Latest news with #StJohn'sCollege
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Vona Groarke: ‘I don't usually read for comfort. I read poetry for excitement and risk. Novels for company. Biography for nosiness'
Vona Groarke is the new Ireland Professor of Poetry, until 2028. Her ninth poetry collection is Infinity Pool, published in May by The Gallery Press. She has taught at the University of Manchester since 2007 and is writer-in-residence at St John's College, Cambridge, and with the Sligo Yeats Society. Hereafter: The Telling Life of Ellen O'Hara won the 2024 Michel Deon Prize. She lives in Co Sligo. The books by your bedside? The End of Days by Jenny Erpenbeck, The Summer Book by Tove Jansson, Seduction and Betrayal by Elizabeth Hardwick, Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton, Our Evenings by Alan Hollinghurst, and Sara Baume's Seven Steeples. You'd almost think prose sends me to sleep, were it not for Louise Gluck's Poems 1962-2020. And Karen Solie's Wellwater. That covers a poetic multitude.
The Citizen
12-07-2025
- General
- The Citizen
St John's College welcomes new Dr's to their teaching staff
St John's College welcomes two new doctoral graduates to its academic community. The school also congratulates Reverend Dr Matthew Wright and Dr Michael Boyd on their recent doctoral achievements. The Reverend Dr Matthew Wright, from the Chaplaincy, completed a thesis titled Exegeting the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Matthew 18:12–14; Luke 15:4–7) and the Good Shepherd Discourse (John 10:1–16) in Light of Insights into Caprine Husbandry Practices of First-century Judea and Galilee. His research explored Biblical Studies through the lens of the animal economy in first-century Judea and Galilee. It reveals how the Jewish Temple's sacrificial cult created a demand for large-scale sheep production, contrasting with traditional pastoral practices, and examines the interactions and tensions between these two systems. Also read: The Africa Children's Summit held at St Johns College empowers youth Dr Michael Boyd, from the English Department, completed a thesis titled Reading for the Road: Routes Through African Literatures, which analyses the role of roads and infrastructure in three seminal African novels: Ben Okri's The Famished Road (Nigeria), Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o's Petals of Blood (Kenya), and Alan Paton's Cry, The Beloved Country (South Africa). His study offered valuable insights into how physical infrastructure shapes political, economic, and social dynamics within these works and the countries they represent. The doctors join an esteemed group of PhD holders at the College, including Drs Nkosiphile Bhebhe, Alistair Douglas, and Nyiko Mahonisi in Physical Sciences; Drs Elise Lemmer, Grethe Nöthling, and Allan Thompson in Music; Dr Stephen Sproule, Head of Mathematics; and Dr Craig Higginson in the English Department. St John's College's head of marketing and communications, Jacqui Deeks said, 'With 10 PhDs now among our teaching community, we celebrate the depth of academic expertise at St John's College. They add to an already highly qualified and experienced teaching staff where rigorous academic inquiry, professional excellence and a passion for education inspire curiosity, critical thought and a lifelong love of learning in our students. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
28-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Old Johannians commemorated Gaudy Day
St John's College welcomed back generations of Old Johannians for a reimagined Gaudy Day, earlier this month, for a celebration rooted in heritage and community spirit. Gaudy Day has been a highlight on the College calendar. The tradition began in 1912 as the Old Boys' Gaudy, with Fr Nash choosing the name from the Latin gaudeo, meaning 'rejoice,' in keeping with Oxford college commemorations. This year marked the first reimagining of Gaudy Day since its inception, combining the celebration with the Derby Day against St Alban's College. The Old Johannian Mass in the Memorial Chapel remained the day's centrepiece. The Old Johannian and College Choir performed together, continuing a legacy introduced by Noel Iverson in 1955. Also read: Rotary Club of Rosebank and Holy Family College host successful career day The program celebrated 70 years of choral tradition with James Gordon's O Rex Gloriae, Widor's Messe, and new compositions by Cameron Upchurch and James Geldenhuys (Fleming 2019), including the first performance of Agnus Dei from his Missa S. Ioannis. African hymnody, under the direction of Sidumo Nyamezele, reflected the College's Christian African identity. Executive Headmaster, Stuart West and President of the Old Johannian Association, welcomed guests to the Old Johannian Lunch on the Long Walk overlooking Burger Field, the perfect vantage point to watch the Blues run onto the field for the main rugby match. Also read: The IIE's Varsity College Sandton students get active The 1st XI hockey match on the Astro ended in a 3-3 draw, while the 1st XV rugby encounter on Burger Field saw the Blues fall 34-24 to St Alban's. Both matches showed the St John's spirit in every tackle, goal, and sideline cheer. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
