The View from the Deanery

October (and the first four weeks of term) has come and gone – probably a lot faster than you thought it would when you first arrived at LSE.

Hopefully, you managed to join in some of the Halloween celebrations that took place around LSE. Though growing in popularity each year, Halloween isn’t as big an event in the UK as it is in the US. The major November event is ‘Guy Fawkes Night’ on November 5 which you can learn more about below.

As last Friday was the deadline for making any course changes via LSE for You, any late changes will need to be requested through me. If you need to make a change, please come and see me during my office hours.

Finally, congratulations to Yvon Brousseau (USC) who you elected as your ‘President’ and Students’ Union rep. Yvon managed to finally wrench the post from the clutches of the the East Coast universities. I look forward to working with Yvon over the coming months in organising events for you.

Mark Hoffman
Associate Dean
The General Course
gc.dean@lse.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)20 7107 5197
Room OLD 1.09

Office Hours: Tuesday 11am - 4pm, Wednesday 10.30am - 1.00pm, Thursday 12.30pm - 2pm, 3.00pm - 4.30pm

Guy Fawkes and Bonfire Night

Fireworks lighting up the skies of London

Remember, remember the fifth of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot,
We see no reason,
Why gunpowder treason,
Should ever be forgot!

Bonfire Night is celebrated across the UK this weekend, to commemorate the failed ‘Gunpowder Plot’ of 5 November 1605. Catholic conspirators wanted to blow up the House of Lords during the State Opening of Parliament, when King James I, together with members of the House of Lords and House of Commons, would be present. To this end, the group rented a cellar directly beneath the Lord’s Chamber and filled it with 26 barrels of gunpowder. The infamous Guy Fawkes was to remain in the cellar to light the fuse at the appropriate moment.

The plan would have had disastrous consequences if not for a letter sent by one of the conspirators to a friend in the Houses of Parliament, warning him to stay away on the day of the attack. This letter was intercepted, and Guy Fawkes and his friends were arrested, tortured and executed.

Ever since, the Yeoman of the Guard conducts a ceremonial search of the Houses of Parliament an hour before the State Opening. It has also become a tradition in Britain to burn life-sized effigies of Guy Fawkes on bonfires and to let off fireworks on or around 5 November, hence the name Bonfire Night.

Make sure you celebrate Bonfire Night in style at one of London’s spectacular fireworks displays. A complete list of fireworks events across the capital is available on Londonist.com

LSE Events

Human Suffering and Humanitarian Emergencies
Professor Craig Calhoun

LSE Director Professor Craig Calhoun is a world-renowned social scientist whose work connects sociology to culture, communication, politics, philosophy and economics. He is the author of several books including Nations Matter, Critical Social Theory,Neither Gods Nor Emperors and most recently The Roots of Radicalism (University of Chicago Press, 2012).

His lecture will take place on Tuesday 5th November 2013 from 6.30pm in the Old Theatre.

Commemorating the First World War: a hundred years on
Professor Sir Hew Strachan

Anniversaries are shaped as much by concerns of those commemorating them as by the realities of the events. The centenary of the First World War coincides with the promised end of Britain’s participation in the post 9/11 wars.

Hew Strachan is Chichele Professor of the History of War at Oxford University. The lecture will take place on Thursday 7 November from 6.30pm in the Hong Kong Theatre.

London Events

Lord Mayor's Show and Fireworks

This Saturday join half a million spectators to welcome the new Lord Mayor of London for a three mile long procession from Mansion House to the Royal Courts of Justice (right on our doorstep!). The parade will feature the 254 year old gold Lord Mayor's State Coach, an aircraft fly past, marching bands, and floats and ends with a spectacular fireworks display above the Thames. The pyrotechnics will start from 5pm with the best viewing spots along Embankment and Southbank, but you'll need to get there early to beat the crowds!

Regent Street Christmas Lights Switch On!

There are plenty of things to do in London this Saturday with all the various Guy Fawkes festivities taking place, but another event to catch is the Regent Street Christmas Lights Switch On. Hosted by former Spice Girl Emma Bunton, the event will begin at 3pm with live performances building up to the eventual flick of the switch. A great opportunity for good fun, and it's free!

Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Natural History Museum

The 49th Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is currently showing at the Natural History Museum. The exhibition displays the best photos from over 43,000 entries. Hugely popular every year, the showcase includes compelling close-ups of fascinating animals against dramatic landscapes.The exhibition closes on 23 March 2014.

Institute for Cultural Diplomacy

Forthcoming conferences

Founded in 1999, the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy is an international, not-for-profit, non-governmental organization with headquarters in Berlin, Germany. The ICD´s ultimate goal is to promote global peace and stability by strengthening and supporting intercultural relations at all levels. Over the past decade the ICD has grown to become one of Europe’s largest independent cultural exchange organizations, hosting programs that facilitate interaction among individuals of all cultural, academic, and professional backgrounds, from across the world.

The calendar of events for the ICD is currently online and can be found here. There is an interesting mix of Academic Programs, International Conferences, House Events and Young Leaders Forums. GC Students in the past have registered and we encourage you to take a look and see if there is anything of interest for you.

Tembo Alert!

GC Thanksgiving Dinner

The date for the General Course Thanksgiving Dinner has been confirmed and will take place on the evening of Thursday 28 November. A notification will be sent to your LSE email address over the next few days with instructions on how to book tickets. Please look out for this, as it is an extremely popular event and will sell out fast! Save the date now and don't miss out!