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Original poster

Are all university Alumni magazines pants?

26 replies

UnquietDad · 10/03/2007 16:42

Or is it just mine?

I wonder why I bother getting it. It's beautifully produced and very glossy, but I flick through even more impatiently than through "Grauniad Weekend"! I'm not really interested in the fact that my university has honoured the king of Norway, that so-and-so has been appointed CEO of the Business School, that there is now a chair in Buddhist studies, etc. OK, I might be, but i can find it all out elsewhere.

There is always a full-page ad for hilariously expensive watercolours of college buildings too. I can't imagine who buys them.

Then there is the full-page , dreary-as-fuck advert for some consultancy company - after reading it I am none the wiser as to what they DO. For soem reason they are incapable of speaking English and have to use phrases like "cross-functional expertise" and "fact-based, quantitative analysis".

And do I reall give a shit that two people who graduated in 1996 have set up a company for sharing "minds" (in the Mr Spock way??) and get a half-page feature which is basically a free ad?

Some of the articles are all right, but a bit dry.

The rest is obituaries, book reviews and classified ads for houses in Provence and Tuscany.

I mean, come on.
Does anyone else get one that's as dull?

OP posts:
Blandmum · 10/03/2007 16:46

I quite like getting ours. The uni one is basically a colour magasine. The collage one is a tad duller and everones news makes me feel massivly under achieving.

'MartinBishop is still teaching'

Up against 'Howard Goodal in the new governmant Music tzar'

Jimjams2 · 10/03/2007 16:47

Hmm suspect i may have the same one as you. Arrived this morning. Currently unopened in the hall. Not a good read then??? Although am interested in the sharing minds bit- curiosity and all that.

beckybrastraps · 10/03/2007 16:49

The only alumnus magazine I get is from the university where I did my PGCE, rather than the two where I actually spent any time. SO I don't really read it. I don't even feel like an alumnus, considering most of my training was spent in a school some 40 miles away.

I did have someone from my first alma mater 'phone up and ask me for money recently, saying they were sure I would want to share the rewards of my time there with a new generation of students. I pointed out that I wasn't actually working right now, and when I was it was as a teacher. He was quite persistent though. It was quite embarassing.

Jimjams2 · 10/03/2007 16:51

Gosh the Fresh Minds bloke has glossy hair. You're not reading it in the right way UnquietDad- I could spend hours pondering that hair.

Jimjams2 · 10/03/2007 16:53

And how could you possibly find "Behind the Shop Front" boring? (page 53)

Ellbell · 10/03/2007 16:54

Would it be better if it was more focused on your own department/School? I only ask because we've just done an alumni web-page (for the dept I teach in) and have also emailed it to all the alumni for whom we have email addresses. Would you be more interested in reading about what was going on in the area where you actually studied? Or is that equally boring? (If so, may not bother updating webpage!)

Jimjams2 · 10/03/2007 16:55

no I suspect that's interesting- flicking through the magazine 2 mins ago I saw something about elephants and spiders webs (am ex-zoologist) and thought "hmmm must read that later".

sykes · 10/03/2007 16:56

What would you like to see? Have a vested interest, I must admit. Hello JJ - not sure if you remember me but you were v kind and helpful re my younger dd a couple of years ago re development.

Jimjams2 · 10/03/2007 16:56

Mind you I quite like the whole thing- even the new chair of Buddhist studies- so you'd better ask UD.

Jimjams2 · 10/03/2007 16:57

Hi Sykes >- remember the name. Hope all is well now....

beckybrastraps · 10/03/2007 16:59

I think one of the problems for me is that the college I went to has expanded massively since I went there, merging with various other institutions. I wonder whether I would recognise half the departments if I did get any news. It would be nice to catch up, but only with things I actually recognise.

sykes · 10/03/2007 17:00

Yes thanks.

BellaBear · 10/03/2007 17:00

lol at all the oxford grads not mentioning it!

Original poster
UnquietDad · 10/03/2007 17:09

The college one is different as it does at least often have info about people I know - this is the general university one.

OP posts:
sykes · 10/03/2007 17:12

UD, what would you like to see?

moondog · 10/03/2007 17:14

My sentiments entirely.
Developed a theory long ago that the only people who bother to actually let people know what they are up to are over-achieving Singaporeans with MBAs.

Califrau · 10/03/2007 17:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lionheart · 10/03/2007 17:19

Does anyone get phoned and asked to give a donation?

moondog · 10/03/2007 17:20

Ah,variation on the smae theme I reckon Cal.
(You won't mind,as I know you are dazzlingly clever and cultured multilingual babe,me pointing out it sould be 'whose' and not 'who's' will you???)

Califrau · 10/03/2007 17:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Blandmum · 10/03/2007 17:50

LOL at the though of us all getting the University mag on the same morning.

motherinferior · 10/03/2007 17:53

In that case I'll wait, agog, for mine.

singersgirl · 10/03/2007 17:55

We got that one this morning, too - DH's. Mine came a few weeks ago. I like the poetry bit. I flick through it and DH ignores it for a few days, then I put it in the recycling.

Iota · 10/03/2007 17:56

I'll have you all know that the lesser universities also have mags that are pants

and they phone you up begging for donations ( well they do if they have your number )

hatwoman · 10/03/2007 18:06

most of our college one is pretty dull, but I do like scanning the societies/sports club reports - I think more than anything it gives you a feel for how the college has changed. I like to check out the rowing - it went from being mediocre to being brilliant whilst I was there - so I like to check on them. dh checks on the darts team. he was shocked recently to learn that "the darts team did itself proud by getting promoted into the first division" "proud???" he spluttered. "they were bloody first division champions in my day." I don;t really care that much about Professor jobby-wotsit winning the thingummy prize for oojamaflit. But winning Oxford in Bloom I like coz I always had a soft spot for the gardener. (who was rather dishy and very very fond of his roses)