[SSC] Open Democracy: Our Kingdom

Fri Oct 7 14:57:11 UTC 2011

Dear All,
Article on Social Science Centre now published at Open Democracy: Our Kingdom website - http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/mike-neary/social-science-centre-radical-new-model-for-higher-education
Looking forward to seeing you all in a couple of weeks.
Best wishes,
Mike

> Date: Fri, 23 Sep 2011 01:21:20 +0100
> From: joycecanaan at blueyonder.co.uk
> To: S.S.AMSLER at aston.ac.uk; ssc at lists.aktivix.org
> Subject: Re: [SSC] SSC Digest, Vol 9, Issue 14
> 
> Thanks for opening up this discussion Richard and for adding to it Sarah.
> I really appreciate this opening up as it helps us think through more
> aspects of what it is that we are doing.
> 
> Like Sarah, I think it is of utmost importance that we discuss if/how we
> research our developing practice. My intention in offering this suggestion
> initially
> was, as I noted in my first email, to begin to capture some of the
> excitement of this collaborative venture for our greater understanding of
> what it is that we are creating and for us to utilise to understand what
> is missing from the hellish state of university life that so many of us
> are working in. I think that the energy and possibility that the SSC is
> already providing is of considerable significance, as it offers us the
> possibility to build an alternative higher educaiton system--and as we
> modify it how to negotiate challenges as they arise (like this one of
> potentially standing in the camp of researchers of practices w are engaged
> in)--and to develop strategies for  beginning to offer alternatives to the
> system that exists. How often is it that those of us who are against the
> system in its current form are accused of not having an alternative.
> Like Sarah I think that the suggestion of discussing it through articles
> from  the Autnomous Geographies website is a great idea.  However, for the
> next few weeks I won't be able to do so, preparing for the beginning of
> term and for a presentation.
> 
> I just wanted, at this point, to thank you for your intervention as it is
> one we can think further with. I think that researching our practice and
> the feelings that are emergent from it is significant so if we can do this
> in a way that deals with the very thorny issues that the Autonomous
> Geographies' articles raise, that would be really helpful.
> 
> I look forward to contributing to our discussion when things get easier
> here!
> 
> Joyce
> 
> 
> On 21/09/2011 13:30, "Amsler, Sarah" <S.S.AMSLER at aston.ac.uk> wrote:
> 
> >Hello all,
> >
> >Thanks, Joyce and Richard. I think this is an important discussion that
> >we could perhaps take up when we next meet, or arrange to otherwise do
> >so. It raises real qusetions about the relationships that we each might
> >have to the Social Science Centre and to universities, and the
> >relationship or not between these institutions (and ways of life). On the
> >one hand, I find it difficult to imagine how I might personally separate
> >them neatly, and wouldn't want to; it raises questions about the values
> >of participatory research from within the academy (as there are still
> >some strong and I think defensible traditions of this), co-research,
> >militant research, popular eduation, border crossings, complex
> >subjectivities, and etc. On the other hand there are pressing concerns
> >about the possibility of simply conflating these spaces/roles/projects
> >into the dominant form, which is also often the most comfortable one.
> >
> >The writing that came out of the Autonomous Geographies project would be
> >an absolutely excellent place to start to discuss this, in my view -- it
> >deals with precisely these questions, deeply, and might give us something
> >to talk around that is at enough distance to allow for dialogue and play.
> >
> >Best,
> >Sarah
> >________________________________________
> >From: ssc-bounces at lists.aktivix.org [ssc-bounces at lists.aktivix.org] on
> >behalf of ssc-request at lists.aktivix.org [ssc-request at lists.aktivix.org]
> >Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2011 1:00 PM
> >To: ssc at lists.aktivix.org
> >Subject: SSC Digest, Vol 9, Issue 14
> >
> >Send SSC mailing list submissions to
> >        ssc at lists.aktivix.org
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> >than "Re: Contents of SSC digest..."
> >
> >
> >Today's Topics:
> >
> >   1. Re: some thoughts (Richard Hall)
> >   2. really Open University  - The Space Project (Andre Pusey)
> >
> >
> >----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> >Message: 1
> >Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:08:27 +0100
> >From: "Richard Hall" <RHall1 at dmu.ac.uk>
> >To: <ssc at lists.aktivix.org>
> >Subject: Re: [SSC] some thoughts
> >Message-ID:
> >        
> ><290C0FAF9352E54EB483CBA4ED12133C05A10439 at artemis.LEC-ADMIN.dmu.ac.uk>
> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> >
> >I've been thinking long and hard about this one, Joyce.
> >
> >
> >
> >I am happy for my contributions to add to a process that aids others and
> >helps us celebrate/develop our position - in that it is for us/those who
> >associate with us, and in that it is against the enclosed University.
> >
> >
> >
> >However, I would be more concerned if this was used by anyone as part of
> >their formal, funded role, for their own research agenda within the
> >academy. I read this tension being recognised and discussed in some of
> >the work of the Autonomous Geographies project:
> >http://www.esrc.ac.uk/my-esrc/grants/RES-000-23-0957/read
