A day that will go down in history, maybe?
I've finally woken up properly after yesterday. I got home at 4.20am, it was bloody freezing too (really should have got a taxi from town, but I'm a cheapskate.)
Yesterday I got my certificate at our Graduation Ceremonyand got to shake the hand of our Vice Chancellor (apparently the Chancellor just gets to sit on his arse the whole ceremony!)
I was amazed how few people, both in general, and from the course didn't turn up - there were 5 or 6 Journalism MA guys, of which I was one, and the first one on the stage (made extra sure not to do something 'Sar-ish'. It totally disappointed me in my role as course rep that so many people felt disillusioned by the course - but who can blame them? Some of the teaching was a joke, and the head of the course let us down on results/information numerous times.
Our guest honourees were special - truly special. I am a massive sports nut, a huge football fan, and at heart someone with a deep and passionate interest in Politics and History. To me awarding four former Robben Island inmates (where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned among others) for their work campaigning to be allowed to play football in the political prison was truly spectacular - and I felt honoured and humbled to be receiving my degree on the same stage as Mark Shinners, Sedick Isaacs, Lizo Sitoto and Marcus Solomon.
For those who aren't familiar with the men, they were founding members of the Makana Football Association, which gave hope to so many prisoners of the apartheid regime.
Dr Isaacs spoke, and made a valid point - sport can unite - after other events yesterday we now know that unity is becoming an issue again.
After the ceremony a number of my fellow journos went out for some drinks, Polar Bear - our usual 'bitch about the course' hangout was our chosen venue. Upon arriving my attention immediately turned to the breaking news on the TV, the bombing of the Government Buildings in Norway's capital, Oslo. I stayed glued to it all afternoon, discussing with Aston friends the political reasons and ramifications, but our original thoughts are no longer valid for we had based them on this being the work of a terrorist group, not a lone, disillusioned and crazy individual.
Europe has an issue with the far right and their unsubstantiated belief that immigration is causing economic and social strife. We are heading backwards, not forwards and we must sit down and attempt to educate people on what is the truth - no political spin, no agendas, no prerequisites, just stats. Cold hard stats.
Let us not head back to the dark days of killing and maiming those who are different, or those who embrace change.
The attacks are now the second deadliest in Europe, after the Madrid bombings. Many victims appear to be teenagers - how can we expect their generation to value a European idea if they are brutally murdered for their views?
Tragic, and haunting, but no-one else in our group seemed to care, so I bottled it up and moved on.
Afterwards we went to the shittest bar in Leicester, Mars, where the only positive was one of the dancers from Spearmint Rhino grabbing my hand (literally) and slamming a big stamp on it saying "free admission all night to spearmint rhino" on it.... I did not go, I was worried I'd fall asleep there as I was exhausted, and that would have been embarrassing, also I have no clue where it is!
Eventually we moved on to a decent bar though - Firebug - which plays Metal/Rock/Alt/Punk! You know you're in a good bar when the barstaff are wearing Slipknot, Misfits and Papa Roach shirts, all look badass and the crowd looks like they should be in an issue of FRONT. This is where we stayed until hometime, and I was happy for it. There were epic tunes, Alkaline Trio, LP, Tallica, Goldfinger and Papa Roach (Blood Brothers) to name a few.
I didn't drink much as I am out of practice, I padded out beers with coke/j2o's, but I still had a good laugh with a group of people who I can converse with about random shit. They were my close friends for a year - I saw them all day, every day. We had epic parties at my house, with much alcohol and Guitar Hero too! Will I miss those I don't see again? Yes. Will I miss them as much as the people from my undergraduate course or School? No, I doubt that very much.
Phew, that was a long update wasn't it?! I suppose I should go find something to do with myself.
Stay tuned!
Yesterday I got my certificate at our Graduation Ceremonyand got to shake the hand of our Vice Chancellor (apparently the Chancellor just gets to sit on his arse the whole ceremony!)
I was amazed how few people, both in general, and from the course didn't turn up - there were 5 or 6 Journalism MA guys, of which I was one, and the first one on the stage (made extra sure not to do something 'Sar-ish'. It totally disappointed me in my role as course rep that so many people felt disillusioned by the course - but who can blame them? Some of the teaching was a joke, and the head of the course let us down on results/information numerous times.
Our guest honourees were special - truly special. I am a massive sports nut, a huge football fan, and at heart someone with a deep and passionate interest in Politics and History. To me awarding four former Robben Island inmates (where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned among others) for their work campaigning to be allowed to play football in the political prison was truly spectacular - and I felt honoured and humbled to be receiving my degree on the same stage as Mark Shinners, Sedick Isaacs, Lizo Sitoto and Marcus Solomon.
For those who aren't familiar with the men, they were founding members of the Makana Football Association, which gave hope to so many prisoners of the apartheid regime.
Dr Isaacs spoke, and made a valid point - sport can unite - after other events yesterday we now know that unity is becoming an issue again.
After the ceremony a number of my fellow journos went out for some drinks, Polar Bear - our usual 'bitch about the course' hangout was our chosen venue. Upon arriving my attention immediately turned to the breaking news on the TV, the bombing of the Government Buildings in Norway's capital, Oslo. I stayed glued to it all afternoon, discussing with Aston friends the political reasons and ramifications, but our original thoughts are no longer valid for we had based them on this being the work of a terrorist group, not a lone, disillusioned and crazy individual.
Europe has an issue with the far right and their unsubstantiated belief that immigration is causing economic and social strife. We are heading backwards, not forwards and we must sit down and attempt to educate people on what is the truth - no political spin, no agendas, no prerequisites, just stats. Cold hard stats.
Let us not head back to the dark days of killing and maiming those who are different, or those who embrace change.
The attacks are now the second deadliest in Europe, after the Madrid bombings. Many victims appear to be teenagers - how can we expect their generation to value a European idea if they are brutally murdered for their views?
Tragic, and haunting, but no-one else in our group seemed to care, so I bottled it up and moved on.
Afterwards we went to the shittest bar in Leicester, Mars, where the only positive was one of the dancers from Spearmint Rhino grabbing my hand (literally) and slamming a big stamp on it saying "free admission all night to spearmint rhino" on it.... I did not go, I was worried I'd fall asleep there as I was exhausted, and that would have been embarrassing, also I have no clue where it is!
Eventually we moved on to a decent bar though - Firebug - which plays Metal/Rock/Alt/Punk! You know you're in a good bar when the barstaff are wearing Slipknot, Misfits and Papa Roach shirts, all look badass and the crowd looks like they should be in an issue of FRONT. This is where we stayed until hometime, and I was happy for it. There were epic tunes, Alkaline Trio, LP, Tallica, Goldfinger and Papa Roach (Blood Brothers) to name a few.
I didn't drink much as I am out of practice, I padded out beers with coke/j2o's, but I still had a good laugh with a group of people who I can converse with about random shit. They were my close friends for a year - I saw them all day, every day. We had epic parties at my house, with much alcohol and Guitar Hero too! Will I miss those I don't see again? Yes. Will I miss them as much as the people from my undergraduate course or School? No, I doubt that very much.
Phew, that was a long update wasn't it?! I suppose I should go find something to do with myself.
Stay tuned!