The View from the Deanery

Welcome to Week 8 of the Lent Term.

I always tend to think of this week as the psychological turning point in a term. As I mentioned back in Week 1, the Lent Term seems to grind on for a rather long time – particularly compared with how quickly the Michaelmas Term seems to go. Perhaps it is the combination of the weather, of settling in to a routine, the weather, the accumulating demands and workload for your courses, and did I mention the weather?

But there are signs that Spring is around the corner. The days are getting longer (it is no longer pitch black when I get my daughter up for school at 6.30 in the morning). The daffodils are starting to come into bloom in the various parks in and around London. And Spring Training has started in Florida and the Southwest with my hometown team, the Boston Red Sox, looking to repeat their World Series Championship season from last year.

Part of the transition from Winter to Spring is marked in many parts of the world by big public celebration or ‘carnivals’ such as Mardi Gras. Here in the UK, things are done on a much more modest, some might say typically British scale. No loud, noisy, garish carnivals here. Instead we celebrate Shrove Tuesday (tomorrow March 4) – more commonly referred to as ‘Pancake Day’. This is because the custom is to consume ‘pancakes’ (more like crepes than US breakfast pancakes) with lemon juice and a sprinkling of sugar. Hopefully, you’ll have met a couple of Brits by now who you can ask about this very British approach to this socio-religious-cultural occasion and who may even invite you to partake in the festivities. Given the diversity within the General Course cohort, it is likely that you come from some place that marks the day with different practices, so you can always offer to reciprocate and turn the evening into a multi-cultural food fest.

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

Office Hours: Monday 2pm - 4pm, Tuesday 2pm - 3.30pm, Wednesday 10.30am - 12pm

GC Caption Competition Winner!

We were pleasantly surprised with the entries we received for the Caption Competition. Indeed, the judging panel were all agreed that this year's cohort of GC students are much funnier than they look. Our congratulations in surpassing our expectations in this regard.

Some of our favourites were:

"Will Breare-Hall. Lord of the Loo." - V. Wei
"The Mayor and his throne!" - E. Mamet
"The Queen's new throne. Quite regal is it not?" - T.K. Reynolds
"The number '1' mayor of Epping in a bathroom number '2' to none" J. Juszak
"This isn't what it looks like." K. Criste
"They said I'd have an office with en-suite facilities, but this is ridiculous!" - Dean Hoffman

We did come to a decision with our favourite however and have inscribed it under the frame below.

Mayor in natural habitat - N. Mishra

Congratulations Neil with your winning entry for this year's competition. Simply put, it made us laugh.

A thanks to all that entered, and to Mayor Breare-Hall for his sporting participation in the cause.

We will contact Neil with details about his prize in due course.

LSE Events

Peacebuilding: what is it and why is it important?
Judy Cheng-Hopkins

Assistant secretary-general for peacebuilding support, Judy Cheng-Hopkins, will seek to outline the concept of peacebuilding, its practical significance, and translation into operational activity, with a particular focus on the work and engagement of the UN Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Fund, which finances activities of UN agencies, funds and programmes in fragile states around the world.

The presentation will take place in The Hong Kong Theatre on Tuesday 4th March from 6.30pm.

Progressive Capitalism: how to achieve economic growth, liberty and social justice
Lord Sainsbury

David John Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Turville, FRS is a British businessman and politician. From 1992 to 1997, he served as the Chairman of Sainsbury's. He was made a life peer in 1997, and currently sits in the House of Lords on the Labour benches. He served in the Government as the Minister for Science and Innovation from 1998 to 2006. On 16 October 2011 he was elected the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge.

The lecture will take place in Clement House (CLM 3.02) on Thursday 6th March at 6.30pm.

London Events

The Best Pancakes for Pancake Day!

Here in London, we celebrate all manner of things, great and small. This Tuesday it is the turn of pancakes for Pancake Day, also known as 'Shrove Tuesday'. As Mark described, it has something to do with Lent, but the main most important fact is it is a day you can eat pancakes! The link above takes you to a list by Londonist.com featuring the best pancakes houses in London. It includes 'My Old Dutch', a stone's throw away from High Holborn!

The London Ale Festival

As you age, you develop tastes for certain things. Teacakes, blue cheeses, salt and vinegar crisps, pickled onions etc. Scientifically proven, such taste acquisitions cannot be avoided. A taste for ale is another of these that you will acquire in time. It is therefore in your best interests to get a head start and attend the London Ale Festival taking place March 10-14.

Guy the Gorilla
Natural History Museum

Guy the Gorilla was one of London Zoo's most loved residents from 1946 - 1978. He arrived on Guy Fawke's night in 1946 (hence the name Guy) and was so frightened by the fireworks a zookeeper had to sleep alongside him to settle him down. After Guy passed away in 1978 due to a heart attack (he was a little overweight) he was preserved by a top taxidermist and now sits in the Natural History Museum for all to enjoy.

GC Photo of the Week

Tembo Editor Yohei Guy with cake last night, celebrates his 23rd birthday today. We dedicate this issue of Tembo to him, as he continues to dedicate his life, energy, talent and soul to this, the School's finest publication. May there be many more to come.