> >
> >
> >
> >I am not saying that this is what you want, Joyce. I do not read your
> >context below in that way. I just wish to be up-front about this issue.
> >
> >
> >
> >In solidarity.
> >
> >
> >
> >R.
> >
> >
> >
> >From: ssc-bounces at lists.aktivix.org
> >[mailto:ssc-bounces at lists.aktivix.org] On Behalf Of Joss Winn
> >Sent: 14 September 2011 14:56
> >To: ssc at lists.aktivix.org
> >Subject: Re: [SSC] some thoughts
> >
> >
> >
> >One possibility for the 'reflexive journals' is that people use the SSC
> >website blog for that purpose. It's available if you wish to publish
> >from it.
> >
> >
> >
> >If you wish to be added as an author, please let me know
> >(joss at josswinn.org)
> >
> >
> >
> >Joss
> >
> >
> >
> >On 14 Sep 2011, at 14:18, Joyce Canaan wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Hi all,
> >
> >I am hoping to add to the document we so constructively discussed last
> >Saturday within the next few days.  One minor point from the email that
> >Joss sent:  can we start at 11am until 4pm as some people can't get
> >there until 11?
> >
> >
> >
> >I have some additional thoughts I wanted us to discuss.I mentioned at
> >the meeting on Saturday that I would love to start researching the
> >process by which we are working (and would be keen to do so with
> >others).  To this end, can I suggest that we discuss the possibility of
> >voice recording our meetings so that it might be possible to analyse the
> >processes by which we are working together-and dealing with challenges
> >as and when they arrive--so that we can develop these processes more
> >effectively in future and share our insights with others trying to set
> >up similar projects? This would of course need consent from all. Second,
> >whether or not people feel comfortable with voice recordings,  might
> >some of us begin to create reflexive journals on the process itself and
> >its impact on other aspects of our lives? I ask this because I am
> >beginning to see that the thinking that we are doing together is helping
> >me realise how limiting the current HE system is and how my contribution
> >to the SSC stems from the strategies that I have been developing to cope
> >with and seek to transform this system.  My pleasure with our work comes
> >partly from recognising that we are  engaged in a process of creating
> >powerful alternative ontologies and epistemologies of and for all
> >aspects of the university as a process.  Thus our re-imagining and
> >reconstructing (or as Mike said elsewhere), 'reinventing' the social
> >sciences through thinking collectively, collaboratively, respectfully,
> >and learning from and with others who are at least in some ways
> >likeminded, fills me with pleasure, delight and energy.  I think it
> >would be interesting to explore what we are bringing to and getting from
> >this process as these factors are crucial to understanding what we are
> >engaged in creating.
> >
> >
> >
> >Joyce
> >
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >SSC mailing list
> >SSC at lists.aktivix.org
> >https://lists.aktivix.org/mailman/listinfo/ssc
> >
> >
> >
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> >------------------------------
> >
> >Message: 2
> >Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:23:51 +0100
> >From: Andre Pusey <gyap at leeds.ac.uk>
> >To: "ssc at lists.aktivix.org" <ssc at lists.aktivix.org>
> >Subject: [SSC] really Open University  - The Space Project
> >Message-ID:
> >        
> ><03FEE575BFE70B4AA3BB5014DC59648B01888B80DB94 at HERMES8.ds.leeds.ac.uk>
> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> >
> >Dear all,
> >
> >Was sorry not to be able to make the SSC meeting in Lincoln, a few of us
> >in Leeds involved with the ROU had hoped to come down.
> >
> >Below are details of a new Really Open University initiative we are
> >working on. It aims to find some space between social centres and
> >projects such as the Social Science Centre.
> >
> >Hope to make it to the next SSC meeting.
> >
> >Best,
> >Andre
> >
> >http://reallyopenuniversity.wordpress.com/2011/09/14/the-space-project/
> >
> >The Space Project
> >
> >We would like to invite you to an open meeting to help us shape a new
> >vibrant venue for discussions, film showings, seminars, talks, workshops,
> >reading groups, archives, enquiries and other creative projects.
> >
> >The space will be close to Leeds City Centre hosting events that explore
> >social change (broadly defined) in an engaged and participatory way.
> >Facilitated by the Really Open University, we're seeking other groups and
> >individuals who would like to contribute to the life of the space by
> >hosting events and contributing to building a non-commercial,
> >self-managed space in Leeds.
> >
> >Do you have something you think you would like to do? Come along to our
> >open meeting or please get in touch with us at
> >wearethespaceproject at gmail.com<mailto:wearethespaceproject at gmail.com>
> >
> >Where: The Space Project, 37-38 Mabgate green, Leeds
> >When: Tuesday October 4th 7:30pm
> >Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=123462997754485
> >
> >The 'space project' will be run as a not-for-profit venture, with no paid
> >staff and events being free or donations-only.
> >
> >
> >
> >Andre Pusey
> >School of Geography
> >University of Leeds
> >(0113) 343 6757
> >gyap at leeds.ac.uk
> >
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> >------------------------------
> >
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> >
> >End of SSC Digest, Vol 9, Issue 14
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