIN CALL
A Harvard graduate,
artist and former
architecture professor
at Penn State University
has become Curtin
University’s new
head of School of Design and the Built
Environment. Professor Nathaniel Belcher is
a true cosmopolitan in his academic field –
collecting field research and presenting in
places such as Cuba, Brazil, London and
Panama, and with a range of specialisations,
including African American architecture,
urbanism and modernism.
“I’m really excited to start a new chapter in
my career, not only in a leadership capacity,
but working alongside academics from
one of the top 100 schools in the world
for architecture and the built environment,”
he said.
CHOWN DOWN
FOR SCIENCE
Just 37 people from
22 countries were
elected as honorary
international members
of the prestigious
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
this year. One of them was Professor
Steven Chown – an ecologist and biologist
from Monash’s Faculty of Science, and
president of the International Science
Council’s Scientific Committee on Antarctic
Research (SCAR).
“The academy is honouring a debt to
all generations,” said Chown. “To those in
the future by improving their prospects
for an environmentally rich, intellectually
rewarding and prosperous life. To those
of the past by treasuring the personal
and professional sacrifices of centuries of
scholars who have advanced the public
good. To those now, by illuminating
informed, actionable hope.”
WORTH HER WAIT
IN GOLD COAST
When UK professor
Julie Jomeen landed
in Australia recently
to begin her new job
as head of health
and human sciences at Southern Cross
University, she had to spend two weeks
in mandatory lockdown. A former clinical
nurse, midwife and dean of health sciences
at Hull University, she said it was a “surreal
start” to her role but highlights “the value
of university health research” and the
importance of producing “industry-ready
graduates to ensure the best possible
workforce for delivering [healthcare]”.
NOLAN RISES
Charles Sturt University’s
Centre for Law and
Justice has a new
director, Mark Nolan.
His extensive research
background spans legal
psychology, criminal law, military discipline
law and human rights law.
An import from ANU’s College of Law,
where he spent 18 years in teaching and
administrative positions, he will oversee the
centre’s teaching, research, and community
outreach activity by its staff in Bathurst, Port
Macquarie, Orange and Canberra.
“Having collaborated on research and
consultancies with Charles Sturt University
staff and taught in the university’s terrorism
and forensic psychology subjects in the
past, it is exciting to join the university and
new and familiar colleagues,” Nolan said.
SWEET SNELL
OF SUCCESS
The director of UWA’s
Lawrence Wilson Art
Gallery, Professor
Ted Snell, has been
appointed chair of
Regional Arts WA, receiving a unanimous
vote from the board.
“I am very honoured to be appointed
chair ... at this pivotal time in our industry,”
Snell said. “I know the regional arts sector
plays a crucial role in the wellbeing and
vitality of our state, so it is more important
than ever that we work with the arts sector
and key stakeholders to ensure what makes
regional communities great will continue
for generations to come.”
UoA HEAD SCARCE
In early May, University
of Adelaide chancellor
Kevin Scarce resigned
without public
explanation, and
with six months still
left of his term. Less than a day later, the
university’s vice-chancellor, Peter Rathjen,
went on indefinite leave of absence.
Professor Mike Brooks, university provost,
is serving as acting and interim vice-
chancellor until further notice.
“The university is not in a position to
comment on the vice-chancellor’s leave of
absence,” a university spokesman told ABC
News. The response was the same when
questioned on Scarce’s sudden departure,
with the caveat: “The chancellor’s decision
was his own.”
News sources later reported that Rathjen
is under investigation by SA’s Independent
Commissioner Against Corruption.