As I understood from some, the financial burden of living in Barbados has been troublesome in the past. So I don’ t think going to Cave Hill would really have any additional value once our Faculty is well established.
How do you think the St. Augustine Law Society can aid in fostering that sense of regionalism the Attorneys who went to Barbados can boast of?
It’ s good to have some sort of exchange programme, even on a voluntary basis, for both staff and students.
Do you have any suggestions that will help improve the Faculty of Law in St. Augustine?
Well I might have a lot!( giggles) There should be a good systematic and dynamic approach to really make sure that things are moving ahead in both teaching and in research and to have a programme suitable to the regional students rather than what is being done on the other side of the Atlantic.
What triggered your study of Public International law and your specialty in Jurisprudence?
Probably exactly the fact that I didn’ t really desire to be a lawyer. But, I was always more interested in studying and knowledge itself than practicing. As a teenager, I was always interested in how nations and people interact with one another and that is really what triggered my pursuit of this field.
What is your biggest pet peeve as a lecturer?
Students arriving late. This |
distracts |
me |
and |
other |
students. |
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What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I do swimming a couple times per week at the pool here on campus. On evenings, occasionally, I play chess with my husband. I also try to read articles as well as novels and... cooking! I didn’ t think I would have liked to, but I like to cook.
If not law, then...?
Probably now I would choose philosophy over political sciences, perhaps international studies in general. From time to time, I wonder if I should have gone to medical school. But, I always reach the conclusion that it probably would not have been the right choice for me.
How do you hope to make your mark at this institution?
I think I have some fresh perspectives to offer as I’ m not from this region and so I have more liberal views. I’ m interested in discussing those with the students and maybe in twenty years time, the leaders of this country might be my students and remember something that I said.
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What are you an advocate for?
I have quite Eurocentric views, so I apologise. But, if I were Prime Minister I would do away with the death penalty, decriminalize abortion and decriminalize homosexuality.
Do you have any final words of advice to convey to the readers of this magazine?
Read more and when you think you’ ve read enough, still read more, and eventually you might be ready to write something.
Dr. Noora Arajarvi now lectures at the University of Central Lancashire Cyprus( UCLan Cyprus)