22-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Saints first XV rugby team survives late scare to edge St John's
St Stithians first XV ended their rugby season on a high with a hard-fought 25–21 win over St John's College in the final match of the Pink Derby Day, held in support of the PinkDrive cancer awareness home side dominated the first half, scoring freely and going into the break with a comfortable 22–0 lead, but the second half told a different story. Read more: Rugby glory as Rand Park High School shines at Pirates School Challenge St John's came out with renewed energy and quickly closed the gap, scoring back-to-back tries and bringing the score within a single point. Despite the pressure, and two yellow cards to the Saints, the team dug deep to defend their narrow lead and hold on for the win. Speaking after the game, the Saints' first team coach, Thoriso Shihau, said: 'It was a game of two halves. I thought in the second half we went to sleep, but credit to St John's, they came back and gave us a tough time. Credit to my boys as well for holding on and getting the win.' Shihau also acknowledged that the team struggled to maintain momentum after being shown two yellow cards, which forced them to adjust their game plan. 'St John's really controlled the tempo at that point, but we managed to keep it together.' With this being their final game of the season, Shihau expressed pride in his team's overall performance. 'We've been processed the entire season and it's been evident in the results. The boys worked hard, and they deserved the win.' The Pink Derby Day saw several fixtures played, all in support of cancer awareness and fundraising efforts. The spirit of the day, both competitive and charitable, was on full display at Baytop Field. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
ITV News
05-06-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
Two Cambridge University colleges seek injunctions against pro-Palestine activists
Two university colleges are seeking High Court injunctions against pro-Palestine demonstrations, saying they are 'disruptive to students taking their exams.' On Friday, activists camped on Newton Lawn outside Trinity College in Cambridge, playing music and chanting, and later moved to a lawn outside St John's College, a lawyer for Cambridge University said. The protesters left after the High Court granted temporary injunctions on Sunday and Monday, meaning further protests could result in activists being found to be in contempt of court. At a hearing on Thursday, Kester Lees KC, for the colleges, asked for the injunctions to be made final and to last for 12 months, saying the protests are disruptive to students taking their exams. In written submissions, he said the university was 'concerned about the environment of fear and intimidation created by masked protesters', adding that 'some chanting was directly aimed at disrupting the examination season'. He also said the university does not wish to stop all protests and suggested a 'myriad' of other options, such as a march or online and writing campaigns. 'There is nothing that ties them to needing to be on the claimant's private land in order to form a protest. 'Even if they wanted to do an encampment protest, there is nothing to say they need to be on the lawn where the students are coming through during exam season," he added. In requesting the injunction, Mr Lees said damages would not be an appropriate remedy because 'any impact on a student's grade will be an indelible mark for the rest of their professional life'. Grant Kynaston, for the European Legal Support Centre (ELSC), which supports the legal rights of pro-Palestine activists, said the court action has been rushed and that more time should be given, during which further evidence could be provided. 'The claimant's application relies primarily on the fact that the noise of protesters may disrupt students preparing for examinations,' he said in written submissions. 'However, its evidence consists only of two brief noise complaints, one of which ceased at the claimant's request.' Mr Kynaston asked the court to discontinue the injunction, saying that if it were to be granted, it would be an 'exceptionally wide-ranging and uncalibrated interference' with the protesters' human rights. He also said there is a trend of higher education institutions relying on court injunctions as a first, rather than as a last resort, for enforcing against protests on their land. He added: 'This conduct, treating injunctive relief as the first, rather than the last, resort, is inconsistent with the high standard required of claimants seeking this form of newcomer relief, let alone with a rights-protective approach. 'The court should not endorse it.' Judge Andrew Twigger KC is expected to give judgment in two to three weeks, during which time the temporary injunctions will remain in place.
